AWN Headline News

Some critics say that a monkey can make better decisions than a TV programming executive, while others, especially in the Animation Nation chatroom, say monkeys run production and broadcasting companies. To prove a point, Cartoon Network brought an actual chimpanzee (technically an ape, not a monkey), named Jimbo in to select the cartoons from CN's programming library during its April Fools' Day Monkey Marathon April 1, 2003 from 8:00 a.m.-11:00 pm (ET/PT). Jimbo picked a lineup of toons starring monkeys and apes in prominent roles.

Consultant William B. Doeren has been named VP of the Kodak Entertainment Imaging division and GM of Kodak Digital Cinema Group, based in Culver City, California. He replaces Robert J. Mayson, who becomes VP/GM of Image Origination Products in the same Kodak division. Doeren worked closely with the team marketing the Kodak Digital Cinema Operating System, which includes a networked solution with unique Kodak software running on a Linux platform, supported by the 4,000-member Kodak global service organization. Doeren emphasizes that the system will be used initially for pre-show applications. "The pre-show business is evolving and growing rapidly and we foresee that continuing," he said. "That's why we are taking the long-term view, providing a Kodak solution that supports the growth of pre-show revenues today, and also protects our customers' investments by providing the 'backbone' for them to digitally project movies tomorrow." A 30-year vet in the exhibition business, Doeren has served in a broad range of senior management positions, including COO/director of AMC Entertainment, Inc., chairman/CEO of MGM International Cinema Group and CEO/vice chairman of General Cinema Theatres, Inc.

When the earth stops rotating in Paramount's sci-fi drama THE CORE, it sets off a chain of disastrous events that kept visual effects houses like ComputerCafé busy creating digital mayhem. The Santa Maria, California-based VFX house (www.computercafe.com), had to burn up the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge loaded with commuters locked in gridlock, complete with melting automobile tires, exploding gasoline tanks, cracking the roadbed, snapping suspension cables and ultimately bring down the bridge itself.

WHAT'S NEW SCOOBY-DOO? takes to the airwaves on Cartoon Network March 28, 2003, with a new batch of creature-related mysteries fashioned after the popular animated series that debuted in 1969. The Hanna-Barbera creation was revamped by Warner Bros. Animation last year, airing on Kids' WB! and now Cartoon Network at 8:00 pm. Original cast members Casey Kasem (Shaggy) and Frank Welker (Fred & Scooby-Doo) are joined by Grey DeLisle (Daphne) and Mindy Cohn (Velma) as well as special guest stars.

Newly formed Alligator Planet, based in San Francisco, has formed a joint venture with tv-animation, the Copenhagen creator of animated and interactive characters. Alligator AP will market to North America programs made with tv-animation's revolutionary Cartoon Broadcast System (CBS) technology and develop new products to utilize this real-time animation broadcast tool. Ralph Guggenheim, AP's exec. producer (former Pixar VP and producer of TOY STORY), told AWN he encountered the tv-animation people at MIPCOM in October 2002. Guggenheim formed his own company in January 2003 with former Colossal Pictures execs and creatives Eli Noyes, Tim Boxell and Alan Buder. "We've been talking with TV cabler channels and the like. We constantly hear, 'How can you do it cheap?' The CBS system is a great opportunity to produce content fairly cheaply and still be fun and compelling." The technology is used now on the NELLY NUT show airing on the BBC, as well as shows airing on many other European channels, including a two-hour talk show. Guggenheim said he's seen how other types of shows, popular in Europe are making their way to the U.S., and sees this is a good opportunity. Guggenheim firmly believes this technology is the new scale of animated TV to come.The Danish firm will market any shows AP comes up with to the European market. Guggenheim said they named the new enterprise Alligator Planet (www.alliagtorplanet.com) because the founding partners like alligators and it's helpful to have a company name near the top of the alphabet while the planet in its name signifies AP's global approach to entertainment and business. The goal of AP is tap into the creative and production capacities of emerging animation studios around the world to produce and distribute stories and characters across a variety of media and ancillary markets.

In what may be a first of its kind, this April VanArts (Vancouver Institute of Media Arts) will launch a series of online lessons and lectures featuring the late Academy-Award winning animator Lee Mishkin. This rare and recently edited collection, THE LEE MISHKIN LECTURE SERIES, features talks and instruction by the founding director of VanArts Classical Animation Program. The lectures cover a wide range of fundamental animation principles for 2D or 3D professionals.

Elephant Productions has appointed Carey Weich to the newly created position of director of development and business affairs. She will be responsible for the company's development slate and to develop ideas and projects from outside parties. Weich was finance director, acquisitions and production at Universal Pictures International where she worked on film and television titles such as THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE, BRIDGET JONES DIARY and MAISY. Previously she was CFO at Universal Pictures Visual Programming (formerly Polygram Visual Programming) and has also held positions at Time Warner and KPMG. Elephant Productions was founded in 1990 by actor and writer Nigel Planer and producer, director and childrens author Jamie Rix. The London-based company is producing WWW.FATHERCHRISTMAS.COM and a second series of ANIMAL SCHOOL, both for CBBC.

