For the third quarter, Cartoon Network has reported ratings 25% higher than a year ago. The toon channel drew an average of 1.26 million households, compared with just over a million in the third quarter of 1999. "Our original animated shows like POWERPUFF GIRLS and DEXTERS LABORATORY have been doing very well, with POWERPUFF GIRLS giving us the highest ratings ever," said Cartoon Network executive vice president Tim Hall.
Disney vice chairman Roy Disney has shut down production on the CGI feature WILD LIFE. According to the online magazine INSIDE, Disney decided to bail on the film because it had "an inappropriate adult sensibility" for a Disney animated feature, "sexual innuendo" and a "gay-friendly" tone. Reportedly the film had already eaten through US$20 million, spurring Disney chairman Michael Eisner to request reviews of every project in development.
* Wednesday, October 11, 2000. San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
* Tuesday, November 14 Thursday, November 16, 2000. London, U.K.
* Wednesday, November 15 Sunday, November 19, 2000. Utrecht, Holland.
Stan Lee Media (SLM) and COPS producer John Langley are teaming to produce a new Webseries entitled, POLICE FORCE 2220. The toon will chronicle the exploits of a trio of elite crimefighters in the 23rd Century. Langley and SLM will co-create and co-own the show. The series will have an initial 13-Webisode run. The duo plans to take the series offline with Langley overseeing the project. The new toon will air on Langleys newly launched portal, Crime.com, and StanLee.net.
MORTAL KOMBAT director Paul Anderson will direct, produce and scribe the live-action feature adaptation of the popular RESIDENT EVIL video game franchise. Constantin Films AG will produce the film and handle international distribution. Anderson and his production partner Jeremy Bolts Impact Pictures will handle the North American distribution. Along with Anderson, Bolt and Constantin Films AGs CEO Bernd Eichinger will produce the picture. Filming has a start date of January in London.
TOPIX/Mad Dog has just finished a new Alka-Seltzer ad for the Mexican market. Combining live-action and 3D animation, the 20-second spot, "Termita," features a hungry termite, who cures his upset stomach with Alka-Seltzer. TOPIX/Mad Dogs animation director Richard Rosenman said, "Our priorities were to illustrate the termite eating wood, plastic, becoming ill, and, of course, being cured by a dose of Alka-Seltzer.
Elyse Emmer has joined Film Roman as their East coast commercial sales representative. Emmer will solicit new commercial accounts for the companys animation department. Previously, Emmer has represented various directors and companies including Klasky Csupo. "Elyse Emmer brings knowledge, enthusiasm and imagination, plus a wide range of important contracts, to her position," said Film Roman COO Jon Vein.
Victory Entertainment, an Orlando, Florida-based multimedia production house, has named Michael Jay Solomon to its board of directors. Currently, Solomon is chairman and CEO of MAXX International, a broad-based rights management company. The television veteran has held executive positions at Warner Bros., Telepictures and has launched the television companies Solomon International Enterprises and Solomon Broadcasting International. Michael H.
* Thursday, October 12 Sunday, October 22, 2000. Montreal, Canada.
* Wednesday, November 8 Sunday, November 12, 2000. Ajijic, Mexico.
* Monday, November 13, 2000. London, U.K.
Barcelona-based Neptuno Films has signed a deal to co-produce, with Planeta 2010, a childrens series entitled PUSS IN BOOTS. Based on the classic tale of Perrault, the story is being adapted by Neptuno director Josep Lluis Viciana. Neptuno also produces THE UGLY DUCKLING, THE THREE BEARS, THE GRAVEDIGGERS SQUAD and BANDOLERO. This production will be the first in what both companies hope to be a long-term co-production relationship.
At MIPCOM, Cosgrove Hall Films has launched their new pre-school series FETCH THE VET. Based on an original concept by childrens author Stephen Thraves, FETCH THE VET tells the story of the day-to-day life of veterinarian Tom Fetch. The series was commissioned by CITV and is co-produced by Flextech Rights Ltd. and ITEL. Currently, 26 11-minute installments have been completed. In promotion of the series, Cosgrove Hall Digital has created a FETCH Website at www.fetchthevet.com.
