Tagged With: Dreamworks

DreamWorks Animations website www.dreamworksanimation.com has been redesigned. The revamped site includes new info on upcoming projects such as OVER THE HEDGE, SHREK THE THIRD and the MADAGASCAR sequel.

Features include: * an Animation 101 on how we make movies;* an exclusive interview with the producer and directors of OVER THE HEDGE* a look behind the scenes of MADAGASCAR* a photographic tour of DreamWorks' northern and southern California campuses

DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. announced results for the fourth quarter and full year ending Dec. 31, 2005.

Within the release, DreamWorks officially nixed past projects TORTOISE AND THE HARE and TUSKER. Both films were written off for book purposes in 2003. Because DreamWorks Animation plans to abandon the rights to these films in 2006, it receives the associated tax benefit at this time. This has resulted in an increase to net income of approximately $28.0 million, or $0.27 per share, in the fourth quarter.

The Academy Award-nominated WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT is premiering on DVD and VHS Feb. 7, 2006, from DreamWorks Home Ent. The film is featured on more than 50 top ten lists and honored with multiple critics awards and industry honors including 16 Annie Award nominations.

Japanese publisher Kadokawa Holdings Inc. announced it will sell its 2.91% stake in DreamWorks SKG to Paramount Pictures for about $21 million by the end of February, according to VARIETY.

This week, Paramount, a unit of Viacom Inc., finalized its purchased of the previously privately held DreamWorks in a $1.6 billion cash-and-debt deal.

DreamWorks Animation and Kellogg Co. have sealed a multi-year promotional agreement, reports VARIETY. Starting in 2006, Kellogg will have exclusive worldwide rights to DreamWorks film and home video properties for cereals, toaster pastries, cereal bars and fruit-flavored snacks, and exclusive U.S. rights for pancakes, waffles, cookies and crackers. Kellogg will market in more than 180 countries the DreamWorks-themed products on television, online and in stores. This marks the first deal between the companies. The agreement gives Kellogg exclusivity to DreamWorks, but not visa versa.

ABC and TNT have dished out approximately $25 million to share the network broadcasting rights to Steven Spielbergs WAR OF THE WORLDS, reports VARIETY. Previously, HBO secured the exclusive pay TV window from summer 2006 through the end of 2007. ABC will be able to air the film, beginning the second quarter of 2008 exclusively for three years. ABC plans to air WORLDS three times in primetime before it goes to TNT for multiple runs over the next two years. In 2013, HBO will gain a second pay window of 12 months after which the film will return to ABC and TNT.

NBC Universal is in talks to buy DreamWorks SKG, in what could be a deal worth $1 billion, according to the trades. Universal Studios already distributes DreamWorks' videos and DVDs via Universal Studios Home Video, and its films internationally through United Pictures International, the foreign distributor jointly owned by Universal and Paramount. Additionally, the two studios have co-financed films such as the 2000 Oscar-winner GLADIATOR and Steven Spielberg's upcoming MUNICH, which Universal will release in December.