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Monday, October 23, 2000
New Animated/Anime DVDs Being Released Tomorrow
Here is a list of animated and anime DVDs being released tomorrow:
X-Men
- Animated Series: The Phoenix Saga (1992)
Sin:
The Motion Picture
Franklin
& The Green Knight (2000)
Dragonball
2-Pack
Cartoon
Noir .
* * *
"The Simpsons" Museum Exhibit Opens October 28, 2000
As a culmination to a year-long celebration of television's
longest-running primetime sitcom, an exhibit of images and memorabilia
reflecting the legendary status and global popularity of FOX TV's
"The Simpsons," opens at Hollywood Entertainment Museum Saturday,
Oct. 28.
The exhibit, "The Simpsons: Ten Years Gone," which will run exclusively
at the Museum through Dec. 3, spans "The Simpsons" years between
1992 and 1997, utilizing scores of color animation cels which comprise
a multitude of scenes showing Bart, Homer, Lisa, Marge and little
Maggie in all their outrageous glory.
Opening as a prelude to the 12th season premiere of a show (Nov.
5), the exhibit's centerpiece is a 1-foot-by-2 1/2-foot limited
edition artpiece called "Where's Bart," a portrayal of all the characters
who have appeared on "The Simpsons." Another major element is an
original color drawing showing the Simpson family.
The exhibit's opening will be attended by more than 400 fans flown
to Hollywood from around the world as winners in "The Simpsons Global
Fanfest," a series of contests and promotions held as part of the
celebration of the show's success. The fanfest began last Jan. 14,
when "The Simpsons" received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
in front of Hollywood Entertainment Museum.
"The Simpsons is a singular show that has carved a historic niche
in television lore, so it makes sense that Hollywood Entertainment
Museum would host this first-ever exhibit of artifacts that represent
its pioneering nature," said Phyllis Caskey, president and CEO of
the Museum. "Our mission is to house and celebrate the best of Hollywood
and 'The Simpsons' comfortably falls into that elite category."
Another facet of the exhibit will be a display of Simpsons promotion
and merchandising items which have never been available in the U.S.,
but were used in international campaigns.
The exhibit will be on view each week Thursdays to Tuesdays (11
a.m. - 6 p.m.) at Hollywood Entertainment Museum, 7021 Hollywood
Blvd, an interactive museum that celebrates the film, television,
radio, recording arts and Hollywood the place. Admission is $7.50
for adults; $4.50 for seniors and students (identification required);
$4 for youths age 5-12; and free to Museum members and children
under the age of five.
Located one block east of La Brea Avenue in the Hollywood Galaxy
complex, parking is off Sycamore Avenue and is $2 for two hours
with Museum validation. For more information, call (323) 465-7900.
Tuesday, October 24, 2000
Toy Story 2 Problem Not Technicolor's First
Animated Foul-up
Technicolor is being deliberately silent about its progress in investigating
how "R" rated clips from High Fidelity got onto
select copies of Toy Story 2 DVDs shipping as part of the
"Ultimate Toy Box" 3-disc set. Despite numerous press
inquiries, Technicolor's only response is "Technicolor will
continue to investigate the cause of the defect and the magnitude
of the problem."
The magnitude of the problem was first believed to
only be Costco stores in the Midwest, but reports kept coming in
from other states, showing the problem to be nationwide.
The Toy Story 2 foul-up by Technicolor is not
their first mistake on a Disney animated film. Just last year some
people purchasing Disney's Pinocchio DVD were surprised to
find the DVD contained the movie The Prince of Egypt by rival
DreamWorks.
So why does Disney continue to use Technicolor to
do its work in the midst of two high-publicity problems? Technicolor
is the largest DVD replicator in the world, with the ability to
duplicate 175,000 DVDs every day. But quantity apparently isn't
always equal to quality as Disney has now discovered two years in
a row.
