Category: Television

Sav! The World Productions brings its latest animated program to MIPCOM with MOLLY, STAR-RACER. Described by the creators as Japanimation meets European 3D, MOLLY is an explosive mix of comedy and epic racing scenes in 3D CGI animation. Strongly influenced by their childhood memories of anime series like DRAGON BALL and LUPIN THE 3RD, as well as by cult classics like Hanna Barberas WACKY RACES or Saint Exupérys LE PETIT PRINCE, the creators of MOLLY have mixed styles and techniques to create a fresh new kind of entertainment.

New York-based production company, Babelfish Productions, will be attending MIPCOM with their partners, the U.K.s Channel 5 & Channel 5 International and Klik Animation of Canada, to promote ALIENS AMONG US. The 65-part show tells the story of a renegade alien kid, Cosnok, from the planet Gontop, who gets inside the minds of children from all over planet earth to find out what he should do about a variety of issues -- from best friends and school bullies to moving house and first love. ALIENS AMONG US blends 3D animation with live-action docu-drama to create a unique new hybrid.

Egmont Imagination is planning to bring its stop-frame animation special HAMILTON MATTRESS to MIPCOM 2001. HAMILTON MATTRESS tells the story of Sludger, a slovenly aardvark who longs for a more exciting life. With the help of his caterpillar friend Feldwick, he becomes the titular famous drummer and is thrust into the limelight. However, Sludger learns that some people dont believe that talent is everything and he must discover his own inner beauty and substance. The half-hour family special is already scheduled to be broadcast on the BBC over the Christmas programming period.

Fox Family Channel will air an award-winning episode of KAMPUNG BOY Friday, September 28, 2001 (7:00 AM ET/PT). This will be the U.S. debut of the series, which garnered the Best Animated Television Series award at the 1999 Annecy International Film Festival. From a traditional village tucked away in the lush jungle of Malaysia, KAMPUNG BOY tells about the adventures of Mat, a nine year old boy, his family and his friends as they struggle to maintain traditional family values in an ever-changing technology-obsessed world.

4Kids Entertainment's YU-GI-OH!, which has already begun airing in the U.S. on Kids' WB!, will be introduced to international broadcasters at this year's MIPCOM. The Japanese anime series follows the adventures of a young boy named Yugi, who morphs into a monster-fighting hero after piecing together the "millennium puzzle" given to him by his grandfather. Additional 4Kids series that will be presented at MIPCOM 2001 include 52 new POKEMON episodes featuring all new POKEMON characters.

Animation Studio has created several animated segments for the new comedic series, LET'S BOWL, which began airing August 19, 2001 on Comedy Central. The segments were created using USAnimation and feature a bowling pin character created by Realworks named "Pinny." The program's producers approached Reelworks in the early stages of development about the show's concept: The airing and resolving of personal grievances at a bowling alley.

In France, Cartoon Network joins the top 10 most popular cable and satellite channels in the country and stands out as the number one channel for kids ages 4 to 10 in CanalSatellite homes (reaching 68.8% of this age group during one week). Findings from Mediacabsat, the cable and satellite channel survey by Médiamétrie, is promising news for the channel that went on air less than two years ago. Cartoon Network now has an 8.9% audience share of 4 to 10 year olds watching CanalSatellite.

Santa Monica-based R!OT provided visual effects and post-production services for Days of the Week, the latest music video from the Stone Temple Pilots. The studio provided on-set visual effects supervision, telecine, digital matte painting, visual effects production and compositing services for the video, which was directed by Kevin Kerslake of Satellite Films. In the video, Scott Weiland and his band mates play identically dressed, door-to-door salesmen who escape their mundane lives when their car morphs into a space shuttle.