Anchor Bay Names Kaoru Mfaume Managing Director Of Manga Ent.
Anchor Bay Ent. has named Kaoru Mfaume as managing director for Manga Ent. He recently held the post of vp acquisitions for the company.
Anchor Bay is proud to have Kaoru as part of our team, stated Ted Green, ceo of Anchor Bay. He is a true leader within the anime world and has co-produced a number of top-selling anime titles including STREET FIGHTER: ALPHA GENERATIONS, DEAD LEAVES and GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX. His unparalled vision and leadership will help us develop this genre to its fullest potential.
KOCCA Sets Speakers & Seminars For DICON 2005
The Korea Culture & Content Agency (KOCCA) has announced the schedule of seminars and speakers for the upcoming DICON 2005 Conference set to take place Nov. 10-11, at the COEX Conference Center in Seoul.
Speakers scheduled include:
* Shinbae Kim, ceo of SK Telecom, who will serve as keynote speaker* Min Jung Song, manager, management strategy, Korea Telecom* Barry Blumberg, president, Walt Disney TV Animation* Charles Riotto, president, LIMA* Margaret Dean, producer, Warner Bros. Animation
SpongeBob Season Three on DVD
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS THE COMPLETE 3RD SEASON has arrived on DVD (Paramount Home Ent., $49.99). All 21 episodes appear on the three-disc set, as the popular series hits its full stride. A more compact case, but still light on extras (except for the never-before-released HELP WANTED pilot).
Episodes include:* The Algae's Always Greener / SpongeGuard On Duty* Club SpongeBob / My Pretty SeaHorse* Just One Bite / The Bully* Nasty Patty / Idiot Box* Mermaid Man And Barnacle Boy IV / Doing Time
James Newton Howard to Score King Kong
Universal Pictures confirmed today that James Newton Howard has replaced Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore on KING KONG.
Facelift Produces Monstories in Harmony
Toon Boom Animation announced that Facelift Enterprises Inc. is producing MONSTORIES, their internationally award-winning television series, using Toon Boom Harmony. A mix of hand drawn animation with CG components, the 52-episode production has its entire pre-production, color styling, compositing and post- production created out of Facelift's Vancouver location, while Philippine animation studio PASI takes care of a majority of scanning, portions of animation and inking and painting.
eDIT 8. Filmmaker’s Festival Reports Record Attendance
eDIT 8. The Filmmakers Festival, which took place Oct. 9-11 in Frankfort, Germany, enjoyed an increased participation of almost 50% over the previous year, a fact that could clearly be seen in the full theaters. In addition to the 2,300 professional visitors there were 350 guests from the media industry, politics and business, along with 130 international speakers and around 120 accredited journalists.
Pesky, Bejuba! & Studio B Catapult Forward with Adrenalini Brothers!
Pesky and Bejuba! Ent. and Studio B Prods. have begun production on the animated series, THE AMAZING ADRENALINI BROTHERS! Created by U.K.-based Pesky, this seven-minute formatted series of 26 half-hours is aimed at kids 6-12 and will air on ITVs prime Saturday morning slot, CITVs Ministry of Mayhem. The series is also set to debut on YTV in Canada, and on Cartoon Network. Bejuba! Ent. holds television distribution rights with Studio B holding digital rights to the series.
EA & Steven Spielberg to Develop Three Original Videogames
In a groundbreaking long-term agreement, Electronic Arts Inc. announced that Academy Award-winner Steven Spielberg will be collaborating with the game makers at EA's Los Angeles studio (EALA) to create three new original franchise properties. Beginning this year, with offices located on site at EALA, Spielberg will work directly with EA's development teams to offer his signature style of storytelling to the concept, design, story and artistic visualization of the new games.
Craig, Daniel Craig, is James Bond
Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, MGM and Sony Pictures Ent. have made it official Daniel Craig has been cast in the role of the legendary British secret agent, James Bond, in the highly anticipated 007 adventure thriller CASINO ROYALE.
Cinderella Magical in First Week on DVD
Finishing at the top of the home entertainment sales charts, Buena Vista Home Ent.'s special edition of CINDERELLA sold 3.2 million units in its first week. The 55-year-old animated classic sold twice the amount units the other top new releases Universal's THE INTERPRETER and Sony/MGM's AMITYVILLE HORROR combined. The enchanted release garnered approximately $60 million in one week. ROBOTS, last weeks top seller, slipped to #2.
MTV Buys IFILM
MTV Networks announced that it has acquired IFILM, the leading, Internet provider of short films and news and other video clips, for $49 million, reports REUTERS. As part of the deal, IFILM will remain under the control of its current ceo, Blair Harrison, and will retain its editorial independence.
MTV plans to grow IFILM's current reach to more than 10 million users a month and boost advertising revenues by cross-promoting IFILM on other MTV-owned websites and offering MTV content on IFILM.
Studio B Clashes With Class of the Titans
On New Year's Eve 2005, CLASS OF THE TITANS, an original animated series produced by Studio B, will launch on the Canadian specialty network, TELETOON. Studio B is in post-production on 26x22 episodes of the action-adventure series with distribution partner Nelvana. Studio B and Nelvana will launch this new series at MIPCOM Jr. in France.
IDT Ent. Sales To Debut Yankee Irving At AFM
IDT Ent. Sales will handle worldwide sales for its computer-generated animated feature film Yankee Irving, which it will begin selling at the American Film Market. The film set to be released in U.S. theaters in August 2006, by 20th Century Fox. The film features an all-star cast, including Rob Reiner, Whoopi Goldberg, William H. Macy, Brian Dennehy, Mandy Patinkin, Robert Wagner, Richard Kind, Raven-Symone, Dana Reeve, and Joe Torre and introduces Jake T. Austin, 10, as the voice of the title character.