* * *
Box Office Results
Here are the Box Office results for last weekend's animated
films:
Digimon
$901,455 ($547 per screen average - 53% decrease)
15th at the Box Office (down from #11 last weekend)
Total to Date: $8.5 Million
CyberWorld
3D
$310,194 ($10,340 per screen average - 4% decrease)
22nd at the Box Office (up from #19 last weekend)
Total to Date: $1.2 Million
Chicken
Run
$206,383 ($451 per screen average - 23% decrease)
25th at the Box Office (down from #21 last weekend)
Total to Date: $106.6 Million
Dinosaur
$121,682 ($481 per screen average - 24% decrease)
35th at the Box Office (down from #34 last weekend)
Total to Date: $137.2 Million
Wednesday, October 25, 2000
The Nightmare Before Christmas to be in
72 Theaters
Touchstone Pictures' stop-motion movie, Tim Burton's The Nightmare
Before Christmas, will launch its nationwide reissue with a
filmmakers' panel at the historic El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood
on Friday, October 27th, it was announced yesterday by Richard Cook,
chairman of The Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group.
The film, which was originally released in 1993, is
scheduled to return to 72 theatres across the country for a special
engagement beginning on October 27th. New 35mm prints have been
struck for this release and the sound has been upgraded to include
the latest digital formats.
To help celebrate the film's return, Hollywood's El
Capitan will host an opening night filmmakers' panel discussion,
which will include director Henry Selick, animation supervisor Eric
Leighton, animator Mike Belzer, and assistant art director Bill
Boes. The panel, which will be moderated by Scott MacQueen, Disney's
Manager of Library Restoration, will take place on Friday, October
27th at 7:15 p.m. preceding the regularly scheduled 7:30 p.m. engagement.
Tickets for this or any performance at the El Capitan are available
by calling 1-800-DISNEY6.
Among the other exclusives being offered at the El
Capitan: an exhibit of props and character puppets actually used
in the film, a costume contest with prizes at the opening night
7:30 p.m. show, and special treats for all children who come dressed
in Halloween costumes throughout the El Capitan's 10-day engagement.
Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" follows
the earnest but misguided adventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentown's
beloved Pumpkin King, as he attempts to take over the Christmas
holiday. Against the advice of Sally, a lonely rag doll who has
feelings for him, Jack enlists three mischievous trick-or-treaters
-- Lock, Shock and Barrel -- to help him kidnap Santa Claus. Jack
eventually realizes his mistake but has to contend with the evil
Oogie Boogie before he can make things right and restore the Christmas
holiday.
* * *
Michael Fink Joins Cinesite
Visual effects guru Michael Fink has joined Cinesite as a senior
visual effects supervisor. Fink's visual effects supervisor credits
span the transition from optical to digital technology, beginning
with War Games in 1982, and including such notable films
as The Seventh Sign, Braveheart and Lethal Weapon 4.
He earned an Oscar nomination for Batman Returns in 1993
and has been lauded for his innovative work on the recent hit
X-Men.
"Mike Fink has earned the admiration and respect of his peers throughout
this industry," says Ruth Scovill, president and chief operating
officer of Cinesite. "His experience and talent make him a perfect
fit at Cinesite. He adds more depth to an already creative staff."
Fink is a native Californian, who studied at the Art Institute
of San Francisco and the California Institute of Arts, in Los Angeles.
In 1977, Fink was working in Los Angeles as a photographer and artist,
when a former classmate brought him onto the crew for The China
Syndrome. When he returned to his solitary studio after five months
on that job, Fink missed the collaborative creative process.
"I was always interested in technology, especially as it applied
to creating images," says Fink. "Working on different pictures in
a variety of jobs was a great opportunity for me to learn about
new technologies and to apply my artistic instincts to storytelling
with some of the best practitioners in the industry."
He earned his first visual effects supervisor credit on War Games
in 1982. Fink was responsible for creating more than 50,000 feet
of computer generated images on film. He subsequently worked on
Buckaroo Bonzai and Project X, and earned dual credits
as second unit director and visual effects supervisor on The
Seventh Sign.
Fink led a start-up venture, Warner Digital Studios, for Warner
Bros., in 1995. The full service visual effects shop had a 150 staff
at its peak. They created visual effects for Batman and Robin,
Eraser, Mars Attacks, Conspiracy Theory and
Contact as well as for commercials and special venue projects.
"Filmmaking used to be like playing jazz," he says. "There was
a clearly defined structure, enlivened by improvisation. Now, it
is more like creating contemporary music where even the structure
is improvised. Digital technology has given us a lot more freedom.
We have extended the creative process much deeper into postproduction.
But, you still have to understand photography and lighting, so effects
shots can nestle seamlessly with live-action film. You still have
to be true to the look."
