A while back, Bruce Shutan profiled Atomic Visual Effects of South Africa for VFXWORLD. Spurred by a letter to delve further into South Africa's thriving 3D community, Shutan recently interviewed several other vfx and animation studios and various artists to discover why Cape Town is on the verge of becoming the next Sydney, Australia.
Mark Endemano has joined Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) as vp, finance, Europe, Middle East & Africa. He will oversee all aspects of the international TV distributors financial operations including financial reporting, cost control, liaising with BVITVs operations in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, and producer group support.
He becomes a member of BVITVs senior executive team, delivering strategic, operational and financial input. Endemano will be based in London and report directly to Tom Toumazis, svp/md, EMEA, BVITV
Prague, Czech Republic-based Cenega Publishing has signed a deal with Altar Interactive to publish the forthcoming PC-CD ROM title, UFO: AFTERSHOCK, due to release in Q3 2005.
Buena Vista International Television kicked off the start of the L.A. screenings for some 1,000 TV buyers from around the world in high-spirited style, unveiling six new and seven returning primetime series, with most of the cast and key creatives from each show on stage of the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood May 23, 2004, followed by a party across the street at The Annex, which featured a live performance by rocker Cyndi Lauper.
Wieden & Kennedys Honda COG, a unique 120-second TV commercial, has walked off with this years Grand Clio for TV at this years International Clio Festival, held from May 15 - 18, 2004. In addition, DDB Chicago has, again, been named Clios Agency of the Year, and DDB Worldwide, Agency Network of the Year for the fourth year in a row.
Doug Miller has been appointed evp/md of Walt Disney International (Asia-Pacific), as well as svp/md of Walt Disney Television International (Asia Pacific), overseeing all Disney television activities in the region. Miller will continue to lead television development for the company in Asia and is based in Hong Kong.
Cindy Elfenbein joins DIC Entertainment (DIC), as exec director of Retail Consumer Products to serve as the companys retail expert and liaison between the licensees and retailers. She will be responsible for building relationships with the retailers and developing support for DICs brand properties, including STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE and the recently announced TROLLZ.
EM.TV AG has signed a comprehensive pay-TV deal with Frontage Satellite TV, the Nigerian satellite distributor, to broadcast an English-language children's channel under the Junior brand on cable and satellite.
Following up DIC Entertainments recent acquisition of worldwide entertainment and licensing rights to the colorful-haired Troll character from the Troll Company (a.k.a. Dam Things), DIC has concluded partnership deals with key licensees Hasbro Inc. and Scholastic to launch TROLLZ, the entertainment and lifestyle brand for tweens, scheduled for U.S. debut in 2005.
Trolling for its next hit, DIC Entertainment has acquired worldwide entertainment and licensing rights from the Troll Company (a.k.a. Dam Things) to the iconic spiky, colorful-haired Troll character to be developed into an entertainment and lifestyle brand for tweens, called TROLLZ.
Following Finn Arnesen's promotion to head of programme production for Cartoon Network Int'l, Jo Sweby has been named director of acquisitions for Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Toonami in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In addition to acquiring content for Turner's European kids channels, Sweby will work alongside the European programming managers on programming strategy. Part of her new role will involve working with the business development team on new business opportunities.
Michael Lombardi has joined Sesame Workshop as evp/cfo, to oversee corporate finance and administration for the Workshop, including preparation of the organization's budget, estimates and financial statements. Lombardi will also evaluate strategic initiatives and new business opportunities.
The merger of the distribution arms of Antefilms Production and France Animation has resulted in the launch of Moonscoop at MIP-TV, a new joint distribution brand. It will combine the respective sales slates of the two companies to create a catalog of more than 1,600 half hours of programming including popular titles such as FUNKY COPS and TITEUF.
Paris-based Moonscoop, the newly combined distributor for Antefilms Prods. and France Animation, has sold its first series, CODE LYOKO, to a U.S. broadcaster. Cartoon Network has acquired 26 episodes of the animated series that blends traditional 2D and 3D animation, which will be a part of the network's new Miguzi weekday afternoon franchise that launches on April 19, 2004.
