Sony Pictures Imageworks' Award-Winning Animated Short Film 'The ChubbChubbs' Makes DVD Debut With 'Men in Black II'
PRNewswire
11/25/2002
'The ChubbChubbs' Awarded Top Prizes at Film Festivals in Los Angeles and
London
Finalist in the Australian Effects and Animation Awards
DVD Scheduled for Release on November 26
CULVER CITY, Calif., Nov. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- "The ChubbChubbs," the award-winning CG animated short film from Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc., will make its DVD debut as an added value feature on the "Men in Black II" DVD scheduled for release by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment tomorrow, November 26. The animated short film appeared as a preview to the blockbuster film in more than 2,500 theaters.
"With our own quirky cast of alien creatures adding their unique brand of humor, we think audiences will welcome 'The ChubbChubbs' as a great addition to their home entertainment collections," said Tim Sarnoff, president of Sony Pictures Imageworks. "I'm very proud of the accomplishment of the Imageworks team that produced this award-winning animated short film."
"The ChubbChubbs" took home top honors at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, being named Best Animated Short Film and was awarded Best Short Film at the London Effects and Animation Festival (LEAF). Recognized as one of the most important events in the animation and effects calendar, LEAF showcases and promotes the best new work, skills and services of companies and individuals involved in creative development of visual effects and animation today. The acknowledgements by the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival and LEAF positions "The ChubbChubbs" as a strong contender for an Academy Award® nomination in the category of Best Animated Short. "The Chubbchubbs" has also been chosen as a finalist in the Australian Effects and Animation Festival (AEAF). AEAF Awards will be handed out December 3, in Sydney, Australia.
"The ChubbChubbs" is the first digitally animated short film produced by Imageworks, the award-winning character animation and visual effects division of Sony Pictures Digital. "The ChubbChubbs" introduces the inhabitants of the planet Glorf, including Meeper (its earnest but oh so awkward hero), the singing Diva, the ZyZaks and the ChubbChubbs. In this debut short, Meeper valiantly tries to warn the patrons of the Ale-E-Inn, an intergalactic watering hole with its own constellation of stars, of impending danger only to find himself face to face with the toughest creatures in the Universe.
Eric Armstrong, who directed "The ChubbChubbs," is one of the most talented and creative professionals in the field of digital computer character animation. Armstrong currently serves as an animation director at Sony Pictures Imageworks. He was the animation supervisor for "Stuart Little 2," pulling double-duty to work on the "The ChubbChubbs."
As animation supervisor on the international hit "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," Armstrong supervised the Imageworks animation team that brought to life the three-headed dog Fluffy, the Troll and the Centaur. He served as lead animator on "Stuart Little" and animation supervisor on "Anaconda."
Jacquie Barnbrook, producer, began her career with Imageworks as the visual effects coordinator for "Anaconda." She served as visual effects producer on "Riding in Cars with Boys" and "Paulie: A Parrot's Tale" and as visual effects vendor producer on "Contact" and "Stuart Little." Prior to joining Imageworks, she held positions with Rhythm & Hues Studios and Cinesite, working on such projects as "Kazaam" and "Waterworld." Last year, Barnbrook was given the honor of producing a ninety-minute showcase of the industry's best computer generated imagery of the year for the Electronic Theater at SIGGRAPH 2001.
"The ChubbChubbs" recently screened at the Ottawa Animated Film Festival (not in competition) and is scheduled to compete at The Northern Ireland International Film Festival/Foyle Film Festival this November.
Visit "The ChubbChubbs" at www.sonypictures.com/movies/chubbchubbs / About Sony Pictures Digital
Sony Pictures Digital, an operating unit of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), oversees the activities of SPE's digital production and online assets including Sony Pictures Animation, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Sony Online Entertainment and Sony Pictures Digital Networks Division, which includes SoapCity, Screenblast, the studio's online promotional arm SPiN, and the UK interactive television service GoPlayTV. Sony Pictures Digital focuses on three areas: 1) producing and developing visual effects, digital character animation and full-length CG motion pictures; 2) developing new forms of online content, games and interactive programming; and 3) leading SPE's efforts to provide online, open-access video-on-demand, interactive and wireless entertainment.
About Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company. SPE is a division of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment and acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com/ .
SOURCE: Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc.
CONTACT: information and art, Jerry Schmitz of Sony Pictures Digital,
+1-310-840-7326, JSchmitz@sonypictures.com, for Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc.;
or Risa Silverman of Bumble Ward & Associates, +1-323-655-8585,
rsilverman@bumbleward.com, for Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc
Web site: http://www.sonypictures.com/
http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/chubbchubbs