Sesame Workshop's TINY PLANETS is in final negotiations to be aired on Italy's largest commercial broadcaster Mediatrade's channels. TINY PLANETS is a CGI animated educational comic adventure series for 3 to 5 year olds. A co-production with Pepper's Ghost Productions, the show follows Bing and Bong as they explore the worlds of their solar system such as the planets of light and color, sound, technology, stuff, self and nature through a space aged couch.

CineGroupe has recently announced that production has started on 26
episodes of WHAT'S WITH ANDY, a new half-hour animated series set to
premier Fall, 2001 on Canada's TELETOON and the Fox Family Channel in
the U.S. The series, based on the "Just…" series of books written by
Andy Griffith, chronicles the life of teenager Andy Larkin, a
self-proclaimed master prankster whose goal is to be the greatest
practical joker in the world, though his schemes backfire every time.
Realized primarily in 2D animation, the series also incorporates a

* Thursday, April 19, 2001. Hollywood, California, U.S.A.

* Thursday, April 12, Westwood, California, U.S.A.



The Women In Animation Writers' Group will hold the next session of their Seminar Series at Saban Entertainment at 7:30 pm. Topic: The Animation Script. RSVP required to Jean Ann Wright. E-mail: jjwright@gte.net or phone: 818-360-8321.



Learn more about Women In Animation by visiting their Website at womeninanimation.org.

* Wednesday, March 14, 2001. Burbank, California, U.S.A.

Beverly Hills, California's Batia and Aleeza, Inc. are looking for a WEB SITE DESIGNER...Bangalore, India's E-3Dimensions is seeking a CHARACTER ANIMATION EXPERT ON MAYA...

MIP TV (April 2-6, 2001, Cannes, France) is one of the premiere television conferences and markets in the world. The six-day event brings together production companies and distributors from all over the globe. The conference includes a vast array of panels and round-table discussions with some of the world's top professionals. MIP TV 2000 scored a hit with over 11,000 participants, representing 2,776 companies from 100 countries. The countries most represented in terms of stands were: France, US, UK, Canada and Germany.

The 5th edition of Cartoons On The Bay, International Festival of Television Animation, will be held in Positano (Amalfi Coast), Italy, April 5-9, 2001. Cartoons on the Bay is the only festival in the world solely dedicated to television animation. Promoted by Rai Radiotelevisione Italiana and conceived and organized by Rai Trade, the festival is an international event with awards, workshops, lectures and events centering on the ever-changing world of television animation.

Advertising & Promoting To Kids: Monday, September 10 - Tuesday, September 11, 2001, New York, New York USA.

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) has announced the recipients of its 4th annual Interactive Achievement Awards. The Awards were presented at a gala event held in San Jose at Polly Esther’s on March 22. DIABLO II (PC), developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment, garnered three awards, including the top honor of overall Game of the Year 2001 and Computer Game of the Year.

Click 3X has expanded its creative staff by adding two new designer/directors Michael Wiehart and Christine Lin and a senior inferno* artist Steve Zourntos. Wiehart is one of four artists that formed Zurich-based motion-graphics design firm, Frame by Frame. He has won a Gold Lion at Cannes for his work on a spot for Pioneer. Wiehart said, "Early in my career, I tended to be involved in every aspect of my projects, from developing the idea, the concept, through production and post, and I've held onto that. I still like to do work on the machines.

* Friday, April 27 – Sunday, April 29, 2001. Everett, Washington, U.S.A.

* Monday, April 30, 2001. Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.

On Thursday, March 22, 2001, one of the fathers of TV animation, William Hanna, died at his home in North Hollywood, California. He was 90 years old. Born in Melrose, New Mexico, on July 14, 1910, Hanna and his partner, Joseph Barbera created such beloved cartoon characters as Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound and Scooby-Doo. Hanna, a trained engineer, began his animation career during the Depression when he took an ink and paint position at Harman-Ising Studios.

Rainbow Studios has opened a new office in Phoenix and a new satellite office in San Francisco. "At a time where many studios are downsizing or restructuring to remain competitive, Rainbow Studios is experiencing tremendous growth in all aspects of our business -- from digital cinema to game development," said Scott Novis, vice president of engineering at Rainbow Studios.

* Thursday, October 25 – Sunday, November 4, 2001. Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

Entry Deadline: May 15, 2001.

* Friday, April 20 - Saturday, April 21, 2001. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

* Friday, April 27, 2001. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

* Friday, September 14 – Thursday, September 20, 2001. New York, New York, U.S.A.

Entry Deadline: May 15, 2001

* Saturday, April 21 – Thursday, April 26, 2001. Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.



The NAB Marketplace and Conference showcases the world of TV and Web convergence. The event allows people in the technology, television and Internet industry to meet and work out deals. The expo starts on April 23 with over 1,500 companies exhibiting. The conference will focus on the hot topics of combining the worlds of TV with the Internet. For more information contact NAB at: (202) 429-5419; or Web: www.nab.org.