Joy Tashjian Marketing Group (JTMG) has been named licensing representative by Toei Animation Inc. for its new animated series BOBOBO-BO BO-BOBO, an anime series that will make its U.S. debut this October on the Cartoon Network Toonami block.
Comic book publisher Bruce Hamilton passed away on June 20, 2005, following a prolonged illness. In 1981, Hamilton, along with Russ Cochran, two long-time Disney comics fans, decided to combine forces to bring greater recognition to the work of one of the greats of comic art Carl Barks, creator of the popular Disney comic book character, Uncle Scrooge McDuck, miserly-yet-adventurous uncle of Donald Duck.
NBC Universal will present an unprecedented motion picture preview as all nine of its networks simultaneously telecast the world premiere of the first trailer for Universal Pictures' KING KONG, on Monday, June 27, 2005, from 8:59:30-9:02 pm ET.
MTV Networks has acquired NeoPets Inc. the owner and operator of Neopets.com, the world's largest and fastest growing youth community on the Internet. Neopets is a global online entertainment network whose members create and care for "virtual pets" that inhabit a mythical land called "Neopia." To date, more than 25 million members worldwide have created Neopets accounts in 10 different languages, generating more than five billion pageviews per month. Both Nielsen//NetRatings and comScore Media Metrix consistently rank Neopets.com as one of the top-10 "stickiest" sites on the Web.
To honor the artistry of director George Lucas, AFI's 33rd Life Achievement Award recipient, AFI Silver Theatre will present a special tribute to George Lucas hosted by the Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore, Her Excellency Chan Heng Chee, on June 29, 2005, in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Issues about remarriage are sweetly addressed in a special primetime episode of Playhouse Disney's hit series for preschoolers, JOJO'S CIRCUS premiering June 20, 2005, at 7:30 pm on the Disney Channel. Erik Estrada is the voice of groom-to-be, Mr. Muscles, and sings an original song with lyrics written by Kathie Lee Gifford in this stop-motion episode A Circus Town Wedding.
CON-CAN Movie FestivalWorld Wide WebOctober 11, 2005 February 27, 2006Deadline: August 31, 2005
Two short-form series, the new SHANE'S KINDERGARTEN COUNTDOWN (a spinoff of the popular SHANNA'S SHOW) and new installments of ADVENTURES IN NUTRITION WITH CAPTAIN CARLOS, premiered June 20 during Playhouse Disney's new "Breakfast with Bear" hour on Disney Channel. The programming block will now air weekdays from 7:00-8:00 am.
The International Animation Festival ANIMACOR 2005Córdoba, Spain October 25-30, 2005Deadline: August 31, 2005
ANIMACOR is a festival that celebrates the best works in film, shorts and TV series. During ANIMACOR 2005, in addition to the competition categories, the event will host a Spanish-German meeting of animation producers, a tribute to an international animation industry celebrity, Spanish animation round-table conferences and a exhibition.
Mainframe Entertainment has acquired international distribution rights for a new CG animated direct-to-video film based on the tremendously popular ARTHUR children's book series. Mainframe, Lions Gate Family Entertainment and RichCrest Animation have partnered to create the feature film, ARTHUR'S MISSING PAL, which will mark the first time that the beloved aardvark will come to life in 3D CG animation. IDT Entertainment Sales (IDTeS) will sell international distribution rights for the film on behalf of Mainframe.
Sedelmaier Productions has summoned his creative crew to produce a series of vitally important cartoons depicting the heroic actions of the Maxim Ranger as he strives to show man how to protect his precious sense of manhood in these perilously confusing times. The heroic figure is an animated icon for MAXIM MAGAZINE, the highly successfully mens entertainment publication.
The art direction and gags in the new animated new comedy, DISNEYS THE BUZZ ON MAGGIE, from Walt Disney Television Animation, may leave viewers bug-eyed like the design of its insect stars in a series that is quite a departure for the Disney Channel. The show debuted June 17, 2005, at 8:00 pm and now airs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on the channels weekend block at 5:30 pm.
wondertouch announced PARTICLEILLUSION FUSION VOLUME 1: THE FUSION OF ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS AND WONDERTOUCH PARTICLEILLUSION, the first training DVD in the new Creative Cow Master Series.
