Nickelodeon, one of the leading entertainment brands for kids worldwide, is expanding its reach into China as of May 1, 2001. After visiting Beijing for four days and meeting with China's president Jiang Zemin and other industry officials, Bill Roedy, president MTV Networks International, and Frank Brown, president MTV Networks Asia, made the announcement.
ASIFA-Colorado is presenting a discussion by Polish computer animator Zbigniew Dowgiello. He will screen excerpts from his computer animated film and discuss the ways in which computers empower today's artists' ideas and visions of the world and universe. The event will begin at 6:30 pm.
The 7th Annual Taos Talking Picture Festival showcases over 150 new independent films and videos, including features, documentaries, videos and shorts. Highlights include tributes, Hispanic and Native American programs, panel discussions, workshops and demonstrations focusing on the state of media. The Taos Land Grant Award gives 5 acres of land to be awarded to a filmmaker with a narrative, documentary or experimental film or video, 70 minutes or longer, which takes a fresh approach to storytelling and/or the cinematic medium. The town of Taos was originally established as an artists' colony.
IMAX Corporation appointed veteran motion picture production and marketing executive Greg Foster to the newly created position of president, Filmed Entertainment, on Tuesday, March 27. Foster will work out of the company's Santa Monica, California office, and be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company's filmed entertainment activities including creative development, production and business affairs. He will also have a hands-on role in the marketing and distribution of the large-format motion pictures produced under the IMAX banner.
Production, acquisition and distribution company, Harmony Gold has promoted Alan Letz to the newly created position of executive vice president, business development, and hired Judy Gold as vice president, sales and acquisitions. Letz has been with the company since 1985 and moves from his most recent post of senior vice president, sales and acquisitions to concentrate on pioneering Harmony Gold's emergence into the business aspects of new media, Internet, e-commerce, licensing, merchandising and sponsorships tied to Harmony Gold programming.
Santa Monica, California's SimEx Digital Studios has completed work on a new 30-second Kellogg's Frosted Flakes commercial. The artists at SimEx provided 2D animation, compositing and editing for the new Kellogg's spot, called "High Dive," starring Tony the Tiger. Director Jean Perramon's team created Tony in the famous "Tex Avery-style." The commercial revisits classic 1940s style animation while using snappy cuts to keep it fresh.
Santa Monica, California's R!OT, a creative digital studio, recently provided design, animation and visual effects services for a new campaign for Walgreens and Chicago agency Euro RSCG Tatham. Co-directed by R!OT's Carl Seibert and Plum Productions' Dana Christiaansen, the commercials promote Walgreens' Website, www.walgreens.com. In "Signs," the camera pulls from a tight shot of a woman working at a computer into an exterior of her home with a Walgreens sign hanging above her window.
Fox Family Channel announced on March 28 the addition of three new animated series to their 2001-2002 daytime programming lineup.
The fifth annual KC Filmmakers Jubilee is a celebration of independent filmmaking. All experimental and animation entries must be 30 minutes or less. A US$1000 prize will be awarded in each category.
LEGO Media International(LMI), the new TV and film division of the world-renowned children'stoy brand, premiered its first ever program, LITTLE ROBOTS, at MIP TV2001. LITTLE ROBOTS is a new pre-school animated series based on thechildren's book by Mike Brownlow. The pilot was produced for LMI bythe U.K.'s Cosgrove Hall Films utilizing an unusual technique, whichcombines model animation with CGI backgrounds and effects. Theprogram also boasts top U.K. writing and voice (Lenny Henry, Su
CineGroupe has recently announced that production has started on 26episodes of WHAT'S WITH ANDY, a new half-hour animated series set topremier Fall, 2001 on Canada's TELETOON and the Fox Family Channel inthe U.S. The series, based on the "Just" series of books written byAndy Griffith, chronicles the life of teenager Andy Larkin, aself-proclaimed master prankster whose goal is to be the greatestpractical joker in the world, though his schemes backfire every time.Realized primarily in 2D animation, the series also incorporates a
Look! Effects, a Hollywood, California digital effects and 3Danimation company, has completed a 5-minute 3D computer animationsequence for Metaphor Films and Gotham Entertainment's independentfeature FIRST WATCH. Featuring detailed models of planets, stars,their surfaces and movements that were based on some of the latestastronomical imaging and scientific data available, the sequenceconsists of a single, extended pull back where the camera lifts outof an aerial view of the Earth, travels through the Solar System,
On April 1, Testarossa ToolsInMotion, a developer of human motion editing applications for the 3D content creation market, announced the release of VROOM FOR MAYA, a motion-capture plug-in library for Alias|Wavefront's MAYA 3D animation software. The library includes plug-ins that let users readand write skeletal animation in the Acclaim ASF/AMC, Biovision BVH,and Motion Analysis HTR mocap file formats, as well as import themotion of a mocap skeleton into a MAYA skeleton regardless of thereference pose and skeletal structure. The library also provides
