TUN (The U Network), a new national cable network catering toward university students will begin broadcasting eigoMANGAs television program, ANIME MIX on its network starting Sept. 6, 2004.
Discovery Communications has acquired the Charles W. Clark Co. Inc., doing business as Rainbow Educational Media an award-winning publisher and distributor of high-quality core-curriculum educational videos, CD-ROMs and DVDs for children and young people in kindergarten through eighth grade. This acquisition further expands the vast digital library of Discovery's newly formed Discovery Education business unit, providing video content to enhance the classroom learning environment.
Eidos, one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, has secured the distribution rights to LEGO Star Wars with Giant Interactive Entertainment Ltd. for all countries except Japan. The game will be released in April 2005 for the PlayStation2, Xbox, PC and Game Boy Advance. LEGO STAR WARS combines two childhood favorites, LEGO and STAR WARS, to create an innovative, action/adventure title designed for young gamers.
Nevercenter Ltd. Co. announced the immediate availability of its highly-acclaimed 3D modeling program, Silo for Mac OS X Panther (10.3). A single Silo license can be purchased online at www.nevercenter.com or through a reseller for $109, and allows an individual user to use Silo on up to three computers, in any combination of Macs and PCs.
Brickyard VFX has created a series of commercials for Volkswagen that are airing during the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. The spots, completed via agency client Arnold Worldwide, production company Anonymous Content and director Malcolm Venville, promote VW's Touareg and Phaeton automobiles, respectively, with ads titled PICTURE and WARP SPEED.
Los Angeles-based family entertainment company PorchLight Entertainment has been acquired by its senior management and Beringea through Global Rights II, a media, brand and intellectual property rights fund.
Six new Maya Masters have been selected by Alias for 2004: Andrew Daffy, CGI supervisor formerly with Framestore CFC; Jeremy Gordon, president/ceo of San Francisco-based game development company Secret Level; Lee Griggs, product specialist at ART VPS; Derald Hunt, digital effects artist; Tom Kluyskens, CG supervisor; and Rene Morel, character modeler and texturer.
Despite having to be filmed twice and still turning out to be quite a mess, Warner Bros.' EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING had enough drawing power to win the weekend ended Aug. 22, 2004.
Dargaud Distribution, the sales arm of leading French producer Dargaud Marina, has signed a raft of sales for CHILDHOOD STORIES, eight animated television specials based upon popular childrens books. Broadcasters on board include Italys RAI 3, Teletoon in France, Spains TV3 and NRK Norway for this unique collection of films while Dargaud Distrib. is targeting further international sales at MIPCOM.
J. J. Sedelmaier Prods. has finished the animation for Spike Lees advertising agency Spike DDB on the new State Farm Insurance spot, BORROW. The commercial opens on a guy in his apartment watching TV. His buddies come in and ask if they can use his car. Hes about to say yes when his mind turns begins to imagine the cartoon hijinks of Terry & Phil.
We were looking for a cross between a STARSKY & HUTCH and DUKES OF HAZZARD cartoon show -- a certain stiffness and dumbness, explains J. J. Sedelmaier.
SOUTH PARKs THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST spoof, THE PASSION OF THE JEW, will hit DVD on the same day as Mel Gibsons controversial film on Aug. 31, 2004. The DVD will also include other religious themed SOUTH PARK episodes CHRISTIAN ROCK HARD and RED HOT CATHOLIC LOVE. The DVD is priced at $19.99.
PhaseSpace unveiled their latest optical motion capture system in the Guerilla Studio and AMD booth 1334 at SIGGRAPH 2004, August 8-12 at the Los Angles Convention Center.
Major features of the new optical motion capture system, include:
Odd Lot Ent. and Batfilm have acquired the feature film rights to comic legend Will Eisner's THE SPIRIT. Odd Lot's Gigi Pritzker and Deborah Del Prete (THE WEDDING PLANNER) and Batfilm's Michael Uslan (BATMAN BEGINS, CATWOMAN, CONSTANTINE) will produce the film. Benjamin Melniker and Steve Maier are attached as exec producer with F.J. DeSanto and Linda McDonough as co-producers.
