Animation Magazine

Author: Ryan Ball

  • Doogal, Home Movies Transferred to DVD

    More computer-generated animal adventure comes to retail today with the home video release of Doogal, the Weinstein Co.’s Americanized version of the British CG-animated feature, Sprung: The Magic Roundabout. Also showing up on shelves today the fourth season of the animated cult favorite series Home Movies, which aired on UPN and later showed up on Cartoon Network’s [adult swim] block.

    Doogal takes place in a magical world where three special diamonds can be united to create a force powerful enough to freeze the sun. When the evil Zeebad escapes from his ancient prison and vows to exact revenge by deep-freezing the earth forever, our heroes band together to find the diamonds before he can get his hands on them. In the process, they must climb icy mountains, navigate fiery pits of molten lava, sail across vast oceans and pass through a booby-trapped temple guarded by an army of ninja skeleton warriors.

    Based on the classic British children’s TV series The Magic Roundabout, the original film from directors Jean Duval, Frank Passingham and Dave Borthwick was tailored for U.S. audiences by director Butch Hartman (creator of The Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom) and the Hoodwinked team of Cory Edwards, Todd Edwards and Tony Leech. Also brought on for this version was a voice cast led by Saturday Night Live player Kenan Thompson, Daily Show host Jon Stewart, acclaimed actor William H. Macy and comedic performers Jimmy Fallon, Whoopi Goldberg and Chevy Chase. Bonus materials on the Doogal DVD include a making-of featurette and theatrical trailer. The disc lists for $28.95.

    Home Movies: Season Four arrives as a three-disc set featuring all 13 episodes from the final season of the series which follows the life of eight-year-old budding filmmaker Brendon Small. The series was created by Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist creator Tom Snyder, and stand-up comic Brendon Small who produced the series with Loren Bouchard. Like Dr. Katz, Home Movies employs the trademarked “Squigglevision” style of 2D animation. UPN cancelled it after only five episodes but it soon fond a new home on Cartoon Network in 2001.

    DVD extras include commentary tracks, audio outtakes and a featurette titled The Beginning of the Genesis of the Origin of Home Movies — The Very First Sessions with Loren Bouchard. There’s also a bonus music CD with 52 songs used during the show’s four seasons. The Shout! Factory release carries a suggested retail price of $34.98.

  • Digital Domain Sold to Michael Bay & Co.

    Academy award-winning visual effects studio Digital Domain has been acquired by South Florida-based Wyndcrest Holdings LLC, a group led by action movie director Michael Bay (Pearl Harbor) and investor John Textor. According to Textor, the plan is to build the commercial and film industries’ leading director-centric visual effects business and extend Digital Domain’s business to include direct development of animated films and effects-driven features.

    Wyndcrest Holdings principal and former Microsoft senior exec Carl Stork has been elected CEO of Digital Domain, replacing founder Scott Ross, who will serve as a consultant to the company. C. Bradley Call will remain president and chief operating officer while Bay and Textor co-chair the Board of Directors.

    ‘At a time when every top-grossing motion picture is relying on digital visual effects to help tell compelling and entertaining stories, we believe this translates into a bright future for companies in this field, and we believe Digital Domain represented a unique opportunity to invest,’ says Stork, whose accomplishments at Microsoft included leading the development of Windows 95/98.

    ‘Having worked with Digital Domain in the past, I am well aware of the talent and creativity of the team here, and understand first-hand why the company has a well-earned reputation for creative and high-quality work,’ Bay comments. ‘Rapidly evolving digital visual effects technology is going to allow motion picture directors to tell even more compelling and visually stunning stories in the future, and we believe that Digital Domain is uniquely positioned to take advantage of these new technologies, as well as new distribution channels and platforms.’

    Founded in 1993, Digital Domain has received five Academy Awards, including two Best Visual Effects wins for Titanic and What Dreams May Come, and three Scientific and Technical Achievement honors for its proprietary imaging software. Recent major films baring the studio’s stamp include 20 Century Fox’s Oscar-nominated thrillers The Day After Tomorrow and I, Robot. In addition, the company’s commercial division has been awarded 34 Clio Awards, 22 AICP awards, eight Cannes Lion Awards and numerous other advertising honors.

