* Thursday, March 9, 2000 - Saturday, March 11, 2000. Madrid, Spain.
Cartoon, the European producers organization, will present a seminar on
"how to negotiate with the U.S.A., Canada, Australia and Japan."
Discussions will focus on the structures, customs and constraints of the
fore mentioned markets. After an introduction on each country, the various
policies on international co-productions will be discussed. A question and
On March 21, 2000, POKEMON: THE FIRST MOVIE will hit stores across the U.S.
Every DVD and video will feature a sneak preview of this summer's new
theatrical film POKEMON THE MOVIE 2000 plus THE STORY OF MEWTWO'S ORIGIN.
To promote the video release, five special "Golden Tickets" will be
included in random VHS packages. The five lucky recipients will win a
first-edition starter set of Team Rocket game cards, a trip for two to
Japan, a meeting with Mr. Ishihara, creator of the POKEMON card game and a
ATOMFILMS, a leader in next-generation entertainment, announced that JOHN
MARCOM, former President of Time Inc. International, will join as the new
senior VP of worldwide revenue and media strategies. In his new role,
Marcom will coordinate worldwide on-line and off-line sales of AtomFilms'
growing library of short-form entertainment. During his stint at Time Inc.,
Marcom oversaw a catalog of more than a dozen national and international
news, business and lifestyle publications. Joining Time Inc. in 1993,
Opening the weekend of February 11, 2000 in the U.K., TOY STORY 2 has
already broken box office records. Playing on 495 screens, the sequel
grossed US$12.8 million in its first three days. The feat even beat out
bohemeth-grossing STAR WARS EPISODE 1, which made only $12.5 million in its
first U.K. weekend. So far Buena Vista International, which is distributing
the film outside the U.S., said the movie has already grossed $332 million
worldwide. Playing on 3,334 screens outside the U.S. this past weekend, TOY
February is our annual motion-capture and stop-motion issue, and we have
plenty in store as usual. Sharon Schatz interviews Brian Nilles of leading
motion-capture technology firm, Vicon Motion Systems. Gregory Singer goes
behind the scenes on one of the many projects which uses Vicon's
technology, while Laura Schiff introduces us to Webbie Tookay, a new
motion-capture personality. On the stop-motion side of things, Wendy
Jackson covers Aardman Animations' current high flying times as they work
Animha Productions, a unique association of professionals dedicated to
independent film production and animation workshops, is working on a peace
film project created by Prakash Moorthy in India and Animha's Dave
Brunskill in England. The film will include single drawings and paintings
done by 5-7 year-old children from around the world, and all children are
invited to participate. The subject is "a mother sending her child to
school." Drawings should reflect the national identity of the child, using
Two years ago, following the theatrical release of "Anastasia," Fox was
expanding its commitment to animation. Fox Family Films, one of Twentieth
Century Fox's four film divisions, was being renamed Fox Animation Studios,
to reflect the division's new plan to focus solely on animated feature
films, including stop-motion, mixed media (live-action mix) and digital
production. Several animated projects were on the development slate then,
including "Dark Town" with Henry Selick, "Santa Calls" with Blue Sky|VIFX,
CINAR ENTERTAINMENT has filled the newly created seat of president with
PETER MOSS. In his position effective March 1, Moss will focus on
developing CINAR's entertainment business in North America, Latin America
and Asia. Before joining CINAR, Moss served as programming and production
VP for YTV, Canada's youth network. Moss has regularly worked in pre-school
programming with the Children's Television Network and the CBC.
On February 3, 2000, Pixar reported financial results for its fiscal fourth
quarter and year ending January 1, 2000. For the quarter, Pixar posted
record profits of US$9.6 million, or $0.19 per diluted share. These results
are compared to profits of $1.1 million, or $0.02 per diluted share,
achieved in the 4th quarter of 1998. Revenues for the quarter were $24.9
million, compared with $3.1 million a year-ago. For the year, Pixar held
profits of $49.2 million, or $0.99 per diluted share, compared with $7.8
In association with Children's Television Workshop and IF/X Productions,
CineGroupe will be producing 40 half-hour episodes of SAGWA, THE CHINESE
SIAMESE CAT for PBS KIDS. The series is adapted from the award-winning
children's book by Amy Tan, author of THE JOY LUCK CLUB. SAGWA follows the
title character's escapades through Ancient China. Each episode will
include 11-minute segments and related interstitials woven together by
music, folk stories and fairy tales. The executive producers of the project
February is our annual motion-capture and stop-motion issue, and we have
plenty in store as usual. Sharon Schatz interviews Brian Nilles of leading
motion-capture technology firm, Vicon Motion Systems. Gregory Singer goes
behind the scenes on one of the many projects which uses Vicon's
technology, while Laura Schiff introduces us to Webbie Tookay, a new
motion-capture personality. On the stop-motion side of things, Wendy
Jackson covers Aardman Animations' current high flying times as they work
STARDUST ENTERTAINMENT FILMPRODUKTION is a studio located in
Berlin-Potsdam, Germany, specializing in computer animation (3D) and visual
effects. The CGI studio is equipped with the most advanced wireless
motion-capture system by Motion Analysis. In addition to its staff of 50
CGI professionals from 15 different countries, currently based at the
studio in Germany, Stardust Entertainment is cooperating with CGI studios
in Romania, Italy, Spain, Belgium and Asia. Currently in production on a 26
Three new Scandinavian markets surrendered their airwaves to Pokemania.
