New York's Across Frontiers International, producers of CD-Rom based movies for corporate/educational interests, is looking for a VIDEO EDITOR/ANIMATOR. . . India's Animindia, a 2D animation studio, is looking for a BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE. . . Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada's Collideascope Digital Productions, Inc., a new media and convergence company, is looking for ROUGH KEY & INBETWEEN ANIMATORS, CLEAN-UP ANIMATORS and LAYOUT/BACKGROUND ARTISTS for a children's animated series. . .

The World Animation Celebration will offer the only West Coast screening of "Mutant Aliens," Bill Plympton's new animated feature that premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. This sci-fi comedy about totally evil but cuddly aliens coming to Earth to get their revenge won the Feature Film Grand Prix at the 2001 Annecy Animation Festival. Bill Plympton, who did all the animation, will be present at the screening. He will also be signing copies of his graphic novel of "Mutant Aliens." The first 50 attendees will get special collectible viewers with raunchy stills from the film.

This week's updates to the Calendar of Events include: Vancouver Film School US Roadshow: Monday, July 16 - Friday, July 20, 2001, Dallas, Austin, Houston & Denver, Texas & Colorado USA. Comic-Con International: Thursday, July 19 - Sunday, July 22, 2001, San Diego, California USA. Puppet Short Film and Video Festival: Sunday, July 22, 2001, Los Angeles, California USA. Animation Workout with Guest Director Marc Cashman: Tuesday, July 31, 2001, Burbank, California USA. Bill Plympton's "Mutant Aliens" West Coast Premiere: Wednesday, August 08, 2001, Los Angeles, California USA.

* Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival: Friday, February 01 - Saturday, February 09, 2002, Clermont-Ferrand, France.


Entry Deadline: Friday, October 19, 2001

Avid Technology, Inc. has announced a lower outlook for its second quarter financial results. As a result of weakened economic conditions globally, revenues for the second quarter ended June 30, 2001 are projected to be below previous expectations and in the range of US$108 to $111 million. Avid's European video business and the company's worldwide audio business have been most impacted by the slowing economy, with both experiencing reductions in revenue over last year. As a result of the reduced revenue, gross profit will be lower than originally expected.

A Warner Bros. spokeswoman announced that AOL Time Warner will close all of its U.S.-based Warner Bros. Studio Stores by the end of October. The move will cut another 3,800 jobs from the mega-firm and is attributed to the company's failure to find a buyer for the troubled chain store. At its peak there were 130 stores worldwide. "We're in a wind-down process," a Warner Bros. spokeswoman said. "Management decided to get out of the owned and operated retail business."

San Francisco’s Wild Brain, Inc. has promoted BZ Petroff to head of production. In her new position, Petroff will be responsible for developing strategies to strengthen all aspects of the studio’s various production-related departments. As Wild Brain continues to add to its CG and other technology-based capabilities, BZ will look for ways to incorporate these tools into the studio’s work in TV, film and interactive production. In addition to her new role as head of production, Petroff is also a dedicated producer. She recently completed work on the new Warner Bros.

London's AGI-UK, a game development company, is looking for an ARTIST/GAMER for computer games. . . Los Angeles, California's Back Alley Pictures, an independent film & Web content creation company, is looking for an ANIMATOR for a mock news show combining animation and live action. This is an unpaid job. . . London, UK's Change Limited, a game company, is looking for a LEAD ANIMATOR with 3D Studio Max and Character Studio experience. . . New York's Curious Pictures is looking for CHARACTER ANIMATORS (traditional and/or Flash) and INTERNS for upcoming broadcast projects. . .

This week's updates to the Calendar of Events includes: RMCAD And ASIFA-Colorado Present PJ's Director Sean Burns: Thursday, July 26, 2001, Denver, Colorado USA. Ed Hooks' Acting Class for Animators: Saturday, August 4, 2001 and Monday, August 13 - Wednesday, August 15, 2001, Stanford, California USA. They Shoot Animators, Don't They? An Animation Marathon: Friday, August 10 - Monday, August 13, 2001, London, UK. ASIFA-Hollywood Presents A Book Signing With Leslie Iwerks, Co-Author Of "The Hand Behind The Mouse:" Wednesday, August 22, 2001, Burbank, California USA.

