The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) is establishing a task force to define the parameters of a stereoscopic 3-D mastering standard for content viewed in the home. Called 3-D Home Display Formats Task Force, the project promises to propel the 3-D home entertainment industry forward by setting the stage for a standard that will enable 3-D feature films and other programming to be played on all fixed devices in the home, no matter the delivery channel.

Imagi International Holdings, Limited has entered into an agreement with Merriman Curhan Ford & Co. whereby the bank will serve as Imagi's Principal American Liaison (PAL) on the International OTCQX, a U.S. listing service representing some of the best companies listed outside the United States.

Imagi's listing on the International OTCQX will enable the Hong Kong CG animation company to gain access to a currently untapped pool of U.S. investors.

Imagi's secondary listing on the International OTCQX is scheduled to become active in September.

Foundation 9 Ent. is clarifying the branding for its three Amaze Ent. studios. The move comes as a result of the company's studio-focused strategy to foster individuality and studio autonomy within the company.

The Austin, Texas, USA studio is reinstating its original name, Fizz Factor, and the handheld studio in Kirkland, Washington, USA is also reinstating its original name, Griptonite Games. The console studio in Kirkland will be keeping the Amaze Ent. name.

C21MEDIA reports that DIC Ent.'s stockholders met today to vote on the proposed merger with Canadian Cookie Jar Ent., which is worth $87.6 million.

The stockholder meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m. to discuss the proposed merger, which was first announced June 20.

DIC has suspended trading on London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) pending the outcome of the meeting. If the shareholders approve the merger, it will be submitted to the Delaware secretary of state on or around July 21, with a withdrawal from AIM on July 23.

Japanese manga and graphic novel publisher VIZ Media is starting a production company to create films from their catalogue, including NARUTO, BLEACH and DEATH NOTE.

Jason Hoffs, former production exec at Amblin and DreamWorks, will head up the company, based in Hollywood.

Japanese publishing houses Shogakukan, Shueisha and Hakusensha are the parent companies. Those three publish almost half of all manga that comes to the U.S.

The sale of the entertainment unit of EM.Sport Media AG to Studio 100, a Belgian media company, was completed today.

The sale was approved by the antitrust authorities in charge, as well as the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for Commercial Broadcasting and the Commission on Concentration in the Media.

OGPlanet, a provider of multiplayer online games, has received funding from a leading venture capital firm DFJ Athena. This funding supports its continued growth and the company is expected to reach profitability shortly.

IMAX Corporation and Tokyu Recreation, the owner of 109 Cinemas, one of Japan's largest exhibition chains, have entered into a joint venture agreement to install up to four IMAX theatres in Japan. The agreement marks IMAX's second international joint venture deal, as the Company aligns itself with top exhibitors worldwide with its new IMAX Digital theatre system. To date, IMAX has signed contracts for more than 180 IMAX Digital theatre systems, with approximately 50 expected to be installed by the end of 2008.

Perspective Studios, a leading creator of animation and motion capture for feature film, television, commercials and video games, announced Tuesday the opening of a West Coast studio in Santa Monica, California.

In a significant expansion for the company, which also has state-of-the-art motion capture and production facilities in New York, the new facility will provide top-quality 3-D animation and motion capture on the ground in Los Angeles and support Perspective Studios' rapidly expanding portfolio of clients, production attachments and original IP.

The Visual Effects Society (VES), the entertainment industry's only official organization representing the extended community of visual effects professionals, has published its first ever white paper, entitled "The State of Visual Effects in the Entertainment Industry."