AWN Headline News

Spike TV debuts a topical animated series, THIS JUST IN, created by Steve Marmel, on March 14, 2004 at 10:30 pm. Marmel, who has hosted the Annie Awards for two years running, is a standup comic and producer/head writer of Nickelodeon's hit show, THE FAIRLY ODDPARENTS.

Rushes Soho Shorts Festival 2004London, U.K.July 31 August 6, 2004Deadline: May 6, 2004

The annual Rushes Soho Shorts Festival has become a highlight of London's film calendar. This year's event features free screenings of short-listed films will run in bars, cafés and cinemas throughout Soho. Once again, the Curzon Soho will host the delegate centre, (sponsored by Fentimans Drinks), in addition to providing the venue for the ever-popular short film seminar, which is run in conjunction with the NPA.

Nickelodeon's series CHALKZONE will be getting a little more adult influence when independent animation maverick Bill Plympton makes a guest artist appearance on the show. The special episode first aired in February and will now be rebroadcast on March 13, 2004 on CBS at 10:30 am.

At this year's MIP-TV, TV-Loonland will show new developments such as WEREKIDS and JOHNNY MUTTON and will also bring a host other shows such as HEIDI, a 75-minute feature version of the classic children's tale.

MarVista Entertainment, a newly formed distribution and production company, will make its first visit to MIP-TV in 2004. It will offer family-oriented entertainment, ranging from live-action television series, new and original TV movies to digitally re-mastered classics available for broadcast and DVD distribution.

Threshold Digital Research Labs has wrapped production of STAR TREK: BORG INVASION 4D for Paramount Parks, part of the STAR TREK: THE EXPERIENCE at the Las Vegas Hilton. The multi-million dollar experience is the first RealityVision 3D production in history.

For the first time, kids (and bigger kids) can truly join in the action of the next BATMAN animated series. Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) announced it has partnered with Mattel Inc. and VEIL Interactive Technologies to link action figure and vehicles with interactive television. The technology will be exclusive to WBCP and Mattel for 2004. VEIL (Video Encoded Invisible Light) technology transmits encoded digital data -- in the form of graphics, storyline components, gadgets and other features -- directly from show, which is captured by Mattel's new line of Batwave children's toys.

Broadcasters may have to rethink how adult their adult animation gets now that the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation increasing the maximum fine for radio and TV indecency from $11,000 to $500,000, reports the ASSOCIATED PRESS.

The vote was 391-22. A U.S. Senate bill is under discussion. The bill raises the maximum fine for a broadcast license-holder from $27,500 to $500,000 and the fine for a performer from $11,000 to $500,000.