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Monday, August 21, 2000
Hunchback of Notre Dame Sequel Coming in 2001
Disney is working on a direct to video sequel to The Hunchback of
Notre Dame for release in the second half of 2001. The video and
DVD will star Quasimodo, who will face new adventures, including
some romance with a new love interest. Quasimodo will also face
a new villain, the circus master Sarousch.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame II features a vocal cast
of returning actors from Disney's original Hunchback and a fresh
new group of voice talent. Tom Hulce once more plays Quasimodo,
Demi Moore returns as Esmeralda the Gypsy and Kevin Kline reprises
his role as Phoebus, the Captain of the Guard.
Jennifer Love Hewitt stars as Quasimodo's love interest,
the circus performer Madellaine, and Hewitt also co-wrote and sings
the film's end-title song. Haley Joel Osment, the sensational Oscar-nominated
star of The Sixth Sense, voices the role of Zephyr, the son of Esmeralda
and Phoebus. The wicked circus master Sarousch, Quasimodo's nemesis,
is played by Michael McKean.
Quasimodo's Gargoyle friends are voiced by returning
cast members Jason Alexander as Hugo and Charles Kimbrough as Victor.
The role of Laverne, the third gargoyle, portrayed in Disney's original
Hunchback by the late Mary Wickes, is taken over by veteran stage
and screen actress Jane Withers. Wickes passed away in October 1995,
after she had finished the voice work for Laverne, but before The
Hunchback of Notre Dame hit theaters. It was the last movie to feature
some of her work.
In The Hunchback of Notre Dame II, the people of Paris
excitedly anticipate the traditional Jour D'Amour festival -- a
celebration of love centered on a beautiful, legendary bell known
as La Fidele. When this jeweled bell is rung, couples step forth
to shout their true love's name. But whose name will Quasi proclaim?
The festival is officially underway with the arrival
of Cirque du Sarousch, a traveling circus. But Sarousch -- the vain
magician who leads the carnival -- intends to get rich by making
off with La Fidele. To distract Quasimodo, Sarousch sends in his
beautiful assistant, Madellaine, to win the bell ringer's heart.
Although Madellaine comes to care for Quasimodo and wants no part
of stealing the bell, Sarousch uses her and takes the bell.
To return the stolen bell, Quasimodo must learn to
trust Madellaine, and in doing so, Quasimodo discovers true love.
With Madellaine at his side, and with the help of his friends Phoebus,
Esmeralda, their son Zephyr, and Quasimodo's gargoyle pals, soon
Quasimodo is proclaiming a love for himself at the Jour D'Amour
festival.
Tuesday, August 22, 2000
Box Office Results
Here are the Box Office results for last weekend's animated films:
Chicken
Run $902,870 ($901 per screen average - 31% drop)
18th at the Box Office (down from #14 last weekend)
Total to Date: $101.8 Million
Pokemon
2000 $520,889 ($816 per screen average - 50% drop)
20th at the Box Office (down from #16 last weekend)
Total to Date: $41.9 Million
Titan
A.E. $25,537 ($311 per screen average - 45% drop)
65th at the Box Office (down from #56 last weekend)
Total to Date: $22.7 Million.
Dinosaur
$25,012 ($347 per screen average - huge 58% decrease)
66th at the Box Office (down from #51 last weekend)
Total to Date: $133.8 Million
* * *
New Animation Careers Forum Opens
Animation Artist Magazine has opened up a new forum titled Animation
Careers in its Voices in Animation area. The new forum is dedicated
to helping people who have questions about animation education and
careers in the animation field.
There are currently 345 registered forum users, including
several who have been posting to Voices in Animation since it opened
on September 6, 1999 (almost a year ago).
* * *
Chicken Run Sets Milestone!
This past weekend, Chicken Run reached a new milestone by becoming
the highest grossing non-Disney animated film ever. Chicken Run
passed both The Prince of Egypt and The Rugrats Movie to claim the
honor. The film has brought in $101.8 million to date at the U.S.
Box Office.
