The CBS Television Network's 1999-2000 Saturday Morning schedule, which
begins on October 2, includes three returning shows and three new ones, all
produced by Toronto-based Nelvana. The new series are RESCUE HEROES,
BLASTER'S UNIVERSE, and NEW TALES FROM THE CRYPT. RESCUES HEROES is about a
team of international emergency response professionals, and is designed to
introduce young viewers to preparedness and safety techniques. BLASTER'S
UNIVERSE is based on a series of CD-ROMs from Knowledge Adventure. Set in

The Voice Over Group meets Monday, July 12, and every second Monday of the
month at Monday, July 12, 7 pm in Burbank, California, USA. Contact MJ
Lallo at (818) 980-6576 or Murel Whitaker at (310) 412-2719.

Disney's TARZAN, based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs character, finished
fourth, grossing an estimated $11.3 million at the US weekend boxoffice to
bring its total to $129.5 million. This puts it on the list of 100
top-grossing films of all-time in North America. It has already surpassed
Disney's previous animated feature, MULAN, which grossed $120.5 million.
Warner Bros.' WILD WILD WEST, with digital effects by ILM, finished second,
grossing an estimated $16.7 million for a total of $76.4 million; STAR WARS

Given the fact that TARZAN OF THE APES, Edgar Rice Burroughs' first Tarzan
novel, has already spawned innumerable sequels in both print and movie
form, it should be no surprise that Disney already has plans for a sequel
to its very successful TARZAN. Decisions regarding whether the sequel will
be theatrical or direct-to-video, as well as who will direct it, have yet
to be announced.

Disney Consumer Products has named Stephen De Kanter, a 10-year veteran of
Disney Consumer Products, president of Global Licensing, a new organization
that will oversee Disney's worldwide merchandise-licensing operations. De
Kanter has led Disney Consumer Products Latin America since 1989. In his
new role, de Kanter will be responsible for planning, strategy, and
licensee management for all Disney licensing activities. Walt Disney
International has responsibility for the performance of The Walt Disney Co.

Sirius Thinking, Ltd. has hired Sharon Lerner as senior vice-president of
creative development and animation producer for the new series BETWEEN THE
LINES, a series for children that is scheduled to premiere on PBS in April
2000. Lerner was one of the first ten people hired by Children's Television
Workshop to create SESAME STREET, and was, until recently, the
vice-president and publisher of the Random House Children's Media Division.

The soundtrack for Willis O'Brien's stop-motion masterpiece, KING KONG, is
being released by Turner Classic Movies Music/Rhino Movie Music. Composed
by Max Steiner, the collection includes music cues from the 1933 RKO film's
most memorable moments, featuring a nearly 25-minute suite consisting of
previously unreleased material. The liner notes includes an introduction by
Danny Elfman (of the band, Oingo Boingo, and composer of many soundtracks,
including EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, BATMAN, and SLEEPY HOLLOW), and notes by

Warner Bros. Consumer Products has awarded Trendmasters, Inc., a toy
designer and manufacturer, the master toy license for Cartoon Network's
animated series including THE POWERPUFF GIRLS, DEXTER'S LABORATORY and COW
& CHICKEN. In addition, Trendmasters has also secured the master toy rights
for Cartoon Network's classic characters including Yogi Bear and
Snagglepuss. Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, Trendmasters,
Inc. has the rights to produce toy related merchandise including toy

Infogrames and DreamWorks will release ANTZ for Game Boy Color this fall in
the US. Based on the animated film, the game will star the famous ant Z, an
insecure little bug who has high hopes of finding Insectopia, a mystical
world where food is plentiful and all insects live in peace. ANTZ allows
kids to jump into the action. Ant-oriented hazards presented to the
miniature heroes include acidic termites, out-of-control water droplets,
gum-soled shoes and, the sun-filled, magnifying glass. Infogrames is a

Beginning July 2, star characters from Nickelodeon's popular BLUE'S CLUES
and RUGRATS shows, "character breakfasts" featuring Woody Woodpecker,
Spiderman, and other world-famous cartoon stars are part of the fun planned
for kids this summer at Universal Studios Hollywood. "Blue's Clues Live"
follows the format of the children's television show. Guided by clues
supplied by "Blue," kids solve puzzles, play games, and sing songs along
with Blue. "Woody Woodpecker's Clubhouse" features a themed playground

Workout your character voices July 10, and every second Saturday of the
month, at Aliso Creek Productions in Burbank, California, USA. Directed by
MJ Lall, voice over actor, coach, and producer, you'll read scripts by
Women In Animation writers, and do voice-to-picture workouts for WIA
artists. Voice over artists, writers, and artists are encouraged to attend
and participate with samples of their work. Call Aliso Creek to register at
(818) 954-9931.