London-based Spider Eye has started production on a new 2D animated TV short based on Geoffrey Chaucer's CANTERBURY TALES entitled THE SQUIRE'S TALE. The project is part of S4C and BBC's continuing animated series depicting the individual tales. THE SQUIRE'S TALE is a tale of the King of Sarai and the special gifts he and his family receive from the King of Arabia and India. Animation, rendering and backgrounds for the film were produced at Jumping Jack Productions Ltd. for transfer to Spider Eye, which provided direction, ink and paint and compositing.

Lombard, Illinois' Big Idea Productions, a family media company now branching out into feature films, is looking for a LIGHTING ARTIST, RENDERER and TD/SOFTWARE DEVELOPER. . . London, UK's Cubicspace Studios Limited, developers of real-time technologies for the real estate industry, is looking for a 3D CHARACTER MODELLER/ANIMATOR. . . Ottawa, Ontario, Canada's Dynomight Productions, a full-service animation studio creating original content for global entertainment properties, is looking for a DIRECTOR, LINE PRODUCER and PRODUCER for their upcoming slate of proprietary television series. . .

The Asia Animation Exhibition is scheduled for December 05 - 07, 2001, in Singapore. Asia Animation is a 3-day trade exhibition devoted to animation. Organized by Reed Exhibitions Singapore, and supported by the Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA), Asia Animation 2001 will bring together international creators, producers and distributors who will showcase their technology and expertise to the growing Asian animation industry.

Each week, Animation World Magazine offers new articles, special features and theme-based coverage of the art, craft and industry of animation. New this week:



- New from Japan: Anime Film Reviews by Fred Patten

Fred Patten reviews the latest anime releases, including: "The Big O," "Urusei Yatsura," "Iria: Zeiram the Animation," "Key, the Metal Idol" and "Ruin Explorers: Quest for the Ultimate Power!"

The submission deadline for the next International Student Animation Festival of Ottawa (SAFO) has been extended to July 15, 2001. Entry forms, including an on-line version that can be sent directly by e-mail, are available on the festival Website. SAFO 2001 will be held October 18-21, 2001. The official competition is divided into five categories: High School Student Films; Undergraduate Student Films (Post-Secondary); Graduate Student Films (Post-Secondary); First Film (e.g.

This week's updates to the Calendar of Events includes: Place With Traces, A School Of Visual Arts Exhibition, New York, NY U.S.A., June 13 - July 11, 2001; WIA/LA Celebrates The Career Of Star Wirth, Sherman Oaks, CA U.S.A., June 26, 2001; 5th Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival - SICAF 2001, Seoul, Korea, August 11 - 19, 2001, Entry Deadline: June 23, 2001; Cinemakids, 2nd Cinematexas International Short Film Festival, Austin, TX U.S.A., September 15 - 16, 2001; The 12th Cartoon Forum, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria Germany, September 19 - 23

Sanjeev Lamba has been named vice president, International, at Disney Interactive. Lamba will oversee development and management of Disney Interactive's business in territories outside North America, including Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Japan. Lamba has been with The Walt Disney Company since 1993. He joins Disney Interactive from Disney Consumer Products in Japan, where he served as vice president, licensing and marketing. Prior to that, he was director of marketing for Disney Consumer Products' licensed business in the Asia Pacific region.

* Saturday, August 11 – Sunday, August 19, 2001, Seoul, Korea.



Entry Deadline: June 23, 2001

* Wednesday, December 5 – Friday, December 7, 2001, Singapore

Manga Entertainment is set to release Japan's first fully-digitally-animated feature BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE. Produced by Japan's Production IG Studios (GHOST IN THE SHELL), BLOOD will be released in select theatres this summer and on DVD/VHS on August 28, 2001. The film takes place in the fall of 1966 and sends a young assassin Saya (SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS' Youki Kodoh) into an American school within the Yokota military compound to uncover and eliminate the blood-sucking menace. The film was directed by Hiroyuki Kitakub. As part of this year's RESFEST, the film will be screened digitally.

DIC Entertainment has signed an exclusive North American home video distribution deal for its extensive library of animation with Lions Gate Home Entertainment. This move marks the first deal for DIC's Worldwide Home Entertainment division since CEO Andy Heyward, along with Bain Capital, purchased DIC back from Disney in November 2000. The first releases on VHS and DVD slated for August are SABRINA, THE ANIMATED SERIES and MUMMIES ALIVE! Other titles set for release include MADELINE, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, CARMEN SANDIEGO, INSPECTOR GADGET and ACTION MAN.