Wednesday, August 23,
2000
Animated Star Wars Spoof Airs Tonight
Film Roman's `Tripping the Rift,' an edgy `Star Wars' spoof, will
have its broadcast premiere on a special episode of the Sci-Fi Network
series `Exposure: A Tribute to Star Wars' airing Wednesday, August
23 at 10 pm ET, announced John Hyde, Film Roman's President and
CEO.
Kevin Smith, the independent filmmaker behind Chasing Amy, Dogma
and Clerks, will host this special episode of SCI FI's Exposure
short film series focusing on the impact director George Lucas and
his film Star Wars has had on a generation of filmmakers. The program
will re-air four times over the following six days and after that
will never be seen again.
"Tripping the Rift," a computer generated Star Wars/Star Trek parody,
was a project spearheaded by Charles O. Austen and Chris Moeller
for Film Roman's Level13 subsidiary. The animated sci-fi epic features
Stephen Root, of "News Radio," as the voice of the lead character,
Chode; and Terry Farrell of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" as the
voice of "Six of One," the story's sexy First Officer. Austen worked
on the computer game, "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and spent
two seasons as storyboard artist for "King of the Hill." Moeller
started out in clay-mation films and progressed to work on "The
Simpsons" and "King of the Hill."
* * *
Jobs Juggling Act
Steve Jobs is still juggling between Apple and Pixar, apparently
doing a good job for both companies. The San Francisco Examiner
recently published an article taking a deeper look at Jobs trying
to run two huge companies with Pixar getting less attention.
Click
here for full story.
Thursday, August 24,
2000
Fired Cinar Founders Fight Back
Micheline Charest and Ronald Weinberg are the two founders of Cinar
who were fired from the company last week (see our August 18, 2000
update) by the Board of Directors after Cinar was accused of tax
fraud and financial misconduct.
This week, however, the couple is fighting back claiming there
was no wrongdoing on their part. The fight could turn ugly since
the couple own nearly 63% of the company and have no intention of
leaving quietly.
A special committee to the Board of Directors of Cinar last week
released the following statement:
"The Special Committee of the Board of Directors of CINAR Corporation
announced today that the employment of Mrs. Micheline Charest and
Mr. Ronald A. Weinberg, who have been on administrative leave since
March 14, 2000, have been terminated. The independent directors
of the Board have also requested that Micheline Charest and Ronald
A. Weinberg resign as directors of the Company forthwith."
The founders, however, say they won't leave unless the entire Board
of Directors resigns with them.
Here is the official statement from Micheline Charest and Ronald
A. Weinberg that was released yesterday:
"We strongly disagree with the Special Committee's decision," said
Mr. Weinberg. "We also intend to vigorously defend any suggestion
of wrongdoing on our part. We believe that we have always tried
to act in the best interest of CINAR and its shareholders...CINAR
is a world recognized industry leader with tremendous people and
assets. Our goal has always been to improve the business that we
founded over 20 years ago. Our whole working lives and hearts are
invested in CINAR. We will do whatever we can to co-operate with
the company and our fellow shareholders."
Ms. Charest said: "We have no intention of responding to the Special
Committee's invitation that we resign as directors until we are
satisfied that CINAR is safely in the hands of a new Board of Directors,
one who will begin to work on a variety of strategic initiatives
to improve shareholder value. We firmly believe that CINAR shareholders
share the view that there is an urgent need for dramatic change
at the Company and at the Board. We are working with our advisors
and other CINAR shareholders to bring about that change. We will
resign when the remaining board members agree to join us and clear
the way for a new slate of directors."
* * *
Fantasia Collector's Edition Coming Soon
Walt Disney Home Video has announced that Fantasia 2000 will be
released to VHS
and DVD
on November 14, 2000.
 Fantasia
2000 features seven all-new sequences and one returning favorite,
brought to life with music from such composers as Beethoven, Gershwin
and Stravinsky, and the talents of Roy E. Disney and the Disney
artists behind animated films as Aladdin and The Lion King.
