AWN Headline News

Denmark's A. Film has a hit animated feature on their hands. HELP! I'M A FISH opened in its home country at the end of September and held the top spot for two weeks. In addition to its success in theaters, a song from the film has topped the Danish pop charts. A. Film partner Stefan Fjeldmark wrote and co-directed the film with Michael Hegner. Fjeldmark was nominated for an Oscar for his work on the short WHEN LIFE DEPARTS and served as an animator on such feature films as FERNGULLY, A TROLL IN CENTRAL PARK and THE PEBBLE AND THE PENGUIN.

Mattel Media has begun shipping THE WILD THORNBERRYS RAMBLER game for Game Boy Color. The new game, based on the popular Nickelodeon animated series, is comprised of 6 different games featuring the series' characters. In addition, players can challenge each other in a special two-player mode. "Mattel Media seeks to bring entertainment to children in all of their favorite ways," said Amy Boylan, executive vice president of Mattel Media.

Luxembourgs audiovisual production group, Oniria, is continuing its expansion with a new subsidiary studio in Berlin. The studio will be called Oniria Film and will handle pre-production (graphic design, scripts, storyboards, etc.), production management and post-production for the company's TV series. Thierry Schiel and Sophia Kolokouri have set up the new arm and Oniria Production administrator Nina Kolokouri will serve as general manager. Currently, Oniria Film is working on 52 15-minute episodes of the TV series BOBS BEACH.

The British Academy of Film & Television Arts has announced the winners of its third annual interactive entertainment awards. Lego & Steven Spielberg Moviemaker Set, which gives kids a virtual production studio in a box, took home two prizes in the learning and childrens categories. Cartoon Network U.K. Online won the entertainment Website award over Netherlands-based toon site ExtraTainment.com.

Tiger Aspect, the producers of the international hit live-action series MR. BEAN, have awarded Varga Holdings the job of animating the new MR. BEAN cartoon series. Varga will create 52 eleven-minute episodes with London-based Richard Purdum Studios handling the design. Robin Driscoll, who served as the original writer on the live-action series, will be scribing the new toon version and Rowan Atkinson, who plays the live-action Bean, is involved closely with the production and will voice the animated character. The series is scheduled to air on ITB.

* Monday, November 13 Tuesday, December 28, 2000. World Wide Web. Entry Deadline: November 9, 2000

AtomFilms has launched Animation Showdown, which will allow Netizens the chance to vote on which Webtoon pilot will become the next AtomFilms series. AtomFilms' registered Insiders will select one pilot each month, from now until January, to green light into a series. This month's Animation Showdown features pilots from two studios whose previous works have been aired on AtomFilms. The first, Mongadillo Studios, known for SHAWKS, is presenting THE BOTTLE and the second is HAMMOND RYE, a pilot from Hyperbole Studios, the creators of DOG, BUDDHA, ELVIS.

Cinar Corp. has named George Rossi senior VP and chief financial officer. Previously, he served as president of Astral Media subsidiary Omni Media USA. Before joining Omni Media, Rossi played a key role in the rebirth of Quebec radio and TV group Radiomutuel Inc., which was acquired by Astral in 1999. Rossi replaces former Cinar CFO Hasanan Panju, who was fired in March over unapproved investments made in offshore accounts.

Urban Entertainment solidified deals to produce five new Webtoons with directors John Singleton (BOYZ 'N THE HOOD), George Tillman Jr. (SOUL FOOD), Malcolm Lee (THE BEST MAN) and writers Chris Mack (ER) and Cheo Hodari Coker (the upcoming HBO Marion Barry biopic). Singleton and comedian Freddy Ricks will co-create HUSTLIN' HANK, a satire of New York street life. Lee will create the comedy MY BABIES' MAMAS, which focuses on one man's mishaps with the multiple mothers of his children. Tillman will team with producer Robert Teitel (MEN OF HONOR) on a yet to be announced project.

Disney has ordered 21 episodes of a new toon series entitled, LLOYD IN SPACE, to air as part of the "Disney's One Saturday Morning" line-up on ABC. From the creators of DISNEY'S RECESS and RUGRATS, the series is the coming of age tale of Lloyd, a space station-bound alien teenager. Set to debut in 2001, the show features the voices of Courtland Mead (NYPD BLUE), Diedrich Bader (THE DREW CAREY SHOW), Ben Stein (WIN BEN STEIN'S MONEY) and John O'Hurley (Mr. Peterman on SEINFELD).

On Tuesday, November 1, 2000, The Harvey Entertainment Company announced that the proposed preferred stock investment by Classic Media LLC has been terminated due to the companies' inability to reach a definitive agreement. On August 24, 2000, Harvey announced that it had signed a Letter of Intent with Classic Media for an investment of roughly US$30 million in exchange for a new issue of Harvey Preferred Stock.