WB Dumps Baby Blues 2nd Season
The WB Network has decided not to air the second season of its animated primetime series BABY BLUES. The series was a summer replacement last year and was scheduled for a 13-episode second run. In addition, six-episodes of the series were left over from the first season, leaving 19 un-aired episodes that cost US$15 million to produce. Executives decided to dump the toon due to its already packed fall schedule, which includes 5 new live-action comedies and no animation. The network will write off the series through an accounting rule in relation to its parent Time Warner's merger with AOL.
Kids Next Door Wins The Big Pick On Cartoon Network
Via viewer votes, KIDS NEXT DOOR, created by Tom Warburton, won Cartoon Network's The Big Pick, making it the network's next series for the fall 2002 season. The show pits five eager 10-year-olds on missions throughout their neighborhood. Warburton currently serves as a director on Cartoon Network's SHEEP IN THE BIG CITY. Ten pilots aired in the Big Pick competition. A total of 221,218 votes were cast during The Big Pick, including more than 50,000 online votes at CartoonNetwork.com. The second place toon was A KITTY BOBO SHOW, while third place went to MY FREAKY FAMILY.
King Of The Hill Scores Best Ratings On Wednesday
The KING OF THE HILL special, which aired on Wednesday at 8 pm, scored higher ratings than in its regular timeslot on Sundays at 7:30 pm. THE SIMPSONS remained the top primetime toon, finishing in 37th place with a 5.2 rating/9 share. FAMILY GUY moved ahead of KING OF THE HILL to place 64th, garnering a 4 rating/7 share. The Wednesday installment of KING carved a 3.6 rating/7 share in the 73rd slot. However, KING on Sunday scored a 3.4 rating/6 share at #75. In 82nd place, FUTURAMA fashioned a 3 rating/6 share. The U.S.
Nintendo Delays GameCube Launch
Nintendo has announced that it plans to delay the launch of its next-generation console GameCube, which gives Microsoft's Xbox a two-week leg-up on the highly coveted holiday buying season. GameCube will be released on November 18, where as Xbox is scheduled to launch on November 8, 2000. Nintendo says the move is to meet consumer demand and avoid glitches like Sony had with PlayStation 2 last year. "The change really was to make sure we avoided somebody else's misstep," said Peter Main, vice president of sales and marketing for Nintendo of America.
Jay & Silent Bob Debuts In Third
With AMERICAN PIE 2 staying a third week in the top spot, RUSH HOUR 2 held tight in second with JAY & SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK debuting in third. RUSH HOUR 2, with primary visual effects by Cinesite, took home another US$11.4 million, raising its cume to $183.3 million. JAY & SILENT BOB, with primary visual effects by Digital Research Lab, MetroLight Studios and Tigar Hare Studios, racked in $11.1 million, making it the highest opening for a film from director Kevin Smith.
EM.TV Finance Head Steps Down After Less Than A Year In Post
EM.TV & Merchandising's head of finance, Rolf Rickmeyer, is stepping down after less than a year with the German firm. Rumors say that Rickmeyer had various disagreements with Kirch Group, who helped bail out EM.TV from money woes a few months back. Marius Schwarz, head of finance for German exhibitor CinemaxX, will replace Rickmeyer. Prior to CinemaxX, Schwarz oversaw finance at Sat1, the Kirch-owned commercial TV channel. Former Kirch exec Werner Klatten is set to replace EM.TV founder and CEO Thomas Haffa in September.
REZN8 Forms Advisory Board
REZN8, a digital design and communications firm, has announced that it has created an advisory board to help guide its business and to facilitate new market initiatives. The advisory board consists of five members from various disciplines who will provide input on strategic advice and direction to Paul Sidlo, founder and CEO of REZN8. Robert Block is co-founder, chairman and CEO of International Communication Technologies Inc. (ICT). His role will include advising on strategic corporate planning, technology developments and communication structuring and negotiations.
This Week's Animation Trivia Quiz
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz...
Loop Filmworks Creates Experimental Shorts For Noggin
Animation and production house Loop Filmworks has created a series of short films for Noggin, directed by David Chartier. "Noggin came to us with the idea of creating a series of short films told from the perspective of a precocious kid who uses his parents video camera to capture things he's curious about - such as which type of ice cream melts the fastest, and, how many ants could you fit at one time on a lollipop.
This Week At Animation World Magazine
Each week, Animation World Magazine offers new articles, special features and theme-based coverage of the art, craft and industry of animation...
Mr. X Creates Effects For Default's Wasting My Time Video
Mr. X, Inc. has completed the photo-realistic visual effects, compositing and online conform for Default's first music video, "Wasting My Time." The video was directed by Noble Jones. Wasting My Time is the third collaboration for Mr. X and Director Jones, who recently completed music videos for Doyle Bramhall II and Smokestack's "Green Light Girl" and Sugar Jones' "How Much Longer." The music video starts with a young woman looking at her watch.
