Animation Magazine

Author: Ryan Ball

  • KIDDINX, ZDF Team for More Bibi Blocksberg

    KIDDINX of Berlin announced that it has inked a co-production deal with ZDF Enterprises for further episodes of the popular animated series Bibi Blocksberg. The companies plan to complete a new slate of 26 half-hour episodes by September of this year.

    A hit in Germany, Bibi Blocksberg follows the adventures of a cheeky, blond, teenage witch. The new season has been picked up by Portugal’s Public broadcaster, RTP, and other worldwide sales efforts are underway.

    In addition to the TV series, the Bibi Blockberg property boasts its own magazine, a popular touring stage musical, a Game Boy Advance video game and two successful feature films. One of the movies, Bibi Blocksberg and the Secret of the Blue Owls, was honoured with the Children’s Jury Prize at the 2005 Chicago Int’l Children’s Film Festival.

  • A Future for Futurama?

    What’s good for the Family Guy is good for Fry. DVD sales of FOX’s canned primetime toon, Futurama, reportedly have network execs considering a revival of the Emmy-winning sci-fi comedy series from Simpsons creator Matt Groening and scribe David X. Cohen.

    Daily Variety reports that FOX has begun discussions of producing a limited number of new Futurama episodes. The rumor mill is also abuzz with the possibility of a direct-to-DVD feature a la Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story.

    Futurama centers on Fry (Billy West), a pizza delivery boy who is accidentally cryogenically frozen and thawed out a thousand years later to find himself a fish out of water in a futuristic society. Having joined up with an intergalactic delivery service, he travels the galaxy and gets into wacky adventures with a rag-tag crew of bizarre characters.

    The show lasted five seasons on FOX and picked up three Emmys, including Best Animated Series of 2002. Following its cancellation in 2003, it was picked up in reruns on Cartoon Network, where it has been enjoying a successful run during the broadcasters late-night block, [adult swim]. When that contract expires in Dec. of 2007, exclusive rights to the re-broadcasts will go to Comedy Central, which is shelling out $400,000 per episode. It is not yet known which network will get the new episodes should Fox Television put them into production.

  • Nick Loses Scannell, Restructures

    Herb Scannell plans to step down as vice chairman of MTV Networks and president of Nickelodeon Networks. After nearly 20 years with the Viacom networks, Scannell says he is ready to move on to the next leadership position, but has not said where he plans to go. His departure will be accompanied by a restructuring of the Nickelodeon Networks management structure.

    Scannell joined Nickelodeon in 1988 as director of programming and rose through the ranks to the post of president in 1996. By ushering in such hit shows as Rugrats, SpongeBob SquarePants, Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius, Dora the Explorer and Blue’s Clues, he has kept the network at No. 1 with kids for ten straight years and has expanded brands into consumer products, movies and digital media. His tenure saw the opening of Nickelodeon’s animation studio in Burbank, Calif., as well as the launch of a feature film division, which has to date released 14 movies.

    Under Scannell’s leadership, Nick’s consumer products division has grown into the third largest licensing company in the world, boasting more than $4 billion in retail revenues in 2005. Nickelodeon has also emerged as a leading online destination for kids with the launch of its TurboNick broadband platform and the recent acquisition of Neopets, a hugely popular virtual pet site.

    “I have great faith in the management teams in place at Nickelodeon, TV Land and Spike TV, and am confident that these networks will continue their outstanding performance and maintain the extraordinary bonds with their audiences that have made them so successful,’ Scannell comments. ‘I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to lead such an exceptional team, which has built some of the strongest brands in our business.”

    Management restructuring efforts will put Nickelodeon Television president Cyma Zarghami in charge of a newly formed MTVN Kids and Family group, which will include Nickelodeon Television, Nick at Nite, Nick Online, Nick Movies, Noggin/The N, Nicktoons Television, Nickelodeon Games and Sports (Nick GAS), as well as Nickelodeon’s magazine and recreation divisions and Nickelodeon’s new digital businesses, including Neopets.

    A 20-year veteran of Nickelodeon, Zarghami most recently introduced the popular animated series The Backyardigans, Go, Diego, Go!, The X’s and Catscratch. Under her leadership in 2005, Nickelodeon owned the top 30-rated shows with kids 2-11 on all broadcast and cable television.