The original Fantasia celebrates its 60th anniversary (of its original
theatrical release) almost to the day, with a first-time-ever release
on DVD in a special 60th anniversary edition on Nov. 14. Fantasia
has been restored and remastered, and now includes the original
intermission and narration, not seen since 1940. The animated segment
"Clair de Lune," created 60 years ago as part of the film, is finally
being released on Fantasia (DVD), as originally conceived.
Also being released is a special "Fantasia
Anthology" 3-disc collector's DVD set featuring Fantasia, Fantasia
2000 and "The Fantasia Legacy" supplemental features disc.
The DVD of Fantasia 2000 features a digital transfer created directly
from the digital source, insuring an optimal presentation that Disney
claims surpasses the theatrical experience. Both Fantasia 2000 and
the 60th anniversary of Fantasia are presented in DTS and Dolby
Digital Surround Sound.
Friday, August 25, 2000
New Looney Tunes Film in the Works
According to Variety, Warner Bros. Animation is about to start work
on a new Looney Tunes film that will be produced by Quincy Jonees
Media Group and Gerber Pictures. The article states that the "Exact
nature of the Looney Tunes project is being kept under wraps." What
is know, however, is that it will also feature live action like
Space Jam.
* * *
"Daria" TV Film Premieres on Sunday
MTV has a lot of faith in its crudely drawn "Daria" TV series. The
network funded a feature length made-for-TV "Daria" film that will
premiere this Sunday night at 7PM (EST) on MTV. The film is titled
"Daria: Is it Fall Yet?" In the film, Daria volunteers to spend
her summer working at summer camp and thus the adventure begins.
* * *
Networks Gear Up for Saturday Mornings
The fall Saturday morning lineups are finalized and violence is
being tossed out the door by two networks (ABC and CBS) in favor
of cartoons with more educational value.
According to Current, "With the growth of upstart broadcast networks
in recent years, and the FCC's higher standards for educational
children's TV, kids and their parents have gained a wider choice
of shows to watch on Saturday..."
Click here
to read the Current article.
Saturday, August 26,
2000
Third Pokemon Movie Coming to U.S. Theaters
Warner Brothers has purchased the rights to bring Pokemon 3 to U.S.
theaters next year, despite the fad showing signs of fading on U.S.
shores. Pokemon 2000 brought in only half of what the first release
made and sales of Pokemon merchandise is decreasing. However, the
costs to Warner Brothers to purchase the rights to air it in the
U.S. and translate it are very low with the film showing profitability
after just several million dollars.
* * *
Backstreet Boys Become Animated
Stan Lee Media Inc. will unveil its latest global animated music
franchise, an unprecedented partnership with the international singing
sensations the Backstreet Boys, tomorrow, Aug. 27, at Hard Rock
Live at Universal Studios City Walk in Orlando, Florida.
Called "The Backstreet Project," the animated series portrays the
Boys as Cyber Crusaders, each with unique powers to protect the
Earth.
In conjunction, Burger King Corporation will launch an exclusive
five-week video and CD promotion featuring the Backstreet Boys.
The Backstreet Project began when Backstreet Boy (and serious comic
book fan) Nick Carter met with pop-culture icon and Stan Lee Media
co-founder, Stan Lee, to discuss his idea for a comicbook, based
on the musical group as Cyber Crusaders. On Feb. 19, 2000, The Backstreet
Project Special Edition Collector's Comicbook was introduced to
75,000 live fans at the Atlanta Georgiadome with three minutes of
Backstreet Project animation. The animation generated tremendous
fan response and was subsequently used by the Backstreet Boys to
open their most recent concert tour. This led to a broader agreement
to create a global animated music franchise.
The Backstreet Boys -- presently recognized as one of the biggest
pop groups in the world -- have sold more than 50 million albums.
The group's latest release, "Millennium," is already certified twelve
times platinum in the U.S. and has spent more than 65 weeks on Billboard's
"Top 200 albums" chart.
Sunday, August 27, 2000
Jacques Wellington Rupp Passes Away
Former Disney artist and animator Jacques Wellington Rupp has passed
away at the age of 79. Rupp is best known for creating the opening
and closing Tinkerbell titles for "The Wonderful World of Disney"
and for creating the settings for the movie Lady and the Tramp.
