September 18 - 24, 2000 News

Monday, September 18, 2000

Bad Year for Disney Animation
According to the Orlando Weekly:

"It's been a bad year for Disney Feature Animation. Dinosaur underperformed at the box office. Fantasia 2000 had some success in IMAX theaters, but died a dog's death in regular release. And Eisner is said to hate the company's problem-plagued Christmas release, The Emperor's New Groove.

And then there's the movie that no one dares talk about: John Henry. This is a short subject the Mouse has had in the can for more than a year now. Produced at Disney's Florida animation studio, the film celebrates an American folk hero, 'that steel-driving man' who wages an epic battle with a steam engine to prove man's superiority over machine. Given the quality of the completed cartoon, many within the company feel it's sure to snag an Oscar nomination.

Yet John Henry remains locked away, its release date uncertain.

Click here for the full story then click here to discuss it.

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Getting "Jiggy" With It (Jiggy Bug)
What do you get when you take a few profession animators from Los Angeles and New York and team them up on a three minute project? The answer is "Jiggy Bug," a nine month labor of love that is directed and produced by David J. Sung and created by Chaiporn Panichrutiwong.

Overseen by UBO Network's Animation Division, "Jiggy Bug" is making its rounds at film festivals and will soon be premiering on the Web. The short already took first place for "Best 3D Animation" in the "World Internet Animation Competition." Among the judges for the competition were Stan Lee and Brad Bird.

For the modeling, the "Jiggy Bug" team used Maya. For the animation and rendering, the "Jiggy Bug" team used Character Studio and 3D Studio Max. The project was the first from the newly formed UBO 3D Department.

Click here to see an initial concept clip (Quicktime required) from "Jiggy Bug" that was animated by Chaiporn Panichrutiwong and Daizo Kinoshita. There's also a "Jiggy Bug" 45 second teaser that will soon be making the rounds online.

Here are some images from "Jiggy Bug":

Tuesday, September 19, 2000

More Nelvana Merger Details Emerge
The merger between Corus and Nelvana, where Nelvana will be acquired, is going forward. On Monday, both companies announced that a $374 million deal had been reached. In addition, the Board of Directors of both compananies have officially approved the merger. Once the acquisition is complete, Corus may turn its eyes towards Cinar.

To read past Animation Artist news reports on the Corus and Nelvana merger, visit the following links:

Nelvana Stock Raises on Buyout Speculation (Tuesday, September 5, 2000)

Cinar May be Target of Acquisition Attempt (Monday, September 11, 2000)

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

Chicken Run
$276,101 ($465 per screen average - 19% drop)
28th at the Box Office (also #28 last weekend)
Total to Date: $104.9 Million

Pokemon 2000
$135,907 ($256 per screen average - 25% drop)
39th at the Box Office (down from #37 last weekend)
Total to Date: $43.5 Million

Dinosaur
$107,012 ($572 per screen average - 58% decrease)
40th at the Box Office (down from #30 last weekend)
Total to Date: $136.3 Million

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New to DVD
The following animated movies and shows were released to DVD Today:

The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea

Maze

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing - Operation 3

Pokemon - The Po-Ke Corral (Vol. 21)

The Slayers - DVD Collection (Vols. 1-8)

Wednesday, September 20, 2000

Chicken Run DVD and VHS Details Emerge
Chicken Run will be released to DVD and VHS on November 21, 2000. The first full-length feature film from Aardman, the Academy Award-winning creators of "Wallace & Gromit," Chicken Run brought in nearly $105 million in the U.S. Box Office to become the number 1 grossing non-Disney animated film of all time.

While the Chicken Run VHS will only contain the movie, DreamWorks is putting a lot of effort into the Chicken Run DVD with numerous bonus features.

Here is a list of the DVD features:

Widescreen Anamorphic
Closed-captioned
Commentary by directors Nick Park and Peter Lord
Production notes
Theatrical trailer(s)
NBC's "Making Of Chicken Run"
HBO's "Hatching of Chicken Run"
Screaming Chicken Panic Button
Trailers
Cast and Crew Bios
Production Notes
"Escape the Pie Machine" Game
"Whack a Tweedy" Game

To play the games you'll need to run the DVD on a PC or on Sony's new upcoming Playstation 2 consoles.

You can preorder the Chicken Run DVD at Amazon.com by clicking here.

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Russian Studio Creates The New Bremen Musicians
Russian-based Tema has finished work on The New Bremen Musicals 52-minute animated feature. Considered a sequel from a 2D Bremen Musicals animation in the 70's, centers around Troubadour Jr., the son of Troubadour and Princess, characters from the earlier story. Troubadour Jr. is a troublemaker whose devil-may-care attitude has earned the disapproval of his grandfather, the King. But the King has bigger problems to worry about a deviant gang leader is plotting to trick the elderly, decrepit King into marrying her. She will stop at nothing to get her hands on his power and the kingdom, even kidnapping Troubadour Jr., the King’s grandson.

