Sega Dreamcast, the most advanced videogame system to date, has gone platinum.Sega of America, Inc. announced that the 128-bit, Internet-ready videogamesystem has sold one million units in North America since its launch onSeptember9, 1999. This milestone came six weeks ahead of corporate predictions andbeforethe after-Thanksgiving holiday shopping frenzy. The platinum mark forDreamcast has broken sales records by other high-profile consumer andelectronic products.
This weekend, Film Roman, Inc., producers of THE SIMPSONS and KING OF THEHILL, launched Level 13.net, an innovative multi-channel animation networkto be delivered via the Internet. Level 13 is the industry's firstregularly scheduled, animated television-like network made directly for theWeb. William Shpall, Chief Operating Officer of Film Roman, and architectof the company's Internet strategy, said, "While many of today'sentertainment and Internet leaders are still testing enhanced television
The popular Knoll Light Factory plug-in from Puffin Designs was recentlyreleased for Avid Xpress, Media Composer, and Symphony -- the trimmedversion ofKnoll Lens Flare Pro is titled Knoll Lens Flare AVX. The software allows usersto create lens flares with an unprecedented level of precision and control.Based on the Lens Primitives in Knoll Lens Flare Pro, the plug-in consistsof anumber of filters which include elements modeled on professional camera lenses
Discreet's 3D Studio MAX 3 is currently being used by more than 116,000artistsworld-wide, a number signifying the major upgrades rising to an industrystandard package in film, broadcast, games, multimedia, and design industries.The new upgrade boasts many new features, but the ones that have brought theproduct into this popular position so soon after its release are mostdefinatelythe new 'world-class' renderer, and the infinitely extensible productionenvironment. Many of these 100,000+ customers are taking advantage of 3D
AtomFilms, a pioneer in next-generation media, has added Bill Plympton totheir animation roster. The newly created Pymptonia fan site will be run by
Imagina 2000 with FIFI (Festival International du Film de l'Internet) haveopened their competition to animation created specifically for the
In preparation for the 14th World Festival of Animated Films, Zagreb 2000 has started taking entries. Entry forms must be received by February 1, 2000 and films on VHS (for selection only), BETACAM SP PAL, or film prints must be received by March 1, 2000. Please, send VHS tapes to Zagreb Film (Animafest) Vlaska 70 10,000 Zagreb, Croatia. The festival will be held June 21-25, 2000.
For more information contact Zagreb Film (Animafest) at Vlaska 70, 10,000Zagreb, Croatia, Europe. Tel.: ++385-1-4666 439 4613 689, Fax: ++ 385-1-4557
Infogrames Entertainment, a leading developer, publisher and distributor ofinteractive entertainment, announced it has acquired GT Interactive Software(GTIS), a US-based company. The total investment is being reported as $135million. Infogrames' product catalog includes such franchises as MissionImpossible,Test Drive and Looney Tunes. GTIS brings such titles as Driver,Deer Hunter, Blues Clues and Abe's Odyssey. This transaction is part ofInfogrames' global expansion strategy and will help further establish the
U.K.-based Eidos plc, one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, announced their results for the three and six months ended September 30, 1999. Revenues for the quarter were BR£27.3 million (US$45.0 million), up from 21.8 million pounds for the corresponding period last year. On a U.S. GAAP basis the company's loss before tax for the quarter was £16.8 million ($27.8 million), giving a net loss of £12.8 million ($21.2 million) and a loss per share of 66.3 pence (109.4¢), compared to a net loss of £8.8
The Disney Channel and Toon Disney gear up for the holiday season with a newmillennium celebration. The Disney Channel will feature holiday episodesfrom Playhouse Disney series BEAR IN THE BIG HOUSE, ROLIE POLIE OLIE, andPB&J OTTER. To highlight FANTASIA/2000's January 1st opening in IMAXtheatres around the country, MOVIE SURFER'S will go inside the new film.Toon Disney, the 24-hour all-animation network, will present variousholiday-themed features as well as the television premiere of the Annie
On Monday, November 29, 1999, Time Warner launched its new Internetentertainment network, Entertaindom. The new channel is the first on-lineentertainment network produced from a major media company. The channel willoffer a smorgasbord of on-line entertainment, news, and services from Warner'svast vault of branded material. Entertaindom will include entertainmentnews andinformation from "Entertainment Weekly," CNN, Reuters, "Variety" and othersources, including music and TV stories, movie reviews, hit lists and critics'
On December 10, 1999, Cartoon Network will debut the one-hour milleniumspecial DEXTER'S LABORATORY'S EGO TRIP. The special will center around Dexter's over-zealous reaction to receiving a message from the future which informs him that he will one day save the planet. The show will air at 7pm on December 10 and repeat at 12am on Janurary 1, 2000.
