Leading French producer Ellipsanime, part of the Dargaud Group, is producing an additional 26 13-minute episodes of its hit television series, LITTLE KING MACIUS, following production on the much-anticipated feature film version of the popular show. Co-production partners are Saxonia Media and Studio 88 in Germany, Araneo in Belgium, Spains Docon Film, and Orange in Poland in association with Ki.Ka and France 5.
One of the most powerful sessions at the recent Serious GamesSummit held Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 29005, in Arlington, Virginia, was for an edugame for firefighters, Hazmat HotZone. Ten New York City firefighters showed up in front of the Standing Room Only room to demonstrate the game, including two chiefs, two captains and a lieutenant (an instructor) from the NYFD Training Academy, all of them in full uniform that was really dramatic.
The 26th American Film Market (AFM), which opened on Nov. 2, 2005, reports record attendance with an all-time high of 8,014, a 13% increase over last years 7,064. They are also better armed to deal with digital distribution issues thanks to new Model International Licensing Agreements containing clauses to deal specifically with the emerging world of digital distribution, drawn up by AFM parent organization the Independent Film & Television Alliance.
The highly anticipated and publicized series, THE BOONDOCKS, Adult Swims new animated comedy series based on Aaron McGruders award-winning comic strip of the same name, premieres Nov. 6, 2005, at 11:00 pm on Cartoon Network.
BOONDOCKS fans should find the series a good transition from comic strip to a provocative family-based comedy in your face with social relevance and satire. It has an arresting, anime look that is true to the color and graphic line style of the comic and stands out with a somewhat different, appealing look for animation and comics fans.
Warner Home Video will release THE HUCKLEBERRY HOUND SHOW: VOLUME 1, THE YOGI BEAR SHOW: THE COMPLETE SERIES and THE FLINTSTONES: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON on DVD Nov. 15. Each four-disc deluxe collectors box set will retail for $44.98.
Paramount Home Ent. has greenlit the first feature length production of QUEER DUCK THE MOVIE from four-time Emmy award-winning creator and writer Mike Reiss (THE SIMPSONS, THE CRITIC). The original shorts were broadcast on the Net on Icebox.com and later aired on Showtime.
The pro-Israeli Middle East Media Research Institute is reporting that Iranian state-sponsored IRIB TV has aired two childrens cartoons promoting anti-Israeli propaganda, including suicide bombing.
Though its not new for politicians to us animation in their campaigns, more and more politicians are turning to Web animation to get their message out, according to an AP report.
The often-satirical ads are cheap to produce and have the potential to be spread to many voters quickly over the Net.
With lucrative state tax incentives in play, Digital Domains long-in-the-works project INSTANT KARMA is aptly named. The Louisiana Capital Area Economic Development Allies (LaCAEDA) announced that Emerald Bayou Studios has played a critical role in obtaining state certification for the feature film. This partnership was announced during a press conference at AFM.
YTV has announces its November 2005 lineup, which features the debut of an all-new episode of SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, Have You Seen This Snail?
Leading up to the premiere, YTV celebrates with two SPONGEBOB programming events, starting on Sunday, Nov. 13 from 8:00 am to 11:00 am, with back-to-back non-stop episodes of viewer favorites. Followed by The Zone on Monday, Nov. 14 where co-hosts Sugar and Carlos introduce back-to-back episodes dedicated to SpongeBobs special pet, Gary the Snail, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
The third Hanna-Barbera studio reunion dinner has been postponed until Feb. 3, 2006, at the Sportsman's Lodge, 12833 Ventura Blvd. in Studio City. No-host cocktails will at 6:00 pm, dinner is at 7:30 pm. The dinner was originally scheduled for Nov. 4.
Cost is $30 per person with an entrée choice of prime rib, chicken, salmon or vegetarian. Checks, payable to The Animation Guild, may be sent to the Guild office, 4729 Lankershim Blvd., N. Hollywood, California, 91602-1864 and mark the envelope, Hanna-Barbera Reunion.
IGPX, a co-production between Cartoon Network, Japanese animation studio Production I.G and Bandai Entertainment, debuts on Nov. 5, 2005, at 10:00 pm. IGPX is the first original series produced for Toonami, Cartoon Networks action programming block that first brought anime to wide television audiences in the U.S.
