DreamWorks Pictures and Pacific Data Images' computer-animated feature film, "Antz" opens in U.S. theaters on Friday, October 2. The film's 78 minutes of animation (112,320 frames) took two and a half years and a staff of over 200 people to produce. Character voices featured in the film include Woody Allen, Dan Akroyd, Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Stone, Sylvester Stallone and Christopher Walken.
FOX KIDS WORLDWIDE has promoted YNON KRIEZ to president, Fox Kids Europe, a newly created position. As managing director of Fox Kids Europe since its launch in 1997, Kriez, based in London, has already overseen the launch of language-localized children's channels in the U.K., Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Poland, as well as a program block in Spain.
Bonjourno, Mickey! The Italian version of THE DISNEY CHANNEL will begin broadcast on October 3, launching with the country's first TV broadcast of the animated feature, "The Lion King." All programming will be dubbed in Italian. The channel is being transmitted daily from 6 a.m. to midnight, as part of a digital bouquet of channels offered by Telepiu. Disney Channel Italy is headquartered in Milan and headed up by vice president and managing director Janet Scardino. The former Sunbow Entertainment VP joined the company in March 1998.
NICKELODEON plans to launch a 24-hour version of its network in Russia, per a recently-signed agreement with Metromedia International Group. Programming will consist of Russian-language dubbed U.S. shows such as "Rugrats." This will be Nickelodeon's sixth territory-specific network, following existing channels in Australia, Latin America, the Nordic countries, Turkey and the U.K.
San Francisco-based WILD BRAIN, INC. produced two new commercials for Ogilvy & Mather's Hershey's Kisses ad campaign. The two new 15-second spots were directed by Carl Willat, who has directed more than 15 Hershey's Kisses ads over the last decade. "Drag Racing," like all previous 15 spots, uses tried-and-true stop-motion. However, for the second spot, titled "Fishing," Willat used computer animation, marking the first time CGI has been used in this campaign. Willat insisted, however, that CGI will not replace stop-motion.
JOE ALONSO has been named international vice president of sales and marketing for CRATER SOFTWARE, creators of CTP (Cartoon Television Program), a 2D animation program for Windows 95 and NT. He will be based in the company's Montreal, Canada office. Alonso previously held sales and marketing positions with Toon Boom Technologies, Softimage and Discreet Logic.
The Disney Channel has launched its annual "Create Story Magic" contest, inviting kids aged 6-12 to compete for the chance to have his or her original story turned into an animated short. Last year's winner was 12-year-old Ian O'Neal, whose story, "Dragon Friend" was selected from over 22,000 entries, animated by Walt Disney Television Animation and broadcast on Disney Channel this year. Every year, the winner also receives a trip for four to Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios. This year's contest is being promoted by Target Stores and Cable in the Classroom.
Montreal, Canada-based PRODUCTIONS PASCAL BLAIS completed a 30-second clay-animated commercial for J. Walter Thompson's client Kraft/Oscar Mayer Foods and their product "Lunchables." The spot, titled "Kitchen Hoops" was directed by Pascal Blais, and is the third in a series of animated spots for this client. It portrays a boy and his father playing a game of basketball, and celebrating afterwards by breaking out the product, "All Star Burgers and Hot Dogs." The commercial is airing nationally in the U.S.
Vancouver, Canada-based Mainframe Entertainment will produce two feature-length, stereoscopic, 3D computer-animated films for IMAX large-format cinemas. The announcement comes exactly two years after the two companies announced a production deal [AF 8/21/96] to produce two 3D CG-animated ride-films based on Mainframes TV series, ReBoot. The first one, ReBoot, the Ride opened in IMAX ride theaters last year and the second, Journey Into Chaos will open next month.
San Francisco, California-based computer animation studio Mondo Media has hired Douglas Kay as president. He was previously vice president of development for Berkeley Systems. Before that he was chief technical officer at LucasArts, following nine years at Industrial Light & Magic, where he was a founding member of the computer graphics department in 1985.
* Monday, September 28. New York City, New York, U.S.A.
* Monday, September 28. San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
Glendale, California-based animation and development studio, Creative Capers Entertainment has partnered with Dallas, Texas-based content delivery system company, Rapture Technologies, to form a new company. The 50/50 joint venture, called Digital Doorway, will be based in Glendale and focus on production and marketing of interactive gaming, entertainment and educational titles for the PC, console, hand-held and online markets.
