Bill Plympton has updated his

appearances

page. This month, "Surprise Cinema" will be appearing in

various festivals and other events in the US, Canada, France,

Belgium and Germany. Bill will be appearing at the Comics Festival

in Angouleme, France, January 26-31, and at the Zagreb World

Festival of Animated Films in Zagreb, Croatia, June 12-25, 2000.

* Thursday, February 10, 2000. Chicago, Illinois, USA.

The 29th Mobius Advertising Awards is a yearly event recognizing

outstanding television and radio commercials, as well as print advertising

and package designs. The competition is open to television commercials and

campaigns which have been produced, screened or aired in the past 12

months. The animation-related categories include: Animation-Computer,

Animation-Non-Computer, and Animation-Computer & Non-Computer. For more

* Friday, January 28, 2000. Los Angeles, California, USA.

Art In Motion focuses on innovative content and diversity. The criteria for

entry is time rather than medium based, and therefore video, film and

digital projects, animations, Websites, CD-Roms etc. are all eligible.

Hybrids are particularly welcome. There will be a $1000 "Best of Show"

award and "first place" allocations in each exhibition category. For more

information contact Jim Keller or Janet Owen, festival organizers at:

On Wednesday, January 12, 2000, Walt Disney's legendary animator Marc Davis

passed away at Glendale Memorial Hospital shortly following a stroke. He

was 86 years old. Davis was a member of Disney's inner circle known as the

"nine old men." During his 43-year tenure at the studio, Davis brought to

life such classic characters as Bambi, Cinderella, Alice, Briar Rose,

Maleficent and Cruella DeVil. In addition to creating many of Disney's

female characters, he served as a key player in the development of many of

* Friday, January 14 - Sunday, January 16, 2000. Boulder, Colorado, USA.

The Moondance International Film Festival's objective is to promote and

encourage women screenwriters and women who make independent films, in any

genre, including animation. There will be one winner in each category:

Filmmaker, Screenwriter, or Documentary Filmmaker. Awards: $2000 for best

original screenplay, $2000 for best independent film, and $1000 for best

documentary film. There will be 2 semi-finalists in each category. All

London-based Link Entertainment Television has sold the rights to

TEDDYBEARS to U.S.-based Trio Channel, a new satellite channel broadcast on

Direct TV and TCI Hits. Trio's 26 episode purchase comes on the heals of

another recent deal for Link with Canada's SCN for all 52 episodes of the

lovable bears television adventures.

On December 2, 1999, USA Networks' Live Telecast of IMPROV-ICE, debuted

graphics done by Pinnacle Systems' Rocket for FXDeko. Rocket for FXDeko is

a template-based tool that allows the generation of real-time 3D elements

which can be automatically updated by live data streams. Rocket integrates

with Pinnacle's award-winning FXDeko character generators and adds further

dimension to live broadcasts including textured, reflective and transparent

* Tuesday, January 25, 2000. Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.

Canadian Drawn, a screening of animation from the Canadian Film Board, will

be presented at 7:30 pm. The event highlighting the amazing work of the

Film Board will be held at Macquariam, 1800 Peachtree St. NW. This

screening is sponsored by ASIFA-Atlanta, a social organization for people

interested and professionally involved in animation. For information

contact Joni Strandquest at (770) 457-3455.

Popeye the Sailor makes his newest appearance in the Toronto-based

TOPIX/MAD DOG, Chuck Gammage Animation and Generator Film produced spot for

Campbell's Soup. The 30 second spot for new Chunky Prime Rib features

integrated 3D animation, live-action and cel animation. Our hero Popeye

opts for a can of Chunky soup over his standard spinach to save the lovely

Olive Oyl. The spot was produced for Toronto-based ad agency Young &

Rubicam. TOPIX/Mad Dog producer Anne Deslauriers oversaw the 3D animation

New York-based EYEBALL created 10 second ID tags for seven USA Network

shows including: BAYWATCH, LA FEMME NIKITA, XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS and LAW

AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT. A circular frame opens around footage from

the USA program as the tag line "You Are Here" appears amidst flag stripes

and flashes. Brighter colors were used for the more light-hearted shows,

while a grittier mood was created for the more serious dramas. Daniel Fries

was the Creative Director at Eyeball.