AWN Headline News

The California state Supreme Court decided unanimously on June 2, 2003 that celebrities are not entitled to compensation from studios, publishers and artists so long as the likeness of the famed is portrayed creatively rather than literally. The court ruled against Johnny and Edgar Winter, recording artists who sued DC Comics for portraying the brothers as worm/human villains with tentacles sticking out of their chests, called Johnny and Edgar Autumn. Depictions that "are distorted for purposes of lampoon, parody or caricature" are entitled to free-speech protection, justice Ming W. Chin wrote in the decision, Winter vs. DC Comics, S108751. The Motion Picture Assoc. of America had filed arguments in the case so that studios would be able to produce unauthorized drama-documentaries and celebrity spoofs. Celebrities must still be compensated if their actual faces or names are used on commercial merchandise. The court also found that trial judges can throw out these kinds of lawsuits by celebrities without trials. This decision protects the right of studios for background uses of celebrity images, photographs or posters, according to the Motion Picture Assn. The Winter brothers still have a claim against DC Comics for using the brothers' names in advertising for the comic books, a decision the Supreme Court left to a Court of Appeal.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals overruled June 3, 2003 a St. Louis County, Missouri law banning sales of violent videogames to minors. The court ruled that games are "analytically indistinguishable" from other kids of entertainment projected the by the First Amendment. The court said the games' interactivity does not make them different from books, music, movies or live performances. "If the First Amendment is versatile enough to 'shield painting of Jackson Pollock, music of Arnold Schoenberg or Jabberwocky version of Lewis Carroll' we see no reason why the pictures, graphic design, concept art, sounds, music, stories and narrative present n video games are not entitled to a similar protection," the court wrote.

Vee Pee Cartoons, the broadcast design and animation division of Virtual Persuasion, recently completed production on MAD CAPS, a series of 60-second educational interstitials for Nick Jr. The spots will be featured as part of Nick Jrs. fall 2003 line-up and introduce the 3D animated characters Rip, Rap and Rippity Doo. The lively animated shorts employ a hip-hop attitude to teach pre-school kids about colors, shapes and sounds. The interstitials feature the voices of Eastern Conference Records rap artists Mr. E-On, Tame One and The Dutchess performing to hip-hop rhymes written by Nick producers Greg Alkalay and Lisa Versaci along with writer Samantha Berger.

The characters were based on designs by Nickelodeons Manny Galan. "Originally Mannys designs called for 2D characters," according to Vee Pees director of animation, John Siciliano. "But once we did a test of them in 3D, everybody preferred them in that format. We modeled all the characters with Newteks LightWave 7.5. Then we combined the character animation with 2D graphic elements and text in Adobe After Effects to create some really eye-catching spots. The hip hop music and the animation really move together nicely." Vee Pee is located in Fairfield, Connecticut. For information call (203) 332-0184 or check out www.veepee.biz.

Filmmaker Spike Lee is suing Viacom Inc. over its plans to call the TNN channel Spike TV to attract male viewers. Lee filed papers June 3, 2003 for an injunction against Viacom's use of the name, it was reported by The Hollywood Reporter. "The media description of this change of name, as well as comments made to me and my wife, confirmed what was obvious that Spike TV referred to Spike Lee," he said in court papers. Viacom has been asked to explain why it shouldn't be barred from using the name. Viacom bought TNN in 2000 and announced a new programming and branding initiative, which is expected to launch on June 16, 2003. Viacom said it was confident the court would reject Lee's claims to the name Spike. Lee said TNN's president Albie Hecht has publicly associated the name "Spike" with Lee. Lee has signed affidavits from industry people who thought of Lee when they heard about Spike TV. Some believed Lee had become affiliated with the network.

Some 50 original drawings, caricatures and political strips from his time in the press to cels and drawings from MUTANT ALIENS to his next feature, HAIR HIGH, are on display June 2-7, 2003 at Annecy 2003.

There is a Bill Plympton phenomenon. Not one of the freak show variety, neither one that sociologists and journalists are fond of when there is nothing better to talk or write about. No, this is a real phenomenon, one of those which makes young animators want to do this demanding job.

FINDING NEMO, the computer-animated underwater comedy/adventure from Disney/Pixar, exceeded all expectations with a record-breaking bow of $70.3M last weekend. That's the best opening ever for an animated feature, topping the $62.6M grabbed by MONSTERS, INC., the fourth Pixar/Disney movie from 2001. It's also the best three-day gross for any Buena Vista feature, live action or animated.

The 14th Cartoon Forum will take place from September 17-20, 2003 in Varese (Lombardy, Italy). This coproduction forum is presented by CARTOON, with the support of MEDIA Programme of the European Union,. To help European animation programs get financing.

A consortium of animation organizations presents its fourth forum on the state of the animation industry with a focus this time on gaming, Thursday, June 19, 2003 at 6:30 pm at the Glendale Public Library Auditorium in Glendale, California. Major and independent studio representatives will discuss opportunities for animators in the gaming industry, trends, concepts and stories in development. Scheduled panelists include: James Zachary, chief character animator, SPIDER-MAN II THE GAME, Tryarch; Cory Barlong, animation director at Paradox Games; and Sunil Thankamuishy, animation director, Spark Unlimited. Rita Street, publisher of ANIMATION MAGAZINE, will moderate the panel followed by an audience Q & A. Check-in and networking at 6:30 pm, panel discussion begins at 7:00 pm. Organizers request that you leave your résumés and portfolios at home. The Glendale Public Library Auditorium is located at 222 E. Harvard Ave.; between Colorado and Broadway, two blocks east of Brand. Parking is available in the city parking structure on the corner of Maryland and Harvard (entrance from each street). Free validated parking is available for 3 hours. The event is open to the public. Admission is $5 for ASIFA-Hollywood and WIA members, free for Animation Guild members and $10 for non-members. Bring membership card to expedite check-in. Reservations are not required. Tickets sold at the door. Seating is limited. For more information, go to ASIFA-Hollywood.org, womeninanimation.org or mpsc839.org.

Teaming with Backyard Prods. and ad agency TBWAChiatDay, Happy Hour Entertainment has completed two 30-second animated TV spots for Sony Computer Entertainment America's WAR OF THE MONSTERS PlayStation 2 video game. The spots, which are titled BARRACKS and DRIVE IN, depict CG monster characters interacting with live-action characters.

In BARRACKS, an oversized Cyclops cowers and stands at attention while being harassed by a drill sergeant. DRIVE IN, meanwhile, features a loud-mouthed, wisecracking monster interrupting a drive-in movie for two young lovers.

Rhythm & Hues and Cinesite Hollywood used Side Effects Software's Houdini to create effects in the summer blockbuster X2: X-MEN UNITED. For example, Rhythm & Hues used Houdini and Houdini Mantra to animate and render chunks of snow and tree debris flying around the X-Jet in a scene where the plane flies through the woods. In addition, Rhythm & Hues artists were able to control water sources and turbulent current effects as well as the falling shards of shattered glass. For the X-Jet, they added engine thrusts, heat distortion and dust.

Mythic Entertainment, developer and publisher of online gaming, have announced a new expansion to their online game, DARK AGE OF CAMELOT entitled TRIALS OF ATLANTIS. The program is scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 2003.

"Once again Mythic is extending the world of DARK AGE OF CAMELOT," said Mark Jacobs, president/ceo, Mythic Entertainment. "Fans will be excited by the new quests, new races and Master Level system, not to mention our new graphic engine that will deliver sophisticated underwater and improved above ground visuals."