    Digital Domain also operates D2 Software, a subsidiary established to productize the studio’s proprietary software tools, including the Academy Award-winning Nuke compositing package. More information on the company is available at www.digitaldomain.com.

  • Cartoon Net Launches Fosters Game

    Cartoon Network is giving fans of the original animated series Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends a chance to be part of the action with a new game that launched today at www.cartoonnetwork.com. Visitors get to create their own imaginary friend and become a member of a very unusual household in Big Fat Awesome House Party, a free, year-long interactive experience based on the hit show.

    The game has players choose from more than 900,000 possible combinations of shapes, colors and faces to bring their imaginary friend to life in Madame Foster’s virtual house. Throughout the year, participants will be encouraged to explore the ever-changing adventures, play mini-games, collect upgrades and take part in every aspect of life at the famous residence. Each new imaginary friend must earn his or her keep in the house by performing a daily list of duties, and can also do favors for characters they meet along the way. Completing certain tasks unlocks special adventures with series star Blooregard Q. Kazoo.

    ‘Big Fat Awesome House Party is our most ambitious game to date and underscores Cartoon Network New Media’s commitment to providing innovative, high-quality games for our fans,’ remarks Paul Condolora, senior VP and general manager of Cartoon Network New Media. ‘The Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends game allows us to continue the storylines of the popular quirky characters and involve the series’ passionate fans in a fun and interactive environment.’

    Big Fat Awesome House Party will roll out new levels, additional games and new features throughout the year and into 2007. The game will also take part in a special event tied to brand-new episodes of the series. All players who have created friends in the game will have the chance to see their avatar appear in one of the new episodes airing this summer.

    Created by Craig McCracken (Powerpuff Girls), the Emmy- and Annie Award-winning Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends takes place in a haven for wayward invented pals whose creators have outgrown them. Unwilling to completely give up imaginary buddy Bloo, a young boy named Mac visits Foster’s Home regularly and takes part in all kinds of wacky adventures. The series airs on Cartoon Network on Friday evenings at 7 p.m. (ET/PT). The top-rated show is now in its fourth season with a fifth recently greenlit.

  • Wayans Bros.’s Thugaboo Bound for DVD

    Brothers Shawn, Marlon and Keenen Ivory Wayans, the minds behind the Fox television sketch series In Living Color and the smash hit Scary Movie film series, are out to snag a piece of the animation pie. Thugaboo, a series of animated kids specials inspired by their own childhood experiences, will be introduced by Warner Home Video on Aug. 29 following its mid-August premiere on Nickelodeon.

    ‘Thugaboo” is The Wayans Family’s own term for kids who may appear hard on the outside, but are soft, normal, curious children on the inside. The series will focus on one such kid named D-Roc, who runs with a pack of friends in “Boo York City” and learns valuable lessons about the importance of family, self-esteem, pursuing goals and more.

    The first special, titled The Wayans Family Presents…Thugaboo Sneaker Madness, is a back-to-school story with a timely lesson for young viewers. In addition to Shawn and Marlon Wayans (White Chicks), the voice cast will feature sister Kim Wayans (In Living Color), Michael Rapaport (The War at Home), Aries Spears (Mad TV), David Alan Grier (The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz), George Gore II (My Wife and Kids) and Charlie Murphy (The Boondocks). The DVD will offer a behind-the-scenes featurette and a themed music video.

  • Funtastic Nabs Madman Group

    Australian marketer and distributor Funtastic Ltd. has acquired Madman Entertainment Group, an independent film and video distributor for the Australia and New Zealand market. Madman, which handles such anime franchises as Astro Boy, One Piece and Dragon Ball Z, will turn over to Funtastic its theatrical, home entertainment and interactive divisions, as well as its distribution company, The AV Channel.

    ‘The Madman acquisition will diversify our customer base and help secure DVD rights to children’s titles,’ says of Funtastic managing director Tony Oates. ‘And our experience in marketing, sourcing and distribution will greatly boost Madman’s strategic growth.

    Funtastic says its market dominance in various licensed goods categories will create greater opportunities for both companies in the local marketplace. Madman will continue to run its own licensing, product management, production, publicity, marketing, sales and accounts teams under current managers. Founders Tim Anderson and Paul Wiegard will continue to running Madman for at least the next four years.

