Digital Artists Agency (DAA) has signed agreements to represent Academy Award-winning visual effects supervisors Volker Engel (INDEPENDENCE DAY) and Tim McGovern (TOTAL RECALL). In addition, the company has also signed visual effects supervisor Patrick Shearn, an Emmy Award nominee for 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN, and Eric Mises-Rosenfeld, a French national with 15 years of award-winning TV commercial and feature film experience.

Smarterville, Inc., a Web-based children’s media company, announced that Peter Doctorow, former president of Knowledge Adventure, has been named as president and chief executive officer. Founder Ben Sharpe will remain as chief technology officer. "We are excited to add Peter Doctorow to our team," said Ben Sharpe, Smarterville founder and chief technology officer.

Long-time animation producer Zdenka Deitchova has been formally named the chief of the Bratri v Triku (Kratky Film) animation studio in Prague. Deitchova has worked as a producer at the studio for over 55 years. Deitchova commented jokingly, "It's only temporary until they find someone else!" This appointment marks the first female head in the studios’ illustrious history.

AtomFilms has appointed veteran TV executive Mikael Shields senior VP entertainment Europe. At the Netcaster, Shields will shepherd acquisitions and development of entertainment properties, negotiating and managing co-productions and content partnerships in Europe. He will work out of the year-old London office of the Seattle-based company. Previously, Shields served as CEO of U.K. television production company EVA Entertainment. He was a founding shareholder of EVA and helped negotiate the firm’s sale to Pearson Television in February 1999.

Rhythm & Hues has added David Glaubke to its staff as director of development. This move quickens the special effects house’s transition to becoming an original content producer. Glaubke will help R&H VP of motion pictures, Deborah Giarrantana, in developing relationships with various writers and producers. Previously, Glaubke served as the story editor for Australian-based Village Roadshow. Currently, Glaubke has started work on the company’s 3D animated feature, ARMOUR STAR, from FERNGULLY-director Bill Kroyer.

Web toon house Honkworm International will open a new studio in Vancouver. Video and gaming designer Ian Verchere has been named president of Honkworm Canada and digital production veteran David Weir has been named president of digital production. The Seattle-based company has also assigned Verchere to the post of senior executive producer and Weir to creative director. As president of Honkworm (Canada), Verchere will oversee the physical development and production of new series by the Canadian company.

face2face, a Lucent Technologies-owned facial analysis software developer, has named Kathleen Papera as director of business development and Rich Smith as director of marketing. In her new post, Papera will oversee face2face's marketing strategy, focusing on the gaming community. Papera will also be in charge of finding and managing relationships with complementary partners in the gaming industry, as well as supervising gaming customer's beta sites. "When I was first introduced to face2face's alterEGO, I knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of this venture," said Papera.

Alias|Wavefront, a SGI subsidiary, announced four key senior management changes. Warren Pratt, the previous president of Alias|Wavefront, has been named chairman of Alias|Wavefront and senior vice president of engineering for SGI. Doug Walker, previously vice president of worldwide field operations and marketing, has been appointed president to fill Pratt’s place. Dave Wharry has joined Alias|Wavefront to fill the empty seat as vice president of worldwide field operations and marketing. Peter Mehlstaeubler has been promoted to vice president.

Rhinoceros Visual Effects has signed five digital CG design artists: Armin Matin, Natalie Saenko, Jeff Guerrero, Patrick Porter and Mark Stienberg. The new team came from the now defunct R/Greenberg Studios, where Rhinoceros executive producers Michael Miller and Rick Wagonheim previously worked.

RETURN OF THE JEDI and RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK producer Howard Kazanjian has joined Cornerstone Animation, Inc.’s board of advisors. Kazanjian will serve as a production consultant on the company’s major projects. "Needless to say, we’re thrilled to have someone of Howard’s talent, reputation and experience aboard," said Larry D. Whitaker, Jr., Cornerstone’s CEO.