World Events Prods., the company that introduced the world to the legendary VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE TV show and licensed toys, apparel and videogames, is relaunching products from the animated favorite starting with a new DVD release and a live-action film in the works.
Nancy Cartwright gives a "how to" and "how come" look at the voice-over industry.
Nickelodeon's Latina heroine Dora will embark on an unprecedented primetime event, as she teams up with nemesis Swiper on her first global journey to save Friendship Day. Dora will take viewers on jaunts to France, Tanzania, Russia and China in the hour-long special, DORA'S WORLD ADVENTURE, which premieres Nov. 19, 2006, 8-9:00 pm. on Nickelodeon.
Devil's Due Publishing has bought film, TV and merchandising rights to R.A. Salvatore's fantasy novel series, DEMONWARS, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
The eight-volume series, which was first published in the late '90s, is set in the magical world of Corona, where organized religion controls society.
The world
Hosted by the National Association of Broadcasters, NAB New York is made of six distinct conferences. Each conference tackles subjects such as post-production, podcasting, cell phones, sports, changing advertising models in an on-demand world and training. For more information, visit www.nabnewyork.com/.
Terry Gilliams TIDELAND (opening Oct. 13) is a dark and challenging film that looks at an adult world through the eyes of a child. Based on a novel by Mitch Cullin it follows a young girls innocent view of her difficult life as she is exposed to the traumatic and confusing world around her and explores how Jeliza Rose uses her imagination to escape this chaos. Shot on location in Regina, Canada in limited time, director Gilliams approach was to create an ALICE IN WONDERLAND world in reverse with adults peering through a childs view of their surroundings.
Kahani World Inc. a Toronto-based independent animation company, and Virgin Comics Llc. have teamed up to co-produce SECRETS OF THE SEVEN SOUNDS, a full length animated feature, inspired by the ancient Indian myth Ramayana.
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 10th season of SOUTH PARK is off to a game start with trouble in the online gaming world when a renegade player threaten to destroy Blizzard Ent.'s award-winning game, WORLD OF WARCRAFT. The future of the game lies in the hands of Cartman, Kyle, Stan and Kenny, when all new episodes premiere Oct. 4 2006, at 10:00 pm on Comedy Central. This is followed the next night by DRAWN TOGETHER as it returns for a third season with more twists and turns from the animated group of dysfunctional misfits with seven new episodes, beginning on Oct. 5 at 10:30 pm.
Cardiff-based Calon, will be launching its new new animated series for preschoolers, IG! at Cartoon Forum this week in France.
The 26x10 stop-motion animated comedy stars cave girl Ig. This junior terror has a curiosity and adventurous spirit that should appeal to every energetic pre-schooler. Her sidekicks are Doggy (Igs dinosaur pet), Monkey Boy, Triple Tog (her saber-tooth tiger duvet) and Birdie (the friendly pterodactyl), while Big Daddy, the titanic T.Rex, is the authoritative character whose roar is the final say.
Jonathan Mostow (TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES) has boarded Universal Pictures long-in-development comicbook adaptation of Marvels SUB-MARINER, reports VARIETY. Mostow will rewrite the script and direct.
Created by Bill Everett in April 1939, the comic told the tale of a young man who learns that he's a descendant of Atlantis, eventually becoming a key player in a war between the underwater world and the land dwelling world, which is all he has known.
The latest Acrobat edition of Animation World Magazine is now available. Its free for a limited time only! This months issue tackles the topic of comics, comic strips and illustrations. Jim Korkis uncovers the secret life of animators, who in lean times or more prosperous times have all worked in the world of comicbooks. Korkis also speaks with Floyd Gottfredson, who brought Mickey Mouse to the world via daily comic strips. Joe Strike looks into the art and artists behind classic and contemporary movie posters.
Pierre Berton's THE SECRET WORLD OF OG premieres as an animated series on CBC Television in Canada, Saturday, Sept. 9 at 9:30 am. The series of nine episodes will continue to air weekly on Saturday mornings.
iEntertainment Network, the award-winning developer of the World Famous WARBIRDS TOTALSIMS series, will develop the first Massively Multiplayer Online Game to tie in with the theatrical release of FLYBOYS, the true life World War I aerial adventure (with vfx by Double Negative and Framestore CFC), to be released on Sept. 22 through MGM.
