Italian animation house Mondo TV and its German division, Mondo Igel Media AG, has inked a deal with Neue Deutsche Filmgesellschaft (NDF) to produce two animated features as well as a TV series. The TV series will be the second season of NDFs LETTERS FROM FELIX, based upon the famous German childrens books by Annette Langen and Constanza Droop. The feature projects have not been announced yet. The price tag on all three projects is $5.8 million.
In a move that looks like it wants to recapture the success of its HARRY POTTER franchise, Warner Bros. Pictures has optioned Phillip Ardaghs childrens trilogy of books, featuring the main character Eddie Dickens, reported DAILY VARIETY. Scribe Matthew Huffman (ME AND MY MONSTER) has been tapped to write the screenplay for the first book, A HOUSE CALLED AWFUL END. The story follows an 11-year-old British boy, who goes to live with his Mad Uncle Jack and Mad Aunt Maud when his parents get sick and ends up in the St. Horrid's Home for Grateful Orphans.
For the upcoming feature FREDDY VS. JASON, Freddy vs. Jason Prod used Eyetronics mobile scanning services. The filmmakers chose the technology so they could increase the quality of the visual effects and meet their goals within their tight 10-week production schedule.
The countdown for Aardman Animations WALLACE & GROMIT THE MOVIE has started, as the studio in Bristol, England starts as the DreamWorks-backed feature gets underway in September, according to DAILY VARIETY and confirmed by a DreamWorks spokesperson.
During the living tribute to voice over master Daws Butler at the ASIFA-Hollywood meeting July 30, 2003 in Glendale, the animation society announced it has embarked on an ambitious project to expand the offerings of the current ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Center in Burbank to include a virtual archive, museum, library and research facility for the benefit of the animation community and general public.
The creative design/production company twothousandstrong, led by creative director Craig Tozzi, has moved into its new headquarters, a 4,800 square-foot loft space in Venice, California, and added Julia Lennon as new head of sales/new business development.
Keep an eye open for Abbey Home Media Groups new animated series, WIDE EYE, set to debut on CBeebies and CBeebies on BBC in fall 2003. Co-produced with the BBC and animated by King Rollo Films, this enchanting 26x10 2D animated series is based on the stories in the WIDE EYE early learning program, which has been sold in 30+ countries.
Discovery Kids has appointed Jim Rapsas from director to vp of kids program development to develop and maintain programming for all of the Discovery Kids outlets, including the Disco Discovery Kids Channel, Discovery Kids Saturday morning block on NBC and the sponsor-free and commercial-free Ready Set Learn preschool block on TLC.
The six-year Discovery veteran has been responsible for such shows as TRADING SPACES: BOYS VS GIRLS, SCOUT'S SAFARI and ADVENTURE CAMP. Rapas created and exec produced STRANGE DAYS AT BLAKE HOLSEY HIGH.
All 26 episodes comprising the first season of ROCKY & BULLWINKLE & FRIENDS, from 1961, arrives in a must-own four-disc set on Aug. 5, 2003 (Sony Music Video, $39.98). Certainly one of TV's wittiest animated series, producer Jay Ward, partner Bill Scott (the voice of Bullwinkle and others) and their wacky writing staff never pandered to children. Despite the dated Cold War material, painful puns and other cultural clichés, the cartoons hold up very well.
Hong Kong toon house STVDIO Media Animation will develop original animated content and images for the burgeoning market of cellular telephones via an agreement with Crown Greetings. The animated content for MMS networks across the will be beamed to 3G mobile handsets in the Asia-Pacific region in fall 2003.
The 16th Foyle Film FestivalDerry, Northern IrelandNovember 21- 30, 2003Deadline: September 8, 2003
Now rumors AWN reported on two weeks ago about POWER RANGERS-powered billionaire Haim Saban making another run to buy ProSiebenSat.1 Media have been confirmed. A group of investors led by Saban have submitted a revived bid to buy a majority stake in the broadcaster from insolvent German media group KirchMedia. Saban has made a better offer to acquire 72% of ProSiebens vote-wielding ordinary shares at an estimated cost of$575 million plus an additional $225 million for a 16.5% stake held by KirchMedia and German publisher Axel Springer.
