Animation Magazine

Author: Ryan Ball

  • 4Kids Ent. at Home on Ellen’s Acres

    4Kids Entertainment Inc. has been named exclusive worldwide licensing agent for Animation Collective’s new preschool series, Ellen’s Acres. The company will manage all marketing, promotions and licensing initiatives for show, which is expected to run weekday mornings on Cartoon Network beginning in September. 4Kids will then launch a merchandise licensing program in 2007.

    Created by Animation Collective CEO Larry Schwarz, Ellen’s Acres is a preschool comedy about a 5-year-old girl named Ellen, who uses her imagination to have adventures with her feather duster and her radial tire in the hotel owned by her parents.

    ‘Ellen’s Acres is all about play and we could have no better partner than 4Kids Entertainment to bring Ellen’s world of imagination to children,’ says Schwarz. ‘This deal also deepens our successful relationship with 4Kids beyond Kappa Mikey and YoMonkeys.’

    4Kids Entertainment also serves as the worldwide licensing, marketing and promotional agent for Kappa Mikey, which airs on Nicktoons Network in the U.S. and will debut later this year on Nickelodeon channels worldwide, and YoMonkeys, a yoga-inspired series for children.

    Animation Collective’s other original television series include Leader Dog and Tortellini Western for Nicktoons Network. In addition, Schwarz served as producer of Wulin Warriors for Cartoon Network and the first season of The Incredible Crash Test Dummies for 4KidsTV. Animation Collective is also the largest provider of original content for KOL, America Online’s kids channel, and Red, its teen channel. The studio’s AOL series, Princess Natasha, has expanded to the tube on Cartoon Network and will be released later this year as a book series from Little, Brown Books and a comic book series from DC Comics.

  • Zula Patrol Back on the Beat

    The Zula Patrol, a CG-animated series that airs on public television stations nationwide, has gone back into production for another 26 half hours. The show’s second season will introduce youngsters to even more aspects of science and astronomy, including space stations, the planets, how Earth’s Moon was formed, climate, plate tectonics, glaciers, mountains and volcanoes.

    Created and exec produced by Dr. Deborah Manchester, Ph.D. The Zula Patrol centers on a colorful, curious and enthusiastic group of space travelers that includes stalwart Captain Bula, Professor Multo, hot-dogging space pilot Zeeter, space pet Gorga and twin flying scouts Wizzy and Wigg. Each week the gang takes kids on an educational roller coaster ride across the Universe.

    The Zula Patrol is written by the Emmy-nominated team of Cydne Clark and Steve Granat, whose credits include Disney’s Doug, Disney’s 101 Dalmatians and Dennis The Menace. The show’s science consultant is Judith Lederman, Ph.D, director of teacher education for the Illinois Institute of Technology, math and science education, and president of the Council of Elementary Science International.

    Working closely with planetariums, museums, astronomers and other science consultants, the makers of The Zula Patrol conclude each episode with a quick recap on science and astronomy directly related to the action in the show. For more information on the series, go to www.zula.com.

  • Ice Still Hot, Wild Mild

    Disney’s The Wild didn’t exactly come in like a lion over the weekend. According to box office estimates, the studio’s latest CG-animated comedy-adventure yarn earned just $9.5 million since opening across North America on Friday. The film had a hard time competing with Fox Animation/Blue Sky’s Ice Age: The Meltdown, which gained around $20 million this weekend to bring its three-week cumulative to a whopping $147 million domestically and approximately $316.6 worldwide.

    Directed by first-timer Steve ‘Spaz’ Williams and animated by C.O.R.E. Feature Animation in Toronto, The Wild debuted at No. 4, despite positive reviews from some of the nation’s leading critics. In hindsight, Disney picked a tough frame for a debut, given the strength of the Ice Age sequel and other tough competitors in the comedy department. Even Sony Pictures’ second-week holdover, The Benchwarmers, performed slightly better, taking the third place trophy with an estimated $10 million.

    After holding the top spot for the past two weekends, Ice Age: The Meltdown fell one notch as moviegoers largely sought to tickle their funny bones with Dimension’s Scary Movie 4. The latest installment in the popular horror movie spoof series took in around $41 million to shatter the Easter weekend record of $30 million set by 2002’s Jodie Foster thriller, Panic Room. Rounding out the top five is New Line Cinema’s Antonio Banderas dance flick, Take the Lead, which an estimated $6.7 million in its fourth week.

    Fears of a toon glut loom as animation fans have been getting at least one animated feature each month in 2006. Just three months into the year, we’ve already seen the release of Universal’s Curious George, The Weinstein Co.’s Doogal, Fox’s Ice Age: The Meltdown and Disney’s The Wild. On May 19, DreamWorks Animation will deliver Over the Hedge, which will be followed by Disney/Pixar’s eagerly awaited Cars on June 9. July will give us both Monster House from Sony Pictures and The Barnyard from Paramount Pictures, as well as the rotoscoped sci-fi entry A Scanner Darkly from Warner Indie and the makers of Waking Life. The CG dance card for the rest of the year is filled out by Warner Bros.’ The Ant Bully (Aug. 4), 20th Century Fox’s Everyone’s Hero (Sept. 15), Sony’s Open Season (Sept. 25), DreamWorks/Aardman’s Flushed Away (Nov. 3) and Warner Bros. Happy Feet (Nov. 17).

