Search form

Category: Anime

Headline News

Northern Lights Helps VOOM

New York's Northern Lights Post recently completed a series of image spots for Rainbow DBS' recently launched VOOM network, the inaugural provider of exclusively HD programming for the home entertainment market. In addition, the spots were so well received, that Northern Lights also recently completed editing four one-hour episodes of MOTOPIG, a mud-streaked, adrenaline-filled gameshow based in the world of motocross.

Directors Headline News

Shuffle USA Launched to Build Roster of Commercial Directors

Shuffle Inc., an international television commercial production company with offices in Venice, California, and Tokyo, Japan, has launched Shuffle USA as a new operating unit.

Games Headline News

Blitz Games Chooses Maya to Power New Game Pipeline

Alias announced that U.K.-based game developer Blitz Games is moving its entire game development pipeline to Maya after extensive research of the industry's top game development tools. Blitz has successfully moved two of its five teams to its new Maya software pipeline and is currently utilizing Alias custom Maya training for the remaining teams, in preparation for a switch of its entire pipeline, to be implemented as each new game project begins.

Animation Headline News

Kaydara Launches MOTIONBUILDER 5.5 Professional

Kaydara Inc. announced the release of MOTIONBUILDER 5.5 Professional, the latest version of the company's popular realtime 3D character animation software. With added support for Python scripting and CgFX shaders, MOTIONBUILDER 5.5 Professional allows 3D animators to create complex character set-ups and animation sequences in minutes instead of the days and weeks required by other systems.

Headline News

ADV Toys Starts Up With Jonathan Seal Plush

ADV Toys, the new division of A.D. Vision Inc. that creates exclusive toys and collectible merchandise based upon the companys film, manga and original content holdings, has signed its first toy deal, an exclusive Jonathan the Seal plush animal from the anticipated KALEIDO STAR anime series from ADV Films.

Film Headline News

Image Unveils Galerians: Rion Anime Soundtrack

Image Entertainment Inc., in conjunction with Treadstone Records, unveiled the April 6, 2004 release of the soundtrack GALERIANS: RION featuring a fusion of American rock and cutting-edge Japanese anime. Featuring 14 tracks from artists such as Slipknot, Fear Factory, The Ataris, Sevendust and Adema, the soundtrack is part of a unique DVD package.

Show Headline News

New Batman to Be Interactively Linked to Toys

For the first time, kids (and bigger kids) can truly join in the action of the next BATMAN animated series. Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) announced it has partnered with Mattel Inc. and VEIL Interactive Technologies to link action figure and vehicles with interactive television. The technology will be exclusive to WBCP and Mattel for 2004. VEIL (Video Encoded Invisible Light) technology transmits encoded digital data -- in the form of graphics, storyline components, gadgets and other features -- directly from show, which is captured by Mattel's new line of Batwave children's toys.

Books Headline News

More New Books In the Book Corner This Week!

In 2003, AWN launched its newest resource site, the AWN Book Corner. Looking for books related to animation, then the Book Corner is the best place for you to visit. Readers can search through tomes dealing with 2D & 3D graphics, animation, applications, cinematography, digital video, entertainment, gaming, history & theory, post-production, programming & scripting and Web & multimedia. You can also browse books by title, author or publisher.

Series Headline News

Last Exile Finds Refuge on TechTV

LAST EXILE, the acclaimed Japanese anime series from Gonzo Ent., premieres in primetime beginning March 8, 2004 at 10:00 pm on TechTV, during Anime Unleashed, a late-night block of anime on the network's regular program schedule. TechTV will preempt ROBOT WARS for this special prime time premiere of Last Exile.

Digital Headline News

3D Festival 2004 Announces Preliminary Speakers/Sessions

3D Festival 2004, held May 3-6 in Copenhagen, Denmark, has just announced its preliminary list of speakers and sessions for its three conferences: 3D Festival, Game Developers World and Architectural Visualization.

3D Festival 2004 Preliminary Speaker List and Sessions (subject to change)

Justin Leach, Softimage"CG and Anime - Innocence: GHOST IN THE SHELL 2"Emile Edwin Smith, Zoic Studios"The VFX of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA"Jordi Bares, The Mill"Artificial Intelligence in CommercialsBuilding Crowds"

Season Headline News

South Park 8th Season Features Passion of the Easter Bunny Special

With all the media and public attention on indecency in pop culture and TV broadcasts, will Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman change their ways? Find out when an all-new season of SOUTH PARK premieres March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm on Comedy Central. Season eight of SOUTH PARK presents a very special Easter episode, "The Passion of the Easter Bunny."

Kids Headline News

Kids! WB! Adds Four Series to Lineup

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, February 26, 2004 at 12:00am

Kids' WB! will add two new animated series and two live-action projects to its top-rated Saturday morning and weekday slates. The network continues to build on its all-new all-year-round strategy and success with its diverse and innovative programming schedule, beginning this spring and leading into the 2004-2005 television season according to John Hardman, svp, Kids' WB!, speaking to advertisers and media at the third annual joint Kids' WB! and Cartoon Network upfront sales presentation in New York.

