London-based SEVEN ANIMATION, a 3D computer animation and special effects company, has named JO NOBLE as Producer. Noble has done work on PADDINGTON BEAR, DIRTY BEAST, and BEANO. Noble will supervise Seven Animation's children’s programs being developed for MIPTV 2000.

As was reported [AF 12/21/99], a federal

court jury convicted former Walt Disney Internet executive, 34-year-old

Patrick Naughton, of possessing child pornography, but deadlocked on

charges that he crossed state lines seeking sex with a "13-year-old girl"

which he arranged via the Internet. On Wednesday, December 22, 1999, U.S.

District Judge Edward Rafeedie reversed his own ruling and released

Naughton from jail, saying it was likely that he would win a new trial. On

On Thursday, December 16, 1999, a federal court jury convicted former Walt

Disney Internet executive, 34-year-old Patrick Naughton, of possessing

child pornography, but deadlocked on charges that he crossed state lines

seeking sex with a "13-year-old girl" which he arranged via the Internet.

Naughton's lawyers asked that he remain free on bail awaiting an appeal,

however the request was denied due to the fact that federal law requires

persons convicted of crimes of violence to be jailed upon waiting for an

Charles Schulz, the creator of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the entire
PEANUTS gang, has decided that he will retire in order to concentrate on
beating his newly diagnosed cancer. This desicion will end almost five
decades of Schulz's world-famous comic. Schulz, who has always refused to
let another artist draw PEANUTS, said he would stop producing new daily
panels as of January 3, 2000 but allow his syndicators to recycle comic
strips from 1974 if newspapers still wanted to run the strip. On a daily

Disney's television animation chief Charles Hirschhorn has been given the
boot. The now former head of Walt Disney Television and Walt Disney
Television animation officially exited the position on Wednesday, December
8, 1999. It's speculated that Hirschhorn's responsibilities at WONDERFUL
WORLD OF DISNEY will most likely be taken over by ABC movies and
mini-series head Susan Lyne, while his duties for TV animation and
direct-to-video flicks will most likely be folded into the feature

Film Roman's Board of Directors has finished their search for a new CEO and
president with the naming of veteran industry exec John Hyde to the
position. Hyde's expertise ranges from work in television, film, music and
new media. By replacing former CEO/pres. David Pritchard, Hyde steps into a
position with promise and heightened pressure. Besides producing THE
SIMPSONS and KING OF THE HILL, over seeing various live-action film
productions, and coddling their infant on-line channel Level13.com, Hyde

KIM MCQUILKEN has been promoted to executive vice president of CARTOON
NETWORK sales and marketing. Based in Atlanta, his new responsibilities
will include sales and marketing for Cartoon Network.com. Formerly senior
vice president and general sales manager for the unit, McQuilken joined
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., in 1992 as director of marketing for
special projects for the 1994 Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia.
After the Games, he served as vice president, sports and brand licensing

The Florida-based AARGH! ANIMATION, Inc. has hired JASON TEATE as color
designer and associate producer. Jason completed color design for AARGH!'s
recent series of national spots for Cold-Eeze cold medicine, which are now
airing.

BLUE SKY STUDIOS adds DR. MICHAEL REED as a new member to its research and
development team. He comes to Blue Sky after receiving his Ph.D. in
Computer Science from Columbia University and positions at the laboratories
of IBM, Philips, and Bell Atlantic Corporations. Reed will continue his
work with geometric surface construction techniques to create new solutions
in rendering and geometry for Blue Sky.

MARVEL ENTERPRISES INC. announced two new Directors have been appointed to the Board. PETER CUNEO, President and CEO, Marvel Enterprises, Inc., and
producer SID GANIS, former Vice Chairman of Columbia Pictures and President
of Worldwide Marketing for Columbia/TriStar Motion Pictures Companies, were
each appointed to the Board of Directors.

