You are invited to attend the MOONDANCE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2002 January 24-27Boulder, Colorado USA
ONLINE PRE-REGISTRATION, WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS & PANELS SCREENINGS, AWARDS CEREMONY, SPECIAL EVENTS & INFORMATION FOR THE MOONDANCE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2002 IS AVAILABLE NOW ON THE MOONDANCE WEBSITE: www.http://moondancefilmfestival.com/2002info.htm
Silver Lining Productions Ltd. and Millimages have developed a script for a television holiday special based on ILL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, the most recent edition in the TOOT & PUDDLE childrens book series written and illustrated by Holly Hobbie. The production team is also in development on a 26-part animated series based on the complete collection of TOOT & PUDDLE books. The companies are seeking broadcaster interest at the NATPE 2002 show.
A judgement was recently rendered by a Stockholm Chamber of Commerce arbitrator that Swedish animation house Happy Life violated copyright and was in breach of contract when it produced a second series of the animated show LISA. The dispute between LISA creator Magnus Carlsson and his former employers ended in his favor on December 21, 2001 after a six-month long arbitration process.
INITIAL D is the tent pole of several newly acquired properties international distributor TOKYOPOP will showcase at NATPE 2002. An unassuming tofu delivery boy becomes addicted to street racing in this Japanese import, which has already spawned a theatrical animated film and sold over 30 million graphic novels in its native country. Call it the animated FAST AND THE FURIOUS. TOKYOPOP will also present REIGN, a sci-fi fantasy take on the ancient world of Alexander the Great featuring character and concept design from Peter Chung, creator of MTVs AEON FLUX.
Corus Entertainments Nelvana and Japanese publisher Kodansha Ltd. have entered into a partnership to jointly develop new childrens properties. The agreement expands on their existing relationship that has produced BABARS ADVENTURES, and seen the acquisition of CARDCAPTORS and the Fox Kids program MEDABOTS. Under the terms of the three-year partnership agreement, Nelvana will be given first look on all Kodansha projects for possible co-production or acquisition of distribution rights for non-Asian countries.
In addition to committing to a new SPIDER-MAN series and the college satire THE FRESHMAN, MTV has signed on for a third animated series due in Fall 2002. Corus Entertainment's Nelvana and MTV will co-produce the animated comedy series CLONE HIGH. Taking a tongue-in-cheek approach to science and history, the series features cloned historical figures, dead celebrities and musicians as high school students facing the pressures of being modern teenagers while attempting to live up to the legacy of their DNA donors.
Although it didnt make the original list of qualifying films for the Animated Feature Oscar, an Academy representative has confirmed that the animé feature VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST is in fact a qualifying entry. The film was initially rejected on a technicality -- the official screen credits form was not submitted. One of the Academys rules states that all forms must be completed and turned in prior to the deadline.
Kids' WB! announced the production and pick-up of ALL NEW SCOOBY-DOO! THE ANIMATED SERIES (working title) and OZZIE & DRIX, a new animated series based on the Warner Bros. feature film OSMOSIS JONES. The latest incarnation of the Scooby-Doo animated series from Warner Bros. Animation is a joint pick-up by Kids WB! and Cartoon Network and is slated to debut on Kids WB! in Fall 2002 and will air subsequently in the 2002-2003 season on Cartoon Network. Kids WB!
International production and distribution giant TV-Loonland has again joined forces with German broadcaster ZDF for two new co-production ventures, SOMETHING ELSE and RUDI (working title). This partnership follows the previous TV-Loonland/ZDF co-production of the animated series PETTSON AND FINDUS and the upcoming LITTLE GHOSTS.
Australian visual effects companies Photon VFX and GMD have formed a strategic alliance and will begin their collaboration as joint visual effects contractors for the Disney production of INSPECTOR GADGET 2. The film, which is currently shooting on location in Brisbane, Australia, is a direct-to-video project from Disney. The eight-week shoot is will utilize Photon's motion-control services during production. Post-production is slated for completion by mid-2002.
Vancouver animation studio Atomic Cartoons is in Las Vegas for NATPE 2002 with a collection of proprietary properties. Their catalogue includes the original program ATOMIC BETTY and the Internet show DOG IN A BOX WITH 2 WHEELS, an offbeat animated comedy series about a randy little dog with wheels for hind legs. Dog has devoted his life to vigilante justice after a senile geriatric ruined his life in a freak oxygen tank/cigarette-smoking accident. The series is geared towards an older audience, teens and young adults, in an 11 x 26 format.
Following in the footsteps of NBC, which recently leased its Saturday morning block to Discovery Networks, Fox Broadcasting has turned over its Saturday morning programming to 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. Beginning September 2002, 4Kids will provide all programming content for FOX's Saturday morning broadcast block, which commences at 8 am ET/PT (7 am CT). Fox hopes that 4Kids shows will help the network maintain its competitive edge in the key young boys demo.
NATPE is one of the world's foremost media content exhibitions and conferences. The event serves as a forum for people in the media industry to buy, sell, develop, finance, advertise, promote, market or license their products to a global audience. Over 20,000 industry executives visit NATPE each year. The event offers seminars, discussions and pitching sessions for up-and-comers. NATPE 2002 seminars will focus on HD and Interactive TV.