    Another restructuring move will place Nickelodeon Networks’ TV Land under the thumb of president Doug Herzog, who oversees Spike TV and Comedy Central. TV Land president Larry Jones will continue to lead Nick at Nite, reporting to both Herzog and Zarghami.

  • Viz Media Grants Naruto Licenses

    Having recently made the leap to North American television on Cartoon Network in the U.S. and YTV in Canada, Viz Media’s Naruto has expanded its licensing program with two new deals. Basic Fun will distribute Naruto iPOD covers and figural key chains, while Great Eastern Entertainment Group will carry a wide assortment of accessories including wall scrolls, headbands and caps.

    Naruto consistently ranks as one of the top graphic novel franchises in the U.S., and one of the most popular titles serialized in VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump magazine. The series for tweens and teens takes place in a world where ninja are the ultimate power and young practitioners must learn the importance of friendship, teamwork, loyalty, hard work, creativity, ingenuity and right versus wrong. One of the most popular animated shows in Japan’s history, the series launched on Cartoon Network and YTV in September of 2005. Cartoon Network viewers even got a chance to get caught up on episodes with an all-day New Year’s day marathon.

    Basic Fun, located in Southampton, Pennsylvania, holds more than 100 licenses and has products available at such leading retailers as WalMart, Toys ‘R Us, Barnes & Noble, Hot Topic, KB Toys and Meijer. The company’s Naruto Ipod skins and other products will be offered to U.S. and Canadian retailers this Spring.

    San Francisco, Calif.-based VIZ Media is owned by Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc. and Shogakukan Production Co. Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation. A leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the company offers graphic novels, videos, DVDs, audio soundtracks, while developing and marketing animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions. More information on the Naruto property can be found at www.naruto.com.

  • Namco, Bandai Games Tie the Knot

    Namco Hometek Inc. and Bandai Games Inc. have officially merged and will now be known as Namco Bandai Games America Inc. in North America. Bringing together such popular franchises as Pac-Man, Tamagotchi, SoulCalibur, Naruto, Inuyasha and Tekken, the integrated company makes its home at Namco’s Santa Clara, Calif., facility and operates under new president and CEO Genichi Ito.

    The integration process was initiated on Sept. 29, 2005, to allow both companies to compete more effectively on the global stage as the entertainment industry continues to change at a rapid pace. The resulting entertainment group will be involved in a variety of business fields, including toys, amusement facilities, video game software, apparel and network content.

    ‘We are thrilled that the integration of the two North American entities is now complete and we are all now under one roof,’ Ito comments. ‘We are proud to be part of the new Namco Bandai Games America family and look forward to a successful year ahead.”

    ‘The integration of our two companies has been a team effort over the last several months,’ adds Bandai Games’ Naruo Uchida, who has assumed the role of corporate planning senior VP of Namco Bandai Games America. ‘We have worked together to fuse the many strengths each of our companies have to form one strong North American operation.’

    Namco Bandai Holdings Inc. (formerly Namco Holding Corp.) owns all Bandai Namco Group U.S. subsidiaries including Bandai America Inc. (toys), Bandai Ent., Inc. (visual/DVD), Namco America Inc. (arcade machines), Namco Cybertainment Inc. (arcade facilities), Namco Networks America Inc. (mobile games) and Namco Bandai Games America Inc. (video games). For more information on the new company and its products, go to www.namcobandaigames.com.

  • Vintage Disney, McBoing Boing On Disc

    Leading the new year’s first slate of animated home video arrivals are a pair of releases featuring vintage cartoons from the Disney vault and the mind of Dr. Seuss. Fans eager for a trip down memory lane can now pick up Walt Disney’s Timeless Tales: Vol. 3 and Cartoon Adventures Starring Gerald McBoing Boing.

    The third installment of Timeless Tales offers such “golden age” Disney toons as Casey at the Bat (1946), Little Hiawatha (1937), The Golden Touch (1935), Morris the Midget Moose (1950), Ben and Me (1952) and The Wise Little Hen (1934), featuring with the first appearance by Donald Duck. The Buena Vista Home Entertainment release also includes a collectible storybook of Casey at the Bat and lists for $19.99.

