IDT Ent. announced the launch of New Arc Ent., a film production company producing live-action feature films and animated movies in the supernatural/thriller/action genre. New Arc is committed to producing multiple live-action features, several animated films and one animated series within its first 15 months of operation. John W. Hyde, coo of IDT Ent., will manage the new company.
Ubisoft and Universal Studios Consumer Products Group announced plans to release an interactive game based on Universal Pictures upcoming KING KONG, directed by Peter Jackson. The game will be available worldwide on all platforms at the beginning of the holiday season in conjunction with the Dec. 14, 2005 theatrical release of the movie.
Jo Sweby joined the Contender Entertainment Group (CEG) in the newly created post of international acquisitions manager, responsible for growing CEGs catalog of intellectual properties across the television, video and merchandising divisions by acquiring and expanding both third-party and wholly owned general entertainment and childrens titles internationally.
Microsoft Game Studios announced that HALO 2 for Xbox has gone gold and will ship simultaneously over three days to 27 countries in eight languages. HALO 2 will be available on Nov. 9, 2004, throughout North and South America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The sequel to the award-winning HALO: COMBAT EVOLVED by Bungie, will be available in France, Belgium and Switzerland on November 10, as well as in Japan and the rest of Europe on November 11.
Nick Jr. goes CGI with a new show, THE BACKYARDIGANS, that will introduce preschoolers to five-high spirited friends who take epic, musical adventures by transforming their yards into fantastical places like ancient Egypt or the high seas, which premieres at 11:00 am on Oct. 11, 2004. Each episode's soundtrack features a unique music/dance genre with four original songs, along with real choreographed movements recreated in animation, raging from swing to reggae to James Brown-style funk.
Following the announcement that PorchLight Ent. has licensed its award-winning animated series JAY JAY THE JET PLANE to The Nine Network Australia, as well as inking an exclusive agreement with Target Australia Pty Ltd. for an expansive in-store JAY JAY product line, the company has now signed Gaffney International Licensing Pty Ltd. to rep the little preschool pal throughout Australia and New Zealand. Additionally, Roadshow Ent.
Surf n Drag music icon Gary Usher Jr. has been named music segment producer for MagicDreams first 3D direct-to-DVD feature, KIDDO THE SUPER-TRUCK.
Gary is the go-to-guy Hollywood goes to when a production needs a Surf n Drag sound, said MagicDreams producer Venessa Hart. And Surf n Drag has been an integral part of KIDDOs musical structure from the beginning. You cant produce a successful car cartoon without it.
Namco, Japan, one of the world's leading games developers, has selected endorphin to help produce its upcoming TEKKEN 5. Due to hit arcades before the end of the year and to debut on consoles in 2005, TEKKEN 5 represents the next iteration of what is arguably one of the biggest game franchises.
"endorphin allows us to create realistic fight actions and reactions very quickly, helping us to build great content for TEKKEN 5," offered Shinichiro Yoda of Namco.
Marvel Enterprises Inc. has entered into an agreement with acclaimed France-based animation leader Antefilms Prods. to produce an animated television series based on Marvel's THE FANTASTIC FOUR. Under the terms of the agreement, Antefilms will commence production immediately on 26 30-minute 2D/3D animated episodes. The initial episodes are expected to be completed for worldwide distribution in late-2006.
Classic Media has completed multiple sales in several major territories for the companys award-winning VEGGIETALES animated series. Rights to the series have been sold to Niche Marketing and Crossroads in Australia and New Zealand, Top Tape in Brazil and Chile, Sam Film in Iceland, Maxfun Arthouse in Hong Kong, Pandasia Ent.
TV-Loonland has been making the most out of MIPCOM this year landing deals for several of its properties including HEIDI and CRAMP TWINS.
Kids' WB! and ShoPro Ent. are teaming up for the third season of MEGAMAN NT WARRIOR: AXESS, for the 2004-05 season. The network has ordered 30 never-before-seen episodes of the Japanese animated series that will begin airing in spring 2005. The third season order brings the total commitment of the series to 80 episodes.