  • Toon Boom’s Express Now for Intel Macs

    Toon Boom Animation Inc. today announced the release Toon Boom Studio Express V3 for Intel-based Macs. The comprehensive, entry-level animation toolset works with QuickTime and Final Cut Pro and can be purchased at www.toonboom.com. Both Toon Boom Studio Express V3 and Toon Boom Studio V3 Universal Binary release are now ready to ship. All current Toon Boom Studio Express V3 and Toon Boom Studio V3 customers for Mac are entitled to download this latest version at no charge.

    “With each Universal Binary release, we can only reiterate Toon Boom’s total commitment to the Mac community, and gradually optimize all Toon Boom products for Intel-based Macs,’ says Toon Boom president and CEO Joan Vogelesang.

    Toon Boom Animation won a Primetime Emmy Award for engineering in 2005. The company’s other leading animation products include Harmony, Opus, Solo and Studio. Harmony is designed to meet digital animation production needs for cut-out or paperless pipelines, while Toon Boom Opus is the industry standard for traditional animation production. Meeting the needs of small studios and independent filmmakers is Toon Boom Solo, where Toon Boom Studio is designed more for individuals.

    Studios using Toon Boom products include Nelvana, Klasky Csupo, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, Mercury Filmworks, Wild Brain, Cromosoma and Lanterna Magica. Some high-profile productions done with Toon Boom technology include Les Triplettes de Belleville, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, Rugrats, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and Curious George. For additional information, go to www.toonboom.com.

  • TPS TELETOON Summons Captain Flamingo

    French toon audiences will be introduced to an entirely different kind of kid superhero thanks to TPS TELETOON. The broadcaster has acquired French cable and satellite rights to 52 half-hour episodes of Captain Flamingo, a new animated series produced by Breakthrough Animation, Heroic Film Co., Atomic Cartoons and PASI.

    A YTV Canada original production, Captain Flamingo follows the adventures of Milo Powell, a small boy who dons a terrycloth cape and a big beak to fight for justice for little kids everywhere. Giving him some much-needed but secretive help Lizabeth, the girl next door who’s totally in love with him. The series is created by John May and Suzanne Bolch and developed with Breakthrough Animation managing partner Kevin Gillis and Rob Davies of Atomic Cartoons.

    ‘TPS and Breakthrough Animation have had a very successful relationship commencing withAtomic Betty, KidsWorld Sports and now, Captain Flamingo,’ says Gillis. ‘We are delighted to have them as part of our broadcast team worldwide as we know that they will be instrumental in building on the Captain Flamingo brand in France.’

    The acquisition deal was inked at the MIP-TV mart in Cannes, France last week. PASI Animation holds television rights for Captain Flamingo in Asia and Breakthrough Ent. retains rights for all remaining global territories.

  • Disney Sounds Call of The Wild

    It’s widely regarded as Madagascar redux, but Disney insists there’s enough originality in it’s latest CG-animated feature to warrant a family trip to the multiplex this weekend. The Wild, another madcap comedy about New York City zoo animals that have to learn to survive in the African wilderness, arrives in 2,854 theaters across North America today sans the pervasive marketing fanfare that typically accompanies other Mouse House releases.

    In The Wild, a lion named Samson (voiced by Kiefer Sutherland) assembles a team of animal pals to set out in search of his teenage son who has been accidentally crated off the Africa. The supporting cast of critters include a giraffe, a koala bear, a snake and some mischevious penguins. Other key voices are provided by James Belushi, Janeane Garofalo, Eddie Izzard and William Shatner.

    Directed by Steve ‘Spaz’ Williams, The Wild was animated at C.O.R.E. Feature Animation in Toronto, which relied on SideEffects Software’s Houdini for animation and other visuals. Up to this point, C.O.R.E. had predominantly been involved in creating visual effects for such features as Dr. Dolittle and The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps.

    The Wild has received positive reviews from major publications including The New York Times, L.A. Times and the Chicago Tribune, but is getting low marks from the majority of critics. It will be interesting to see if audiences turn out, having just plunked down more than $120 million for Fox Animation/Blue Sky’s Ice Age: The Meltdown, which has held the top spot for the past two weeks. The Wild will also be competing for laughs this weekend with the Weinstein Co.’s Scary Movie 4, the latest installment in the popular series that spoofs popular horror flicks.

    Read more about Disney’s The Wild in the May issue of Animation Magazine, now available on newsstands including Barnes & Noble locations.