    Cartoon Adventures Starring Gerald McBoing Boing features four animated shorts including the 1951 Oscar-winning film that introduced audiences to the little boy who communicates with sound effects. Based on a Dr. Seuss book, the original Gerald McBoing Boing has been remastered in high-definition, along with Gerald McBoing Boing’s Symphony (1953), How Now Boing Boing (1954) and Gerald McBoing Boing On Planet Moo (1956). Released by Sony, the disc carries a suggested retail price of $14.95.

  • Cave, Mysterious Island Explored on DVD

    Today’s home video debuts offer two action-packed flicks for fans of creature animation. First up is Sony Screen Gems’ surprisingly effective subterranean monster movie, The Cave, starring Cole Hauser, Morris Chestnut and Piper Perabo. The film’s digital animation and other visual effects were provided by Luma Pictures under the guidance of visual effects supervisor James McQuaide (Underworld, Underworld: Evolution). DVD extras include filmmaker commentary and the featurettes Designing Evolution and Into the Cave. Sony lists the disc at $28.95.

    Director Russell Mulcahy (Highlander) tackles a fantasy classic with Jules Verne’s Mysterious Island, a 2005 made-for-TV Hallmark miniseries starring Patrick Stewart, Kyle MacLachlan and Gabrielle Anwar. While the beloved 1961 screen adaptation features giant, stop-motion critters by animator Ray Harryhausen, this island is inhabited by CG-animated scorpions and other overgrown beasties. This Echo Bridge Home Entertainment release retails for $28.98 and includes cast and director interviews and a production design featurette.

    Verne’s literary legacy continues to thrive, having inspired filmmaker Anthony Lucas’ Annecy 2005 Grand Prix-winning animated short, The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello. In addition, Disney and Walden Media, who teamed to produce current box office champ The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, have announced plans to make a large-format, stereoscopic 3-D adaptation of the 19th Century author’s Journey to the Center of the Earth for New Line Cinema.

  • Anima Produces Toon for Televisa

    According to Daily Variety, Mexican broadcaster Televisa has ordered a new animated series based on its successful 1970s children’s sitcom, El Chavo de ocho. The 26-episode, half-hour cartoon is being produced by Mexico’s Anima Estudios and is slated for delivery in late 2006.

    The live-action El Chavo de ocho is currently in syndication throughout Latin America and airs in the U.S. on Univision’s Galavision. Created by comedian Roberto Gomez Bolanos, the series consists of 1300 episodes following the life of an orphan who lives on the streets in a barrel. Bolanos, who originally played the lead role, is modernizing the concept with his son, TV producer Roberto Gomez Fernandez (El Juego de la vida).

    This will be the first animated series for Televisa, which is reportedly courting Warner Bros. and other U.S. studios for co-production partnerships as it looks to crack the U.S. market with Chavo,

    Anima produced the 2004 big-screen animated release, Magos y Gigantes, and last summer’s Imaginum. Founded in 2002, the budding studio also produced the animated TV series, Cascaritos, in 2004. For more information on the company, go to www.animaestudios.com.

  • Narnia Dethrones Kong

    ‘Twas Aslan that killed the beast at the North American box office over the weekend as Disney’s and Walden Media’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was resurrected to the top spot held by Universal’s King Kong for the past two weeks. With no new major challengers to contend with, both films enjoyed a toothy four-day holiday period, each seeing a marked rise in attendance from the week prior.

    Narnia pulled out a narrow victory, earning an estimated $32.8 million since Friday. Bolstered by grassroots Christian support, the $180 million fantasy film raised its four-week domestic take to around $225 million and boasts a worldwide gross of $381 million. The success will no doubt keep plans for sequels afloat as Disney and Walden journey deeper into the world created by author C.S. Lewis.

    Kong may have been shot down from his perch, but director/producer Peter Jackson’s high-tech remake is still roaring with a 48% rebound in ticket sales. Worldwide, the monkey movie is no second banana to Narnia, having earned nearly $397 million. In fact, Kong has been a bigger hit overseas than in the states, making good on Universal’s hefty $200 million investment. Perhaps now Jackson will take his own April Fools joke to heart and start looking in earnest at remaking Merian C. Cooper’s and Ernest B. Shoedsack’s follow up, Son of Kong.

    While big-budget effects films rule the roost, the New Year has also been good to comedy entries, especially family-themed knee slappers. Sony’s Fun with Dick and Jane starring Jim Carey and Tea Leoni got a much-needed shot in the arm, finishing in third-place with an estimated $21 million. The $100 remake about a husband-wife team turned desperate criminals opened last week to a disappointing $14 million.