Tema used Cambridge Animation Systems’ Animo software as its central animation tool for the production.

Thursday, September 21, 2000

Anime Fever Spreads at Major Toy Launch
Japanese sci-fi animation property, Gundam Wing, was officially launched in Canada on September 16, by Bandai America Incorporated.

The Gundam anime series, which follows five teenage pilots who each operate Gundam mobile suits (robot-like machines) to save the universe from the evil OZ empire, is a cultural phenomenon that has achieved legacy status in Japan. It has entertained audiences for two decades with seven television series, eight feature films, novels, comics, videos and toys. It has grossed over $5 billion in retail sales and one year after its introduction to the U.S. market, sales are reaching unprecedented levels.

At a celebration event at a downtown-Toronto Toys "R" US store, Canadians lined up for the official unveiling of Gundam Wing action figure and model kit toy line as well as the television series. A dramatic confrontation between main character Heero Yuy and the evil Oz commander Treize Khushrenada, was staged and gave audiences a glimpse of what the popular series is all about.

In the same afternoon, Canadians cheered on the top local university anime clubs at a Gundam Wing model kit building challenge. In less than three hours, anime clubs Anime Extreme (University of Toronto, YAMA (York University), URanime (Ryerson) and UTARPA (University of Toronto) created masterpieces with incredible attention to detail. After a tough decision, University of Toronto's Anime Extreme took first prize, which included a donation from Bandai and an exclusive Gundam Wing prize pack.

With Gundam Wing, Bandai hopes to expand the growing anime category. Anime, the distinctive style of Japanese animation, goes beyond the mere realm of entertainment as it can bring up philosophical questions and deals with thought-provoking themes. Typically, a series provides a lesson or moral that challenges the viewer to think about life. Anime was first introduced to North American audiences in the late 1960s with Speed Racer and Astro Boy. However, the popular hits Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, Pokémon and Digimon have adopted a much wider and mainstream audience than their predecessors.

"For years, Gundam has been a favourite among kids and adults in Japan and we are proud to bring this popular phenomenon to Canada," says Shin Ueno, vice president of marketing, Bandai America Incorporated. "We are especially excited that YTV is airing the series this fall."

Gundam Wing premiered on YTV on September 11, 2000 and can be seen Monday through Thursday at 11:30 p.m. Since its debut on the U.S. Cartoon Network this past March, the series has consistently placed first or second in the popular Toonami block.

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Stan Lee Lets 19 Go to Outsource Animation Work
Stan Lee Media has fired 19 employees as a result of outsourcing animation work to companies overseas. Stan Lee Media says the move will reduce overhead costs.

"This is an opportunity to maintain the highest quality animation, while reducing internal overhead costs. Outsourcing portions of the production process to overseas animation production companies will also allow us to direct added creative resources and focus more attention on creating additional branded content and developing the type of strategic partnerships and licensing agreements that will culminate in revenue generation. Our slate of current production, as well as our moving into production on our recently announced franchises such as `Conan the Barbarian' and Gene Roddenberry's `Starship,' gives us the critical volume necessary to establish international production partnerships," stated Kenneth Williams, Stan Lee Media President and CEO.

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Electric Image Now Independent From Play, Inc.
Play Incorporated has announced its 3D animation subsidiary, Electric Image, completed an amicable management buyout agreement and is now an independent corporation. The new company will focus on developing and marketing advanced digital animation solutions.

Play acquired Electric Image in April 1998 with the stated goal of merging Electric Image's powerful 3D technology with Play's real-time video technologies. With the completion of Trinity 2.0 and Personal FX 2.0, the resulting integration of Electric Image's rendering technology now allows video professionals to create fully customizable real-time 3D video effects unlike any other system on the market. The Play acquisition of Electric Image also resulted in the release of Amorphium and supported development efforts for the upcoming Electric Image: Universe 3D animation system.

Play's customers will continue to reap the benefits of EI's advanced 3D engine under a licensing agreement between the two companies. Play will also continue to sell and support Amorphium 1.0 during a transitional period.

Dwight Parscale will lead the newly independent Electric Image as Chairman and CEO. Mr. Parscale led Play's 3D subsidiary since he joined Electric Image in November 1998. Original Electric Image founders Jay Roth and Markus Huoy will also remain with the company.

