Cinesite Hollywood has recently added four new employees, senior compositor Rory Hinnen, senior engineer Suri Denduluri, colorist Marc Wielage and trainer Andrea Paolino, to the staff of its Hollywood office. "The addition of these talented people to our staff continues our efforts of building Cinesite's strength and services to the industry," said Cinesite Hollywood president and COO Ruth Scovill. Senior compositor Rory Hinnen studied digital art, mathematics and computer science at the University of Nevada-Reno.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. has made some organizational changes and executive promotions in its North American operation. Kaz Hirai, the company's president and chief operating officer, said the new executive appointments are designed to accelerate a wide range of business objectives including the evolution of PlayStation2 as a broadband-based entertainment delivery medium. Andrew House and Jack Tretton have been promoted to executive vice presidents of Sony Computer Entertainment America.

Design studio B1 Media, which currently includes DVD and gaming divisions and a broadcast design arm, has formed B1 Productions to produce featurettes and documentaries for DVDs and content for television. As part of this new division, producers Brent Zacky and Erin Zelle have been brought on board. In addition to producing duties, Zacky and Zelle will be involved in B1's move into the production arena by developing properties for cable and network television clients. Zacky was most recently a supervising producer, writer and director with Van Ness Films.

Ward Kimball, one of Disney's legendary Nine Old Men, passed away on July 8, 2002 from natural causes at Arcadia Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, California. He was 88 years old. Ward Kimball's work at Disney began in 1934, when he joined the animation staff at the age of twenty.

Animated action series
SOSOPHIE, currently in development at entertainment company
channelzero, has brought on Emmy-winning writer Peter Gaffney.
"Peter's body of work and list of credits speak for themselves," said
channelzero founder and creative producer Dave Warren. "I think he's
the finest writer in animation and I'm thrilled to be working with
him to bring SOSOPHIE to television." Described by its creators as
THE SIMPSONS meets THE DUKES OF HAZARD, SOSOPHIE debuted at NATPE in

TV-Loonland AG has announced that chief financial officer Dr. Carl Woebcken has left the company by mutual agreement as of June 30, 2002. TV-Loonland CEO, president and company founder Peter Völkle will assume the role of CFO until a suitable replacement can be found. Dr. Woebcken has agreed to assist in an advisory capacity for an interim period following his departure. In announcing the departure, Völkle thanked Dr.

LEGO
Media, the entertainment division of LEGO, has promoted Janice Ross
to head of U.S. children's programming. In her new position, Ross
will oversee a variety of development, production and marketing
activities for LEGO Media and its growing slate of children's
programming, which includes the CGI-animated, direct-to-video feature
BIONICLE: THE MASK OF LIGHT, based on the company's successful
Bionicle characters and storyline. Previously, Ross was senior
licensing manager for the company. She will continue to be based in

New York-based visual
effects and computer animation company Black Logic, a division of the
Tape House Companies, has restructured its staff with new leadership
and numerous new hires. Ivan Molomut has been named executive
producer, after serving as head of sales for Black Logic for the past
three years. Molomut is responsible for key new hires including CGI
director Doug Johnson, who comes to Black Logic after many years in
the New York City computer graphics community. After a stint at the

Award-winning producer/director Sheldon Lazarus, formerly of Planet
24 and BSkyB, has joined Fox Kids Europe N.V. (FKE) as head of FKE's
newly created pan-European special programming department. This new
department, the first of its kind for FKE, will centralize
development of entertainment programming for FKE's European network
of channels. As head of special programming, Lazarus will oversee a
team of three and will develop global concepts, targeting local
tastes and needs within each territory, using content ranging from

Gail
Schenbaum and Karen DiNoto have joined the Los Angeles-based creative
department of Big Idea Productions. Gail Schenbaum has been appointed
senior vice president of creative affairs, responsible for
identifying and developing live-action and animated family feature
films, direct-to-video and television projects. Schenbaum brings with
her nearly 20 years of experience in the film and television
production arena. Most recently she was a producer and creative
consultant for a number of companies, including Pearson UK,

Marvel Enterprises, Inc. has appointed Kenneth P. West, 44, as executive vice president and chief financial officer. In his new capacity, West will be responsible for managing all financial and treasury functions, bank relationships and conducting internal and industry analysis to support the company's goals for growth. He will also play an important role in Marvel's expanded investor relations initiatives and developing strategies to enhance the company's capital structure.

