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Headline News

Computer Cafe expands to Santa Monica

Computer Cafe has opened a full service animation studio in Santa Monica,California. The 1400 square foot site, in the heart of Santa Monica's mediadistrict, will be staffed by art director/digital artist Ron Honn, who isrelocating from the company's Santa Maria headquarters, and producerJonathan Stone, who joins the company from Saban Entertainment. Artistsfrom the Santa Maria facility will staff up the Santa Monica studio on aproject basis, and the company will also staff the new site with local

Cartoons Headline News

Rob Davies opens new studio

Rob Davies, a 1999 Emmy nominee for his work on STEVEN SPIELBERG PRESENTS:PINKY, ELMYRA AND THE BRAIN, has recently returned from Warner Bros. T.V.Animation in L.A. to his native British Columbia, Canada to start up a newanimation studio, Atomic Cartoons Inc. Joining Davies is former REN ANDSTIMPY animator and Universal Cartoons director Mauro Casalese, directorTrevor Bentley (Nickelodeon's CAT DOG, Nelvana's NED'S NEWT), and directorOlaf Miller (Sony's LITTLE WITCH). "Our main focus is to assist companies

Headline News

THE BANANA SPLITS return!

THE BANANA SPLITS will return via Cartoon Network Online's Web PremiereToon series in 2000. Produced by Hanna-Barbera and Sid & Marty Krofft, THEBANANA SPLITS ADVENTURE HOUR was originally broadcast on NBC from 1968-70,and the show was repeated throughout the 1970s. Episodes currently airSaturday mornings on Cartoon Network. The live-action variety show featuredrock musician characters in fuzzy animal suits: Fleagle, a beagle; Drooper,a lion; Bingo, a gorilla; and Snorky, an elephant. The foursome would

Headline News

Did DINOTOPIA inspire PHANTOM MENACE?

A bit of controversy has arisen due to the striking similarity between somescenes in James Gurney's DINOTOPIA books and George Lucas' STAR WARSEPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE. The questionable parallels include thatbetween PHANTOM MENACE's royal Naboo city of Theed and DINOTOPIA'sWaterfall City; the trip through PHANTOM MENACE's Naboo's core and asubmarine ride in THE WORLD BENEATH; the celebratory parade at the end ofthe film and several scenes from DINOTOPIA books; and between Jar Jar Binks

Film Headline News

Film Roman announces FABULOUS FURRY FREAK BROTHERS feature

After several weeks of rumors, Film Roman has officially confirmed thatthey are developing an animated feature film based on THE FABULOUS FURRYFREAK BROTHERS, the underground comic book by Gilbert Shelton. THE FABULOUSFURRY FREAK BROTHERS is about three hippie brothers: freewheelingcowboy-hatted Frank; mad-inventor Phineas, and Fat Freddy, as well as FatFreddy's cat, who is described as meaner than Garfield, smarter than Felix,randier than Fritz, and a better mouser than Tom. Mike B. Anderson (THE

Animation Headline News

Collège Boréal looking for a classical animation professor

Ontario Canada's Collège Boréal is looking for a classical animation professor.The purpose of the school's three-year program is to prepare learners to pursue a career in commercial animation, i.e., working in film, TV series, video game, CD-ROM, Web page and advertising production. The program allows the learner to be proficient in

Star Headline News

DeForest Kelley, STAR TREK's "Bones" McCoy, dies

Actor DeForest Kelley, STAR TREK's Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy died Friday,June 10 after an extended illness. Kelley, born January 20, 1920, inAtlanta, Georgia, US, played supporting roles in a number of movies,including THE MAN IN THE GRAY FLANNEL SUIT (1956); GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K.CORRAL (1957), RAINTREE COUNTY (1957), and APACHE UPRISING (1966). STARTREK creator and producer Gene Roddenberry had wanted Kelley to play thedoctor in STAR TREK from the get-go, having worked with him previously on

Million Headline News

STAR WARS falls to second place

STAR WARS EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE, the digital effects driven actionfilm from Lucasfilm, grossed $25.4 million to bring its total to $296.7million while finishing second to newly released AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHOSHAGGED ME in the US weekend boxoffice race for the week ending Sunday,June 13. Universal's THE MUMMY, with digital effects by ILM, finished fifthwhile grossing $5.48 million to bring its total to $136.2 million; THEMATRIX, directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, finished seventh, grossing

Animation Headline News

Green Movie looking for animation, layout and storyboard artists

Italian production company GREEN MOVIE is searching for ANIMATION,LAYOUT and STORYBOARD ARTISTS for an upcoming feature cartoon productionwritten by Nobel award winner, Dario Fo. They are looking for freelancersand/or teams and/or companies from Europe, preferably countries nearby orneighbouring Italy. The production period is MAY 2000 - JUNE 2001, and willtake place all over Europe and Italy. The selection process must be over bymid-July 1999, so please hurry. Any queries should be sent to

Headline News

Evans & Sutherland hire Ard and Munshani

Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation has announced the appointment ofRobert H. Ard to the position of Group Executive, Applications, and ShankerMunshani to be General Manager of its Workstation Graphics Division. Ardwill be responsible for the Digital Studio, Digital Theater, and PixelProducts divisions. He will also continue as the General Manager of thePixel Products unit. Ard is a veteran software industry executive. Prior tojoining Evans & Sutherland in 1998 as the General Manager of the Pixel

Series Headline News

Alphanim announces new productions

French production company Alphanim's RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT, a series,co-produced with Cinar, about a group of three friends who travel the worldseeking out paranormal phenomena, will begin airing on the Fox FamilyChannel on Wednesday, July 14, 1999. Alphanim, which was created in 1997 byChristian Davin, has announced a number of new television series that arein production or development.

