The SCI FI Channel will starting airing Ani-Monday, a weekly anime programming block, Monday nights from 11:00 pm to 1:00 am beginning June 11, 2007. Ani-Monday will feature a collection of movies, series and shorts from Starz Media's anime distribution arm, Manga. This also marks SCI FI's first foray into original late-night programming.
London-based Mainframe has integrated Qube!, the leading render farm management software from PipelineFX, to manage its render work and speed up projects.
Mainframe is a creative production studio specializing in motion graphics and animation for ads, promos and branded creative content. Mainframe's client list in the U.K. includes Nickelodeon, BBC, MTV, Five, VH1, Radio 1, Radio 2, CNBC, Channel 4, More 4, Discovery, Animal Planet and Sony SCEE.
TitleMatch Ent, Group, a subsidiary of Protocall Technologies Inc. and developer of the world's first CSS-enabled DVD On-Demand system for retailers and etailers, announced completion of a distribution agreement for animation content from Tokyo-based TMS Ent. Ltd., a subsidiary of SEGA SAMMY Holdings Inc.
VIZ Media Llc. has announced the availability of the DEATH NOTE anime series via digital download on Direct2Drive, IGN Ent.'s digital retail store. The subtitled version of the series will debut May 10, 2007, and fans may go to www.direct2drive.com to download the first episode.
The Gnomon Workshop welcomes 3D artist Cetin Tuker, who provides his knowledge of 3ds Max techniques using Glue3D to the digital DVD library. Tuker has more than 15 years experience working in 3D production and teaching university level 3D animation and motion graphics. He is also the author of 3D ENVIRONMENT DESIGN, which was released in 2006.
AOL's teen site, RED, is now offering FIRECHILD: TOURNAMENT OF THE ANCIENTS, a 3D, sci-fi action, multiplayer, console-quality game available for download and online play for free exclusively at www.firechildonred.com. TOURNAMENT OF THE ANCIENTS takes place where AOL RED's original FIRECHILD series left off and will introduce gamers to a new battle arena and new characters.
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz. Check out the latest installment from quizmaster Karl Staven, an accomplished independent animator and head of the Animation Department at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Anime cartoon emotional conventions are a little different than some that we are used to in U.S. animation and comics. We will describe drawn anime visual shortcuts, all you have to do is match it to the emotion that it is associated with.
Massive Software is hitting the road in May with stops in London, Newscastle and the fmx/07 conference in Stuttgart, Germany.
Hosted by Escape Studios in London, the events will demystify the working processes between Massive, the AI-driven animation system software and Pixar's RenderMan rendering powerhouse.
Marc Grossmann is onboard Taffy Ent. as director of public relations, responsible for overseeing worldwide publicity, advertising and special events for Taffy Ent., in addition to similar responsibilities with other MoonScoop Group partners Mike Young Prods., MoonScoop Prods., Kabillion, Queen Bee and more.
He reports to Cynthia Money, president, Taffy Ent. worldwide consumer products and marketing.
Winners of the SIGGRAPH 2007 Computer Animation Festival have been announced: Best of Show Award (ARK from Poland), Jury Honors (DREAMMAKER from Institute of Animation, Visual Effects and Digital Post Production Filmakademie Baden-Wurttemberg) and Award of Excellence (EN TUS BRAZOS from Supinfocom Valenciennes). The 34th International Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques will be held Aug. 5-9 in San Diego, California.
The Syndicate has completed production on the first of a multi-spot commercial and branding package, "You Are Here," for Six Flags, the world's largest theme park company. The ad campaign broadens Six Flags' brand focus on family entertainment.
In a creative partnership with The Zimmerman Agency, The Syndicate's managing director Kenny Solomon and The Syndicate's director Ben Grossmann, developed the concept of an ordinary suburban neighborhood transformed into a theme park in an eruption of roller coasters, thrill rides, superheroes and costumed performers.
Chris Hawley has joined award-winning creative and production studio 808inc as design director.
Prior to joining 808inc., Hawley led the creative team at A.D. Vision, the number one multimedia producer and distributor of anime content in the U.S. He was responsible for hiring and managing a team of 12 designers and assisted in the early stages of hiring, training and development of a manga design team.
