Billy Idol gets into HEAVY METAL
Eighties rock singer Billy Idol is providing the lead voice in Sceneries Entertainment's upcoming animated feature HEAVY METAL: F.A.K.K. 2, to be released by Columbia TriStar in fall 1999. The film is based on a graphic novel by TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES creator Kevin Eastman, along with Simon Bisley and Eric Talbot. Idol will play the role of Tyler, a genocidal villain, who will ultimately be conquered by F.A.K.K., an immortal female warrior. The film's soundtrack also features music by Axel Rose, Sammy Hagar and the Stone Temple Pilots.
POKEMON sold to Europe
Lacey Entertainment has sold the hit show POKEMON to the following European broadcasters: RTL 2 (Germany), Sky TV (UK) and MediaSet (Italy). Sky TV began broadcasting the show the week of March 29, while RTL 2 and MediaSet will begin airing the series in September. All three networks will air the series as a five-day-a-week strip. In a related announcement, EM TV & Merchandising of Germany has secured POKEMON merchandise and promotion licensing representation in that territory.
RUPERT arrives on DVD
George Pal's first feature film, THE GREAT RUPERT (1950), is being released on DVD by Image Entertainment. The film, which has never been released on home video before, is an Arnold Leibovit Entertainment Presentation, and will be released on May 7 for a retal price of $24.99. It stars the legendary Jimmy Durante, Tom Drake and Terry Moore (Jill from the 1949 film MIGHTY JOE YOUNG); as well as Rupert, a dancing squirrel brought to life using Pal's trademark Puppetoon animation technique. The rarely seen film was transferred from one of the few 35mm nitrate prints in existence.
"Banzai! Animation and the Pacific War"
* Wednesday, March 31. Burbank, California, U.S.A.
ASIFA-Hollywood Lecture Series
Tueday, April 13. Glendale, California, U.S.A.
As part of ASIFA-Hollywood's Third Annual Lecture Series, Corey Hels willspeak at the Glendale Community College auditorium about what it takes tobe a technical director. Hels has worked as a technical director or CGIanimator for various studios including Metrolight, Dream Quest Images,Turner Feature Animation, and Warner Bros. Feature and Classical Animation.His film credits include CATS DON'T DANCE, IRON GIANT, THE MASK, CRIMSON
Neurones rescues Fantome
After a long struggle, Fantôme, one of Europe's premier producers of 3D animation, was put into receivership. Founded in 1985, Fantôme was a pioneer of completely computer-generated animation TV series. In addition to an Emmy, Fantôme has garnered more than 40 international prizes, and their 3D television series INSEKTORS (26 13-minute segments) has sold in 160 countries.
Fred Seibert moving back to MTV
Fred Seibert, former President of Hanna-Barbera and MTV's original creative director, has been named President of MTV Networks Online, reporting directly to Tom Freston, Chairman and CEO, MTV Networks. MTV Networks Online will be based in New York along with a satellite office in San Mateo, California.
Film Roman launches fine arts competition
Film Roman/Level 13 Entertainment and the prestigious Rico Gallery are holding the first ever Film Roman Fine Arts Competition. Entries are welcome from artists/animators of all ages in any medium including drawings, sculptures, paintings and ceramics. A panel of judges from the television, film and art communities will select the 40 most creative and original works to be showcased at the Rico Gallery for two months starting in June 1999.
ImagineAsia gets into HEAVY METAL
Manila-based ImagineAsia is the Asian studio chosen to do the production work for HEAVY METAL F.A.K.K. 2, the $15-million sequel to 1981's HEAVY METAL. The film is being co-produced by Canada's Cine-Groupe and Germany's Helkon Media for a U.S. Columbia TriStar release during the second half of 1999. The film is directed by Michael Coldeway, and stars Julie Strain and Billy Idol. This marks the feature debut of ImagineAsia, as well as one of the few times an Asian animation facility has been called upon to fully animate a feature film for a major U.S. studio.
SAFO '99 Site Update
The Ottawa Student Animation Festival web site has been updated. French-Canadians can now find a French version of the festival regulations and on-line entry form...
Plympton's Comic of the Week: "Consumo The Great."
This week's comic is about super man "Consumo The Great"...
This Week In AWN's Store: Brussels Festival; Classic Children's Collection.
Featured in the Animation World Store this week: Brussels '99 Festival Catalog by Folioscope and Weston Woods Rare Classic Children's Collection.
Loop Filmworks open for business
Award-winning animation director David Chartier has launched Loop Filmworks (www.loopfilmworks.com), a new animation production company. His stop motion animated spot, "Talk Show," won both the Gold Medal and Grand Prix award at this year's New York Festival. Since starting in the industry in 1991, he has worked for Olive Jar Studio and Curious Pictures, and recently designed two stop motion/cut-paper animation campaigns for Nickelodeon. "I started Loop Filmworks as a means of rededicating myself to creating innovative animation for advertising," said Chartier.
Teletoon's Animation Scholarship Award Competition
Teletoon, Canada's all-animation channel, is holding their second annual Animation Scholarship Award Competition, recognizing the efforts and financial needs of young Canadian art students. A total of C$29,000 will be divided between 10 talented students with the prize amounts ranging from $1,500 to $5,000.
