Three new Scandinavian markets surrendered their airwaves to Pokemania.

Worldwide sensation POKEMON was recently sold to TV4 in Sweden, TV2 in

Denmark and TV2 in Norway. The show will hit the new territories in January

and February 2000. Lacey Entertainment, the international distributors of

the series, also announced the sale of the Pikachu-vehicle to ATV in Turkey

and Noga Communications' Children's Channel in Israel. In Europe, POKEMON

began broadcasting in September 1999 on Germany's RTL2, The Netherlands'

Three new Scandinavian markets surrendered their airwaves to Pokemania.

Worldwide sensation Pokemon was recently sold to TV4 in Sweden, TV2 in

Denmark and TV2 in Norway. The show will hit the new territories in January

and February 2000. The international distributor, Lacey Entertainment, also

announced the sale of the Pikachu-vehicle to ATV in Turkey and Noga

Communications' Children's Channel in Israel.





The Pokemon phenomenon began in America in 1998 with the release of the

On Friday, January 14, 2000, Walt Disney International-Latin America

announced the launch of the Disney Channel Latin America and an exclusive

satellite television distribution agreement with Galaxy Latin America, LLC

for DIRECTV service in Spanish-speaking Latin America. "Launching the

Disney Channel in Latin America in 2000 is an exciting initiative for the

Walt Disney Company," said Diego Lerner, president and managing director,

WDI-Latin America. "As we have in other parts of the world, we will now

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Lucasfilm Ltd. announced the

simultaneous worldwide VHS release of George Lucas' STAR WARS: EPISODE I

THE PHANTOM MENACE. Young Jedi wanna-bes around the globe will snag their

copy the week of April 3 - 8, 2000. The biggest box office hit of 1999 and

second highest-grossing motion picture of all time worldwide, will official

go on sale in North America on Tuesday, April 4, 2000. The US$922 million

January 1997 saw the passing of filmmaker Renzo Kinoshita and curator

Louise Beaudet. Annecy Festival Director Jean-Luc Xiberras died a

year ago. Although they worked in very different areas, the three of

them shared a passion for animation, and dedicated their lives to

helping the animation community define itself.





Renzo Kinoshita was an accomplished filmmaker -- his major work,

"Made in Japan" won the Grand Prix at the New York International

Trivandrum, India-based TOONZ ANIMATION INDIA PVT. LTD. named TOM TILBURY

to their exec staff. Base of operations for Tilbury will be Los Angeles,

where he will helm all sales and marketing for the studio's operations in

India and the U.S. Tilbury joins Toonz Animation from Cambridge Animation

Systems were he served as VP of International Distribution.

Toronto-based DECODE ENTERTAINMENT has announced DOMINIQUE BAZAY and

CAROLINE DORRIS to its recently formed international distribution

division. As Director of International Sales, Bazay, who will be based

in Toronto, will head distribution activities and sales to Scandinavia,

Spain, Portugal, Eastern Europe and South Africa, among other

territories. Bazay previously served in sales for BBC Worldwide

Americas, Paragon Entertainment, and the CBC. Dorris will also serve as

Interactive Television Entertainment (ITE) has secured two new

territories for its show HUGO JUNGLE. The show will start airing March

1, 2000 on Nat 7 in Malaysia and January 17, 2000 on BKTV in Serbia and

Montenegro. Extensive use of the Animation Mask System, and animated

links between each playing scenario, make HUGO JUNGLE a unique live

interactive cartoon show.



In