The World Science Fiction Convention is the pre-eminent gathering of professionals and fans of all forms of science fiction in the World. This 64th installment will include hundreds of speakers, panel discussions, workshops, and seminars covering SF and Fantasy in films, TV, and literature, as well as science and space, costuming, etc. There will also be a special 40th anniversary celebration of Star Trek with actors, writers, and behind-the-scenes technicians from all of the incarnations of the series. Exhibits include a 300 table dealers area, a 20,000 sq. ft.
The newest Acrobat edition of Animation World Magazine is now available online!
Animation production company Noodlesoup Prods. has renamed itself World Leaders Ent. with the launch of the new animated series SUPERNORMAL, its first global co-production with U.K. TV leader Granada Television.
SUPERNORMAL is the story of Eric Normal, a special boy with no super powers, who attends Superhero Junior High School and befriends three of the less promising but stand-out members of the student body.
Known in prior years as the CPL Summer Championship, The World Series of Video Games (WSVG) will be renamed the Intel Summer Championship, which reflects the partnership between WSVG and Intel, the presenting sponsor of the series. The four-day festival will be held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine (near Dallas) and will include tournaments, events and entertainment.
Nick Jr. has greenlit a second season of the hit animated series, THE WONDER PETS! The groundbreaking series, which premiered March 3, 2006, has consistently ranked among the top three preschool programs on all of commercial television.
Created and exec produced by Josh Selig of Little Airplane Prods. Inc., THE WONDER PETS! stars three courageous classroom pets who sing opera and travel the world as they take preschoolers on musical world adventures. THE WONDER PETS! airs regularly on Nick Jr. weekdays at 11:00 am.
Spanish distributor New World Films Intl has obtained all Spanish rights to Luc Besson's live-action/animated family film ARTHUR AND THE MINIMOYS, reports VARIETY.
Adapted and directed by Besson, the film follows the story of 10-year-old Arthur, who ventures into the secret world of the Minimoys. Live-action stars are Freddie Highmore and Mia Farrow, with Madonna, Snoop Dogg and David Bowie providing voices.
ARTHUR was acquired by Madrid-based company New World from Besson's EuropaCorp at May's Cannes market.
The latest Animation World Magazine Acrobat edition is now online and free for a limited time. This edition covers the ever-expanding world of gaming. Joe Strike uncovers the voice over actors finding lucrative work in the videogame industry. Janet Hetherington takes a look at how videogame art is jumping off the screen and into the gallery. Christopher Harz looks into the field of educational videogames, moving games from the home into the classroom and office.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006, marked the close of another exceptional Banff World Television Festival, with more than 1,450 delegates in attendance, and a combined 1,700 delegates taking in both the television festival and its sister-event, nextMEDIAThe Future of Digital Content. With jam-packed panel and session rooms and a whirl of special events, the festival generated the signing and greenlighting of new deals, as well as the opportunity for delegates to turn their project ideas into reality.
Sony Pictures Consumer Products (SPCP) has named Fisher-Price Inc., the number one infant and preschool toy company in the world, as master toy licensee for the new PBS KIDS preschool series ITS A BIG BIG WORLD. The series engages children with a diverse group of animal characters, world music rhythms and a multi-level, age-appropriate science and geography curriculum. The licensing agreement between SPCP and Fisher-Price will bring the lessons taught in ITS A BIG BIG WORLD to life with a full line of toys and plush.
On June 12, 2006, the Banff World Televison Festival announced the winners of the 27th annual Banff World Television Awards. Winning in the Animation Program category was JANE AND THE DRAGON Shall We Dance, produced by WETA Prods. Ltd. New Zealand and Nelvana Ltd.
The Banff World Television Awards are part of the annual Banff World Television Festival (June 1114) at the Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, Alberta. For more information on BANFF 2006, visit www.banff2006.com.
