South Africa-based Triggerfish Animation, a leading stop-frame animation

company in South Africa, is currently shooting animation sequences for the

South African SESAME STREET, using an assortment of different materials

including local contemporary art work, creating a unique African feel to

the production. In addition, Triggerfish is shooting a 30-second commercial

using 7 plasticine characters for a new product being launched in South

Africa and Australia called Slo Jo -- a fruit smoothie.

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

For the first time on video!! The best of Zagreb Film, plus Rembrandt
Films' greatest hits, the Best of Bulgaria, and a second volume of Trnka
Shorts.



THE BEST OF ZAGREB FILM IN FIVE ONE-HOUR VOLUMES: In four decades Zagreb
Film produced 600 animated films that won more than 400 international
awards. The studio quickly became famous for a unique animation style that
became known as the Zagreb school. One of the studio's pioneering
distinctions was that its filmmakers wrote, designed, and directed their

April 6-9, 2000, The Brisbane International Animation Festival will
represent Australia in the international animation festival alliance with
Ottawa, Holland, Fantoche and Anima Mundi animation festivals. It is
Australia's only festival dedicated exclusively to animation in all of its
forms. Playing host to national and international guests who will gather in
Brisbane, Australia, to experience the best of world class animation, the
festival provides a local, national and international forum for the

Four hundred guests crowded the second floor theatre at the Chicago
Cultural Center, Sunday, October 24, for the 1999 Gala Awards Ceremony and
Closing Night Party of the 16th annual Chicago International Children's
Film Festival. The following awards for animated films were given out:


Children's Jury Prizes - Feature Films and Videos - Animation


1st Prize, KIRIKOU AND THE SORCERESS by Michel Ocelot (France)


2nd Prize, ANNE FRANK'S DIARY by Julian Wolff (France, Ireland, UK,
Netherlands)

New Line Cinema's THE LORD OF THE RINGS film trilogy, based on the classic fantasy trilogy by J.
R. R. Tolkien, began principal photography in Wellington, New Zealand, on
October 11, 1999. Peter Jackson (DEAD ALIVE aka BRAIN DEAD, MEET THE
FEEBLES, HEAVENLY CREATURES) is directing from his own script. The three
films that will make up the trilogy - THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, THE TWO
TOWERS and THE RETURN OF THE KING - are being filmed at the same time, a
tactic that worked for the first two SUPERMAN films with Christopher Reeve.

Animation-Books.com, in association with ANiMATO!, the animation magazine,
has announced the results of an internet poll of the best animation books
of all time, and THE ILLUSION OF LIFE: DISNEY ANIMATION by Frank Thomas and
Ollie Johnston tops the list. While the list may be biased toward more
recent, easily available English publications, few would argue that this,
for once, is a solid list, and every title belongs in one's animation
library. According to Animation-Books.com, "Polling for the

Manga Video is releasing MACROSS PLUS on DVD on October 12, 1999. MACROSS
PLUS, directed by Shoji Kawamori, is a DTV (direct-to-video) which is based
on the original Japanese TV series SUPERDIMENSIONAL FORTRESS MACROSS, which
was used as the basis for the 1980s American TV series ROBOTECH. MACROSS
PLUS is set approximately thirty years after the original MACROSS and just
before the events in the Japanese TV series MACROSS 7. In MACROSS PLUS, the
universe's most popular virtual reality singer, Sharon Apple, comes alive

Gold Coast, Australia-based EA Australia, a subsidiary of Redwood City,
California-based Electronic Arts, has hired Steve Dauterman to head a new
development studio located in Australia. Dauterman, formerly Director of
Development for LucasArts, had been with the Lucas group for ten years,
initially as Financial Analyst for Lucasfilm before moving across to
LucasArts in 1992. Since working at LucasArts he has overseen the
development of such worldwide interactive titles as "Rebel Assault," "Dark

Clare Kitson, the person behind Channel 4 television's remarkable animation
programming, is leaving the animation industry. Clare did an exceptional
job, and deserves to leave her post with gratitude and appreciation from
those she has worked with for the last twelve years. Therefore, Animation
World Network is publishing a tribute to Clare in the September '99 issue
of Animation World Magazine, which will focus on television. Our tribute to
Clare will be presented in tandem with a historical article on animation at