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Digital
Media FX News Archives
Thursday
- April 5, 2001
- Tomb Raider Versus Atlantis:
The Lost Empire
- Animation/FX Cheers
and Sneers for March 2001
- A Popular Mix: Cartoon Characters
and Gambling
- News Link of the Day
- The Long and Short of Oscar Success
 Tomb
Raider Versus Atlantis: The Lost Empire
(by digitalmediafx.com) Disney and Paramount Pictures are preparing
for a huge battle at the box office on June 15 when Tomb Raider
and Atlantis: The Lost Empire go head to head for the same
audience. Tomb Raider stars Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft,
the popular video game character, in a mysterious adventure to
uncover powerful forces. Meanwhile, Atlantis: The Lost Empire
is an animated adventure where the characters seek out the mysterious
Atlantis to discover its powerful forces. Atlantis: The Lost
Empire is rated PG. Tomb Raider is expected to receive
a PG or PG-13 rating within the next three weeks.
In another
unique twist, Atlantis: The Lost Empire will have two prequels
(in the form of CD-ROM games) while Tomb Raider, which
came from a video game, is being turned into a franchise via two
movie sequels, which have already been confirmed.
Both Paramount
Pictures and Disney are increasing marketing efforts in order
to try and capture business from the other. Yesterday, Paramount
Pictures released a brand
new movie trailer for Tomb Raider. Meanwhile,
Disney announced that it is giving
away a prequel CD video game beginning this month.
In addition, Disney is opening up a huge Destination:
Atlantis exhibit next to the El Capitan theater in
Hollywood.
So what will
happen on June 15? The enthusiasm meter appears to be running
in favor of Tomb Raider as the clock winds down to opening
weekend. While there are no guarantees as to how the weekend will
turn out, it is clear that both films are competing for the same
audience and at this point Atlantis: The Lost Empire seems
to have the most to lose. Disney, however, is committed to the
June 15 release and plans to heavily promote Atlantis: The
Lost Empire in an attempt to retain its share of movie-goers.
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Animation/FX
Cheers and Sneers for March 2001
(by digitalmediafx.com) Here is the list of Digital Media
FX's March 2001 Cheers and Sneers for the animation and visual
effects industries:
 Sneers:
After the passing of William Hanna, Warner Bros. fails to
properly recognize his memory and contributions to the TV cartoon
industry. Many within the industry are still waiting for Warner
Bros. to distribute a press release honoring Hanna's memory.
 Cheers:
In the U.K. and Ireland, Warner Bros. arranges for more than 200
movie theaters to show the new Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's
Stone movie trailer on the big screen, in a continuous loop,
for free.
Cheers:
The Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts Opens at the USC School
of Cinema. It is one of the most advanced digital arts facilities
in the world.
Sneers:
AOL Time Warner announces that it is merging the WB broadcast
network and Turner basic cable networks, including the Cartoon
Network, into one - the Turner Broadcasting System. Look for the
Cartoon Network to lose a lot of its originality as it becomes
more like Kids WB!
Cheers:
Dennis the Menace turns 50 years old!
Sneers:
Gladiator (FX by The Mill) tops The Perfect Storm
(FX by Industrial Light and Magic) for the "Best Visual Effects"
Oscar, shocking visual effects industry insiders.
Cheers:
The Mill gains industry recognition from its Gladiator
"Best Visual Effects" Academy Award and high profile
work on the upcoming Tomb Raider and Harry Potter
movies.
Sneers:
Warner Bros. claims that one city - San Antonio - will determine
whether a newly remastered Superman with added footage
will get a wider release. Despite high ratings from audiences,
Warner Bros. decides to kill any potential wider release.
Cheers:
The 100 year anniversary of the birth of Ub Iwerks is recognized
as people find out more about this aspiring animator who was a
vital part of Walt Disney's early years.
Cheers:
Pixar signs John Lasseter to a 10-year contract insuring that
the visionary behind the success of Pixar's first three animated
productions keeps Pixar recognized as one of the best animation
studios in the world.
Sneers:
Disney announces it is laying off 4,000 employees just a few
months after CEO Michael Eisner accepts an $11.5 million bonus.
The Orlando Sentinel reports that Disney is going to slice animator
salaries.
Cheers:
"Best Animated Short" Academy Award winner Michael Dudok
de Wit (for "Father & Daughter") gives the shortest
speech at the Academy Awards, winning an HDTV set and gaining
worldwide attention.
Cheers:
To the memory of William Hanna — a true visionary in the
cartoon industry. You will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
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 A
Popular Mix: Cartoon Characters and Gambling
(by digitalmediafx.com) Bringing cartoon characters to the
gambling world is starting to become a profitable venue. Right
now one of the top selling slot machines for casinos is one featuring
the cartoon character Betty Boop, who made her gambling debut
as a lottery scratch it ticket in January 2000 in the state of
Wisconsin. Those scratch it gambling cards sold out in only seven
weeks.
"These
sales results reaffirm the power of the Betty Boop brand in general,
and specifically in the gaming category," says Steve Saferin,
President and CEO of MDI, which licenses the cartoon character
for gambling use. "With minimal advertising, the market has
discovered these games and is enjoying them. We have every reason
to expect similar strong results in every state."
In New Jersey,
$2 Betty Boop ticket sales have run 27 percent ahead of the lottery's
average game sales at that price point.
In Las Vegas
and surrounding areas, over 26 casinos now feature Betty Boop
slot machines that pay out progressive jackpots in the hundreds
of thousands of dollars.
"Betty
Boop is clearly a licensed property that is resonating with lottery
players," says Saferin.
Betty Boop
was created in the 1930's by animator Grim Natwick for Max
Fleischer.
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News Link
of the Day - The Long and Short of Oscar Success
According to TV Guide:
"Michael
Dudok de Wit — the best animated short Oscar-winner who was
awarded a $2,500 high-definition TV set for delivering the shortest
acceptance speech — insists that he was not gunning for the
high-priced prize..."
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