LucasArts Brings Their Far, Far Away Galaxy To Dreamcast
Sega of America announced that LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC has
become a new third party publisher for the Sega Dreamcast. Scheduled to
ship Spring 2000, STAR WARS: EPISODE I RACER will be the first LucasArts
title to hit Dreamcast. LucasArts is committed to providing additional
titles in the future, adding to Sega's long list of third party publishers
and developers for Sega Dreamcast. Taking advantage of Dreamcast's Internet
capabilities, STAR WARS: EPISODE I RACER will allow gamers to post high
Sammy Sosa Hits For 3DO
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
Igel Names Galton New Head Of Distribution
Hamberg, Germany-based IGEL MEDIA AG, an independent distributor of family
programming, has announced ED GALTON as their new head of distribution.
Galton will head worldwide distribution for the company focusing on
strengthening its operations outside of Germany. Previously at Gaumont as
VP/Head of Television and Video Sales, Galton organized the pre-sales and
distribution for such titles as OGGY AND THE COCKROACHES, SPACE GOOFS and
HIGHLANDER, THE RAVEN.
Ring Of Fire Fans The Flames With 6 New Artists
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
Nick Jr Comes To CBS Saturday Mornings
As a result of the pending merger between CBS and Viacom, which owns
Nickelodeon, some of Nick Jr.'s top preschool shows may air on CBS Saturday
mornings. The shows would help breath life into CBS' low-rated block of
Saturday morning children's programming according to executives from both
companies who spoke on condition of anonymity. No final decision has been
made on which shows will air on CBS, though the hits BLUE'S CLUES and
LITTLE BILL are almost Eyeball Channel bound. The move is reminiscent of
Disney Promotes Breier To VP Of Special Events
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
Store Specials: Vilppu Video , Belgian Compilation, Plympton Poster
- FIGURE CONSTRUCTION, a brand new Vilppu video Prestigious life drawing instructor Glenn Vilppu is offering a new video
tape of his classes. Vilppu said: "Figure Construction is a class room
demonstration of basic figure construction. This tape, I feel, is one of
the best examples that I have done so far on basic construction." His
material is being used worldwide in courses for animation students. The
A. Film Raps Kellogg's Town Spot
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.
A Closer Look: Fox's Tribulations in the Feature Production World
Two years ago, following the theatrical release of "Anastasia," Fox was
expanding its commitment to animation. Fox Family Films, one of Twentieth
Century Fox's four film divisions, was being renamed Fox Animation Studios,
to reflect the division's new plan to focus solely on animated feature
films, including stop-motion, mixed media (live-action mix) and digital
production. Several animated projects were on the development slate then,
including "Dark Town" with Henry Selick, "Santa Calls" with Blue Sky|VIFX,
Quiet Man Soups Up Campbell's Soup Spots
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
Ring Of Fire Roasts Washington Apples Ads
RING OF FIRE roasts with two new spots for the Washington Apple Commission.
Produced for Seattle-based agency McCann Erickson, the 30-second
commercials highlight the heroic deeds of Apple Guy. In "Car Trip," Apple
Guy revives a family of four with apples before they drive their car off
the road. In "Hikers," Apple Guy rescues two campers from a crumbling rope
bridge. To keep the fast pace of the spots up, Ring of Fire used a blurring
technique they call "snap zoom morph" to transition from various shots
Passion Pictures Pops Giant Button Spots
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
Lucas Licensing Lands Phelan As Director Of Licensing
LUCAS LICENSING has appointed KERRY PHELAN in the new executive position of
director of domestic licensing & marketing. In her new role, Phelan will
oversee all aspects of the Star Wars licensing business for the U.S. Before
coming to Lucas Licensing, she was a long time marketing executive at LEGO
toys, where she was responsible for developing the LEGO brand among young
families. "The Star Wars licensing program has always been about creating
The Acrobat Issue of Animation World Magazine Is Now On-line!