Worldwide sensation POKEMON was recently sold to TV4 in Sweden, TV2 in
Denmark and TV2 in Norway. The show will hit the new territories in January
and February 2000. Lacey Entertainment, the international distributors of
the series, also announced the sale of the Pikachu-vehicle to ATV in Turkey
and Noga Communications' Children's Channel in Israel. In Europe, POKEMON
began broadcasting in September 1999 on Germany's RTL2, The Netherlands'
Three new Scandinavian markets surrendered their airwaves to Pokemania.
Worldwide sensation Pokemon was recently sold to TV4 in Sweden, TV2 in
Denmark and TV2 in Norway. The show will hit the new territories in January
and February 2000. The international distributor, Lacey Entertainment, also
announced the sale of the Pikachu-vehicle to ATV in Turkey and Noga
Communications' Children's Channel in Israel.
The Pokemon phenomenon began in America in 1998 with the release of the
On Friday, January 14, 2000, Walt Disney International-Latin America
announced the launch of the Disney Channel Latin America and an exclusive
satellite television distribution agreement with Galaxy Latin America, LLC
for DIRECTV service in Spanish-speaking Latin America. "Launching the
Disney Channel in Latin America in 2000 is an exciting initiative for the
Walt Disney Company," said Diego Lerner, president and managing director,
WDI-Latin America. "As we have in other parts of the world, we will now
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Lucasfilm Ltd. announced the
simultaneous worldwide VHS release of George Lucas' STAR WARS: EPISODE I
THE PHANTOM MENACE. Young Jedi wanna-bes around the globe will snag their
copy the week of April 3 - 8, 2000. The biggest box office hit of 1999 and
second highest-grossing motion picture of all time worldwide, will official
go on sale in North America on Tuesday, April 4, 2000. The US$922 million
January 1997 saw the passing of filmmaker Renzo Kinoshita and curator
Louise Beaudet. Annecy Festival Director Jean-Luc Xiberras died a
year ago. Although they worked in very different areas, the three of
them shared a passion for animation, and dedicated their lives to
helping the animation community define itself.
Renzo Kinoshita was an accomplished filmmaker -- his major work,
"Made in Japan" won the Grand Prix at the New York International
Trivandrum, India-based TOONZ ANIMATION INDIA PVT. LTD. named TOM TILBURY
to their exec staff. Base of operations for Tilbury will be Los Angeles,
where he will helm all sales and marketing for the studio's operations in
India and the U.S. Tilbury joins Toonz Animation from Cambridge Animation
Systems were he served as VP of International Distribution.
Interactive Television Entertainment (ITE) has secured two new
territories for its show HUGO JUNGLE. The show will start airing March
1, 2000 on Nat 7 in Malaysia and January 17, 2000 on BKTV in Serbia and
Montenegro. Extensive use of the Animation Mask System, and animated
links between each playing scenario, make HUGO JUNGLE a unique live
interactive cartoon show.
In
Toronto-based DECODE ENTERTAINMENT has announced DOMINIQUE BAZAY and
CAROLINE DORRIS to its recently formed international distribution
division. As Director of International Sales, Bazay, who will be based
in Toronto, will head distribution activities and sales to Scandinavia,
Spain, Portugal, Eastern Europe and South Africa, among other
territories. Bazay previously served in sales for BBC Worldwide
Americas, Paragon Entertainment, and the CBC. Dorris will also serve as
As we reported in the past [AF 7/1/97], the
world-renowned Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki had decided to
hang up his white film gloves and never make a feature film again. Well
cheer up anime fans! The master is back to work on a new feature film. This
announcement ends a 2 1/2 year hiatus after PRINCESS MONONOKE broke box
office records all over Japan. What's the follow-up to the US$150 million
hit at the Japanese B.O.? The project is titled SEN TO CHIHIRO NO
This month Animation World Magazine is taking a special focus on AsianAnimation, especially Japan. Kosei Ono profiles Japanese artist, TadahitoMochinaga, and Gigi Hu introduces us to two of Japan's leading independentfilmmakers. A group of key creative talent from Blue Sky Studios recentlytoured Japan and have provided us with a scrapbook of photos and stories.Andrew Osmond takes an indepth look at the impact Japanese animation ishaving on animation made outside of Japan and we begin the first in a
Next summer the third feature installment of the POKEMON trilogy will makeits way to Japanese theatres. POCKET MONSTER: THE LORD OF THE UNKNOWN TOWERwill introduce yet another of those little "pocket things" to kids andmerchandising execs around the world. Kunihiko Yuyama is set to direct thefilm, which will feature a short tentatively titled POKEMON 2000. If in theU.S. or Europe one may ask, whatever happened to POKEMON 2? Well, fear notCharmander chums, the second POKEMON feature, which was released in Japan
As part of the International Children's Film Festival in Hyderabad, Indiaon November 17 - 18, 1999, 45 children ages 5 - 15 years old came togetherto create a wildly imaginative, 5 minute animated short titled TOONED IN 2DAYS. The feat was done at a 2 day workshop on animation conducted by Dr.Neeraj's Animation Studios, the digital animation production facility ofSriven Multi-Tech Limited. Twenty of the studio's top animators, led byDhimant Vyas and Rajsekhar took on the responsibility of guiding the
The Monte-Carlo Television Festival has announced the members of theirinternational jury for the 2nd European Television Producer Award. GuyFournier, the Canadian writer/producer, will preside over the seven memberjury. Guy Fournier has written some 2000 hours of television drama forFrench and Canadian productions, over 150 hours of films and series fortelevision, plays for the theater, feature length films (FANTASTICA, UNEAMIE D'ENFANCE) and has also published a number of books. Other jury