PARTICLEILLUSION FUSION is designed to teach experienced and beginning level users of particleIllusion, wondertouch's award-winning, sprite-based particle effects software application, how to work efficiently with After Effects, Adobe's leading motion graphics and visual effects software.
In its largest project, London-based Double Negative has created nearly 300 vfx shots for Warner Bros. BATMAN BEGINS, opening June 15. Production vfx supervisors Janek Sirrs and Dan Glass challenged Double Negative to tackle work that would require the team to completely revamp its design facility, creating a new working pipeline and installing new infrastructure to accommodate the huge workload.
Warner Bros. has landed the film rights to turn Kathryn Lasky's children's fantasy series GUARDIANS OF GA'HOOLE into a CG feature, reports VARIETY. This will be the first project for producer Donald De Line under his new three-year first-look deal with the studio. Lasky will adapt her books as well as exec produce.
Lasky's seven-book series is set in a parallel universe where owls can perform magical transformations. The first book follows a young barn owl who joins a mysterious school for orphaned owls after being pushed out of his family's nest by his older brother.
Wolfgang Petersen's remake of THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE is gaining actors quicker than the doomed shipping takes on water. Mia Maestro (TVs ALIAS), Freddy Rodriguez (TVs SIX FEET UNDER), Kevin Dillon (TVs ENTOURAGE), Jacinda Barrett (LAST KISS) and Jimmy Bennett (THE AMITYVILLE HORROR) have all joined the star-studded cast for the Warner Bros. tentpole, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
Maestro will play a stowaway. Rodriguez will play a member of the crew. Dillon plays a blowhard poker player. Barrett and Bennett will play a mother and son.
Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films have started development on NATIONAL TREASURE 2, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Jon Turteltaub will return as direct from a script by Gregory Poirier (forthcoming SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON remake). The studios are keeping the plot on the down low and as of yet none of the original cast has been resigned. Jason Reed shepherd the project for Disney with Chad Oman, Mike Stenson, Aviv and Segars are exec producing.
Sony Online Ent. Inc., and Warner Bros. Interactive Ent. announced exclusive long-term licensing agreements allowing SOE to develop a DC Comics massively multiplayer online game for PC and next generation consoles, as well as the acquisition of THE MATRIX ONLINE game by SOE.
BBC Worldwide unveils two new properties at this year's L!censing Show. DOCTOR WHO is about an intergalactic adventurer who, with his companion, travels through time and space witnessing things beyond our imagination. CHARLIE AND LOLA is about a funny four-year old little girl who knows her own mind and "will not ever, NEVER eat a tomato" and her imaginative older brother who persuades her they are really Moonsquirters from the land of Moon. At L!censing International 2005, New York, running June 21-23, 2005, BBC will be located at booth #3933.
Tonight, WIA hosts this months Storyboard Pitch Nigh, which already has a lineup of four people presenting their work. The event takes place from 7:00 to 10:00 pm at The American Animation Institute, 4729 Lankershim Blvd., N. Hollywood. The event is $5 for non-members and free to WIA members.
For more information, contact Jessica Kreig at Anim8ed33@aol.com or call her at (818) 384-2197.
Ray Bradbury Future Fest is a celebration organized by California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) School of Film/Video faculty member E. Michael Mitchell, in association with J.R. Smith, alumni and select advanced students from School of Film/Video Program in Character Animation. The event presents artwork and film exploring the writings of sci-fi master Ray Bradbury, who will make several unscheduled appearances at the event.
Lucasfilm has sent out a letter to potential network buyers inviting bids for the TV broadcast rights to the STAR WARS film franchise, reports VARIETY. The price tag for the six-film series could go as high as $50 million.
Discovery Kids and Mike Young Prods. shows have each scored double finalist honors in the 31st Humanitas Prize childrens animation category. The finalists in all six categories will be competing for $115,000 in prize money to be handed out at the annual luncheon, which will be held on Wednesday, June 29, 2005, at the Hilton Universal Hotel in Universal City, California.
The 2005 Indie Memphis Soul Of Southern Film FestivalMemphis, Tennessee, USAOctober 21-27, 2005Deadline: July 15, 2005
28th Starz Denver International Film Festival (SDIFF)Denver, Colorado, USANovember 10-20, 2005Deadline: August 1, 2005