Rupp also worked for other animation studios, mostly in TV, where
he helped with animated productions of "Magoo," "Batman," and "Superman."
The cause of Rupp's August 22 death was cancer.
* * *
The Creation of Anime
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
"Pokemon." "Sailor Moon." "Dragonball Z." "Card Captor Sakura."
"Gundam Wing." "Hello Kitty." "Tenchi Muyo."
What do all these popular cartoons have in common? They were made
in Japan.
Japanese animation, or anime (a-NUH-may), has grown very popular
in the past few years. It has invaded our TVs, video stores and
even the big screen.
Japan produces more animation than any other country.
Sean Akins, the creative director at Cartoon Network and executive
producer of Toonami, a popular group of anime programs, says about
150 new episodes of anime are produced every three months in Japan.
So how did it all start?..."
Click here for the full story (Lind Has Expired)
Monday, August 28, 2000
Animated Emmy Award Winners from Saturday
Saturday night a number of Emmy Awards were handed out as part of
the Emmy's "Creative Arts Awards." The special effects filled introduction
to "The 10th Kingdom" mini-series won an emmy for "Outstanding Main
Title Design." Winners in animation categories include:
Outstanding Animated Program (less than one hour)
"The Simpsons" -- Episode: "Behind the Laughter"
Outstanding Animated Program (more than one hour)
"Walking with Dinosaurs"
Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series
"The X-Files" -- Episode: "First Person Shooter"
Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Miniseries
"Walking with Dinosaurs"
Best Sound Editing
"Walking with Dinosaurs"
* * *
Salt Lake City Tribune: "Animation Troubles"
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Yesterday's Salt Lake City Tribune claimed that animation was the
big loser at the Box Office this summer. Here's the quote on animation
from the article titled, "For Studios, Stars, and Moviegoers it
was a Long, Hot Summer":
"Loser: Animation. Chicken Run notwithstanding, cartoons took it
hard this summer. The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle couldn't
pull the rabbit out of its hat, Pokemon the Movie 2000 showed the
fad is fading, and Titan A.E. bombed so badly Fox shut down its
animation studio and gave exec Bill Mechanic the boot. Even Disney,
the master of animation, was off its game; the computer-animated
Dinosaur did respectable business but didn't break any records,
and the non-IMAX release of Fantasia 2000 was met mostly with yawns."
To see a breakdown of Box Office results and to comment on this
quote, click
here
Tuesday, August 29, 2000
Saying Goodbye to Carl Barks
Carl Barks, the master animator of Disney's cartoon duck characters
passed away last week at the age of 99. Barks passed away after
a fight with leukemia. However, close friends of Barks say that
he kept his humorous personality to the end.
Barks is famous for being the main artist and animator for Donald
Duck from 1935-1942. He was also the creative personality behind
the duck, giving Donaly some of his unique fiesty character traits
that made him stand out from other Disney characters. Carl was also
responsible for the personalities of Uncle Scrooge McDuck, Huey,
Dewey, and Louie.
Barks was born in Southern Oregon on March 27, 1901 and returned
to Oregon after his work with Disney. He had a studio in Grants
Pass, Oregon. One of his last major projects for Disney the working
on the characters for Ducktales The Movie: Treasure of the Lost
Lamp.
Barks skills were many in the animation industry where
he served as a writer, artist, storyboard developer, animator, character
developer, and numerous other animation tasks.
Carl Barks once said: "I always felt myself to be
an unlucky person like Donald, who is a victim of so many circumstances.
But there isn't a person in the United States who couldn't identify
with him. He is everything, he is everybody; he makes the same mistakes
that we all make."
Click
here for a Washington Post article on Carl Barks.
Wednesday, August 30,
2000
Women in Animation Seminar on September 23, 2000
The LA chapter of Women in Animation will be holding an all day
seminar on Saturday, September 23, featuring animation writers,
directors, and story editors. The cost of the seminar is $40. If
you are a member of Women in Animation, the cost is $20. For more
information, call (626) 798-1523.
