AWN Headline News

The Ignatz Awards presentation took place on September 26, during the Small Press Expo (SPX) in Bethesda, Maryland. Named after Ignatz, George Herriman's brick-wielding mouse, the awards aim to recognize outstanding work that challenges popular notions of what comics can achieve, both as an art form and as a means of personal expression. A panel of five cartoonists (Michael Cohen, Tom Devlin, Tom Hart, Marc Hempel and Dylan Horrocks) selected the nominations, and winners were voted on by SPX attendees. The winners are:

* Friday, October 2 - Sunday, October 4. Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.A.

The Neko-Con anime convention takes place at the Holiday Executive Center. Guests of honor include director Hiroki Hayashi ("Bubblegum Crisis"). For information visit www.eskimo.com/~nekocon/.

* Saturday, October 3, Chatsworth, California, U.S.A.

Learning Tree University is offering a one-day seminar on "Writing for Animation" from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jean Ann Wright, who also leads writing seminars for Women In Animation will be teaching the class. Enrollment is $95, plus a $10 materials fee. To register call (818) 882-5599 or visit www.ltu.org/enroll.htm.

* Saturday, October 3 - Friday, October 9. Cannes, France.

MIPCOM and MIPCOM Junior will once again bring together the television producers, distributors, buyers, and programmers of the world. Animated programming of all types is being offered by dozens of suppliers. Animated events within the conference include receptions with companies such as: BKN International, Film Roman, Nelvana and Southern Star. MIPCOM will be reviewed by Sony Wonder's Loris Kramer in the November 1998 issue of Animation World Magazine.

DreamWorks Pictures and Pacific Data Images' computer-animated feature film, "Antz" opens in U.S. theaters on Friday, October 2. The film's 78 minutes of animation (112,320 frames) took two and a half years and a staff of over 200 people to produce. Character voices featured in the film include Woody Allen, Dan Akroyd, Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Stone, Sylvester Stallone and Christopher Walken.

Bonjourno, Mickey! The Italian version of THE DISNEY CHANNEL will begin broadcast on October 3, launching with the country's first TV broadcast of the animated feature, "The Lion King." All programming will be dubbed in Italian. The channel is being transmitted daily from 6 a.m. to midnight, as part of a digital bouquet of channels offered by Telepiu. Disney Channel Italy is headquartered in Milan and headed up by vice president and managing director Janet Scardino. The former Sunbow Entertainment VP joined the company in March 1998.

San Francisco-based WILD BRAIN, INC. produced two new commercials for Ogilvy & Mather's Hershey's Kisses ad campaign. The two new 15-second spots were directed by Carl Willat, who has directed more than 15 Hershey's Kisses ads over the last decade. "Drag Racing," like all previous 15 spots, uses tried-and-true stop-motion. However, for the second spot, titled "Fishing," Willat used computer animation, marking the first time CGI has been used in this campaign. Willat insisted, however, that CGI will not replace stop-motion.

The Disney Channel has launched its annual "Create Story Magic" contest, inviting kids aged 6-12 to compete for the chance to have his or her original story turned into an animated short. Last year's winner was 12-year-old Ian O'Neal, whose story, "Dragon Friend" was selected from over 22,000 entries, animated by Walt Disney Television Animation and broadcast on Disney Channel this year. Every year, the winner also receives a trip for four to Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios. This year's contest is being promoted by Target Stores and Cable in the Classroom.

Vancouver, Canada-based Mainframe Entertainment will produce two feature-length, stereoscopic, 3D computer-animated films for IMAX large-format cinemas. The announcement comes exactly two years after the two companies announced a production deal [AF 8/21/96] to produce two 3D CG-animated ride-films based on Mainframes TV series, ReBoot. The first one, ReBoot, the Ride opened in IMAX ride theaters last year and the second, Journey Into Chaos will open next month.

* Monday, September 28. New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Glendale, California-based animation and development studio, Creative Capers Entertainment has partnered with Dallas, Texas-based content delivery system company, Rapture Technologies, to form a new company. The 50/50 joint venture, called Digital Doorway, will be based in Glendale and focus on production and marketing of interactive gaming, entertainment and educational titles for the PC, console, hand-held and online markets.