Famous Technologies has announced that version 1.5 of its stand-alone facialanimation system FAMOUSfaces is now shipping. The program, which is aimed atfilm, broadcast, games and location-based entertainment developers now boastssome amazing new features. The software allows character animators to createrealistic facial animation using one of, or a combination of any of thefollowing input devices: motion-capture, video, puppetry devices, voicerecognition or cluster targetting. New in version 1.5, animators can use the
New York animation studio, DMA with director Tony Caio finished up two'60s-style spots for Zowie Intertainment, Inc. new fantasy game ELLIE'SENCHANTED GARDEN. The commercial, featuring psychedelic-spinning wallpaperflowers and highly stylized gardens appearing around live-action actors, isaimed at attracting young girls to computer games. The spot started airingon Nickelodeon and other kid-friendly networks in early November.
Varga Holdings, one of Europe's leading animation and special effectsproduction houses, has completed its extensive restructuring. Group CEO Andrs Erkel andGroup Managing Director Jan Sawkins announced Varga Studios has been renamedVarga Budapest Ltd. and Varga tvc Ltd. has been newly named Varga London Ltd,while Varga Commercials' name remains the same. The new structure is Varga'sstrategy to unify the company and create a standard corporate identityunder one Varga logo. In addition, the Budapest and London branches of the company
Electronic Arts, a world leader in interactive entertainment software, hascreated a new division to publish games for the Web and to operate a seriesof new on-line gaming sites. The new division has been formed to createcontent for America Online, the world's leading Internet service company.Electronic Arts' new on-line gaming division comes on the heels of theiracquisition of Charlottesville, Virginia-based Kesmai Corporation, adeveloper of multiplayer on-line entertainment previously owned by News
ROBERT DALY is on deck with the DODGERS. The former Warner Bros. CEO andchairman has purchased 10% of the Los Angeles Dodgers from Fox EntertainmentGroup. According to the October 29, 1999 issue of DAILY VARIETY, Daly willtake over complete control of the team, however he has said that he willconsult Fox before making any major moves. We'll all be looking forward to thatfirst Ted Turner-owner Braves and Dodgers match-up for sure.
Librarian of Congress James Billington has announced that DUCK AMUCK alongwith 24 live-action films will be added to the National Film Registry. As partof the Library of Congress, the Registry was established in 1989 to preserve Americanfilm heritage. Billington's list is formed by input from the National FilmPreservation Board and the public. With only 25 selections made each year,DUCK AMUCK, the 1953 Chuck Jones short starring Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny,with voices by Mel Blanc, joins an even smaller list of archived animated
We have more information to add to the Pokemon insanity. Last weekend whenPOKEMON: THE FIRST MOVIE debuted in theatres, the TV series POKEMON stoleenough kids away for the local movie house to finish #1 and #2 for both weekdays andSaturday morning. The weekday 7am POKEMON averaged a Kids WB! record 4.8rating, 32 share, in kids 2-11, and surprisingly beat all other weekday kids series,morning and afternoon,except for its chief competitor the WB's 4pm. POKEMON.
On Friday, November 19, 1999, Universal Studios Hollywood celebrated the 40thanniversary of the first airing of the Jay Ward cartoon ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE.Guests were treated to a hand-carved chocolate moose weighing almost 4000pounds. Estimated calories nearing 40 million.
Those toon titans of TOY STORY 2 crushed box office records over theThanksgiving weekend. The Buzz and Woody vehicle beat the 5-day non-summeropening record set by POKEMON: THE FIRST MOVIE two weeks ago and beat ABUG'S LIFE's record for the largest Thanksgiving weekend gross with a takehome of US$80.5 million. The sequel to the $192 million blockbuster had thefourth biggest five-day total in history. THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH, withprimary visual effects by Digital Film, Cinesite London, and Magic Camera,
The Big Apple Anime Fest happened this weekend (October 26-28, 2001) in New York. Screening at The Directors Guild of America Theater in midtown Manhattan. BAAF featured the largest collection of 35mm anime films ever offered at a film festival. The weekend kicked-off with the premier of METROPOLIS, introduced by screenwriter Katsuhiro Otomo and director Rintaro. Other featured films screened over the weekend were X: THE MOVIE, BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE and SPRIGGAN.
Toronto-based toy maker Spin Master Toys has been awarded the master toy license by Venture Licensing of Canada and The Jim Henson Company to produce toys for the preschool children's television show JIM HENSON'S THE HOOBS. The agreement provides Spin Master the licensing rights to produce toys based on the five main characters: Iver, Tula, Groove, Roma and Hubba Bubba. JIM HENSON'S THE HOOBS is an innovative program mixing puppetry, animation and live-action. The program launched on the U.K.'s Channel 4 in January 2001 and currently airs in Canada on TVOntario.
Award-winning visual effects designer and digital artist Deak Ferrand has left post-production facility R!OT to launch the independent studio Hatch with his long-time visual effects producing partner, Cheryl Bainum...
This week's updates to the Calendar of Events include: The Soldier's Tale: Sunday, February 09, 2003, London, UK . . . Filthy Fest: New York's Dirtiest Animation: Friday, February 14, 2003, New York, New York USA . . . Reg Hartt Presents A Tribute to Chuck Jones: Saturday, February 22 - Saturday, March 29, 2003, Toronto, Ontario Canada . . . Information Session: Max the Mutt Animation School: Wednesday, February 26, 2003, Toronto, Ontario Canada . . . Neal Adams at ArtExpo in NY: Saturday, March 01, 2003, New York, New York USA . . .
