Growing Pains
Why can't animation grow up? Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman has an interesting take on the problem and highlights some of the medium's hits and misses at reaching the big kids.
Why can't animation grow up? Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman has an interesting take on the problem and highlights some of the medium's hits and misses at reaching the big kids.
New this week at the Toon Institute are four short pieces of
animation from Larry Lauria's film "2KJ"...
Nelvana Limited announced it has acquired the development, production, distribution and associated merchandise licensing rights for animated television programming, based on the 13-book series, DOCTOR DOLITTLE, written and illustrated by Hugh Lofting. Nelvana has also acquired the production publishing tie-in rights to animated television programming, which the company will develop and produce from its adaptation of the book titles. Nelvana will also develop and produce original stories based on the classic character, who made his book debut in 1920.
WireBreak.com, an Internet entertainment destination, announced the debut of its first slate of interactive animated series. "We are thrilled to launch into the animated world with three digital shows that are consistent with our vision of Internet programming that is interactive as well as bold and outrageous," said David Wertheimer, chairman and chief executive officer of WireBreak.com. FRASIER co-executive producer Jon Sherman will produce the first show, THE SHAPE OF THINGS. The series follows Graham, Wex and Ira, who are drawn as simple squares.
Noggin, the new network from Nickelodeon and the Children's Television Workshop, has announced it has greenlit three new animated series. The new projects will converge the educational opportunities of the Internet and TV and target the higher end of the channel's demographic of kids 6 to 12. Two of the projects will be produced by SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK creator, Geomar Philms. The first, THE MARTAINS ARE COMING! THE MARTAINS ARE COMING!, will follow a time-traveling rock band who will draw connections between seemingly unrelated events in history like science and literature.
The United States has a long history of political comics, so how come animation isnt used in Presidential advertising campaigns? Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman queries the wisdom
On Friday, May 19, 2000, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences bestowed the honor of outstanding childrens animated program on STEVEN SPIELBERG PRESENTS: PINKY, ELMYRA AND THE BRAIN. The toons left in their wake were ARTHUR, DISNEYS DOUG, MAURICE SENDAKS LITTLE BEAR and THE NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES. SESAME STREET beat out BLUES CLUES in the category of outstanding pre-school series. Other animated winners were given out on Saturday, May 13 at the technical achievement ceremony. ROLIE POLIE OLIE won the award for outstanding special class animated program.
A weekend of animation is coming to Bristol and the home town toon house Aardman Animations' will open the first Bristol Animated Encounters with a sneak peak of the animated feature film, CHICKEN RUN. Animated Encounters is supported by DreamWorks SKG, Torribles, Aardman Animations, WESTEC, BBC Bristol, Bristol City Council, Bristol Tourism and Conference Bureau, A for Animation and Farrington Lewis.
Animation fans will want to get a hold of the Best Of Zagreb Film: The Classic Collection on VHS. In four decades, Zagreb Film produced 600 animated films, winning more than 400 international awards. The studio is famous for its unique animation style that became known as "the Zagreb school." One of its claims-to-fame was that its filmmakers wrote, designed and directed their own films, resulting in some of the boldest political and entertaining cartoons of all time. All of these films were produced within the Iron Curtain of communism.
Manga Entertainment to release Satoshi Kon's animated psychological thriller PERFECT BLUE on DVD. In the film, pop singer Mima Kirigoe looks forward to a bright new career when she quits her chart-topping trio to become an actress. However, a mysterious stalker, who knows all her personal secrets, accompanies her journey to fame. The film was nominated by The Motion Picture Sound Editors for a Golden Reel Award along with six other 1999 animated feature films including TARZAN, TOY STORY II, POKÉMON and PRINCESS MONONOKE.
F. Rank Shaughnessy gives us a sneak peek at his book which outlines the evolution of Elmo Aardvark, including the characters long-standing presence in Internet culture.
* Friday, April 21 - Sunday, April 23, 2000. Toulon, France.
The 9th edition of the Cartoonist International Animated Film Festival & Market is expecting 30,000 participants, including production and distribution companies, as well as comic book and game companies. For more information contact Cartoonist M. Gilbert at: Residence du Port, Impasse St Dominique, 83000 Toulon, France; Tel.: ++ 33 (0) 4 94 03 12 67; or Fax: ++ 33 (0) 4 98 02 57 06.