  • Dofus Creator Bringing WAKFU to E3

    Fresh from winning the Independent Games Festival’s Audience Choice Award for its Flash-based MMOG, Dofus, Ankama Studio is set to bring some new offerings to the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles next month. In addition to the new Dofus-Arena mode and the Dofus extension, Riders of the Dragoturkey, the French game developer will introduce a new massively multiplayer experience titled WAKFU.

    In WAKFU, players will have to fight fierce fauna and flora using magic, martial arts and new technologies. In addition, they will have to build cities in a virgin universe while preserving nature from destruction. Using a universal and intuitive language, participants in the persistent world will interact to create alliances or to take part in fights that will have a direct influence upon the universe. The game is slated for release at the end of 2007.

    Dofus immerses players in a cartoon-like universe where they build alliances and participate in a tactical turn-based gameplay. According to Ankama, there are currently 800,000 registered players, including 50,000 subscribers. This summer, the company will release Dofus-Arena for players strictly interested in the battle aspect of the popular online game. Currently being beta tested, the mode will have each player create a team of characters armed with spells, weapons and other items before going toe-to-toe with other players in one-on-one and two-on-two action in arenas that hide many urprises. The studio will present the gold version at E3 before the game’s official release.

    The eagerly awaited Dofus extension, Riders of the Dragoturkey, will be available this June. In addition to an expanded free zone, the add-on will introduce mounts, breeding professions and new communication functionality to enhance exchanges between players.

    E3 will be held May 10-12 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, attracting video game professionals from around the world with product unveilings and informative panel discussions. More information on the event can be found online at www.e3expo.com.

  • Art Institute Offers a Taste of GDC

    The Art Institute of California’Los Angeles will devote its April 19 session of the Animation 21 Lecture Series to recapping the 2006 Game Developers Conference (GDC). ‘A Taste of GDC’ is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by a monthly meeting of the IGDA LA Chapter, which will debate the future of the annual Game Developers Conference starting at 7:45 p.m.

    The ‘Taste of GDC’ program kick off a presentation by game art & design academic chair Eric Elder, who will recount his GDC experience with a slide show and overview of new products demonstrated at the show. Then, IGDA member Jeff Lander will demonstrate and analyze Introversion’s Darwinia, winner of the $20,000 Seumas McNally Grand Prize in the Independent Game Festival, which is held in conjunction with GDC. The program will conclude with 30-minute summary of GDC by a representative from Avid.

    This edition of the Animation 21 Lecture Series will be held in the Big Room at The Art Institute of California’Los Angeles, located at 2900 31st Street in Santa Monica. Game Center partners supporting the event include Alias, AMD, Animation Magazine, Autodesk Inc., Softimage, F. Dice, International Game Developers Assn. (IGDA), Luminetik Animation Studios, Motion Analysis Corp., Nvidia Corp., PC Unlimited, Peachpit Press, Pioneer (USA), Seagate Technology, SilverStone, Tyan Computer Corp. and ViewSonic. For more information on this and other Game Center programs, contact Bijan Tehrani at (818) 613-4227 or btehrani@dljl.com.

  • S4, Sunwoo Birth Wild Animal Baby

    S4 Studios has teamed with Sunwoo Ent. to produce six half-hour episodes of Wild Animal Baby, a show that blends 3D CG, Flash animation and live action to promote initiatives of the non-profit National Wildlife Federation (NWF), based in Washington, DC. The preschool series will initially be distributed on home video via the NWF website (www.nwf.org/wildanimalbaby), with negotiations underway for an external distributor.

    The series is based on the NWF’s award-winning magazine, Wild Animal Baby, and features familiar characters including Sandy the Salamander, Skip the Rabbit, Izzy the Owl and Rosie the Otter. The show is intended to introduce young viewers to the natural sciences, promote literacy, demonstrate math concepts and develop motor skills by imitating real and animated animals through interactive activities, songs and games.

    Directed by Larry Le Francis of S4 Studios, Wild Animal Baby is S4’s second longform project, following Cartoon Network’s The Groovenians. Each of the 12 11-minute episodes presents a mystery to the characters, whether it be a sound they don’t recognize or an animal behavior they can’t explain. With the motto ‘Let’s Explore!,’ they set out on an adventure to discover the answer and learn about the world around them.

    ‘The show introduces kids to the idea of deductive reasoning, which the characters use as a logic tool to complete their own adventures. The idea is that kids at home will go out, explore, touch things and wonder about them; that’s a very important part of this series,’ says Le Francis. ‘For example, in the first show, the babies have their picnic basket raided and they find some paw prints. In due time, they learn that it was a bear and explore some elementary facets of their behavior using actual bear footage that’s intercut with the animation.’

