* Sunday, February 20 - Wednesday, February 23, 2000. Monte-Carlo, Monaco.
Created in 1979, the Monte-Carlo Television Market was established as a
companion to the world renowned Monte-Carlo International Television
Festival. Today, the Television Market ranks as one of the top program
markets in the world. In 1999, the Market had 487 registered buyers and
1,920 participants on hand. For 2000, two new events have been added to the
* Thursday, February 24 - Sunday, March 5, 2000. San Jose, California, U.S.A.
Cinequest San Jose Film Festival showcases features and short films (16mm &
35mm all genres) of artistic, social or stylistic merit. This year, the
festival is celebrating Maverick Films, Filmmakers and Technologies. For
more information contact Cinequest 2000 at: P.O Box 720040, San Jose, CA
95172-0040; Tel.: (408) 995-5033; Fax: (408) 995-5713; E-mail:
cineqst@wenet.net; or Web: http://www.cinequest.org.
* Monday, February 28 - Saturday, March 11, 2000. Brussels, Belgium.
Each year the Brussels Cartoon and Animated Film Festival programs the
"crème de la crème" in international animation. It is one of the top
festivals on the international cartoon and computer generated images
circuit. It features 150 to 200 films, plus premieres, original
retrospectives, exhibitions, "making of" programs and invites a host of
* Friday, March 3 - Saturday, March 4, 2000. Glendale, California, U.S.A.
This year, ASIFA-Hollywood will host its 7th Annual Animation Expo. The
Expo is a two day animation industry trade show focusing on the exhibition
of animation related products and services and the recruitment of related
talent and personnel. In addition, the Expo offers industry seminars and
workshops, digital tutorials and a showcase of animation. Admission price
* Wednesday, March 8 - Sunday, March 12, 2000. Tampere, Finland.
As the biggest short film event in Northern Europe, the Tampere
International Short Film Festival features 80 screenings, a film market and
seminars. 16mm and 35mm films under 30 minutes, completed after January 1,
1998, are accepted for competition. Awards available include Grand Prize,
Special Prize of the Jury, Best Animation, and an Audience Award. Last
* Thursday, March 9, 2000. London, U.K.
The 3rd annual British Animation Awards will include the following: Best
Film Under Seven Minutes, Best Longer Short Film, Best TV and Film
Graphics, Best Film at the Cutting Edge, Mari Kuttna Award for Best
Directorial Debut, Best Direction of an Animated Commercial, Best
Animation/Craft in a Commercial, Best Adult Series, Best TV Children's
Special, Best Children's Series, Best Pre-School Series, Children's Choice
Walt Disney and Pixar have yet another trophy on their mantle, this time
it's the grand prix at Imagina 2000. The computer conference and festival,
which started in Monaco on January 31 and then continued in Paris on
February 2, finishing Friday, February 4, is often referred to as the
European equivalent to SIGGRAPH. The events in Monaco included the "Prix
Pixel-INA" awards competition, the Innovation Space, and various
conferences and panel discussions such as "2D/3D Animation," a discussion
Fox has leaked the scoop that a central Simpsons character will be killed
off on the February 13 episode of the decade old toon. Rumors have been
circling that the grim reaper will be swinging his scythe at Maude
Flanders, wife of Jesus freak neighbor Ned. In a bold move of honesty THE
SIMPSONS' executive producer Mike Scully fully admits the show is a
shameless attempt at grabbing sweeps ratings. "We're in our 11th season and
we're always looking for new ways to shake up the show a little and do
Michael Webster, who established Walt Disney's television animation
division in 1984, passed away at the age 60 following a long battle with
multiple sclerosis. On Saturday, January 29, 2000, Mr. Webster succumbed to
complications from pneumonia at his home in Port Townsend, Washington,
U.S.A. During his 42 year tenure, Webster created the Walt Disney
Television Animation division and served as its senior VP until his
retirement in 1992. He oversaw production of the Emmy-winning NEW
Nickelodeon has recently closed the San Mateo branch of its on-line unit
announced Nick On-line Pres. Fred Seibert. The office had been doing
research and development for "Project Nozzle" -- a re-launch of Nick.com as
a children's Web portal. To help strengthen the re-launch Viacom, owners of
Nick, bought San Mateo-based Web development house Nvolve, which turned
into the now de-funked San Mateo branch of Nick.com. This decision comes on
the heals of the suspension of "Project Nozzle's" main component My
ACCLAIM ENTERTAINMENT INC., a leading worldwide interactive entertainment
company, has appointed JAY ANDRONACO as manager of public relations and
