Montreal, Canada-based PRODUCTIONS PASCAL BLAIS completed a 30-second clay-animated commercial for J. Walter Thompson's client Kraft/Oscar Mayer Foods and their product "Lunchables." The spot, titled "Kitchen Hoops" was directed by Pascal Blais, and is the third in a series of animated spots for this client. It portrays a boy and his father playing a game of basketball, and celebrating afterwards by breaking out the product, "All Star Burgers and Hot Dogs." The commercial is airing nationally in the U.S.

The Disney Channel has launched its annual "Create Story Magic" contest, inviting kids aged 6-12 to compete for the chance to have his or her original story turned into an animated short. Last year's winner was 12-year-old Ian O'Neal, whose story, "Dragon Friend" was selected from over 22,000 entries, animated by Walt Disney Television Animation and broadcast on Disney Channel this year. Every year, the winner also receives a trip for four to Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios. This year's contest is being promoted by Target Stores and Cable in the Classroom.

Vancouver, Canada-based Mainframe Entertainment will produce two feature-length, stereoscopic, 3D computer-animated films for IMAX large-format cinemas. The announcement comes exactly two years after the two companies announced a production deal [AF 8/21/96] to produce two 3D CG-animated ride-films based on Mainframe’s TV series, “ReBoot.” The first one, “ReBoot, the Ride” opened in IMAX ride theaters last year and the second, “Journey Into Chaos” will open next month.

San Francisco, California-based computer animation studio Mondo Media has hired Douglas Kay as president. He was previously vice president of development for Berkeley Systems. Before that he was chief technical officer at LucasArts, following nine years at Industrial Light & Magic, where he was a founding member of the computer graphics department in 1985.

* Friday, September 25. Utrecht, Netherlands.


The Utrecht School of the Arts faculty of Art, Media & Technology holds their annual presentation of the European Media Master of Arts, including Computer Animation. The event will take place at “Baby” in Amsterdam. Admission for Baby members is free, All others are admitted by invitation only. Contact hans.mertens@kmt.hku.nl for more details.

PAUL WAXMAN, a former marketing executive at Irwin Toy, has branched off and formed his own company, D.E.E.P. ENTERTAINMENT. Based in Toronto and Halifax, Canada, the company will focus on development of animation properties such as “NuKeD” and “The Lugs,” for which financing partners are currently being sought.

* Friday, September 25 - Sunday, September 27. Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A.

CAMBRIDGE ANIMATION SYSTEMS (CAS), creators of Animo 2D animation software, has hired Mark Watt as director of research and development. Watt co-founded Second Nature Industries, a company in Los Angeles. He was previously a senior programmer with Xaos, Thomson Digital Image and Digital Pictures. Watt will be based at CAS’ U.K. office. TOM CARRIGAN, recently hired by CAS as director of international sales, will be based at the company’s Glendale office, not in U.K. office as was stated in last week’s news.

* Saturday, September 26. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.


From 5 - 8 p.m., Los Angeles art gallery and book store Every Picture Tells A Story hosts a reception with Michael Bedard, illustrator of the new children’s book “Sitting Ducks.” Bedard’s work is currently being adapted for an animated TV series and feature film by Polygram. The exhibition of Bedard’s illustrations will run through October 18. To pre-order signed books or to RSVP for the reception, call (310) 932-6070.

* Wednesday, September 23 - Sunday, September 27. Syros, Greece.