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Animation Headline News

Canadian Drawn Screening

* Tuesday, January 25, 2000. Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.

Canadian Drawn, a screening of animation from the Canadian Film Board, will

be presented at 7:30 pm. The event highlighting the amazing work of the

Film Board will be held at Macquariam, 1800 Peachtree St. NW. This

screening is sponsored by ASIFA-Atlanta, a social organization for people

interested and professionally involved in animation. For information

contact Joni Strandquest at (770) 457-3455.

Animation Headline News

Toonz Animation Names New Exec Tom Tilbury

Trivandrum, India-based TOONZ ANIMATION INDIA PVT. LTD. named TOM TILBURY

to their exec staff. Base of operations for Tilbury will be Los Angeles,

where he will helm all sales and marketing for the studio's operations in

India and the U.S. Tilbury joins Toonz Animation from Cambridge Animation

Systems were he served as VP of International Distribution.

Headline News

Radium Adds Andrew Sinagra To Ranks

RADIUM, a computer graphics house, adds 3D animator Andrew Sinagra to its

ranks. Sinagra will focus his specialized talents in modeling, particle

effects and volumetric effects to commercials and music videos. Previously

employed at Midland Productions, Sinagra worked on creating 3D animation

for ROBOTS OF MARS, a computer animated feature. . . .

Headline News

In Memory of Darris Dobbs

Darris Dobbs, a well known and respected 3D/CGI writer and artist, died

peacefully at home on November 24, 1999, never having recovered from a

respiratory virus. He was 37. Darris contributed to Visual Magic Magazine

on a number of occasions, as well as writing a number of books for Charles

River Media Publishing (including ANIMATING FACIAL FEATURES AND

EXPRESSIONS, and the recently published TRUESPACE 3 & 4 CREATURE

CREATIONS). He also founded his own business -- HieroglyFX Design -- a

Shows Headline News

Eyeball Bounces Forth New USA Network Tags

New York-based EYEBALL created 10 second ID tags for seven USA Network

shows including: BAYWATCH, LA FEMME NIKITA, XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS and LAW

AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT. A circular frame opens around footage from

the USA program as the tag line "You Are Here" appears amidst flag stripes

and flashes. Brighter colors were used for the more light-hearted shows,

while a grittier mood was created for the more serious dramas. Daniel Fries

was the Creative Director at Eyeball.

Effects Headline News

iXL Digital Finishes Four 20/20 Opens

New York-based IXL DIGITAL VIDEO GROUP, a subsidiary of the Internet and

video solutions company iXL, Inc., produced four distinct openings for the

new 20/20 weekly line-up. Each version of the news show is on four separate

nights and features different hosts. The openings mirror the style of each

version of the show and feature different takes on the 20/20 and ABC News

logos. iXL's veteran Designer and Animator Ron Wissing worked closely with

ABC'S Art Director Kelly Clauson on the concept for the openings.

Animation Headline News

Three Companies Produce Campbell's Popeye Spot

Popeye the Sailor makes his newest appearance in the Toronto-based

TOPIX/MAD DOG, Chuck Gammage Animation and Generator Film produced spot for

Campbell's Soup. The 30 second spot for new Chunky Prime Rib features

integrated 3D animation, live-action and cel animation. Our hero Popeye

opts for a can of Chunky soup over his standard spinach to save the lovely

Olive Oyl. The spot was produced for Toronto-based ad agency Young &

Rubicam. TOPIX/Mad Dog producer Anne Deslauriers oversaw the 3D animation

Headline News

Nelvana Goes Public With $40M Deal

Nelvana Limited has announced a deal with Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

to produce the network's first Saturday morning children's cartoon block.

The deal is worth approximately US$40 million. Nelvana will produce six

book-based children's series for the U.S. public network's Fall 2000

season. The multi-year deal will also include the commission of a minimum

of two of the six series for weekly runs featured in PBS KIDS. Licensing

rights for at least four of the six character brands will be mainly handled

Entertainment Headline News

Entertaindom Summons More Superman Shows

Entertaindom, the Time Warner on-line broadcasting channel, has exercised

its option with Brilliant Digital Entertainment, Inc. to add 15 additional

new 5-8 minute "Webisodes" for the 3D animated MULTIPATH ADVENTURES OF

SUPERMAN. This extends the first season of SUPERMAN to a full 30 Webisode

commitment. Entertaindom has also agreed to give distribution to Brilliant

Digital's new 3D animated series based on the character XENA: WARRIOR

PRINCESS, plus eight Webisodes of a new series entitled KISS IMMORTALS

Media Headline News

JOHNS joins INTERFACE MEDIA GROUP

CRAIG M. JOHNS was named to INTERFACE MEDIA GROUP's Client Services

Department. Interface Media provides Washington D.C. with film and video

production services. Formerly Locations Coordinator for the Iowa Film

Office, Johns will work with clients on a day-to-day basis scheduling

resources and coordinating client's needs.