BRADFORD W. LOUCKS as vice president of sales. Andronaco will oversee
public relations initiatives for Acclaim's recently announced Extreme
Championship Wrestling (ECW) license, including the launch of the first
video game title on February 17, 2000, ECW HARDCORE REVOLUTION. In
addition, Andronaco will manage media relation initiatives for select
Mill Film announced that LAURENT HUGUENIOT and DAVID LOMAX have been
promoted to joint heads of Mill Film 3D. The promotion takes place with
immediate effect and follows on the heals of the recent announcement that
Mill Film will unite operations with sister company Magic Camera. Lomax
joined Mill Film in February 1997 from Pixar Animation Studios where he was
senior technical director for modeling and shader development on the
animated feature film, A BUGS LIFE. Since joining Mill Film, Lomax has
FILM ROMAN INC. has announced that veteran entertainment industry executive
LEONARD J. GROSSI has joined their board of directors and SIDNEY CLIFTON
has been promoted to director of television development. Currently, Grossi
is a partner in LSLG Associates, which owns a 49% interest in WHPN-TV, a
Madison, WS-based UPN affiliate. Grossi has recently formed and serves as
chairman and CEO of both Baseline Media and Entertainment Inc., a media,
communications and entertainment consulting firm, and Mile Square
On Wednesday, December 26, 2000, a second child was reported to have
suffocated on Burger King's promotional POKEMON ball. The 4-month old,
Indianapolis, Indiana boy was found dead by his grandmother who left the
toy in the crib with the sleeping child. Millions of the toys were recalled
on December 11, 1999 after a Sonora, California girl was found in her
playpen with half the ball over her nose and mouth. U.S. federal officials
accused the Miami-based fast food chain of being too slow in recalling the
The Super Bowl, American football's biggest game, kept people away from
U.S. theatres this past weekend, but STUART LITTLE, with primary visual
effects by Sony Pictures Imageworks, additional animation by CFX and Rhythm
& Hues, and miniatures by Thunderstone, stayed steady at 4th place in the
box office. Sony's great white hope (a white mouse that is) grossed US$4.78
million bringing its total to $123 million. THE GREEN MILE, with primary
Imax has inked a deal with Fox, DreamWorks and Sony Pictures to deliver to
audiences 3D versions of THE SIMPSONS, Princess Bala from ANTZ and several
original animated characters. The Imax feature will be entitled CYBERWORLD
and will hit U.S. theatres in October. Produced by Hugh Murray and Steve
Hoban, the 45-minute pic will feature 3D clips from ANTZ and THE SIMPSONS
interwoven with Phig, the tour guide of this futuristic animation museum.
Katie Mason profiles Art Scott, a man whose career took him to almost every major U.S. studio.
Fred Patten reviews Robin Allan's new book, Walt Disney and Europe; European Influences on the Animated Feature Films of Walt Disney, and discovers that Allan delves far beyond the obvious nature of the title.
Sharon Schatz interviews Brian Nilles on the newVicon 8 motion capture system and the future of the industry.
Digital humans are right around the corner accordingto Giant Studios and Webbie Tookay couldn't be more delighted. Laura Schiff explains. Contains Quick Time movie clips!
Within the world of animation, most experimentation occurs within short format productions, whether they be high budgeted commercials, low budgeted independent shorts, or something in between. The growing number of short film festivals around the world attest to the vitality of these works, but there are few other venues for exhibition of them or even written reviews. As a result, distribution tends to be difficult and irregular. On a regular basis, Animation World ...
Ayanti Sen continues her piece on India's hopeful animation future by profiling a few up and coming Indian animators.
Motion capture takes a new direction when a live, four-legged creature is brought into the mix. Gregory Singer reports on capturing the motions of an Andalusian stallion.
Ruth and Roger Whiter were lucky enough to meet Ray Harryhausen for tea and a chat about his career, the craft of stop-motion and the value of careful planning.
Funkmation Studios, an animation house providing services for film,
television, CD-Rom and the Web, has floated into a new home in Brooklyn's
Navy Yard. The animation house will share the new space with New York
Studios' film and television sound stage. Funkmation's credits include:
SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH CD-Rom; storyboard and background design on
COURAGE THE COWARDLY DOG; Flash animation on Partner Re's screen savers;
and a 2D animation pilot with C&C Films entitled MAXIMUM BLACK. The new
