Also in November of last year, AtomFilms acquired PixelWave, a leader in innovative online content development and entertainment technologies. PixelWave brings to the newly combined company their library of current shows including The Stock Market Psychic, which interfaces real-time stock quotes with very engaging interactive content. Wynne feels, "These new areas are very exciting for us aside from the typical linear content we handle and we're really looking to develop new forms of animated entertainment. When you have such interesting and bright people as we do now with PixelWave, there are great ideas that will come from it." Another promising side is that the new group will help bring traditional animators into web original production. Wynne thinks, "The bulk of animation talent that is out there now is in the traditional realm; really fantastic storytellers, fantastic artists." Therefore, he's truly motivated in "helping some of them jump in to see the power of the new animation tools such as Flash and discover what that can bring to the body of their work." By allying with PixelWave, they will now have a new production arm, "Atom Studio," which will work on development of original web production, integration of content in both online advertising and sponsorship opportunities, while also marshaling the creative talent necessary to handle the design aspects of their growing destination site.

Plympton's How to Kiss. © AtomFilms.

Just last month, AtomFilms announced the acquisition of Bill Plympton's catalog of work, securing on and off-line distribution of his material. In association with this renowned independent, they are pushing their own net "envelope" by creating what will be the first in a series of highly interactive fansites called "Plymptonia." It will include Plympton's existing short films, his production of some new original Flash content and provide as many interactive and informational ideas as they can come up with. Next to launch in this new genre will be a full service fan-site surrounding Aardman Productions entitled "The Aardman Observer." These fan areas will take atomfilms.com into differing design territories as they work toward making each of them more expressive of the individual artists' unique identities, as well as separating them out from the overall presentation of the site's other content and channels.

Led by Mika Salmi, founder and CEO, AtomFilms' extraordinary growth remains fueled by the adamant dedication to the cause of bringing independent shorts to new audiences worldwide. Although submissions pour in daily on VHS and digital files, Wynne stresses the importance of their continual presence at animation festivals. "That's always the first and last place for us and I think it's great for exposure. It brings a lot of animators together in one place at one time...and the biggest advantage in that is for the independent animator to meet with us face-to-face. When you want to go into partnership with anyone, you want to feel good about who you are going to work with and I think that 'face time' is the quality time." He believes unquestionably that the success and future revenue for independent animation will be on the web, both for artists and distributors alike. AtomFilms, then, is inarguably taking the lead in making that happen.

Worms, Fish, Silicon and Chaos
Honkworm International is certifiably one of today's leading entertainment studios producing original animated properties optimized for the Internet world. Currently in production and distribution of over six series plus multiple one-off webisodes, Honkworm has plans to double its output within the coming year. Since its inception, founders Johan Liedgren (CEO/Principal) and Noah Tannen (Partner/Principal) have not only been the writers, producers and directors of very popular and odd-ball content; but on the business side, they have pioneered new models for revenue from the net syndication, co-production and sponsorships of their online work.

Originally from Sweden, Liedgren has spent the last two and a half years building the Seattle-based studio into an artistically and financially sound entity, drawing on his passion for both the creative and business sides of the start-up game, while carefully carving Honkworm's niche in the new net "space." Along the way, Honkworm has been stylishly innovative in its toon content as well as instrumental in forging new architecture of how entertainment, advertisement and commerce can integrate with web cartoons. For the outsider looking to differentiate companies such as his own from those like AtomFilms, Wild Brain, iFilm or Entertaindom, Liedgren suggests one way is "to ask first: is this company trying to drive traffic to a site -- yes or no?" If the answer is yes, that company must spend all its time, money and energy into getting traffic to their web place and will be judged accordingly. Liedgren emphasizes the fact that, "Honkworm is not a destination site. We will never spend money to drive any traffic here. We obviously care if people come and enjoy our work but it's not part of our business model."