Portland,
Oregon-based Happy Hour Entertainment has signed animation and comedy
director Mike Wellins for commercial representation. Wellins,
formerly a commercial and entertainment director at Vinton Studios,
brings many years of award-winning filmmaking experience to Happy
Hour Entertainment. While at Vinton Studios, Mike directed the Annie
Award-winning spot "Genie" for Mirinda Soda, and his commercial for
the Sony Playstation game LEGEND OF DRAGOON was voted Best Animated
Commercial in 2001 at the World Animation Celebration. Wellins has
also written and directed many independent films and animated shorts,
including STRANGE THINGS for the Cartoon Network. "We are so happy to
have a fellow filmmaker join our ranks," said Happy Hour creative
director, Stephen Bailey. "We've been friends and co-workers with
Mike for many years and have found that working together always
brings the best results. Coupled with our talented staff, we will
give Mike the chance to tell stories and create characters in
exciting new ways." Happy Hour has recently completed a campaign of
commercials for Simon Mall and Publicis Mid-America, as well as
principal animation on a 70mm film for the Huis Ten Bosch theme park
in Nagasaki, Japan.