San Francisco-based Wild Brain will co-produce the latest Corsham Entertainment (U.K.) show, NATURAL BORN KITTENS, a 26x30 teenage comedy anime series about four ancient Egyptian cat goddesses posing as teenage schoolgirls.
For September, ANIMATION WORLD MAGAZINE took a look at Education and Training. Rick DeMott talked to some top exec about what they expect students to learn. Sarah Baisley looked into the growing business of educational and training software. As well, AWN complied a touching memorial for the legendary animator and educator Jules Engel. This past months Focus On took a look at two perspectives on Czech animation. Getting quality animation to the big screen is tough read Fred Pattens article to find out more about MILLENNIUM ACTRESSs journey from Japan to the U.S. Dr.
AWN is proud to announce the launch of our 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.
Bauhaus Software Inc. has announced it has begun shipping Mirage 1.0, a unified environment for creating animated graphics and special effects. The Mirage environment provides a diverse toolset and a centralized workflow for animated graphics, 2D animation and special effects creation. It was designed for projects of any resolution, ranging from HDTV and film to Web video.
To support the evolution of its home video sales department, FUNimation Prods. Ltd. has brought aboard Larry Griffin as sr national sales manager. Griffin, formerly the west coast regional sales manager for Pioneer Entertainment USA, brings more than 15 years of home video experience to FUNimation. He is known for his expertise in the anime industry, which will assist FUNimation as the company continues to increase its dominance in the growing anime market.
Tribune Media Services International (TMSI) will launch News In Motion International (www.niminternational.com) in December, to deliver News In Motion and Knight Ridder/Tribune (KRT) animations, TV graphics and related editorial content to television stations and their Websites on a subscription and spot sales basis. Prior to the launch of the international site, producers can access the service at www.newsinmotion.com.
Berliner Film Company (BFC), an emerging premiere producer of original animated programming in Germany, will offer international buyers what it hopes is a dynamic lineup of exciting, eye-catching animated series at this years MIPCOM.
At a time when 2D feature animation is currently under assault in the U.S., Montreal-based H2V Entertainment has proudly announced that its initial slate of three films are all in 2D and will be ready for distribution in April 2004. Not only that but MANGA LATINA: KILLER ON THE LOOSE, MONICA MADE IN AMERICA and PIÑATAS are all contemporary, Latino-flavored stories aimed at teens and adults.
TOKYOPOP Inc. has entered into an agreement with Showtime Networks Inc. to bring the critically acclaimed GTO anime series to the U.S. The 43-episode series begins airing on the Gen Y targeted channel, SHO Next, in December 2003. This deal marks TOKYOPOP's third anime property on television. REIGN: THE CONQUEROR aired on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim in 2003, and RAVE MASTER is set to debut on Cartoon Network's Toonami block in 2004.
In conjunction with its trip to MIPCOM, Entertainment Rights has announced its acquisition of the TV and video rights to TRANSFORMERS ENERGON, the next chapter in the TRANSFORMER franchise. The new 52x30 minute episodes follow up the success of TRANSFORMERS ARMADA. Picking up where Armada left off, Energon follows the defeated evil Unicron and Megatron teaming up to take over Earth.
![NewTek Releases Free Update to VT[3]](https://www.awn.com/sites/default/files/styles/small_featured/public/image/featured/13225-newtek-releases-free-update-vt3.jpg?itok=zKnyDFvx "NewTek Releases Free Update to VT[3]")
![NewTek Releases Free Update to VT[3]](https://www.awn.com/sites/default/files/styles/tiny_featured/public/image/featured/13225-newtek-releases-free-update-vt3.jpg?itok=Ar7oQskl "NewTek Releases Free Update to VT[3]")
NewTek Inc. announced the release of the first update for VT[3], the company's integrated production suite for live and post production and editing. The update is free to registered owners of VT[3], and includes enhancements to DV support and DVD authoring program support, enhanced integration with Adobe After Effects, and integration with Discreet's forthcoming combustion 3.
Rainbow Animation and RAI Fiction have employed fashion designers to catch the eye of buyers and viewers in the new animated offering, WINX CLUB, a 26 half-hour series featuring stylish fairies and cool boys training to be juristic knights.
Premise is about three schools for fairies, witches and boys. Bloom, a fairy in training from Earth and her four schoolmates form the WINX Club to combat their enemies, the witches. The boys lend their aid to the WINX Club in the crusade to eradicate evil.
