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Leigh Godfrey's Recent Posts

Headline News

Share the Love With Johnny Bravo on Valentine's Day

This Valentine's Day, Cartoon Network premieres a new 30-minute special starring its pompadoured ladies' man, Johnny Bravo. IT'S VALENTINE'S DAY, JOHNNY BRAVO features a bevy of guest stars, including Maureen McCormick (THE BRADY BUNCH), Molly Shannon (SNL), Joey McIntyre (*N'SYNC) and singer/game show host Donny Osmond, along with series regulars Johnny, Mama and Little Suzy. It's Valentine's Day, and Johnny's Mama has set him up on a blind date with a beautiful and smart woman named Heather.

Film Headline News

Bibi Is Big In Berlin

Bibi Blocksberg is one of Germany's most popular and enduring characters. The story of the mischievous little witch has been adapted to a radio play and an animated series, which currently airs in Germany on ZDF. The 14-part series and an animated Christmas special has also been sold to other countries, and pre-production has begun on new episodes at Berlin-based KIDDINX Studios. Bibi has also gained fame in a live-action feature film, which premiered in Germany on September 26, 2002 and has since been seen by over 2 million people, making it Germany's most successful film of 2002.

Headline News

Bazley Rips Into Angry Pig

Richard Bazley, a lead animator on the animated features HERCULES, POCOHONTAS, OSMOSIS JONES and IRON GIANT, among others, has come on board as director of BA20's 78 x 7-minute Flash animation series RIP, THE ANGRIEST PIG IN THE WORLD. Created by cyberpunk author Steve Aylett, and produced by BA20 Entertainment, the series is described as "Tex Avery doing Beavis & Butthead." Bazley's company Bazley Films will produce the show in the U.K.

Company Headline News

RTV Drops To One Board Member

Dr. Peter Duval has resigned from his position as speaker of the managing board of German entertainment company RTV as of January 31, 2003. During the recent restructuring process, the business volume of RTV has been reduced considerably and Duval stated that he no longer wanted to be at the disposal of the restructured company. This restructuring reduced the amount of ongoing production obligations the company had.

Headline News

Party With The Prez On Nickelodeon

On Monday, February 17, 2003 Nickelodeon's U.S. President's Day programming will feature mini-marathons of both SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS (2-5 p.m. ET/PT) and THE ADVENTURES OF JIMMY NEUTRON, BOY GENIUS (5-9 p.m. ET/PT). In between episodes, viewers will catch a glimpse of George Bush, Jr., and some former U.S. Presidents busting a move during Nick's animated "Presidents Day Dance Party" hosted by Jimmy Neutron and his dancing dog "Go-Go" Goddard.

Headline News

Writers Guild Announces Nominees

The Writers Guild has announced the nominees for the 55th Annual Writers Guild Awards. For the first time this year, all animated programs (long form original, long form adaptation, specials and episodic) are competing in the new television animation category. Animation programming scripted by WGA members was previously submitted under the appropriate category (i.e. 30-minute comedy, hour-long drama).

Entertainment Headline News

Entertainment Rights Appoints New Sales Executive For The Asian Market

Children's entertainment group Entertainment Rights has expanded its sales team and appointed Matthew Ashcroft as sales executive responsible for developing business in the key markets of Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, India, Australia and New Zealand. Ashcroft's most recent position was sales executive for Fireworks International, the international distribution arm of Canadian based Fireworks Entertainment, where he was responsible for pay and free TV sales to Asia and Latin America.

Headline News

Tribune To Administer DIC's Domestic Programming

Tribune Entertainment and DIC have entered into an advertising sales and administrative alliance, where Tribune will exclusively handle all domestic barter sales activities, as well as oversee back room operational services, for DIC's domestic syndication division. Among the DIC properties for which Tribune will handle barter sales are DIC's programming blocks of FCC qualified educational and informational programming.

Company Headline News

Target Rebrands And Expands

Target Distribution has changed its name to Target Entertainment to better reflect the company's growth from a distribution to a rights management outfit. Target has also completed a move into parent company CSS Stellar's offices in Covent Garden, London, as well as opening a U.S. base in CSS Stellar's New York offices. Overseeing the new venture is Ellen Lovejoy, who joins Target as president, Americas and Australia/New Zealand.

