CINAR Corp. will hold a special meeting of shareholders on Jan. 15, 2004 at the Omni Hotel in Montreal to obtain approval for a $143.9 million acquisition by an investor group comprised of former Nelvana execs Michael Hirsh and Toper Taylor with TD Capital Canadian Private Equity Partners.

Madrid’s Zinkia Ent. is busy signing up top creative talent to start production on its 3D CGI animated preschool property, POCOYÓ. The 52x7 series is being co-produced with Carlton International, for U.K. commercial broadcaster ITV.

Already on board is one of Spain’s leading 3D animation specialists, Magoga Piñas, who has joined the Pocoyó team. Magoga, has more than a decade of experience in the 3D animation field, working on feature films such as LA GRAN AVENTURA DE MORTADELO Y FILEMON (2003) as well as commercials and graphics.

Nasscom, India’s premier information technology body, is betting big on the Indian animation industry, predicting the sector is all set to register an exponential growth in the coming years, according to the BUSINESS STANDARD in a report from its bureau in Bangalore, India.

IDT Corp., a multinational carrier, telephone and technology company that has been showering investment capital based on animation companies has created IDT Entertainment Inc., a new business subsidiary, which will incorporate Digital Production Solutions (DPS), IDT’s existing animation company, DPS/Film Roman and its joint venture and equity interest with Vanguard Animation. Upon completion of its purchase of Mainframe Ent. in Vancouver, the CGI production house will also become part of IDT Entertainment.

Veteran industry executives Margaret Loesch and Bruce Stein have teamed to create The Hatchery, LLC, a new entertainment and marketing firm. Loesch, an Emmy Award-winning producer, was most recently president/ceo of Crown Media U.S./Hallmark Channel. Stein was formerly president/coo of Mattel Inc. Also a partner in the new production house is Emmy and Peabody Award-winning producer/writer Dan Angel.

The Writers Guild of America West (WGAw) and IATSE (The Animation Guild Local 839) have reached a tentative agreement regarding representation on DreamWorks’ upcoming animated series FATHER OF THE PRIDE, according to DAILY VARIETY.

A new wrinkle has developed in the decades old battle over Winnie the Pooh licensing rights. THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER reported that Clare Milne, the granddaughter of POOH creator A.A. Milne, has been grant a chance to regain the copyrights from the current rights holders, the Slesinger family. Judge Florence-Marie Cooper’s new ruling allows Milne to appeal Cooper's earlier, tentative decision, which ruled the request invalid.

On Thursday, October 30, 2003, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge John H. Squires approved Classic Media’s purchase of Big Idea Productions for $19.3 million. In August, Classic Media made public its plans to purchase the VEGGIE TALES producer for $7.5 million as the troubled firm filed for bankruptcy. As part of U.S. bankruptcy law, assets of Big Idea had to be put up for auction to allow the company’s creditors the best chance of recouping funds.

Cinesite (Europe) Ltd. will be in Los Angeles to recruit artists on Nov. 6-7, 2003 for some of its upcoming vfx projects. Recruiters will be based at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, and interested applicants are invited to meet with them to discuss professional opportunities in London. Please email jobs@cinesite.co.uk with resumes. Cinesite will also be holding open recruitment on Nov. 6 at 6:00 pm.

An investor group comprised of Michael Hirsh, Toper Taylor and TD Capital Canadian Private Equity Partners signed a definitive agreement Oct. 30, 2003 to acquire all of the outstanding multiple and limited voting shares of CINAR Corp. for $143.9 million in cash by way of a plan of arrangement.