Headline News

LOCONTE upgrades to LOCONTE.2.

Maria LoConte has launched her upgraded

visual strategies company, LoConte.2 (L.2). Formerly LoConte co-headed

Boston-based LoConte Goldman Design, Inc. with former partner Patrice

Goldman. After parting ways with Goldman and closing their company, LoConte

designed the new L.2 group dedicated to high-end visual solutions for

television and advertising. The company will be based at the National

Boston facilities. National Boston is one of the largest production and

Million Headline News

STUART LITTLE leaps back into the top spot

After slipping to third over

the Christmas weekend, STUART LITTLE, with primary FX by Sony Pictures

Imageworks, additional animation by CFX and Rhythm & Hues, and miniatures

by Thunderstone, leaped back into the top spot at the U.S. box office. Our

little hero brought in US$16.02 million over the New Year's weekend

bringing its total to $79.4 million. Picking up some steam again, TOY STORY

2 finished #3 with a gross of $12.34 million making its total take $208.8

Interactive Headline News

ITE secures new territories for HUGO JUNGLE

Interactive Television Entertainment (ITE) has secured two new

territories for its show HUGO JUNGLE. The show will start airing March

1, 2000 on Nat 7 in Malaysia and January 17, 2000 on BKTV in Serbia and

Montenegro. Extensive use of the Animation Mask System, and animated

links between each playing scenario, make HUGO JUNGLE a unique live

interactive cartoon show.

In

Headline News

Nelvana to start production on MAGGIE AND THE FEROCIOUS BEAST

Nick Jr. and Teletoon have asked Nelvana Limited to start production on

MAGGIE AND THE FEROCIOUS BEAST, based on the mother and son team of

Betty and Michael Parakevas' storybooks. The adventures of 5-year-old

Maggie in Nowhere Land will hit Nick Jr. in Summer 2000 and Teletoon

next fall.

International Headline News

DECODE ENTERTAINMENT expands international distribution division

Toronto-based DECODE ENTERTAINMENT has announced DOMINIQUE BAZAY and

CAROLINE DORRIS to its recently formed international distribution

division. As Director of International Sales, Bazay, who will be based

in Toronto, will head distribution activities and sales to Scandinavia,

Spain, Portugal, Eastern Europe and South Africa, among other

territories. Bazay previously served in sales for BBC Worldwide

Americas, Paragon Entertainment, and the CBC. Dorris will also serve as

Headline News

MeTV.com commissions SONALYSTS STUDIOS for original productions

MeTV.com, a new Internet video on demand company, has commissioned

Sonalysts Studios to produce original broadband promos, trailers and

interstitial material for the MeTV.com Web site. The original broadband

material will appear as full-motion video on PCs with Internet

connections of 350kps or higher running Microsoft MediaPlayer.

Cartoon Headline News

THE IRON GIANT to air on Cartoon Network and TNT

In a move much like a parent buying their child a toy and then receiving

money from their kids allowance for it, Warner Bros. Features has sold

THE IRON GIANT to Cartoon Network and TNT. Cartoon Network couldn't

handle the license fee of US$3 million, so sister Turner channel, TNT,

came in to help out on a six-month pre-Cartoon Network window. TNT will

get six runs of the critically acclaimed box-office disappointment

within that six month time period. Both networks plan to promote the

Headline News

VOELPEL joins BLACK LOGIC

New York-based BLACK LOGIC, a production and post-production house, has

hired 3D animator MARK VOELPEL. As R/GA Digital Studios' Director of

CGI, Voelpel directed commercials for Dodge, Bell South, S.C. Johnson,

LG and Orkin. Mark won a Clio for his work on the Orkin campaign. His

feature film credits include 3D effects supervision on flicks like

DEMOLITION MAN, THE LAST ACTION HERO, and THE SHADOW.

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