* Tuesday, September 29 - October 4. Ottawa, Canada.
Los Angeles-based Klasky Csupo has expanded its commercials division with the signing of eight directors to its roster: CORKY QUAKENBUSH is a stop-motion animator famous for his raunchy MAD TV spots; Sweden-native STIG BERQVIST is a 2D animator who recently completed working on Stressed Eric with Klaskys TV division, and also co-directed short films including Otto and Revolver; JIM BLASHFIELD is a Portland, Oregon-based mixed-media director known for his cut-out look utilized in such music videos as Michael Jacksons Leave Me Alo
ASIFA-Hollywood has released the list of nominees for its 26th annual Annie Awards, which will take place at Alex Theatre in Glendale, California on Friday, November 13, at 7 p.m. For information call (818) 842-8330.
For a complete list of nominees, click here.
PAUL WAXMAN, a former marketing executive at Irwin Toy, has branched off and formed his own company, D.E.E.P. ENTERTAINMENT. Based in Toronto and Halifax, Canada, the company will focus on development of animation properties such as NuKeD and The Lugs, for which financing partners are currently being sought.
MARK SIMON, president of Animatics & Storyboards, and author of the book Storyboards: Motion in Art, and producer DAVE KALLAHER have joined forces to start a new company, AARGH! ANIMATION, INC. Based in Orlando, Florida, the company will specialize in cel and stop-motion animation, character design and storyboards. JEANNE PAPPAS SIMON, co-owner of Animatics & Storyboards, will be head writer for AARGH!
CAMBRIDGE ANIMATION SYSTEMS (CAS), creators of Animo 2D animation software, has hired Mark Watt as director of research and development. Watt co-founded Second Nature Industries, a company in Los Angeles. He was previously a senior programmer with Xaos, Thomson Digital Image and Digital Pictures. Watt will be based at CAS U.K. office. TOM CARRIGAN, recently hired by CAS as director of international sales, will be based at the companys Glendale office, not in U.K. office as was stated in last weeks news.
Warner Bros. Family Entertainment has released a new, direct-to-video animated title, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island. The production was done at Hanna-Barbera (now a part of the Warner Bros. family), executive produced by Jean MacCurdy, produced by Cos Anzilotti with supervising producer Davis Doi, directed by Jim Stenstrum and written by Glenn Leopold. The video was released today and is priced at U.S. $19.96. A huge promotional push for the video includes tie-ins with 1-800-COLLECT, Wendys Restaurants, Cartoon Network, LEGO and Nascar.
* Wednesday, September 23 - Sunday, September 27. Syros, Greece.
* Thursday, September 24 - Saturday, September 26. Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
The University of the Balearic Islands presents ANI.MAR 98, short for the Amateur Animators Focused International Festival. This competitive festival has three categories: 3D animation short films, traditional animation films less than 15 minutes and traditional animation films more than 15 minutes. The event will also offer workshops, retrospectives and exhibitions. For information contact info@studio1.uib.es.
* Friday, September 25 - Sunday, September 27. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
UCLA hosts three puppet performances brought over from the Henson Festival of Puppet Theater, in conjunction with the new Cotsen Center for Puppetry at Cal Arts: Ubu and the Truth Commission by South African group The Handspring Puppet Company (featuring animator William Kentridge), Electric Shadows by American-Indonesian act Wayang Listrik and Short Stories by Peruvian Teatro Hugo and Ines. For show times and tickets, call (310) 825-2101.
* Friday, September 25. Utrecht, Netherlands.
The Utrecht School of the Arts faculty of Art, Media & Technology holds their annual presentation of the European Media Master of Arts, including Computer Animation. The event will take place at Baby in Amsterdam. Admission for Baby members is free, All others are admitted by invitation only. Contact hans.mertens@kmt.hku.nl for more details.
* Friday, September 25. London, England, U.K.
In honor of Warner Bros. 75th anniversary, The Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI) launches an exhibition of original Looney Tunes art work. In honor of MOMIs tenth anniversary, admission is free until the end of September! For more information about MOMI, visit the Hidden Treasures feature in Animation World Magazines October 1997 issue.
