On Friday, October 6, 2000, Cinar Corp. released a letter by company president and CEO Barrie Usher to its investors chronicling the reasons behind their delayed reporting of financial statements dating as far back as 1997. Currently, the Montreal-based production firm is under investigation for allegedly using false Canadian names on scripts, written by Americans, to obtain lucrative Canadian tax credits.

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada-based Remote Planet, an independent radio program developing an animated TV series, is looking for 2D ANIMATORS/CONCEPTUAL ARTISTS. . . Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada-based Helix Animation Inc., a 2D animation production studio, is looking for a 2D CLASSICAL ANIMATION POSER and an ANIMATION POSING SUPERVISOR for a Saturday morning television production. . . Mexico City, Mexico-based Ollin Studio, an animation and visual effects studio specialized in 3D animation and VFX for commercials, is looking for 3D ANIMATORS with experience. . .

The films in competition for Independent Short, Applied Animation and Student Films in Belgium and The Netherlands were selected by festival organizers Erik van Drunen, Mette Peters and Gerben Schermer. The selection list is now available on the festival Web site. The selection can be viewed by film title, director, production company, country and competition category.

* Wednesday, October 11, 2000. San Francisco, California, U.S.A.

Paramount Home Video and Nickelodeon are releasing the first feature length adventure based on the hit series BLUE’S CLUES entitled, BLUE’S BIG MUSICAL MOVIE. The direct-to-video release will be available on VHS and DVD October 3, 2000. The film is geared toward teaching young children the fundamentals of music including notes, rhythm and tempo. The DVD will include special features such as "Backstage at BLUE’S CLUES – A Sneak Peak for Parents," two musical videos by Ray Charles and a "Who am I?" menu guessing game.

* Thursday, October 12 – Sunday, October 22, 2000. Montreal, Canada.

TOPIX/Mad Dog has just finished a new Alka-Seltzer ad for the Mexican market. Combining live-action and 3D animation, the 20-second spot, "Termita," features a hungry termite, who cures his upset stomach with Alka-Seltzer. TOPIX/Mad Dog’s animation director Richard Rosenman said, "Our priorities were to illustrate the termite eating wood, plastic, becoming ill, and, of course, being cured by a dose of Alka-Seltzer.

* Wednesday, November 8 – Sunday, November 12, 2000. Ajijic, Mexico.

* Saturday, October 28, 2000. Hollywood, California, U.S.A.

* Wednesday, September 27, 2000. Burbank, California, U.S.A.