DEN Plays With $24M In Financing
The big kids at Digital Entertainment Network (DEN), a Gen-Y geared on-line
programmer, have received much-needed play money to the sum of US$24
million. The new round of financing includes investments from NBC, Chase
Capital Partners, Enron Broadband Services Inc. and Intel, among others.
Missing from this round of financing is former Warner Bros. chairman, Terry
Semel. However sources say he has separately invested $2 million in the
company. Santa Monica-based DEN has also restructured its management team,
Alias|Wavefront Announces Maya 3
Last week Alias|Wavefront unveiled a new upgrade to its powerful 3D
animation system Maya, an upgrade which will add a major new feature to the
software, particularly useful to games developers. Trax is a new non-linear
animation editing solution which will allow games developers to manipulate
extensive amounts of animation and blend it together in a way that can be
reproduced in the final game play. Trax features include reusable time
independent motion clips, blending of hand animation, data filtering and
REALVIZ Announces ImageModeler
France-based company REALVIZ recently announced the release of its new
ImageModeler photo-modeling software. This release comes after the release
of several other photo-modeling systems designed to turn objects in 2D
photographs into 3D models. Unlike other solutions on the market, however,
ImageModeler is a high-end application aimed at professionals, and this is
reflected not only in the programs toolset, but in the quality of the
models it produces. The creation of a 3D model in ImageModeler is simple --
Stan Lee Shocking Premiere
On Tuesday, February 29, 2000, Shockwave and sponsor CYBERWORLD launched a
Stan Lee premiere, live on shockwave.com. The star-studded event was hosted
by Dick Clark. The celebrities on the attendee list were Tom Hanks, Keanu
Reeves, Michael Jackson, Richard Dreyfus, John Travolta, Quentin Tarantino
and Leonardo Dicaprio. Excerpts from the event will also be televised
internationally on ET and other entertainment news broadcasts. On
Wednesday, March 1, Stan Lee/CYBERWORLD content will launch on their site
The Indescribable Nth At Home On AtomFilms
The Oscar shortlisted INDESCRIBABLE NTH has been picked up for distribution
on the Net at AtomFilms. The deal between NTH's creators Character Builders
and AtomFilms covers domestic and foreign television showings as well as
airline programming and Internet distribution. The film follows the story
of a boy and his understanding of the indescribable feeling called love.
Read Maureen Furniss' review of THE INDESCRIBABLE NTH and the other
shortlisted films at
Snow Picks Up Momentum At #2
The big snow ball of Paramount's SNOW DAY picked up momentum and rolled in
to #2 at the U.S. box office. In its second week in theatres, the kid-pic,
with special effects by Curious Pictures, grossed US$8.34 million bringing
its gross to $43.1 million. USA Films' ALIENS-like PITCH BLACK, with
primary visual effects by Double Negative Ltd. and The Chandler Group,
finished at #5 grossing $7.14 million raising its total gross to $22.9
million. THE TIGGER MOVIE finished the weekend in sixth place, making $6.31
Disney's Go A Sleeping Giant
On Tuesday, February 22, 2000, Disney chairman-CEO Michael Eisner made the
announcement: "With Go.com, I believe we are now the sleeping giant of the
Internet. Once streaming video is commonplace," he added, "Disney is ready
with a vast library and the ability to create new content." Added Go.com
chairman Steve Bornstein: "I see a time, in the next few years, or even
sooner, where nobody will talk about television or the Internet separately.
They will become one synergistic, fused media." In scheduled business,
Shareholders File Lawsuit Against CINAR
On Wednesday, February 23, 2000, CINAR Corp., the creator of the Emmy
Award-winning ARTHUR, had a lawsuit filed against the company alleging they
artificially inflated its financial results by lying about the use of
Canadian tax credits. As reported [AF 10/19/99], allegations surfaced last
fall that CINAR only pretended to use Canadian authors for its scripts in
order to obtain tax credits. Canadian officials are investigating but no
charges have been filed. The early rumors sent CINAR stock plummeting to
EA Acquires DreamWorks Interactive
Electronic Arts, one of the world's largest interactive entertainment
software companies, announced the acquisition of multimedia developer
DreamWorks Interactive, LLC. In terms of the deal, DreamWorks Interactive
will become a complete subsidiary of Electronic Arts. Financial terms were
not disclosed. Formed in March 1995 as a joint venture between Microsoft
and DreamWorks SKG, DreamWorks Interactive has produced such PlayStation
titles as LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK and MEDAL OF HONOR. Steven Spielberg,
Mainframe Toys With Action Man Series
Mainframe Entertainment, Inc. announced that it will produce 26 all-CGI
ACTION MAN half-hour television series episodes for Hasbro Properties
Group, a division of Hasbro, Inc. Before the series begins regularly
scheduled broadcasts on Fox Kids in September, a one-hour ACTION MAN
special will air on Fox Kids Network in May 2000. SABAN International N.V.
