Avid Technology, Inc. announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2000. Revenues for 200O were US$120 million up from $116.4 million a year ago. For the quarter, the company recorded a net loss of $18.1 million, or $.07 per share, including amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, compared to a net loss of $8 million, or $.34 per share in the second quarter of 1999.
The Conseil Superieur de lAudiovisuel (CSA), a French broadcasting watchdog, has approved the three-way merger between Vivendi, Canal + and Seagram, the parent of Universal Pictures. The okay came on the heels of Vivendi chairman and CEO Jean-Marie Messiers decision not to fold Canal +s subscriber base into Vivendi Universal, thus avoiding French television ownership laws prohibiting a single shareholder from owning 49% or more of a TV network.
* Saturday, July 29 Friday, August 4, 2000. London, U.K.
Lucasfilm and fledgling Japanese anime company, Anime World Osaka, have agreed to co-produce an animated feature film entitled, THE TINY FAIRY MIRUN. As reported in YOMIURI SHIMBUN, George Lucas will executive produce the project. Osaka is set to provide the US$18.5 million budget. Lucas is scheduled to go to Osaka in September after production calms down on STAR WARS EPISODE II to sign the official contract. In a flip-flop of the usual process, Anime World will create the master illustrations in Osaka and ship the drawings to Lucasfilm for in-betweens.
Eyeball has created eye-popping effects and animation for two spots highlighting Forum Credit Union. In the commercials showcasing the banks change of name from Telco Credit Union, Eyeball artists created an underwater feel with floating numbers. The spots open with numbers, icons and computer symbols streaming rapidly across the TV screen.
Spontaneous Combustion has spruced up the CGI product shots and on-line edit for two Aube Cosmetics ads. "Lipstick" and Eyeshadow" were produced for Aube, one of Japans foremost cosmetic companies. Creative director Sam DeWitt said, "We built models and textures for the new compacts containing the make-up.
* Thursday, October 26 Sunday, November 5, 2000. San Luis Obispo, California, U.S.A.
Entry Deadline: August 1, 2000.
AWN's Stock Ticker features the most prominent publicly traded companies in the world of animation. AWN, Inc. makes available certain financial information from third party information providers. AWN does not give advice in any such fields, and has not reviewed, and in no way endorses the validity of such data. This information is provided solely as a means to keep our readers informed of the market performance and trends of certain companies. AWN strongly suggests that one seek advice from a competent professional regarding any investment or financial issues.
Best known for his work on SLEEPLING BEAUTY and LADY AND THE TRAMP, Eyvind Earle, creator of eclectic backgrounds for Disney cartoons, has passed away. He was 84 years old. Earle succumbed to esophageal cancer on Thursday, July 20, 2000. The 1953 Academy Award and Cannes Film Festival winning short film, TOOT, WHISTLE, PLUNK AND BOOM, is the film that made people truly notice Earles artwork. His other toon credits include PETER PAN, FOR WHOM THE BULLS TOIL, WORKING FOR PEANUTS, PIGS IS PIGS and PAUL BUNYAN.
On Wednesday, July 26, 2000, Cinar Corporation began its discussions with Nasdaq officials to explain why they have not filed their annual reports and financial statements from as far back at November 30, 1999. In the midst of the talks, Cinar has announced they have been sued again! This time, the former owners of Cinar subsidiary, Carson-Dellosa Publishing, which Cinar purchased in 1997, have brought forth the lawsuit.
Rick's Picks!
Episode 2 of EXIT 109 on Jibjab.com is hilarious. The Webisode finds the Hassidic pup, Moishe, ascending into heaven after being locked in a hot car. The humor is just right, edgy but smart. Something other sites, should take note of!
Read this week's Toon In: Web Animation Guide here!
Intel Corporation and Macromedia, Inc. have partnered to bring Intels 3D graphics software technology to Macromedias Shockwave Player. Intels technology will provide a richer look to the Shockwave Player with multiple resolution settings depending on the users computing power. The Intel technology allows providers to create smooth, photo-realistic surfaces, cartoon rendering and effects that include smoke, fire, water and vapor. The compressed Macromedia Shockwaves format will allow narrow bandwidth users easier access to 3D content.