MTV Films and Paramount Pictures has signed creator Eric Fogel to write,
direct, and produce a CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH feature. The feature will be
based on the TV series which premiered on MTV in 1998, and features clay
animated caricatures of celebrities who fight each other in wrestling
matches. Bouts have pitted Marilyn Manson against Charles Manson, Hillary
Clinton against Monica Lewinsky, and Richard Simmons against David
Letterman. Before CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH, Fogel directed a short film, THE
MUTILATOR, and another MTV series, THE HEAD.

Full Sail, an animation school in Florida, has hired Rita Street as Chief
Editor of Full Sail's Platinum Creative Department. She will be in charge
of advertising copywriting, editing Full Sail's magazine, GET IN!, a
bi-annual which is about Full Sail and getting a job in the animation
industry in general, plus writing copy for Full Sail's web-site which will
re-launch with a new look in September. Street was formerly Editor in Chief
of FILM AND VIDEO in Los Angeles.

India-based Graphiti Multimedia has completed a :20 spot for Wimpy's Fast
Food (New Delhi, India). The spot features a jolly and plump animated man
who entices viewers by wielding his fork around live footage of a Wimpy's
cheeseburger and fries. Graphiti used Cambridge Animation Systems' Animo
software. Puneet directed for production company Chaitra Leo Burnette
(Delhi).

Long-withheld due to a legal snag, this fall MGM Home Entertainment will be
reissuing YELLOW SUBMARINE. This release will restore YELLOW SUBMARINE to
its original English release length, which is said to be three and a half
minutes longer than the US release, restoring the "Hey Bulldog" sequence
that was cut for reasons of length for the original Amercian theatrical
release. MGM/UA's new transfer is said to be bright and colorful, without a
trace of the film dirt and scratches that mar the earlier video release.

The five members of rock band Aerosmith, Steven Tyler, vocals; Joe Perry,
guitars; Brad Whitford, guitars; Tom Hamilton, bass; and Joey Kramer,
drums, have teamed with Walt Disney Imagineering to create a high-speed
thrill ride for Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, called Rock
'n' Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith. It debuts this summer at Disney-MGM
Studios. The indoor roller coaster features a high-speed launch of 0-60 mph
in 2.8 seconds, three inversions, rock-concert lighting and a specially

Affiliated with the World Science Fiction Convention, the North American
Science Fiction Convention which takes place in Anaheim, California, August
26 - 29, 1999, is held whenever the WSFC is outside of North America (as it
is this year in Australia). The convention includes hundreds of authors,
artists, and filmmakers as speakers; an art show; a dealers room; films;
costume competition; dances; parties and more. The film competition accepts
entries in 16mm and VHS (NTSC only), to be judged by a panel of working TV

The WIA Writers' Seminar Group meets Thursday, July 8, 7:30 pm at Saban
Entertainment, 10960 Wilshire Blvd. at the corner of Midvale in Los
Angeles, California, USA. Brian Casentini from Saban Development will be
guest speaker. He'll discuss the development process at the Fox Family
Channel, pitching, and what you should include in a presentation bible.
Admission: $5 at the door. RSVP required to Jean Wright at 818-360-8321.

An Evening with the Professionals meets every third Thursday of the
month. This is a studio field trip series which brings the audience
into a different studio each month to talk to industry professionals about
a topic that changes monthly. The topic for July 17 (7-9 pm) is, "What
writers should know about producers." It is hosted by Rhythm & Hues, and
the speakers include Ken Roupenian (Producer at Rhythm & Hues), Karey
Maltzahn (2D/Post Exececutive Producer at Rhythm & Hues), Lynne Southerland

The ABC network, which is owned by The Walt Disney Co., has ordered a
six-hour miniseries based on the first two installments of James Gurney's
fantasy book series, DINOTOPIA which is about a world in which humans and
highly-evolved dinosaurs live together in harmony. With the exception of
Stephen King projects THE SHINING and STORM OF THE CENTURY, DINOTOPIA marks
ABC's biggest miniseries time commitment since 1988's 30-hour WAR AND
REMEMBRANCE which starred Robert Mitchum. Some sources estimate the cost at