Electric Image announced that itsUniverse 3.0 3D modeling, animation and rendering system is shippingfor Windows NT/2000. Universe is an upgrade and a replacement for theaward-winning ElectricImage Animation System (EIAS), which has beenavailable on the Macintosh for over ten years. Universe 3.0 isavailable for $1,995. "There has been a consistent demand for aWindows version of Electric Image software for several years now, andwe are very proud to release Universe 3.0 in this market," said
Beginning in April, GameSpy Industries, through their relationshipwith Disney Interactive, is launching the online multi-playercomponent of Disney Interactive's DISNEY'S ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE- SEARCH FOR THE JOURNAL, a specially created, free, 3D multi-playergame "prequel" to DISNEY'S ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE, which is slatedfor a June 15th theatrical release. GameSpy will host the onlinemulti-player gameplay for DISNEY'S ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE - SEARCHFOR THE JOURNAL prequel, as well as DISNEY'S ATLANTIS: THE LOST
Brilliant Digital Entertainment Inc., a developer of 3D rich media content creation, distribution and ad services technologies for the Internet, announced continued losses for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended Dec 31, 2000. The company reported a net loss from continuing operations of $9,208,000, or $0.62 per share, for the year ended Dec. 31, 2000, compared with a net loss from continuing operations of $9,108,000, or $0.81 per share for 1999. Net revenues for 2000 from continuing operations rose 86% to $1,030,000 from $555,000 in fiscal 1999.
Showtime Networks Inc., and AtomShockwave Corp., announced Tuesday, April 3, the signing of a new licensing deal to bring up to 100 short films to the recently launched multiplex channel SHOWTIME NEXT. The short films, part of the catalogue of AtomShockwave's film and animation brand, AtomFilms, will debut on SHOWTIME NEXT, later appearing on other Showtime Networks Inc. channels and services. "Our agreement with AtomFilms is an ideal match for SHOWTIME NEXT," said Vice President of Acquisitions Gary Garfinkel.
The latest trailer from Paramounts upcoming TOMB RAIDER is scheduled to hit the web on Wednesday, April 4th, at 12 pm EST, 9 am PST. Based on the best-selling Tomb Raider computer game from Britain's Eidos Interactive, the movie, directed by Simon West (CON-AIR, THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER) has been shot on location in England, Iceland and Cambodia, and has a scheduled US release date of June 15. The movie stars Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft and her real-life father Jon Voight as Laras father Lord Croft.
On March 26, CartoonNetwork.com launched TOONAMI REACTOR, a 12-week offering of popular TOONAMI anime programming on-demand. The introduction of TOONAMI REACTOR is designed to showcase the full potential of interactive entertainment using broadband technology. In addition to the anime video content, exclusive information about the characters and storyline is displayed simultaneously on a split screen for Reactor participants using a broadband connection.
AOL Time Warner and Oxygen Media announced April 3, that they will expand their existing online strategic alliance to include extensive cable distribution of Oxygen TV to the vast majority of Time Warner Cable households. America Online will also make an equity investment in Oxygen. As part of the multi-year agreement, Oxygen TV programming will be available to 10 million cable subscribers by third quarter, 2002. Time Warner Cable is the nation's second-largest cable operator.
* Thursday, April 19, 2001. Hollywood, California, U.S.A.
* Thursday, April 12, Westwood, California, U.S.A.
The Women In Animation Writers' Group will hold the next session of their Seminar Series at Saban Entertainment at 7:30 pm. Topic: The Animation Script. RSVP required to Jean Ann Wright. E-mail: jjwright@gte.net or phone: 818-360-8321.
Learn more about Women In Animation by visiting their Website at womeninanimation.org.
* Wednesday, March 14, 2001. Burbank, California, U.S.A.
MIP TV is the world's premier international television program market. The six-day TV industry trade show and conference program will focus on the international television industry. The event gives buyers, sellers and programmers a chance to meet and make deals. The conference includes a vast array of panels and round-table discussions with some of the world's top professionals. Each year the event attracts over 10,000 professionals from around the world.
On Wednesday, March 28, Nickelodeon and Universal Studios Recreation Groupannounced the signing of a strategic alliance for the development of newNickelodeon-branded attractions at various Universal theme parks. Under thenew agreement, the two companies will develop two major attractions, createco-branded promotions, sell merchandise and increase marketing andadvertising on the Nickelodeon cable channel. As part of the agreement,Universal will get rights to use Nickelodeon characters such as THE RUGRATS,