This Week In Gene Deitch's 'How To Succeed In Animation'
What do you do when you have to make a living diminishing true works of art...?
Scooby Week In UK Scores High Ratings
Cartoon Network U.K.'s Scooby Week was a huge hit scoring a 1.8 overall kids rating, giving it the highest share of kids viewing at 10.3% over the week. The Mystery Machine gang scared 3.1 million people from August 6 to August 10. The special put Cartoon Network's share of kids viewing way ahead of all kids' channels including Nickelodeon, Fox Kids, Disney and Trouble as well as Sky One.
Job Opportunities For Animators, Designers, Digital Artists And More.
Barcelona, Spain's FILMAX, a production and distribution company, is looking for a BACKGROUND ARTIST. . . Saint James, New York's Inky Dinky Animation Studios is looking for an ANIMATOR/DIGITAL ARTIST. . . Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India's MUV Technologies Ltd. is looking for experienced RENDERMAN users. . . Glendale, California's NeoPets.com, a fast-growing global youth network, is looking for a FLASH ANIMATOR-GAMER/ARTIST. . . Makati City, Philippines Animation Studio, Inc., an independent animation studio, is looking for a PRODUCTION MANAGER. . .
Curious Pictures Brings Steve Madden Spot To Life
Curious Pictures' director David Kelley, in collaboration with photographer Butch Belair, has wrapped on a new mixed media spot for shoe designer Steve Madden. Based on a long running print and poster campaign, the spot was commissioned by New York ad agency Hampel Stefanides. The spot combines original photos, digital composting, pixilated photography animation and 2D animation. The commercial opens on a hip girl, wearing Steve Madden brown leather platform cowboy boots, at JFK airport.
Quickdraw Animation Society’s Master Animator Workshops.
Calgarys QAS is announcing two 3-day workshops with master animators Richard Reeves and Bill Plympton...
Softimage Announces SOFTIMAGE|3D 4.0 & SOFTIMAGE|XSI 2.0
Softimage Co. has announced the release of SOFTIMAGE|3D v4.0 and SOFTIMAGE|XSI 2.0. "SOFTIMAGE|3D, an industry-standard for more than 10 years, has been used extensively by more than 13,000 customers in the animation, special effects and games development industry. The product's great success is a direct result of our long history of listening and responding to our customers' needs," said Michael Stojda, managing director, Softimage.
Deadline For Submissions To The Insea Animation Competition Only One Week Away!
The 3rd annual Week With The Masters Animation Festival will take place in Trivandrum, Kerala, India, October 29 - November 03, 2001. Each year the Week With The Masters is hosted by a select group of talented animators and filmmakers dubbed "Animation Masters." Past Masters have included: Will Vinton, Jeff Hale, Bill Matthews, Bill Plympton, Joanna Priestly, David Fine, Derek Lamb, Maurice Noble and Rob Coleman.
Curious Labs & Adobe Sign Content Pact
Curious Labs, developers of 3D character and design tools Poser and Poser Pro Pack, has signed an agreement with Adobe Systems where the two companies have agreed to work together on technology, content and marketing activities for Adobe Atmosphere software and Curious Labs' avatar-creation tools. Atmosphere world builders will have an easy system for building custom avatars. Additionally, both Adobe and Curious Labs incorporate Viewpoint technology, resulting in smooth skinned, bending 3D characters from Poser Pro Pack that can be used as avatars in Atmosphere 3D worlds.
AWN Welcomes Plateau Magazine!
PLATEAU is a quarterly magazine edited by BAC, the Institute for the Animated Image, in Brussels, Belgium. Plateau covers film festivals, the history of animation, computer animation as well as in-depth articles devoted to both the masters and the new talents of animation, with articles published in English, French and Dutch. Plateaus latest issue (vol.
Affiliate Animators Lee Lanier And Jeff Dates’ Day Off The Dead.
Animators Jeffrey Dates and Lee Lanier have teamed on the animated short film entitled "Day Off The Dead" and have launched the official Website...
Animation Workout With Guest Director Julie Prendiville-Roux
* Animation Workout With Guest Director Julie Prendiville-Roux: Tuesday, October 02, 2001, Burbank, California USA.
The Don And Bill Show: Slightly Bent.
The Don And Bill Show: Slightly Bent is a unique showcase that will give moviegoers the rare opportunity to see the animated films of Don Hertzfeldt and Bill Plympton on the big screen...
Women In Animation's Writers' Seminar Series
* Women In Animation's Writers' Seminar Series: Thursday, October 11, 2001, Los Angeles, California USA.
