eigoMANGA is sending care packages containing anime and manga gifts for U.S. Army troops stationed at Colorado Springs, Colorado, expected to be departing to soon to Iraq. The media and publishing company is answering the call of the Army troops that formed an anime club on the base called, A.N.I.M.E. Club.
Danny Goldman has been promoted to the created position of vp/gm London Sales for Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI). Goldman assumes direct management of the team of London-based international sales executives and the oversight of Northern and Central/Eastern European sales territories, as well as Africa and the Middle East.
His portfolio already includes sales distribution of SPTI product throughout the U.K. and Ireland. He continues to be based at SPTI's European headquarters in London.
In keeping Adult Swims late-nite edge, Cartoon Network has acquired THE SUPER MILK-CHAN SHOW, an irreverent, politically-incorrect anime series from ADV Films, which it will begin airing in November 2004 on the adult animation programming block.
Award-winning animator Cleber Redondo has launched Wimze Studios, a full-service animation house specializing in 3D character animation for the TV programming, home video, commercial, Web and game markets. Redondo will head the new turnkey flagship studio in Fairview, New Jersey, which has brought together a highly qualified team of animators able to take an animation project from concept through completion.
Sci Fi Channel has partnered with exec producers Steven Long Mitchell and Craig Van Sickle (MEDICAL INVESTIGATION, THE PRETENDER) to develop TIN MAN, a four-hour miniseries that puts a sci-fi twist on the fantasy classic, WIZARD OD OZ. Mitchell and Van Sickle have also co-written the screenplay.
The hugely popular collectibles MIJOS will be getting its own animated direct-to-video via Dean Valentine's First Family Ent. (FFE), reports VARIETY. Craig Bartlett (HEY ARNOLD) and Joseph Purdy (RECESS) will be writing the screenplay. MGM Home Ent. will distribute the DVDs through its exclusive first-look deal with FFE. Production should begin on the first DVD in the beginning of next year.
The 8th Annual Hollywood Film Festival's "Hollywood Awards" ceremony, honoring independent filmmakers and established Hollywood professionals, was held on Oct. 18, 2004, before a standing-room-only audience of more than 1,200 Hollywood Film Festival attendees at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. SHREK 2, directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury and Conrad Vernon, was honored with a special award for animation.
BrainCamp is an intimate gathering for professionals in the childrens entertainment industry. The event allows pros to a chance to sit down and discuss whats going in the industry and make contacts with players in all areas of the childrens entertainment.
The confirmed speakers include:
Tyler Barnes, vp, marketing - The Harlem GlobetrottersMichael Fletcher, president, Sorpresa TVChristy Glaubke, principal associate, children & media program - Children NowScott Greenberg, coo - Film Roman
Animated film EGG, by Ramon del Prado, was named best film in the Indeo Awards organized by the University of the Philippines Film Institute Cineastes' Studio, reports the INQUIRER NEWS SERVICE. The story chronicles the trials and tribulations of a chicken egg misplaced in a "balut" factory a metaphor for the problem of discrimination.
What happens when two Asian techno cowboys ride through a futuristic desert? They find a giant jellyfish, nestling between tree trunks naturally. The first spot from Hutchinson 3s new campaign about sharing goes from the bizarre to the surreal as two outlaws drag their jellyfish back to town, feed it an illegal-looking substance and gaze wondrously as it comes to life. Soon the cowboys and jellyfish are dancing in tandem, cutting some slick moves.
Industrial Light & Magic recently opened its MoCap studio in San Rafael, California, to give journalists a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of VAN HELSING, which arrives on DVD Oct. 19, 2004.
Award-winning French animation and digital effects company, Sparx, is opening an office in Los Angeles, it was announced today (Oct. 19, 2004) by Sparx new ceo, Jean-Philippe Agati. The L.A. office will be managed by Laddie Ervin, new vp of business development for North America.
Regency Enterprises and CritterPix Studios will develop Regency's first-ever CG animated feature film, based on the children's bestseller OLLIE THE OTTER by Kelly Alan Williamson. Regency will head creative development on the picture as well as has the option of investing in CritterPix and to co-finance the movie's production. Longtime Don Bluth producing partner Gary Goldman will direct the film. JC Davis, founder of Johnny Cat Prods., will exec produce.
