NewKidCo and Disney Interactive join to develop console titles
Burlington, Massachusetts-based NewKidCo International Inc., a children'sgame publisher, and Disney Interactive have entered into a multi-yearagreement to develop and publish console video games featuring popularDisney properties. Through the deal, NewKidCo has obtained the rights topublish interactive adventures for various video game platforms, includingPlayStation, Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color. As part of the agreement, thefirst title targeted for release will be DISNEY'S ANIMATED STORYBOOK:
SEGA GAMEWORKS hires RON BENSION as president and CEO
SEGA GAMEWORKS, a location-based entertainment venture formed by StevenSpielberg and DreamWorks SKG, Universal Studios and Sega Enterprises, hasnamed leisure entertainment industry veteran, RON BENSION, as president andCEO. As Chairman and CEO of MCA/Universal Studios Recreation Group from1992 to 1996, Bension was responsible for running all aspects of UniversalStudios Hollywood and Universal Studios Florida in addition to developinginternational theme park joint ventures in the United Kingdom and Japan.
KLEISER-WALCZAK CONSTRUCTION CO. hires JIM HATCH
KLEISER-WALCZAK CONSTRUCTION CO., which has studios in North Adams,Massachusetts, Manhattan, and Hollywood, has hired JIM HATCH as chiefoperating officer. Hatch will oversee the company's daily administration,operations, and financial management, working with co-founders and ownersJeff Kleiser and Diana Walczak. Hatch previously worked at AmericanInteractive Media, Inc. where he was chief operating officer and corporatesecretary.
A Closer Look: Canada, a major player in the animation industry
Two years ago, Walt Disney Animation Canada Inc. expanded its productionservices by officially opening a permanent studio in Toronto, in additionto the one which has been operating in Vancouver since 1996. Bothfacilities operate as one co-existing production unit referred to as "theCanadian studio." It also handles pre-production, such as storyboarding,character design and layout, thus creating the first full-service facilityin the Walt Disney Television Animation family. Whereas Hollywood had
CINANIMA '99 daily programs now available
The Cinanima International Animated Film Festival will be held November8-14, 1999, in Espinho, Portugal. In addition to this year's officialcompetition program, as well as the retrospectives and exhibitions, thefestival web site now offers the festival daily program on their web site.
October Acrobat Issue of Animation World Magazine Now Online!
As the holidays approach our minds turn to licensing and merchandising andwhat is going to be on the shelves this winter. In this issue TarletonGillespie takes us on a trip through Toys R Us to determine the meaning oftoys to kids. The French licensing and merchandising market is detailed byValerie Rivoallon. Sharon Schatz profiles toon loving Rhino Records andKaren Raugust looks at how "Sesame Street's" content changes as the popularshow travels around the world. "Toy Wishes" predicts this year's top dozen
Job opportunity for a Digital Animation Instructor
California-based Glendale Community College is looking for a Digital Animation Instructor...
Will your school be listed in AWN's Winter 2000 Animation School Directory?
AWN's Winter 2000 Animation School Directory is coming in December.Educators and School Administrators - don't miss out! Make sure AWN's nextschool directory includes the most current information about youreducational program....
New clips, columns and links in the Student Corner!
This week, we highlight AWN's exclusive two part story on legendaryanimator Bob Clampett, his award winning work at Warner Bros. and hisfamous Beany and Cecil show - plus Glenn Vilppu's latest masterclass tutorial...
This week's Animation Trivia Quiz: Famous Animators and Comic Strips
This week's AWN Animation Trivia Quiz features questions famous animators and their close relationship with "comics."...
New ADULTS ONLY Plympton Comic of the Week!
This week's comic, extracted from the comic book, "SleazyCartoons of Bill Plympton," is for ADULTS ONLY....
Store Special: Yuri Norstein's artwork, in honor of his coming to California
Yuri Norstein is considered one of the most remarkable directors to emergefrom the current generation of Russian animators. Norstein will be inCalifornia this upcoming week for an exceptional tour of major studios anduniversities. His California tour includes: ASIFA San Francisco and De AnzaCollege on Sunday, October 17; Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) on Monday,October 18; UCLA and CalArts on Tuesday, October 19; the Disney Studios andUSC on Wednesday, October 20; L.A. Art Centre & ASIFA-Hollywood on
Horsing around with VICON 8
Texas-based company Locomotion Studios recently pushed Vicon MotionSystems' Vicon 8 to the limit, by capturing motion data of riders onhorseback for THE NIGHT OF THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN, a TV movie being producedby Computed Animation Technology (CAT) which will air on Fox on October 28at 8 pm. The company merged their Vicon 8 with CAT's Vicon 8 to accomplishthe feat, which was no easy task. The crew had several concerns, the mostchallenging being finding a way to place markers on an animal that would be
Multipath offers Superman DVD game
Last week we announced that Warner Bros. Online and Brilliant DigitalEntertainment were joining up to create Multipath Movie Channel, a 3-Danimation channel, and that SUPERMAN: THE MENACE OF METALLO would be itsfirst online offering. Well, SUPERMAN 1: THE MENACE OF METALLO is alsobeing released on November 2, 1999 as a multi-path interactive DVDadventure. In the game, Superman flies to the planet Cadmus in search of astolen top-secret piece of technology, where he finds Metallo, a robot with
ITV orders more STORYKEEPERS
United Kingdom's ITV Network Centre has commissioned a second series of 13episodes of the animated series THE STORYKEEPERS from Dublin, Ireland-basedMonster Productions, an animation studio and distribution company formed in1995 by former management and artists from the Don Bluth studios. The newseries, produced by Shepherd Films, and distributed by Monster Distributes,will be delivered in Spring 2001 for broadcast on Sunday mornings. The newseries, which is a prequel to the existing series, is set in AD 8, and
Here is some additional info about THE IRON GIANT DVD
Last week we announced that the THE IRON GIANT laser disc release will havea 1.85:1 aspect ratio, whereas the film was released with a 2.35:1. Inaddition, when we announced the DVD and VHS releases three weeks ago, weneglected to mention that the DVD, as well as the widescreen VHS release,will also be 1.85:1. It's unfortunate that none of these will be 2.35:1because Brad Bird designed THE IRON GIANT partly in homage to theCinemaScope films of the 1950s, and he even wanted to include "CinemaScope"
SIMEX completes "Glitch"
Santa Monica, California-based SIMEX DIGITAL STUDIOS has completed thecomputer animation for "Glitch," a spot for Repairnow.com, an Internetresource site. West Los Angeles-based Rhythm & Hues produced the spot forad agency Millenium Communications, and Richard Taylor directed it. Thespot depicts the impact of a mini whirlwind of destruction, which is named"Glitch," as it passes through VCRs, CD players, and other household items.