Entrepreneur Haim Saban signed the 40,000-page contract on March 27, 2003 for the acquisition of the largest film library outside of Hollywood and the film rights business from KirchMedia. The Saban Group is acquiring programming rights to approximately 18,000 films and series. "With this contract now in place," Saban said in a statement, "both the content and distribution assets of Germanys premier media company will be positioned for future success." "The film library is a treasure, which until now has largely been underutilized," said Adam Chesnoff of the Saban Group, who also signed the contract along with insolvency administrator Dr. Michael Jaffé and KirchMedia managing director Hans-Joachim Ziems. Chesnoff continued, "We intend to leverage these unique offerings in order to strengthen both ProSiebenSat.1 and the library distribution business." The contract, along with the agreement to purchase a majority in ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, is expected to be approved by the KirchMedia creditor committee on March 31, 2003. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed. The transaction also needs to pass regulatory and antitrust review in Germany. Insolvency administrator Jaffé expressed his "satisfaction in being able to obtain with the sale of the KirchMedia core businesses a maximum for the creditors considering the bad economy and the particular situation of the insolvency." KirchMedia is among the largest companies worldwide in purchasing and marketing program rights for free-TV, pay-TV, video and new media. Saban Capital Group (310-557-5100) is a private investment firm specializing in the media and entertainment industries. TV specialist Saban founded Saban Entertainment and the TV network Fox Family Worldwide. In fall 2001 Saban sold Fox Family Worldwide to the Walt Disney Corp. Saban has decades of experience in the TV business, including the production and distribution of children and family shows as well as the film rights trade and the operation of TV channels.

Vancouver-based Atomic Cartoons is showcasing four new properties at MIP-TV 2003. The creators of ATOMIC BETTY (recently picked up by TELETOON Canada, Teletoon France and Cartoon Network Europe), are presenting animated trailers of DENNIS, DYSFUNCTION JUNCTION, DIRTY LIL BASTER and THE CARNEYS at the spring television market in France. DYSFUNCTION JUNCTION (26x22) is an irreverent primetime social commentary for adults about a well-to-do family that goes bankrupt and is forced to move into a trailer park.

Disney Feature Animation and Nickelodeon's SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS earned two Golden Reel Awards each at the Motion Picture Sound Editors 50th annual awards banquet March 22, 2003 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. SPONGEBOB won for both Best Sound Editing in Television: Animated Music and Best Sound Editing in Television: Animated Sound. Music editor Nicholas Carr won his second Golden Reel for SPONGEBOB music, while the Hacienda Post sound team of supervising sound editors Timonthy Borquez and Jeffrey Hutchins, in addition to dialogue editors Tony Ostyn and Daisuke Sawa won for their sound work on the series. Music editor Ken Karman was the recipient for Best Sound Editing in Feature Film: Animated Music for his work on LILO AND STITCH. It was Karman's first experience on an animated film. Best Sound Editing in Feature Film: Animated Sound went to the crew on Disney's TREASURE PLANET. The crew, which had done the sound editing on THE MATRIX, and had never worked together on an animated feature before, said they were completely astounded to win against the competition. The recipients included supervising sound editor Dane Davis, supervising sound /dialogue/ ADR editor Julia Evershade, foley editor Andrew Lackey and sound editor Richard Adrian. Evershade did have some previous animation experience on BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and SPACE JAM. Supervising sound editor Tom Syslo, a multiple Golden Reel winner, was on hand to pick up his award for Best Sound Editing: Direct to Video, awarded for THE ADVENTURES OF TOM THUMB AND THUMBELINA, along with supervising dialogue editor Eric Freeman. Fellow Hacienda Post editors Borquez and supervising ADR editor Eileen Horta were also part of the winning direct to video team. The Verna Fields Award in Sound Editing for Student Filmmakers went to sound editor Antonia Bates for her work on the animated film LAST RUMBA IN ROCHDALE, produced at The National Film And Television School in London. This year the Special Venue award also went to an animated project, SANTA VS. THE SNOWMAN 3D, for Imax. The winning team for Best Sound Editing: Special Venue went to supervising sound editors Tim Archer and Brian Eimer, music editor Carl Lenox and sound editors Dan Shattuch, Grant McAlpine, Regan Ramos and Julian Daboll. The surprise win of the evening was when Best Sound Editing In Domestic Features: Sound Effects/Foley was awarded to the team on ROAD TO PERDITION, who thanked the MPSE for appreciating the subtle sound work involved. For a complete list of winners go to ww.mpse.org.

Toon Boom released its latest version of USAnimation with improved features and a new name to distinguish one of the most widely used 2D animation softwares in the world. USAnimation OPUS features a new user interface for users to configure layouts to suit their own workflow preferences. Camera, Xsheet, Paint and Scene Planning functions have been merged into one Universal Stage Module. "Our next generation of vector technology allows more functionality and increases quality of the work," said Joan Vogelesang, Toom Boon Technologies' COO.