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Sunday - June 17, 2001
- Betty Boop Returns
- Tomb Raider Dominates Weekend Box Office
- Cartoonist Award Results - Reuben Awards
- News Link of the Day - Comic Book Creator Tests Hollywood Waters in New Disney Film

Betty Boop Returns
(by digitalmediafx.com) After several successful merchandising efforts, including slot machines in Las Vegas, the character Betty Boop is about to make a return to television. This series will be much different, however, as Betty Boop will be all CGI, courtesy of Mainframe Entertainment. Fleischer Studios, Inc. will be a partner in the efforts.

"All of us at Mainframe are very excited about this new effort with Fleischer Studios," said Ian Pearson, Chief Creative Officer of Mainframe Entertainment. "The rich animation history of the Fleischer family and its studios as well as the incredible talents of both Richard and Mark Fleischer ensure that the new 'Betty Boop' television series will respect the integrity of the original property while moving Betty into a new and modern age. We'll also be working with Fleischer and King Features Syndicate on launching a significant licensing and merchandising campaign in support of the new series."

Betty Boop was originally created in the 1930's by Max Fleischer. Betty Boop has starred in over 100 cartoons. Even though the series had been long dead, merchandising for the character has been very strong. More than 250 licensees in the United States and nearly as many internationally produce quality products bearing Betty's likeness in virtually every category.

The idea to start a new Betty Boop cartoon series originated with Richard Fleischer at Fleischer Studios. "I am very excited about the new series, which will capture the cutting edge humor of the alluring Betty Boop in an adventurous and music driven setting," he says. "She'll Boop-oop-a-doop her way into the 21st century."

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Tomb Raider Dominates Weekend Box Office
(by digitalmediafx.com) Weekend estimates are in and Paramount's Tomb Raider pounded the competition this weekend by bringing in an estimated $48.2 million. Atlantis: The Lost Empire came in second with an estimated $20.4 million. Still going strong in third place (and a month after opening) was PDI/DreamWorks Shrek with an estimated $12.9 million.

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Cartoonist Award Results - Reuben Awards
(by digitalmediafx.com) This year's Reuben Awards, the top award ceremony focused on honoring cartoonists, presented its top award - Cartoonist of the Year - to Jack Davis, who is best known for advertising illustration and work in MAD Magazine. Here is the full list of award winners:

Comic Books: Dan DeCarlo, Scarsdale, NY, "Betty and Veronica"

Greeting Cards: Bill Brewer, Kansas City, MO

Newspaper Comic Strip: Bud Blake, Damariscotta, ME, "Tiger"

Magazine Gag Cartoons: Kim Warp, Renton, WA

Book Illustration: Mike Lester, Rome, GA

Magazine Illustration: Peter deSeve, Brooklyn, NY

Editorial Cartoons: Jerry Holbert, Boston Herald

Newspaper Gag Panels: Dan Piraro, Dallas, TX, "Bizarro"

New Media: Bill Hinds, Spring, TX, "Buzz Beamer"

Television Animation: Gary Baseman, "Teacher's Pet"

Feature Animation: Eric Goldberg, design, direction and animation for the "Rhapsody in Blue" segment of the Disney Feature Film, Fantasia 2000.

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News Link of the Day - Comic Book Creator Tests Hollywood Waters in New Disney Film

According to the Kansas City Star:

"'Can you hang on one second?' Mike Mignola says at the outset of a recent telephone interview. More than a second later the celebrated comic book artist of Hellboy comes back on the line.

'That was Disney calling,' Mignola says from his home studio in Portland, Ore. 'I had to take that one.'

Phone calls from the Mouse House are old hat these days to Mignola, the lead production designer of Walt Disney Pictures' new animated adventure film Atlantis: The Lost Empire…"

Click here for the full story.

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