After reigning at number one for four weeks, THE LORD OF THE RINGS, with primary visual effects by WETA, took a tumble to third place in the face of two new flicks released this week. LOTR took in $13M for a cume of $245.9M. War drama BLACK HAWK DOWN, with visual effects by The Mill, made a stellar showing in wide release, earning $29M this weekend for a total of $30.8M and the top box office spot. In second place was the family-friendly comedy SNOW DOGS, with $17.5M. A BEAUTIFUL MIND, with primary visual effects by Digital Domain, was fourth, with $11M for the weekend and $73.9M to date.
Yes, its true. Nickelodeon has confirmed the cancellation of Emmy and Annie award-winning series INVADER ZIM. A statement from Nick says the reason for the cancellation was poor ratings from their core demographic (kids age 2 to 11). The network will be wrapping the series after completing 26 of the originally contracted 40 episodes. INVADER ZIM premiered on Nickelodeon in March 2001 and was renewed with a 20-episode commitment in August of that year. The show posted strong ratings for its premiere episode, with a 6.0 rating/17 share (about 1.8 million viewers) among kids 2 to 11.
Turbo Squid, an online marketplace that brokers 3D animation assets for content creators in the film, video, broadcast, Web and game development sectors has added 3D models from visual effects house Rhythm & Hues to its inventory. The Rhythm & Hues models, which will be sold both individually and as collections, include animals, military, office, household and transportation items. The first collections to be released are: Office Volume 1, Home Pack Volume 1, Military Volume 1, Transportation Volume 1, Animals Volume 1, Farm Animals Volume 1 and Marine Animals Volume 1.
Game developer THQ Inc. and Motorola, Inc. have teamed to develop a suite of games for Motorola's current and next-generation handsets. As a result of this agreement, the companies will introduce new wireless games for Motorola mobile phones with Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME) technology. The first four games, WWF MOBILE MADNESS, TETRIS, INTELLIVISION'S ASTROSMASH and MOTOGP will launch in North America in mid-January 2002 with worldwide distribution to follow throughout the year.
Ontario, Canadas Sheridan College is now offering Writing for Animation through the Program for Continuing Education. The object of this course is to teach the principles of animation writing for short films (both commercial and personal), television series and feature films. Through lectures and guest speakers, group discussions and one-on-one critiques, students will explore such principles as writing for movement, creating believable animated characters -- human, animal and object -- and building a consistent world.
Univers d'Enfants is the rendez-vous for all manufacturers and distributors of children
From The Reg Hartt Animation Archive comes an in-depth look at Animation BM (Beyond Mickey Mouse).
Rare uncut 16mm prints of films by J. Stuart Blackton, Paul Terry, Emil Cohl, Winsor McCay, Max Fleischer, Walt Disney, Otto Mesmer, Ladislaus Starevitch, Raoul Barre, Tex Avery, Friz Freleng, Bob Clampett, Chuck Jones, Shamus Culhane, Walter Lantz and many more.
Screenings are Sundays at 4pm.
Definitely well worth a trip to Toronto!
"Hartt's shows are brilliant!"--London, England SUNDAY TELEGRAPH.
The exhibit examines the rich history of cartoons that were made for television, and how classic theatrical cartoons have enjoyed generations of popularity through syndication and cable. Included are over 125 vintage production animation cels, drawings and rare painted background art, on loan from some of largest and most important private collections of animation art in the world. Most have never been exhibited before.
Bugs Bunny has been spanked. Every thing that might possibly offend anyone has been cut from the great films of Hollywood's Golden Age of Animation.
In 1979 Reg Hartt invited animation artist BOB CLAMPETT to Toronto for an in-depth look at his career. The next year FRIZ FRELENG, BERNARD B. BROWN and GRIM NATWICK were given the same treatment. Legendary animation artist SHAMUS CULHANE followed. TEX AVERY would not travel. He talked with Reg by phone. Reg met with and learned from CHUCK JONES.These dialogues have been published.
Join moderator BOB MILLER as he discusses the state of the animation industry with three leading pundits: TOM SITO, JERRY BECK, AND MICHAEL MALLORY. From drawn "cel" to CGI, from TV to theatrical feature films - where is the animation industry going? Who knows, but this panel has plenty of educated opinions. Clips will be screened. Refreshments served!Friday, January 18, 2002 7:30 pmASIFA-Hollywood's Animation Center721 S. Victory Blvd in Burbank, 2 Blocks North of Alameda.
Game publisher NewKidCo International Inc. and Canadian production company CinéGroupe have entered into a long-term strategic alliance to develop titles for Game Boy Advance. The companies plan to launch a minimum of three games per year for three years. While the initial titles will be produced for the Game Boy Advance platform, CinéGroupe president and COO Pierre Bernatchez said the companies expect to expand into developing games for GameCube, PlayStation2 and Xbox.
Cartoon Network UK has appointed Richard Kilgarriff as channel manager and vice president of Cartoon Network UK. Richard Kilgarriff is an award-winning producer with experience in television, film and radio production, marketing and program sales. Previously, he held the position of director of programs for Rapture TV, launched an Internet TV channel, made and sold a variety of television and radio shows and was digital consultant to Microsoft and Channel 5.
