July 10-16, 2000 News

Monday, July 10, 2000

Disney to Buy Pixar?
Controversial self-proclaimed journalist Matt Drudge is reporting that Disney is in talks with both Pixar and Apple to buy them out. Drudge, who runs the controversial Drudge Report Website, says that an inside source claims that Apple and Pixar CEO Steve Jobs may use the merger to try and become chairman of Disney. Meanwhile Disney is calling the report "wild speculation."

* * *

Burger King Being Sued over Chicken Run Ads
A chicken company is trying to stop Burger King from running its "Save the Chickens" ads featuring characters from the movie Chicken Run.

According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:

"Burger King may be advertising to save the chickens, but Tyson Foods Inc. is ensuring chicken sales in the process.

As part of the promotion for the recently released G-rated movie Chicken Run, Burger King is airing a commercial promoting two Whoppers for $2.

The TV spot is a takeoff on the clay animation tale starring Mel Gibson about chickens escaping certain death on a Yorkshire chicken farm in 1950s England.

But the advertisement is reminiscent of Chick-fil-A's award-winning billboard campaign with the black and white cows caught with a paintbrush painting signs to read, 'Eat Mor Chikin'..."

Click here for the full story (Link Has Expired)

Tuesday, July 11, 2000

Box Office Results
Here are the Box Office results for last weekend's animated films:

Chicken Run $9.9 Million ($3,426 per screen average - 25% drop)
5th at the Box Office (down from #4 last weekend)
Total to Date: $63.6 Million

Dinosaur $664,371 ($783 per screen average - big 53% decrease)
13th at the Box Office (down from #11 last weekend)
Total to Date: $131.9 Million

Fantasia 2000 $388,474 ($304 per screen average - 44% drop)
16th at the Box Office (same ranking last weekend)
Total to Date: $58.3 Million

Titan A.E. $380,776 ($523 per screen average - huge 69% drop)
17th at the Box Office (down from #13 last weekend)
Total to Date: $21.5 Million

The Tigger Movie $28,221 ($261 per screen average - 39% drop)
64th at the Box Office (down from number #52 last weekend)
Total to Date: $45.5 Million

Toy Story 2 $26,982 ($467 per screen average - 15% decrease)
65th at the Box Office (down from #61 last weekend)
Total to Date: $245.7 Million

* * *

Making Extras See an Invisible Squirrel
According to the Bergen Record:

"Movies are supposed to be about make-believe, but this was ridiculous: At one point in the filming of the new feature The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Des McAnuff, megaphone in hand like some silent-screen director from the 1920s, was trying to get 500 extras to follow the dizzying flight path -- the swooping, diving, head-skimming trajectory -- of a flying squirrel. A non-existent flying squirrel.

'There was nothing there, there were just a bunch of shouted instructions. That was unique,' recalled McAnuff, a Tony-winning stage director whose experiences manning such complex theatrical efforts as The Who's Tommy and Big River never quite prepared him for that D.W. Griffith moment as director of The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle.

But such were the demands of the film, which combines live action and animation...

Click here for the full story

Wednesday, July 12, 2000

Tooning Into Reality
According to the Kansas City Star:

"With television, each new trend bursts into view like last week's fireworks. Then it subsides, overtaken by the next dazzling trend.

Example: prime-time animation. The toon trend swept the broadcast networks a couple of years ago after "King of the Hill" scored as only the third prime-time animated hit in TV history.

"The Flintstones," "The Simpsons," "King of the Hill." That's it. But the networks didn't care about the odds. Animation was going to be the next craze.

As of last week, consider it stone-cold dead..."

Click here for the full story.

* * *

Station X Studios Acquired
Kumar Chadalavada, director and board member of publicly traded, India-based Sriven Multi-Tech Limited, announced that the company has acquired Santa Monica-based visual effects house Station X Studios. The multi-million dollar bulk sale agreement involved cash and stock, the details of which were undisclosed.

Sriven has renamed Station X Studios as Station X Entertainment. About the Deal Sriven, a global company which develops Information Technology solutions based on multimedia and animation was originally attracted to Station X Studios because of its creative reputation. Station X is especially known for its photo-realistic computer-generated animation and digital effects work in commercials, TV and feature films and for its roster of multiple award-winning animators and digital artists.

Sriven also saw global marketing potential in Station X's proprietary rendering management and optimization software program, "Spider." Station X's deep expertise in 3D animation will complement one of Sriven's other holdings, Webtoons Media Inc., a 2D animation studio based in Burbank, California.

