London-based SEVEN ANIMATION, a 3D computer animation and special effects company, has named JO NOBLE as Producer. Noble has done work on PADDINGTON BEAR, DIRTY BEAST, and BEANO. Noble will supervise Seven Animation's children’s programs being developed for MIPTV 2000.

BLUE SKY STUDIOS, a leading animation house, has promoted LINDA ZAZZA to Operations Manager. She will oversee day-to-day operations of the facility and office, including recommending and hiring administrative staff, working with vendors, planning events and budgeting. Zazza began her tour of duty at Blue Sky as an executive administrative assistant.

Walt Disney's former Executive VP of Corporate Affairs JOHN COOKE was named the J. PAUL GETTY TRUST's exec VP of External Affairs. He will be responsible for establishing and maintaining all business relationships, including partnerships between the Getty and other cultural and corporate institutions around the world. . . .

As was reported [AF 12/21/99], a federal

court jury convicted former Walt Disney Internet executive, 34-year-old

Patrick Naughton, of possessing child pornography, but deadlocked on

charges that he crossed state lines seeking sex with a "13-year-old girl"

which he arranged via the Internet. On Wednesday, December 22, 1999, U.S.

District Judge Edward Rafeedie reversed his own ruling and released

Naughton from jail, saying it was likely that he would win a new trial. On

On Thursday, December 16, 1999, a federal court jury convicted former Walt

Disney Internet executive, 34-year-old Patrick Naughton, of possessing

child pornography, but deadlocked on charges that he crossed state lines

seeking sex with a "13-year-old girl" which he arranged via the Internet.

Naughton's lawyers asked that he remain free on bail awaiting an appeal,

however the request was denied due to the fact that federal law requires

persons convicted of crimes of violence to be jailed upon waiting for an

Disney's television animation chief Charles Hirschhorn has been given the
boot. The now former head of Walt Disney Television and Walt Disney
Television animation officially exited the position on Wednesday, December
8, 1999. It's speculated that Hirschhorn's responsibilities at WONDERFUL
WORLD OF DISNEY will most likely be taken over by ABC movies and
mini-series head Susan Lyne, while his duties for TV animation and
direct-to-video flicks will most likely be folded into the feature

Charles Schulz, the creator of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the entire
PEANUTS gang, has decided that he will retire in order to concentrate on
beating his newly diagnosed cancer. This desicion will end almost five
decades of Schulz's world-famous comic. Schulz, who has always refused to
let another artist draw PEANUTS, said he would stop producing new daily
panels as of January 3, 2000 but allow his syndicators to recycle comic
strips from 1974 if newspapers still wanted to run the strip. On a daily

Film Roman's Board of Directors has finished their search for a new CEO and
president with the naming of veteran industry exec John Hyde to the
position. Hyde's expertise ranges from work in television, film, music and
new media. By replacing former CEO/pres. David Pritchard, Hyde steps into a
position with promise and heightened pressure. Besides producing THE
SIMPSONS and KING OF THE HILL, over seeing various live-action film
productions, and coddling their infant on-line channel Level13.com, Hyde

The Florida-based AARGH! ANIMATION, Inc. has hired JASON TEATE as color
designer and associate producer. Jason completed color design for AARGH!'s
recent series of national spots for Cold-Eeze cold medicine, which are now
airing.

KIM MCQUILKEN has been promoted to executive vice president of CARTOON
NETWORK sales and marketing. Based in Atlanta, his new responsibilities
will include sales and marketing for Cartoon Network.com. Formerly senior
vice president and general sales manager for the unit, McQuilken joined
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., in 1992 as director of marketing for
special projects for the 1994 Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia.
After the Games, he served as vice president, sports and brand licensing