    ‘This partnership places Madman and Funtastic in a truly unique brand building situation,” comments Tim Anderson, director of Madman Entertainment Group. “By combining Madman’s understanding of the DVD and home entertainment market and Funtastic’s overall mass-market and brand expertise, we will now be able to offer a united front for our Licensors and a far greater level of exposure and success than ever before.’

    Funtastic has been involved in licensing leading brands such as Bratz, Thomas the Tank Engine, Pirates of the Caribbean, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Barbie, Winnie the Pooh and LeapFrog. The company’s operations now include toys, apparel, footwear, hobby products, confectionery, accessories, publishing, entertainment, electrical products, housewares and apparel for the whole family.

  • Snakewoman to Slither from Virgin Comics

    Publisher Virgin Comics has announced the first title in its ‘Director’s Cut’ line of comics created by well-known filmmakers. The series, which will include a comic from action impresario John Woo, will premiere on July 19 with the retail debut of Snakewoman from Shekhar Kapur, director of the 8-time Oscar nominated historical feature Elizabeth.

    The first of many filmmaker-created series in the works, Snakewoman is described as the sexy and mysterious tale of Jessica Peterson, a woman who will eventually kill 68 men. The comic is being illustrated by Michael Gaydos (Alias, The Pulse) and written by Zeb Wells (Civil War: Young Angers/Runaways). The cover of Snakewoman #1 was painted by Mukesh Singh at the Virgin Comics studio in Bangalore, India.

    ‘Snakewoman is such a visual story, it has been easy for me to imagine it told as comics and graphic novels,” Kapur comments. “Sharad Devarajan and his team at Virgin understand how Snakewoman comics become storyboards for the Snakewoman film.

    Kapur was behind the controversial film Bandit Queen, which garnered international attention when it was banned by the Indian government. He has since gone on to direct notedworthy films in both Bollywood and Hollywood. He is currently in the U.K. filming a sequel to Elizibeth titled Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

    In November of 2005, Kapur co-founded Virgin Comics LLC with Virgin Enterprises head Sir Richard Branson, author Deepak and South Asian comic publisher Gotham Entertainment Group LLC. At the same time, the partnership established Virgin Animation Private Ltd, which is focused on building production and distribution partnerships for animated features, both traditional and CG. More information is available at www.VirginComics.com.

  • Captain Mack to Command Kids on CITV

    U.K. broadcaster CITV (children’s arm of ITV) has picked up the stop-motion preschool series Captain Mac from Kickback Media. The outlet has commissioned 52 10-minute episodes of the show, a co-production of Kickback and Cuppa Coffee Studios, and plans to begin airing the show in the fall of 2007.

    Described by Kickback as Top Gun for pre-schoolers, Captain Mack follows the adventures of a brave and charismatic sky captain who leads a team of cadets that flies around in sky rockets performing heroic rescues and daring deeds. The series was created in-house by Kickback Media with writing by Simon Nicholson and designs by U.K. designer/director Mario Cavalli of Colony Media.

    Cuppa Coffee founder and president Adam Shaheen will exec. produce Captain Mack with Kickback’s managing director, John Bullivant. Shaheen says, ‘The series was by far and away the most unique of properties I had seen in the pre-school market, and that has been proven by the enormously popular response broadcasters have had to the show.’ Bullivant adds, ‘I had always felt Mack should be produced in model animation and was very excited when Adam and Cuppa Coffee came on board.

    One of the largest stop-motion animation studios in the world, Cuppa Coffee has produced JoJo’s Circus for Disney Playhouse, Little People for Mattel, Celebrity Death Match for MTV and the holiday short A Very Barry Christmas, which recently won Best Special at Cartoons on the Bay. For Capatin Mack, the company will have a $7.9 million budget to play with.

    Kickback Media is handling all international sales and licensing activities for the series. Deals with U.K. toy, video and publishing companies are expected to be in place before production commences in September. Captain Mack was shopped at MIPTV in April and several TV pre-sales are in the negotiation stage.

  • Axis Brings Codehunters to MTV Asia

    BAFTA-winning Scottish toon studio Axis Animation recently got more international exposure with the short film Codehunters, a production of Blinkink. The short aired on Saturday, May 6, as part of the MTV Asia Music Awards in Bangkok, reaching approximately 400 million homes throughout Asia.

