Namco Hometek Inc. announced that Prema Toy Co. Inc. has awarded it the exclusive interactive entertainment publishing rights to the classic children's entertainment property, GUMBY. The deal allows Namco to create videogames for all game systems, featuring Gumby and all related characters, such as Pokey, Prickle, Goo and the infamous Blockheads. Namco also has the opportunity for Gumby to make cameo appearances in other upcoming Namco games.
A precursor for where television is going, on the first day of NATPE, DIC Entertainment and SmartVideo Technologies Inc. announced they are joining forces to create DIC Kids Network, the worlds first animation channel for cell phones.
NewYork-Tokyo's Monthly Directors Series is presenting a special pre-release screening of APPLESEED. The film is based on a classic 1985 sci-fi manga by Masamune Shirow, the creator of GHOST IN THE SHELL. APPLESEED will begin its regular theatrical run on Jan. 14, and will be released through Geneon Entertainment (www.geneonanimation.com/). The 7:30 pm screening will take place at the Asia Society Auditorium, 725 Park Avenue at 70th Street.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, THQ and SCi have secured key stars for the talent lineup for the CONSTANTINE videogame, based on the upcoming film from Warner Bros. Pictures, set for release in February 2005, and the DC Comics/Vertigo HELLBLAZER graphic novels.
Rupert Gavin has been appointed non-executive chairman of the Contender Entertainment Group (CEG), one of the U.K.s fastest growing entertainment companies. Gavin will be assisting CEG to double its market share of the U.K. DVD market and expand its wholly owned IP base.
Anime expert Fred Patten reviews the latest anime releases including Gravion, Magical Play: The Complete Collection, Miami Guns, Shootfighter Tekken and Wolfs Rain.
Mattel has awarded the North American home entertainment rights to the first release in its all-new line of Barbie direct-to-video features -- BARBIE FAIRYTOPIA -- to Lions Gate's Family Home Entertainment (FHE), a division of Lions Gate Entertainment of Toronto. BARBIE FAIRYTOPIA will be released on both VHS and DVD formats in March 2005, just in time for the Easter holiday.
TOY WISHES Magazine and DIC Ent. are hosting the Ultimate Toy Awards show, a one-of-a-kind award program celebrating play, family entertainment and the toy industry. Created through a partnership of TOY WISHES Magazine and DIC Ent. and produced by Dick Clark Prods Inc., this program honors outstanding toys in twenty different categories including traditional playthings and character entertainment. In addition to the
The National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) unveiled the agenda for its 2005 Conference & Exhibition, scheduled to take place Jan, 25-27, 2004, in its new location at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.
IDT Entertainments New Arc Films and POW! Ent. have signed acclaimed comic book, film and television writer-creators Marv Wolfman and Scott Lobdell to write the screenplays for two animated features under the six-project New Arc-Pow! Deal. The films will be produced by DPS Film Roman.
On Nov. 4, 2004, at UCLA's Tom Bradley International Center, The Billboard Digital Entertainment Conference kicked off. Sponsored by BILLBOARD magazine, in association with DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE, the event hopes to honor and explore innovation, entrepreneurship and brand development in digital entertainment.
CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment is dedicated to solutions for wireless, I.T. and entertainment. Since it
, New York, USAOctober 19-20, 2004
ETA-Entertainment Technology Alliance is dedicated to brining the entertainment industry and technologists together. The event will take place at the Hudson Hotel. Speakers will include people from such companies as AT&T, E! Online Entertainment, Microsoft Windows Digital Media, Screen Digest and Time Magazine. ETA Expo hopes to create a better understanding in the field of media technology and entertainment business. For more information, contact tel.: (310) 229-8915, e-mail: info@etaexpo.com or Web: http://www.etaexpo.com.
The hugely popular collectibles MIJOS will be getting its own animated direct-to-video via Dean Valentine's First Family Ent. (FFE), reports VARIETY. Craig Bartlett (HEY ARNOLD) and Joseph Purdy (RECESS) will be writing the screenplay. MGM Home Ent. will distribute the DVDs through its exclusive first-look deal with FFE. Production should begin on the first DVD in the beginning of next year.
Michael Franzi has been appointed vp of sales for THX Ltd., responsible for defining sales strategy, building partnerships with consumer electronics and entertainment companies, and guiding worldwide sales efforts.
Franzi, a seasoned executive with more two decades of sales management experience, brings to THX a successful track record of developing global sales channels and establishing strong customer alliances at leading technology and communications companies.
DIC Ent. (DIC) has secured deals for 15 categories with leading licensees for the companys all-new tween entertainment and lifestyle property TROLLZ. This is in addition to master licensees Hasbro (toy), Scholastic (publishing), Warner Home Video (home entertainment), Mamiye Bros. (apparel) and One World Interactive (mobile applications).
The Entertainment Summit-West will bring together leaders from the entertainment, public health and business communities to consider how to utilize the power of entertainment to deal with compelling social and health issues here and abroad. Held at the Skirball Cultural Center, a continental breakfast will be served at 8:30 am. The conference will start at 9:00 am with a plenary session, continued with a luncheon presentation and ended with an afternoon of workshop and breakout sessions.
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.
At MIPCOM, the three largest producers and distributors of anime in America -- ADV Films Inc., Funimation Prods. and Geneon Ent. (USA) Inc. -- announced plans to form a joint venture for the development and marketing of anime. They will focus on developing high quality entertainment series primarily targeted to children and young adults, where the team can best maximize their respective resources, talent and expertise.
JibJab has partnered with AtomFilms to release the sequel to their Internet blockbuster, THIS LAND, titled, GOOD TO BE IN DC! Set to the classic American folk song "Dixie," brothers Gregg and Evan Spiridellis take aim at George Bush, John Kerry, Al Gore, Dan Rather, John Ashcroft and many more in the new cartoon, which once again brings a dose of hilarity to the intense presidential election season.
London-based Entertainment Rights has partnered with UrbanWorks Entertainment Llc., part of Ventura Entertainment Enterprises, as its home entertainment partner in North America and Mexico for Bill Cosbys ever-popular FAT ALBERT AND THE COSBY KIDS, timed for the holidays and release of the live-action movie from Fox.
UrbanWorks Ent. is a vertically integrated, full service studio and the leading supplier of urban content to the home entertainment market in the U.S.
Paramount Pictures has reached an agreement to acquire the worldwide film rights to Midway Games' FEAR & RESPECT, a videogame based in the urban environment of South Central Los Angeles. Currently being developed in collaboration with writer/director John Singleton (BOYZ N THE HOOD), the urban/action adventure game is scheduled to be available in the fourth quarter of 2005 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Christine Peters (HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS) will be collaborating with the game developer to produce the film.
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.
Media Classics Group International, Inc. announced that it has completed international distribution agreements with ENT INC. a Beverly Hills-based entertainment company for the distribution of its animated cel art library. This group of assets includes original art works that were the actual production cels used to create such animated TV shows as FLASH GORDON, BACK TO THE FUTURE, EWOKS, GHOST BUSTERS and HE-MAN.
Anchor Bay Ent., IDT Ent.'s home video subsidiary, and Twentieth Century Fox Home Ent. (TCFHE) have entered into a long-term distribution agreement. TCFHE will handle all manufacturing and distribution services for Anchor Bay's entire library of DVD and VHS offerings.