    S4’s art director/storyboard director Dale Hendrickson worked closely with the Sunwoo Ent. team of Producers Jae Woo Park and Brian Doell to adapt the print characters for 3D with Maya 7.0. The project represents major step in S4’s strategy of becoming more than an animation service provider. Since its founding in 1999, the company has built a client roster that includes Cartoon Network, Rhythm & Hues’ commercial division, Flyer Ent., The Cimarron Group, Walt Disney Television Animation, Viacom, Warner Bros and Winner & Associates.

    Geoffrey Kater and John Evans of S4 serve as producer production coordinator, respectively, on Wild Animal Baby. Tony Summers of the National Wildlife Federation is production exec while Sunwoo’s Jae Y. Moh serves as exec producer and Moon Ju Kang oversees the CG studio as general manager. Music and additional animation are provided by Peach Blossom Media of Singapore under the supervision of exec Producer Lingun Sung. The show is written by Adam, Seth Gross and Bradley Zweig.

  • Mickey Goes CG for Preschoolers

    Disney Channel will debut the first Mickey Mouse series created specifically for preschoolers on Friday, May 5, at 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT). Following the special primetime debut, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse will then settle into its regular Playhouse Disney timeslot on Saturday, May 6, at 9 a.m. (ET/PT). A coordinated global launch will see the series premiere on 22 Disney Channels and five Playhouse Disney channels across North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Japan.

    Mickey, Minnie, Donnald, Goofy, Pluto and the rest of the gang have been rendered in 3D for DVD movies such as Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas, but Mickey Mouse Clubhouse will be the first CG-animated TV series starring the “Sensational Six.” According to Disney, the character designs will referece classic 1940s drawings while updating the iconic characters fror the digital age. Otgher recurring characters will include Professor Von Drake, Clarabelle Cow, Chip & Dale and Mickey’s perennial nemesis, Pete the Cat.

    Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is produced by Walt Disney Television Animation and a team of children’s entertainment and child development experts led by exec producer Bobs Gannaway. The series is guided by a specific curriculum designed to introduce problem solving and early mathematics skills to preschoolers in a fun way. Mickey will speak directly to young viewers, asking questions and encouraging them to play games, participate in special phrases or cheers, and to solve puzzles to reach a goal. Each episode will also feature the theme song, ‘Hot Dog!,” written and performed by Grammy Award-winning band They Might Be Giants.

  • SNL Toons Up Best of Saturday TV Funhouse

    Ace and Gary, the animated superhero team also known as The Ambiguously Gay Duo (voiced by Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell) will host a compilation of Robert Smigel cartoon shorts on April 10 at 11:30 p.m. on NBC. The special will represent the best of Saturday TV Funhouse, a recurring Saturday Night Live segment that features the The X-Presidents, Fun with Real Audio and jabs at celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jackson and Mr. T.

    The special will feature new animation of Ace and Gary as they get their big chance to take the SNL stage to deliver a monologue and interact with the live-action cast. The duo will also introduce the Funhouse cartoons, which first started appearing in 1996 and feature animation by J.J. Sedelmaier Prods., Wachtenheim/Marianetti and Bix Pix. Selections will include the stop-motion holiday favorites Christmastime for the Jews and The Narrator That Ruined Christmas, as well as a Disney-fied musical version of Titanic dubbed Titey.

    Smigel served as a writer and co-producer on Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1993, before becoming the original head writer on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. His cartoons have been honored at numerous festivals, claiming first prize at the World Animation Festival in Zagreb in 1997 and the Ernie Kovacs Award at the Dallas Film Festival in 1998. In addition to his work on Saturday TV Funhouse, Smigel is the genius behind Late Night with Conan O’Brien’s Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and the hilarious, but short-lived, Comedy Central series TV Funhouse, which featured live-action host Doug and his puppeteered ‘Anipals.’

  • New Line Picks Shazam! Man

    With Sony’s Spider-Man 3 and Warner Bros. eagerly awaited Superman Returns poised to set the box office on fire, New Line is hoping to erect its own superhero tentpole with Shazam!, a screen adaptation of DC Comics’ Captain Marvel franchise. Hired to helm the pic is Peter Segal, who has been making a living directing such Adam Sandler hits as The Longest Yard, 50 First Dates and Anger Management.

    In the comics, a young boy named Billy Batson shouts the magic word “Shazam!” and gets an instant puberty boost, becoming Captain Marvel, an adult superhero with the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Aries, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles and the speed of Mercury.

    The comic-book favorite was serialized on screen in 1941 with The Adventures of Captain Marvel and was resurrected for television with the 1974 series, Shazam! This latest attempt to breathe new life into the franchise has been a long time in the making. Scribes attached to the project include Oscar-winner William Goldman (All the President’s Men, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) and Bryan Goluboff (The Basketball Diaries).

    Shazam! is being produced New Line exec Chris Godscik and Michael Euslan (Constantine), while Mark Kaufman and Daryl Friemark oversee for New Line. In addition to directing, Segal will assume producer duties, along with his Callahan Filmworks partner, Michael Ewing. Segal is also set to direct a feature film version of the classic Don Adams spy spoof TV series Get Smart for Warner Bros.

