Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation’s press.

MOVIES & VIDEO

Not Mousing Around: The family of author Victor Hugo is taking on the Walt Disney Co., saying they are disgusted by the marketing blitz for the company’s animated film version of Hugo’s “Hunchback of Notre Dame.” In a letter published Monday in the Paris newspaper Liberation, five of the author’s great-great-grandchildren accused the company of engaging in “commercial debauchery” and “hijacking” the epic 19th century novel for profit. Among their complaints: movie posters omitting Hugo’s name, and the sale of spinoff items such as figurines, stuffed animals, comic books and computer games. “We believe that civilization should protect itself against the commercial looting and hijacking of great artistic works,” wrote the family, which is not seeking any profits from the sales. Reached by telephone, one of the letter’s writers, Jeanne Hugo-Chabrol, a teacher, said: “I’m deeply shocked by the system, which doesn’t teach children about Victor Hugo.” A Disney spokesman said, “The movie introduced millions of children to a great work by a great French novelist. Disney is popular, living culture and we’re proud of it. For Disney, culture isn’t something to be mummified.”

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To Sequelville and Beyond: In other Disney news, the company is working on a straight-to-video sequel to its 1995 computer animated blockbuster, “Toy Story,” with Tim Allen and Tom Hanks set to return as the respective voices of astronaut Buzz Lightyear and cowboy Woody. However, Disney did not yet set a release date for the video nor its suggested price. Disney’s previous direct-to-video projects include two “Aladdin” sequels and the forthcoming “Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves” (a follow-up to “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”), which is due out March 18.

TELEVISION

In Development: The comeback trail continues for Rob Lowe, who has signed a deal to star in a comedy series being developed by Paramount Television.Lowe, whose recent film roles include the Paramount movies “Tommy Boy” and “Wayne’s World,” hasn’t previously done a sitcom. . . . David Alan Grier will be reunited with Damon Wayans in a new comedy series being developed for Fox. The two, who appeared together in Fox’s popular sketch comedy “In Living Color,” will play friends trying to break into show business. Grier starred last season in another Fox comedy, the short-lived “The Preston Episodes.”

THE ARTS

Creative Power: The city of Los Angeles will host more than 3,000 disabled artists from around the world during “Art & Soul,” a five-day cultural festival scheduled to take place at various Los Angeles sites in May and June of 1999. Plans for the festival were announced Tuesday by Mayor Richard Riordan. Participating venues include the Music Center, Convention Center and California Plaza. Sponsored by Very Special Arts, an affiliate of Washington’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts that promotes arts activities for children and adults with disabilities, “Art & Soul” will include performances, exhibitions, art demonstrations, workshops and educational symposiums. Organizers say the event will “celebrate the power of the arts as a means of creative self-expression and positive change for people with disabilities throughout the world.”

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On Capitol Hill: President Clinton on Tuesday reiterated his State of the Union statements in support of the arts during an impromptu meeting Tuesday with members of the Creative Coalition, headed by actor Alec Baldwin. The group joined other pro-arts organizations paying calls to Capitol Hill Tuesday for Arts Advocacy Day. The meeting, held at Clinton’s request, followed what sources called a “friendly” chat between coalition members and House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a longtime National Endowment of the Arts foe. Gingrich was persuaded to meet with the group--which included Baldwin, actress Blair Brown and Screen Actors Guild President Richard Masur--by Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.), who marched them down to Gingrich’s office. “It took [NEA Chairman] Jane Alexander a year to get a meeting with Gingrich,” a source said.

RADIO

Engel Moves Behind the Scenes: Rene Engel, a long-time on-air personality in local public radio who most recently hosted the afternoon drive slot at KUSC-FM (91.5), has been named general manager of KCSN-FM (88.5). The Belgian-born Engel, perhaps best known for his long association with KCRW-FM (89.9), previously worked at KCSN from 1978-80. As general manager, he will aim to help the Northridge-based station broaden its audience base.

QUICK TAKES

After viewing a bootleg video of the performance, Louisiana prosecutors have dropped battery charges against rap singer Luther Campbell, who was accused last year of throwing a girl from his stage during a show. . . . A Roper survey of 1,500 Americans has named NBC’s Tom Brokaw favorite television anchor. . . . Best actress Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn (“Secrets & Lies”), writer-director Allison Anders (“Mi Vida Loca”) and 11-year-old Romanian painter Alexandra Nechita are among the honorees at tonight’s fifth annual “Women’s Day USA” event at 7:30 p.m. at the Museum of Tolerance in Beverly Hills.