Combining both 2D and 3D capabilities will enable Sriven to offer a more complete solution and capture a larger share of the animation market. Station X will now have the opportunity to add a visual dimension to Sriven's global web-based Information Technology projects and participate in the developing media convergence market.

"We are very proud to add such a high-end digital effects studio like Station X Entertainment to our family of companies," commented Kumar Chadalavada, Station X Entertainment's new CEO. "Acquiring Station X not only complements our existing 2D animation capabilities in the U.S. with high-end 3D CGI, it also opens up exciting new markets and opportunities for us in India, Australia and Japan."

Thursday, July 13, 2000

Animated Fear with a Full Effect
According to the Bergen Record:

"Pokemon to porn, animation rules in Japan.

The national obsession with animation helps explain Japan's profound influence on -- and dominance of -- the video-game business. Japan's animators are the world's trendsetters in producing both kiddie fare and violent and nightmarish interactive animated adventures such as Fear Effect.

The Japanese public has a seemingly insatiable appetite for -- and tolerance of -- the entire spectrum of animated entertainment.

On the bright side, there's the Pokemon phenomenon. On the dark side, there's the monsters-from-the-id genre -- ultraviolent and explicitly erotic animated films, often featuring rapacious demons and teenage girls, popular with a huge segment of adult Japanese males..."

Click here for the full story. (Link has Expired)

To discuss this in the Voices in Animation forums, click here.

* * *

Disney's Hercules Moves to Toon Disney
Rescue an Amazon princess? Piece of cake! Match muscles with the Mother of all Monsters? Easy Breezy! Cram for an Exam...and find a date for the Prom? ATHENS...we've got a problem!!! These are but a few of the labors in store when "Disney's Hercules" makes its debut on TOON DISNEY this September. The animated television series is based on the 1997 Disney animated feature film, which chronicled the life of the mythical hero. The series expands upon the Greek demigod's feats during his formative high school years.

"Disney's Hercules" takes place during Hercules' adolescent "hero-in-training" years. Instead of just honing his physical skills, Zeus insisted that his son received a balanced education, so Hercules was enrolled in the Prometheus Academy--the high school of choice among the Greek elite. While attending Prometheus, the gawky teen with superhuman strength learns many lessons, and issues and themes in the series include the need to fit in, earning a driver's license, narrowing the generation gap, overcoming lack of confidence, preserving endangered species, and much more.

"Disney's Hercules" features a voice cast including the animated feature's Tate Donavan (Hercules) and James Woods (Hades). New co-stars include French Stewart ("3rd Rock from the Sun"), Sandra Bernhard ("Without You I'm Nothing") and Diedrich Bader ("The Drew Carey Show"). And the series' roster of guest stars reads like the invite list to a Mount Olympus party: Jason Alexander, Jennifer Anniston, Kathie Lee Gifford, Lou Gossett Jr., Merv Griffin, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Lisa Kudrow, Heather Locklear, Wayne Newton and William Shatner are just a sampling of the 160+ entertainers from primetime television and major motion pictures who lent their talents to this series.

"Disney's Hercules" is a production of Walt Disney Television Animation. Tad Stones is Executive Producer, and Mark McCorkle and Bob Schooley are the Producers and Executive Story Editors.

TOON DISNEY, Disney's 24-hour all-animation basic cable network, showcases Disney's vast library of animation from seven decades of magic with series and specials to shorts and movies.

Friday, July 14, 2000

Toon Disney to Start Cartoon Marathons
Toon Disney, Disney/ABC Cable Networks' all-animation network for kids, presents a whole series of stunts and special events taking place on weekends and holidays throughout the fall.

Each marathon, varying in running times from 12-24 hours, highlights one of the many animated stars that make Toon Disney their home.

Get yourself into a jam -- a "Jumbo Genie Jam," that is. Join the ever-popular Genie of the Lamp for a 12-hour "Aladdin" marathon featuring the popular animated series on Sunday, July 23, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. ET/PT.

Based on the popular motion picture, this series takes viewers on a magic carpet ride to adventure with the brave and resourceful Aladdin (voiced by Scott Weinger), his spirited fiancee Jasmine (Linda Larkin), the obnoxious parrot Iago (Gilbert Gottfried) and, of course, Genie (Dan Castellaneta, who also voices Homer Simpson).