* * *
Jackie Chan's Animated Adventures
Last night, Jackie Chan starred in an episode of "The PJs" where
the stop motion character showed off many of his unique martial
art moves. In just over a week, Jackie Chan will have his own animated
series that begins airing on the Warner Brothers network on Saturday
mornings, beginning September 9, 2000.
According to the WB: "Jackie Chan Adventures brings the international
superstar to the small screen in a new animated adventure series
that will feature all of Jackie's physical feats and acrobatic style
of action, combined with his unique underdog hero humor that kids
enjoy from their favorite Jackie Chan movies.
The series celebrates Chinese culture as Jackie, an ancient artifact
expert and a special agent for the government's secret Section 13,
shares ancient Chinese wisdom with Jade, his 11-year-old tomboy
niece, who quickly becomes his apprentice and partner in adventure.
When Jackie and Jade stumble onto an ancient conspiracy, led by
an evil crime family known as The Dark Hand, they embark on a global
quest to recover 12 magical talismans, powerful artifacts representing
signs of the Chinese zodiac which have been scattered around the
world. Each talisman holds a unique magical power and, if combined,
will unleash a hidden massive power.
Jackie Chan may also appear in live-action segments in each episode,
demonstrating his incredible athletic techniques and wit, while
lending his voice to the lead character."
The show is produced by Sony Pictures Family Entertainment."
Thursday, August 31,
2000
Disney Releases Carl Barks Press Release
Walt Disney Studios has issued a press release on the life and death
of Disney animator Carl Barks that appears directly below:
Carl Barks, the most famous of all Disney comic book artists and
the creator of Scrooge McDuck, passed away at his home in Grants
Pass, Oregon on Friday (8/25) after a long illness. The legendary
Barks wrote and illustrated almost 500 Donald Duck comic books between
1942 and 1966. At its peak in the 1950s, Barks' Donald Duck stories
as featured in Walt Disney's Comics and Stories sold over three
million copies a month in the U.S. Another 20 million copies a month
were sold in foreign editions.
Commenting on Barks' passing, Roy E. Disney, vice chairman of The
Walt Disney Company, noted, "Carl Barks was one of the most gifted
artists and inventive storytellers ever to work for Disney and the
undisputed 'Comic Book King.' When it came to creating imaginative
tales for Donald Duck, Uncle Scrooge and the other classic Disney
characters, no one ever did it better. He challenged our imaginations
and took us on some of the greatest adventures we have ever known.
His prolific comic book creations entertained many generations of
devoted fans and influenced countless artists over the years. Carl's
joyful humor and stylish storytelling will certainly be missed but
his timeless tales will stand as a legacy to his originality and
brilliant artistic vision."
Born on March 27, 1901 and raised on an Oregon farm, Barks worked
at various vocations before becoming a freelance artist in the late
1920s. In 1935, he started at The Walt Disney Studios as an in-betweener,
drawing frames between action in animated cartoons. Within a few
months, he was transferred to the story department, where he helped
create stories for the animated shorts. His favorite character was
Donald Duck and he went to work providing animation for some of
"the duck's" earliest films. In all, Barks collaborated on three
dozen Donald Duck shorts -- including "Modern Inventions," "Good
Scouts" and "Timber" -- and helped the temperamental duck skyrocket
to superstardom.
Donald's popularity extended to comic books. In 1942, Western Publishing,
producer of the Disney comic books, hired Barks to draw the first
original Disney comic book, "Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold." The
following year, Barks illustrated the lead story for Western's monthly
Walt Disney's Comics and Stories. For the next 24 years, he wrote
and drew almost every Donald Duck story in that publication. He
focused on the everyday adventures of Donald and his nephews --
Huey, Dewey and Louie -- and added a colorful cast of supporting
characters that included Gladstone Gander, Gyro Gearloose and the
unforgettable Scrooge McDuck.
Uncle Scrooge, the eccentric globetrotting "jillionaire" first
appeared as a bit player in the 1947 story, "Christmas on Bear Mountain."