LOST star Matthew Fox is in closing talks to take on the role of Racer X in Larry and Andy Wachowski's big screen adaptation of anime classic, SPEED RACER, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Additionally, Australian actor Kick Gurry (Alex Proyas' GARAGE DAYS) is up for the role of Sparky, Speed's spacey mechanic. Fox and Gurry would join a cast that includes Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon and John Goodman.
At NAB in Las Vegas, Apple unveiled Final Cut Studio 2, a significant upgrade to the industry's leading video production suite that delivers new creative tools designed expressly for editors.
Christina Ricci will star opposite Emile Hirsch in Warner Bros. Pictures' and Village Roadshow Pictures' SPEED RACER. Ricci will play Trixie, Speed's loyal and courageous girlfriend, who also proves to be a formidable ally both on and off the racetrack.
Bigger Picture has announced that it will begin producing original animated features for its parent company, AccessIT's theatrical kids matinee series Kidtoon Films, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The first film is set for release in spring 2008 and will be based on Atari's videogame franchise, BACKYARD SPORTS. Bigger Picture has also attained film right for John Lithgow's children's books, MICAWBER and MARSUPIAL SUE. Sabella Dern Ent. will serve as the production company on the projects. Additionally, Bigger Picture hopes to produce animated shorts as well.
Digital Anarchy will showcase several products at the NAB 2007 from April 16-19, at the Las Vegas Convention Center (booth # SL3827-E in the Plug-in Pavilion). These highlights include the preview of a new cartooning filter suite and the unveiling of a speed-driven creative plug-in set.
Tokyo-based Nikkatsu announced a slate of 16 films for 2007 and 2008, including live-action adaptations of Tatsunoko Prod.'s popular anime series, YATTERMAN and GATCHAMAN, reports VARIETY. Both films are being produced under a deal between mobile services provider Index, which is Nikkatsu's parent company, Tatsunoko and toymaker Takara Tomy. The agreement covers DVDs, games, characters and mobile services.
Andrew Berman, a 20-year veteran of the entertainment industry has returned to TMS Ent. as evp/gm of TMS Ent. USA Inc. TMS Ent. Ltd. (TMS), is an affiliate of videogame giant SEGA Corp. in Japan and is one of the largest and most prolific anime producers and distributors in the world today.
Berman oversees the North American operations for TMS. His responsibilities include sales and marketing of an expansive animation library, as well as further expanding the existing business of TMS and SEGA Corp. relating to entertainment programming.
The third term at fxphd recently ended and we've just announced our new course offerings for the upcoming April 07 Term. New classes include:
* Matte Painting - A non-application specific course focusing on the art* Drawing - Character drawing and development* Roto - Tahl Niran continues his popular run of courses with a focus on rotoscoping* After Effects - Mark Christiansen leads a motion graphics design focus* Final Cut Pro - Final Cut Studio techniques applicable in day to day work
Online visual effects training site fxphd is offering new courses for the April 07 Term. New classes include:
* Matte Painting -- A non-application specific course focusing on the art* Drawing -- Character drawing and development* Roto -Tahl Niran continues his popular run of courses with a focus on rotoscoping* After Effects -- Mark Christiansen leads a motion graphics design focus* Final Cut Pro -- Final Cut Studio techniques applicable in day to day work* Introduction to Flame -- Get up and running fast
Toronto-based eyeon Software Inc. announced the addition of two new products for NAB 2007 in Las Vegas (April 16-19): Rotation and Vision.
Susan Sarandon and John Goodman are in talks to play the parents of the title character in SPEED RACER, which will be played by Emile Hirsch, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The live-action adaptation of the TV anime will be written and directed by THE MATRIX's Larry and Andy Wachowski.
Created by Tatsuo Yoshida, the series chronicles the exploits of young racecar driver, Speed (Hirsch) as he jets out in his gadget-filled Mach 5 vehicle. Goodman will play Pops, the builder of the Mach 5, while Sarandon will play the matriarchal leader of the racing team.
Japanese animation firm Think Corp. has set up a limited liability partnership fund to raise money for animation production and equity finance, reports VARIETY. The Y2 billion ($17 million) fund will hold an investment period of seven to nine years. Think will put in $854,700 with the Japanese government pitching in $8.54 million and the rest coming from private investors.
Point.360, a leading provider of integrated media management services, has acquired Hollywood-based vfx studio Eden FX (THE LAST MIMZY, SUPERMAN RETURNS, HELLBOY, LOST, 24, GHOST WHISPERER, STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE, THE OFFICE).
