In its KIDS' WB! debut, the new Japanese anime series YU-GI-OH! ranked No. 1 among the broadcast competition in its time period in Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11, Boys 2-11 and Boys 6-11. The Japanese anime series follows the adventures of a young boy named Yugi, who morphs into a monster-fighting hero after piecing together the "millennium puzzle" given to him by his grandfather. YU-GI-OH! is represented world-wide outside of Asia, by 4Kids Entertainment.
As part of a growing package for Showtime Network's recently launched ShoNext Channel, design boutique EyeballNYC created three new interstitial series of "Disc Jockey," a mixed-media exploration of emerging American DJs. Each two-minute segment combines a documentary style with a tongue-in-cheek animated superhero sequence to create a light-hearted, satirical look at the world of the disc jockey. The animated, comic book styled section, merging video and stills, is framed around an interview segment, while the animation transforms each DJ into a superhero alter ego.
Activision, Inc. has released SPIDER-MAN for the PC and SPIDER-MAN: MYSTERIO'S MENACE and X-MEN: REIGN OF APOCALYPSE, both for the Game Boy Advance. These releases mark the super heroes' debut on Nintendo's new handheld video game system. SPIDER-MAN: MYSTERIO'S MENACE lets pocket gamers live the fantasy of Marvel's legendary webslinger with the enhanced, side-scrolling gameplay and powerful graphics of the Game Boy Advance. When Mysterio unleashes his illusory schemes, Spider-Man must stop his evil plan and restore life to normal.
Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment has launched an interactive PDA-based game to promote Revolution Studios & Columbia Pictures' new feature film THE ONE. This is first time that a studio has created a PDA-based game on behalf of a major motion picture release. "The thematic elements of THE ONE fit perfectly with the idea of a PDA-based game," said Geoffrey Ammer, President of Marketing for Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Affiliate animator Jean Detheux will be hosting "Animated Abstract Expressionism: A Digital Jam Session" at the 2001 International Student Festival Ottawa...
For their November event, the Toronto Animated Image Society (TAIS) welcomes Derek Lamb, former filmmaker and executive producer of animation at the National Film Board of Canada. He will present an evening of screenings and insights into independent filmmaking. Derek Lamb is the Academy award-winning producer of EVERY CHILD, and dean of film at Harvard University. He has worked on episodes of SESAME STREET, collaborated with Edward Gorey on the PBS MYSTERY!
ASIFA-Colorado:- Wednesday, October 17th, 2001 ASIFA Colorado welcomes Sayoko Kinoshita, director of the Hiroshima International Animation Festival. Kinoshita will be presenting "The Best of Hiroshima Festival," a show produced as part of the Denver International Film Festival. For more information contact Edward Bakst at ASIFA-Colorado, RMCAD, 6875 E. Evans Ave., Denver, Colorado 80224, U.S.A.; Tel.: (800) 888-ARTS; or E-mail: [email protected].
ASIFA-San Francisco:
This week's updates to the Calendar of Events include: Metreon Festival Of Anime: Saturday, October 27 - Sunday, October 28, 2001, San Francisco, California USA . . . Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust: Friday, October 05 - Thursday, October 11, 2001, Los Angeles and San Francisco, California USA . . . Durango Film Festival: Friday, March 01 - Sunday, March 10, 2002, Durango, Colorado USA . . . Kinetica 3: Friday, August 17, 2001 - Wednesday, December 31, 2003, Touring, USA and Canada.
Plympton's new series of comics is extracted from the comic book "Polls Apart - How To Tell A Democrat From A Republican..."
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz. This week, we're asking more questions about feature year of release. Back in 1981, which films were released? 1973 saw the release of which memorable features? Good luck...you'll need it!
Sunbow Entertainment and Nickelodeon have signed a co-development deal for SKELETON KEY, a contemporary comedy adventure series targeted at 8 to 13 year olds. SKELETON KEY is based on the popular Slave Labor Graphics comic books by British writer Andi Watson. The animated series centers on small town teenager Tamsin Mary Cates who holds a magic key with the ability to move her in and out of another world. Pending development, the initial series of 13 half hours is scheduled for delivery to Nickelodeon in 2003. Although Sunbow Entertainment has worked with Nickelodeon U.K.
