The Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals have wrapped up their events and honored Chris Landreths RYAN and Benh Zeitlins EGG.
On Jan. 30, 2005, Sundance handed out its prizes with the Oscar-nominated animated short, RYAN, taking a honorable mention in the shorts category.
On Jan. 24, 2005, Xlibris released WALT'S PEOPLE TALKING DISNEY WITH THE ARTISTS WHO KNEW HIM VOLUME 1, the first volume of a series of books that collects the best interviews ever conducted with Disney artists.
Contributors to the series, edited by Didier Ghez, include noted Disney historians Robin Allan, Paul F. Anderson, Michael Barrier, J.B. Kaufman, Jim Korkis, Mike Lyons, John Province, Thorkil Rasmussen, Arn Saba and Klaus Strzyz.
Wao Corp., an Osaka-based cram school managing company, has announced that in 2006 it will launch a school to teach students how to produce animated films and operate animation production companies, reports YOMIURI newspaper. The school will be the first of its kind in Japan and is being established in the Suginami Ward, Tokyo ward where nearly 70 animation production companies are located.
Ottawa International Animation Festival 2005Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaSeptember 21-25, 2005Deadline: June 1, 2005
Disney/Pixars THE INCREDIBLES soared to victory for Best Animated Feature as well as taking the nine other categories it was nominated in, including three personal achievements trophies to Brad Bird for Writing, Directing and Voice Acting for the 2004 Annie Awards, held Jan. 30, 2005, at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California. The Nickelodeon series, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, won the top TV category, Best Animated Television Production at ASIFA-Hollywoods formal fete.
Vail Film Festival 2005Vail, Colorado, USAMarch 31 April 3, 2005Deadline: February 15, 2005
The Vail Film Festival is presented by the Vail Film Institute, a non-profit arts organization dedicated to fostering independent cinema. The Vail Film Festival strives to encourage artistic innovation, to promote new and creative filmmaking, and to foster discourse about independent film and other forms of media, which challenge and entertain. For more information, visit www.vailfilmfestival.org.
The First International Presentation Of Movies Made By ChildrenBogotá, ColombiaMarch 25, 2005Deadline: March 25, 2005
The 2005 International Emmy AwardsNew York, New York, USANovember 19-20, 2005Deadline: April 1, 2005
The International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is organizing its iEmmys Festival and International Emmy Awards. The event highlights excellence in television from producers from all over the world. The festival features industry speakers, discussions and screenings. The winners are selected by members of the international council. For additional information, visit www.iemmys.tv or e-mail awardsdept@iemmys.tv.
Leigh Anne Brodsky, president of Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products, has created two new positions and added new responsibilities for several executives to increase her divisions global presence.
Jim Davey has been named svp, Global Consumer Products Marketing and Planning while Tanya Haider becomes vp, Nickelodeon & Viacom International Consumer Products. The positions were created to bring global planning and execution to key franchises for Nickelodeon and Viacom.
Lions Gate Entertainment Toronto is restructuring its family entertainment division, including a name change from Family Home Entertainment to Family Entertainment to reflect the division's broadened scope and vision. In this effort, Anne Parducci has been promoted to the newly created position of evp in charge of family entertainment and marketing while evp Ken Katsumoto sees expanded responsibilities. Additionally, Lions Gate has promoted director of marketing Michael Rathauser to vp, Family Entertainment. And industry vet Glenn Ross is departing to pursue other ventures.
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, one of Americas oldest and most prestigious sporting events, is partnering with DreamWorks Animation SKG to bring Gromit of WALLACE & GROMIT fame to highlights of the show online. This marks the first time in Westminsters history that the dog show has accepted a sponsorship partner outside of a dog food company.
On March 5, 2005, the New York International Childrens Film Festival (NYICFF) will screen the highly anticipated U.S. premiere of the animated feature STEAMBOY, directed by Katsuhiro Otomo (AKIRA). This retro sci-fi anime was 10 years in the making and is the most expensive Japanese film ever produced. The film features the voices of Patrick Stewart, Alfred Molina and Anna Paquin. Director Otomo will be on hand for a Q&A immediately after the screening. A VIP reception will follow.
SPAWN creator Todd McFarlane has partnered with AngryFilms to develop TWISTED TALES, a half-hour anthology series, for FOX. Fox TV Studios' alternative division is producing in association with McFarlane and Angry Films (THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN). Trey Callaway (I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER) will serve as exec producer/showrunner. McFarlane, Terry Fitzgerald, Rick Benattar, Susan Montford and Don Murphy will also exec produce.