Barks recalled, "Scrooge's wealth generated so many gag situations
he was soon upstaging Donald."
In 1966, Barks retired from full-time comic book work but continued
his association with Disney's ducks. Five years later, in 1971,
The Walt Disney Company granted him unprecedented permission to
paint Donald Duck in oils, bringing the Duckburg clan to the world
of fine art. At age 70, the artist attempted his first oil painting
and went on to paint nearly 150 works.
Barks' work has been collected in several hardbound coffee-table
books -- "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck" (1981), "The Fine
Art of Walt Disney's Donald Duck" and the 30 volume "Carl Barks'
Library."
His comic book creations took on a whole new life when they became
the basis for the popular Disney animated television series, "DuckTales,"
which premiered in 1987 and ran for many years in syndication and
on network TV. A feature film starring Scrooge McDuck, called "DuckTales:
The Movie, Treasure of the Lost Lamp" was released in 1990.
Barks was honored by the Studio in 1991, when he became part of
select group to receive the "Disney Legends Award."
Barks is survived by his daughter, Dorothy, from Bremerton, Washington;
as well as a granddaughter, a grandson, a niece and several great,
great grandchildren. A memorial service is planned for next week
in the artist's hometown.
* * *
More Animated Films Coming From Phil Roman
Three classic RKO films, "Sinbad the Sailor," "Blackbeard the Pirate"
and "The Fourth Musketeer," as well as three other films to be selected
from RKO's vast library, will be jointly developed and produced
as feature-length animated films in an agreement completed between
Ted Hartley, RKO chairman and CEO, and Phil Roman, the award-winning
president of Phil Roman Entertainment.
RKO and Phil Roman Entertainment intend to adapt these well-known
RKO movies for release as family entertainment titles.
These animated films will be executive produced by Hartley and
Roman with Roman serving as animation producer and director and
RKO handling their worldwide distribution.
The original version of "Sinbad the Sailor" was produced in 1946
with Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Anthony Quinn and Maureen O'Hara starring;
"Blackbeard the Pirate," originally produced in 1952, starred Linda
Darnell, Robert Newton and William Bendix; "The Fourth Musketeer,"
the 1952 version of the "Three Musketeers," starred Maureen O'Hara,
Cornell Wilde and Lewis Allen.
Roman, a six-time Emmy winner, formed his new animation company
last year, after departing Film Roman, a company he founded 14 years
earlier. He began his career in 1955 at the Walt Disney Studios.
Afterwards, he worked for Warner Bros. cartoons, and this was followed
by stints with a string of other major animation companies including
MGM Animation, UPA Film, Bill Melendez's production company, and
Ralph Bakshi's company.
He has served as executive producer of "The Simpsons," "King of
the Hill," and the "Garfield" series and Specials, and has directed
numerous "Charlie Brown" features and TV Specials. Roman also produced
and directed the full-length animation feature, "Tom and Jerry:
The Movie" for Miramax and Turner.
Phil Roman Entertainment's upcoming slate of films includes "The
Gaudins: A Christmas Special" and "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,"
slated for release Christmas season 2000; the animated segments
of the live action/animation feature, "Cyber Quest"; "Soap on the
Range," a new prime time 26 episode animation series; and "The Gaudins,"
a 26-episode animated kids series.
Under Hartley's aegis, 100 year old RKO Pictures, once one of the
most renowned motion picture studios in the world, has been revived
from a moribund state to that of an active producer of television
and motion pictures. The company finances, produces and distributes
film and television projects and has a full slate of projects scheduled
for production.
RKO produced "Mighty Joe Young," and recently completed filming
a remake of its classic thriller "I Walked With a Zombie" on location
in Jamaica for its Radio Pictures division. RKO Television will
begin production in Ireland next month on the prestigious four-hour
miniseries, "The Magnificent Ambersons," based on Orson Welles'
original screenplay, and headlined by an all-star cast.
The agreement between RKO and Phil Roman Entertainment was negotiated
by Roman VP Rick Ramirez and RKO Executive VP Art Horan and VP David
Marko.
* * *
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