Side Effects Software and Sony Pictures Imageworks announced they will co-host the upcoming Los Angeles SIGGRAPH chapter meeting where Imageworks will talk about how Houdini software was used to generate the visual effects in SPIDER-MAN 2. The meeting will take place at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences on Oct.
UWPictures/O-Group, Ltd. and Three Kings Ent. have optioned YOUNG MERLIN, written by Robert Kahn. The coming-of-age story of Merlin, envisioned as the first chapter in a three-part franchise, is a live-action feature combined with CG. Purchase price for the film, budgeted at $25 million, was mid-six figures. The project will shoot in the U.K. at the end of the year.
DreamWorks has announced a musical version of the animated film SHREK, reports the NEW YORK TIMES. The Broadway production will be directed by Jason Moore, best known for AVENUE Q, and with a script by the playwright David Lindsay-Abaire (FUDDY MEERS). AMERCAN BEAUTY director and theater vet Sam Mendes will produce the production. The musical will have a tryout in another town in 2006, followed by a move to Broadway. No composer has been selected.
Japan's oldest film studio, Shochiku Co., is launching an animation division, reports VARIETY. The new arm plans to make five animated films and TV projects per year. Shochiku gm of filmed entertainment Ichiro Seki will head up the division. The unit will do commissioned works in both CG and 2D.
Shochiku will unveil its first animated productions in the next few months and hopes to release its first film in 2005. The company has had success previously distributing such animated fare as GENSOMADEN SAIYUKI -- THE MOVIE and the ULTRAMAN series.
Miramax has acquired the North and South American distribution rights to CG-animated feature SPRUNG! THE MAGIC ROUNDABOUT from Pathe Pictures Intl., reports VARIETY. In post-production and set to be completed in January, SPRUNG is based on the U.K. puppet TV series. Pathe will release the film in France and the U.K. in February.
DreamWorks SHARK TALE not only retained its number one spot for the weekend ended Oct. 17, 2004, reeling in $22M, but also hit $118.7M as it climbed to the 10th spot on the all-time list of computer-animated features.
Corel Corp. acquired Jasc Software Inc., the award-winning developer of the Paint Shop family of digital-photography and image-editing software. A critical milestone in Corel's ongoing growth strategy, this acquisition follows four consecutive quarters of profitability and a successfully completed turnaround since Corel was taken private in August 2003.
The inaugural UK CGI Festival announced its final speakers participating at the two shows scheduled for Nov. 9-10, 2004, in Leeds (at the Royal Amouries Museum) and Dec. 7-8 in London (at the Business Design Centre).
The focus will be on educational and practical approaches to both CGI techniques and technologies. Workshops and masterclasses will be lead by top talent. In addition, award-winning animated films developed in Europe will be showcased, and there will be an expo featuring the latest tools and techniques.
The Leeds show will include:
Independent-minded effects studio CaféFX helped design the mysterious fantasy world of Eric Small's directorial debut, THE DUST FACTORY, the indie film currently being distributed by MGM.
THE DUST FACTORY is an adventure about the love and friendship between two teenagers who help each other through a difficult time in their lives.
Isaac Perlmutter, 61, has been promoted from vice chairman to ceo of Marvel Enterprises, effective Jan. 1, 2005. He will replace president/ceo Allen S. Lipson, 61, who has decided to retire after more than five years with the company.
Perlmutter has been actively involved in the management of Marvel since acquiring its predecessor in 1990. He has served as a director since 1993, served as chairman of the board from 1993 to 1995, and was named vice chairman of the board in 2001. All Marvel division heads will report directly to Perlmutter.
Comcast, a leading broadband Internet provider, has launched the Comcast Kids Channel, a safe interactive environment designed for todays broadband family. The channel launches with premier content from Disney Online.
Lincoln Center Student Trailer CompetitionNew York, New York, USAMarch 31, 2005Deadline: December 31, 2004
HBO Films and The Film Society of Lincoln Center are holding a nationwide competition that will provide college students with the opportunity to create a trailer to precede film screenings at one of the worlds most important cultural institutions -- Lincoln Center.