Fink is on the Executive Committee of the Visual Effects branch
of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts & Sciences.
Thursday, October 26, 2000
Toy Story Backup Disaster
Several publications, including Newsweek and MSN, reported an interesting
news blurb surrounding Toy Story. It seems that when it came
time to create the Toy Story DVD, Pixar discovered that 12%
of the master footage was missing and no backups had been created.
According to the blurb, "For three months earlier this year,
staffers scoured the system for the toys' missing parts; salvaging
all but 1 percent." John Lasseter has since assured the press
that it has a better backup system in place.
In other Pixar news, the company's annual shareholder's
meeting is being held today in San Francisco.
* * *
Don Bluth To Teach Seminars
Don Bluth is going to be teaching animation seminars in both
Los Angeles and Chicago. Called "ToonUp 2000" the 2-day
seminar will spotlight the art of animation.
"I keep seeing young artists entering the job market somewhat
unprepared, confident that their art college diploma did it for
them; end of story," says Bluth. "But, mastering of any
discipline requires passion, vigilance, and perseverances; it's
not a one time thing. ToonUp 2000 will address the ongoing improvement
of your animation skills with the hope of kicking your virtuosity
up a notch or two."
The Los Angeles seminar will take place November 4 & 5 while
the Chicago seminar will occur on November 11 & 12. The cost
is $400. For more information or to sign up, call 1-888-363-8343.
***
Dinosaur Opens in India - Praised in Reviews
According to The Hindu:
"Notable triumphs in recent years, of the animated motion
picture art - like A Bug's Life and Toy Story (1 and
2) - have signalled that the old Walt Disney formula is not an exclusive
turf any more. Other creative talents and studios have edged in,
at the new computer-assisted cutting edge of the animation business.
The summer of 2000 saw at least four mainstream American feature-length
films, enticing younger audiences with a canny mix of live action,
special effects wizardry and computer- enhanced animation.
So is Disney about to become a fossilised dinosaur in its own unique
niche? No way - seems to be its upbeat message. And the studio signals
that it is prepared to match all challengers, pixel for realistic
pixel, with its newest animation product which is called simply:
Dinosaur. The film opens all over India this week..."
Click
here for the full story.
Friday, October 27, 2000
Monkeybone Release Date Changed
The release date for Henry Selick's Monkeybone has been moved
from January 2000 to April 11, 2000. The film combines live action,
stop motion, and CGI. The story is about a cartoonist who is transported
to the cartoon world after going into a coma.
* * *
Revisiting The Nightmare Before Christmas
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is back,
opening in 72 theaters across the United States. The 76 minute stop
motion film was originally released on October 15, 1993. In a strange
move, the movie was released to DVD (including a special edition)
just weeks before being re-released to theaters. Normally re-release
of videos and DVDs follow the big screen re-release The Nightmare
Before Christmas made only $50 million at the U.S. Box Office
in its initial release. Even so, it was #1 at the Box Office for
two weeks straight (the first two weeks of November 1993). Disney
claims that the film has developed a strong following since then,
which is one of the reasons it is being re-released
The Nightmare Before Christmas is rated PG and was nominated
for a "Best Visual Effects" Academy Award.
***
Toy Story 2 Ranks Second for Rental Marketplace
In its first week available, Toy Story 2 managed to become
the second most rented video, bringing in $4.5 million in rentals
for the week. The number one rented movie was Rules of Engagement.
Saturday, October 28, 2000
Digital Animation Goes Into Witness Box
According to SMH:
"Revolutionary digital animation technology,
similar to that used in Hollywood films including Toy Story
and Dinosaur, is being tested in English courtrooms to simulate
road accidents.
The first 3D display was used in a coroner's court
in Walsall, in the West Midlands, last week. The technology has
been jointly developed by Nottingham University and the crash investigation
unit at West Midlands Police, using commercially available computer
graphics software, which gives startlingly realistic images.
Mike Doyle, senior crash investigator with the force,
said: 'The idea is to provide a simple, factual animation to show
the court or coroner's court what happened. We base the reconstructions
on scientific evidence. The police are there to gather evidence
and everything that happens on screen must be directly linked to
a provable bit of data'..."
Click
here for the full story.
* * *
Flowerpot Men Makes a Comeback
According to the BBC, the children's series Flowerpot men, which
was popular in the UK several decades ago, is making a comback.