    Also up from last week’s opening is 20th Century Fox’s Cheaper by the Dozen 2, which landed in fourth place with around $19 million, more than a 100% improvement over its initial draw. It was enough to edge out Sony’s Jennifer Aniston vehicle, Rumor Has It, which pulled in an estimated $11.6 million after limping onto the scene with just $3.4 million last week.

  • Raven Moon Raises Funds for Gina D Feature

    Raven Moon Ent. Inc. announced that it has raised half of the $3.2 million budget for its first animated feature, Gina D & The Transistor Sisters: In Search of the Golden Record. The initial investment was made by MG Studios, a fully equipped 3D digital soundstage facility located in Longwood, Florida, where Raven Animation will produce the G-rated film.

    The Gina D movie will clock in at round 65 minutes and will feature 12 original Motown-style songs produced by Emmy Award-winning executive producers Joey and Bernadette DiFrancesco, who have already produced the music soundtrack and the first 14 minutes of dialogue. The DiFrancescos also came up with the story and co-wrote the script with Tim Trombitas. Directing duties are being handled by Michael Gibilisco, helmer of the Gina D’s Kids Club TV series.

    Raven Moon hopes to raise the other half of the production budget via a new partnership company dedicated to seeking potential partners. Interested parties can learn more about the terms of the partnership by contacting Carol Merry at (614) 825-1750 or carol.merry@fahlgren.com.

    Gina D’s Kids Club started airing in September of 2004 and currently airs on 227 television stations nationwide. The company recently signed an exclusive agreement with public television station WPBT-Miami to launch the existing 24 episodes through American Public Television (APT) to public stations across the country in June of 2006. To see the trailer for the upcoming animated movie, go to www.ginadskidsclub.com.

  • Editor’s Note: Revisiting Eight Crazy Nights

    Adam Sandler’s animated feature debut, Eight Crazy Nights, is the kind of movie animation snobs thumb their noses at, usually before they’ve even seen it. I’m not one of those snobs and if something makes me laugh or warms my heart, I feel compelled to recommend it. Maybe it’s not for everyone, but if you can get past some of the crude humor and other typical Sandler touches, there’s a lot to love about this funny and surprisingly moving holiday musical.

    While I consider this film an underrated holiday classic, I’ll admit that I’m one of the many who overlooking it when it hit theaters in 2002. That’s probably because Columbia Tristar’s marketing focused more on the Scrooge-like behavior of Sandler’s Davey Stone character rather than the true heart and soul of the movie’Whitey Duvall.

    Whitey is one of my all-time favorite cartoon characters. Originally created for an audio sketch on one of Sandler’s comedy CD releases, this diminutive, white-haired youth basketball referee does a lot for the community, only to be teased by the kids and ignored by adults. All Whitey wants is to be recognized for his contributions when the Jewish Community Center awards its annual community service patch. While awaiting the big day, he takes it upon himself to help Davey, a local boy who grew up to be a drunk and all-around public nuisance. Essentially, this is a Dickensian tale with a Jewish twist and a fair amount of (port-a) potty humor.

    Sandler provides the voices for Whitey and his equally amusing twin sister, Elanore. The two characters have some hilarious scenes together but manage to be more than just comic foils. Spending time with them at home, we realize that these are two people who look out for each other in a small town where people aren’t always so neighborly.

    Before this starts sounding like a Halmark production, I’ll assure you that Sandler’s signature brand of loveably immature comedy permeates the movie, giving us some raunchy, irreverent moments that push the envelope of good taste. While not recommended for kids under the age 12 (unless edited for television), this is a great alternative to some of the saccharin holiday specials out there, and deserves a spot alongside perennial favorite National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, another film that was largely overlooked during its initial run.

    Eight Crazy Nights earned Sandler a 2003 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite Voice in an Animated Movie. In addition to the comedian’s multiple-personality achievement, the film boasts the voices of fellow Saturday Night Live alumni Jon Lovitz, Kevin Nealon and Rob Schneider, while cameos are put in by supermodel Tyra Banks, actor Carl Weathers and SpongeBob voicer Tom Kenny.

