Leigh Godfrey's Recent Posts

TV-Loonland and Nelvana, in association with KirchMedia, announced at MIPCOM the international co-production of the childrens classic, HEIDI. HEIDI will be adapted into a new and highly stylized animated feature film and television series. HEIDI, written by Swiss author Johanna Spyri, was first published in 1880. The book has been translated into over 50 languages with over 100 million copies sold worldwide.

The Walt Disney Company has formed a new business unit, the Buena Vista Game Entertainment Studio, a new organization created to leverage and combine new and emerging technologies, such as broadband and wireless, with video consoles, PCs, other technological innovations, and online games to deliver integrated interactive entertainment for a new consumer experience. Jan E. Smith has been installed as its president. Smith, a 14-year Disney veteran, will also continue to serve in her current role as president of Disney Interactive.

Renegade Animation has produced a fully-animated 30-second television spot for Target, Nickelodeon and The Martin Agency, Richmond, Virginia, featuring the popular Nickelodeon cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants. The commercial, titled New Home, casts SpongeBob as the newest employee of an underwater Target store as a means of promoting kids merchandise related to the character. The assignment required Renegade Animation to recreate the look and attitude of an existing cartoon series with a very distinct style.

The LEGO Company, makers of the world's best-selling construction toys, has created 11 new LEGO sets that capture the magic of the upcoming Warner Bros. film, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE. The sets are available now at retail. The LEGO Harry Potter sets include eight of the most popular characters from the magical world of Harry Potter - including Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, Draco Malfoy and Professors Dumbledore, Snape and Quirrell, as mini-figures, as well as a variety of other characters including animals, ghosts and imaginary creatures.

Each week, Animation World Magazine offers new articles, special features and theme-based coverage of the art, craft and industry of animation. New this week:

- Alexeieff: Itinerary of a MasterWendy Jackson Hall reviews Giannalberto Bendazzi's latest book, Alexeieff: Itinerary of a Master,that discusses the art and life of pinscreen master Alexandre Alexeieff.

- New from Japan: Anime Film Reviews

Sav! The World Productions brings its latest animated program to MIPCOM with MOLLY, STAR-RACER. Described by the creators as Japanimation meets European 3D, MOLLY is an explosive mix of comedy and epic racing scenes in 3D CGI animation. Strongly influenced by their childhood memories of anime series like DRAGON BALL and LUPIN THE 3RD, as well as by cult classics like Hanna Barberas WACKY RACES or Saint Exupérys LE PETIT PRINCE, the creators of MOLLY have mixed styles and techniques to create a fresh new kind of entertainment.

Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) Latin America, Inc. has reached an agreement with DIRECTV Latin America, LLC (DIRECTV) for satellite distribution in Latin America of Boomerang, the 24-hour network that offers classic animated entertainment. Launched into the Latin American region in July of 2001, Boomerang continues to expand its reach in the market by adding DIRECTV's satellite distribution. Reaching more than 1.4 million direct-to-home customers, DIRECTV Latin America becomes one of the largest distributors for Boomerang in the region.

Hayao Miyazaki's film PRINCESS MONONOKE was the top grossing film in Japan until TITANIC was released in 1998 and broke box office records, becoming the highest grossing film in that country. This week VARIETY reported that Hayao Miyazaki's latest feature SPIRITED AWAY has set a new audience record in Japan, surpassing the mark held by TITANIC. Since its July 20, 2001 debut, SPIRITED AWAY has been seen by 16.9 million viewers, while TITANIC saw 16.8 million admissions total after its release.