Tagged With: Animated

Voting members of the Academy, your ballots are almost due! Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences must return their completed final Oscar ballots to PricewaterhouseCoopers by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2002. Ballots received after the 5:00 pm deadline are ineligible. If you havent had a chance to see all the nominated animated films, check out clips from the animated short films and find out information on all the animated feature nominees at AWNs Oscar Showcase.

BRB Internacional's slate of animated programming will be seen in Spanish language markets in both Latin America and the U.S. BRB has signed an agreement with Venevision International, the production and distribution arm of the Cisneros Group, to distribute the BRB animation catalogue of over 700 half-hours and 20 TV movies throughout North, Central and South America, excluding Mexico.

MR. BEAN, the eccentric character created by writer/actor Rowan Atkinson, is set for his animated television debut, March 2, 2002 on UK channel ITV1 beginning at 5:50 pm. After previously bringing Bean to life in a live-action series and a feature film, Atkinson was closely involved with the animated version of his character as well. "As a live-action character, Mr. Bean always possessed a cartoon-like quality," said Atkinson, who was filmed for every episode of the series so animators could use his distinct movements when creating the animated MR. BEAN.

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences has announced their nominations for the coveted Oscar award. Receiving nominations for best animated short were Ruairi Robinsons 3D meditation on suicide FIFTY PERCENT GREY, Cathal Gaffneys "animated documentary" GIVE UP YER AUL SINS, Pixars latest 3D short FOR THE BIRDS, Joe Merideths caveman comedy STUBBLE TROUBLE and Cordell Barkers tale of otherworldly love STRANGE INVADERS. These films are featured on AWN with QuickTime clips, pictures and information about the films and directors.

Tape House Toons has completed 16-seconds of animation that transforms Melissa Joan Hart of The WB! television program SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH into an animated character. In the episode, which airs February 1, 2002 at 8:00 pm, a hex is put on Sabrina and she is turned into an animated character who careens around the live-action set until the hex is removed and she returns to normal. Don McGrath co-directed and animated the sequences. Richard Codor did character design, storyboarding and co-directed, and David Lipson was executive producer.

The interactive division of Toronto-based DECODE Entertainment is going into production on two Websites based on animated series. In addition to creating a French-language version of UNDERGRADS Online, they will also be developing the interactive world of GIRLSTUFF BOYSTUFF. UNDERGRADS Online is the Website DECODE developed alongside the animated series that currently airs on MTV and Teletoon. Co-produced by DECODE and MTV Animation, UNDERGRADS follows four male friends as they attempt to maintain their camaraderie while struggling to survive their first year at different colleges.

INITIAL D is the tent pole of several newly acquired properties international distributor TOKYOPOP will showcase at NATPE 2002. An unassuming tofu delivery boy becomes addicted to street racing in this Japanese import, which has already spawned a theatrical animated film and sold over 30 million graphic novels in its native country. Call it the animated FAST AND THE FURIOUS. TOKYOPOP will also present REIGN, a sci-fi fantasy take on the ancient world of Alexander the Great featuring character and concept design from Peter Chung, creator of MTVs AEON FLUX.

Indias Pentamedia Graphics Ltd. will present a slate of animated movies, home videos and series at NATPE 2002 including the new 3D animated feature ALIBABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES. The company is currently in production on SINBAD AND THE SECRET OF COLONIS, the 3D animated sequel to SINBAD: BEYOND THE VEIL OF MISTS.

Read about the making of SINBAD: BEYOND THE VEIL OF MISTS, Pentamedias first foray into 3D animation features.

Now that the animated feature category is a lock, the Oscar race is on, and critics groups from around the country are starting to weigh in with their picks. Although the New York Film Critics Circle chose WAKING LIFE as best animated film of the year, SHREK is pulling ahead in the accolades department. The DreamWorks blockbuster picked up the award for best animated film from the National Board of Review and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, as well as making a list of ten nominees for best film of the year from both the AFI and the Broadcast Film Critics Association.