On Thursday, March 16, 2000, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced its nominations for the Daytime Emmy Awards. The 27th annual event highlights the best in daytime television where animation makes much of its home. Besides the specific categories for animation, animated TV series have a strong presence in various other areas of recognition. BLUE'S CLUES racked up nominations for Outstanding Directing In A Children's Series, Outstanding Pre-School Children's Series and Outstanding Writing In A Children's Series.
Two years ago, following the theatrical release of "Anastasia," Fox was
expanding its commitment to animation. Fox Family Films, one of Twentieth
Century Fox's four film divisions, was being renamed Fox Animation Studios,
to reflect the division's new plan to focus solely on animated feature
films, including stop-motion, mixed media (live-action mix) and digital
production. Several animated projects were on the development slate then,
including "Dark Town" with Henry Selick, "Santa Calls" with Blue Sky|VIFX,
Imax has inked a deal with Fox, DreamWorks and Sony Pictures to deliver to
audiences 3D versions of THE SIMPSONS, Princess Bala from ANTZ and several
original animated characters. The Imax feature will be entitled CYBERWORLD
and will hit U.S. theatres in October. Produced by Hugh Murray and Steve
Hoban, the 45-minute pic will feature 3D clips from ANTZ and THE SIMPSONS
interwoven with Phig, the tour guide of this futuristic animation museum.
AMPAS announced on Wednesday, January 26, 2000, its short list of ten films
to be considered for the coveted Oscar nomination for best animated short
film. Three to five of these films will be selected as nominees and
announced at 5:30 am PST on February 15, 2000. The 10 animated short films
making the list this year are: Aardman Animations' Peter Peaks' HUMDRUM;
Character Builders' Oscar Moore has two short listed films with THE
INDESCRIBABLE NTH and THE PHOX, THE BOX AND THE LOX, which screened earlier
CLASS-KEY CHEW-PO, the commercial division of Klasky Csupo, produced two
animated spots for Hasbro's "Together TV" and Tiger Electronics' "Find
Furby" game. Both spots were directed by Steven Dovas and were produced for
New York-based ad agency Posnick & Koklaer. The "Together TV" spot features
live-action heads placed atop animated bodies. The spot highlights parents
spending time with their children. The "Find Furby" spot brings animated
versions of the Furby dolls to life as they bounce around the sky from
AWN is pleased to welcome Canadian non-profit corporation, the
Toronto Animated Image Society, to the AWN family...
The history of animation in the 20th Century has been falsified and distorted for many years. AWN wanted to begin the new century with an accurate list of our industry's achievements. Karl Cohen decided to take on the challenge.
This weekend, Film Roman, Inc., producers of THE SIMPSONS and KING OF THEHILL, launched Level 13.net, an innovative multi-channel animation networkto be delivered via the Internet. Level 13 is the industry's firstregularly scheduled, animated television-like network made directly for theWeb. William Shpall, Chief Operating Officer of Film Roman, and architectof the company's Internet strategy, said, "While many of today'sentertainment and Internet leaders are still testing enhanced television
Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis' short film, "When The Day Breaks" won theGrand Prize (Goldene Taube) at the 42nd International Leipzig Festival forDocumentary & Animated Films (Germany). This recent award is just anotheraccolade in "When The Day Breaks'" dazzling international career, whichstarted with the Palme d'Or for best short film at the 52nd CannesInternational Film Festival in Cannes, France, last June. "When The DayBreaks" also won the coveted Grand Prix for best animated short film at
The 10th International Trickfilm Festival takes place in Stuttgart, Germanyfrom March 16 - 21, 2000. The entry deadline is December 1, 1999. TheInternational Competition will present the best animated productions fromthe past two years. More than 500 films will be screened at the festival.The Best of Animation includes a selection of the most interesting films inthe history of artistic, animated film. Young Animation is a competitionfeaturing animated films from schools and colleges. The festival will also
Iain Harvey traveled to Cannes to experience the yearly hubbub of MIPCOM and MIPCOM Jr., a major stop on the global television sales circuit.