According to the BBC, "There will be no strings attached to
the pair, as the characters will now be created using computer animation.
Little Weed has also changed her image, sporting sunglasses and
taking on a role as 'earth mother'.
There are over 30 artists working on the production.
Sunday, October 29, 2000
Animation Writer Discusses Process
According to Slate:
"What makes for a good animated show? If we make
it, will kids watch? These are the questions that hang over my work
every day. ('Why don't cartoon writers get residuals?' is also right
up there, but the answer to that is too depressing.)
When I was a kid, squandering my youth watching every
cartoon I could, from the sublime (anything by Jay Ward) to the
ridiculous (Kimba the White Lion), television had it easy. No cable,
no computers, no video, no PlayStations. In short, no competition.
I didn't just watch Gigantor because I thought it was cool (although
I certainly did), I watched it because it was the only cartoon on
at that time. (By the way, I spent far more time at the library
than in front of the television, as do my own kids, for what that's
worth.)
Today, we can't take our audience for granted..."
Click
here for the full story.
* * *
Daria Video Game Ships Tuesday
"Daria," MTV's animated TV show is now a PC game. Titled Daria's
Inferno, the game (available Tuesday on PC/Mac for $20) features
the same animation syle and voices from the TV show.
"Daria," which debuted on MTV in March of 1997, was the only character
from MTV's animated program "Beavis and Butt-Head's" to get her
own show. The series chronicles the experiences of Daria Morgendorffer,
a sardonic teenager blessed with an uncanny ability to turn potential
disaster to her own advantage. Daria lives in Lawndale with her
stressed-out, career-fixated parents, Helen and Jake, and her relentlessly
cute and popular younger sister, Quinn. The students and faculty
at the "progressive" Lawndale High School regard Daria with a mixture
of curiosity, confusion, casual scorn, and -- every now and then
-- respect.
The game starts from outside Lawndale High, where Daria must make
her way through Hell (a.k.a. Lawndale) in order to get the Five
Crucial Instruments of Institutional Education (a.k.a. Ms. Li's
stuff). If these five items can be obtained, Daria has a chance
of extinguishing the burning fires of Principal Li's rage and making
it out of the Inferno alive.
Monday, October 30, 2000
New Animated Films Coming to DVD Tomorrow
 Here
is a list of animated/anime films being released to DVD tomorrow:
Amazing
Nurse Nanako - Firecrackers
Angel
Cop Collection
Casper's
Haunted Christmas (2000)
Dr.
Seuss - How the Grinch Stole Christmas/Horton Hears a Who (Digitally
Enhanced Edition) (1966)
Mickey's
Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
Thomas
& The Magic Railroad (2000 - animated/live action)
The
Year Without a Santa Claus (1979 - Stop Motion)
* * *
Latest Trends Draw Upon Japanese Anime
According to the Honolulu Star Bulletin:
"Even though the art of the comic strip was invented in the
United States -- along with jazz and baseball -- the hottest buzz
in the field for the last decade has come out of Japan. It's called
'anime,' a Japanese slang term for animation, and the style is finally
catching on in the United States, after conquering the rest of the
world.
In Japan, 'anime' is a specific term, meaning animated films for
television shows. In America, the 'term is more inclusive, meaning
a whole range of a certain kind aesthetic,' said Milton Streeter,
who tutors English at Hawaii Pacific University..."
Click
here for the full story.
***
William T. Hurtz Passes Away
On October 14, William T. Hurtz passed away at the age of 81. His
obituary reads as follows:
"William T. Hurtz, a founder of the trend-setting United Productions
of America animation studio, whose career stretched from Walt Disney
in the 1930s to 'Rugrats' in the 1990s, with stops in between for
Mr. Magoo, George of the Jungle and Cap'n Crunch, died Oct. 14 at
his home in Van Nuys, Calif. He was 81.
Hurtz always struggled to bring a sly, witty spirit to his work,
said Claudia Hurtz, his daughter. 'He fancied himself an actor with
a pencil,' she said.
Hurtz studied at the Chouinard Art Institute, which later became
the California Institute of the Arts, or Cal Arts, producing many
of the greatest animators in Hollywood history.
He was hired in 1938 by Walt Disney Studios, where he worked on
the dancing mushroom sequence in the first Fantasia feature,
released in 1940.