    Blinkink director Ben Hibon wrote, designed, storyboarded, edited and directed Codehunters, a toon-shaded 3D fantasy tale about four heroes who band together to take on gangs, corrupt cops, rampaging monsters and a tyrannical warlord. In addition to being screened during the awards ceremony, the short was used for branding the event as stills, clips and designs from the film provided a backdrop and costumed characters mingled with the musical talent. The award trophy itself was a bronze cast model of one of the characters in the movie.

    Axis recently picked up a Welsh BAFTA and a string of other awards for its TV series, Colin & Cumberland. The studio has also earned PROMAX Gold awards and kudos from the New York Festival, Celtic Film Festival and Roses Design Awards for other projects. With Codehunters, Axis hopes it has finally turned the spotlight on the often overlooked Scottish animation industry. Codehunters can be viewed online at www.blinkink.co.uk.

  • John K. Coming to Santa Monica

    The creator of Ren & Stimpy will be at the Every Picture Tells A Story gallery in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sunday, May 28 to introduce an exhibit titled “The Art of John Kricfalusi.’ The event will kick off at 4 p.m. as Kricfalusi shares original art and prints from the animated programs he and his Spumco Animation team have has produced. As an added treat, he will perform with his eclectic musical group.

    ‘Following the appearance at Every Picture Tells A Story, Kricfalusi will head across the street to the American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, which will screen a two-hour program of Ren & Stimpy cartoons and other animated gems starting at 6:30 p.m. Following the film program, Every Picture Tells A Story will open for a special “nite-owl” look at the exhibit, which will run through June 24.

    Every Picture Tells A Story is located at 1311 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information can be found online at www.everypicture.com, or by phoning (310) 451-2700.

  • Speakers Set for Cartoon Master Finance

    Organizers of Cartoon Master Finance have announced the roster of industry professionals lined up to speak at this year’s event, taking place June 22-23 in Barcelona, Spain. The conference will take stock of the latest evolutions in animation as presenters examine the trends that will affect the future of the business in terms of funding and income.

    As the number of broadcast and new-media outlets continues to expand, producers are seeing less funding from broadcasters, making this year’s Cartoon Master Finance particularly important, according to organizers. To help content providers explore ways to increase financing possibilities and revenues, the program will feature words of wisdom from broadcast execs Dominique Poussier with TF1 in France and Frank Dietz of Super RTL. TV3 Catalunya will also have an expert on hand to discuss financing in the changing climate of broadcast television.

    Also being represented are distributors DIC Ent., Motion Pictures and Dargaud Distribution; and production entities Icon Animation, Alphanim, Xilam, Dupuis Audivisuel and Heok, Line Thinker. In addition, various companies and tax shelters will present information on public and private funding.

    Examples of current contracts will be handed out to participants of the 2006 Cartoon Master. The deadline for registration is June 12. A brochure and registration form are available online at www.cartoon-media.be.

  • Disney 2D Refugees Prep Book, Feature

    One of a number of independent animation houses that cropped up after Disney shuttered its 2D animation operation in 2003, Miracle Studios is building its own Mouse house with a new childrens’ book that will serve as the basis of a 2D animated feature film starring Miracle Mouse. The book is now available for pre-sale on the Miracle Studios website, with proceeds helping to fund production of the movie.

    Established by Tom Hignite, Miracle Studios is comprised of 2D artists who previously worked for Disney and Warner Bros. ‘I have been a lifelong fan of Disney animation and, as an artist and businessman, when I learned about Disney closing its 2D animation studios, I saw an opportunity,’ says Hignite. ‘We’ve been able to put together a remarkable team of animators whose resumes include work on such films as Mulan, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, and we’re looking forward to adding a Miracle Mouse title to their credits in the near future.’

    The book, Miracle Mouse: Cranky’s Miracle, is 28-page illustrated tale that follows Miracle Mouse and his beaver friend, Okey Doky, as they help their cranky friend to see everyday Miracles.

    The first minute and 15 seconds of the feature film will premiere in Wisconsin at the 2006 Parade of Homes in July. The footage will then be available for download on the Miracle Studios site shortly after. Completing the film will require additional funding and investors .