Aug. 1 is "Pooh Friendship Day!" Find out first hand that "it's so much friendlier with Pooh" during this 16-hour marathon celebrating the joy of friendship, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. ET/PT.

Join Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Christopher Robin and the rest of the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood for a full day of episodes from "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh," the Emmy Award-winning series based on the children's books by A.A. Milne, as well as the classic Disney animated features "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" and "Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin."

Can't get enough of Disney's loveable superstar, Goofy? To solve the problem, Toon Disney's scheduled a 12-hour "Goofathon" on Sunday, Aug. 13, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. ET/PT featuring the network's popular animated series, "Goof Troop," a variety of classic Disney animated shorts starring Goofy, and two presentations of the animated feature "A Goofy Movie" at 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Head under the sea with Ariel and her pals for a 24-hour marathon featuring the animated series, "The Little Mermaid," from Saturday, Aug. 26, 6 a.m. ET/PT - Sunday, Aug. 27, 6 a.m. ET/PT.

Based on Disney's blockbuster, Academy Award-winning animated film, this series serves as a "prequel" to the movie following the escapades of Ariel, the rambunctious daughter of King Triton, as a mermaid teen on a mission.

Rescue an Amazon princess? Piece of cake. Match muscles with the mother of all monsters? Easy breezy. Cram for an exam ... and find a date for the dance? Athens, we've got a problem. Such are the labors ahead for "Disney's Hercules" as the hero brings his popular animated show from ABC's No. 1-rated Saturday Morning Lineup to Toon Disney for the first time.

"Disney's Hercules" is an outgrowth of Disney's 1997 animated feature film, which chronicled the lifelong exploits of the mythical hero. The series expands upon the Greek demigod's feats during his formative, hero-in-training, "high school" years.

Toon Disney celebrates the addition of this hit animated series to the network's schedule with a 24-hour Labor Day "Disney's Hercules" marathon on Monday, Sept. 4, 6 a.m. ET/PT - Tuesday, Sept. 5, 6 a.m. ET/PT.

As summer draws to a close and it's time for kids to head back to the classroom once again, Toon Disney has the answer to the end-of-summer blues with "Toon Disney A-Z," a 13-hour back-to-school marathon Sunday, Sept. 17, 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET/PT, which will take viewers through the Toon Disney lineup from Aladdin to Zazu!

Toon Disney is Disney/ABC Cable Networks' 24-hour all-animation basic cable network

* * *

Pokemon Returns to Burger King
POKeMON(TM) is powering its way back to BURGER KING(R) restaurants nationwide beginning July 17, 2000, with 24 unique collectible trading cards that feature 3-D POKeMON characters bursting from the center of the card. The six-week promotion will premiere in restaurants just days before the new Warner Bros. Pictures release, Kids' WB! Presents POKeMON The Movie 2000, the latest animated adventure from Nintendo's POKeMON(TM) universe, opens in theaters. The promotion builds on the ongoing popularity of POKeMON(TM) trainer Ash Ketchum and the appealing array of POKeMON(TM) characters.

We're thrilled to be partnering once again with Nintendo's POKeMON, a property that literally has changed the landscape of family entertainment," said Richard Taylor, vice president of USA marketing for Burger King Corporation. "Our great-tasting food served up with collectible 3-D trading cards from one of the hottest movies of the summer is sure to be a powerful combination."

POKeMON The Movie 2000 is a sequel to last fall's hit movie and is an exciting adventure that introduces six new POKeMON(TM), including Lugia, guardian of the legend, to moviegoers. Young Ash sets out to prove that one person can make a difference when he embarks on the greatest POKeMON(TM) adventure yet -- saving the world. This challenge will take all Ash's courage and strength and the collaboration of Lugia, who helps the young hero restore balance on Earth. The movie pays tribute to a universal theme -- "the power of one."

BURGER KING restaurants will offer one of 24 unique POKeMON 2000 Power Cards, based on the movie's characters, with each BURGER KING BIG KIDS MEAL and Kids Meal purchase at participating restaurants, or while supplies last. These collectible cards fit into a molded activator base that represents the element type of each individual POKeMON, and perform one or more special power actions such as lighting up, talking, squirting, glowing in the dark, or moving one or more parts of the character. To reveal the Power Card's action, simply press the button on the card or push the card down into the base.

* * *

X-Men Opens
The special effects filled X-Men movie opened in theaters nationwide today and is the clear favorite to take the weekend Box Office race. It is playing in over 3,000 theaters with many analysts predicting it will make over $35 million in its opening weekend. The film is receiving mixed, but mostly positive reviews.