It was Hurtz, an active member of the Hollywood Cartoonists
Union, who made the motion in 1941 to go on strike against Disney.
The labor dispute lasted for several months and was credited by
many with helping raise the status and wages of animators in Hollywood.
During World War II, Hurtz was part of the Film Motion Picture
Unit of the Army Signal Corps, making animated training films at
Hal Roach Studios in Culver City, Calif. After the war, he joined
with other former Disney animators like John Hubley and Steve Bosustow
to form United Productions of America, or UPA, which soon became
celebrated for its fresh, minimalist style and its sophisticated
story lines.
In 1959, he moved to Jay Ward Productions, another fledgling animation
studio, where he worked until it closed in 1984. He became one of
the earliest directors and supervisors on 'The Adventures of Rocky
and Bullwinkle,' 'The Adventures of Hoppity Hooper' and 'George
of the Jungle.' It was during this period that he directed more
than 300 Cap'n Crunch commercials."
***
CINAR Signs Deal to Recover Money
This has not been a good year for Canada's CINAR, which is still
trying to recover from several investigations into the way the company
has conducted business. From trying to pass off US scriptwriters
as Canada scriptwriters to missing money, the company has had it
tough. There were even public barbs exchanged between the CINAR
Board of Directors and CINAR founders.
CINAR last week released the following statement in regards to
recovering money the board said it had not approved for investments:
"CINAR Corporation and GLOBE-X Management announced today
that they have reached an agreement on a payment schedule for the
remaining monies still owed by GLOBE-X to CINAR.
This agreement calls for weekly payments between now and August
17, 2001, aggregating US$50.9 million. Interest calculated at an
annual rate equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus
1 1/2% from September 1, 2000, on the declining balance, will also
be paid to CINAR.
CINAR has reserved its rights in relation to an additional sum
of US$12 million transferred to CINAR in November 1999, which GLOBE-X
has accounted for as a payment in reduction of GLOBE-X's indebtedness
to CINAR.
In accordance with the agreement, CINAR's legal proceedings against
GLOBE-X will be withdrawn."
See the following Animation Artist stories for more information:
CINAR
Fires It's Founders! (scroll down to second story after clicking)
Fired
CINAR Founders Fight Back
CINAR
Trading Suspended (scroll down to second story after clicking)
CINAR
May Be Target of Acquisition Attempt
CINAR
Discusses Investigation
Tuesday, October 31, 2000
(Halloween Day)
And The Winner Is...
The Animation Artist Trick or Treat contest has concluded and there
was one clear winner who scored nearly 1,000 points more than the
second place winner. Congratulations to Jing-Jen Sun, who was diligent
in answering every question throughout the month-long contest receiving
a score of 1,599 points out of a possible 1,600 points. As the winner,
Jing-Jen Sun has won the the special edition DVD of Tim Burton's
The Nightmare Before Christmas. In addition, Jing-Jen Sun will
receive an Animation Artist T-shirt.
Even though only one prize was being awarded for the
Animation Artist Trick or Treat contest, Animation Artist Magazine
is going to send the second and third place winners a free Animation
Artist T-shirt. Those winners are:
Second Place (tie)
Bill Fortney, Jr. with 600 points
"Frail" with 600 points
Third Place
Brandon B. with 531 points
Congratulations to all the winners and everyone who
participated. Each of the trivia questions and correct answers will
be posted this weekend.
* * *
Box Office Results for Animated Films
Here are the Box Office results for last weekend's animated
films:
Digimon
$332,195 ($347 per screen average - big 63% decrease)
19th at the Box Office (down from #15 last weekend)
Total to Date: $9 Million
CyberWorld
3D
$221,941 ($7,398 per screen average - 28% decrease)
24th at the Box Office (down from #22 last weekend)
Total to Date: $1.5 Million
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
$175,022 ($2,431 per screen average - first release week)
28th at the Box Office
Total to Date (includes original release): $50.17 Million
Chicken
Run
$135,414 ($345 per screen average - 34% decrease)
30th at the Box Office (down from #25 last weekend)
Total to Date: $106.8 Million
Dinosaur
$75,861 ($397 per screen average - 38% decrease)
39th at the Box Office (down from #35 last weekend)
Total to Date: $137.3 Million
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