Rumors on the Internet have been buzzing of late that graphic puppet sex will land SOUTH PARKs Trey Parker and Matt Stones new marionette film, TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE, an NC-17 rating from the MPAA. However, the demented duo are contractually obligated to give distributor Paramount Pictures a cut that squeaks out an R-rating, reports VARIETY. Parker and Stone are not new to debating issues with the MPAA. SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER, UNCUT also received an NC-17 at first.
Valhalla Motion Pictures and MTV Films have announced the supporting cast for their live-action adaptation of Peter Chungs animated cult TV series, AEON FLUX. Joining Oscar-winning actresses Charlize Theron (MONSTER) and Frances McDormand (FARGO) will be Marton Csokas (XXX), Jonny Lee Miller (HACKERS), Sophie Okonedo (DIRTY PRETTY THINGS), Amelia Warner (QUILLS) and Caroline Chikezie (U.K. TVs THE FOOTBALLERS WIVES. The flick is scheduled for theatrical release in 2005. Paramount Pictures and Lakeshore Ent. will distribute.
Family, Canada's leading tween network, has added eight new series to its lineup starting on August 23, 2004 including animated shows DISNEY'S DAVE THE BARBARIAN, FRANNY'S FEET and THE SECRET WORLD OF BENJAMIN BEAR.
DISNEY'S DAVE THE BARBARIAN premieres Aug. 23, 2004 and will air at 4:15 pm Monday through Friday. The series follows Dave the Barbarian's comedic adventures with his offbeat family, including his primping older sister Candy and his fierce younger sister Fang.
MGM Consumer Products and Interactive, has launch the STARGATE SG-1 "Get In The Game" sweepstakes. This contest offers STARGATE SG-1 fans the chance to have his or her likenesses scanned and used as one of the characters in the first STARGATE SG-1 videogame.
To participate in the sweepstakes, participants need to register at www.mgm.com/contest.do between Aug. 24 and Sept. 24, 2004, 12:00 am PDT. A random drawing will take place on Sept. 27, and the winner will be announced by e-mail.
Charlex, the New York-based 3D, animation and effects studio for film and television, has named Adam Isidore as vp/exec producer. He moves from BBDO New York where he held the same title. At BBDO, Isidore recently served as exec producer in charge of production for the Cingular Wireless account. In addition to producing several dozen Cingular spots, he also wrote a spot for the New York launch called SUBWAY, which won an Addy Award.
Curious Labs announced an end of August release for Shade 7. This is an all-in-one 3D graphic suite for designers, illustrators and architects, offering a rich tool set at an affordable price. The intuitive Bezier modeling tool features quick results in visual design. Global illumination rendering that includes Radiosity with physics, accomplishes beautifully radiant imagery. And, the deep tool set is integrated to cover details and complete any project
Daniel S. Rosen, vp, engineering, Warner Bros. Advanced Media Services Inc., has been elected chairman of the Hollywood section of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE).
Tiger Aspect has begun production on the childrens animated series CHARLIE AND LOLA, commissioned by the BBC.
Universal Worldwide Home Entertainment president Louis Feola is exiting after 26 years with the studio, reports DAILY VARIETY.
Feola has headed UWHE since it was established in 1998 as the umbrella division for the studio's specialty production units that develop and produce content for home video and animated TV series, including Universal Home Entertainment Prods. (UHEP), Universal Pictures Visual Programming (UPVP) and Universal Cartoon Studios.
In an effort to grow the animation industry in the country, China has announced that it will encourage private investors developing and creating animated films and TV series, reports CHINA DAILY. In terms with the Opinions Regarding Development of Animation and Comic Industry for Film and TV Programs in China, the State Broadcasting and Radio Administration promised that trustworthy, privately-financed cartoon making agencies would be treated equally with state-backed animation and comic production organizations.
Spike TV will bring back REN & STIMPY ADULT PARTY CARTOON on Aug. 20, 2004, but fans will have to wait for later in the year to catch new episodes. No date has been set for the second season of John Kricfalusis demented masterpiece. Fans who cant wait to catch glimpses of the new season should check out renandstimpy.thetma.com/.
Marvel Enterprises has tapped former Saban exec Eric Rollman to head up its new direct-to-DVD venture with Lions Gate. As svp of home entertainment and TV production at Marvel Studios, he will oversee the development and production of animated DVD features. Set for a 2006 release, THE AVENGERS will be first title. In his new role, Rollman will oversee all aspects of this major commitment to original home entertainment programming, including development and production.
