MUMBAI: Peter Ellenshaw, the Oscar winning visual effects pioneer and matte artist who is known for his work on several Disney classics like Mary Poppins, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Darby O‘Gill and the Little People, Treasure Island and The Black Hole, passed away at his home in Santa Barbara on 12 February at the age of 93.
Announcing his demise, an official statement referred to him as “a hand-picked member of Walt Disney‘s creative team.” Ellenshaw was called upon to create a wide variety of visual effects for the Studio‘s films, and even painted the iconic first map of Disneyland that was featured on all the early postcards and souvenir booklets. | ||
Ellenshaw regarded Walt Disney as a source of inspiration, a wonderful executive, and over the years, a good friend. “Walt had the ability to communicate with artists,” observed Ellenshaw. “He‘d talk to you on your level — artist to artist. He used to say, ‘I can‘t draw, Peter.‘ But he had the soul of an artist, and he had a wonderful way of transferring his enthusiasm to you.” Ellenshaw began his association with Walt Disney in 1947, when he was tapped to work on the Studio‘s first live-action film, Treasure Island (1950), and continued working there until his retirement in 1979 following The Black Hole. Born in Great Britain in 1913, Ellenshaw began his film career in the early 1930s, when he apprenticed for visual effects pioneer W. Percy (Pop) Day, O.B.E. He worked on such productions as Things to Come, Rembrandt, Elephant Boy, Sixty Glorious Years, A Matter of Life and Death, and the Michael Powell-Emeric Pressburger classic Black Narcissus. |
Category: Kids
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Disney visual effects veteran Peter Ellenshaw dies at 93
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Barney brings smile to kids and new business opp
MUMBAI: If you forget for a while this is business, just think: two dozen hardened scribes armed with tough questions laughed in glee and clapped heartily… Barney & Friends are here, for the first time in India.
There is business, of course, but the short sneak peek for the media saw what Kavita Bedi said come true. Barney does indeed touch the child in everyone of us. Bedi’s company Just Because It’s Children has brought the world famous show to India.
The huge Tyrannosaurus rex and his two friends danced and sang with amazing agility, despite their fluffy costumes, and gave a preview of the pure, innocent entertainment that is now a billion dollar industry the world over, as Nik Larkin, officially designated Chief Dreamer at MEI Entertainment of Australia (MEIEA) told indiantelevision.com after the press preview.
The show is to be held at the Siri Fort Auditorium on 17 and 18 February, and Bedi was forthcoming: “I need the media’s help to make this programme a success.”
Bedi told this correspondent that as a marketing person, she feels there is a huge business in this sector of live edutainment, where entertainment is not just educative but has parental approval as well. “We shall talk money if this programme is successful. Let’s see,” she said.
Part of this business outlook was evident with sponsors ranging from Lilliput, Sunfest Pasta Treat, HT I Love Delhi, Hotel Intercontinental, Eros, Whirlpool, LIC, Berger Kidz, Singapore Airlines and others.
Tickets range from Rs 1,500 down to Rs 300, “so that a wide range of children and their parents will be able to see the show,” Bedi says. But she added that 50 disadvantaged children – to be selected by the various NGOs her company works with – will be given free tickets.
This show is the outcome of an exclusive tie-up between JBC and MEIEA, which is the official licensee of Barney Big Funtime, along with Turner International’s kids channel Pogo.
Monica Tata, Turner vice president, advertising sales and networks (India and South Asia) said that this is a big business but did not want to talk about any new business model.
Asked whether there seems to be a new business direction emerging at Turner’s with two programmes with outside companies and NGOs coming in rapid succession (Turner is also promoting the Galli Galli Sim Sim kids programmes to be taken to slums through TV on push carts), she said: “There is no business model. Galli Galli is a different project with a different philosophy and aim… this programme is different.”
She explained that this is in keeping with Turner’s policy of staying ahead in the business of kids entertainment. “We had introduced Barney and Friends to India in 2004, in our pre-school block, Tiny TV. Likewise, it was natural for us to pioneer this kind of stage shows for children and we are the media partners in the project.”
Bedi admitted that this is a hugely costly project. Apart from the cost of bringing in the team, there was research. She said her company is trying to bring in something radically new in children’s education and entertainment.