    Miracle Studios is a full-service art studio specializing in print illustrations and classic 2D animation. In addition to contract work from businesses and ad agencies, the team has produced commercials featuring Miracle Mouse for Hignite’s Miracle Homes. More information on the company and the book is available at www.hignitesmiraclestudios.com

  • BabyFirstTV Takes First Steps

    DIRECTV yesterday became the first television service provider to offer BabyFirstTV, a new premium channel dedicated to providing content for babies, toddlers and their caregivers. Created by leading experts in child development and education, the commercial-free outlet provides hundreds of hours of programming for $9.99 a month. In honor of Mother’s Day, DIRECTV subscribers can check it out for free during the month of May.

    Tailored for children up to three years of age, BabyFirstTV will feature 80% original content with a focus on positive messages and educational value. More than 38 animated and live-action original programs are on tap, including Rainbow Horse, Sandman and I Can Sign.

    The channel will also offer such popular baby DVD brands as Brainy Baby, First Impressions, So Smart and Baby Songs. In addition, BabyFirstTV has entered into an agreement with Sterling Publishing (owned by bookseller Barnes and Noble) to incorporate children’s books into its “Story Time” program.

    This summer, BabyFirstTV plans to offer an hour of daily programming for parents, providing tips on everything from proper nutrition to child safety. The time slot will then be extended to two hours a day in 2007. BabyFirstTV is now available exclusively on DIRECTV. For more information, go to www.BabyFirstTV.com.

    The three companies behind the enterprise are Regency Ent. (partner of Fox Ent), Kardan N.V. (an investment group in Netherlands and Israel) and L.A.-based investment fund Bellco Capital.

  • Poseidon Christened in Theaters

    The next wave of summer effects films officially kicks off today with the release of Warner Bros.’s Poseidon, a remake of the 1972 seafaring disaster flick, The Poseidon Adventure. And though the original was successful enough to warrant a sequel, 1979’s Beyond the Poseidon Adventure, reviews for this latest version suggest that it won’t float quite as well.

    Directed by Wolfgang Peterson (Troy, The Perfect Storm), Poseidon puts the crew and passengers of an ocean liner in a bad position when a massive wave turns the ship upside-down. Josh Lucas, Kurt Russell and Richard Dreyfuss lead an ensemble cast that has to compete with the spectacle of visual effects by Motion Picture Company, Giant Killer Robots, Hydraulx, CIS Hollywood, Industrial Light & Magic, Frantic Films, Lola Visual Effects, Pixel Playground and Scanline.

    Buoyed by digital eye candy and breathtaking action, the film should have a ship-shape opening. However, critics posit that deficiencies in the human element may prevent it from being this year’s Titanic. Still, Poseidon should have what it takes to sail to the top spot at the box office this weekend as Paramount’s Mission: Impossible III begins to take on water. DreamWorks will then have the task of sinking the ship with the May 19 release of the animated Over the Hedge.

    Ron Magid writes about the vfx of Poseidon, in the Juse issue of Animation Magazine.

  • FOX Sneaks 7 Minutes of X3

    Fans curious to see how the latest installment in the X-Men saga will work under new director Brett Ratner will get their first look tonight, May 12, as Fox offers a seven-minute preview of 20th Century Fox’s X-Men: The Last Stand. The exclusive footage will air during the season finale of That ’70s Show and will be available online at www.dell.com.

    X-Men: The Last Stand looks to be a dark third act for the popular, vfx-laden film series based on Marvel Comics characters. In this one, lines are drawn between mutants when a cure for mutations is discovered and certain tortured superheroes are seduced by the possibility of leading normal lives. Hugh Jackman returns to lead the ensemble cast as Wolverine, while Frasier star Kelsey Grammer gets his freak on as Dr. Hank McCoy, a hairy, blue mutant also known as ‘Beast.’ The film features visual effects work by MPC, Soho VFX, Weta Digital, Cinesite, Framestore CFC, Rhythm & Hues and Kleiser-Walczak.

    Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects) directed the first two X-Men films but bowed out this time around, choosing instead to revitalize another superhero franchise with Superman Returns, which opens on June 30. Since Singer’s departure, a number of directors were attached to X3 before Fox finally decided on Ratner (Rush Hour, Red Dragon). Ratner is currently in pre-production on Rush Hour 3, which will reteam Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan.

