Cindy Elfenbein joins DIC Entertainment (DIC), as exec director of Retail Consumer Products to serve as the companys retail expert and liaison between the licensees and retailers. She will be responsible for building relationships with the retailers and developing support for DICs brand properties, including STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE and the recently announced TROLLZ.
EM.TV AG has signed a comprehensive pay-TV deal with Frontage Satellite TV, the Nigerian satellite distributor, to broadcast an English-language children's channel under the Junior brand on cable and satellite.
Following up DIC Entertainments recent acquisition of worldwide entertainment and licensing rights to the colorful-haired Troll character from the Troll Company (a.k.a. Dam Things), DIC has concluded partnership deals with key licensees Hasbro Inc. and Scholastic to launch TROLLZ, the entertainment and lifestyle brand for tweens, scheduled for U.S. debut in 2005.
Trolling for its next hit, DIC Entertainment has acquired worldwide entertainment and licensing rights from the Troll Company (a.k.a. Dam Things) to the iconic spiky, colorful-haired Troll character to be developed into an entertainment and lifestyle brand for tweens, called TROLLZ.
Following Finn Arnesen's promotion to head of programme production for Cartoon Network Int'l, Jo Sweby has been named director of acquisitions for Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Toonami in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In addition to acquiring content for Turner's European kids channels, Sweby will work alongside the European programming managers on programming strategy. Part of her new role will involve working with the business development team on new business opportunities.
Michael Lombardi has joined Sesame Workshop as evp/cfo, to oversee corporate finance and administration for the Workshop, including preparation of the organization's budget, estimates and financial statements. Lombardi will also evaluate strategic initiatives and new business opportunities.
The merger of the distribution arms of Antefilms Production and France Animation has resulted in the launch of Moonscoop at MIP-TV, a new joint distribution brand. It will combine the respective sales slates of the two companies to create a catalog of more than 1,600 half hours of programming including popular titles such as FUNKY COPS and TITEUF.
Paris-based Moonscoop, the newly combined distributor for Antefilms Prods. and France Animation, has sold its first series, CODE LYOKO, to a U.S. broadcaster. Cartoon Network has acquired 26 episodes of the animated series that blends traditional 2D and 3D animation, which will be a part of the network's new Miguzi weekday afternoon franchise that launches on April 19, 2004.
Disney has confirmed that it has joined forces with San Francisco-based Hoytyboy, producing a computer-animated feature called THE WILD in conjunction with CORE Feature Film of Toronto. THE WILD is being helmed by commercial director Steve "Spaz" Williams, best known for the Blockbuster spots with the hamsters, and is scheduled for a summer 2005 release.
Welcome to the launch of The VFXNewswire, the weekly newsletter devoted to all things creatively and technically 3D. Like AWN's sister newsletters, Animation FLASH and AWN SPOTLIGHT, VFXNewswire is designed to keep you up to date on the latest news, articles, events, jobs, announcements and resources from the 3D world of visual effects and computer animation contained within the comprehensive VFXWorld site. VFXNewsire is also our first HTML-based newsletter.
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."
Grace Animation Studios ceo Christopher Turner is assembling a production team to produce 26 new animated half-hour series of the THE AVENGING APES OF AFRICA (AAoA) for worldwide distribution. Grace will be showing a promo and first episode of the series at NATPE.
THE AVENGING APES OF AFRICA is an exciting action/adventure series for kids 6-12, where five transmuted ape brothers, and their exploration friends span the globe protecting and defending all animals of the world from the dreaded Mr. Harry B. Richborne and his worldwide band of pitiless poachers.
DIC Entertainment (DIC) will be bringing four new STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE specials, two SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH series and a sneak peek at the new TV series STAN LEE'S SUPER 7 to NATPE at booth 1246.
Fans of the animated Nickelodeon series, THE WILD THORNBERRYS, can now join Eliza Thornberry and her family on their cross-continental adventures with an exclusive offer through National Geographic. The two VHS sets follow the Thornberrys as they trek through Africa and Australia filming wildlife documentaries and getting mixed up in their crazy adventures along the way. Available exclusively through National Geographic, the two video sets can be purchased by calling 1-800-627-5162 or by ordering online at www.nationalgeographic.com.
Canal+ has picked up Bardels award-winning holiday special, THE CHRISTMAS ORANGE special for its Christmas 2003 season to air in France, Monaco, Mauritius, Switzerland and Africa.
"THE CHRISTMAS ORANGE is exactly the kind of moral tale we like to have on Canal+", says Sandra Ouaiss, acquisition director of fiction & animation at Canal+ international acquisition.
THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW has been sold to German public service broadcaster ZDF. This deal coincides with Basil's first ever Christmas music single, the double A-side Boom Boom and Christmas Slide that will be released on Dec. 15, 2003 in Germany. The songs will be released in the U.K. on Dec. 8. The 16-year-old singing sensation, India Beau, performs on Boom Boom with Basil. The series will also air on the top rated children's digital channel KIKA, starting fall 2004.
Cartoon Network U.K. has teamed up with animation students from the London Animation Studio at Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design, who have produced four high-quality IDs now airing across Europe on the channel.
Sesame Workshop has promoted Valerie Mitchell-Johnston from sr. counsel to vp of legal and business affairs, responsible for advising, counseling and closing contracts for the Workshop in all content development and production activities. Mitchell-Johnston oversees issues for the domestic production of SESAME STREET and international co-productions such as OUT THERE and TAKALANI SESAME in South Africa.
The simultaneous release of Warner Bros.' THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS on Nov. 5, 2003 in 35mm and IMAX/15/70 represents a first for a live-action Hollywood film and the prestigious large format corporation, which is attempting to increase both its commercial appeal and profitability as a result of its aggressive repurposing strategy.
DIC Consumer Products has significantly expanded its licensing/merchandising programs across Europe, Latin America, Australia, Asia, South Africa and the Middle East to gear up for the international launches of kids entertainment brands, including STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, MADELINE and SUPER DUPER SUMOS.
Donna Chandler has been promoted from asst vp to vp of Global Outreach for Sesame Workshop, responsible for managing Sesame Workshops Outreach Initiatives in the U.S., South Africa and Egypt. Chandler will also oversee the creation and management of an outreach program for Bangladesh and Brazil.
Videovision Entertainment has acquired worldwide distribution rights to THE LEGEND OF THE SKY KINGDOM. The film is the first animated feature produced in Africa and created using a method dubbed Junkmation, which employs found junk to create characters and sets. The film tells the story of a group of children who escape a cruel orphanage and embark on a quest to find the fabled Sky Kingdom. Roger Hawkins directed the film with Phillip Cunningham producing and Minali De Silva handling art direction.
Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) has signed agreements with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and Italian state broadcaster Rai.
Sesame Workshop has promoted Renee Mascara to vp, international TV distribution. She will be responsible for managing Sesame Workshop television program sales, including SESAME STREET co-productions. Mascara will also oversee the creation of an internal resource system measuring broadcaster data as it relates to the organizations program time slots and ratings.
4Kids Entertainment Inc. has set MIPCOM 2003 for the launch of 26 episodes of the new TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES and 47 new episodes of the Japanese sensation, YU-GI-OH!