Asked why she thought children here would relate to things so distinctly foreign, she said that she had followed the programme elsewhere as part of her research, and “whether they are Malaysians or Chinese, children have accepted this as their programme,” she averred.
But she would not disclose the cost, and though the programme has several sponsors at various levels, she did not want to discuss business issues.
MEI has been working in the field of edutainment for the past 20 years and have created some major live family entertainment programmes in Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Middle East.
Currently it is doing these live character shows using licensed characters from major entertainment property owners, such as Cartoon Network, HIT Entertainment, and others, and some of their programmes – whether originally created by them or licensed – have played in other languages like Mandarin, Cantonese and Arabic.
Barney, a character created in 1987 by Sheryl Leach, has already won the BEANIE License of the Year in 1993, from the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association, and played live at Bill Clinton’s inauguration as US president.
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Pogo follows ‘Sabrina Down Under!’ on 18 February
MUMBAI: Turner’s second offspring in India, Pogo is looking to rake in kids onto the channel this coming weekend with yet another feature film Sabrina Down Under! on 18 February at 2 pm.
A tactic that the network often implements, last month Cartoon Network aired the second part of the animated Krishna series with Krishna Machan Chor on 26 January, which the network claims drew in hefty ratings.
The up coming feature narrates the story of Sabrina and a fellow witch – Gwen, who travel to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef for a week long vacation.
Instead, they find themselves in a situation to help protect a hidden mermaid colony whose habitat is threatened by ocean pollution, and by a local marine biologist, Dr. Julian Martin, determined to find the colony as his claim to fame. While in the process, Sabrina finds romance with Barnaby, a “merman” from mermaid colony, informs an official release.
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Disney visual effects veteran Peter Ellenshaw dies at 93
MUMBAI: Peter Ellenshaw, the Oscar winning visual effects pioneer and matte artist who is known for his work on several Disney classics like Mary Poppins, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Darby O’Gill and the Little People, Treasure Island and The Black Hole, passed away at his home in Santa Barbara on 12 February at the age of 93.
Announcing his demise, an official statement referred to him as “a hand-picked member of Walt Disney’s creative team.” Ellenshaw was called upon to create a wide variety of visual effects for the Studio’s films, and even painted the iconic first map of Disneyland that was featured on all the early postcards and souvenir booklets.
Ellenshaw regarded Walt Disney as a source of inspiration, a wonderful executive, and over the years, a good friend. “Walt had the ability to communicate with artists,” observed Ellenshaw. “He’d talk to you on your level — artist to artist. He used to say, ‘I can’t draw, Peter.’ But he had the soul of an artist, and he had a wonderful way of transferring his enthusiasm to you.”
Ellenshaw began his association with Walt Disney in 1947, when he was tapped to work on the Studio’s first live-action film, Treasure Island (1950), and continued working there until his retirement in 1979 following The Black Hole. Born in Great Britain in 1913, Ellenshaw began his film career in the early 1930s, when he apprenticed for visual effects pioneer W. Percy (Pop) Day, O.B.E. He worked on such productions as Things to Come, Rembrandt, Elephant Boy, Sixty Glorious Years, A Matter of Life and Death, and the Michael Powell-Emeric Pressburger classic Black Narcissus.
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Cartoon Network characters to take over mobile content with ‘CallToons’
MUMBAI: Cartoon Network New Media has announced that it has created CallToons, a new mobile application that integrates technology with entertainment, essentially allowing Cartoon Network characters to take over a mobile phone.
According to an official announcement by the network, Cartoon Network New Media has developed CallToons in conjunction with Turner Platform R&D, and has been in discussions with Ericsson regarding concept refinement and content delivery options. The technology takes Cartoon Network New Media into mobile licensing as the product will be available to non-Turner companies in the future.
At launch, CallToons will feature characters from Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, and will be offered as separate services for each brand. CallToons is targeted to be available to consumers in Q4 2007.
Using patent pending technology, CallToons creates a user experience that replaces ordinary mobile phone functions (such as ringtones and wallpapers) with an entertainment platform provided by the users’ favourite character.
CallToons ties together mobile content such as ringtones, ringbacks, wallpapers, and audio and text alerts into a character-driven narrative experience. Cartoon Network New Media will introduce additional functionality to the CallToons application in the coming months, adds the release.