    X-Men: The Last Stand opens in theaters everywhere on Friday, May 26. Fans can now go to the film’s MySpace page at www.myspace.com/xmenthelaststand, and vote on whether or not the mutants should give up their powers and be normal at www.curesummit.com. The film’s official website is www.x-menthelaststand.com.

  • Hackman, Fishburne in Play for Harry

    Film legend Clint Eastwood was at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) on Wednesday to help Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announce some major additions to cast of the upcoming Dirty Harry video game for next-generation consoles. Gene Hackman, who appeared with Eastwood in the Oscar-winning Unforgiven, and Matrix trilogy star Laurence Fishburne will provide their voice and likeness in the game based on the popular film franchise.

    Hackman will portray police supervisor Al Bressler and Fishburne will play Reverend Carlton Clay as Eastwood reprises the role that made him an international star. As steely-eyed, loose-cannon police detective Harry Callahan, players will navigate the streets of San Francisco as they dole out some justice with a little help from a .44 Magnum.

    Eastwood first played Callahan in 1971’s Dirty Harry and returned for four sequels, 1973’s Magnum Force, 1976’s The Enforcer, 1983’s Sudden Impact and 1988’s The Dead Pool. It appeared as though the iconic actor had retired the role for good until Silicon Valley came calling. Now he’s just one of many A-list stars lending their voices and likenesses to games. Warner Home Video will put out a definitive Dirty Harry Collection on DVD in conjunction with the release of the game.

    Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is overseeing development in partnership with Eastwood’s Malpaso and The Tehama Companies, with the two-time Academy Award-winning producer and director consulting on key creative aspects of the game design.

    E3 also offered attendees their first look at John Woo’s Stranglehold, a next-gen video-game follow-up to the famed action director’s groundbreaking 1992 film, Hard Boiled. In the game, actor Chow Yun-Fat solidifies his bad-ass status by reprising the role of tough-as-nails cop ‘Tequila’ Yuen, a sort of Asian counterpart to Harry Callahan. Gamers can expect the same level of crazy, poetic action and gory violence that marks Woo’s body of film work.

  • Marvel Heroes Abound at E3

    The natural bond between comic-book superhero franchises and video games added a few pounds of muscle as Marvel Ent. unveiled a raft of new games on the way from partners Activision, Konami Digital Entertainment and 2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software. Offerings will include the first next-gen Marvel titles, Activision’s Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and X-Men: The Official Game.

    Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is an action/RPG that boasts the largest roster of comic book characters ever seen in a single video game. In a bid to save the planet from a plague of super villains, players will get to create their own superhero dream team from more than 20 playable characters including Spider-Man, Wolverine, Blade and Captain America. In total, the game features more than 140 Marvel characters and will be available for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Sony PSP, Nintendo Game Boy Advance and Windows PC.

    X-Men: The Official Game will offer an original storyline that serves as a prelude to 20th Century Fox’s and Marvel Studios’ upcoming feature film, X-Men: The Last Stand. Gamers will play as Wolverine, Nightcrawler and Iceman as they face off against formidable enemies, battle through massive environments and embark on an epic quest to save mutant-kind. The title will be available for PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo GameCube and PC platforms.

    This Fall, Konami is releasing Marvel Trading Card Game, a card based-strategy video game based on the best-selling trading card game from Upper Deck. Players will be able to collect more than 800 cards based on their favorite Marvel characters and compete in cross-platform online play in this game for Nintendo DS, PSP and PC platforms.

    From 2K Games comes Ghost Rider, a new third-person action video game based on the Marvel comic book property and upcoming Columbia Pictures/Marvel Studios feature film starring Nicholas Cage. Gamers can expect hand-to-hand combat and high-speed motorcycle action as they take on the role of Johnny Blaze, a celebrity motorcycle stunt rider who is transformed into an avenging demon with a flaming skull. The game is being developed for current generation systems by Climax Group and is scheduled for simultaneous release with the movie in February of 2007.

  • Hoodwinked is Top DVD

    Having raked in a tidy sum at the box office, The Weinstein Co.’s first animated release, Hoodwinked, has pulled off another coup in claiming the top spot on the home video charts. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the independently produced CG feature beat out 20th Century Fox’s The Family Stone to become the top DVD seller this past week.

