TV-Loonland AG has its eyes set on 29.9 percent of the British DVD and video distributor Metrodome Group plc., London. If the green light is given at a general meeting on November 29, 2001, TV-Loonland will buy 4,184,250 new shares from Metrodome at a price of 17 pence (approximately US$.25) per share as part of a capital increase. At the same time TV-Loonland is prepared to extend a £1.5M ($2.18M) loan to Metrodome for the purpose of buying new film and DVD/video rights.

Blue Sky Studios, currently at work on the upcoming CG animation feature ICE AGE, has laid off a significant number of their animators. Sources say approximately 100 people have been let go, which could not be confirmed by Fox as of press time. However, a Fox rep did concur that animators have been laid off because the studio is ramping down as principle animation on ICE AGE is nearing completion. The Fox corporate representative also said that Blue Sky has a project in development that has not yet been announced.

Pixar Animation Studios, which currently has the United States’ top motion picture for a second week in a row, recently reported a 30 percent decline in third quarter earnings. Pixar said earnings fell to $6.2 million or 12 cents per diluted share in the third quarter, which concluded at the end of September 2001, a month before MONSTERS, INC. hit theaters. This figure is down from $8.8 million or 18 cents per share in the period a year ago. Pixar also announced that it is raising projections for 2001 EPS from the previous range of $0.50 to $0.58, to a new estimate of about $0.60.

In further developments of the MTV restructuring that has so far resulted in layoffs and the closing of MTV Animation production, Abby Terkuhle is no longer president of MTV Animation. However, according to an MTV spokesperson, Terkuhle will continue his relationship with the company, although the nature of this relationship could not be discussed at press time. Sources suggest that Terkuhle will have a first look producing deal or some similar arrangement.

In a follow up to a story about the Secret Lab closing that was written in VARIETY and subsequently reported in AWN and numerous other media outlets, AWN was told that the layoffs were part of an overall restructuring of Disney, including the feature animation department, that was announced in April 2001.

Liberty Livewire Pictures Group member R!OT Santa Monica will be integrating both artists and support staff from sister company 525 Studios. As a result, 525 Studios will curtail operations, effective by year's end.

Interactive media provider Pulse has inked a deal with text-to-speech (TTS) technology provider Rhetorical Systems making Pulse the exclusive North American reseller of Rhetorical Systems' technology for Web-based solutions. Under the agreement, Pulse will integrate Rhetorical Systems' rVoice software and sell interactive media solutions featuring a selection of character and photo-real 3D personalities with automated lip-synching and realistic human speech in both genders and a range of accents and speaking styles. Specific financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

According to a VARIETY news report, layoffs may be imminent at newly acquired Fox Family Worldwide. The Walt Disney Company recently completed their buy out of Fox Family for a final purchase price of $5.2 billion and the changes have already begun. The company’s flagship Fox Family cable channel has been renamed ABC Family and it will be rebranded with an interim ABC Family logo starting this weekend.

In an attempt to reach a previously announced goal of making its online gaming unit successful by the year 2003, game company Electronic Arts (EA) said it will cut as many as 250 jobs at its EA.com division, reported REUTERS. The cuts represent about 1/3 of EA.com’s employees. Electronic Arts employs over 3600 people worldwide and is the number one video game publisher in the U.S. The company is also the exclusive game provider to AOL. EA’s first foray into the subscription online gaming arena, the five-episode suspense thriller MAJESTIC, launched online in August 2001.

Activision, Inc. has discontinued its previously announced public offering of common stock due to current market conditions. The company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission an application for the withdrawal of its registration statement covering the 6 million shares of its common stock that were to be issued in the proposed public offering. The company has also discontinued any further marketing efforts in connection with the offering. However, the company’s Board of Directors has approved a three-for-two split of its outstanding common shares.