Chalk up another horror dominance of the box office chart. UNDERWORLD, the vampire/werewolf flick from Screen Gems (with vfx from FrameStore CFC and Luma Pictures), debuted in the top spot for the weekend ended Sept.21, 2003 with $21.7M.
August was our month to focus attention on Commercials, Ids and Music Videos. Check out Sarah Baisleys in-depth look at CGI commercial production, Fred Pattens article on music videos, Rick DeMotts survey of ad agency creative directors and AWNs first Hot Spots Showcase, highlighting the best in animated and visual effects commercials. Readers can also peruse the second part of Joe Strikes wonder interview with Fred Seibert. SPONGEBOB fans can learn more about the man behind the yellow guy, Tom Kenny, in Rick DeMotts interview. Dr.
New York-based Click 3x has designed and produced a multifaceted branding package to support the launch of INHD and INHD-2, iN DEMAND's new 24-hour, high definition cable channels. The sweeping effort, itself produced in stunning high definition video, and comprising more than 50 deliverables, heralds, not only the arrival of two new channels, but an entirely new way to experience TV. INHD launches on digital cable Sept. 15, 2003.
Visual effects shop Eden FX continues its role as the primary provider of CG work for the syndicated Paramount Television series ENTERPRISE, which launched its third season Sept. 10 at 8:00 pm on UPN. Eden FX will be providing more of its Emmy-Award winning vfx, including two new, entirely computer-generated creatures.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Scientific and Technical Awards Committee will review 14 scientific and technical achievements for 76th Academy Awards consideration, according to committee chair Richard Edlund, but its not too late to submit entries.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO, Robert Rodriguez's homage to Sergio Leone, topped the box office chart for the weekend ended Sept. 14, 2003. The Sony movie (with vfx by Hybride Technologies) scored with $23.4M. Ridley Scott's MATCHSTICK MEN, debuted in second (with vfx by Sony Pictures Imageworks), picking up a more modest $13M for Warner Bros. In third place, was another debut, the indie horror film CABIN FEVER (with vfx by K.N.B. EFX Group).
Cartoombria 2003 - New Animated Images International ExhibitionPerugia, ItalyDecember 4 6, 2003Deadline: October 31, 2003.
Discreet will begin shipping combustion 3, the latest version of its award-winning visual effects and 3D compositing desktop software, in fall 2003 for Windows XP and Windows 2000 and early 2004 for Macintosh OS X. Suggested price for combustion 3 software is $995. Upgrade price from combustion 2 or combustion 2.1 will be $199.
The U.K.s Toonami channel, dedicated to action/adventure/anime animation, has landed STAR WARS: CLONE WARS. The new 2D series from Lucasfilm and Cartoon Network Studios chronicles the adventures of the STAR WARS heroes during the events that directly follow EPISODE II. The third Cartoon Network channel in Europe, Toonami, started broadcasting on September 8, 2003 and will begin airing CLONES on November 10. Cartoon Network will debut the new show in the U.S. on November 7. SAMURAI JACK and DEXTER'S LABORATORY creator Genndy Tartakovsky is the lead animator on the series.
IOMEDIA Inc. teamed with MTV On-Air Promotions to create the motion graphics for a 15-second promotional spot for the mtv.com online game, FANTASY MUSIC TYCOON. Airing on MTV2, the spot was customized to fit MTV's needs within a three-day timeframe. Followed by a montage of video footage and images, a graphics sequence features $100 bills raining down until one bill sweeps past the camera, wiping into the final shot of the FANTASY MUSIC TYCOON logo.
In conjunction with its upcoming DVD/home video release of Goro Taniguchis epic space drama, INFINITE RYVIUS, Bandai Ent. has launched www.infiniteryvius.net. The Website will showcase the world of RYVIUS, story settings, background, character profiles, image gallery, DVD information and the INFINITE RYVIUS trailer.
Anime fans, thank your celestial stars, and Cartoon Network for debuting in the U.S. KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC, August 30, at 7:00 pm as part of the network's Saturday evening action programming block. The Japanese futuristic action-adventure series follows the adventures of the mystical Knights of Athena, which was produced originally in Japan in 1986 by Toei Animation, and re-purposed for the U.S. Kaleidoscope Ent. and DIC Ent.
Commercial film and design company Hornet Inc. recently completed INSTRUCTOART for MTV, a series of eight promos that will premier during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 28, 2003.
To create the spots, Hornet creative director Eng San Kho worked in close collaboration with the INSTRUCTOART creator Matt Vescovo. "The biggest challenge was figuring out how to best animate the spots and still stay true to its humor," said Kho.