    Offering a comical twist on the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood, Hoodwinked was produced by Kanbar Ent. for less than $20 million. The film ended up earning nearly $79 at the box office worldwide, making it the first successful CG-animated indie. The week prior to Hoodwinked‘s retail debut, another indie toon, Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, debuted at No. 2 on VideoScan’s First Alert sales chart, trumping such live-action offerings as Tristan & Isolde, Match Point and Casanova.

    VideoScan lists ensemble effort The Family Stone as the No. 2 DVD for the week, followed closely by Paramount’s Last Holiday, a comedy starring Queen Latifah. Stone ended up topping the video rental chart with Holiday coming in second and Hoodwinked bringing up the rear at No. 8. Meanwhile, Buena Vista Home Entertainment’s Dinosaurs’The Complete First and Second Seasons pulled healthy numbers to debut at No. 11 on the DVD sales chart last week.

  • Nelvana’s Babar Stumps for Ecology

    Babar, the famous elephant star of children’s books and animated TV, is set to educate French children about the environment. Nelvana, which handles consumer products based on the property, has signed a deal with the Ministry of Ecology and Durable Development in France to help spread the word about the importance of ecology by using a character beloved by kids around the world.

    Each year during the summer holidays, the Ministry issues a guide that informs school children of ways they can help preserve the environment. Babar, who celebrates his 75th anniversary this year, will be the mascot for the 2006 guide, entitled Babar P’tit Ecolo. Illustrated in watercolor, Babar and his family show children how each individual can impact the environment every day by doing simple things like turning off lights, conserving water, composting and properly disposing of garbage.

    ‘Over the course of his worldwide adventures, Babar gained firsthand knowledge of the fragile balance between the kingdoms of man and animal and the need to preserve both,’ says Marie-Laure Marchand, VP of European merchandising and marketing for Nelvana. ‘We are proud that this emblematic character has been chosen to help further a cause he has championed for the better part of 75 years.’

    500,000 copies of the guide featuring Babar will printed in vegetable ink on recycled paper and distributed via tollbooths on the Paris-Rhine-Rhone motorways and through French broadcaster Tiji’s summer events.

    To date, more than 10 million Babar books have been fold in France alone. Other Babar anniversary activities will include the June launch of a Babar-branded postage stamp and meet-and-greet school appearances.

  • Tom Goes to the Mayor Again

    Cartoon Network’s [adult swim] will kick off a new season of Tom Goes to the Mayor on Sunday, June 4, at 12:30 a.m. (ET/PT). The comedy series from exec producer Bob Odenkirk (Mr. Show with Bob & David) employs very limited animation to illustrate tales of small-town politics, poor decision making and delusional thinking.

    In the series, would-be entrepreneur Tom Peters is a civic do-gooder who is constantly bringing his crackpot ideas to the mayor of the eccentric small town of Jefferton. The show is written and produced by Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, who also voice the two main characters. Odenkirk and Mr. Show co-star David Cross provide other voices. as will Tenacious D duo Jack Black (School of Rock) and Kyle Gass.

    Guest stars lined up for the new season include Dave Foley (Kids in the Hall), Gary Busey (Dr. Dolittle 3), Judd Hirsch (Taxi), Sean Hayes (Will & Grace), Janeane Garofalo (The Wild), Bob Balaban (Hopeless Pictures), Garry Shandling (Over the Hedge), Robert Loggia (The Sopranos), Michael Ian Black (Stella), Zack Galifianakis (Dog Bites Man), Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live) and rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot.

    New episodes will include ‘My Big Cups,’ in which Tom opens a store that sells 1.8 liter cups and has to reproduce his son’s macaroni art for the town’s 30th Anniversary Celebration at the Mayor’s request. In ‘Jeffy,’ Tom and The Mayor invent a fake sea serpent to attract tourism.

    Tom Goes to The Mayor is based on a short film that college pals Heidecker and Wareheim crated and sent to all their comedy heroes, including Odenkirk. The three then developed the series and pitched it to [adult swim], which debuted the show in November of 2004.

