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 . . .
The Moondance International Film Festival has selected, thetraditionally-animated BEELINES, by Rachel Bevan Baker, from Edinburgh,Scotland, as this year's winner in the animation division. Moondance 2000takes place in Boulder, Colorado, January 14-16, 2000. Entries from femalescreenwriters and filmmakers from any country were welcomed to the competition.For more information e-mail: mermaid7cs@aol.com; or write: MoondanceInternational Film Festival, 970 Ninth Street, Boulder, CO 80302, USA.
At Licensing Expo 2008, 4Kids will capitalize on its role as a global leader and look to develop extensive licensing programs for both its all-new, unique multi-platform properties as well as for its well-received favorites. 4Kids highlights will include:
A focused licensing and merchandising program for the Chaotic Trading Card Game, the first multi-platform, collectible trading card game that is quickly become a major sensation both at retail and online;
The Los Angeles Independent Film Festival has put out a call forsubmissions for its April 13-18, 2000 event. The deadline for submissions is January 7th, 2000.The six year-old festival showcases the best in independent music videos fromNorth America. Music videos that were completed after January 1, 1998 can besubmitted on 1/2" VHS. If selected for exhibition, you must have a 16mm or35mm print. For further information or submission application, please call (323)951-7090 or check out the LAIFF website at www.laiff.com.
Lovebytes Digital Arts Festival 2000 invites entries of film, video,multimedia and net art to feature in a substantial exhibition of digital work forexhibition in April, 2000. In its fifth year, the festival features amixture of digital art and media including exhibitions, seminars, screenings, speciallycommissioned artworks, alongside workshops and live performances from some ofthe world's most innovative digital sound and multimedia artists. All eventswill be staged in Sheffield's Media and Exhibition Centre. If you produce
FOX TELEVISION ENTERTAINMENT GROUP has promoted SANDY GRUSHOW to the newlycreated post of chairman. Grushow will be responsible for all entertainmentaspects of Fox Broadcasting Co. as well as the studio's production unit.Previously, Grushow helmed Fox TV.
WALT DISNEY INTERNATIONAL-LATIN AMERICA gets 11 new executives to helpDiego Lerner, president and managing director of Walt DisneyInternational-Latin America, increase the business opportunities for Disneyin Latin America. The new structure for Disney Latin America will consistsof four territory offices. Walt Disney International-Argentina, based inBuenos Aires, will handle Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay and be headed byLerner. Walt Disney International-Andean Region, based in Santiago de
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The newest Pixar/Disney CGI feature should prove to be a huge hit...
In the last few years, animation has played a thrilling role in bringingmany theme park attraction 'visions' to life. Take for example the popularTerminator 2 3D ride at Universal Studios, or the new Spiderman attractioncompleted by Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company. One player in the gameof theme park animation is Iwerks Entertainment, a huge ridefilm companywhose clients include Universal Studios, Disney, and the IMAX Corporation.Exactly 2 years ago they announced they would team up with visual effects
The school is looking for COMPUTER ANIMATION INSTRUCTORS to teach courses in the Computer Animation Bachelor Degree Program. ...
The Fashion Institute of Technology, a State University of New York(SUNY), will open a new two year BFA program in Computer Animation &Interactive Media in January 2000...