FRANK T. CARUSO has been promoted to VP, Creative, at KING FEATURES
SYNDICATE, a world leader in distributing comics to newpapers and merchandising licensing. The former Creative Director, Licensing will oversee new King Features licensing properties and all creative aspects of the company's Internet, animation and promotional activities. He will continue to supervise the creative aspects of BETTY BOOP, POPEYE, and other classic King Feature comic properties.

BARRY SCHULER, President of America Online, Inc.'s Interactive Services Group,
has joined the Board of Directors of OXYGEN MEDIA. At AOL, Schuler oversees the
company's online services unit that includes the flagship AOL service,
CompuServe, Netscape and AOL Devices. Schuler joins Oxygen's CEO Geraldine
Laybourne, Oprah Winfrey, Marcy Carsey, and others on the board of the
privately-held company.

HOUSE OF MOVES MOTION CAPTURE STUDIOS, the leader in motion capture services, has promoted JARROD PHILLIPS to Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Phillips also serves as Executive Producer.

WILD BRAIN, INC. signed Oscar-winning producer NINA RAPPAPORT to head the
production company's computer graphics endeavors. After joining Wild Brain
in May of this year as a freelance producer, Rappaport helped bring
together the talent needed to produce the company's slate of CG projects.
Before coming to Wild Brain, Rappaport was Executive Producer at Blue Sky
Studios in New York. Her feature film credits include producing the effects
on JOE'S APARTMENT and A SIMPLE WISH and executive producing STAR TREK:
INSURRECTION.

FOX TELEVISION ENTERTAINMENT GROUP has promoted SANDY GRUSHOW to the newly
created post of chairman. Grushow will be responsible for all entertainment
aspects of Fox Broadcasting Co. as well as the studio's production unit.
Previously, Grushow helmed Fox TV.

ROBERT DALY is on deck with the DODGERS. The former Warner Bros. CEO and
chairman has purchased 10% of the Los Angeles Dodgers from Fox Entertainment
Group. According to the October 29, 1999 issue of DAILY VARIETY, Daly will
take over complete control of the team, however he has said that he will
consult Fox before making any major moves. We'll all be looking forward to that
first Ted Turner-owner Braves and Dodgers match-up for sure.

WALT DISNEY INTERNATIONAL-LATIN AMERICA gets 11 new executives to help
Diego Lerner, president and managing director of Walt Disney
International-Latin America, increase the business opportunities for Disney
in Latin America. The new structure for Disney Latin America will consists
of four territory offices. Walt Disney International-Argentina, based in
Buenos Aires, will handle Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay and be headed by
Lerner. Walt Disney International-Andean Region, based in Santiago de

Charles M. Schulz, creator of Charlie Brown, his dog Snoopy and the rest of
the PEANUTS gang, has been diagnosed with colon cancer. The cancer was
discovered when the 76-year-old Schulz underwent emergency surgery last
Tuesday for a blocked abdominal aorta. Schulz' wife Jean said doctors are
determining the best course of treatment, which can include surgery, radiation
and chemotherapy. One concern for doctors is that Schulz, who turns 77 on
Friday, is still recuperating from the abdominal surgery. Since being moved

A cloud has eclipsed the world of animation since the passing of beloved
voice-over actress, Mary Kay Bergman. A prolific artist, she has recently
provided the voice for Daphne Blake in the two most recent SCOOBY-DOO
direct-to-video flicks; Batgirl/Barbara Gordon in BATMAN: SUBZERO; and all
but one of the female voices on Comedy Central's SOUTH PARK. She is also
been the "official" voice of Disney's Snow White since 1989. Mrs. Bergman
had recently received an Annie Award nomination for her work in the SOUTH

CINAR CORPORATION, creators of two-time Emmy winning ARTHUR and RICHARD
SCARRY, appointed LOUISE SANSREGRET as Vice President of their newly
created position in Investment Relations. Sansregret will focus her talents
on various special corporate and community-based projects, as well as
managing donations and sponsorships. In addition, SUZAN AYSCOUGH has
returned to CINAR to take over as Vice President, Communications. Ayscough
will over see corporate communications and product communications.