Two Nova Scotia Guys Net Spielberg Deal
The two guys behind Nova Scotia-based RDAStudio's TALES OF IRTH have signed a deal to produce the Flash animated series for DreamWorks and Imagine Entertainment's new Web venture POP.com. About a year ago, Robert Leth, 47, and Frank Forrestall, 27, started working together to bring Forrestalls fantasy TALES OF IRTH to the Web. POP.com has been actively searching the Net for intelligent and forward thinking Webisodes to bring to POP.com. Jamie Tosi, head of Flash animation at POP.com said to AWN, "TALES OF IRTH is very sophisticated, but with a subtle humor.
U-571 Sinks The New Recruits At US BO
Universals submarine sensation, U-571, has left new films in its wake as it sails into the #1 spot at the U.S. box office for the second straight week. The World War II flick finished atop new comers THE FLINTSTONES VIVA ROCK VEGAS and FREQUENCY with a gross of US$12.2 million and floating its total box office take to $38.11 million. Rolling into second place was Universals prequel to their 1994 hit THE FLINTSTONES. With a new cast, the prehistoric pic, with primary visual effects by Metrolight Studios, "rocked" up $10.52 million.
Ben Stein Wins With Shockwave
Ben Stein, the host of Comedy Central's hit gameshow WIN BEN STEIN'S MONEY, will have his own animated gameshow on Shockwave.com. Stein has signed a deal with Shockwave to create an on-line game, a series of e-greeting cards and a daily poll for Shockwave visitors. The single and multi-player game asks questions which Stein calls knowledge --rather than trivia -- based. Stein will have a toon likeness helm the show and sponsors of the series will offer the prizes.
Hasbro Builds With Bob
Hasbro has signed a multi-year deal with HIT Entertainment for the licensing rights to their successful toon, BOB THE BUILDER. The current BBC series is scheduled to debut on Nick Jr. sometime next year. BOB garners 52% of the pre-school audience in the U.K. for its time period. Last holiday season the toys based on the series sold out in the U.K. Hasbro hopes that the series will build the same kind of fan base in the States as other foreign imports have done recently. Currently, Mainframe is producing a series called ACTION MAN based off Hasbro's British toy line of the same name.
Power Puffed Soundtrack
Rhino is releasing the action stuffed soundtrack to the POWERPUFF GIRLS. On July 18, 2000, "Heroes and Villains" will hit shelves with music performed by top alternative artists. Songs from the series and inspired by the Powerpuff Girls will be featured on the album. Artists such as David Byrne, Devo, Frank Black, Shonen Knife, Apples In Stereo, Optiganally Yours, Kormeda, Cornelius, The Sugarplastic, Dressy Bessy and Bis will be featured. Series creator Craig McCracken set out to find bands that inspire him to participate on the compilation.
The May Issue Of Animation World Magazine Is Now On-line!
This month we take a look at Independent Animators and Recruiting &
Jobs...
New Jobs: Animators, Digital Artists, Directors, Visual Artists and More...
Seattle, Washington-based Jet City Studios, a children's Internet
production studio, is looking for 2D ANIMATORS. Flash and Shockwave
experience a plus. . . Hollywood, California-based REZN8 is looking
for 3D ANIMATORS for modeling, texturing, animating and compositing.
. . West Hollywood, California-based Ring of Fire Studios is looking
for a 3D DEPARTMENT HEAD/CGI ANIMATOR. . . Pixel Envy, Inc., a
leading producer of visual effects for film and video, is seeking a
Legendary Animators Teach Summer Programs At VanArts School
This summer, VanArts will hold one month intensive workshop in
classical and computer animation...
Bill Plympton's Guilty Pleasures At WAC
The World Animation Celebration (WAC) will feature Bill Plympton's works
in a midnight show called "Guilty Pleasures."
Animation Workshop With Award Winning Animator Larry Lauria
On Saturday, May 6, 2000, award winning animator and educator Larry
Lauria will conduct an intensive animation workshop at the
International Academy of Design in Tampa, Florida...
First Ever Sale On The Video Lunchbox
Animation Toolworks is having their first ever sale on the Video
LunchBox...
New News From QAS
The Quickdraw Animation Society (QAS) Web site has been updated, and
includes new additions to the QAS Spring course calendar 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...
A Closer Look: Animation Serving Music
"1001 NIGHTS," an animated film set to live music, premiered on April
30, 1998, kicking off the Filmharmonic, a series of collaborations
between the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and filmmakers...
This Week's Animation Trivia Quiz
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia
Quiz...
Cinar Employees Barred From Trading
Canadian securities watchdog, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), has barred officers, directors and insiders of Cinar Corp. from trading in shares of the troubled children's television production company. OSC issued a temporary cease-trading order against 57 Cinar individuals as a result of the Montreal-based company's failure to meet regulatory filing requirements. On April 18, 2000, Cinar missed the deadline of filing the results for the year ended Nov. 30, 1999.
Tsujihara Takes Over Entertaindom
Kevin Tsujihara has temporarily taken the reigns of Warner Bros. Entertaindom Web site. As reported [AWN 4/6/00], Entertaindom.com president and CEO Jim Moloshok, executive VP Jim Banister and third-in-command Jeff Weiner have exited their Time Warner posts. Sources said the top trio was angry about Time Warner's decision not to spawn a separate Entertaindom IPO. The final impetus leading to the leave was when the three execs were not satisfied by the stock options offered to them by Time Warner.
Non-Photorealistic Animation and Rendering Symposium
* Monday, June 5 - Wednesday, June 7, 2000. Annecy, France.
Nashville Independent Film Festival
* Wednesday, June 7 - Sunday, June 11, 2000. Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.
L!censing 2000
* Tuesday, June 13 - Thursday, June 15, 2000. New York, New York, U.S.A. The 20th annual L!censing trade show is dedicated to the multi-billion dollar worldwide business of consumer product licensing, marketing and merchandising. Last year's event had more than 16,000 in attendance. With more than 35 companies from outside the U.S., the exhibition is truly an international event. For more information contact Kim Farrell at: Tel.: (203) 882-1300 ext. 159 or Robin Kerr at Tel.: (212) 951-6650; Fax: (203) 882-1800; E-mail: lic@advanstar.com; or Web: www.licensingshow.com.
Bill Plympton's Guilty Pleasures At WAC
* Friday, June 2, 2000. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
El Dorado Falls To Five
With strictly live-action taking the top U.S. box office gold, THE ROAD TO EL DORADO finished at #5. The DreamWorks' disappointment made another US$6.16 million bringing its total treasure count to $33.04 million. Leveling out its descent, FINAL DESTINATION finished in ninth for the second straight week. The New Line flick grossed another $3.05 million bringing its total cume to $38.21 million. ROMEO MUST DIE, with primary special effects by Manex Visual Effects, plummeted to 12th with a gross of $2.67 and bringing its cume of $49.73 million.
World Animation Celebration
* Tuesday, May 30 - Sunday, June 4, 2000. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Toronto Short Film Festival
* Monday, June 5 - Sunday, June 11, 2000. Toronto, Canada.
Harvey Goes PM
Harvey Entertainment Company announced that The Chase Manhattan Bank is arranging a US$25 million, five-year revolving credit facility and that Harvey has completed the acquisition of 100% of the capital stock of PM Entertainment Group Inc., an independent entertainment production and distribution company. The PM Entertainment Group purchase consisted of $6.5 million in cash and $1.45 million in Harvey Entertainment Common Stock paid at closing, as well as a $2.05 million subordinated note, payable over the next five quarterly periods.