Series Headline News

Cartoon Network Offers Five New Series

Cartoon Network claims it will broadcast more new episodes than ever before in its 11-year history more than 500 new half-hours, including five new animated series, new episodes of returning original series and new acquisitions. The new schedule was unveiled Feb. 25, 2004 at Cartoon Network's Upfront presentation to advertising executives and the media in New York City, during its pitch for on-air advertising buys.

Books Headline News

More Than Half A Dozen New Books In Book Corner This Week!

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, February 26, 2004 at 12:00am

In 2003, AWN launched its newest resource site, the AWN Book Corner. Looking for books related to animation, then the Book Corner is the best place for you to visit. Readers can search through tomes dealing with 2D & 3D graphics, animation, applications, cinematography, digital video, entertainment, gaming, history & theory, post-production, programming & scripting and Web & multimedia. You can also browse books by title, author or publisher.

Entertainment Headline News

Tokyo Godfathers DVD Release Announced

From the highly acclaimed anime director, Satoshi Kon (PERFECT BLUE, MILLENNIUM ACTRESS) TOKYO GODFATHERS will debut on DVD on April 13, 2004, from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment. The Capra-esque tale of adventure from three homeless people - alcoholic Gin, drag queen Hana, and teenage runaway Miyuki as they discover an abandoned baby in a pile of garbage and venture to return her to her parents.

Headline News

Voice actor Tony Pope Silenced at 56

Voice actor Tony Pope, who gave voice to Goofy and the Wolf in WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT?, Detective Shunsaku Ban in the animated film METROPOLIS and Furby, an interactive toy that was the rage in 1998, has passed on at the age of 56. He died of complications following leg surgery Feb. 11, 2004 at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.

Books Headline News

New Books Hit AWN Book Corner Shelves!

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, February 19, 2004 at 12:00am

In 2003, AWN launched its newest resource site, the AWN Book Corner. Looking for books related to animation, then the Book Corner is the best place for you to visit. Readers can search through tomes dealing with 2D & 3D graphics, animation, applications, cinematography, digital video, entertainment, gaming, history & theory, post-production, programming & scripting and Web & multimedia. You can also browse books by title, author or publisher.

Headline News

Perception Creates 'Countdown Campaign' for Sopranos' Fifth Season

To promote the fifth season of THE SOPRANOS, due to begin in March, HBO built on its ongoing relationship with New York's design/post boutique Perception to create a "countdown campaign." The promo campaign, which is part of the HBO's first quarter subscription drive, will air on most television networks beginning in February.

"In addition to promoting THE SOPRANOSwe've been doing their quarterly campaigns for the last year-and-a-half or so," says Brendan Werner, editorial director at Perception.

Game Headline News

Disney Launches First TV/Online Card Game for Jetix

On Feb. 14, 2004, Website www.JETIX.tv and TV networks ABC Family and Toon Disney will simultaneously launch "Jetix Cards Live!," the world's first trading card game that is played concurrently on TV and online. Web surfers and TV watchers will have the opportunity each weekend during the channels' new Jetix action/adventure line-up to play. The online trading card game, with skill levels designed for a range of ages, was developed by the New Media and Technology team at ABC Cable Networks Group.

Services Headline News

Alias Moves to Acquire Itself from SGI

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, February 11, 2004 at 12:00am

Alias has announced it is involved in exclusive discussions with a leading private equity investment firm for the acquisition of Alias from SGI. The company reassures customers that no changes to the management team, organization, services, support or product availability will occur as a result of the negotiations or the sale of the business.

Effects Headline News

Ring of Fire Hits Bulls-Eye With Boujou on Target Branding Spot

2d3, a leading developer of professional 3D camera matchmoving software, recently announced use of its award-winning boujou application by L.A. effects studio Ring of Fire on RAINING BULLS-EYES, a new commercial spot for Target. The :30 advertisement, in which white Target bulls-eye logos turn up in all sorts of popular outdoor activities, launches the U.S. merchandiser's national spring branding campaign.

Toon Headline News

Anime in the Limelight Extend to One Hour

Limelight Media announced that ANIME IN THE LIMELIGHT (AITL), the popular Japanese animation music show produced in Honolulu, Hawaii, officially resumed one-hour broadcasts February 7, 2004. The shows expansion was the result of AITLs new contract with Buffalo, New York-based Toon Radio (www.toonradio.net).

Animation Headline News

Latest Animation World Magazine Acrobat Edition Has Gone Live!

The December Acrobat issue of Animation World Magazine, covering feature animation, has gone live. Philippe Moins contributes two articles chronicling the French feature, RAINING CATS AND FROGS, and the European feature market in general. David Sequera writes about the Spanish animated epic EL CID and Rick DeMott reports about the affect the Oscar for Animated Features has had on the industry. Moreover, Karl Cohen completes his two-part piece titled ANIMATING PEACE MESSAGES. Dr. Toon discusses the debate surrounding the recently released LOONEY TUNES box set.

Headline News

TOKYOPOP & Sony Sign Astro Boy Manga Deal

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, February 4, 2004 at 12:00am

TOKYOPOP Inc. and Sony Pictures Consumer Products have announced their latest joint venture will be Cine-Manga version of ASTRO BOY. Scheduled to hit shelves in August 2004, the book will be sheparded by the creative team behind the JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES Cine-Manga.

Pages