2d3, a leading developer of professional 3D camera matchmoving software, recently announced use of its award-winning boujou application by L.A. effects studio Ring of Fire on RAINING BULLS-EYES, a new commercial spot for Target. The :30 advertisement, in which white Target bulls-eye logos turn up in all sorts of popular outdoor activities, launches the U.S. merchandiser's national spring branding campaign.
Recently formed Legacy Animation Studios has begun pre-production on an animated short film entitled LUCKY, and, a la Bill Plympton and his HAIR HIGH or Fathom Studios DELGO, Web surfers can watch the production in progress with an online production journal (www.legacyanimation.net/lucky/). The film will be animated with traditional hand-drawn animation, and is the first project for this group of animators and artists formerly employed by Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida.
Malibu-based JAKKS Pacific Inc. has entered into a worldwide licensing agreement with Marvel Enterprises to market and distribute TV games products based on the SPIDER-MAN property. TV Games is an innovative new game concept that allows users to play the SPIDER-MAN game on any television set with the use of a dedicated character based hand-held device that only requires batteries.
Jean Réveillon is now secretary general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) replacing Jean Stock, who had held the position since October 2001 and who will now be working as special consultant to the president until Dec. 31, 2004.
Arne Wessberg, the EBU President, said he was confident that, "the personal and professional qualities of this extremely experienced professional [Réveillon] will enable him to meet on behalf of the EBU and its members all the challenges facing broadcasters in an ever-changing environment."
Cartoon Network will air a 90-minute special to introduce the new series, DUEL MASTERS, on Feb. 27, 2004 at 5:30 pm. The series will then air Saturdays at 7:00 pm, starting March 13, during Cartoon Network's Saturday action/adventure programming block. CN acquired the series from Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro Inc.
Reginald Fils-Aime has been named evp, sales and marketing, for Nintendo of America Inc.'s operations in both North America and Latin America.
A senior consumer marketing exec with a proven track record, Fils-Aime most recently was svp of marketing at VH1, part of the MTV networks, and previously was chief marketing officer for Derby Cycle Corp., and U.S. marketing chief for Guinness Import Co.
Kids' WB! will be celebrating Valen-TEEN's Day on Feb. 14, 2004, with a lineup hosted by the TEEN TITANS
Limelight Media announced that ANIME IN THE LIMELIGHT (AITL), the popular Japanese animation music show produced in Honolulu, Hawaii, officially resumed one-hour broadcasts February 7, 2004. The shows expansion was the result of AITLs new contract with Buffalo, New York-based Toon Radio (www.toonradio.net).
Running from February 9 - March 14, 2004, Burger King will offer 10 FAIRLY ODDPARENT toys featuring all of characters. Each toy will come with one of five online codes that unlock unique FAIRLY ODDPARENTS-themed digital prizes at www.burgerkingFOP.nick.com, including a mouse pointer, printable locker poster, wallpaper, 500 Nick Points and e-cards. In addition, kids who collect all five codes will get a limited edition screensaver.
Vancouver-based Bardel Entertainment Inc. has landed a deal with Mega Bloks Inc. to develop the top-selling DRAGONS toy line for an animated TV movie, which will air on Canadas TELETOON.
Were very excited to work with Mega Bloks and bring the DRAGONS universe to the big screen, said Bardels ceo Delna Bhesania. These toys are already a huge hit and the evolution into a feature film is a natural progression. Kids are going to love this.
Nicktoons, Nickelodeons digital channel for kids favorite animated hits, will present the U.S. premiere of CORNEIL AND BERNIE, the hit animated comedy series from Europe. The half-hour series, produced by Millimages in France will premiere Feb. 21, 2004, at 8:00 pm with repeats at 11:00 pm on Saturdays, 9:00 am, noon and 7:30 pm on Sundays, as well as 8:00 and 11:00 pm on Wednesdays.
The caped crusader is returning in another animated TV series, THE BATMAN, produced by Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) for Kids' WB! and Cartoon Network.
This series picks up Batman's story in year three when the famed DC Comics hero is in his mid-twenties, just finding his way as protector, while balancing his public persona as billionaire bachelor Bruce Wayne. The new cartoon will feature a new range of experimental Bat-gadgets and amped-up Batmobiles and a theme song performed by The Edge from multi-Grammy Award-winning sensation rock group U2.
Hidemi Fukuhara joins VIZ LLC as the new vice chairman/cfo, replacing Satoru Fujii, who is retiring from day-to-day operations, but will remain on the VIZ board of directors.
Southern California-based DigiCel Inc. has released FlipBook 4.0 offering greater speed, power, ease-of-use and more affordability. Virtually every aspect of the program has been enhanced.