  • Gnomeo in Miramax’s Garden

    After getting the boot by the new toon regime at Walt Disney Feature Animation, the animated feature Gnomeo and Juliet has been picked up Mouse House subsidiary Miramax Films. The musical comedy from Sir Elton John’s Rocket Pictures will be animated in 3D in London with Academy Award-nominated producer Baker Bloodworth (Disney shorts Destino, Lorenzo) guiding the production.

    Gnomeo and Juliet will offer an animated twist on Shakespeare’s classic love story by setting it in the world of tacky garden gnomes. The project is being shepherded by Miramax president Daniel Battsek and Rocket Pictures producing partners David Furnish and Steve Hamilton Shaw, who are finishing post-production on their latest film, It’s A Boy Girl Thing.

    Elton John and Oscar-winning lyricist Tim Rice will collaborate on new songs for the film. “I am very excited about working with Miramax,” John states. “Gnomeo is an edgy concept and Miramax is the perfect home to push the envelope in animation.’

    Rocket Pictures brought the project to Disney several years ago and a script was completed by Rob Sprackling and John Smith. Rumor has it that Pixar creative head John Lasseter wasn’t impressed with the concept and dropped the axe upon taking the reins at the iconic toon studio that Walt built. A new Gnomeo script has been penned by Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley, and Oscar-nominated actress Kate Winslet (Finding Neverland, Titanic) is attached to star.

    Miramax will compete in the burgeoning independent feature animation arena with former company heads Bob and Harvey Weinstein, who are acquiring toon projects left and right through their new shingle, The Weinstein Co. The brothers had a significant hit in Hoodwinked and followed it up with the poorly performing Doogal. Animated projects on the Weinstein development slate include Exodus’ Igor, director Luc Besson’s Arthur and the Minimoys and a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.

  • Franny’s Feet Walking To PBS Kids

    Thirteen/WNET is bringing Decode Ent.’s international hit animated show, Franny’s Feet, to the U.S. on PBS KIDS. The weekly series of 26 half-hour episodes will begin airing in markets across the country on Saturday, July 8, introducing new viewers to Franny and her magical adventures.

    In each episode of Franny’s Feet, a little girl helping out in her grandfather’s shoe repair shop tries on a different pair shoes and experiences what it’s like to be part of a different culture. Traveling the globe, she meets new friends and tries to help them solve problems. The storylines are punctuated with themes of global awareness, science and vocabulary development.

    Decode is producing additional content to accompany the PBS KIDS broadcast. The new segments will have Franny prompting audience participation and are designed to build young viewers’ understanding of specific educational content explored in the episode. Kids can also log on to www.pbskids to join Franny on adventures around the world and engage in a variety of entertaining and educational games. A Franny’s Feet preview site will launch in conjunction with the broadcast premiere.

    The series is commissioned by Five in the U.K. and Canada’s Family Channel, and can be seen around the world on channels including ABC Australia, France 5, Cartoon Network in Japan, Canada’s TeleQuebec, TVP Poland, Cartoon Network Taiwan, TV2 Denmark and TV12 Singapore.

    Franny’s Feet is created by Cathy Moss and Susan Nielsen. Kym Hyde serves as producer and Beth Stevenson, Steven DeNure and Neil Court are exec producers for Decode. The Thirteen/WNET team includes exec producer/director of creative development Jill Peters and producer/project manager Suzanne Rose.

    Headquartered in Toronto, with offices in London, Decode Ent. Inc. produces and distributes television programming and interactive content for the children, family and youth markets. The company’s roster of properties includes such animated series such as Planet Sketch, Naughty Naughty Pets, Bromwell High, The Save-Ums, King and Angela Anaconda. Thirteen/WNET, one of the key program providers for public television, is responsible for bringing such acclaimed series as Cyberchase, Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose, Religion & Ethics News Weekly, Wide Angle, Stage on Screen, Freedom: A History of Us, and Secrets of the Dead.

  • Planet Sketch in Jetix Europe’s Orbit

    Jetix Europe has acquired pay TV rights to the Aardman Animations/Decode Ent. co-production Planet Sketch. The CG-animated sketch comedy series will air on Jetix Europe Channels in Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Central and Eastern Europe (including Poland, Turkey and Greece), the Middle East, Israel and the Netherlands. DECODE handles international sales for the series, which was recently picked up by Cartoon Network Asia Pacific, Cartoon Network Latin America, ABC Australia and South African broadcaster M-Net.

    Planet Sketch currently airs on CiTV and Teletoon Canada, entertaining kids 7-11 with 11-minute episodes featuring a quirky collection of madcap characters including the Street Rappers, the Gnaughty Gnomes and the flatulent Parping Ponies. Aardman and Decode have produced 13 episodes to date and are at work on a second season.