Macromedia announced revenues of $94.8 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2000, an 85% increase over a year ago. With these results, the company has achieved record revenue results for the tenth consecutive quarter. Pro forma net income grew more than 300% year over year to $14.5 million, or $0.26 diluted earnings per share during the first quarter of fiscal 2001, compared to pro forma net income of $3.5 million, or $0.07 diluted earnings per share in the same period a year ago.
With more summer blockbusters arriving in international theatres, the old guard is weaning. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2, however, is still strong, finishing atop the charts in Italy, Sweden Japan and Spain. In its second week, M:I 2 grossed another US$700,928 in Italy, raising its cume to $6.82 million. GLADIATOR is losing its power, slipping a spot in Italy to finish at #4 with a gross of $103,693, bringing its Italian cume to $8.64 million. In Sweden, GLADITOR also finished in 4th place with a gross of $217,952, advancing its cume to $3.93 million.
The live-action cast for OSMOSIS JONES just keeps getting bigger. SNLs Molly Shannon and Chris Elliot have been added to the live-action cast, which includes Bill Murray. The story centers on a man (Murray) who gets sick and the white blood cell (voiced by Chris Rock) and cold pill (voiced by David Hyde Pierce) that race to battle the virus overtaking his body. The animated portion will take place in Murrays body, while the live-action takes part in the outside world. Shannon will play Murrays daughters schoolteacher and Elliot will play Murrays best friend.
Scaring the mutants out of #1, DreamWorks WHAT LIES BENEATH finished atop the U.S. box office charts. The haunted house horror flick, with primary visual effects by SPI, grossed US$29.7 million. Slipping to second, THE X-MEN, with primary visual effects by Cinesite, CORE Digital, Digital Domain, Hammerhead Productions, Kleiser-Walczak Co., Matte World and POP Film, dropped 56% from its opening weekend, but still racking up another $23.47 million.
The Quickdraw Animation Society web site has been updated...
Magna Entertainment Corp. has appointed Mark Feldman to the position of president and chief executive officer. Previously, Feldman was executive vice president of E! and was responsible for all of its core business operations, including all international ventures and sales, on-line operations, new business development and general administration.
This week's updates to the Calendar of Events include the Burbank International Children's Film Festival, the Bourg-en-Bresse Animated Cartoon Festival For Young People in France, a Centennial Tribute To Oskar Fischinger, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Auction Extravaganza and many more! With multiple search capabilities, AWN's calendar of events gives you a customized way to look through the upcoming events - by Name, Location, Entry Deadline, Category, Event Type and more. Use it to stay abreast of animation related activities across the globe.
Infogrames, Inc., announced that entertainment industry veterans Jason Bell and Alyssa Padia have joined Infogrames' North American management team. Bell will become senior vice president of publishing for Infogrames' North American operations, while Padia will become senior vice president of corporate evolution. Bell will head all publishing activities for Infogrames' labels in the U.S. For the past six years, Bell has worked at Electronic Arts and Kesmai. During that time, he held senior management roles focused on development of single player and multi-player games.
Check out the latest "behind the scenes" features and tutorials from Visual Magic Magazine...
Plympton's new series of comics extracted from the comic book, "Sleazy Cartoons of Bill Plympton," is for ADULTS ONLY...
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz...
Dusan Vukotic, Croatian animator, director, artist and former head of the animation unit of Duga Film, known as the Zagreb Animation Studio, passed away two years ago at the age of 71. He directed films such as "The Playful Robot" (1956), "Concerto for Sub-Machine Gun" (1959) and "Substitute/Ersatz" (1961), the first non-U.S. animated film to win the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. Another of his films, "The Game" was nominated for an Academy Award in 1964.
John Kricfalusi will be unveiling his new creation WEEKEND PUSSY HUNT on July 22, 2000. At Comic Con International, John K will give fans a sneak peek at his new Icebox series, which follows the adventures of Cigarettes the Cat and his flight to outrun the nasty crime boss Dirty Dawg. Present at the premiere will also be Icebox co-founder Rob Lazebnik, FUTURAMAs Eric Kaplan and THE CRITICs Mike Reiss. Garry Levine, president of Icebox, said, "We are ecstatic to have a legend like John K choice Icebox as his on-line home.