In production:

SPACED OUT is a family sitcom created by P. Colin-Thibert and J.C. Islert,

Series Headline News

Oxygen announces animation series for women

Oxygen Media, Geraldine Laybourne's media company founded to providecontent for women, will undertake cable television's first originalanimated prime-time series specifically targeting women. Machi Tantillowill be Executive Producer. "Our goal is to create the first animatedtelevision series for women, exploring issues from a female point of view.We also wanted to build an outlet specifically for female animators, whosedistinctive voices will help us develop a unique Oxygen animation style and

Dreamworks Headline News

Gerry Lewis takes on new role at DreamWorks

Gerry Lewis, currently the co-head of international distribution andmarketing for DreamWorks, will retire from that post in September 1999 toplay a new role for the company, it was announced today by DreamWorksprincipal Jeffrey Katzenberg. Lewis has entered into a three-yearagreement, under which he will consult on the international marketingactivities of all films directed by Steven Spielberg (for DreamWorks andother studios), as well as any sequels to or other versions of projects

Animation Headline News

Protozoa will produce a new real-time 3D animation series

Protozoa, a leading real-time 3D character animation studio, is producingBBC Choice's new breakthrough kids series, THE DOG & DINOSAUR SHOW. Inproduction now, Protozoa, which did the real-time motion-capture animationfor live TV show guest appearances by M&M's Crispy character (Will VintonStudios created and animates the CGI character in the live-actioncommercial campaign), will produce 26 segments of the show using itsproprietary performance animation software, ALIVE. Asked why he chose

Film Headline News

Norman Lear and Film Roman team-up for FAT LADY

Continuing to build upon the rapid growth of its television division'sdevelopment slate, Film Roman Inc. has teamed-up with televisionwriter/producer Norman Lear to develop TIL THE FAT LADY SINGS, an animatedprime-time comedy series. According to Norman Lear, the series will take anirreverent look at infirmity and old age, but also celebrate life andliving. The show revolves around characters who gather at a seniorcitizen's recreation facility and who cope with the challenges of old age

Licensing Headline News

LICENSING '99 INTERNATIONAL begins next week

* Tuesday, June 8 - Thursday, June 10. New York, New York, USA.

The global deal marketplace for the $132 billion business of licensingtakes center stage in New York City, June 8-10, 1999, with LICENSING '99INTERNATIONAL, the largest worldwide licensing event and the single mostconsolidated presentation of properties in one place. Licensing '98International drew a record 15,000 attendees from more than 60 countries.The show featured nearly 400 exhibitors representing more than 3,700

Shorts Headline News

Cartoon Network sets premiere for I AM WEASEL

Cartoon Network has announced that I AM WEASEL will premiere on June 10 at8 pm (ET/PT). This show is a spin-off from David Feiss' currently airingCOW AND CHICKEN series. Creator, writer, and director David Feiss' serieswill follow the exploits of the internationally famous I.M. Weasel and hisinsanely jealous arch-nemesis I.R. Baboon. Each half-hour show will consistof three 7 minute shorts. 52 shorts that were originally shown as part ofCOW AND CHICKEN will be joined by 27 new shorts have been created for the

Show Headline News

Don't miss the Academy of Art College Spring Show

The Academy of Art College in San Francisco will open their annual SpringShow, featuring the best work from the academic year, with a specialpreview party for professionals to look at the work and meet the graduatespersonally. The show will begin on Wednesday, May 26 with professionalhours from 3-7 pm. The public will be invited at 6 pm and the show willstay up until June 11 at 180 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco, USA.This is a good way to recruit new talent. For more details call Susan

Headline News

Phil Roman hires Rick Ramirez

Rick Ramirez, an executive with broad legal, financial and programdevelopment experience, has been named to the new position of vicepresident of the three-month-old Phil Roman Entertainment Company in StudioCity. As previously reported, Phil Roman recently departed the animationcompany he founded in 1984, Film Roman, to create his own animation firm.Ramirez' responsibilities will include all areas of business affairs,financing, and development both in the English and Spanish language markets

Company Headline News

Gottlieb joins Harvey Board

The Harvey Entertainment Company has named MEYER GOTTLIEB to its Board ofDirectors. Gottlieb co-founded Samuel Goldwyn Films in 1998 and remains itsPresident and Chief Operating Officer. Gottlieb became the Chief OperatingOfficer of The Samuel Goldwyn Company in 1979 and its President in 1987,having assisted Mr. Goldwyn in the founding of the company. Prior to 1976,Gottlieb was a senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with extensiveexperience in the entertainment industry.

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