Morgan Wandell, VP of programming at Digital Entertainment Network, has left his post. Though a pleasant split, the decision was due to his unhappiness over DENs move to acquire programming instead of developing original content. Recently, the entertainment destination obtained programming from ACE VENTURA director Steve Oedekerks Thumb.com. Wandell told the Daily Variety, "Theres just less for me to do now.
Independent film producers are calling foul over the amount of funds going to Quebec. French-language productions are guaranteed at least a third of the CA$200-million a year provided by the Canadian Television Fund (CTF) and Quebec-based film companies this year are receiving nearly 40% of the federal funds. Another sore point is that in years past Cinar Corp., the Montreal-based producer of childrens series, has received as much federal funding as the entire Alberta industry. Currently, Cinar is under investigation for using false Canadian names on scripts by U.S.
The heirs of Chico and Harpo Marx dont like being left out of the Groucho estates desire to go ahead with an animated series based on the three silly siblings. Friday, April 28, 2000, U.S. district judge Dickran Teverizian stopped the distribution of a new toon until the three brothers estates can come to an agreement over financial issues. Chico and Harpos heirs contest that the Groucho estate bamboozled them by hiding the TV deal and not sharing the US$130,00 paid for the rights.
POKEMON: THE FIRST MOVIE and STUART LITTLE are struggling over who will nab the top spot at international box offices. For the week ending April 26, 2000, POKEMON took Spain and Italy. Around the globe POKEMON finished in 2nd in the U.K. in its second weekend in theatres; 3rd in Germany in its second weekend in theatres; and 4th in France and Sweden. Already in the U.K., POKEMON has grossed a total of $13.14 million in only one week of release. STUART LITTLE finished at #1 in Germany, Australia and Hong Kong.
Three members of Hollywoods top talent has signed on to voice characters in Warner Bros. live-action-animated flick, LIKE CATS AND DOGS -- Academy award winner Susan Sarandon (DEAD MAN WALKING), Tobey Maguire (CIDER HOUSE RULES) and Academy award nominee Michael Clarke Duncan (THE GREEN MILE). Maguire will voice the lead pup who helps protect a dog allergy vaccine from a crew of crafty cats. Bringing life to the pups street-wise mentor mutt will be Sarandon, who recently provided voice work for the upcoming RUGRATS IN PARIS.
Popular syndicated cartoonist Rich Moyer and Celluloid Studios has exploded onto the Web with a new entertainment site called Bunny Grenade. Celluloid Studios executive producer Olivier Katz will oversee the new Net company as executive producer. Rich Moyer is known for his one panel comic strip ICK, which he has now left to focus on Bunny Grenade. Moyer said the main reason for coming to the Web is the chance to "connect with the audience and get them more involved.
This Festival has six categories: features, shorts, TV fiction, cartoons, shorts and documentaries. One panel of judges will be composed of show business and communications professionals and the other by Internet users. The winning works will be presented on the Website for the rest of the year; the works that are not selected for the festival will be presented on-line for a limited period of time immediately after the event.
Universals submarine sensation, U-571, has left new films in its wake as it sails into the #1 spot at the U.S. box office for the second straight week. The World War II flick finished atop new comers THE FLINTSTONES VIVA ROCK VEGAS and FREQUENCY with a gross of US$12.2 million and floating its total box office take to $38.11 million. Rolling into second place was Universals prequel to their 1994 hit THE FLINTSTONES. With a new cast, the prehistoric pic, with primary visual effects by Metrolight Studios, "rocked" up $10.52 million.
Before signing up for training and signing that check there are several key facts that you need to know. Larry Lauria explains.
Jacquie Kubin reveals why edutainment is not elementary, when she investigates the new CD-Rom, Miss Spider's Tea Party, based on David Kirk's children's book.
Larry Lauria touches base with DreamWorks' Frank Gladstone to learn the latest on what studios expect to see in portfolios.
Stephen Lynch reports from Australia's foremost animation festival.
The British Animation Awards brought the U.K. animation population out for the night. Andrew Osmond was there and reports with this colorful scrapbook.
Raymond Palma chats with the mother-son team of Betty and Mickey Paraskevas, whose childrens books are turning into television shows like wildfire.
Ben Stein, the host of Comedy Central's hit gameshow WIN BEN STEIN'S MONEY, will have his own animated gameshow on Shockwave.com. Stein has signed a deal with Shockwave to create an on-line game, a series of e-greeting cards and a daily poll for Shockwave visitors. The single and multi-player game asks questions which Stein calls knowledge --rather than trivia -- based. Stein will have a toon likeness helm the show and sponsors of the series will offer the prizes.
Eric Schneider profiles the man who brought stop-motion animation to Russia, Ladislaw Starewicz. Utilizing puppet beetles and dragonflies, he created films which still speak to us today.
Hasbro has signed a multi-year deal with HIT Entertainment for the licensing rights to their successful toon, BOB THE BUILDER. The current BBC series is scheduled to debut on Nick Jr. sometime next year. BOB garners 52% of the pre-school audience in the U.K. for its time period. Last holiday season the toys based on the series sold out in the U.K. Hasbro hopes that the series will build the same kind of fan base in the States as other foreign imports have done recently. Currently, Mainframe is producing a series called ACTION MAN based off Hasbro's British toy line of the same name.
Jayanti Sen finishes up her profile of animation in India by profiling the current projects, companies and artists that are helping to build India into an animation nation of force.
Rhino is releasing the action stuffed soundtrack to the POWERPUFF GIRLS. On July 18, 2000, "Heroes and Villains" will hit shelves with music performed by top alternative artists. Songs from the series and inspired by the Powerpuff Girls will be featured on the album. Artists such as David Byrne, Devo, Frank Black, Shonen Knife, Apples In Stereo, Optiganally Yours, Kormeda, Cornelius, The Sugarplastic, Dressy Bessy and Bis will be featured. Series creator Craig McCracken set out to find bands that inspire him to participate on the compilation.
Rick DeMott looks into the reasons why the Screen Cartoonists Union of Los Angeles decided to picket in front of PBS affiliate, KCET.
Annick Teninge journeyed to televisions festival in Positano, Italy, only to find that they were talking about (what else?) but the Internet.
Stephen Featherstone discusses his week-end training course with stop-motion animation director, Barry Purves, where he reveals he learned more than just animation skills.
Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman draws some correlations between two independents named Johnguaranteed youll be surprised.
Leo F. Hobaica, Jr. relates his winning experience as faculty coordinator of CalArts Community Arts Partnership animation workshops, which teach animation fundamentals to children.
European feature animation producers and filmmakers gathered in Potsdam to discuss funding and distribution partnerships and deals. Heikki Jokinen reports on Cartoon's latest coup.
