DAZ Prods. has acquired Bryce, Corel's award-winning 3D landscaping and animation package.

Widely used by designers seeking to integrate 3D technology into their creative workflow, Bryce complements existing DAZ software packages and further strengthens DAZ's presence in the digital graphics market.

DVD producer/distributor Image Ent. and comicbook-based media company Dark Horse Ent. have partnered to produce and distribute live-action and animation genre movies, music and other entertainment programming. John Landis has signed on to write and direct a horror film for the jointly owned Dark Horse Home Ent., whose film will initially be direct-to-DVD films. In addition, Bruce Campbell and novelist and graphic novel writer Neil Gaiman have agreed to be involved in several upcoming productions.

V12 and Panopoly Pictures are merging their respective design and production departments to form Full Circle, a the new company that will provide live-action production, branding motion graphic design and animation to clients in the feature film, commercial and broadcast arenas. Leading the joint venture are V12 founder David Hwang and Panopoly Pictures co-founder Kathryn Peaslee.

Responding to industry growth and an increasing number of projects, leading visual effects company Zoic Studios has just completed a major expansion, adding new talent, technology and studio space.

In its turnaround plan to improve operating effectiveness, Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) eliminated 350 staff positions in its North American based operations. The company's Blizzard Entertainment studio was not part of the reduction.

"Restructuring the organization and reducing our cost base are necessary to improve our operating effectiveness and profitability," said VU Games ceo Bruce Hack. "This constitutes another important step in our turnaround plan aimed to better position the company for growth."

A few months ago Rick Mischel, ceo of Mainframe Ent., alluded to AWN that a sales/distribution entity would be in place soon for IDT Ent. and now that has become a reality. IDT Ent. has formed IDT Ent. Sales (IDTeS) a new company responsible for the worldwide distribution of content from its companies, as well as third-party producers. IDT Ent. companies include Anchor Bay Ent., Manga Ent., DPS, DPS/Film Roman, Mainframe Ent. and DKP Effects.

Accel-KKR, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and Alias management announced the completion of the acquisition of Alias from SGI for $57.5 million. Accel-KKR is a technology-focused private equity firm and Teachers' is one of Canada's largest pension plans with net assets of more than $75 billion CDN.

Universal Studios announced the creation of Universal Studios Partnerships (USP), an agency-inspired entity designed to oversee multi-divisional corporate alliances as well as theatrical and home entertainment promotions. USP expands upon and renames Universal Partnership Development, a group currently overseeing long-term corporate alliances. Stephanie Sperber, svp, Universal Partnership Development, has been promoted to evp, USP, reporting to Universal Pictures vice chairman Marc Shmuger.

The L.A. birthplace of the FLINTSTONES has been saved, reports THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. The City Council approved a plan that will preserve all three of the historic Hanna-Barbera animation studio buildings.

"This was really the birthplace of TV animation," said Ken Bernstein, the Los Angeles Conservancy's director of preservation issues. He hailed the City Council's May 25, 2004 approval of a plan that saves the buildings, which were denied historic landmark status in 1997.

The litigation that disrupted the relationship between Marvel Enterprises and Sony Pictures is now over. Both companies announced they have "amicably resolved their pending court disputes." In 2003, Marvel sued SPIDER-MAN partner for $50 million, claiming the film studio was trying to label SPIDER-MAN a Sony property and leaving Marvel alienated from merchandising its own character. As part of the agreement, details were not released.