‘Atlantis’ ’ Animated Rivalry

One would think that the strong opening run of DreamWorks’ computer-animated fable “Shrek,” which has already become a surprise hit of the summer, would be sending tremors through the executive suites at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.

After all, Disney is the king of animation, and it would be embarrassing if DreamWorks were ultimately to claim the prize for top animated movie of the summer, especially given the fierce rivalry that exists between Disney Chairman Michael Eisner and DreamWorks partner Jeffrey Katzenberg, who used to head the Disney studio until a bitter falling-out with Eisner.

On Friday, Disney will unveil its animated feature-length film “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” in Los Angeles and New York before expanding wide the following week. The film is a nonmusical action-adventure with traditional animation that features the voices of Michael J. Fox, James Garner, Leonard Nimoy, Cree Summer and the late Jim Varney.

Dick Cook, chairman of the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, disputes the notion that the success of “Shrek” might dim the chances for “Atlantis.” “What traditionally happens is, when the marketplace has been heated up, good things happen,” Cook said. “I remember when ‘The Sixth Sense’ came out, everybody was worried because a couple weeks before, ‘The Blair Witch Project’ opened to big numbers. People said it would take the steam out of ‘The Sixth Sense.’ All it did was fuel the fire. The film made $350 million worldwide.”

In general, however, nonmusical action-adventure animation has had tough sledding lately.

Last year, 20th Century Fox saw its studio chief depart and it abandoned big plans for animation after its $90-million space adventure “Titan A.E.” went down in flames at the box office. And Warner Bros. sputtered when it was unable to capitalize on critics’ high praise for “The Iron Giant.”

Wary Eyes Watch Concert Season

Will the concert industry enjoy a long, hot summer or feel an economic chill?

The official start of summer is still a few weeks away, but in the concert world the season is underway this week, with Madonna kicking off her tour on Saturday in Barcelona in preparation for joining ‘N Sync, the Dave Matthews Band, U2 and other high-power acts already roving North America looking to fill seats and cash boxes.

“Once you’re on the other side of Memorial Day, you have the opening gun for the summer concert season,” says Gary Bongiovanni, editor in chief of Pollstar, a concert industry trade magazine.

Janet Jackson joins the mix on July 5 when she begins her tour in Vancouver, but despite the season’s star wattage, Bongiovanni says the midyear point of 2001 finds concert promoters less than dazzled with their prospects.

“There’s some apprehension about what effect the economy is going to have on the concert business,” Bongiovanni said. “I don’t hear people crowing about how terrific, over the top their business is looking.”

And that’s a change--the concert industry has been posting record numbers in recent years, largely due to the soaring ticket prices commanded by veteran acts appealing to baby boomers. The make-or-break summer season accounts for more than half of the industry’s annual grosses.

“Nobody is crying yet, and there are some big shows to bring out the crowds,” Bongiovanni said. “But there is some uneasiness.”

‘Weakest Link,’ NBA Style

What’s next, a 10-minute, NBA-themed edition of “The West Wing,” in which Shaq and Kobe engage in clipped, witty banter as they walk briskly toward the locker room?

The NBA finals begin this week, with games one and two from the Staples Center airing Wednesday and Friday at 6 p.m. NBC, in a unique bit of product placement, will air a special edition of “Weakest Link,” the game show you will watch, during halftime of games 2 and 3.

Already, “Weakest Link” host Anne Robinson has figured in the network’s coverage of the NBA playoffs more than you might expect. She was interviewed by sideline reporter Jim Gray during game 4 of the Lakers-Spurs series (during which she declared the Spurs “the weakest link,” something that may have occurred to those fans watching a series in which the Spurs rarely occupied the Lakers’ air space). Now she’ll appear in the finals, hosting a two-part, halftime installment of “Link” with contestants Bob Costas, Bill Walton and Steve Jones, all NBC broadcasters, and players Baron Davis of the Charlotte Hornets and Lisa Leslie of the WNBA’s L.A. Sparks.

It has been noted that the Lakers’ dominance in the playoffs means both the league and NBC are faced with fewer games to market their wares and pull in revenue. Thus, baldfaced promotion is liable to show up in unlikely places. There’s no word yet on whether chef Emeril Lagasse, star of the new NBC sitcom “Emeril,” will cater refreshments during timeouts.

--Compiled by Times staff writers