“CallToons extends our fans’ relationship with our characters in a personal and interactive way through a mobile phone,” said Cartoon Network New Media senior vice president and general manager Paul Condolora. “With this application, we are developing a novel approach to the mobile experience. CallToons is a natural next step for the company and offers limitless cross-platform entertainment possibilities with cartoon characters, celebrities, sports figures and beyond.”
“CallToons does more than set a character’s voice to a ringtone. CallToons allows a character’s personality to take over the mobile phone’s functionality so that they actually interact with the user and incoming callers in a unique way,” said Cartoon Network New Media senior director of entertainment products Ross Cox.
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Cartoon Network, FDA encourage Kids to Spot The Block
MUMBAI: US kids broadcaster Cartoon Network and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are unrolling a public education campaign this month.
It encourages kids and tweens to use the Nutrition Facts information on the food label to make healthier food choices.
Known as Spot The Block, the campaign uses online and customised public education on-air spots featuring characters from popular programs like Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends to promote portion control and a healthy eating lifestyle. This first of its kind partnership between Cartoon Network and the FDA kicks off today 14 February 2007.
Spot The Block will feature two public education on-air spots produced by Cartoon Network and showcase favorite characters from the networks original programming lineup. The first on-air spot, Spot The Block, Yo! includes a funky, soulful song, ala School House Rock!, performed by characters from series, Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Camp Lazlo, and My Gym Partners a Monkey.
The fun song and dance number demonstrates where to look for (spot) the Nutrition Facts label (the block) and the useful information it contains to help kids and tweens make healthy food choices. Creative components for the second public education on-air spot unveiled later in the year will be available at a later date.
Spot The Block will also feature a custom micro site. The online destination will offer kids the opportunity to engage with the FDAs key messaging and offer tools to enable them to better understand the Nutrition Facts label on their favorite foods.
Turner Entertainment Group president Mark Lazarus says, “We are extremely honoured that the FDA has selected Cartoon Network as their media partner for communicating these important nutrition messages directly to kids and tweens, said president . The campaign fits in with our overall commitment to kids and Cartoon Networks Get Animated programme, which helps to teach and inspire kids to get healthy, active and involved; and our beloved characters are the perfect ones to deliver such a message.”
Launched in February 2005, Cartoon Networks Get Animated provides on-air, online, print and off-channel programs to teach children the value of a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, good eating and helping others. Featuring the networks roster of popular cartoon characters, Get Animated currently includes multiple animated PSAs, a mobile tour, community programmes and its 2006 Rescuing Recess initiative.
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Cartoon Network characters to take over mobile content with ‘CallToons’
MUMBAI: Cartoon Network New Media has announced that it has created CallToons, a new mobile application that integrates technology with entertainment, essentially allowing Cartoon Network characters to take over a mobile phone.
According to an official announcement by the network, Cartoon Network New Media has developed CallToons in conjunction with Turner Platform R&D, and has been in discussions with Ericsson regarding concept refinement and content delivery options. The technology takes Cartoon Network New Media into mobile licensing as the product will be available to non-Turner companies in the future.
At launch, CallToons will feature characters from Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, and will be offered as separate services for each brand. CallToons is targeted to be available to consumers in Q4 2007.Using patent pending technology, CallToons creates a user experience that replaces ordinary mobile phone functions (such as ringtones and wallpapers) with an entertainment platform provided by the users‘ favourite character.CallToons ties together mobile content such as ringtones, ringbacks, wallpapers, and audio and text alerts into a character-driven narrative experience. Cartoon Network New Media will introduce additional functionality to the CallToons application in the coming months, adds the release.
“callToons extends our fans‘ relationship with our characters in a personal and interactive way through a mobile phone,” said Cartoon Network New Media senior vice president and general manager Paul Condolora. “With this application, we are developing a novel approach to the mobile experience. CallToons is a natural next step for the company and offers limitless cross-platform entertainment possibilities with cartoon characters, celebrities, sports figures and beyond.” “CallToons does more than set a character‘s voice to a ringtone. CallToons allows a character‘s personality to take over the mobile phone‘s functionality so that they actually interact with the user and incoming callers in a unique way,” said Cartoon Network New Media senior director of entertainment products Ross Cox.