    Decode and Aardman are also co-producing a CG-animated comedy series titled Chop-Socky Chooks. The show about kung fu-fighting chickens will get a big push at this year’s MIPCOM in Cannes.

  • IDT, Vanguard Launch Space Chimps

    IDT Ent. and Vanguard Animation have begun production on Space Chimps, an animated feature film to be distributed domestically through IDT Ent.’s multi-picture deal with 20th Century Fox. Produced by Vanguard CEO and Shrek producer John H. Williams, the comedy will follow the galactic misadventures of a hapless descendant of the first chimps in space.

    “We have developed this project over the past several years with extremely talented writers, and I’m thrilled with the result,” says Williams. “We’ve put enormous time and creative energy into the evolution of the characters, the look of the film and the story arc, and we’re convinced we have a franchise film.”

    Space Chimps is being directed by Norton Virgien (The Rugrats Movie, Rugrats Go Wild!) and Donovan Cook (Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Mouseketeers) The duo are working from a script by Kirk DeMicco, whose credits include last year’s live-action/CG family flick Racing Stripes. He’s also co-writing with John Cleese The Twits, in development for Vanguard/Disney, and the upcoming Crood Awakening for Aardman and DreamWorks. Addition writing on Chimps is being done by Jason Venokur, Dave Goetsch, and Ross Venokur. Morris Berger, Stephen R. Brown, Janet Healy and Jerry Davis are exec producers for IDT Ent.

    Character design work and storyboarding are underway in Vancouver, BC at IDT Ent. and Vanguard’s state-of-the-art CG animation studio. Odyssey Ent. has sold the film in all major international territories.

    Neil Braun, IDT Ent.’s president of feature films and television, continues to serve as president and CEO of Vanguard Animation, of which IDT Ent. owns approximately 23%. Vanguard’s first independently financed animated feature film, Valiant, got a chilly reception in theaters when released domestically by Disney in 2005. The company has just wrapped production on its next CG-animated film, Happily N’Ever After, produced in association with the Berliner Film Center and Berlin Animation Fund.

    IDT Ent.’s first CG feature film, Everyone’s Hero (formerly Yankee Irving) will be released by 20th Century Fox on Sept. 15. IDT Ent. is a division of IDT Corp., an international telecom, entertainment, and technology company.

  • Negadon to Attack NYC In May

    Still reeling from its latest run in with King Kong, New York City got word today that another giant, CG-animated monster is heading its way. Anime publisher Central Park Media announced the May 9th North American theatrical premiere of Negadon: The Monster From Mars. The film will be part of a special triple feature with the animated movies Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek and Cat Soup, which will enjoy a limited run at The ImaginAsian from May 12 to 18. Show times will be posted at www.theimaginasian.com in the near future.

    Written, directed and animated by Jun Awazu, Negadon: The Monster From Mars pays homage to 1950s and ’60s. Japanese monster movies such as Godzilla, Mothra and Gamera. The 26-minute film is the first fully animated entry in the genre known as ‘Kaiju,’ which has traditionally featured actors battling in rubber monster suits. Awazu spent nearly three years making the film and even invented special rendering algorithms to reproduce the nostalgic film look. The pic was released in Japan in October of 2005 and won the Outstanding Production Award at the 2006 Digital Contents Grand Prix and was named a Jury Recommended Work at the 2006 Japan Media Arts Festival.

    The first film from the studio Yamatoworks, Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek is a 25-minute computer-generated horror film that tells the story of a taboo game of hide & seek between children and monsters. The flick won the Outstanding Production Award at the 2005 Tokyo Anime Fair and Best Short Film at the 2005 Fantasia Film Festival. In Cat Soup, a kitten’s soul is stolen by Death, sending her and her brother on a bizarre journey to reclaim it in the surreal dreamscape of the Other Side. The 34-minute production won the Excellence Award at the 2001 Japan Media Arts Festival and Best Short Film at the 2001 Fantasia Film Festival.

    The Negadon NYC premiere will begin with a reception at The ImaginAsian Theater at 7 p.m. on May 9. A formal welcome and screening will follow at 8 p.m. Those who are unable to catch it there can look for further limited-release screenings this spring, or pick it up on DVD this summer. To view a trailer and get more information on Negadon, visit www.negadonattacks.com.

  • Lazlo Emerges as Champ on the Bay

    Cartoon Network’s frosh series Camp Lazlo emerged as the top winner at the Cartoons on the Bay event in Positano, Italy, this past weekend. Created by Joe Murray, the show received three Pulcinella Awards (Best TV Series, Best Series for Children and Best Character for Lazlo).

    ‘This is quite a surprise,’ remarked Camp Lazlo creator Joe Murray during one of several trips to the stage to accept the coveted Pulcinella Award. ‘I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my talented crew at home toiling away while I’m here enjoying all this Italian hospitality.’

    Also impressing the 10th Pulcinella Awards jurors was Spanish house Zinkia’s brightly colored preschool show Pocoyo, which received the awards for Best Preschool Show and Best European Program.

