New Legend Tops The US Box Office
URBAN LEGEND II: FINAL CUT just edged out the impressive release of the directors cut of THE EXORCIST to claim the top spot at the U.S. box office. The teen terror sequel, with primary visual effects by Pacific Title Digital, scared up US$8.51 million. The horror classic, THE EXORCIST, with some creepy new stop-motion animation and digital clean-up by Pacific Title Digital, made an amazing $8.18 million on only 664 screens. Adding 1,062 screens to last weeks 131, ALMOST FAMOUS jumped up to third with a gross of $6.93 million.
Anteye.com Inks Development Deal With HBO
Anteye.com has signed an agreement with HBO, giving the pay cable channel exclusive rights to taking Anteye content to television. "Linking with Anteye helps us to stay in the forefront of talent discovery," said Chris Albrecht, HBOs president of original programming. "HBO will now get the first look at some of the Webs hottest filmmakers." Anteye CEO Matti Leshem said, "Theres no network I would want to be in the business with more.
Disney Puts British Gnomes On Fast Track
A British spec script about two rival gangs of gnome neighbours has been put on the fast track in Hollywood. The trade paper SCREEN INTERNATIONAL reports A GNOME'S STORY, written by Rob Sprackling and John Smith, has been acquired by Walt Disney Feature Animation and Rocket Pictures, the production outfit owned by pop star Elton John and David Furnish. The big-budget project "may use TOY STORY-esque digital effects." Disney has a first-look pact with Rocket, and is funding development on GNOME'S STORY.
Ottawa Awards Top Prize To Ring Of Fire
The 2000 edition of the Ottawa International Animation Festival has come to a close with the announcement of this years winners. The winners were chosen by an international jury, comprised of acclaimed Canadian animator Suzanne Gervais, former ASIFA-Hollywood general manager and critic, animator and teacher Wendy Jackson Hall, Wild Brain co-Founder and creative director John Hayes, renowned Estonian animator Priit Pärn, and the head of the Shanghai Animation Studio in China Jin Guo Ping.
South Park & Dr. Katz Episodes Downloadable On The Net
Web content site Sightsound.com has signed a deal with Comedy Central to sell the back episodes of SOUTH PARK and recently cancelled DR. KATZ: PROFESSIONAL THERAPIST in a downloadable format. Both TV series episodes will be available for US$2.50 for a two-day rental fee or $4.95 for a full purchase on Sightsound.com and ComedyCentral.com. Download times will range from 5 minutes for DSL users to over an hour for dial-up subscribers. The Pennsylvania-based Sightsound made a name for itself by commissioning the $3 million mini-feature QUANTUM PROJECT for a direct-to-Internet release.
DIC Management To Buy DIC From Disney
DIC Entertainments CEO Andy Heyward is set to purchase DIC from owner Walt Disney Co. The deal backed by investment firms Bain Capital and Chase Capital Partners is valued in the nine digits. Disney acquired a majority stake of DIC in 1995 when it purchased ABC/Capital Cities. In 1986, Heyward purchased the toon house from France-based CLT and retained a small minority interest in the firm after ABC/Capital Cities obtained the majority share in 1993. DIC television properties include INSPECTOR GADGET (Disney co-produced a live-action feature version), G.I.
AWN Launches The Web Animation Guide And The Animation Showcase
Animation World Network announced two new enhancements to its Website yesterday at the Ottawa International Animation Festival...
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...
Store Specials: Computer Animation videos and the Ottawa 2000 festival catalog
- The Ottawa 2000 International Animation Festival Catalog: No need to worry if you are unable to attend this year's Ottawa International Animation Festival. The bilingual festival catalog is now available for sale for $15.
New Jobs: Animators, Digital Artists, Directors, Visual Artists And More...
Planet X Animation is looking for a 2D/3D ANIMATOR to create 3-10 minute segments of own design or follow a script. . . El Segundo, California-based Inertia Pictures, a growing animation development and production house, is looking for 2D/3D/FLASH ANIMATORS. . . Newark, New Jersey-based Genie Network, a revolutionary entertainment company, is looking for a 3D ANIMATOR MODELER. . .
BKN Licenses GoodTimes Library
Cologne-based licenser and children's TV producer BKN International has acquired international TV, video and merchandising rights for New York-based childrens animation production company GoodTimes Entertainments 51 title library. The deal worth US$13 million includes titles such as RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO and MOBY DICK.
