THQ Inc. has shipped UNFABULOUS for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance throughout North America. The first game based on a Nickelodeon live-action television series; the game follows the hectic life of main character Addie Singer and features key locations from the show. The game is rated "E" for everyone and is available for $29.99.
Results coming out of MIPCOM Jr. shows Aardmans SHAUN THE SHEEP (U.K.) topping the list of the most requested series at the event, taking place in Cannes, France. A new finisher in the Jr. race shows Ettamogah Ent. Groups AMYS GANG (Australia) in second place while BRB Internactional came in third for ANGUS AND CHERYL (Spain). In fourth place was 4Kids Ent. for its CHAOTIC (USA) and in fifth was Cake Ent. Ltd.s SKUNK FU! (U.K.).
DECODE Ent. has further expanded its presence in Latin America with a raft of sales to broadcasters in the region.
Mexican network Canal Once has snapped up PLANET SKETCH, a DECODE co-production with Aardman Animations and quirky short-form series NAUGHTY NAUGHTY PETS. In Venezuela, local distributor Amazonia has picked up the rights to FRANNYS FEET, THE SAVE-UMS! and GIRLSTUFF BOYSTUFF.
Each month, ANIMATION WORLD MAGAZINE focuses its attention on a particular theme.
Alliance Atlantis Intl Content Distribution has appointed BBC Worldwide as the U.K. DVD licensee for the popular preschool stop-motion animated property, LUNAR JIM. BBC Worldwide will launch the propertys first-ever DVD in the U.K. this week.
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.
This week in AWN's Forums, moderator Larry L posts some observations from China. Theres a thread discussing Disneys short film, LITTLE MATCH GIRL. A junior member is looking for an internship in Colorado. Another poster presents 2D or not 2D that is the question. Others are talking about THE SIMPSONS MOVIE. A member has a question about licensing fees for U.S. animated series. Others have questions about schools and software. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!
Google Inc. announced that it has agreed to acquire YouTube, the consumer media company for people to watch and share original videos, for $1.65 billion in a stock-for-stock transaction. Following the acquisition, YouTube will operate independently to preserve its successful brand.
Framestore CFC's animators have created some new characters for the new Vauxhall spots, FOLLOW THAT CAR and GET UP & GO. Created by agency DLKW, directed by Dom and Nic and produced by John Madsen for Outsider, the two :40 spots begin airing in the U.K. this week.
Sierra Ent. is set to deliver SCARFACE: THE WORLD IS YOURS to North American store shelves on Oct. 8, 2006, for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Windows PC. In addition, SCARFACE fans will have an opportunity to score additional Tony Montana merchandise and bonus material through a pre-order campaign and a special "Collector's Edition" of the game. SCARFACE: THE WORLD IS YOURS is licensed by Universal Studios Consumer Products Group.
The Advertising Council announced in partnership with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Environmental Defense and The Walt Disney Studios Buena Vista Worldwide Home Ent. Division, the launch of a multi-media public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to encourage all Americans to protect the oceans from the devastation of marine debris.
Based on the bestselling book series from Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight, ELOISE will make its debut an animated TV series on Starz Kids & Family Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006, at 6:00 pm (ET/PT). ELOISE consists of a 13x22 series of episodes and several one-hour specials.
Sony Pictures Television Intl (SPTI) and Minimax, one of the leading childrens TV channels in Central Europe, announced SPTIs acquisition of A+, a dedicated channel for anime programming that airs on Minimax in Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The channel will be part of SPTIs international networks group, which includes more than 45 channels around the world.
Classic Media and Premavision Inc., owner of GUMBY, announced it has entered into a long-term joint venture under which Classic Media will manage all rights to the GUMBY characters.
Rogue Pictures, Universal-based Focus Features genre division, has inked a three-year first-look deal with Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Forms Platinum Dunes, VARIETY reports. Bay, Fuller and Form will produce horror films, with budgets south of $25 million, for Rogue, which will give the trio as much as 10% of first-dollar gross.
According to THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, Google is in negotiations to buy YouTube. Both companies have yet to comment on the reports. The article states that Google is floating $1.6 billion as a possible pricetag for the viral video site. YouTube founder/ceo Chad Hurley previously said he was not adverse to either an IPO or a sale of his quickly growing media phenomenon. However, media experts have also sighted YouTubes legal woes with companies over copyright violations as a stumbling block for any acquisition.
Due to the success of its first two episodes, HEROES has been picked up for a full season by NBC, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The new drama averaged 13.5 million viewers and a 5.7 rating/14 share for adults 18-49. This put it as the #1 new series among that demographic.
Airing on Mondays at 9:00 pm, the show chronicles the lives of ordinary people around the world, who begin to discover that they have superhuman abilities.
Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies have agreed to co-produce THE GAME OF SUNKEN PLACES, based on M.T. Andersons Scholastic Press book, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The project was pitched to the studios by screenwriter Matt Nix.
The story chronicles two boys as they learn that their housing development is really a gigantic game. The boys must play the game in order to validate human's worth to an alien race.
The Fremantle Corp. has acquired the new combined 2D and 3D animated production, FRIENDS AND HEROES. The distribution company will showcase the animated series at MIPCOM along with a substantial list of previously announced programming. This series will also be made available at MIPCOM Jr.
Hayao Miyazaki has started production on his latest untitled animated feature at his Studio Ghibli, reports VARIETY.
Scheduled for summer 2008, his last picture bowed in 2004 HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, which grossed $170 million in Japan alone and $225M internationally.
International and U.S. distributors have yet to be announced. Toho has handled all of Miyazaki's recent pictures.
Award-winning vfx operator Adam Watson, whose CV includes stints on Oscar-nominated feature films MOULIN ROUGE and THE MATRIX, is joining Rushes expanding VFX department.
Watson joins the team headed up by Paul Hannaford. Further, he joins at an opportune time for Rushes, following its recent multi-million pound investment on new kit, suites and talent.
X-MEN: THE LAST STAND (Fox Home Ent.) and THE LITTLE MERMAID DVDs (Buena Vista Home Ent.) kick-started the fourth quarter on Oct. 3 with combined sales exceeding $80 million for an opening day fourth quarter record, reported the industry trades.
Industry sources estimated first-day sales of X-MEN at 2.6 million units and LITTLE MERMAID at 1.6 million units (including sales to rental dealers).
X-MEN is the biggest October DVD debut ever, and LITTLE MERMAID is the biggest animated DVD debut for October.
TELETOON has a spooky lineup planned for October in celebration of Halloween as well as Canadas Thanksgiving Day.
On Friday the 13th at 4:00 pm (ET/PT), TELETOON will air Tim Burtons BEETLEJUICE, staring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis. To celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, TELETOON will hold a movie marathon on Oct. 9. The schedule includes:
* 9:00 am SCOOBY-DOO AND THE RELUCTANT WEREWOLF* 11:00 am QUEST FOR CAMELOT
G4 has tapped writer/director/actor Adam de la Pena, creator/co-star of Comedy Central's I'M WITH BUSEY, to create an animated pilot, which follows 1980s videogame programmers, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
The as-yet-untitled project specifically chronicles two videogame programmers as their lives descend into chaos after a wild Texas businessman, who knows nothing about games, buys their company.
De la Pena's L.A.-based firm, Monkey Wrangler Prods. will produce the show.
MIPCOM Junior's 14th edition presents its largest ever conference program and a total of eight events center on the flourishing children's TV market. Some of the key topics scheduled to be discussed include multi-platform content, licensing and merchandising and programming strategies.