  • E3 Expo Opens

    The Electronic Entertainment Expo, best known as simply E3, welcomes video game industry professionals from around the world as leading companies showcase their latest technologies and upcoming games in Los Angeles. Today’s opening of the show floor follows yesterday’s conference kick-off, which featured a surprise visit from Microsoft chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates. Making his first E3 appearance, Gates outlined the company’s gaming plans for the year and thrilled attendees with a first glimpse at Halo 3, the next installment in the best-selling game franchise. Other highly anticipated next-generation offerings from all major players will be unveiled over the next three days at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

    During his press conference on Tuesday, Gates stated that Microsoft’s Xbox 360 next-gen console will have a 10 million-unit head start by the time Sony releases the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo gets its Wii on the market. He said his company will have more than 160 games available by the end of the year, and announced Microsoft’s bold new vision to connect Xbox 360 gamers with the hundreds of millions of PC and mobile gamers around the world via the Xbox Live online entertainment network. Dubbed ‘Live Anywhere,’ the initiative aims to create a ubiquitous, always-on world where games, friends and digital entertainment are always accessible through the Xbox Live interface, regardless of location or device.

    According to Gates, more than six million gamers are expected to be connected to the Xbox Live network by this time next year. Gamers will have the ability to jack into the Xbox Live environment from their Windows-based PCs with the introduction of the Windows Vista operating system and Shadowrun this winter. In addition, the company’s Spanning Windows Mobile games service will give users with Java and BREW-based handsets on-the-go access to cross-platform gaming communities at any time, from any location.

    Not to be outdone, Nintendo is unveiling its upcoming Wii home console, which it claims will allow players to feel games like never before. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata was at E3 on Tuesday to demonstrate the Wii Remote, a revolutionary control system that lets players manipulate their games through motion. Using a four-player tennis game, Iwata and team showed how the device became a virtual tennis racket that let the players actually feel the vibration of the hit and hear the sound of the ball via a built-in speaker. According to Nintendo, the Wii Remote’s sensors are delicate enough to enable players to hit straight, add slice or put top spin on the ball. Depending on the game, the controller could be virtually anything, including a weapon, a baseball bat or an airplane. The Nunchuk controller attachment also includes a motion sensor, which brings additional creative possibilities to the control system. Future games may allow players to use a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, or strap on a pair of virtual boxing gloves.

    “Not only is Wii compelling to current game players, but it also will entice new players with new experiences,” Iwata stated during the briefing. “To expand the total number of game players, we must make our experience both friendlier and more compelling. With Wii, it is.”

    Games in development for the Wii console include a third chapter in the Metroid Prime series, a new Mario title and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Nintendo says a slate of other Wii games are in the works with dozens of developers around the world.

    The third major combatant in the next-gen war, Sony, revealed details of its PlayStation 3 console on Monday. As previously reported, the system will be available at retail worldwide on Nov. 17 for the U.S. price of $499 (20GB) and $599 (60GB). In addition to playing DVD and CD, the PS3 will be compatible with the new Blu-ray discs. Sony is also touting its combination of Cell and RSX processors, which are intended to greatly increase speed and graphics quality.

    While it optimizes play with next-gen titles, the PlayStation 3 will be compatible with a vast catalog of PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games. Nintendo’s Wii will also allow users to enjoy their cache of Game Cube purchases. To help sell more of these current-generation releases, Atari is launching a two-fold, consumer-oriented program dubbed Gamers First. Kicking off on June 1 at participating retailers, the initiative will drop the price of all existing games for PlayStation2, Xbox and GameCube to $19.99 on. The price cut will also include Atari titles for Game Boy Advance and Windows, with the exception of the recently released Dungeons & Dragons Online. All Windows titles included in the program will also be available for immediate download at Valve and Direct2Drive for $19.99.

    Heiress and TV/film star Paris Hilton will also be at E3 on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to promote her long-term licensing agreement with Gameloft, which will develop, publish and distribute mobile games based on the pop culture phenomenon. She will be signing autographs and introducing her first game, Paris Hilton’s Jewlery Case.

    E3, the interactive entertainment industry’s biggest annual event, continues through Friday, May 12 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Keep reading Animation Magazine Online for Further updates, and find more information about the show at www.e3expo.com and www.e3insider.com.