The Ooshes in Licensing Challenge at MIPCOM Jr.
New York-based Lavinias World has announced that THE OOSHES has been chosen as one of five finalists in the 2005 MIPCOM Jr. Licensing Challenge. The finalists will be pitching their projects live to a jury that will select one as the winner. The final round of this competition, organized by MIPCOM Jr. and LICENSE! MAGAZINE will take place on Oct. 16, in Cannes, France.
Kingwood College Hosts Student Video & Animation Fest
Its a Wrap Student Video and Animation FestKingwood, Texas, USANovember 12, 2005Deadline: October 21, 2005
Kingwood College is seeking student submissions in animation or video for the upcoming Its a Wrap Student Video and Animation Fest, at Kingwood College. Submissions are due Oct. 21, must be recent works (completed after September 2004) and under 10 minutes. Winning entries will be showcased at the Nov. 12 event.
Jewish Themed Works Sought for Jewish Animation Celebration
Jewish Animation CelebrationToronto, Ontario, CanadaJanuary 2006Deadline: November 11, 2005
The Toronto Animated Image Society (TAIS) is hosting its Jewish Animation Celebration. The short film and video show is entering its third year and celebrates Jewish culture, tradition, art and community. Its open to all kinds of animation, classical cels, paint, cutouts, Flash, 3D, puppets, etc. Entries total running time must not exceed 10 minutes. For more information, visit www.awn.com/tais.
Support Schools Enter the Palm Beach Film Fest
The Palm Beach International Film Festival 2006Palm Beach, Florida, USAApril 20-27, 2006Deadline: February 1, 2006
Digital Musings From the Editor:
With the industry still abuzz over the new Autodesk/Alias alliance, VFXWORLD took the opportunity to find out what happens next by interviewing Autodesks Carl Bass and Marc Petit and Alias Doug Walker. You can read today what they have to say about making their 3D software packages more interoperable and how they plan on taking full advantage of the convergence between the entertainment and design worlds.
R!OT Atlanta Completes Major Expansion
Responding to increased demands for its services and the continuing growth of the broadcast and advertising industries in the southeast, R!OT Atlanta has completed a major expansion and reconstruction effort. The work has resulted in a complete makeover of the facility, providing clients and staff with an enhanced creative working environment.
Brand New School Creates Shorts to Promote 2006 Volkswagen Passat
Brand New School of Santa Monica has produced more than two-dozen short films to highlight the new features of the 2006 Volkswagen Passat. The :15 films are part of a unique marketing campaign for the car conceived by ad agency Arnold Worldwide. Volkswagen plans to post the films on its website.
MoonScoop Acquires Majority Stake In Mike Young Prods./Taffy Ent.
MoonScoop has acquired 51% of independent animation studio Mike Young Prods. (MYP) and its distribution arm Taffy Ent. The combined unit brings together titles such as MoonScoops CODE LYOKO, TITEUF, THE FANTASTIC FOUR, FUNKY COPS, DR. DOG and LITTLE VAMPIRE and Mike Youngs TODDWORLD, DIVE OLLY DIVE and PET ALIEN. MoonScoop plans to invest funds into Mike Young Prods./Taffy Ent. The two distribution teams will manage a combined catalogue of 2,400 half-hour episodes.
Kong Swings Onto Toonami U.K.
This November, Toonami in the U.K. will begin airing a new 40-episode KONG animated series and a 74-minute animated movie from BKN New Media.
Turner Broadcastings boys action animation channel will air the U.K. premiere of KONG THE ANIMATED SERIES on Nov. 1, at 6:00 pm. The movie, KONG: KING OF ATLANTIS, will have its U.K. premiere during Toonamis popular Destination: Friday block on Nov. 11, at 5.30 pm. It will have its network premiere on Cartoon Network on Nov. 19.
Wallace & Gromit Store Giving Away Signed DVDs
In support of the launch of WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT, Aardman Animation has opened a new Wallace and Gromit store online. As a special promotion, the company will be giving away signed copies of copies of CRACKING ANIMATION (VOLUME ONE) signed by the creator of WALLACE & GROMIT Nick Park, Peter Lord and Brian Sibley. The autographed disks sell for a £100 each, but everyone who places an order between now and Sunday, Oct. 16, will automatically be entered into a free prize draw to win one.
Perky Pickle Studios Clashes Again With Crash Bandicoot
Perky Pickle Studios has wrapped on the development and design for Vivendi-Universal Interactives CRASH BANDICOOT: TAG TEAM RACING. Due out Oct. 18, on Xbox, Game Cube, PlayStation 2 and PSP, this latest outing finds the bandicoot in a pedal to the metal racing brawl. Perky Pickle Studios previously worked on the hit game, CRASH: TWINSANITY. This time around, Perky Pickle partnered with Vancouver-based developer Radical Ent. to produce the expansion of the franchise.
AI of LA Offers Scholarships for High School Seniors
The Art Institute of California Los Angeles invites high school seniors interested in the fields of applied arts and design to apply for tuition scholarships in its 2006 Scholarship Competition. The competition is open to all students who are scheduled to graduate in 2006 from a U.S. high school or equivalent foreign institution.
Scholarships are available for new students pursuing degrees in Graphic Design, Media Arts & Animation, Game Art & Design, Interior Design, Interactive Media Design and Video Production.