47th San Francisco International Film FestivalSan Francisco, California, USAApril 15 - 29, 2004Deadline: November 12, 2003
Toronto-based March Entertainment will launch its new animated television series CHILLY BEACH September 3, 2003 at 5:30 pm, immediately following THE SIMPSONS on CBC-TV in Canada. Produced in Flash in association with the CBC, CHILLY BEACH represents the first time a Canadian property created as Internet Webisodes has been picked up by the network.
VFX003World Wide WebAugust 1 - August 31, 2003
In promotion of Panasonics new Nitrix mini-system stereos, Renegade Marketing Group has developed the Flash game NITRIX SERIES RACING for the Panasonic Website. The game will be featured within the sites Club Panasonic, the community within Panasonic.com that offers exclusive sweepstakes, promotions and product enhancements. One or two winners per month will win a Nitrix Mini System. The other top point earners will win a consolation prize package containing Nitrix t-shirts, key chains, etc. The game will remain on the site beyond the six-month duration of the contest.
UCLA Extension's Computer Graphics & Graphic Design Program Open HouseLos Angeles, California, USAAugust 18, 2003
Super RTL in Germany finalized a package deal with Nickelodeon for more than 300 half-hours of animated programming, the biggest deal the broadcaster has made in recent years.
The six-year deal includes new episodes of SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, JIMMY NEUTRON, HEY ARNOLD! and more series to be produced. This agreement guarantees us the basic supply of high quality animation, said Susanne Schosser, program director of Super RTL. Nickelodeon is one of the more renowned addresses and revitalizes our programming a great deal.
Nevercenter Ltd. Co. announced the upcoming release of its new subdivision surfaces modeler, Silo. Expanding the subdivision surfaces paradigm to new levels, Silo combines several new modeling methods with established tools in an interface that is fully customizable. In addition, Silo features a workflow based on speed and ease of use. Silo will go on sale later in August 2003 at www.nevercenter.com.
G4, the Comcast-owned TV network about video games and the gamer lifestyle, announced the winners of its first video game Glow Awards July 30, 2003 at G-Phoria, the network's location-based and televised mega-event held at the Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood, celebrating the massive phenomenon of video games. Presented by EB Games and Jeep, the show was hosted by actor/comedian Jamie Kennedy, who announced awards in key categories. A 90-minute special taped at G-Phoria airs on G4 August 8 at 8:00 pm.
Finn Arnesen has been promoted from programming development chief of Cartoon Network Europe to head program production for Cartoon Network International with responsibility for all areas outside the U.S. The CN exec will be kept exceptionally busy with Cartoon Networks recent commitment of more than $500 million over five years (2003-2007) to produce original animated programming.
Leipzig Festival 2003Leipzig, GermnayOctober 14 - 19, 2003Deadline: August 25, 2003
Universal's AMERICAN WEDDING (with VFX by Soho VFX) powered the weekend box office ending Aug. 3, 2003, grabbing a huge $33.3M slice of cake. SPY KIDS 3D: GAME OVER fell to second place, dropping 41% while collecting $19.5M for a total of $68.5M in its second weekend. Hybride Technologies and The Orphanage shared VFX duties for the Dimension Films release.
The Ben Affleck superhero actioner, DAREDEVIL, based on the Marvel comic book, comes to DVD (Fox Home Entertainment, $29.98) armed with more features than fearless protagonist Matt Murdock. Among them is an hour-long collection of interviews with people that worked on the comic, including creator Stan Lee, Frank Miller and director Kevin Smith.
So! Animation has finished promotional design, CG animation and intro/bumper composites for the History Channel's RUSSIA LAND OF THE TSARS. The Russian history lesson had the highest ratings for any History Channel program when it debuted earlier this summer. Creative director Lauri Salladay served as compositor on the project with George Schermer and Rob Cazin handling 3D modeling.
