Animated Views » Randall W

MGM Courts Pixar

Randall W — Thu, 19 Feb 2004 16:41:18 +0000

{{link http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=top&newsitem_no=10291 Animated World Network}} reports that MGM Vice Chairman and COO Chris McGurk has been in talks with Pixar Animation Studios about a distribution partnership. McGurk is quoted saying that MGM would be “the best fit” for Pixar because of its worldwide distribution apparatus and because MGM doesn’t possess any competitive animated films or family franchises. McGurk added MGM intends “to speak with [Pixar] again very soon.”

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Toon Radio expands popular anime show to 1 hour

Randall W — Wed, 04 Feb 2004 23:54:21 +0000

{{link http://www.toonradio.net/ Toon Radio’s}} anime program Anime in the Limelight will expand to a full hour starting Saturday, February 7, at 6:00pm EST.

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Heat Guy J coming to Mtv2

Randall W — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 19:08:35 +0000

{{link http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?forum_id=7&topic_id=7970 Animation Insider}} reports that the hit action anime Heat Guy J will be airing on the (formerly) all-music channel Mtv2. The series, from the director and staff that created the Escaflowne movie, is centers on the character Android J. “J” was secretly built by the government as a special agent to combat crime in the oceanic city-nation of Judoh. When in combat Android J ejects clouds of hot steam earning him the nick name “Heat Guy” with the Judoh criminals.

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X-Men Evolution cancelled

Randall W — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 18:59:51 +0000

Animation Insider {{link http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?forum_id=7&topic_id=7942 reports}}, citing an unnamed source, that the hit Kids WB series X-Men Evolution has been cancelled. This was to be the fifth season of the show.

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Cartoon Network to Air First Made-for-TV Animated Feature

Randall W — Tue, 27 Jan 2004 21:10:36 +0000

Toonzone {{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=100819 reports}} that on Friday, February 27, at 8:00pm (ET/PT) Party Wagon will debut on Cartoon Network. The cable network’s first made-for-TV animated feature tells of a band of settlers traveling through the Old West. When the ferry boat they are aboard begins to sink, one of them produces a map disclosing the location of El Glitterando, a hidden mine rich with rubies, sapphires and diamonds. Survivors of the sinking take the map and strike off to seek the treasure. Party Wagon stars Sean Astin, Maurice LaMarche, Pamela Hayden, and Carolyn Lawrence, and was helmed by Craig Bartlett, creator of Hey Arnold.

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Teen Titans Scores Highest Ratings to Date

Randall W — Thu, 22 Jan 2004 09:05:56 +0000

Toonzone {{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=100358 reports}} Teen Titans’ Sunday telecast was Cartoon Network’s highest rated episode of the week among key demographics, the network said today, as the superhero series scored its best-ever ratings and delivery. The episode was Cartoon Network’s #1 show among kids 6-11, who lifted the episode more than 70% over the same time period last year in both delivery and ratings. Among kids 2-11, the show also scored strong double-digit gains.

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Disney Loses Federal Appeal in Pooh Copyright Case

Randall W — Thu, 22 Jan 2004 09:02:20 +0000

Animation World Network {{link http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=top&newsitem_no=10093 reports}} The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has denied an appeal by Clare Milne and Disney to recapture the rights under copyright to Winnie the Pooh from the Slesinger family, originally granted in an agreement with author A. A. Milne in the ’30s. This appeal was after Clare Milne’s attempt to reclaim the rights to Pooh failed in May when Federal District court ruled in favor of the Slesingers.

This decision clears the way for a full trial scheduled on claims by the Slesinger family that Disney owes them hundreds of millions of dollars for failure to pay them for all commercial uses of Pooh, as well as on royalties based upon gross sales as stipulated by their contract over the past 20 years.The Slesinger family has asked for a judgment that would include compensatory damages of at least $700 million, unspecified punitive damages and the right to terminate all future rights of Disney to exploit Winnie the Pooh characters.

A. A. Milne licensed Pooh characters to the Slesingers in the ’30s, who in turn assigned rights to Disney in 1961. In 1983, Disney convinced the heirs of A.A. Milne and the Slesingers to enter a new agreement. The most profitable of all the characters Disney markets, Pooh is estimated to be worth between $3 billion and $6 billion in annual revenue. Disney’s total annual revenues are $25 billion.

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Gundam Seed and Detective Conan on CN

Randall W — Wed, 21 Jan 2004 20:48:22 +0000

Animation World Network {{link http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=top&newsitem_no=10092 reports}} two popular Japanese Anime series will debut on Cartoon Network in April. Gundam Seed will air on the network’s weekend Action Block. The debut will roughly coincide with the release of the first volume of the Gundam Seed manga from Del Rey on April 30. Detective Conan will air in Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block, which is expanding to six nights a week starting April 17.

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Star Trek Animated Adventures Celebrates 30th Aniversary

Randall W — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 02:41:19 +0000

The official {{link http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/index.html Star Trek website}} is celebrating the 30th aniversary of the Star Trek Cartoon with a {{link http://www.startrek.com/startrek/cda/html/images/feature/community/contests/031202_animated/detail.jsp contest}}, {{link http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/features/bst/article/2843.html interview}} with the animated shows story editor and associate producer D.C. Fountana, and a {{link http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/features/specials/article/2674.html guide}} to the most memorable episodes of the short lived series.

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A Dozen Animated Films at Sundance Online Film Festival

Randall W — Sat, 17 Jan 2004 05:57:01 +0000

{{link http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=17980 The Big Cartoon Database}} reports that this year’s {{link http://www.sundanceonlinefilmfestival.org Fourth Annual Sundance Online Film Festival}} includes 12 films in the Animation section. The films were chosen to represent the diversity and creativity of online animators and artists. The Online Film Festival will run until Feb. 15th.

Showcased are Ahnold for Governor, by Gregg and Evan Spiridellis; Artflick 001, by Kyle Newman, Nick Regalbuto; Bathtime in Clerkenwell, by Alex Budovsky; Crimenals, by Gregory Araya; Dronez, by Leif Arne Petersen, Manuel Macha, Paul Dreisen and Alex Hupperich; Drum Machine, by Andrew Cope and Tokyo Plastic; I.O.’s: The Boot, by Guto Garcia and Marcelo Luis B. dos Santos; Punto Zero, by Motomichi Nakamura; Recipe for Love, by Chris Ferrantello; Touch Me Now, by Craig Marshall; Well-Tempered Heads, by Theodore Ushev; and Wrong Number Phone Message, by Bruce Alcock.

Viewing the online film festival does cost $10 for access until Feb. 15th.

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