The crew at guru animation studio in Toronto was recently presented a Silver Promax/BDA award for their work on 3 of 15 "very, very short films" for Canada's YTV network. Begun in July 2001, the spots were commissioned for YTV's 2001 fall branding campaign. The 3 1/2 second spots feature various characters, each of whom convey an abstract emotion, a weird concept or just a simple visceral pleasure.

Director Keith Ingham has joined Bardel Entertainment to helm SILVERWING, a new animated television series based on Kenneth Oppel's best selling children's novel of the same name. Ingham came to Bardel from Walt Disney Animation Canada, where he worked for 3 years as an associate director on direct-to-video projects including THE LITTLE MERMAID: RETURN TO THE SEA and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS. Ingham also produced and directed the television special WINNIE THE POOH, A VALENTINE FOR YOU.

Palos Verdes, California's Animation Design Center is looking for a BACKGROUND DESIGN INSTRUCTOR and a PROP DESIGN INSTRUCTOR . . . New York, New York's Bunko Studios, Inc. is looking for an ANIMATION/DESIGN INTERN . . . Sydney, Australia's Cape Productions is looking for DIRECTOR(S) OF ANIMATION . . . ComCore Services is looking for an VIDEO GAME ANIMATION ARTIST and a VIDEO GAME DESIGNER . . . Barcelona, Spain's Emotion Studio is looking for a CHARACTER ANIMATOR . . . Mumbai, India's Levioza Graphics is looking for a CARTOON ANIMATOR . . .

TAKALINI SESAME, the South African version of the popular children's series SESAME STREET, will be introducing an HIV-positive role model into the Muppet cast. The ASSOCIATED PRESS has reported that, at the urging of the South African government, representatives of the Sesame Workshop have decided an HIV-positive Muppet character will join the series in September 2002. "We want to build hope and address the issues of stereotypes against HIV," said Yvonne Kgame of the South African Broadcasting Corp., which airs the program.

This week's updates to the Calendar of Events include: Comic-Con 2002: Thursday, August 01 - Sunday, August 04, 2002, San Diego, California USA . . . The Big Issue International Film Festival 2002: Wednesday, November 20 - Sunday, December 01, 2002, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, NSW, VIC, QLD,SA Australia . . . Torcon3, World Science Fiction Convention: Thursday, August 28 - Monday, September 01, 2003, Toronto, Ontario Canada.

The National Film Board of Canada has compiled on one DVD, seven short animated films, each created with a different technique. SEVEN TO SEE/SEPT À VOIR!

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. has made some organizational changes and executive promotions in its North American operation. Kaz Hirai, the company's president and chief operating officer, said the new executive appointments are designed to accelerate a wide range of business objectives including the evolution of PlayStation2 as a broadband-based entertainment delivery medium. Andrew House and Jack Tretton have been promoted to executive vice presidents of Sony Computer Entertainment America.

The Young Videomakers Program At The Hamptons International Film Festival.

East Hampton, New York, USA.

Wednesday, October 16 - Sunday, October 20, 2002.

Entry Deadline: Friday, July 12, 2002.

The second Melbourne International Animation Festival in Melbourne, Australia concluded on Sunday, June 30, 2002 with a best of the festival screening and awards presentation. Featuring over 150 films from more than 30 countries, the festival is currently touring other major Australian cities. Among the winners of this year's awards were DOG by Suzie Templeton, which tied with Phil Mulloy's THE INVASION for Best Overall Film. The Best Australian Film prize of AUS$2,000 (donated by SBS Television) was shared by Dan Hartney's BUCKETHEAD and LOOKING FOR HORSES by Anthony Lawrence.

AWN Affiliates Alison Snowden and David Fine's 52-episode animated series BOB AND MARGARET will premiere on the U.S. cable network Showtime Women, beginning this Friday, July 5, 2002 at 8:00 pm. It will later air on other Showtime channels. The network will air all 52 episodes, with the most recent 26 episodes scheduled to air first. These feature Bob and Margaret living in Toronto instead of South London, and have yet to be screened in the United States. Canadian actor Brian George voices Bob, with co-creator Alison Snowden featured as Margaret.