BRB Internacional's slate of animated programming will be seen in Spanish language markets in both Latin America and the U.S. BRB has signed an agreement with Venevision International, the production and distribution arm of the Cisneros Group, to distribute the BRB animation catalogue of over 700 half-hours and 20 TV movies throughout North, Central and South America, excluding Mexico.
As part of Oxygen's "Addicted To Love" week, the cable network will premiere BEHIND THE KISS, a one-hour special created by animator Corky Quakenbush. Created in stop-motion animation, this special features a spoof of talk show host Charlie Rose interviewing actors Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan, Barbra Streisand, Richard Gere, Ellen DeGeneres and Julie Andrews at the premieres of Hollywood movie parodies, including XENA, WARRIOR PRINCESS DIARIES, ROMEO AND J. LOET, AN OFFICER AND A YENTLMAN, HANNIBAL: YOU'VE GOT MEAL and BITANIC.
MR. BEAN, the eccentric character created by writer/actor Rowan Atkinson, is set for his animated television debut, March 2, 2002 on UK channel ITV1 beginning at 5:50 pm. After previously bringing Bean to life in a live-action series and a feature film, Atkinson was closely involved with the animated version of his character as well. "As a live-action character, Mr. Bean always possessed a cartoon-like quality," said Atkinson, who was filmed for every episode of the series so animators could use his distinct movements when creating the animated MR. BEAN.
The 16th Annual Goya Awards, the Spanish Film Academys equivalent to the U.S. Academy Awards, were presented February 2, 2002. The awards honor Spanish produced films. Independent animated feature EL BOSQUE ANIMADO (THE LIVING FOREST) directed by Manolo Gómez & Angel de la Cruz won two awards, Best Original Song and Best Animated Film. The Best Animated Short Film was POLLO, directed by Manuel Sirgo.
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz. This week, we're asking questions about...
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The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences has announced their nominations for the coveted Oscar award. Receiving nominations for best animated short were Ruairi Robinsons 3D meditation on suicide FIFTY PERCENT GREY, Cathal Gaffneys "animated documentary" GIVE UP YER AUL SINS, Pixars latest 3D short FOR THE BIRDS, Joe Merideths caveman comedy STUBBLE TROUBLE and Cordell Barkers tale of otherworldly love STRANGE INVADERS. These films are featured on AWN with QuickTime clips, pictures and information about the films and directors.
The nominations for the 74th Annual Academy Awards were announced on February 12, 2002. Effects-heavy THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING topped the list with 13 nominations including Best Visual Effects alongside A.I.: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE and PEARL HARBOR. LORD also won spots in major categories like Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. Joining LORD OF THE RINGS in the Adapted Screenplay category is DreamWorks' 3D blockbuster SHREK, which was also one of three nominees in the brand new Animated Feature Film category.
Animated Exeter is an annual animation festival consisting of a fortnight of animated films, workshops, events and exhibitions every February. Tied to the British Animation Awards Public Choice - the festival hosts events for all ages and levels of professionalism.Screenings have been programmed by Jayne Piling of BAA. Events include careers day for budding animators, 3d, 2d and computer animation workshops, retrospectives, comic-book conventions, and cutting edge digital animations for the music industry.
LACMA presents a full retrospective of the animated classics of Walt Disney. Disney at 100 is a celebration of the gifts that that Walt left us in his animated feature and short films. (All programs begin at 7:30 pm in the Bing Theater at LACMA)
Films include:
- February 1st:Snow White & The Jungle Book
- February 2nd:Peter Pan & Frank and Ollie
- February 8th:Pinocchio & The Three Caballeros
- February 9th:Bambi & The Hand Behind the Mouse
- February 15th:
Tape House Toons has completed 16-seconds of animation that transforms Melissa Joan Hart of The WB! television program SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH into an animated character. In the episode, which airs February 1, 2002 at 8:00 pm, a hex is put on Sabrina and she is turned into an animated character who careens around the live-action set until the hex is removed and she returns to normal. Don McGrath co-directed and animated the sequences. Richard Codor did character design, storyboarding and co-directed, and David Lipson was executive producer.
Each week, Animation World Magazine offers new articles, specialfeatures and theme-based coverage of the art, craft and industry ofanimation. New this week:
- No LAAF-ing MatterMartin "Dr. Toon" Goodman takes on LAAFs, or Live-Action Animated Features, with a vengeance. How come Hollywood insists on making these flops!?
Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman takes on LAAFs, or Live-Action Animated Features, with a vengeance. How come Hollywood insists on making these flops!?
