Three games from the Walt Disney Internet Group are now available to users of the Sprint PCS Wireless Web including a game based on the current Disney/Pixar blockbuster film Monsters, Inc. and a game based on Disney's animated film Atlantis: The Lost Empire.

Scandal-plagued children's television producer Cinar Corp. has laid off staff and appointed new auditors in an attempt to restructure its entertainment and corporate divisions. Under the restructuring, Cinar's Montreal staff has been reduced from 164 to 110. While most of the layoffs were corporate positions, 22 employees were cut in Cinar's studios and animation department. The restructuring is the latest of several administrative steps taken during the past 20 months by Cinar's current management to put the company on solid footing once again.

SIMPSONS producer Film Roman, Inc. announced a revenue decrease of 26%, or $1.3 million, to $3.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2001. This number is down from $5.0 million for the previous year at this time. Total revenue decreased primarily because the company delivered fewer prime time fee-for-services episodes offset by more Saturday morning fee-for-services episodes.

In an aggressive attempt to discredit Nickelodeon, the Writers Guild of America, west (WGAw) has launched an advertising campaign requesting Nickelodeon Animation Studios adhere to the standards of the International Council of Toy Industries (ICTI) Code of Business Practices or the Fair Labor Association (FLA) Workplace Code of Conduct. The request is in reference to the licensing and manufacturing of toys and other merchandise based on two Nickelodeon animated characters SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS and JIMMY NEUTRON: BOY GENIUS.

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.