Disney has confirmed that it has joined forces with San Francisco-based Hoytyboy, producing a computer-animated feature called THE WILD in conjunction with CORE Feature Film of Toronto. THE WILD is being helmed by commercial director Steve "Spaz" Williams, best known for the Blockbuster spots with the hamsters, and is scheduled for a summer 2005 release.
Welcome to the launch of The VFXNewswire, the weekly newsletter devoted to all things creatively and technically 3D. Like AWN's sister newsletters, Animation FLASH and AWN SPOTLIGHT, VFXNewswire is designed to keep you up to date on the latest news, articles, events, jobs, announcements and resources from the 3D world of visual effects and computer animation contained within the comprehensive VFXWorld site. VFXNewsire is also our first HTML-based newsletter.
Jean Réveillon is now secretary general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) replacing Jean Stock, who had held the position since October 2001 and who will now be working as special consultant to the president until Dec. 31, 2004.
Arne Wessberg, the EBU President, said he was confident that, "the personal and professional qualities of this extremely experienced professional [Réveillon] will enable him to meet on behalf of the EBU and its members all the challenges facing broadcasters in an ever-changing environment."
Grace Animation Studios ceo Christopher Turner is assembling a production team to produce 26 new animated half-hour series of the THE AVENGING APES OF AFRICA (AAoA) for worldwide distribution. Grace will be showing a promo and first episode of the series at NATPE.
THE AVENGING APES OF AFRICA is an exciting action/adventure series for kids 6-12, where five transmuted ape brothers, and their exploration friends span the globe protecting and defending all animals of the world from the dreaded Mr. Harry B. Richborne and his worldwide band of pitiless poachers.
DIC Entertainment (DIC) will be bringing four new STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE specials, two SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH series and a sneak peek at the new TV series STAN LEE'S SUPER 7 to NATPE at booth 1246.
Fans of the animated Nickelodeon series, THE WILD THORNBERRYS, can now join Eliza Thornberry and her family on their cross-continental adventures with an exclusive offer through National Geographic. The two VHS sets follow the Thornberrys as they trek through Africa and Australia filming wildlife documentaries and getting mixed up in their crazy adventures along the way. Available exclusively through National Geographic, the two video sets can be purchased by calling 1-800-627-5162 or by ordering online at www.nationalgeographic.com.
Canal+ has picked up Bardels award-winning holiday special, THE CHRISTMAS ORANGE special for its Christmas 2003 season to air in France, Monaco, Mauritius, Switzerland and Africa.
"THE CHRISTMAS ORANGE is exactly the kind of moral tale we like to have on Canal+", says Sandra Ouaiss, acquisition director of fiction & animation at Canal+ international acquisition.
THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW has been sold to German public service broadcaster ZDF. This deal coincides with Basil's first ever Christmas music single, the double A-side Boom Boom and Christmas Slide that will be released on Dec. 15, 2003 in Germany. The songs will be released in the U.K. on Dec. 8. The 16-year-old singing sensation, India Beau, performs on Boom Boom with Basil. The series will also air on the top rated children's digital channel KIKA, starting fall 2004.
Cartoon Network U.K. has teamed up with animation students from the London Animation Studio at Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design, who have produced four high-quality IDs now airing across Europe on the channel.
Sesame Workshop has promoted Valerie Mitchell-Johnston from sr. counsel to vp of legal and business affairs, responsible for advising, counseling and closing contracts for the Workshop in all content development and production activities. Mitchell-Johnston oversees issues for the domestic production of SESAME STREET and international co-productions such as OUT THERE and TAKALANI SESAME in South Africa.
The simultaneous release of Warner Bros.' THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS on Nov. 5, 2003 in 35mm and IMAX/15/70 represents a first for a live-action Hollywood film and the prestigious large format corporation, which is attempting to increase both its commercial appeal and profitability as a result of its aggressive repurposing strategy.