    Produced by Sandler’s Happy Madison Prods. and Meatball Animation, Eight Crazy Nights was directed by Seth Kearsley, who helmed the 1999 Dilbert animated series. Sandler shares writing credits with Allen Covert (The Benchwarmers), Brad Isaacs (TV’s News Radio) and music producer Brooks Arthur. The latter no doubt contributed to the movie’s catchy tunes, which include Sandler’s famous ‘Chanukah Song.’

    Eight Crazy Nights is available on home video from Tristar Home Entertainment. The two-disc DVD offers nine original featurettes and commentary by writer/producer Allan Covert, director Seth Kearsley, art director Philip A. Cruden, head of animation Stephan Franck, effects supervisor John Bermudas and executive producer Ken Tsumura. For animation enthusiasts, the release features a multi-angle animation progression and 13 deleted/alternate scenes with optional commentary. Sandler’s faithful will also enjoy a music video for “Chanukah Song Part 3,” and a short film titled A Day with the Meatball.

  • Inspector Gadget Fan Art Contest!

    Calling all artists, doodlers and Inspector Gadget fans. Shout! Factory and DIC Ent. announce the Dec. 23 commencement of the official Inspector Gadget Fan Art Contest. Hosted by Animation Magazine Online, the competition invites individuals to submit drawings of the ever-popular Inspector Gadget cartoon character for the chance to have their art grace the new Inspector Gadget: The Original Series four-disc DVD set, due in stores April 25.

    All fan art entries must be received by Jan. 15, and the winner will be announced on Jan. 18. DIC Ent. chief creative officer Mike Maliani will judge each submission for creativity, uniqueness and accuracy of the Gadget model.

    From 1983 to 1985, America’s beloved private eye (voiced by the late Don Adams of Get Smart fame) solved cases and foiled the menacing Dr. Claw with the help of his case-solving niece, Penny, and their hyper-intelligent dog, Brain. Inspector Gadget: The Original Series will include 22 episodes and such bonus features as a retrospective look at Inspector Gadget with DIC chairman and CEO Andy Heyward and chief creative officer Mike Maliani, and an interview with animation voice guru Frank Welker (Dr. Claw, Brain, M.A.D. Cat).

    For more information, officials rules and submission details for the Inspector Gadget Fan Art Contest, go to www.animationmagazine.net/inspector_gadget.html

  • Comcast to Deliver Family Package

    Comcast Corp. announced plans to launch a package of family-friendly channels in early 2006. The new ‘Family Tier’ will include 16 G-rated programming networks including Disney Channel, Toon Disney, PBS KIDS Sprout, Nickelodeon/Nick Too, Nickelodeon GAS, Discovery Kids and National Geographic. Customers will also get religious and Hispanic programming, as well as local ABC, NBC, CBS, UPN, WB, FOX and PBS affiliates.

    Designed to ensure safe television viewing for the whole family, the Family Tier will launch in the 99% of Comcast markets that have Digital Cable service. All 16 channels will also be available as part of other existing packages, but the convenience of having them bundled together will cost customers an average of $31.20 per month, with pricing and channel lineup varying by market.

    More information about Comcast’s Family Tier will be available on the company’s web site, www.comcast.com.

  • Happy Holidays!

    The staff and friends of Animation Magazine wish you a joyous holiday season and a happy New Year! We’re taking a week off to be with family, but we’ll be back to kick off 2006 with more breaking news updates and feature articles on animation in all its many forms.

    If you haven’t yet done so, check out the World Animation Celebration (WAC), our online short film festival, at www.animationmagazine.net/wac. We’ll be adding more films in the new year, so check back regularly. While you’re there, enjoy some cool stuff in the Animag Fun Bag and take a stab at our new contest for your chance to win Aqua Teen Hunger Force Vol. 4 on DVD!

    Thanks for an animated year!

    Animation Magazine Staff

  • 4Kids Parts With Pok’mon

    Children’s entertainment and merchandise licensing company 4Kids Ent. Inc. will not have the opportunity to renew its license for the hugely successful Pok’mon brand in 2006. Once the current representation agreement expires on Dec. 31, Pok’mon USA Inc.’s own licensing group will handle all activity for the brand outside of Asia.

    “We felt it was in the best interest of the Pok’mon property for Pok’mon USA Inc. to assume all aspects of licensing,” says Akira Chiba, president of Pok’mon USA, Inc. “This was a brand management decision. We would like to thank 4Kids for all of its great work over the last eight years in helping to establish Pok’mon as one of the leading children’s brands in the world.”

