Geographical Region: All

Home video distributor New Video has been granted the exclusive U.S. retail distribution rights to Scholastic Entertainment's Scholastic Video Collection, a series comprised of award-winning animated stories from Weston Woods including Maurice Sendaks WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, Kevin Henkes CHRYSANTHEMUM and Crockett Johnsons HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON. The deal marks the first major foray into the childrens video arena for New Video, a leading home entertainment company that serves as the exclusive distributor of A&E Home Video, The History Channel and Docurama.

Augenblick Studios has signed a deal with Film Roman to produce a series based on the short film DRUNKY. DRUNKY recently screened at Annecy 2002 and the Brooklyn Film and Video Festival. It also took first prize in the 2D animation category at the First Annual DIRECTV - Level13.net Online Animation Festival, which is sponsored by Film Roman. You can see DRUNKY online at www.augenblickstudios.com. More details to come

TAKALINI SESAME, the South African version of the popular children's series SESAME STREET, will be introducing an HIV-positive role model into the Muppet cast. The ASSOCIATED PRESS has reported that, at the urging of the South African government, representatives of the Sesame Workshop have decided an HIV-positive Muppet character will join the series in September 2002. "We want to build hope and address the issues of stereotypes against HIV," said Yvonne Kgame of the South African Broadcasting Corp., which airs the program.

The National Film Board of Canada has compiled on one DVD, seven short animated films, each created with a different technique. SEVEN TO SEE/SEPT À VOIR!

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. has made some organizational changes and executive promotions in its North American operation. Kaz Hirai, the company's president and chief operating officer, said the new executive appointments are designed to accelerate a wide range of business objectives including the evolution of PlayStation2 as a broadband-based entertainment delivery medium. Andrew House and Jack Tretton have been promoted to executive vice presidents of Sony Computer Entertainment America.

Side Effects Software is making its animation software more accessible to users with the launch of the Houdini Apprentice Program. This program includes the Houdini Apprentice Edition, a non-commercial version of the latest Houdini family of products. Apprentice users can run the complete family of products which includes Houdini Master, a full-featured animation and effects package, Houdini Select, an entry-level 3D module, and Houdini Halo, a stand-alone compositor.

Pixologic, Inc. will be unveiling its ZBrush version 1.5 at the upcoming MacWorld Expo 2002 (July 17-19, 2002, Booth #1446) and SIGGRAPH (July 23-25, 2002, Booth #5048). ZBrush is a 2D and 3D image creation and processing application, powered by a real-time rendering engine. Based on proprietary "Pixol" rendering technology, ZBrush enables artists to paint with color, material, texture and depth as well as manipulate the canvas and sculpt and texture 3D models.

The Young Videomakers Program At The Hamptons International Film Festival.

East Hampton, New York, USA.

Wednesday, October 16 - Sunday, October 20, 2002.

Entry Deadline: Friday, July 12, 2002.

Cartoon Network's newest series, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ROBOT JONES?, premieres Friday, July 19, 2002 at 9:30 pm. In the retro-1980s future where robots have become commonplace, Robot Jones is a spunky young robot trying to cope with life, fit in with humans and survive adolescence and junior high. ROBOT JONES was created by Greg Miller, who has previous worked on DEXTERS LABORATORY and COW AND CHICKEN.

German animation company RTV Family Entertainment has written off 100 million Euros in a bid to keep the company alive, after the collapse of the Kirch Media Group and other precipitating factors led to a near collapse of RTV last month. RTV has returned all shares in Dutch documentary production company Off the Fence to Ellen Windemuth, former owner and previous managing director. In return, Windemuth releases RTV from its financial obligations. In addition, RTV has written off Sydney, Australia-based subsidiary Energee Entertainment in its entirety.