"X-Men is a multimillion-dollar superhero comic book movie with a script so feeble it might have been written with crayons," says Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune.

"While X-Men doesn't take your breath away wire-to-wire the way The Matrix did, it's an accomplished piece of work with considerable pulp watchability to it," says Kenneth Turan of the LA Times.

"X-Men, directed by Bryan 'The Usual Suspects' Singer, works best when you watch it with lighthearted abandon. It's great fun to watch the X-Men and their awesome powers, thanks to tremendous visual and digitally animated effects by Digital Domain," says Desson Howe of the Washington Post.

Saturday, July 15, 2000

Chicken Run Passes $70 Million Mark
On Friday, Chicken Run passed the $70 million mark, remaining strong at the Box Office. Over the weekend, Chicken Run's Box Office total is expected to surpass Me, Myself, and Irene, which opened against Chicken Run three weeks ago, beating it at the Box Office. Chicken Run continues to have strong weekday showings, averaging over $1.2 million a day. In comparing Box Office numbers to DreamWorks Prince of Egypt (which made over $100 million), Chicken Run is about $1 million ahead at the same point (21 days). For the last two weekends, Chicken Run has had the lowest decline of any film in the Top 10.

* * *

Ready for an Animated R&B Diva?
According to Billboard:

"Mary J. Blige and Stan Lee Media have partnered to create an animated version of the R&B diva. The franchise will launch this fall with the debut of a series of animated "webisodes" voiced by Blige that will feature the streetwise star battling crime. Lee has previously partnered with the Backstreet Boys to create a similar superhero franchise.

'Mary's super heroine alter ego, a cross between Cleopatra Jones and Barbarella, is an inspirational character and self-described 'Protector of the Hood,' ' Stan Lee said in a statement. 'I'm delighted to co-create a new Internet based global franchise with Mary J. Blige, whose international stardom has reached super hero proportions...'

Click here for the full story.

Sunday, July 16, 2000

X-Men Opens Huge
X-Men, the special effects filled sci-fi adventure from FOX, had the third biggest opening ever on Friday, bringing in $21.4 million. The only two movies to do better on a Friday opening were Star Wars: Episode 1 and The Lost World. Meanwhile, Chicken Run brought in nearly $2 million on Friday to bring its total to $71 million. In the UK, Chicken Run is performing very strong, dropping only 8% from its opening weekend.

* * *

Animators Settle on Internet Contract
The Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists, Local 839 IATSE, has announced a special agreement for Dot.com studios producing animation for the Internet.

The Screen Cartoonists is offering a newer, simpler contract without the traditional animation classifications and rates.

The dot.com contract is designed to offer Internet start-ups a maximum of flexibility while still providing animation employees with the pension and health coverage they have become accustomed to.

"Many of our members have started working in this new industry, and have shared their desire to continue union health and pension benefits," said business representative Steve Hulett.

"They understand that the terms of a new contract are not going to be the same as the ones they have worked under at traditional animation studios like Disney, Warners or DreamWorks."

Local 839's dot.com contract will provide health and pension benefits under the same multi-employer plan as that of other union shops. These benefits are available to employers at a fraction of the cost of non-union coverage, with employees enjoying the advantages of multi-employer health and pension without coverage lapses.

There is an option for an employee-funded 401(k) plan with virtually no administrative expense to the employer.

Local 839 is offering these companies the unlimited services of the finest animation artists and techs that Hollywood has to offer. 839 members are veteran specialists, trained in the finest traditions that have made Hollywood animation the world hallmark of quality and efficiency.

These skills are available nowhere else. With a membership of almost 3,000, Local 839 represents more traditional animators and digital artists and techs than any other organization in the world.

Dot.com entrepreneurs have seen the advantages of investing their seed money in a trained and experienced work staff rather than beginners learning on the job at company expense.

Companies have already started to respond to the union's outreach efforts.

The union acknowledged that this was a new direction for them, but a road well worth travelling. Local 839 President Tom Sito, currently directing the Warner Bros. feature "Osmosis Jones," said that new animation technologies require new approaches by the union.

"We've been a pencil-and-paper organization for almost half a century," said Sito. "But more and more, we're becoming an organization of artists working in digital technologies. This seems like a natural step."

Return to July 2000 News

Return to Today's News

Return to Animation Artist