AWN Headline News

Headline News

Willy Wonka is animated with Passion

Passion Pictures has created a new fully computer generated spot starringWilly Wonka (WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY). Launching Rowntree'snew Wonka Xploder chocolate bar, the :20 spot shows Wonka and his chocolatefactory where teams of robots stir vats of bubbling chocolate, and brightlycolored machines create delicious chocolates. Willy tests his newinvention, the Wonka Xploder, on two boys who are inside a sealed testingroom. The boys are startled when the chocolates explode and the secret

Black Headline News

New Manga video is based on Osamu Tezuka manga

Manga Video will release BLACK JACK in the US on June 29, 1999. Directed byOsamu Dezaki, this 1993 direct to video release from Japan is based on amanga by Osamu Tezuka that was first serialized in Japan from 1973-78.Tezuka is known as the father of animation and comic books in Japan, andspecifically as the creator of such TV series as ASTRO BOY and MARINE BOY,as well as award-winning shorts such as JUMPING. In BLACK JACK, Dr. BlackJack, an unlicensed but extremely successful surgeon, is a lone wolf who

Headline News

Realviz S.A. announces Matchmover

REALVIZ S.A. has announced the availability of its MatchMover softwaresolution for animation and special effects professionals on Microsoft,Windows, NT and GI IRIX platforms. Using MatchMover, computer-generated 3Dimages can be easily integrated with video or film to create SimulatedReality. Using computed 3D coordinates and geometric constraints,MatchMover transforms original live-action footage into an accurate 3Dspace. The transformed 3D live-action space can be precisely matched to 3D

Headline News

Lucas releases new Star Wars CD-Rom

Lucas Learning has released THE GUNGAN FRONTIER, the first simulated worldStar Wars game on CD-ROM. As heroes of the Battle of Naboo, players arecalled before the Gungan High Council to handle a critical mission. Theircity is threatened by overpopulation, and players must establish a newcolony on a nearby moon. The Gungans need to create a new world filled withfantastic creatures and plants from across the galaxy. Players discover howthese alien animals and plants interact and how they depend on each other

Film Headline News

Wendy Tilby wins at Cannes!

Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis' short film, WHEN THE DAY BREAKS (TheNational Film Board of Canada), won the Palme d'Or at the recentlyconcluded 52nd Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes, France. Ittook four years for Forbis and Tilby to finish the softly colored,wordless, but musical, story of a pig whose world shifts after a caraccident kills a stranger (a chicken) on her block. Forbis and Tilby beganthe production of "When the Day Breaks" by shooting High-8 video of the

Headline News

Sedelmaier creates "Lintbrush"

J.J. Sedelmaier Productions has created "Lintbrush," a :30 spot for QuiltedNorthern bathroom tissues. Directed by J.J. Sedelmaier, and designed byBonnie Timmons, the 2D animated spot shows quilters at work while theydiscuss the amount of lint in other tissue brands, as compared to QuiltedNorthern tissues.

Million Headline News

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace passes 200 million

THE PHANTOM MENACE finished first in last week's Memorial Day weekend USboxoffice race, taking in an estimated $64.8 million to bring its total to$204.8 million. Based on this, experts are now predicting that the filmwill eventually pass $400 million in North Amercian receipts. THE MUMMYfinished in third place, taking in $12.7 million, for a total of $117.1million. Newcomer THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR, an effects driven thriller aboutvirtual reality, finished fifth, taking in $4.3 million. THE MATRIX

Headline News

PDI hires Jenene J. Wilson

JENENE J. WILSON has been appointed Vice President, Human Resources byPacific Data Images. She will be responsible for directing the company'scorporate human resource initiatives, including organizational design,employee compensation and benefits, corporate recruiting and training.Previously, she was Director of Human Resources for Mattel, Inc. Prior tothat she was Vice President, Compensation and Employee Benefits for LosAngeles-based Carter Hawley Hale Stores, Inc.

