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
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.
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
British-based ATTIK, a commercial and broadcasting production house, has
appointed PAUL DRIVER as Design Director at Attik's New York branch.
Formerly the Creative Director at Attik/Huddersfield, Driver will head
day-to-day creative decisions at the New York studio.
Animation Foundation interviews Rob Coleman, ILM Animation Director on
Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace...
AWN's January 2000 Millennium issue of Animation World Magazine is now online...
We've launched the Quiz Archive last week, so now you can access all 25
quizzes from one simple pull down menu...
Visual Magic Magazine, AWN's 3D animation and digital effects online
magazine, has posted a new article...
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.
MEN IN BLACK: THE SERIES has been picking up steam on Kids WB! The Sony
Pictures Entertainment show has increased its ratings by 110% since its
second season last year. It has earned a 4.2 rating with kids 2-11 and a
5.0 rating with kids 6-11.
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
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.
Viz Communications, a leading U.S. publisher of Japanese animation and
comics (anime and manga), including titles such as POKEMON, DRAGON BALL
Z, and Hayao Miyazaki's NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF WIND, announced new
Internet partnerships and the relaunch of their chief Web sites.
www.viz.com will provide the latest news and information on anime and
manga series. www.j-pop.com will feature reviews on the latest in
Japanese pop culture including anime, manga, games, music and film.
Salsa Distribution has put together a deal that will create a new Jim
Henson programming block entitled MUPPET TIME in Panama. FETV will air
MUPPET TIME starting January 3, 2000 in a deal that lasts 2 years. The
block will include the MUPPET SHOW, MUPPETS TONIGHT, MUPPET BABIES,
FRAGGLE ROCK and JIM HENSON'S ANIMAL SHOW.
The Nickelodeon toon THE WILD THORNBERRYS will be coming to a town near
you beginning February 14, 2000. Starting at Toy Fair in New York City,
the Commvee recreational vehicle from the series is making its real
world debut. After Toy Fair, the Commvee will make appearances at Nick's
"All That Music and More" tour venues, "The Big Help" events, and
various "Lucky 10" markets across the U.S. So when picking up wild
berries at the local Lucky 10 don't miss out on meeting the wild
Atlanta-based CRAWFORD COMMUNICATIONS, a service provider for all
aspects of television, film, Internet, audio and satellite
communications, has announced that BILL THOMPSON has been promoted from
Production Services Division's Director of Operations to VP of
Post-Production. The 10-year veteran of the company will oversee
editing, audio, graphics, telecine and the film labs. While no longer
servicing the day-to-day operations, Thompson will still head Crawford's
production services.
Atlanta-based Fathom Studios, which creates compelling graphic elements
for distribution on television, film or computer platforms, is looking for
a STORYBOARD ARTIST...
Gnomon has a series of new classes scheduled for the upcoming Winter Term,
which runs from January 10 to March 19, 2000...
Eric Huelsman profiles the animation/CGI films of 2000that animation fans should not miss.
While 1999's "different" animated features did not break any box office records, they did show that a change is in the air. Andy Klein illuminates the animated feature's struggle.
As Jacquie Kubin relates the gaming industry is seeking more and more animators as new systems raise the aesthetic bar, making games faster, more realistic and well, animated.
Buzz Potamkin makes his predictions on the trends that will influence our animation industry and marketplace well into the next 100 years.
Want to get hired in the new millennium? Well, besides the addition of Flash to your repertoire and keeping an eye on that computer, most of the required skills to get hired and be successful remain the same. However, get ready because high technology is becoming the norm. Here from the industry's top recruiters is advice about what you'll need to be prepared.
"While nothing beats the ability to draw in any year, in the upcoming year it won't hurt an...
A New Age...
Fantasia/2000 definately pushes the technical limits of animation, creating visuals we have never seen before. As a special treat, David Bossert, the film's artistic coordinator and visual effects supervisor, takes us deep into the process.