Electronic Arts has laid off 60 development employees at its Playa Vista, California facility. EA opened the West Los Angeles campus little over a year and a half ago with the forecast of expanding to 1,000 employees in the near future.
The move was made by the facilitys exec director Neil Young, who came to the post last September after working on the LORD OF THE RINGS games and overseeing EAs Northern California-based Maxis studio.
Seven Seas Ent. announced the launch of an exclusive webmanga series, AOI HOUSE. Debuting at www.gomanga.com on Jan. 24, 2005, with updates coming every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, AOI HOUSE is a comedy series written and created by Adam Arnold, co-creator of ANIMEFRINGE: ONLINE ANIME MAGAZINE, and illustrated by Jim Jimenez, a veteran comic artist and animator. The manga follows the trials and tribulations of two down-on-their-luck college boys who join an anime club dominated by crazed fangirls. Seven Seas plans to release AOI HOUSE strictly as a free webmanga.
Jason Donati has been named as department chair of Media Arts & Animation at The New England Institute of Art (NEiA).
Shawn, Marlon and Keenen Ivory Wayans (IN LIVING COLOR) announced plans to launch their first children's lifestyle property THUGABOO. Based on original source material created by the Wayans Bros., THUGABOO is a broad, character-based property that takes a humorous look at the trials and tribulations of nine very different kids growing up in the inner city. Through a series of misadventures these kids learn valuable lessons: everything from the importance of friendship to never giving up on one's dreams. The Wayans will draw from their own childhood.
The Art Institute of Atlanta is introducing a new bachelor of arts degree in visual & game programming. The visual & game programming program teaches students the essential skills to effectively solve technical problems while playing the indispensable role of bridging the gap between the creative artist and technical programmer.
"Visual & game programming is part art and part computer science, with plenty of room for creative individuals who want to delve deeper into the technical principles of games," says Janet S. Day, president of The Art Institute of Atlanta.
Despite its lack of awards recognition from the vfx community, SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW was definitely last years boldest CG experiment. Shot entirely against bluescreen, Kerry Conrans homage to comicbook and film lore has arrived on DVD (Paramount Home Ent., $29.99).
Stan Lee's POW! Ent. has forged a joint venture partnership with Ringo Starr to create and launch an original entertainment franchise. Financed, produced and distributed by IDT Ent., the new animation will transform Starr into an evil-battling, earth-saving (though reluctant) superhero with a great sense of rhythm.
On Jan. 26, 2005, a Los Angeles judge denied a new trial to Stephen Slesinger Inc. -- owners of the U.S. marketing rights for WINNIE THE POOH in their lawsuit against The Walt Disney Co., reports REUTERS. Superior Court Judge Charles McCoy threw out the initial suit last March, ruling that Stephen Slesinger Inc. had stolen evidence and tainted the case.
Namco Hometek Inc. announced that Prema Toy Co. Inc. has awarded it the exclusive interactive entertainment publishing rights to the classic children's entertainment property, GUMBY. The deal allows Namco to create videogames for all game systems, featuring Gumby and all related characters, such as Pokey, Prickle, Goo and the infamous Blockheads. Namco also has the opportunity for Gumby to make cameo appearances in other upcoming Namco games.
On May 10, 2005, Warner Home Video (WHV) will premiere on DVD the all-new animated feature GOLDEN BLAZE. Featuring the vocal talents of Blair Underwood (TVs LAX, SEX IN THE CITY), Michael Clarke Duncan (THE GREEN MILE, DAREDEVIL), Sanaa Lathan (ALIEN VS. PREDATOR, OUT OF TIME), Neil Patrick Harris (TV's DOOGIE HOWSER, MD) and Khleo Thomas (WALKING TALL, HOLES), GOLDEN BLAZE will debut exclusively on DVD, priced at $19.98. GOLDEN BLAZE was produced by Urban Ent.'s Michael Jenkinson (UNDERCOVER BROTHER) and Nichelle Protho and directed by Bryon E. Carson.
Taffy Ent. announced that it has entered into a representation agreement with Hola Ent. to support Taffys distribution efforts in Latin America. Taffy already has a strong presence in the Latin American market with recent deals that include PET ALIEN for Cartoon Network Latin America, and TODDWORLD and JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKS for Discovery Kids Latin America.
Pipelinefx, a leading provider of enterprise renderfarm management software for 3D animation and interactive entertainment, has closed its Series A investment round led by Hawaii venture capital firm PacifiCap Group Llc. Several members of the UH Angel investment network also participated in the transaction.