As reported on October 4, 2001 by THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, Square Company Ltd., warning of losses of up to 13.9 billion yen (USD $115M) for the year's first half from weaker-than-expected revenues from its feature film FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN, had ceased funding of their Honolulu-based studio Square Pictures. Allowed to continue operations, Square Pictures has indicated that they will continue to develop CGI projects with funding from other studios, and plans to possibly develop a FINAL FANTASY sequel or prequel.
Honkworm International, a creator of online branded entertainment, has partnered with multimedia presentations developer Renaissance iMedia, to begin operations in Japan. The new office is located in Tokyo and will operate under the Honkworm name. Both parties in the joint venture anticipate rapid growth, and plan to provide services to Japanese consumer brands looking to include rich media into their campaigns and promotions.
Canadian computer animation studio Mainframe Entertainment, Inc has appointed Mark Fleischer president of its Los Angeles-based subsidiary, Mainframe, U.S.A. In this newly-created position, Fleischer will spearhead the expansion of the companys presence in Los Angeles, with the goal of positioning Mainframe to more effectively pursue opportunities within Los Angeles and the U.S. Fleischer first began working with Mainframe while he was president of Fleischer Studios, Inc. in Los Angeles.
The Board of Directors of Teletoon has appointed veteran broadcasting executive Len Cochrane as president of the Teletoon television network, which operates 24-hour English and French animation services across Canada. Cochrane replaces John Riley, recently named president of Astral Television Networks. Cochrane served as president of The Family Channel Inc. for the past 11 years, and led that network's growth as a premium service with over 309,000 subscribers to one of the most successful television channels with over 4.3 million subscribers.
Visual effects company Cinesite photographed and composited specially bred and trained roller pigeons for the Warner Bros. Pictures feature film TRAINING DAY, starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. In one scene, Hawke is driving down a street and sees pigeons out the window. The two birds separate and come tumbling down directly toward the camera and then catch themselves. In another scene, the camera angle is above, looking down at a street as the birds tumble down.
In its KIDS' WB! debut, the new Japanese anime series YU-GI-OH! ranked No. 1 among the broadcast competition in its time period in Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11, Boys 2-11 and Boys 6-11. The Japanese anime series follows the adventures of a young boy named Yugi, who morphs into a monster-fighting hero after piecing together the "millennium puzzle" given to him by his grandfather. YU-GI-OH! is represented world-wide outside of Asia, by 4Kids Entertainment.
Metreon Festival Of Anime: Saturday, October 27 - Sunday, October 28, 2001, San Francisco, California USA. Metreon-A Sony Entertainment Center in downtown San Francisco will host the first annual Metreon Festival of Anime the weekend of October 27-28 inside Metreon's Action Theatre attraction. The Metreon Festival of Anime will take place in conjunction with the Big Apple Anime Fest scheduled for the same weekend in New York City. Throughout the two-day event, fans will have a chance to watch Sony Pictures' "The Making of Metropolis", Bandai Entertainment's "Love Hina" and the U.S.
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust: Friday, October 05 - Thursday, October 11, 2001, Los Angeles, San Francisco, California USA. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is currently playing in theaters in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas. Theaters and showtimes: The Showcase, Los Angeles, 323.934.2944. Showtimes: 2:30pm, 5:00pm, 7:30pm, 10:00pm. The Laemmle Playhouse 7, Pasadena, 626.844.6500. Showtimes: Noon, 2:30pm, 5:00pm, 7:30pm, 10:00pm. Edwards University 6, Irvine. 949.854.8811. Showtimes: 2:30pm, 5:00pm, 7:30pm, 10:00pm. Encino Town Center, Encino, 818.940.1136. Showtimes: 10:15pm.
Durango Film Festival: Friday, March 01 - Sunday, March 10, 2002, Durango, Colorado USA. Entry Deadline: Saturday, December 01, 2001. The Durango Film Festival, after its successful 2001 premiere, is in the works for 2002. This juried 10-day festival will present independent feature films, documentaries, animated films, shorts, experimental, and new media works. In addition, the festival will offer educational salons, VIP panels, filmmaker discussions and host a variety of parties and receptions. On Saturday, March 9, 2002, the winners of the Golden Quakie Awards will be announced.