will handle international distribution for the series. The new TV show is
based on Hasbro's ACTION MAN brand, the number one boy's action brand in
Acclaim Promotes Nigel Cook To VP, Studio Head
ACCLAIM ENTERTAINMENT INC., a leading worldwide interactive entertainment
company, announced that NIGEL COOK has been promoted to vice president,
studio head of Acclaim Studio Austin. Cook will oversee the management of
the Austin facility, including product releases, personnel development and
process improvement. Previously, Cook was VP of product development and
design at Acclaim. In this position, he oversaw creative development and
design at all Acclaim Studios. Cook was responsible for developing many of
Fat Dog Makes His Home In UK
FAT DOG MENDOZA co-produced by Sunbow Entertainment and Cartoon Network
Europe, is set to premiere in the U.K. Animated by TMO-Loonland's Peter
Volkle at his Hungarian studio, the first of the 26 completed episodes will
air on February 28, 2000. The series is based off of Scott Musgrove's cult
comic book. Fat Dog and his boy Little Costumed Buddy live in Neighbourhood
X, which seems normal until one notices that ancient Rome and the Himalayas
Volunteer at TAIS and See The Lion King For Free!
TAIS, the Toronto Animated Image Society, and Operation Herbie of the
Hospital for Sick Children Foundation presents a premiere performance of
Disney's "The Lion King" on April 6, 2000...
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 Special: Another rare collection of artwork from the 1930s
Ten pieces of art have been added to the Tooniversal catalog...
Entertaindom Orders More The God & Devil Show
Entertaindom.com, Time Warner's on-line entertainment destination, has
picked up 17 additional episodes of its smash hit, THE GOD & DEVIL SHOW
from Mondo Media, a leading creator and distributor of serial-based
animated content. THE GOD & DEVIL SHOW, an animated weekly "talk show"
launched on Entertaindom in November. Each week the show features hosts God
and the Devil interviewing then deciding the eternal fates of various
"celebrity" guests (including impersonations of Keith Richards, Bill Gates,
God The Devil And Bob Website
On February 14, 2000, the GOD THE DEVIL AND BOB Website launched to promote
the new series which debuts on NBC on Thursday, March 9, 2000 at 8:30 pm.
The series is produced by Carsey-Werner, the creators of 3RD ROCK FROM THE
SUN, THAT '70S SHOW and COSBY. GOD THE DEVIL AND BOB, created by Matthew
Carlson, centers around Bob Alman, a Detroit auto plant worker who has been
chosen by God to prove the world is worth saving after God and the Devil
MTV's Eric Calderon & Expedia's Richard Barton Join AtomFilms
ATOMFILMS has announced that ERIC CALDERON has joined the company as
Animation and Digital Media Development Executive and RICHARD BARTON has
joined their board of directors. Before moving to AtomFilms, Calderon was
the former Director of Animation Development at MTV. Calderon will be in
charge of recruiting and developing animation and digital media talent,
content and technologies. At MTV, Calderon oversaw MTV animation series
such as: CARTOON SUSHI, CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH, DARIA, DOWNTOWN, and the
Ivan Molomut Joins Black Logic As Head Of Sales
IVAN MOLOMUT has joined BLACK LOGIC, a design and animation house, as head
of sales. Molomut's firm Ivan and Company, which he established in 1997, to
market traditional film production, cel animation, CGI, visual effects,
editors and music houses, to advertising agencies and clients, has
represented Black Logic for the past two years. In 1991, Molomut formed
Velocity Film, a bi-coastal production company. As president, head of sales
and marketing and executive producer, he represented directors to ad
Nick Nurtures 3 New Toons
Nickelodeon has announced plans for a new animated series featuring
Hispanic leads. DORA THE EXPLORER will follow the crusades of a 7-year-old
Hispanic girl who lives inside a computer. The show will encourage viewers
to participate in the adventure. The new show is "a rounding out of our
efforts to reflect the world of kids," said Cyma Zarghami, Nickelodeon's
executive vice president. Other new toons include: INVADER ZIM, about an
alien who spies on Earth by masquerading as a kid and attending elementary
New Jobs: Animators, Artists, Faculty Filmmakers and more wanted
- Do you live and breathe anime, comics, manga and sci-fi? Do you enjoy
working in a fast-paced, start-up environment? Then this may be your dream
job! Actionace.com, a pre-IPO company located in the San Francisco Bay
Area, is launching an on-line entertainment channel featuring webisodes
animated in Flash. Actionace.com is hiring all levels of ANIMATORS, from
seasoned professionals to entry-level. Job requirements/skills are: 4-year
college degree (animation major preferred); Thorough understanding of
Brussels Festival Hosts Sand & Clay Animation Workshop
The 19th Brussels Cartoon and Animated Film Festival will start next Monday
and run until March 11, 2000...
Recruiting at ASIFA-Hollywood's Animation Expo
ASIFA-Hollywood will host its 7th Annual Animation Expo on March 3-4, 2000,
in Glendale, California...
Animation On the Internet - Creating It and Distributing It!
Meet key industry leaders in two power packed panels! AWN's Dan Sarto will
present "THE NEXT WAVE: ANIMATION ON THE INTERNET" at the Animation Expo on
Saturday, March 4, 1:00 PM - 5:30 PM. A panel of leading animators and
industry experts will discuss current opportunities and future
possibilities for the creation and distribution of animation on the
Internet. Session 1 will focus on THE TOOLS, TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGIES
being used to create web-based animated content. With so much focus on