"Over the last two years, Play redefined the sophistication of real-time visual effects by integrating Electric Image technology into Trinity," explains Mr. Parscale. "Now the 3D team is looking forward to focusing its energies on newly emerging opportunities in the 3D marketplace. We have expended a large amount of time and effort developing a new architecture that will greatly enhance our development process and speed to market with new features on all platforms for the Universe product. In addition to putting the finishing touches on Universe we will continue to develop, sell and support future versions of our award-winning and highly regarded Amorphium product."

Friday, September 22, 2000

Digimon Given PG Rating! Emperor Gets a "G"
According to both Variety and Reuters, Digimon: The Movie has been given a PG rating by the Motion Picture Association of America. As a film aimed at younger children the PG rating could sink Digimon at the Box Office. The reason for the rating is "for action violence". FOX, which is distributing the film, will have the opportunity to edit the film for a "G" rating, if desired. But that will have to be done before October 6, 2000, when it is scheduled to hit theaters. Earlier this year, FOX released another PG animated film, Titan A.E., which bombed at the Box Office, leading to the downfall of Fox Film's CEO.

In other ratings news, Disney's The Emperor's New Groove has been given a G rating by the Motion Picture Association of America.

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Curious Labs Ships Poser 4.03
Curious Labs, Inc. today announced it has begun shipping Poser(R) v 4.0.3, the award-winning 3D-character animation and design tool for digital artists and animators. Poser 4.0.3 is the latest version of the former MetaCreations, Corp. software, purchased by egi.sys AG in March 2000. Upgrades to Poser v 4.0.3 are available as free downloads (www.curiouslabs.com) for current Poser 4 customers. Owners of earlier versions of Poser (formerly Fractal Design and MetaCreations) can upgrade to Poser 4.0.3 for US $99.00--valid serial number required.

"Poser 4.0.3 represents the next generation of Poser under its new corporate name and brand--Curious Labs," said Steve Cooper, president of Curious Labs. "When we announced Poser's return to the market at SIGGRAPH 2000 this past July in New Orleans, we were overwhelmed by e-mail requests from new and existing Poser enthusiasts. We are now proud to be shipping Poser 4 again, continuing the legacy of this powerful 3D-character posing and animation tool," said Cooper.

Poser's creator, Larry Weinberg, CEO of Curious Labs--and many of the original engineering, marketing, research and development and sales team from MetaCreations, Inc. joined together to form Curious Labs in Santa Cruz, California in April 2000 with equity partner egi.sys AG in Germany

Saturday, September 23, 2000

Noddy Revamped for 21st Century
According to BBC News:

"Enduring children's favourite Noddy is to make a £10m TV comeback in a brand-new series.

In contrast to the familiar puppet-based animated programmes made in the 1960s and 1970s, the new series of 100 episodes will feature hi-tech computer graphics.

The 21st century version of the mischievous rosy-cheeked character, created by children's author Enid Blyton in 1949, may appear on British TV screens as early as June next year…"

Click here for the full story.

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Mainframe Prepares for Gatecrasher
Mainframe Entertainment, Inc. and Black Bull Entertainment, L.L.C. have signed a development agreement to bring the new monthly comic series Gatecrasher to television.

The agreement calls for Mainframe Entertainment to develop a computer animated half-hour television series for the youth market from the sci-fi comic series. Gatecrasher is designed and written by the team of Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Connor and Mark Waid.

Gatecrasher is the story of Alec Wagner, a college student who is half-human, half-alien and a full-time member of the Split-Second Squad, a secret alien army that protects Earth from alien attacks through interdimensional `gates.' Using its liquid supercomputer ThinkTank, the Squad was able to locate these gates before damage could be done -- until it was destroyed and its contents splashed all over Alec's body. Although the youngest and least experienced of the team, Alec is the only Squadder with the power to sense when and where the invaders will strike, so he is always on call.

Sunday, September 24, 2000

Assets of Lacewood Group Acquired
Sheldon S. Wiseman, President of Amberwood Entertainment Corporation, and actor Leslie Nielsen have announced that an Agreement has been entered into with PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. to acquire a number of the assets of the Lacewood Group, subject to Court approval.

The assets being acquired include over 85 half-hours of animated television production, including 39 episodes of "Katie & Orbie", an extremely successful pre-school series, narrated by Leslie Nielsen and based upon characters created by Ben Wicks and Susan Wicks. Amberwood has commenced production on 26 new half-hour episodes of "Katie & Orbie" for Family Channel in Canada and will immediately begin worldwide marketing of the new episodes.

Amberwood Entertainment will be given rights to develop spin-off and sequel productions based upon the various underlying properties being acquired. Worldwide distribution will be handled by Amberwood International.

Amberwood is a film and television production company engaged primarily in the production and distribution of animated programming.

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