    The decision by Pok’mon USA ends a successful, eight-year, exclusive relationship that saw 4Kids help promote the anime property over multiple platforms, including television, film and consumer products. Introduced in North America in September of 1998, the Pok’mon brand has generated more than $25 billion in worldwide retail sales. More than 14 billion trading cards have sold globally to date, and the animated series on Kids’ WB! consistently ranks within the top three shows for boys ages 6-11.

    Though the licensing contract will expire, 4Kids will continue producing the current eighth season of the Pok’mon television series, and will receive commissions over the next several years on payments made under existing license agreements. 4Kids Ent. chairman and CEO Alfred R. Kahn says his company will assist Pok’mon USA’s transition efforts over the next month.

    Pok’mon USA, a subsidiary of Japan-based The Pok’mon Co., manages and oversees the licensing, promotions, publication distribution and marketing of the Pok’mon trading card game, animated series, movies, the official website and www.pokemoncenter.com, an e-commerce site. For more information, go to www.pokemon.com.

  • VU Games Cool With Ice Age 2

    Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) is developing a video game based on 20th Century Fox’s upcoming Ice Age 2: The Meltdown, the sequel to the 2002 CG-animated blockbuster about animals who protect a human child as they learn to get by during a harsh period in ancient history. The game will hit retail in spring of 2006 for PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance and PC,

    In the Ice Age 2: The Meltdown game, the Ice Age is ending and our subzero heroes themselves in a melting paradise of water parks, geysers and tar pits. With the realization that the melting glaciers will soon flood their valley, Manny the Mammoth, Sid the Sloth, and Diego the Sabre-Toothed Tiger must make it across the perilous landscape to safety. Scrat the squirrel, who stared in his own animated short film, Scrat’s Missing Adventure, continues in his never-ending quest to collect acorns and ends up an unwitting hero in this latest interactive caper.

    Ice Age enjoyed a record-setting $46 million March opening North America in 2002, and went on to earn $381 million at theaters worldwide. The sequel is again being animated by Blue Sky, Fox Animation’s feature toon partner. Carlos Saldanha, who co-directed the original Ice Age and Robots with Chris Wedge, is back at the helm, working from a script by Jon Vitti. More information about the film can be found at www.iceage2.com. Incidently, the original Ice Age airs tonight (Dec. 23) at 8 p.m. on FOX.

    The video game will carry a suggested retail price of $19.99 for PC, $29.99 for Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance, and $39.99 for consoles. More information of Vivendi Universal products is available at www.vugames.com.

  • Mad Catz Tapped as Microsoft Publisher

    Mad Catz Interactive Inc., a worldwide third-party video-game accessory manufacturer, has signed an agreement to become an official software publisher for Microsoft’s Xbox video game console. Under the agreement, Mad Catz will churn out Microsoft-endorsed titles in North America and Europe.

    “This agreement is very significant for Mad Catz since it marks the first time we’ll publish software for the Xbox console,” says Mad Catz president and CEO Darren Richardson. “It is an important element in our strategy to publish games to be used in conjunction with our game-specific accessories and adds new revenue streams to leverage our existing infrastructure.”

    Mad Catz’s line of video game peripherals include the industry-leading GameShark brand of video game enhancements. The San Diego, Calif.-based company distributes its offerings through most leading retailers of interactive entertainment products, and can be found on the web at www.madcatz.com.

  • Jim Henson Co. Honors Rowling, Gorillaz

    The Jim Henson Co., a producer of animation, visual effects, puppetry and live-action productions for film and television, has announces the recipients of the first annual Jim Henson Honors. Among the inaugural honorees are Harry Potter novelist J.K. Rowling and the animated virtual pop band Gorillaz.

    Jim Henson Co. staff members were asked to nominate individuals, organizations or products that inspire them in their everyday work, maintain similar core values as the company and reflect Jim Henson’s commitment to excellence in creativity and innovation. The top award goes to Rowling, who receives the Jim Henson Celebration Honor ‘for her imagination and originality in creating the fantastical world of Harry Potter, and for the amazing impact these books have had around the world.’

    Gorillaz receive the The Jim Henson Creativity Honor, a kudo reserved for a new creative voice or unique expression of an idea. The animated rock group established by Damon Albarn of the band Blur was selected for this honor for the revolutionary way the band was created, as well as the innovative expression of their music.