U.K. independent Tiger Aspect Productions (TAP) has created a new animation division and upped Claudia Lloyd, former creative director of comedy and entertainment at Tiger Aspect, to head of animation. With the creation of an animation division, TAP is pursuing an active animation development slate. Currently, producer Chris Skala is developing EARTH KID, a series to be co-produced with Cartoon Pizza for the 6-12 year old age group. Lloyd would like TAP to produce only two or three mainstream or childrens and family specials or series per year.
The interactive division of Toronto-based DECODE Entertainment is going into production on two Websites based on animated series. In addition to creating a French-language version of UNDERGRADS Online, they will also be developing the interactive world of GIRLSTUFF BOYSTUFF. UNDERGRADS Online is the Website DECODE developed alongside the animated series that currently airs on MTV and Teletoon. Co-produced by DECODE and MTV Animation, UNDERGRADS follows four male friends as they attempt to maintain their camaraderie while struggling to survive their first year at different colleges.
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INITIAL D is the tent pole of several newly acquired properties international distributor TOKYOPOP will showcase at NATPE 2002. An unassuming tofu delivery boy becomes addicted to street racing in this Japanese import, which has already spawned a theatrical animated film and sold over 30 million graphic novels in its native country. Call it the animated FAST AND THE FURIOUS. TOKYOPOP will also present REIGN, a sci-fi fantasy take on the ancient world of Alexander the Great featuring character and concept design from Peter Chung, creator of MTVs AEON FLUX.
Heather Kenyon and Leigh Godfrey report on ASIFA-Hollywood's 29th Annual Annie Awards. A great night for Los Angeles' animation community, the event was a class act -- and fun too! Includes a photo gallery.
Indias Pentamedia Graphics Ltd. will present a slate of animated movies, home videos and series at NATPE 2002 including the new 3D animated feature ALIBABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES. The company is currently in production on SINBAD AND THE SECRET OF COLONIS, the 3D animated sequel to SINBAD: BEYOND THE VEIL OF MISTS.
Read about the making of SINBAD: BEYOND THE VEIL OF MISTS, Pentamedias first foray into 3D animation features.
Animated Encounters, Bristol, UK.
Thursday, April 25, 2002 Sunday, April 28, 2002.
Entry Deadline: Friday, January 11, 2002.
Now that the animated feature category is a lock, the Oscar race is on, and critics groups from around the country are starting to weigh in with their picks. Although the New York Film Critics Circle chose WAKING LIFE as best animated film of the year, SHREK is pulling ahead in the accolades department. The DreamWorks blockbuster picked up the award for best animated film from the National Board of Review and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, as well as making a list of ten nominees for best film of the year from both the AFI and the Broadcast Film Critics Association.
The day after it was announced that the 74th Academy Awards would present an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, the New York Film Critics Circle has chosen WAKING LIFE as best animated film of the year. The 37-member New York Film Critics Circle is made up of New York-based newspaper, magazine and online film critics. While the awards are responsible for generating early Oscar-buzz for the winning films, the Circle is also known for their idiosyncratic picks. Now that the Animated Feature category is a lock, the critics will be weighing in right and left with their choices.
Hollywood-based animation studio Toonshoppe has delivered the first of many interstitial episodes of CISCO AND RIPPLE for Urban Entertainment and Encore Media Group's Black Starz! cable network. The 3:30 interstitial features two animated hosts, Cisco and Ripple, who review the movies airing on Black Starz! Toonshoppe recreated the show for television based on character designs by creators A.J. Jamal and Spencer, who also voice the characters. The show originally appeared on Urban Entertainment's Website, and was animated for the Internet by Flip Your Lid Animation.
Zach Schlappi took home the grand prize "best in show" award at the first annual DirecTV Level13.net animated film festival. The awards were presented on December 11, 2001. Zach won for his 3D animated film PASTA FOR WAR, which satirizes propaganda newsreels of the 1930s. He will receive a DirecTV system as well as $2,500. Winners were chosen in three categories: 2D, 3D and experimental animation. The panel of judges included DEXTER'S LABORATORY creator Genndy Tartakovsky, Emmy Award-winning animator Eric Radomski and co-editors of Mad Magazine, John Ficarra and Nick Meglin.
Months of anticipation, followed by concern that not enough films would be submitted or found eligible, have led to the announcement that the 74th Academy Awards will include a category for Best Animated Feature. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences issued this press release announcing that a feature-length animated film will be awarded a competitive Oscar for the first time next March at the 74th Academy Award presentations.
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