Uli Meyer Studios has completed BANKING, an animated spot featuring CGI characters Lil Red and an animated piggy bank called Floyd that promotes the interactive features of BSkyB's Digital Broadcasting, such as the ability to check your bank balance.
The UPN network has bought its first CG animated primetime pilot, MEET THE BREAKNECKS, exec produced by Carsey-Werner-Mandabach in Los Angeles and animated by DKP Effects in Toronto, Canada. It's an original concept created by David Sacks, David Goetsch, Jason Venokuris and Ross Venokur about a suburban family that are actually video game characters dealing with its unique everyday problems.
JM Entertainment, based in Seoul, Korea and Glendale, California, has started production on its first 2D/3D animated feature film THE TOY WARRIOR. Hollywood TV animation writer Brian Swenlin wrote the script about the Land of Toys, an imaginative world ruled by the popular doll, Princess Sherbert. When a dark force threatens her toy kingdom, Jinoo, a trouble-making boy from the real world, must save the day. JM Entertainment president Ji-Moon (Jeff) Lim and Seoul Movie president Chang-Rok Jun are executive producers.
Bibi Blocksberg is one of Germany's most popular and enduring characters. The story of the mischievous little witch has been adapted to a radio play and an animated series, which currently airs in Germany on ZDF. The 14-part series and an animated Christmas special has also been sold to other countries, and pre-production has begun on new episodes at Berlin-based KIDDINX Studios. Bibi has also gained fame in a live-action feature film, which premiered in Germany on September 26, 2002 and has since been seen by over 2 million people, making it Germany's most successful film of 2002.
Hayao Miyazaki's SPIRITED AWAY won top honors at the 30th Annual Annie Awards ceremony, taking home awards for best feature film, writing, music and direction. SPIRIT: STALLION OF THE CIMARRON also ran off with major awards in the categories of character design, effects animation, production design and storyboarding.
Back before belching frogs and washed-up jocks were used to sell beer, breweries turned to cartoon characters like Fred Flintone and Mr. Magoo as pitchmen for their products. So if Super Sunday can't quench your thirst for beer commercials, come to the Rendezvous for a brew or two and watch an evening of '50s and '60s-era animated TV commercials for the likes of Schlitz, Blitz, Jax and Blatz--and even Seattle's own Rainier. Presented by the International Animation Association chapters, ASIFA-Northwest and ASIFA-Atlanta. Ages 21 and up. Admission FREE for members of ASIFA-Northwest.
The College for Creative Studies (CCS) is proud to present an evening with Dan Philips, a 3D-CG veteran and friend of animation with 20 years' experience in the entertainment animation field. Philips will be presenting a series of selected still and animated 2d/3d images from his collection of work from 1987 to 2002. Philips recently left his role of VP of Production and Executive Producer at Big Idea Productions in Chicago, having completed work on the 2002 CG animated movie, JONAH.
Warner Bros. Pictures has announced that FINAL FLIGHT OF THE OSIRIS, directed by Square USA and one of the nine animated episodes that make up THE ANIMATRIX, will have its theatrical premiere with DREAMCATCHER, a new thriller set to debut in theaters March 21, 2003. Directed by Lawrence Kasdan, DREAMCATCHER is a supernatural thriller based on Stephen King's novel of the same name. It stars Morgan Freeman, Thomas Jane and Jason Lee, and features special effects by ILM.
The College for Creative Studies (CCS) is hosting an evening with Dan Philips, 3d-CG veteran and friend of animation, who has worked on such animated features as THE ROAD TO EL DORADO and JONAH A VEGGIETALES MOVIE. On Monday, January 27, 2003, Philips will present a series of selected still and animated 2D/3D images from his collection of work from 1987 to 2002.
SecondSun Entertainment, the animation company created by combining 2D studio Delaney and Friends, 3D company Brainchild Studios, and Interactive Games producer Furious Entertainment, has recently completed two animated commercial projects under the new banner. Both commercials employed a combination of live-action, 2D and 3D animation.
Here is the full list of the nominees for the 30th Annual Annie Awards.
LAND BEFORE TIME: JOURNEY TO BIG WATER Universal Cartoon Studios
ROLIE POLIE OLIE: THE GREAT DEFENDER OF FUN A Nelvana Limited/Sparkling* Co-Production
VEGGIETALES: THE STAR OF CHRISTMAS Big Idea Productions
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DOO Cartoon Network
THE GROOVENIANS Cartoon Network Studios
LILO & STITCH was named best animated feature by both The Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) and the Las Vegas Film Critics Society, bucking the SPIRITED AWAY trend that has so far prevailed amongst critics. In the inaugural awards from WAFCA, announced on December 30, the critics' group also chose ICE AGE as a runner up in the animated category, and UNDERCOVER BROTHER, Universal Pictures live-action adaptation of Urban Entertainment's animated Web series, as "Best Guilty Pleasure."