Licensing Headline News

BKN hires Carol McGovney and promotes Nadia Nardonnet

CAROL MCGOVNEY has been recruited for Vice President, U.S. Licensing &Merchandising by BKN, a US broadcast kids network. McGovney was formerlyDirector of Domestic Licensing & Promotions at the Harvey EntertainmentCompany; Director of Licensing at Leisure Concepts, Inc.; and Senior SalesManager, Licensing & Merchandising for Saban Entertainment.

NADIA NARDONNET has been promoted by BKN to be President of InternationalSales & Coproductions. She will be responsible for managing all staff and

Shows Headline News

FAMILY GUY moves to Thursday

Fox has announced their US Fall prime-time lineup and it includes somesurprises. For one, Toon Tuesday is no more. The closest to it is ToonSunday. Fox's confidence in FAMILY GUY appears to be high, as it has beenmoved to Thursday night where it will stand out as the only animatedseries, sandwiched between two new live-action shows, MANCHESTER PREP andACTION, shows that seem to be geared to the male 18-49 demographic group.

The schedule, which begins in September, is as follows:

Thursday9:00 FAMILY GUY

Digital Headline News

VirtualMagic expands to Asia

Don Spielvogel, President of VirtualMagic Animation, Inc., and JeffreyHarrison, Chairman/CEO of ImagineAsia Studio, announce the formation ofVirtualMagic ASIA, a new digital ink, paint and compositing service in thePhilippines that will operate as a subsidiary of VirtualMagic Animation,Inc. headquartered in North Hollywood, California. VirtualMagic ASIA is acorporate venture between two animation and digital service studios,VirtualMagic Animation, Inc. and ImagineAsia Studio, of Manila.

Film Headline News

DEVIANT! wins at New York Animation Festival

Eoin Clarke's DEVIANT! won the Best of Festival award at the first New YorkAnimation Festival. The first New York Animation Festival presented adiverse international program of film and video animation from May 13-15 inNew York City. Over 2500 attended the three-day event which was held inGreenwich Village at The New School for Social Research's TishmanAuditorium. Here is the complete list of winners: Best of Festival:DEVIANT! by Eoin Clarke; Honorable Mention: ONE SELF: FISH GIRL by Emily

Cartoon Headline News

Kid Rhino Collects a CARTOON MEDLEY

On July 6 Kid Rhino and Cartoon Network celebrate tunes from some of thebest-loved cartoon TV shows of this century with CARTOON MEDLEY, acollection of 38 of Cartoon Network's greatest hits. The collectionfeatures themes from JOSIE & THE PUSSYCATS, THE FLINTSTONES, SPEED RACER,THE JETSONS, SPACE GHOST COAST-TO-COAST, SCOOBY-DOO WHERE ARE YOU?,DEXTER'S LABORATORY, and the current cult favorite THE POWERPUFF GIRLS.Lyrics are included in the CD booklet. CARTOON MEDLEY will retail for

Awards Headline News

Joyce, Wasson, Zoeller win Daytime Emmys

On May 15, 1999 the 26th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were presented in 43categories during ceremonies held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, New YorkCity, and the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills. Outstanding Achievementin Animation Emmy Awards were presented to William Joyce, ProductionDesigner for Nelvana's ROLIE POLIE OLIE, Dave Wasson, Production Designerfor "Max and His Special Problem," part of Nickelodeon's OH YEAH! CARTOONSseries, and Mark Zoeller, Storyboard Artist for DreamWorks' TOONSYLVANIA.

Headline News

Nelvana announces new personnel

Nelvana Communications has announced several key personnel changes. STEVEGALLOWAY has been recruited for Vice President of Development for NelvanaCommunications. He comes from Universal Studios/Music Group where he servedfor eight years as Vice President Longform Programming & Production. Hewill be responsible for overseeing the development of Nelvana's newanimated series for television.

DAVID HARLESTON has been named Vice President of Business and Legal Affairsfor Nelvana Communications. He was formerly General Counsel for Carter

Company Headline News

The Clios have been announced

The 40th Annual Clios, which are given in recognition of outstanding achievement in the advertising industry, have been announced for 1999. The following list includes only animation related awards. For a complete list of winners, visit www.clioawards.com.

