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SANTA, BABY!, a new animated holiday special, will premiere Monday, December 17 at 8:00 pm on FOX. The one hour special is produced by Rankin/Bass and sponsored by Coca-Cola. Featuring the voices of Gregory Hines, Eartha Kitt, Patti LaBelle and Vanessa Williams, SANTA BABY! tells the story of Noel, a once successful songwriter who becomes a sidewalk Santa in the hope of breaking his writer's block. With the help of his wife, daughter, a Christmas partridge named Melody Songbird and a cat named Emerald, Noel discovers his hit song and the true meaning of Christmas.

Each week, Animation World Magazine offers new articles, special features and theme-based coverage of the art, craft and industry of animation. New this week:

- Sketching on Location: Three Dimensional FiguresRenowned drawing instructor Glenn Vilppu continues with his tenth "sketching on location" teaching installment. This month we delve into creating three-dimensional forms with the use of light.

The day after it was announced that the 74th Academy Awards would present an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, the New York Film Critics Circle has chosen WAKING LIFE as best animated film of the year. The 37-member New York Film Critics Circle is made up of New York-based newspaper, magazine and online film critics. While the awards are responsible for generating early Oscar-buzz for the winning films, the Circle is also known for their idiosyncratic picks. Now that the Animated Feature category is a lock, the critics will be weighing in right and left with their choices.

Kaydara Inc. announced the release of FiLMBOX 3.2, the latest version of the company's real-time 3D character animation solution. With an enhanced user interface and workflow, FiLMBOX 3.2 introduces new features for both keyframe and motion-capture-based character animation for game, film, TV and Web productions.

Gordon Whittaker has been promoted to vice president, chief operating officer of Halifax, Nova Scotia-based Helix Animation Inc. Formerly general manager for the studio, Whittaker has a background in marketing, operations and industry relations and he will be spearheading the marketing and promotional efforts for the company. Since opening in July 1999 Helix has completed layouts and key animation on sixteen episodes of FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, for imX Communications and Funbag Animation Studios.

That's right Ladies and Gentlemen, we have yet another DVD sales champ. Booting the family-friendly Grinch out of the number one spot after only two weeks, PEARL HARBOR, the patriotic war drama chock full of special effects, managed to sell 3.7 million DVDs in one week, claiming a new sales record. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks, the wartime epic was made available on VHS and DVD in two editions (a 60th Anniversary collector's edition and a gift set) and went on sale December 4,, 2001.

Lego Company Signs Co-Publishing Deal With Electronic Arts. Entertainment software company Electronic Arts (EA) has inked a deal with the privately owned LEGO Company where EA will co-publish and provide marketing support for more than 30 LEGO software titles on a minimum of four platforms over a three-year period. LEGO Company and EA will create software targeted to young gamers, while building current franchises and establishing new ones. Current franchises include: LEGO RACERS, BIONICLE and GALIDOR: DEFENDERS OF THE OUTER DIMENSION. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Walt Disney Pictures' Academy Award-winning animated classic, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, will celebrate its 10th anniversary with the January 1, 2002 release of a new Large Format Cinema Special Edition. Following the success of FANTASIA 2000, which was the first Disney film to be released in large format and grossed over $51 million, this special edition includes the newly animated six-minute musical sequence "Human Again," featuring the song written for the original film by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken.

Zach Schlappi took home the grand prize "best in show" award at the first annual DirecTV Level13.net animated film festival. The awards were presented on December 11, 2001. Zach won for his 3D animated film PASTA FOR WAR, which satirizes propaganda newsreels of the 1930s. He will receive a DirecTV system as well as $2,500. Winners were chosen in three categories: 2D, 3D and experimental animation. The panel of judges included DEXTER'S LABORATORY creator Genndy Tartakovsky, Emmy Award-winning animator Eric Radomski and co-editors of Mad Magazine, John Ficarra and Nick Meglin.

Graduate Portfolio Show: Thursday, December 13, 2001, Portland, Oregon USA. The Art Institute of Portland presents our Graduate Portfolio Show. Thursday, December 13, 2001, 4:00-8:00pm. The Portfolio Show will feature work done by our Fall 2001 graduates from Media Arts & Animation, Multimedia & Web Design, Graphic Design and Interior Design. Please come to: Be a mentor to new graduates * Network with other leaders from Portland's top creative businesses * Learn more about The Art Institute of Portland. Refreshments will be provided. This event is brought to you free of charge!!

An Evening Of Remembrance: Saturday, January 26, 2002, Hollywood, California USA. Entry Deadline: Friday, January 04, 2002. M. P. S. C. Local 839 IATSE, ASIFA Hollywood and Women In Animation present AN EVENING OF REMEMBRANCE a non-denominational celebration of departed friends from our animation community. Food and refreshments at 6 pm, Eulogies begin at 7 pm. The evening is free of charge and is open to all; no RSVPs necessary.