Million Headline News

Disney Reports Lowered Profits, Higher Theme Park Attendance

Profits are down but theme park attendance is up, as The Walt Disney Company reported earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 2002. Net income in the quarter was $256 million, or 13 cents per share, compared with net income of $438 million, or 21 cents, in the same quarter last year. These figures included an after-tax charge of $83 million, or 4 cents per share, for investments in aircraft leveraged leases with United Airlines.

Disney Headline News

Disney Asks For Dismissal In Pooh Royalties Case

The fur continues to fly in the Winnie the Pooh royalties case, as The Walt Disney Company has now asked a Superior Court judge to dismiss the nearly twelve year-old lawsuit. According to an AP report, Disney accused Stephen Slesinger Inc., the company that owns the Winnie the Pooh merchandising rights, of "pervasive misconduct and illegal activities," including stealing documents by rifling through Disney's garbage. Disney also said the company destroyed potential evidence in the case.

Cartoon Headline News

Cartoon Network Offers An Animated Slam-Dunk

Cartoon Network is offering a creative pre-NBA all-star game programming option this weekend. On February 9, 2003, from 12:00-6:00 pm, 12 NBA players will tell viewers about their favorite cartoon characters and introduce some of the best cartoons featuring those characters in a special mini-marathon leading up to tip-off of the NBA all-star game on sister network TNT.

Series Headline News

Fox Kids UK Welcomes The World Of Tosh

EM.TV has completed another big sale for its children's animation series THE WORLD OF TOSH. Fox Kids UK has acquired 26 x 22-minute episodes of the series, scheduled to air in the UK in October 2003. THE WORLD OF TOSH follows Tosh, a nine-year-old Swedish boy whose one goal in life is to get his first kiss.

Junior Headline News

EM.TV Given Extension For Loan Repayment

German entertainment company EM.TV & Merchandising AG is close to paying off half of its so-called "Junior loan," allowing its previously announced sale intention of half of the Muppets stake to continue. The consortium banks of EM.TV have decided to extend the term for repayment of the remainder of the "Junior loan" by three months, until the end of April 2003. The "Junior loan" financed EM.TVs 50% acquisition of its interest in the Junior TV joint venture with the failed Kirch Media Group.

Animation Headline News

An Appeal From Portugal's Casa De Animação

Abi Feijó, former ASIFA International president and founder of animation studio Filmógrafo, is appealing for the animation community's help. Casa de Animação, a 1500 square meter facility located in the Portuguese city of Porto, that encompasses a theatre, a space for exhibitions, a library/video library, an archive, a production studio, a training studio, a cafeteria and a small gift shop, is currently facing some adversities due to a breach of agreements by Portuguese officials.

Animation Headline News

VirtualMagic Animation Up For Sale

VirtualMagic Animation, the North Hollywood-based digital ink, paint and compositing company and former production division of USAnimation, is on the block. According to president Don Spielvogel, the company is being put up for sale by its investors as a result of the changing dynamics of the cartoon animation business in the U.S., as well as the wishes of its non-animation industry investors to move on.

Series Headline News

John F. Hardman Is Promoted To Kids’ WB! Senior VP

John F. Hardman has been promoted to senior vice president, Kids' WB!, replacing Donna Friedman Meir, who has decamped the network to head up kids' programming and production for National Geographic Television & Film. Hardman has been with Kids' WB! for four years, and most recently served as vice president, programming and development. In his new capacity, Hardman will oversee all aspects of the development, scheduling and programming of animated and live-action series for the broadcast network.

Series Headline News

Bardel's Flash Experience Featured In New Book

Vancouver-based Bardel Entertainment has begun using Flash extensively to create in-house series such as THE MR. DINK SHOW (The Comedy Network) and STORIES FROM THE SEVENTH FIRE (CBC), as well as the recent holiday special THE CHRISTMAS ORANGE (ABC Family and Teletoon). Because of Bardels experience, the making of these Flash for broadcast properties has been featured in Macromedia's recent paperback publication FLASH MX -- DESIGN FOR TV AND VIDEO, written by Janet Galore and Todd Kelsey.

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