The animated adventures of MR. BEAN is heading to Scandinavia. The 26 x 30-minute series has been sold to SVT, Sweden and YLE, Finland by Fremantle International Distribution, which distributes both the original live-action series and the animated series. SVT will start to broadcast the series on December 23, 2002 and it will run through early February. The series launch date on YLE is still to be announced. MR.
Sweden-based McMullin Animated Productions has launched its official Website, which details the range of services the company offers as well as information about the founders and samples of their work. After working on animated feature films and television series for companies including Hahn Film AG and Fred Wolf Films, Conor and Stina McMullin launched their own company in August 2001. McMullin specializes in timing direction for animated productions.
Hong Kong-based STVDIO Media Animation was awarded First Prize in both SuperPitch competitions at the Asia Television Forum and Asia Animation Conference, held in Singapore from December 2 5, 2002. Television producers from around Asia submitted original programming ideas to the pitching competitions. Out of 217 submissions, six were shortlisted for the general SuperPitch on December 2, and six for the Animation SuperPitch on December 5.
THE SAVE-UMS, DECODE's new preschool series is one of a trio of pick-ups by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for its ABC Kids block. Created by Dan Clark of the Dan Clark Company, THE SAVE-UMS (52 x 11-minutes) lets preschoolers learn the principles of cause and effect and the impact of cooperative play. In addition to THE SAVE-UMS, the broadcaster has acquired the new adventure series KING for 8-12 year-olds and GIRLSTUFF BOYSTUFF, described as an animated FRIENDS for tweens.
Comedienne Ruby Wax has been signed to be the Pope's voice in POPETOWN, a star-studded animated series for the BBC's new channel BBC THREE, a digital channel aimed at young adults that will replace BBC Choice. Created by Isabelle Dubernet and Eric Furher, POPETOWN is a 10 x 24-minute sitcom about the office politics that exist in any workplace with the bizarre twist that the company is the Vatican and the CEO happens to be the Pope.
Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, co-writers/directors of the animated hit LILO & STITCH, have entered into a deal with The Walt Disney Co. to write, direct and produce animated and live-action fare. DAILY VARIETY reports that Sanders and DeBlois will earn multiple seven figures for both live-action and animated films. Future projects for the duo include an untitled CG animated project directed by Sanders, and THE GUMSHOE CHRONICLES, a live-action family film that will be written and directed by DeBlois.
The 17th Annual Gemini Awards, celebrating excellence in Canadian English-language television, announced their winners over a three-day awards event November 2-4, 2002. In the animation-related categories, AAAGH! IT'S THE MR. HELL SHOW! beat out the stiff competition of ANGELA ANACONDA, ECKHART SERIES III, THE SANTA CLAUS BROTHERS and YVON OF THE YUKON in the Best Animated Program or Series category.
The 19th Annual Chicago International Children's Film Festival (CICFF) handed out its awards for this years festival on Sunday, November 3, 2002. Awards were presented by two juries, the Adult Jury, whose members include media professionals from the film and video, animation, television, radio and print industries, and the Childrens Jury, comprised of children ages 7-13.
It's another award for Canadian Christopher Hinton, as the Leipzig DOK Festival honored his animated short FLUX with the Golden Dove for Animated Films. The award was accompanied by 3,000. Other honorees in the Animated Films category were Silver Dove recipients PLAIN PLEASURES by Sarah Cox (UK) and BARCODE by Adriaan Lokman (Netherlands). The jury also gave Honorary Mention to the films ARIA by Piotr Sapegin (Norway) and BOOKASHKIS by Mikhail Aldashin (Russia), which also took home the Audience Award. Leipzig DOK is an annual festival honoring documentary and animated films.
On November 7, 2002 the Short Film and Feature Animation executive committee will meet to discuss recommending that the Animated Feature Film category be awarded for the 75th Annual Academy Awards. The category was inaugurated in 2002, when SHREK became the first recipient of the Animated Feature Oscar. Based on the published rules for the Feature Animation category, the executive committee will discuss the eligibility of this year's submitted films.
If you live in Los Angeles, don't miss this final opportunity to check out two amazing animation exhibits: "Oscars In Animation" at the Academy and "William Kentridge" at LACMA. The "Oscars in Animation" exhibition, currently on display at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, showcases animated films that have been nominated for or have won an Academy Award. "Oscars in Animation" features rare and original animation art spanning seven decades -- from 1932, when the Academy awarded the first Oscar for animation, to the present day.
For the first time in animation and Internet history, the public will be able to watch an entire animated feature being drawn before their eyes...
For the first time in animation and internet history, the public willbe able to watch an entire animated feature being drawn beforetheir eyes. On Monday, September 16, 2002, Bill Plympton will begin drawing hisnew animated feature, HAIR HIGH, and it will all be done live on theinternet. There will be a camera looking over Bill's shoulder, and from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (EST) everyday you can watch as he single-handedly draws hisnew animated extravaganza. The "ani-cam" will be available at http://www.hairhigh.com. More information to come!
