A new animated series called THE KANGAROO CREEK GANG is bouncing into production. Based on the books and comic strip of the same name, the 26 x 12 animated series is an international co-production between production and distribution outfit Southern Star Pacific, the Shanghai Animation Studios (China) and Australian-based company The Kangaroo Creek Gang. The series is scheduled to air in Australia on the Nine Network and will be sold internationally by Southern Star Kids.
Universal Studios is using the 20th anniversary re-release of Steven Spielbergs classic film E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL to launch a 13-month long branding initiative that includes a new Universal logo featuring E.T. According to the studio, the image of E.T. will be an integral part of Universal's identity and business activities, and will be featured in all film, television, home entertainment, theme parks, music, consumer products, publishing and online products. This corporate identity program will complement the March 2002 worldwide release of E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL.
Collaborating closely with long-time creative partner, ad agency Leo Burnett / Chicago, SimEx Digital Studios recently completed a new commercial featuring Kelloggs Froot Loops cereal and Toucan Sam. SimEx provided 2D and 3D animation, compositing and editing for the spot. The :30 commercial "Storm" commences with Toucan Sam caught in the midst of a brewing thunderstorm. Fierce gusts of wind tow the lovable character into the rainforest as he helplessly clutches onto a vine.
New York-based Click 3x has hired engineer Mike Bittle and veteran visual effects and graphics producer Todd McCammon. Bittle becomes chief engineer and will oversee all technical issues for the visual effects, animation and design studio, as well as assisting in the planning and implementation of future imaging technologies. He comes from a similar position with Post Perfect, New York. While at Post Perfect, Bittle handled engineering for film transfer, color correction, editing, compositing, animation and graphics production, as well as for a shooting stage.
Digital content creator BOXX Technologies has announced the release of Juggler, a powerful, easy to use network render management solution supporting Alias|Wavefront's Maya on Windows 2000 or Linux. To help promote Juggler to animators and creative professionals, BOXX is offering a free, fully functional two-node evaluation version for download from the BOXX Website at www.boxxtech.com. Juggler is optimized to high performance and ideally suited for RenderBOXX, BOXX's suite of rendering systems, which utilize the newest AMD and Intel processors.
The 3rd European Gathering of Young Digital Creation is focused on digital art from animation to special effects. Some of the themes of this year's event will be animation and special effects in feature films, sound in cinema and multimedia and royalties. The festival includes training symposiums, screenings and discussions. Guest speakers will include Raoul Servais, creator of KIRIKOU Michel Ocelot and co-director of Axis, Chris Delaporte.
Visit Raoul Servais' AWN Showcase.
In an aggressive attempt to discredit Nickelodeon, the Writers Guild of America, west (WGAw) has launched an advertising campaign requesting Nickelodeon Animation Studios adhere to the standards of the International Council of Toy Industries (ICTI) Code of Business Practices or the Fair Labor Association (FLA) Workplace Code of Conduct. The request is in reference to the licensing and manufacturing of toys and other merchandise based on two Nickelodeon animated characters SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS and JIMMY NEUTRON: BOY GENIUS.
The Pimp reacts to the events of September 11, 2001 and relates them to our little animated corner of the earth.
Director Andrew Adamson, who partnered with Vicky Jenson to direct this years blockbuster animated film SHREK, has recently signed with the United Talent Agency and is hard at work on his next project for DreamWorks. Adamson will direct TRUCKERS, a feature film mixing live-action with animation and based on Terry Pratchetts young adult novel about alien creatures called nomes who live in a department store. Adamson will write the script with Joe Stillman, one of the authors of SHREK.
Fox Networks THE SIMPSONS stayed strong in the ratings as it embarked on its 13th season. Sundays episode ranked 29th with a stellar 8.4 rating/13 share. KING OF THE HILL was preempted by the NFL and did not air. Another Fox toon, FAMILY GUY, airing Thursday night, garnered a 3.3 rating/5 share for 94th place. An ABC special animated Thanksgiving block featuring A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING and A WINNIE THE POOH THANKSGIVING landed in 66th and 74th place respectively, with CHARLIE BROWN grabbing a 5.5 rating/10 share. WINNIE THE POOH ended the night with a 5.3 rating/9 share.
Richard Linklater's latest film has caused quite a stir in the animation community. Is it really animated? Why is it "animated?" Is this just what the animated feature world needs or a sneaky imposter?
Less than a week after the two systems were released, both Microsofts Xbox and Nintendos GameCube are selling well, with a slight edge going to GameCube. The long-awaited, twice-delayed Microsoft Xbox debuted with much fanfare on November 15, 2001 at 12:01 EST at the Toys "R" Us flagship store in Times Square. Bill Gates was on hand to present the first Xbox console to Edward Glucksman of Keansburg, New Jersey. According to a CNET news brief, a Goldman Sachs survey of U.S.
New media company Icebox is hoping that people are ready to pay for entertainment on the Web (other than porn, that is). Starting this week, Icebox is making its entire library of animation available on a pay-per-view basis through Icebox On Demand (www.icebox.com). Since relaunching the site in April 2001, Icebox has been focusing its core business on developing new content for traditional and new media, as well as the licensing of its existing library.