A.FILM completes "Jumbo Book"
Copenhagen, Denmark-based A.FILM has completed "Jumbo Book," a :30 forDisney Scandinavia. The spot touts JUMBO, a collection of Donald Duckcomics. The spot mixes 2D animation and live-action. In the spot, alive-action maid stumbles across all sorts of 2D animated figures includingDonald Duck's beak, Uncle Scrooge's hat, etc. The figures tease and provokethe maid into opening a closet from which spill hundreds of Donald Duckcomic books, burying the maid. Live-action was directed by Michael Hegnerand animation was directed by Craig Frank.
Boris FX makes several significant announcements
Boris FX, the makers of compositing and effects plug-ins for filmmakers,recently made several key announcements, including the introduction of twonew products. Boris Graffiti, a new 3D title animation tool will shipbefore the end of 1999 at just under $1000. The program will be availablein the form of a plug-in for non-linear editing programs, and will allowusers to create and extrude 3D text, and rotate it in 3D space with lights,motion blur and animated kerning. Also, Boris Factory, a new 3D DVE
Don't miss this animation art auction!
Philip Weiss Auctions, in conjunction with The Big Apple Comic ArtConvention, is overseeing a large animation art auction that will takeplace on Friday, November 12, 1999 at 7 pm in New York City at theMetropolitan Pavilion. Thousands of pieces of animation art are beingauctioned to benefit The American Foundation for the Visual Arts. Previewsof the auction items will begin at 1 pm on November 12. The auction is partof The National Comic Book, Art, Toy, and Fantasy Convention. For moreinformation Tel. (516) 594-0731.
Disney revives NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
TIM BURTON'S NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (its official title) plays atDisney's El Capitan theater. El Capitan is located west of Highland onHollywood Blvd. The event takes place Friday, October 29 - Sunday, October31 in Hollywood, California, USA. For more information Tel. (323) 467-7674.
John Canemaker lectures on storyboards and their creators
John Canemaker, animation historian and author, will lecture on DisneyStudio storyboards and their creators at the Museum of Modern Art in theTitus II Theatre. The presentation will include slides of storyboarddrawings and clips from famous Disney films, such as SNOW WHITE and 101DALMATIANS. At 5:30 pm, preceding the lecture, Canemaker will sign copiesof his new book, PAPER DREAMS: THE ART AND ARTISTS OF DISNEY STORYBOARDS,which will be available for purchase at the theatre and the MOMA bookshop.
AFI Festival is showing PRINCESS MONONOKE
Hayao Miyazaki's PRINCESS MONONOKE's official West Coast premiere takesplace at the El Capitan theater as part of the 13th Annual AFI Los AngelesInternational Film Festival. The event takes place Monday, October 25, 7 pmin Hollywood, California, USA. For advance tickets Tel. (323) 520-2000. Formore information visit www.afionline.org.
Mary Kocol's MY FATHER'S STORY is playing in Massachusetts
Mary Kocol's MY FATHER'S STORY will be shown at several places inMassachussetts during the next few weeks. October 22, 7 pm: Gallery NAGA at67 Newbury Street, Boston. For more information Tel. (617) 267-9060.November 7, 2 pm and November 10, 2 pm: Boston Jewish Film Festival at theCoolidge Corner Theatre which is located at 90 Harvard Street, Brookline.For more information Tel. (617) 734-2500. November 6, 5 pm: NorthamptonFilm Festival at the Academy of Music on Main Street, Northampton. For more
Don't miss The 3rd Annual Digital Video (DV) Conference & Expo!
The 3rd Annual Digital Video (DV) Conference & Expo will highlight andshowcase the "Indie" film and video industries. The DV Expo merges theworlds of broadcast video, Web video, 2D and 3D graphics, animation, sound,and data. The event features a D. FILM DIGITAL FILM FESTIVAL. The eventtakes place Monday, October 18 - Friday, October 22 in Long Beach,California, USA. For more information visit the Miller Freeman and CMPwebsites at www.mfi.com and www.cmp.com.
