Disney's in-development animated feature SWEATING BULLETS has gained a voice cast. Oscar winners Cuba Gooding Jr. and Judi Dench will join Sarah Jessica Parker and Ja'Net DuBois on the cast of the Western-themed musical. Randy Quaid is also in talks to voice a character. The story chronicles a group of cows who team together to save their farm. No production date has been announced, but the film has been in development for about three years.

On Sunday, November 19, 2000, the Holland Animation Film Festival concluded its five-day festival with the presentation of its awards. This year's event was the first to hand out an award for independent animation films. With this competition, the festival sets out to promote the short, artistic animation film, and, as a result, encourage media attention toward independent animation.

Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz. Where did "Ersatz," the first film from outside of the United States to win an Academy Award for best animated film, originate from? What is Rembrandt Film's home country? Where did Jiri Trnka create his body of work? Good luck...you'll need it!

This week's updates to the Calendar of Events includes the 2nd "Art & Animation" Conference & Screenings in Torino, Italy, December 11-12, 2000; the 41st Monte Carlo Television Festival in Monaco, February 16-22, 2001; Cartoon Movie in Potsdam-Babelsberg, Germany, March 15-17, 2000; the World Education Market in Vancouver, Canada, May 21-24, 2001; L!CENSING 2001 in New York, June 12-14, 2001; and more!

* Monday, January 22 – Thursday, January 25, 2000. Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.

Toronto-based TOPIX/Mad Dog (T/MD) created the visual effects for the relaunch of T. Eaton Company Ltd., the Canadian department store chain now owned by Sears Canada, Inc. The new campaign was developed by Ammirati Puris of Toronto, and directed by Floria Sigismondi. The campaign contains one 1:55 spot, one 2:35 spot, one 90-, 60- and 30-second spot and three 5-second Billboard spots. The spots recreate the feel of a 1950s Hollywood musical. The spots feature three principal characters: Gracie, the heroine; Harry Carmichael, Gracie's boss; and Arch, Gracie's right-hand man.

* Thursday, January 19 – Saturday, January 21, 2001. Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.

* Thursday, September 13 – Friday, September 14, 2001. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.


Entry Deadline: May 15, 2001.

* Thursday, January 18 – Friday, January 19, 2001. New York, New York, U.S.A.

* Saturday, March 10 – Sunday, March 18, 2001. Durango, Colorado, U.S.A.


Entry Deadline: January 2, 2001.