Taking a cue from such successful children’s programs turned stage shows like BARNEY and BLUE’S CLUES, one of TV's longest-running animated series, SCOOBY DOO comes to life. The live-action stage show SCOOBY-DOO IN STAGEFRIGHT - LIVE ON STAGE will debut on October 26, 2001 at the Palace Theater in Louisville, Kentucky. The live show is scheduled to perform in 28 cities throughout the United States and Canada.

To present the 2002 Kinder Surprise collection Canada’s TOPIX, a commercial computer animation studio, has created 3D character animation for the 30-second spot “Action Convention,” for Ferrero Canada Ltd. and agency Garneau Würstlin Philip Brand. For those not in the know about this candy treat, Kinder Surprise, launched in Italy in 1972, is a hollow chocolate egg which contains a collectable prize. In “Action Convention” an animated Kinder Surprise is seen underwater, decked out in a diving bell, as he introduces his collection of toys for 2002.

The 2001 edition of the Ottawa International Student Animation Festival (SAFO 01) has come to a close with the announcement of this year's winners.



The International Jury consisting of Phil Mulloy (United Kingdom), Annick Teninge (France), and Koji Yamamura (Japan) presented fifteen prizes. The list of winners is as follows:



National Film Board of Canada Grand Prize:

Dog, Suzie Templeton, United Kingdom



Grand Prize Runner up:

Sub, Jessie Schmal, USA

The Real Bugs Bunny and Friends: Saturday, October 20 - Saturday, November 24, 2001, Toronto, Ontario Canada. A few years back everything that might offend anyone was cut from the great films of Hollywood's Golden Age Of Animation. Little was left for those of us who love these films. This special program offers two hours of great cartoons exactly as their creators meant us to see them.

Webisode Academy / Lecture Series: Wednesday, November 07 - Wednesday, November 28, 2001, Studio City, California USA. Masters of Animation Lecture Series. Open to all - check-in at 6:30pm. Reservations recommended - class size: 25 people max, $20 per person. November 7 - Gwen Wexler. Topic: Progress & Contributions of The Women in Animation. November 14 - Dave Brain. Topic: It's All In the Animation Timing! November 17 - Art Leonardi. Topic: The Pink Panther Days. November 28 - Iraj Paran. Topic: The Hanna-Barbera Days.

Nightmare Before Christmas - Special Screening: Friday, October 19 - Wednesday, October 31, 2001, Hollywood, California USA. Tim Burton's stop-motion masterpiece, directed by Henry Selick, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS will be screening for two weeks (Oct. 19 - 31) at Hollywood's historic, restored movie palace The El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. This is an annual Halloween tradition. On the first night, Friday Oct. 19th, Jerry Beck will be moderating a panel of guests on stage in a Q & A about working with Tim Burton on NIGHTMARE, VINCENT and FRANKENWEENIE.

Bob Clampett Animation Festival: Wednesday, October 24, 2001, Toronto, Ontario Canada. Bob Clampett is recognized today as perhaps the key force in the shaping of Warner Brothers Animation. This program offers a rare chance to see two hours of his films as he meant us to see them. Uncut. In black and white if they were made in black and white, color if they were made in color.Stars Bugs, Daffy, Porky, the original nude Tweety & lots more.

The remaining artworks of Polish animator and director Aleksandra Korejwo are now for sale. These pastels are the storyboards Aleksandra created for her upcoming short animated film and were recently featured at an exhibition and silent auction of Aleksandra's work at The Director's Guild, which was the first exhibit of her work in the United States. Korejwo has developed a unique style of animation using colored salts that are manipulated with the use of a
condor feather. To view the artwork, go to http://www.acmefilmworks.com/

Pepper’s Ghost Productions’ CGI-animated series TINY PLANETS has been licensed to Germany’s Super RTL network and ITV1 in the U.K. The show recently received two BAFTA Interactive awards nominations and is scheduled to debut in the U.K. and Germany in the first quarter 2002.



French children’s cable and a satellite channel Canal J has partnered with Nickelodeon U.K., Spain, Australia and Latin America and acquired Japanese anime series YU-GI–OH, which will be broadcast in France in spring 2002.

Kellogg USA and Fox Licensing and Merchandising (Fox L&M) have created two limited-edition cereals featuring THE SIMPSONS. Kellogg's Bart Simpson Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch and Kellogg's THE SIMPSONS Homer's Cinnamon Donut Cereal are now available nationwide for a limited time at a suggested retail price of $2.49 per box.