To blur the lines even more between marketing adult themes to children, the animated characters from SOUTH PARK will be appearing on condoms. Comedy Central has signed a deal with the U.K.-based Licensing Company to provide the faces of Stan, Kyle, Cartman, Kenny and Chef for Condomania prophylactics. The condoms will only be available in the U.K. for about US$20.
At MIPCOM, Cosgrove Hall Films has christened its new media division, Cosgrove Hall Digital (CHD) with the launch of its new Website: www.chd.uk.com. CHD will be run by managing director Iain Pelling and day-to-day operations will be overseen by Jon Rashid. The new division will create digital content for Websites, broadcast transmissions and CD-Roms. Currently, CHD is working on a pre-school series entitled WILD AND WONDERFUL, and a childrens series for ITEL entitled ALBIE.
London-based rights holder Chorion is launching a new 3D animated childrens series entitled MAKE WAY FOR NODDY. Based on author Enid Blytons books, NODDY follows the Toyland gang as they try to teach children social values and simple life lessons. The NODDY books have sold over 200 million copies in forty languages worldwide. Chorion has commissioned Los Angeles-based SD Entertainment to produce the series, which will combine 2D and 3D animation. SD Entertainment is the animation house formed by former MGM Animation executives Paul Sabella and Jonathan Dern.
Buena Vista Video is releasing special editions of THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS and JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH on DVD and video. Hitting stores October 3, 2000, the NIGHTMARE DVDs special features will be Tim Burtons directorial debut, VINCENT, and an uncut version of his live-action premiere, FRANKENWEENIE, commentary by director Henry Selick and director of photography Pete Zozachik, plus a still image gallery comprised of over 450 pictures.
Walt Disney is adding BLACK CAULDRON and THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD & MR. TOAD to their Gold Classic Collection. Arriving in stores on October 3, 2000, the CAULDRON DVD will feature the BLACK CAULDRON Mystery Game, the Donald Duck short TRICK OR TREAT, still frame gallery and the original trailer. The ICHABOD & MR. TOAD DVD will include Mr. Toads Wild Ride Game; "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" DVD Storybook featuring music, graphics and animated page turns; a "Merrily On Our Way" sing-along; and the Mickey Mouse short LONESOME GHOSTS.
Paramount Home Video and Nickelodeon are releasing the first feature length adventure based on the hit series BLUES CLUES entitled, BLUES BIG MUSICAL MOVIE. The direct-to-video release will be available on VHS and DVD October 3, 2000. The film is geared toward teaching young children the fundamentals of music including notes, rhythm and tempo. The DVD will include special features such as "Backstage at BLUES CLUES A Sneak Peak for Parents," two musical videos by Ray Charles and a "Who am I?" menu guessing game.
The newest installment of the SCOOBY-DOO direct-to-video franchise will be coming to DVD. SCOOBY-DOO AND THE ALIEN INVADERS will be released by Warner Home Video on October 3, 2000. ALIEN INVADERS has the Mystery Inc. gang stranded in a desert town crawling with alien invaders. The retail price will be US$19.96 (VHS) and $24.98 (DVD).
To promote the NFL retail shop on NFL.com, Spontaneous Combustion, a digital production studio, designed and composited a campaign for NFL Properties. The campaign consisted of five 30-second spots, eleven 15-seconds spots and four 10-second spots. The various spots highlighted the inspirations that several great NFL players have made on current merchandise. Spontaneous Combustion executive creative director/director Tony Robins collaborated with NFL Properties art director Paul Iannacchino to create the concept, which integrates archival footage with NFL shop merchandise and typography.
With premieres in the U.K. and France, HOLLOW MAN emptied the pockets of moviegoers world wide in this weeks international box office. In the U.K., the updated Invisible Man tale scared up US$2.4 million at #1. SCARY MOVIE slipped from second to third, with a gross of $1.08 million, lifting its British cume to $12.5 million. In 5th place, SNATCH grabbed $735,482, raising its British cume to $16.12 million. SPACE COWBOYS floated in at #6, grossing $497,398 and bringing its British cume to $1.67 million.
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.