Job Opportunities For Associate Producer/Production Manager
ImagineAsia Studios is seeking an Associate Producer/Production Manager for a six- to nine-month commitment on a contract basis. Permanency is potential. ImagineAsia, Inc. is an exciting state-of-the-art digital and traditional animation studio based in Manila, Philippines (currently in production on Columbia TriStar/Cine Groupe's "Heavy Metal F.A.K.K.2"). ImagineAsia is seeking an energetic, creative and highly organized individual who has animation experience from concept development through tape delivery.
Oscar Vote, AWN Vote: Same Winner!
This past Sunday, in Los Angeles, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the Best Animated Short Film winner...
An animation festival arrives in Auch, France
* Wednesday, March 24 - Saturday, March 27. Auch, France.
For its 12th edition, the Festival National du Film d'Animation (National Animation Festival) moves to Auch, Central France from its previous home in Marly-le-Roi. Programs include screenings, panel discussions, tributes, exhibitions, the workshop "Introduction to Animation," and opportunities for audiences to meet the filmmakers. For more information, call ++ 33 (0)1-4543-2359, e-mail afca@afca.asso.fr or visit www.afca.asso.fr.
Julia Pistor upped to Senior VP at Nick Movies
Julia Pistor, a founding executive of Nickelodeon Movies, has been promoted to Senior Vice President of the division. Pistor, who will continue to report to Albie Hecht, President of Film and Television Entertainment for Nickelodeon, will relocate to Los Angeles from the company's headquarters in New York. She will be responsible for broadening Nickelodeon's feature development slate and continue its mandate to produce kids-first movies, star-driven family films and animated features.
Fred and Barney star in a new Cocoa Pebbles ad
Hollywood-based CLASS-KEY CHEW-PO COMMERCIALS, in conjunction with Ogilvy & Mather, has created the newest Cocoa Pebbles cereal spot starring Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble. The 30-second commercial, directed by Raul Garcia, features a traditionally-drawn Fred and Barney placed in a computer-generated 3D video game environment, and eventually jumping into a live-action setting. The video game environment and other characters were created in Maya NT software. The 2D and 3D live action were combined using both Flame and Toon Boom software.
DHIMA hosting demo reel party
On March 25, 1999, 7-10 pm, you are invited to join Santa Monica-based DHInstitute of Media Arts (DHIMA) in celebrating demo reels of new graduatesand current work produced by our students. After a ton of hard work, theseDHIMA students are ready to blow off some steam with staff, students,alumni, and industry. See why SIGGRAPH '97 and '98 recognized 11 of DHIMAstudents with awards. Past graduates have gone on to work at companies suchas Digital Domain, Pixel Envy, SEGA, Namco, Square, Alias|Wavefront, etc.
DH Institute of Media Arts (DHIMA) year-end screening/exhibit
* Thursday, March 25. Santa Monica, California, U.S.A.
DH Institute of Media Arts (DHIMA) will have a year-end exhibit/screening of works from graduating and current students starting at 7:00 p.m. Demo reels and current projects will be shown, and visitors can enjoy beer, wine, snacks and music throughout the evening. Past DHIMA graduates have gone on to work at companies such as Digital Domain, SEGA, Namco and Alias|Wavefront. To RSVP, call (310) 899-9377 or e-mail rsvp@dhima.com
Little bits from the big screen
Warner Bros. THE KING AND I, produced by Rich Animation, opened in North America last weekend (March 19-21) in 2352 theaters with a lackluster total of $4,007,565 million. . . . DOUG'S 1ST MOVIE, produced by Jumbo Pictures and released by Disney, will open in North America on Friday, March 26, just in time for spring break.
Sony Pictures announces new deals
Sony Pictures Entertainment's (SPE) new family entertainment division (AF 03/09/99) has announced their first two development deals. The group has acquired worldwide rights to Kevin Eastman's UNDERWHERE, and has signed Eastman to develop an animated children's series based on his popular book. The series follows the adventures of 10-year-old Jacob who travels to UNDERWHERE, a land that exists in the same space as ours but can only be visited by those who possess the gift of imagination.
Michael Bennion gets Curious
New York-based CURIOUS PICTURES has added Michael Bennion to its directorial roster for representation in the United States. Bennion, collaborating with Curious director David Kelley, recently completed his first job under the Curious Pictures banner, a pool of spots for CDnow. For the last year, Bennion has been associated with The End (London, England), which will continue to rep him outside of the US. While there, he created ads for MTV and LUCKY, a live-action short film.
The Attik hires Stephen Kinney
New York-based THE ATTIK has hired STEPHEN KINNEY as senior producer. In addition to managing creative aspects of projects and branding strategies, Kinney will focus largely on building creative resources and live-action production. Kinney, 28, joins The Attik from Pittard Sullivan (New York, NY), where from 1997-1999 he was a producer working on a variety of network broadcast branding projects including the launch package for Canadian cable sports network CTV Sportsnet, and projects for ESPN, AOL, CBS and Lifetime, among others.