    ‘We’re looking to this to launch the next phase of our world domination plan,’ Pesky Animation producer David Hodgson joked with us shortly after accepting the award for Best TV Series for All Ages with The Amazing Adrenelini Brothers, a co-production of Studio B in Canada. Hodgson is half of the husband-and-wife team behind Pesky. His better half, Claire Underwood, directs the wacky Flash show about a trio of daredevils who travel the globe and wreak havoc. ‘This is significant for us because it’s out first jury award and we’re hoping it will help bring broadcasters to the show in the first place so we can get it in front of the kids.’ Adrenelini Brothers was first shown at Cartoon Forum in 2003, where it got the attention of Cartoon Network, which aired a series of Adrenelini shorts.

    Producer Phil Davies of Astley Baker Davies is also hoping their win for Best TV Series Pilot will draw broadcasters’ attention to Little Kingdom, a 2D show about tiny fairies and elves who live in a magical, miniscule land. He tells us the company is in talks with one of the major U.K. broadcasters and says a win like this may help push the deal through. At the very least, he’s hoping it will generate some interest from those who previously hadn’t heard of the project. Just getting selected for competition got it in front of a jury of distinguished animation professionals that included Lisa Salamone Smith, Walt Disney Television Animation’s senior VP of production; Daniel Lennard, senior director of original animation for Turner Broadcasting System Europe, U.K.; Kim Wilson, creative head of children’s programming for CBC Television, Canada; and Sabine Weber, head of TV movies and series for ORF, Austria.

    This year’s competition jurors were Kim Wilson (creative Head of children’s programming, CBC Television, Canada) who was also president of the jury, Italian author Giuseppe Lagan, Lisa Salamone Smith (senior VP of production Walt Disney Television Animation, USA), Daniel Lennard (senior director of original animation, Turner Broadcasting System Europe, United Kingdom) and Sabine Weber (TV movies and series, ORF, Austria). The judges viewed 40 programs in competition for the Pulcinella Awards.

    Cartoons on the Bay is held each year in Positano, featuring four days of screenings and special presentations. This year, Roy E. Disney and Italy’s Bruno Bozzetto were presented with the Career Award. In addition and DIC Ent. in the U.S. and Enarmonia in Italy were each named Studio of the Year. For more info about the event, visit www.cartoonsbay.com

    Here’s a complete list of the winners:

    Pocoyo

    Best TV Series for Pre-school

    Technique: Computer 3D

    Direction: David Cantolla, Guillermo Garcia

    Animation: Zinkia Entertainment

    Production and Distribution: Zinkia Entertainment

    Camp Lazlo

    Best TV Series for Children

    Technique: Drawing Computer 2D, Flash

    Story by: Steve Little, Martin Olsen, Merewether Williams

    Direction: Brian Sheesley

    Animation Directors: Swinton Scott, Lindsey Pollard

    Production: Cartoon Network Studios

    Distribution: Warner Bros. International Television

    The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers

    Best TV Series for All Ages

    Technique: Computer 2D, Flash

    Direction: Claire Underwood, Dan Chambers, Jeff Barker

    Animation: Studio B Productions, Canada

    Production: Pesky

    Distribution: Bejuba! Entertainment

    Skyland

    Best TV Series, Action/Adventure

    Technique: Drawing, Computer 3D, Motion Capture

    Author: Emmanuel Gorin

    Direction: Emmanuel Gorin

    Production: Method Films

    Distribution: Millimages UK

    Day Dream

    Best Educational and Social Program

    Technique: Computer 2D, Flash

    Direction: Yoo Jinee

    Animation: Odoltagi Hong, Jae-Young, Park Hyun-Mi

    Production: National Human Rights Commission of Korea

    Distribution: Indiestory

    Little Kingdom

    Best TV Series Pilot

    Technique: Computer 2D, Flash

    Author: Mark Baker, Neville Astley

    Direction: Mark Baker, Neville Astley

    Animation: Joris Van Hulzen, Neville Astley

    Production: Astley Baker Davies

    A Very Barry Christmas

    Best TV Special

    Technique: Stop Motion

    Author: Brendan Russell

    Direction: Andrew Horne

    Production: Cuppa Coffee

    Distribution: Awol

    The Tell-Tale Heart

    Best Short Film

    Technique: Drawing, Computer 2D, Flash

    Direction: Annette Jung, Gregor Dashuber

    Animation: Annette Jung, Gregor Dashuber

    Production and Distribution: HFF ‘ Potsdam Babelsberg (Germany)