    The other recipients announced Wednesday by company co-CEOs Brian Henson and Lisa Henson are Bill Haber, a member of the board of directors for Save the Children (The Jim Henson Community Honor), and Toyota’s Prius, a gas-electric hybrid automobile (The Jim Henson Technology Honor).

    Brian Henson comments, “It is with great respect that we recognize these honorees for their commitment to excellence and their unique creative expression. In regards to JK Rowling receiving the highest honor, he adds, “By encouraging audiences of all ages to rediscover the magic of books and reading, Ms. Rowling has truly made this world a better place.”

    “The diversity and accomplishment of the recipients exemplifies what we believe; that there can be inspiration and fun in everything around us’in our books and music, but also in our cars, communities and our environment,” adds Lisa Henson. “My father saw the joy that comes from embracing all kinds of creativity and we are thrilled to continue that legacy.”

    Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, The Jim Henson Co. is best known as the birthplace of the world famous Muppets franchise, which is now owned by The Walt Disney Co. Henson still produces Muppet titles with Disney, including the recently aired ABC special, The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz. Other recent Henson productions include the Saturn Award-winning miniseries Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars and the features Five Children and It and MirrorMask. The feature film division is now developing a slate of animated productions. More information on the company can be found on the web at www.henson.com.

  • Fuse Builds Animated Empire

    Music-centric cable TV network fuse has commissioned seven episodes of Empire Square, a new animated show based on a series of edgy shorts by Blur drummer Dave Rowntree. Critically acclaimed in the U.K., the property is being adapted for U.S. viewers and will preview on Dec. 24 at Midnight (ET) before settling into a weekly schedule in the first quarter of 2006.

    Empire Square delivers biting, social commentary via lovably anti-social, foul-mouthed characters named Rabbit and Hooks, and a Tourette’s-suffering, rockstar wannabe named Richie. The trio cook up bizarre, get rich quick schemes and chase music superstardom in this twisted series that is being compared to South Park and Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

    Co-created by Rowntree and music industry insiders Ant Cauchi and Lloyd Salmons, the series features retro video-game-style animation and was originally intended for distribution over mobile platforms. Execs at Britain’s Channel 4 then caught wind of it and commissioned a series of three-minute episodes that aired during its late-night music programming block in early 2005. The new series is being created exclusively for fuse by Cauchi’s and Salmons’ Outside Line shingle.

    ‘Empire Square reinforces fuse’s commitment to expanding its original programming,’ says Andrea Greenberg, pesident of Rainbow Media Ventures. ‘We think Empire Square will undoubtedly resonate with our hip, young adult viewers.’

    An aggressive marketing campaign for Empire Square will include promo spots slated to appear in more than 200 theaters. The show will also be promoted at f.y.e. retail stores nationwide, while college and high school street teams distribute specially designed Empire Square toilet paper in bathrooms, dorm rooms and school facilities across the country. More 125,000 CD Rom teaser-trailers to high school students which, when finished, will redirect the consumer to the fuse.tv/empiresquare website. fuse will also distribute a holiday e-card to over

    Fuse will also rely heavily on the internet to build the Empire Square brand. In adition to sending out more than 150,000 holiday e-cards, the network will offer streaming mini-episodes and downloadable content at www.fuse.tv. On the mobile front, clips of the show will be available through fuseMobile, while full episodes are made available on fuse OnDemand.

  • Japan’s Icot Founds Toon Fund

    Daily Variety reports that Osaka, Japan-based content-management company Icot has launched two movie funds, one specifically for animation. A 24-episode animated series titled Rabugetsu Chu will be bankrolled by private-sector investors ponying up a total of $3.4 million through brokerage Mizuho Securities.

    Slated for network broadcast in 2006, Rabugetsu Chu (Love Get Chu) is based on developer Marie Koizumi’s popular mobile game in which a girl pursues her dream of becoming a voice actor. Mitsuhiro Togo is set to direct and Radix and Ariko System will produce. Investors will buy shares through an online brokerage, while another $5 million is raised for three live-action pics.

    Icot is a year-old conglomerate of 10 companies led by Kansai Electric Power and ad agency Dentsu. The group will manage all rights to projects produced with the new funds and other funds it will establish each year.