Following the success of the Cartoon Network block on kabel eins, which launched in September 2005, Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) is now creating Boomerang for Germany. It will launch on Kabel Deutschland in the second quarter of 2006 and will be broadcast on Kabel Digital HOME. Further platforms are planned.
Sony Pictures Ent. (SPE) has created a new department, Corporate Alliances, to maximize collaboration with other Sony groups.
Toshino Yuhaku has been named vp, Corporate Alliances. Yuhaku is an 11-year Sony vet with experience in Sony offices in Japan and America. Yuhaku will report to Beth Berke, evp/cao for SPE, who announced the departments creation.
The move reflects SPEs support of the initiative recently presented by Sir Howard Stringer, Sony Corp. chairman/ceo, called Sony United.
THQ Inc. has shipped globally THE INCREDIBLES: RISE OF THE UNDERMINER videogame for play on PlayStation2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS and Windows PC/Mac. This is the followup to the hit videogame, THE INCREDIBLES, inspired by a Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Pixar Animations Studios film, THE INCREDIBLES.
Graham King's Initial Ent. Group has obtained international distribution rights for Revolution Studios' Philip K. Dick adaptation, NEXT, according to VARIETY. As part of the deal, King will gain a producer credit on the film along with star Nicolas Cage, Norm Golightly, Todd Garner and Arne Schmidt.
IDT Ent. today (Nov. 3, 2005) agreed to acquire a major Australian-based independent distributor of theatrical, video and DVD product, Imagine Ent. This increases Imagines offerings with the assets of IDT Ent.s home entertainment subsidiary, Anchor Bay, an established leader in the field that boasts an expansive selection of theatrical films, television series and childrens and fitness titles.
Producer/director/animator Don Bluth and his artistic partner, Gary Goldman, signed a major gift agreement to give Savannah College of Art and Design a collection of more than one million pieces of art including animation cels, drawings and by these animation legends.
SCAD will honor Bluth and Goldman at the Savannah Film Festival with a Lifetime Achievement Award in Animation on Nov. 5 at 7:00 pm.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Science and Technology Council will hold a screening and panel discussion about the duality of animation and live action on Dec. 6, 2005, at 7:30 pm in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theatre.
There has always been a unique fascination with combining animation and live performances. Now, due to advances in digital imaging technology, animation is being used by filmmakers to complement or even replace live action, which is completely changing the dynamic of blended cinema.
POSEIDON and SUPERMAN RETURNS are the latest Warner Bros. tentpole pictures to get the large format IMAX treatment. Wolfgang Petersens remake of THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (with vfx from ILM and MPC) will be released May 12, 2006, on both conventional and IMAX screens. Bryan Singers SUPERMAN RETURNS (with vfx from Sony Pictures Imageworks, Rhythm + Hues, The Orphanage and Rising Sun Pictures, among others) follows the same release pattern on June 30, 2006.
Paul W.S. Anderson, who developed a name for turning videogames into feature films such as RESIDENT EVIL and MORTAL COMBAT, has been hired by Steven Paul's Crystal Sky Pictures to turn Konami videogame franchise CASTLEVANIA into a feature, reports VARIETY. Anderson will write and direct the film. Paul and Crystal Sky president Benedict Carver will produce alongside Impact Pictures Anderson and Jeremy Bolt. The story will chronicle the origins of Dracula and the vampire-hunting Belmont Clan. Mid-2006 is set for production to start and no cast has yet been set.
Due to New Lines stalled development of an IRON MAN feature, Marvel has regained the film rights to the comicbook franchise, reports VARIETY. After the project was in development hell for more than two years, the franchises option expired this summer and Marvel opted not to renew with New Line. Now the feature will start from scratch at Marvel with a new script, which will either be produced in-house or licensed to another studio.
Rogue Films, the genre arm of Focus Features, has tapped the domestic distribution rights to HIGH TENSION director Alexandre Ajas forthcoming supernatural horror flick, THE WAITING, VARIETY reports. Rogue purchased the film from Gold Circle Films and Craven/Maddalena Films. Mandate holds the international rights.
Juried prizewinners were announced for the 2005 Bethel Film Festival. Taking the Best Animation award was FLYAWAY from director Danny Oakley. The short film was produced by Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based Out Of Our Minds Animation Studio, which landed nearly $2 million in funding from private investors for the production of its first feature-length animated film, MAGISTICAL, earlier this summer.
Michael Helfant joins Marvel Ent. Inc. as president/coo of the company's Marvel Studios division based in Beverly Hills.