February is our annual motion-capture and stop-motion issue, and we have
plenty in store as usual. Sharon Schatz interviews Brian Nilles of leading
motion-capture technology firm, Vicon Motion Systems. Gregory Singer goes
behind the scenes on one of the many projects which uses Vicon's
technology, while Laura Schiff introduces us to Webbie Tookay, a new
motion-capture personality. On the stop-motion side of things, Wendy
Jackson covers Aardman Animations' current high flying times as they work
New Jobs: Professor of Computer Art & Stop-motion Animation
The SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN, located in historic Savannah,
Georgia, USA, is seeking candidates with college-level teaching experience
for the position of PROFESSOR OF COMPUTER ART to teach beginning and
advanced level courses in Stop-Motion and Clay Animation. The successful
candidate should have professional experience as an
animator/director/designer, and familiarity with a wide range of
fabrication materials, techniques and styles, including armatures and
New Jobs: Terraglyph seeks Animators and Illustrators
Chicago suburbs-based TERRAGLYPH INTERACTIVE STUDIOS is expanding its
game development team...
AWN's Third Annual Oscar Showcase and Un-official Oscar Race!
When the day broke on Tuesday, an old man wasn't humdrum about joining a
list of Oscar nominees that included three misses and my grandmother who
irons shirts...
Roy Disney goes to Annecy
For the 40th anniversary of the Annecy festival and ASIFA, Annecy is
welcoming an exceptional guest, Mr. Roy E. Disney, as Honorary President of
this 24th edition...
Animha Calls for Children's Drawings
Animha Productions, a unique association of professionals dedicated to
independent film production and animation workshops, is working on a peace
film project created by Prakash Moorthy in India and Animha's Dave
Brunskill in England. The film will include single drawings and paintings
done by 5-7 year-old children from around the world, and all children are
invited to participate. The subject is "a mother sending her child to
school." Drawings should reflect the national identity of the child, using
AtomFilms Broadcasts USC Alumus' Films
On Tuesday, February 15, 2000, AtomFilms, a leader in next-generation
entertainment, announced that it has locked the first-ever, exclusive,
on-line distribution deal with the USC School of Cinema-Television to
broadcast student films from the illustrious film school's catalog. As part
of the deal, for the next 18 months, USC will provide AtomFilms with
exclusive on-line distribution rights to 100 student titles which includes
shorts from famed alumnus George Lucas and Robert Zemeckis. On February 15,
New at Visual Magic Magazine
Check out the latest "behind the scenes" features and tutorials from Visual
Magic Magazine...
Former Time Inc. Pres., Marcom New VP At AtomFilms
ATOMFILMS, a leader in next-generation entertainment, announced that JOHN
MARCOM, former President of Time Inc. International, will join as the new
senior VP of worldwide revenue and media strategies. In his new role,
Marcom will coordinate worldwide on-line and off-line sales of AtomFilms'
growing library of short-form entertainment. During his stint at Time Inc.,
Marcom oversaw a catalog of more than a dozen national and international
news, business and lifestyle publications. Joining Time Inc. in 1993,
Fourteen Additions to AWN's Calendar of Events
This week's updates to the Calendar of Events includes fourteen new events,
from animation, short film and visual arts events to business conferences...
Toy Story 2: The Buzz In The UK
Opening the weekend of February 11, 2000 in the U.K., TOY STORY 2 has
already broken box office records. Playing on 495 screens, the sequel
grossed US$12.8 million in its first three days. The feat even beat out
bohemeth-grossing STAR WARS EPISODE 1, which made only $12.5 million in its
first U.K. weekend. So far Buena Vista International, which is distributing
the film outside the U.S., said the movie has already grossed $332 million
worldwide. Playing on 3,334 screens outside the U.S. this past weekend, TOY
Plympton's Comic of the Week
Plympton's new series of comics extracted from the comic book, "Sleazy
Cartoons of Bill Plympton," is for ADULTS ONLY...