Futurama Gaming Rights Go To Swedish UDS
Scandinavias leading computer and video game developer, UDS (Unique Development Studios), has gained the computer gaming rights to Foxs hit series FUTURAMA. The three-year deal grants UDS the right to co-publish with Fox Interactive FUTURAMA games for all gaming platforms. Fox Interactive will publish the games in North America, while UDS will handle the rest of the world. The first game is scheduled for release in the first half of 2002. This co-production deal for such a well-known TV series marks a first for European gaming companies.
Disney Moves To Hasbro In Light Of Mattel’s Potter Deal
Disney has decided to divide its toy merchandising between rivals Hasbro and Mattel. Disney has had a long licensing relationship with Mattel, which now will only handle their preschool and plush toys, dolls, games and puzzles. Hasbro will handle the more lucrative toys, action figures and games portion of Walt Disney products.
Pi Director Takes On Batman: Year One Feature
PI director Darren Aronofsky is set to helm the newest in Warner Bros. BATMAN franchise, BATMAN: YEAR ONE. Aronofsky will write and develop the screenplay with Frank Miller, writer of the graphic novel BATMAN: YO from which the film will be based. The noir-styled graphic novel was originally published by DC Comics in 1987 and chronicles the trials and tribulations of Bruce Waynes first year as Batman. Aronofsky as director is an interesting direction for Warner to take with the BATMAN movie franchise.
Rhythm & Hues' Hughes Appointed To Advisory Board Of Digital Hollywood And Dhima
Digital Hollywood, Japan, and DH Institute of Media Arts (DHIMA),
Santa Monica, California, one of the world's largest digital media
institutes, have recently appointed John Hughes, President and CEO of
Academy Award-winning studio Rhythm & Hues, to their advisory board.
John Hughes will provide curriculum advice and deliver periodic
lectures, introducing state-of- the-art technologies to the school
curriculum. For more information, check out the school
Toon Boom Expands Its Presence In India With Sriven Multi-Tech And Dataquest
Hyderabad-based Webtoons India, Sriven Multi-Tech's creative
animation and digital ink & paint facility has partnered with Toon
Boom Technologies to set up USAnimation, the leading vector-based
digital ink & paint and compositing software, at their studio. With
facilities and offices in India, Australia, Canada and the U.S.,
Sriven Multi-Tech Limited (www.srivenmultitech.com) offers expertise
in software development, multimedia content production, digital
Awn Goes To Ottawa In Force!
Ottawa 00 is getting ready to welcome the 'cre de la cre' in
animation next Tuesday, with animators from all over the world --
this year, the festival received 1,300 submissions, from over 50
countries...
Cinanima Announces Their International Jury
After the announcement of their nominees last week, the festival now
presents their jury members for its 24th edition...
New Additions To Awn's Calendar Of Events
This week's updates to the Calendar
of Events includes the upcoming
Bit by Bit Exhibition in Manitou Springs, Colorado, USA; the Wanadoo
Talent Show in Cannes, France; INDAC 2000 in Cologne, Germany; and
many more! With multiple search capabilities, AWN's new calendar of
events gives you a customized way to look through the upcoming events
- by Name, Location, Entry Deadline, Category, Event Type and more.
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...
This Week's Animation Trivia Quiz
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia
Quiz...
Store Specials: New Chinese Animation Videos
Chinese Animation Volumes 1 & 2 are now available to add to your
library of international animation. These two 80-minute volumes
include traditional cell animation and puppets, shown in their highly
original techniques of cut-paper, folded paper and brush painting by
some of Shanghai's famous animators. Witness some of the animated
shorts created in the last 50 years that have delighted both children
and adults in China and throughout the world. Te Wei, Qian Jiajun, Yu
Britain's Channel 4 Launches Animation Week
From September 23 - 29, 2000, the British terrestrial station Channel 4 is screening a veritable deluge of animation, ranging from the far-flung universe of FUTURAMA to the sharply-observed mundane world of POND LIFE. The only catch is most of it's being shown in the small hours, so set your video recorders. Saturday is the main night, kicking off at 9 pm with Channel 4 regular SOUTH PARK, followed FUTURAMA with a special introduction from creator Matt Groening. This is the series first time airing on British terrestrial TV.
Miss Jones Wins A Gold For AT&T Olympic Spots
Design and cross media studio Miss Jones produced three 30-second spots for AT&T's new media services, which started airing during the Sydney Olympics. Against a white background in the first spot, "Pop," AT&T's familiar blue globe morphs into a pan of popcorn, at first popping slowly and then building to a crescendo while the globe swells to bursting. The second spot "Newton" opens on six AT&T globes lined up in a white field.