Wade Howie will be joining Ottawa-based animation studio NOITAMINANIMATION as production director, beginning July 1, 2002. In his new position, Wade will be helping grow the studio's commercials, FX and features divisions. Wade joins NOITAMINANIMATION from ILM where he spent 5 1/2 years, first as an animator in CG features then later in ILM's commercial production unit, where he worked on spots for Pepsi, McDonald's, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 and Duracell, as well as trailers and music videos.

Zilpha Yost was recently promoted to president of Vinton Studios’ advertising division overseeing all aspects of Vinton’s commercial business, including sales, marketing, creative and production. Yost has been with Vinton Studios since 1992, when she joined the company as a producer. She was promoted to senior producer, where she took charge of the M&M's campaign, then executive producer. In 2000, she was promoted to head of commercial production, where she directed creative operations of the studios’ advertising division.

U.K.-based animation producer Telemagination has promoted Denise Green to the position of producer and hired Claire Watson as production manager. In her new capacity as Telemagination’s only in-house producer, Denise Green will have full responsibility for all productions running through the studio. Current projects include SOMETHING ELSE (26 x 11 minutes) and PONGWIFFY (26 x 11 minutes). She originally joined Telemagination as production manager in January 2001. Claire Watson has joined Telemagination as production manager and oversees all of Telemagination’s production work.

Recently launched 3D animation and digital effects studio Sway has brought on Michael Adamo as executive producer. Adamo had been consulting for the company since January 2002. In his new role as executive producer, Adamo brings to Sway extensive character animation experience. Previously, Adamo worked at Zeros & Ones, Inc., where he served as producer and a director of the 26-episode Web series, JULIUS & FRIENDS. Adamo was also co-founder of AMPnyc Animation, where he produced and co-directed the seven spot campaign, "Happy Action Fun Time on ESPN" for NCAA basketball on ESPN.

Nelvana's Toper Taylor has been promoted to president of international distribution, marketing and consumer products with responsibilities for Nelvana’s extensive portfolio of brands. Taylor also remains president of Nelvana Communications, the Los Angeles-based sales and development office of Nelvana Ltd. Adding to his current responsibilities, Taylor’s new role is to unify all distribution, licensing and merchandise sales activities under one structure that will be focused on maximizing Nelvana’s roster of brands.

Director Marco Bertoldo has joined San Francisco-based animation production company Mondo Media. In his new position, Bertoldo will assume creative responsibilities for Mondo Media’s 3D animation division. Bertoldo is best known for his 3D short GONE BAD, which was featured at the Sundance Online Film Festival 2001 and 2002, and recently won the animation category for the Alice Radio 3-Minute Film Festival. Previously, Marco Bertoldo worked as a freelance animation director for Mondo Media, supervising projects for clients such as Fox Interactive, Activision, Crystal Dynamics and 3DO.

Oscar-nominated animation director Chris Bailey has joined visual effects studio Cinesite Hollywood in the newly created role of director of animation. Prior to joining Cinesite, Bailey was director of animation at Dream Quest Images and supervised animation for such features as INSPECTOR GADGET, MIGHTY JOE YOUNG and HOCUS POCUS. He was employed at Walt Disney Studios as an animator from the mid-1980s to the early '90s, where he worked on many high-profile features including HERCULES, THE LION KING and THE LITTLE MERMAID.

Bill Peet, author and illustrator of 35 children's books and the legendary Disney storyman who is credited with writing 101 DALMATIANS, passed away on Saturday, May 11, 2002 at the age of 87. He died at his home in Studio City due to complications from several long-term illnesses. Peet joined Disney Studios in 1937 at the age of 22. He went to work immediately as an apprentice animator on SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS.

Nevada-based licensing firm The Sharpe Company has opened a branch office in Los Angeles and expanded their executive staff. In addition to the new office, Sharpe has added Mary Kean as senior licensing director and Kathy Gorden as creative director. Prior to joining Sharpe, Kean was manager of brand merchandising at AskJeeves.com and The Roger Richman Agency’s director of licensing for such celebrity icons as Albert Einstein and Steve McQueen. Kathy Gorden has extensive marketing, design and print production experience.