DIC Entertainment (DIC), Bandai America Inc. (Bandai) and ADV Films (ADV) navigating a course for the 2004 U.S. retail launch of the anime property, KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC, across all platforms with a comprehensive marketing and promotional campaign supporting the rollout.

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.

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.

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.

Kellogg Company have partnered with Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures and Imagine Entertainment for the promotion of the family film, DR. SEUSS' THE CAT IN THE HAT, which opens in theaters Nov. 21, 2003. As part of the deal, Kellogg’s will release for a limited time a CAT IN THE HAT cereal and Pop-Tart.

As part of its larger holiday season promotional push, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. will give one lucky consumer $1 million as part of its "PlayStation's Million Reasons to Play PlayStation 2 Combo Pack $1 Million Giveaway." Customers can enter by supplying the serial number from their new PlayStation 2 Combo Pack online at www.us.playstation.com by Jan. 16, 2004. A winner will be randomly chosen on Jan. 26, and presented with a check for a one-time payment of $1 million dollars by the beginning of March 2004.

Worldwide licensing agent, The Sharpe Co., has negotiated a number of licensing partners for DECODE Entertainment’s 3D animated pre-school show, THE SAVE-UMS!

New licensing and merchandising partners include Copyright Promotions Group in the U.K., France, Spain, Portugal, the Benelux territories and Italy; Licensing Works in Australia and Newman International in New Zealand. Plus Licens is a licensing partner for Scandinavia and Eastern Europe with the company also picking up merchandising rights for Scandinavia.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sternworld Creative Management, a new management firm described by its founder as the "William Morris" of creative services," has opened in Venice, California to represents a broad array of clients, including entertainment marketing, advertising, promotion and design firms. Sternworld also represents international marketing specialists, music composers and producers, and a visual effects and specialty production company.

DIC Consumer Products has significantly expanded its licensing/merchandising programs across Europe, Latin America, Australia, Asia, South Africa and the Middle East to gear up for the international launches of kid’s entertainment brands, including STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, MADELINE and SUPER DUPER SUMOS.

Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. has agreed to acquire Artisan Entertainment Inc. for $160 million cash, plus the assumption of $40 million in debt, thus creating a company with more than 8,000 entertainment titles.

A Lions Gate spokesman said the acquisition includes the assumption of about $40 million in debt, putting the total value of the deal at slightly above $200 million, plus performance-based compensation.

ADRtists will premiere PLAY IT AGAIN, MOM!, a CD collection of radio plays for children 4-8, at the October Women In Animation (WIA) L.A. General Meeting. Receiving volunteers from WIA writers and voice artists, the project was originally designed to create the CD for entertaining seriously ill and bedridden children. Some of the initial costs were covered by various individuals and the WIA Los Angeles Chapter. To cover the final cost of production and distribution, the CDs will be sold to the public.

Carlton International announced it would oversee the development of a range of licensed products to coincide with the recently announced remake of the popular 1960s Supermarionation show, CAPTAIN SCARLET. Licensing activity will focus around the revamped cast of characters and vehicles. The Carlton Consumer Division will be handling all video/DVD opportunities as well as a full cross-category range of merchandise led by an interactive deal to be commissioned by show creator Gerry Anderson.

4Kids Entertainment and Playmates Toys will be presenting the TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Training Event on Saturday, October 25, 2003 at Wal-Mart stores across the U.S., giving kids the opportunity to role-play one of their favorite heroes. Kids will be able to train with motion-activated toys that resemble Leonardo's sword, Michelangelo's nunchaku, Donatello's bo staff or Raphael's sai. Upon completing their training, students will be declared an "official" Ninja Warrior and the first 250 participants at each store will receive a certificate proclaiming them a member of Team Green.