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Cartoon Network, FDA encourage Kids to Spot The Block
MUMBAI: US kids broadcaster Cartoon Network and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are unrolling a public education campaign this month.
It encourages kids and tweens to use the Nutrition Facts information on the food label to make healthier food choices.
Known as Spot The Block, the campaign uses online and customised public education on-air spots featuring characters from popular programs like Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends to promote portion control and a healthy eating lifestyle. This first of its kind partnership between Cartoon Network and the FDA kicks off today 14 February 2007.
Spot The Block will feature two public education on-air spots produced by Cartoon Network and showcase favorite characters from the networks original programming lineup. The first on-air spot, Spot The Block, Yo! includes a funky, soulful song, ala School House Rock!, performed by characters from series, Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Camp Lazlo, and My Gym Partners a Monkey.
The fun song and dance number demonstrates where to look for (spot) the Nutrition Facts label (the block) and the useful information it contains to help kids and tweens make healthy food choices. Creative components for the second public education on-air spot unveiled later in the year will be available at a later date.
Spot The Block will also feature a custom micro site. The online destination will offer kids the opportunity to engage with the FDAs key messaging and offer tools to enable them to better understand the Nutrition Facts label on their favorite foods.
Turner Entertainment Group president Mark Lazarus says, “We are extremely honoured that the FDA has selected Cartoon Network as their media partner for communicating these important nutrition messages directly to kids and tweens, said president . The campaign fits in with our overall commitment to kids and Cartoon Networks Get Animated programme, which helps to teach and inspire kids to get healthy, active and involved; and our beloved characters are the perfect ones to deliver such a message.”
Launched in February 2005, Cartoon Networks Get Animated provides on-air, online, print and off-channel programs to teach children the value of a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, good eating and helping others. Featuring the networks roster of popular cartoon characters, Get Animated currently includes multiple animated PSAs, a mobile tour, community programmes and its 2006 Rescuing Recess initiative.
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General Mills & Disney unveil 3 character based cereal variants in US
MUMBAI: General Mills and Disney Consumer Products have come together to introduce three new Big G cereals: Disney‘s Little Einsteins Fruity Stars, Disney‘s Princess Fairytale Flakes and Disney‘s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Berry Crunch in the US market.
“These new cereals make it easier for moms to give their kids a nutritious start to the day at an affordable price,” said General Mills marketing manager Kerstin Peterson. “With great taste and nutrition – and the appeal of Disney‘s characters – these cereals will make breakfast fun for everyone.”
According to an official announcement, Big G‘s Disney cereals provide at least eight grams of whole grain per serving (at least 48 grams recommended daily) and 10 percent of the Daily Value of calcium. These cereals comply with Disney‘s food guidelines for Disney-licensed cereal products, which allow Disney characters to appear only on kid-focused products that meet certain requirements, including limiting the amount of calories, fat, saturated fat and sugar. Each variety is priced at $1.99 per box.“Disney is in a unique position to help make nutritious products appealing to kids,” said Food, Health and Beauty for Disney Consumer Products, North America vice president Lance Gatewood.
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General Mills & Disney unveil 3 character based cereal variants in US
MUMBAI: General Mills and Disney Consumer Products have come together to introduce three new Big G cereals: Disney’s Little Einsteins Fruity Stars, Disney’s Princess Fairytale Flakes and Disney’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Berry Crunch in the US market.
“These new cereals make it easier for moms to give their kids a nutritious start to the day at an affordable price,” said General Mills marketing manager Kerstin Peterson. “With great taste and nutrition – and the appeal of Disney’s characters – these cereals will make breakfast fun for everyone.”
According to an official announcement, Big G’s Disney cereals provide at least eight grams of whole grain per serving (at least 48 grams recommended daily) and 10 percent of the Daily Value of calcium. These cereals comply with Disney’s food guidelines for Disney-licensed cereal products, which allow Disney characters to appear only on kid-focused products that meet certain requirements, including limiting the amount of calories, fat, saturated fat and sugar. Each variety is priced at $1.99 per box.
“Disney is in a unique position to help make nutritious products appealing to kids,” said Food, Health and Beauty for Disney Consumer Products, North America vice president Lance Gatewood.