Korea-based Shincine Films plans to have Bruce Lee star in a new martial arts film years after his death. The film, tentatively titled DRAGON WARRIOR, will incorporate Bruce Lee into a $50 million production using state-of-the-art CGI technology. Shincine recently acquired the rights to Lees image from Concord Moon, the company that controls the rights and is administered by Lees widow Linda Lee Cadwell and his daughter Shannon Lee. This venture will be privately financed by Shincine Films and will be the companys first film for the U.S. market.
Charlex has added award-winning visual effects artist Alan Neidorf to its roster. Neidorf comes to Charlex after a sixteen-year run as senior visual effects artist and editor at Tape House and Black Logic, where he worked closely with director Michel Suissa, now of Parallax One. His credits include commercials for Coldwell Banker and Texas Instruments and work for Grey Advertising, McCann-Erickson Worldwide, MBVMS and other advertising agencies. "Charlex is well known for its unique, collaborative creative approach," Neidorf said.
Rhinoceros Visual Effects & Design animated Hasbros Talk N Pop Mr. Potato Head in "Dont Push" (:30/:15). Talk 'N Pop is Hasbro's new Mr. Potato Head toy. Rhinoceros created a five-second fantasy opening that brings Mr. Potato Head to life. In the short sequence, Mr. Potato Head's curiosity compels him to push a mysterious button which, to his surprise, makes his features fly off. The sequence leads into live-action, showing kids having fun with their new friend. The spot was produced using Softimage|XSI and rendered in Mental Ray.
The theme of the first World Digital Imaging Convention will be "Digital Imaging in Society." Conference themes include: Local Authorities, Telecommunications, Computer Graphics, Cinema, TV and the Internet. The convention will feature two main events: a business conference, with seminars, presentations, training sessions, pitching workshops and an "innovation forum," and a digital imaging festival, open to the general public, with the screening of short and feature films, documentaries, animated films, commercials, experimental movies and music videos.
November 20, 2001 7:30pm. Guest Director, Mary Ellen Lord of Sutton, Barth and Vennari will conduct this session.A Fee of $8 for WIA members and $10 for nonmembers per session is charged for the cost of the engineer.
The seminar takes place at EarthSalt, formerly HORTA located at 724 So. Victory Blvd. Burbank.
Enter Studio B through the parking lot at the rear of the building on So. Victory Blvd.
The field of animation is now a vital part of both film and television production. These industries are increasingly utilising 2D and 3D models to enhance animated and virtual images. A variety of new techniques and technologies are constantly emerging in the animation market providing a constant need for evaluating these trends.
Following last year
Nickelodeon has picked up a second season (20 episodes) of Butch Hartmans THE FAIRLY ODDPARENTS and has given the greenlight for the third season (13 episodes) of the Nick Jr. preschool show DORA THE EXPLORER. THE FAIRLY ODDPARENTS will premiere its second season in 2002 and DORA THE EXPLORER, will begin its third-season in 2003. DORA is currently readying its second season for first quarter 2002.
Jon Hofferman reviews five short films fresh from the festival circuit: Tom Schroeder's traumatic Bike Ride, E=mc2 by Alina Hiu-Fan Chau, Insect Poetry from Will Vinton Studios' Marilyn Zornado, Lint People by Helder K. Sun and Maaz by Christian Volckman. Includes QuickTime movie clips!
Breaking all previous box office records, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERERS STONE, with visual effects by Sony Pictures Imageworks and Rhythm & Hues, commanded the box office this weekend with an astonishing $90.3M three-day total for its first place debut. The previous three-day record holder was JURASSIC PARK: THE LOST WORLD with $72.1M. In addition, HARRY POTTER put STAR WARS: EPISODE ONE to shame, besting that films one-day total record by $5M ($28.5M for STAR WARS vs. $33.5M for HARRY).
TV-Loonland AG has its eyes set on 29.9 percent of the British DVD and video distributor Metrodome Group plc., London. If the green light is given at a general meeting on November 29, 2001, TV-Loonland will buy 4,184,250 new shares from Metrodome at a price of 17 pence (approximately US$.25) per share as part of a capital increase. At the same time TV-Loonland is prepared to extend a £1.5M ($2.18M) loan to Metrodome for the purpose of buying new film and DVD/video rights.
Brad Ball has been named to the newly created position of executive vice president, domestic corporate marketing, Warner Bros. Ball moves to this key strategic post after having served as president of domestic marketing of Warner Bros. Pictures for the past three and a half years. Ball's responsibilities include oversight of all the studio's brand marketing efforts across all divisions, including Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Bros. Consumer Products.
Illustrator and cartoonist Gray Morrow (born Dwight Graydon Morrow, 1934) passed away at his home in central Pennsylvania on Tuesday, November 6, 2001. Although he had suffered with health problems the last few years, his death was unexpected. "Gray was both a participant in and a witness to comics history," said Insight Studios Group's Mark Wheatley, who edited GRAY MORROW VISIONARY, published last summer. "He was a master illustrator who had the respect and friendship of his peers.
