AWN Headline News

Munich-based EM.TV & Merchandising has acquired the Jim Henson Co. in a

cash and stock transaction valued at US$680 million. The German company now

owns the rights to the Muppets and Sesame Street characters. The purchase

gives EM.TV "some of the most powerful and enduring kids and family brands

worldwide and. . . access to the world's biggest and most important media

market," said Thomas Haffa, EM.TV CEO. "In addition, our investment in

Henson will give us a position in cable networks, which will open up new

On Sunday, February 20, 2000, everyone's favorite alien villain from Space

Ghost's CARTOON PLANET, Brak, will present his own half-hour musical

variety show on Cartoon Network entitled BRAK PRESENTS THE BRAK SHOW

STARRING BRAK. Starting at 7 pm, the special will feature 10 original songs

and many comedy sketches. The dimwitted host gets the chance to sing a

heart-warming duet with R&B singer Monica, ride down a country road in an

ol' pick-up truck singing the tune "Highway 40" with teen film star Freddie

To celebrate the American holiday, President's Day, Fox Family will be

hosting a seven hour marathon of ANGELA ANACONDA on Monday, February 21,

2000. Fourteen episodes of the hit animated series will air back-to-back

starting at 7:30 am. Catch all of Angela's misadventures with her friends

and chief rival Nanette Manoir, her stuck-up blonde classmate.

The Krislin Company has gained the rights to produce an animated TV series

based off of Los Kitos Entertainment's LOS KITOS comic strip. Currently

running in more than 200 newspapers worldwide, the strip, created by

Colombian-born Martha Montoya, addresses the concerns of Hispanics and

other immigrant groups and highlights cultural awareness. Walt Kubiak,

president of the Krislin Company said, "We are very excited about our

association with LOS KITOS and look forward to introducing this fine

On March 21, 2000, POKEMON: THE FIRST MOVIE will hit stores across the U.S.

Every DVD and video will feature a sneak preview of this summer's new

theatrical film POKEMON THE MOVIE 2000 plus THE STORY OF MEWTWO'S ORIGIN.

To promote the video release, five special "Golden Tickets" will be

included in random VHS packages. The five lucky recipients will win a

first-edition starter set of Team Rocket game cards, a trip for two to

Japan, a meeting with Mr. Ishihara, creator of the POKEMON card game and a

The 3DO Company has signed an exclusive multi-year agreement with U.S.

Major League Baseball's 1999 Man of the Year, Sammy Sosa of the Chicago

Cubs. Sosa will help in the development and marketing of 3DO's baseball

franchise, SAMMY SOSA HIGH HEAT BASEBALL. In the February 2000 issue of

COMPUTER GAMING WORLD MAGAZINE, SAMMY SOSA HIGH HEAT 2000 was named "Best

Sports Game Of The Year" and PC GAMER MAGAZINE even went as far as to call

it "The Best Baseball Game Ever." "I agree with the gaming magazines that

RING OF FIRE expands its flames with six new artists. Joining the

Hollywood, California-based visual effects and design studio are Infero

artists ALI LAVENTHOL and ALAN LATTERI, visual effects/digital composite

artist JEREMY ALCOCK, CGI artist JOHN JENKINS and producers JILL HEINRICH

and KIMBERLY EVANS. Before Ring of Fire, Laventhol was a freelance Flame

artist working at Rhythm & Hues. Latteri comes to Ring of Fire with credits

on X-FILES: THE MOVIE, STAR TREK IX: INSURRECTION and GODZILLA. Coming from

LYLLE BREIER was promoted to the newly created position of senior vice

president, special events, for THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS. Breier will be

responsible for developing and overseeing a vast array of worldwide special

events relating to the domestic and international releases of the studio's

motion-picture and video product. Over her ten year career at Disney,

Breier has helped to stage some of Disney's major events, including the

1995 premiere of POCAHONTAS in Central Park, the 1997 "HERCULES Premiere

Denmark-based A. FILM has rapped on a 35-second commercial for Kellogg's

Cereal. The spot was directed by Craig Frank and produced for the Leo

Burnett agency. The classic 2D animation spot launches a new image campaign

introducing Kellogg's Town, where 8 popular Kellogg's figures like

Cornelius, Tony the Tiger, Coco, Chocos, Loopy, Snap, Crackle and Pop live.

The spot will air in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.

New York-based QUIET MAN souped up two spots commemorating the labels on

Campbell's Soup cans. In "Mega Noodle," nautical noodles amaze a young girl

with a synchronized swimming routine in her bowl. In "Video Game," two boys

pause their video game keeping a knight and dragon in limbo. As the boys

enjoy their soup the two game characters wonder aloud when the boys will

return. The 30-second commercials were directed by David Shirk and produced

London-based PASSION PICTURES pops open four 10-second spots for Cadbury's

Giant Button chocolates. Director Chris Hauge brought to life the animated

little girl Giant Button, voiced by Noddy Holder. In "Boy Bands," she

advises young fans that if a favorite boy band breaks up just "find a new

one." In "Parents," she advises youngsters to emigrate to a desert island

if their parents become too embarrassing. In "Boys," Giant Buttons avoids a