    Camp Lazlo

    Best Character of the Year

    Technique: Drawing Computer 2D, Flash

    Story by: Steve Little, Martin Olsen, Merewether Williams

    Direction: Brian Sheesley

    Production: Cartoon Network Studios

    Distribution: Warner Bros. International Television

    Camp Lazlo

    Best TV Series

    Technique: Drawing Computer 2D, Flash

    Story by: Steve Little, Martin Olsen, Merewether Williams

    Direction: Brian Sheesley

    Animation Directors: Swinton Scott, Lindsey Pollard

    Production: Cartoon Network Studios

    Distribution: Warner Bros. International Television Italia

    Pocoyo

    Best European Program

    Technique: Computer 3D

    Author: Zinkia Entertainment

    Direction: David Cantolla, Guillermo Garcia

    Animation: Zinkia Entertainment (Spain)

    Production and Distribution: Zinkia Entertainment

    Star Wars: Clone Wars Volume 2

    Special Mention (Cinematic Action Sequences)

    Technique: Drawing

    Author: Genndy Tartakovsky

    Direction: Genndy Tartakovsky

    Production: Cartoon Network Studios

    Aladdin’s Adventures

    Special Mention (Artistic Achievement)

    Technique: Computer 2D, Flash

    Author: Cristina L’strego, Francesco Testa

    Direction: Francesco Testa

    Animation: Jaja Pollone, Simona Khanide, Shahin Khanide

    Production: L’strego e Testa (Italy)

    Distribution: Rai Trade

    One D

    Special Mention

    Technique: Computer 2D, Flash

    Written and directed by: Mike Grimshaw

    Animation: Pushai Ling, Mike Grimshaw (U.K.)

    Rabbit

    Special Mention

    Technique: Computer 2D, Flash

    Director: Run Wrake

    Animation: Run Wrake, Martin Morris, Barnaby Hewlett

    Production and Distribution: Run Wrake (U.K.)

  • Dargaud Hot for Harmonious Canopus

    Dargaud Distribution, holder of one of Europe’s largest animation catalogues, has picked up television, home entertainment and licensing rights to the children’s show Canopus from French production company Croqueplume. The series features a mix of 2D and 3D animation and aims to promote tolerance and understanding.

    In the show, joyful kids known as Canopus live in harmony with exotic animals on an imaginary planet brought to life in pleasing water-color hues. The children represent different races, including Eskimo, Japanese and Indian, and shows how friendship and cooperation always wins over rivalry and division.

    A co-production of France 5, Croqueplume and Spirit Prods., Canopus is based on an original idea by Jacqueline de Rosnay. The Maritime Ventura/H’l’ne Fabou series was developed by Francis Nielsen and designed by Valeri Rindoff Pekroff.

    ‘I am delighted to add this fresh and universally appealing series to our catalogue,’ says V’ronique Chalandar, Dargaud’s deputy general manager. ‘It is our primary aim to develop a long-term merchandising program for the property alongside television sales.’ Chalandar tells us one of the company’s new initiatives is to diversify by developing a merchandising arm to generate additional revenue streams from the many properties in its catalog. Other popular animated productions handled by Dargaud include the feature film properties Lucky Luke, Asterix and Tintin, as well as the series Kid Paddle, which has 52 new episodes available.

    Additional new Dargaud shows being showcased at MIPTV in Cannes include Yakara, a 52×13 traditionally animated adventure-comedy series about a young Indian brave who can communicate with animals. The show is a production of Storimages, 2 Minutes, Belvision and RTBF, with the participation of France 3, Teletoon and TSR.

    Time Jam (40×26) from Dargaud Marina, Europacorp and Satelight takes place in the year 2417 and follows time-traveling adventures of Temporal Secret Cadet Valerian, who traverses the galaxy with a girl from the Middle Ages and battles the evil, power-hungry Vlagos.

    The preschool series Dim, Dam Doum, the Little Dollies (39×5) takes place in an enchanted meadow where the adorable Dim, Dam and Doum enjoy little everyday adventures and treat young viewers to song. The show is produced by Sita Prods. and TV10 Angers with the support of the C.N.C. and the Pays de la Loire.

    Parker and Badger (52×1) chronicles the exploits of a badger who prefers to be a dog and whose full time job is keeping pal Parker out of trouble. Parker, meanwhile, can’t seem to hold down a job for longer the two hours, despite being super cool, super nice and super smart. Cuadrado, Dupuis and Canal J are production partners on the series.

  • Mouse Block to Launch in Middle East

    Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) has teamed with free-to-air satellite broadcaster MBC to establish a Disney-branded block in the Middle East. Dubbed Disney On 3, the new hour-long segment on kid channel MBC 3 will significantly increase the presence of Disney animation on Middle Eastern television with a potential reach of 60 million households.

    Disney on 3 will air Saturday through Wednesday at 2 p.m. KSA time and will feature the hit shows Disney’s Kim Possible, Disney’s Lilo & Stitch: The Series, Disney’s Recess, Disney’s The Legend of Tarzan, and Disney /Pixar’s Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. MBC has also acquired BVITV’s Playhouse Disney series Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Little Einsteins. The deal will give young viewers in the region their first opportunity to see these learning-based preschool programs.