Cartoon Network will be hosting a series of concerts to promote its newest original animated series--HI HI PUFFY AMIYUMI, premiering Nov. 19 at 7:30 pm. The show is based on the real-life Japanese pop-rock band, PUFFY, which features lead-vocalists Ami and Yumi. PUFFY is an extremely popular band in Asia and is beginning to make a big splash here in the U.S.
The actual band PUFFY will perform three select concerts stateside this fall, featuring top songs from their nine-year career. The dates and locations follow:
Legendary broadcast animation studio director Herve Tardif (DONKEY KONG COUNTRY) has chosen Ascension Technology's ReActor2 -- active-optical motion-capture workstation -- for his latest TV production. COTOONS is a seven-minute, 26-episode 3D animated childrens series being created by Tardif's Paris-based animation studio 3dclic.
Diamond Comic Distributors has announced the formation of a strategic partnership with Bandai Co. Ltd. for the importation of Bandai's Japanese toys and models for sales to specialty stores in the U.S. As it has done with other, smaller Japanese toy companies, Diamond will offer Bandai's products, in their Japanese packaging, to comic shops at prices comparable to prices consumers pay for American collector toys.
The Disney-ABC Television Group has instituted a new communications structure by promoting two key execs Sue Binford, who will now oversee all corporate communications and Kevin Brockman, who will now oversee all entertainment communications.
Square Enix Inc. announced that CHAINS OF PROMATHIA, the expansion to the award-winning massively multiplayer online role-playing game FINAL FANTASY XI, has shipped to retailers. With a combined community in Japan and North America of more than 500,000 players, and the recent Sept. 17 launch for regions in Europe, FINAL FANTASY XI brings gamers together from around the world in this ever-expanding adventure.
INDIGO has signed a deal with Nickelodeon Asia for its Indian animated series THE ADVENTURES OF TENALI RAMAN. The series will air on Nickelodeons Philippine and Asia feed reaching out to viewers in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea and Singapore. It is due to air in November 2004.
The Video Lab Johannesburg has two announcements: not only has renowned international colorist Catherine Pantazopoulos joined the group, but they have secured the latest in grading wizardry: Discreets lustre 2.5, the only one in South Africa.
Joining luminaries such as Pixar Animation Studios and Sony Pictures Imageworks, The Video Lab plans to have the lustre up and running by mid-October in a custom, designed, world-class grading room.
Bandai Ent. has announced a limited theatrical engagement for Yoshiyuki Tominos MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM F91. The film will begin its run in theaters on Oct. 1, 2004 in New York with a screening at the Festival of Anime to follow soon after on Oct. 10.
Activision Value Publishing has announced that it has teamed with game developer WXP and paintball legend Greg Hastings to create the first-ever paintball game for a major videogame console -- GREG HASTINGS' TOURNAMENT PAINTBALL for the Xbox. This single and multiplayer game combines the strategy and teamwork of a sports title with the view of a first-person action game. The game will be available this fall and is currently rated "RP" by the ESRB.
Joel Schneider, a pioneering force in educational programming, died of cancer on Sept. 12, 2004 in Gloucester, Massachusetts. He was 61 years old.
Schneider served as content director for CRO, an animated science series broadcast by ABC on Saturday mornings. Recently, he served as vp for education and research at Sesame Workshop, where he focused on activities in China, including the development of a new planetarium show with a SESAME STREET theme. In addition, he was instrumental in the development of Kami, the first HIV-positive Muppet.
Wacom Technology Corp. introduced its new Intuos3 professional pen tablets offering an array of meaningful improvements that provide higher levels of productivity for digital photographers, designers and artists.
Activision Inc. has announced that CALL OF DUTY: UNITED OFFENSIVE has shipped to retail outlets nationwide. Developed by Gray Matter Interactive Studios, CALL OF DUTY: UNITED OFFENSIVE is rated "T" (Teen -- Blood, Mild Language, Violence) by the ESRB and carries a suggested retail price of $29.99.
Genny Tartakovsky and Cartoon Network were double-winners in the primetime Emmy race for animation while STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE took series honors for visual effects at The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 2003-2004 Creative Arts Primetime Emmys for programs and individual achievements at the 56th Annual Emmy Awards presentation September 12, 2004, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