Howard Anderson Jr., ASC received the American Society of Cinematographer's Presidents Award at the 18th annual Awards dinner, Feb. 8, 2004, at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. This tribute is presented annually to an individual who has made unique contributions to the art form. Anderson is a visual effects pioneer who has earned several Oscar nominations, but is best known for his work on the classic television series I LOVE LUCY and STAR TREK. Anderson is a second-generation filmmaker. His father, Howard Anderson, began his career in Hollywood in 1919.
Cinematographer Andrew Lesnie (THE RETURN OF THE KING), who was in Los Angeles over the weekend competing at the 18th annual ASC Awards (John Schwartzman won for SEABISCUIT), told VFXWORLD that he will be reuniting with director Peter Jackson to lense the upcoming KING KONG remake -- and that he's very open to shooting in black and white.
The Gnomon Workshop of Hollywood, in collaboration with Design Studio Press, has released seven new training DVDs by concept designers Feng Zhu (STAR WARS: EPISODE III), Harald Belker (SPIDER-MAN) and Carlos Huante (VAN HELSING). These titles focus on design process, ideation, digital rendering and client presentation.
Side Effects Software, developer of the award-winning Houdini family of 3D software, and Syflex LLC, a leader in cloth simulation, announced a Houdini-compatible version of the popular Syflex cloth simulator. Available now as a plug-in for Houdini users on Linux and Windows, the fast and versatile software enhances the Houdini toolset for applications that require highly realistic cloth animations.
3D Awards entries for the 2nd Annual International 3D Awards will close on midnight, Feb. 29, 2004. Instructions and guidelines for submitting to the 3D Awards can be found at www.3dawards.org.
Online image uploads for the following categories 3D Art (still), Architectural Visualization (still) and Design Visualization/Industrial Design are also available at the 3D Awards Website.
Digital Hero trophies will be awarded in the following categories:* Feature Film Visual Effects* Animated Feature Film* Television Visual Effects
MGM's strategy in making a lower-cost BARBERSHOP sequel paid off, as BARBERSHOP 2: BACK IN BUSINESS debuted on top with $24.2M. Disney's MIRACLE, about the 1980 Olympic miracle on ice in which the U.S. beat the Soviet Union, debuted in second place with $19.3M. Last week's champ, Screen Gems' YOU GOT SERVED, dipped to third in its second outing, collecting $7.5M and $25.8M to date. Universal's ALONG CAME POLLY came in fourth with $6.8M and a cume of $75M.
Reports state the long-in-the-works fourth installment in the INDIANA JONES series is again on hold. VARIETY reports that creator George Lucas was unhappy with SHAWKSHANK REDEMPTION director Frank Darabont's script. The film was scheduled to hit theaters in the summer of 2005, but 2006 looks like the soonest it could arrive on the big screen. Lucas, director Steven Spielberg and star Harrison Ford have wanted to do another film in the series chronicling an aging adventurer, however, the trio has said they wouldn't do it if they all were not thrilled with the same script.
PBS Kids' math-mystery property CYBERCHASE has moved into brand activity high gear this spring, including new marketing dollars and licensees. With INTEL and JIF signing on as national underwriters of the series, the deal brings a variety of promotional opportunities and marketing dollars to the show. As part, national student contests, educational outreach programs, consumer promotions and events are in the works to focus nationwide attention on math literacy.
IMAX Corp. has signed an agreement with Daytona USA, the official attraction of NASCAR, to open a new IMAX 3D theatre alongside the Daytona International Speedway. Scheduled to open in April 2004, the theater will premiere the Warner Bros. Pictures first IMAX 3D film, NASCAR 3D: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE.
FINDING NEMO cast no doubt that Pixar Animation Studios (Walt Disney Pictures) continues to ride the biggest wave in animation as it won in nine out of the nine categories it was nominated in at the 2003 Annie Awards held Feb. 7, 2004 at the Alex Theater in Glendale, California, culminating in the big kahuna, Best Feature. While it competed against 2D entries, including the beloved TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE, animation professionals and fans, who comprise the voting membership of ASIFA-Hollywood that doles out the awards, favored the 3D production.
Home Box Office has elevated Carolyn Strauss and Sheila Nevins to the titles of president, HBO Entertainment and president, HBO Documentary and Family, respectively.
In making the announcement, HBO chairman/ceo Chris Albrecht said, Carolyn and Sheila have made extraordinary contributions to our programming over many years. Their creative instincts have been instrumental to our success and I wanted to acknowledge that with these promotions.