ENTRY TYPE: TELEVISION/CINEMACATEGORY: ANIMATIONCOMPUTER

BRONZE AWARDS: Advertiser/Product/Service: Nature's Resource Title: 'Echinacea'Advertising Agency: Leo Burnett, ChicagoProduction Company: Blue Sky/VIFX, Harrison

Animation Headline News

Women in Animation names Jan Nagel interim president

Jan Nagel has been named Interim President of the non-profit, professional organization Women in Animation. Nagel replaces Women In Animation founder Rita Street until elections are held later this year. Nagel, formerly Vice President of the organization, has worked hand-in-hand with Street since WIA's inception in 1994. "As the Interim President, I will work with everyone in Women in Animation to help nurture the organization through this transition," commented Nagel.

Headline News

Class-Key Chew-Po creates McDonald's spots

Los Angeles-based Class-Key Chew-Po Commercials has created a series of"Agent M" spots for McDonald's. Directed by Walter Santucci (EVIL CAT), the2D animated spots feature two characters, Agent M and his partner Sidecat.Their goal is to find and acquaint the public with the great food bargainsat McDonald's. Agent M, voiced by Adam West (BATMAN), is a detective withthe cool confidence of James Bond, but with the clumsiness of InspectorClouseau. Sidecat, voiced by Taurean Blacque (HILL ST. BLUES), saves theday when his boss screws up.

Headline News

Darth Maul action figure tops sales

eToys Inc., an Internet retailer of children's products, reports that DarthMaul tops their list of most popular action figure characters. Samuel L.Jackson's Mace Windu, despite limited screen time, is number two. The leastpopular action figure characters at eToys are Senator Palpatine and theNaboo space craft pilot Ric Olie. Hasbro paid $590 million, and gave GeorgeLucas a 7.4% stake in the company, for the licensing rights to STAR WARSEPISODES ONE, TWO, and THREE.

Top Ten Action Figure Characters at eToys

Headline News

Nickelodeon and Kid Rhino offer Rugrats CD

IN SEARCH OF THE MIGHTY REPTAR, an audio adventure based on THE RUGRATS,the Nickelodeon TV series, will be released by Nickelodeon and Kid Rhino onJuly 20th. The release contains two separate stories, "Reptar On Ice" and"Journey To The Center Of The Basement." "Reptar On Ice" takes the Rugratson a quest to meet Reptar, the giant lizard beloved by Tommy Pickles andhis pals, at the Reptar on Ice Show. "Journey To The Center Of TheBasement" tells how the Rugrats summon up their courage to rescue baby

Game Headline News

Red Storm conspires with BKN to offer TV series-based game

Red Storm, which has been broadening the boundaries of computer gaming withproducts like Tom Clancy's RAINBOW SIX, has reached an agreement withBohbot Kids Network (BKN), a New York-based syndication networkspecializing in children's programming, to produce a series of games basedon BKN's series ROSWELL CONSPIRACIES: ALIENS, MYTHS & LEGENDS, a new showwhich will begin airing in the spring of 2000 and already has a two-yearair commitment. The show is a creation of Allen Bohbot, Chairman and CEO of

Headline News

Kansas City Disney building is marked for demolition

A building at 2449 Charlotte St. on Hospital Hill, former home of theKansas City Slide Co., where A. Vern Cauger hired Disney in 1920, wasbought last year by the University of Missouri-Kansas City, which plans todemolish the site to make way for a life-sciences facility and parking lot.Disney worked for more than two years at the Charlotte address, helpingproduce slides and one-minute films shown as advertisements in movietheaters. He worked alongside other Kansas City artists who, like him,

Sound Headline News

Emmy Awards are announced

The 26th annual Daytime Emmy Awards were announced on May 21st at NewYork's Madison Square Garden Theatre. ARTHUR won Outstanding Children'sAnimated Program; Rob Paulsen, the voice of "Pinky" on STEVEN SPIELBERGPRESENTS: PINKY AND THE BRAIN, won for Outstanding Performer in an AnimatedSeries; PINKY AND THE BRAIN won for Outstanding Special Class/AnimatedProgram; VOLTRON won for Outstanding Sound Editing; THE NEW BATMAN/SUPERMANADVENTURES won for Outstanding Sound Mixing - Special Class; STEVEN

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