This week in AWN's Forums, more members chime in on what an aspiring animator can expect. Another thread discusses character design copyright buyout rates. Others are discussing the animation program at Full Sail. Fans of Disney and Miyazaki square off in a battle over what animation innovator is better. A senior member is looking for other AWNers attending Annecy. In the Animator’s Desktop forums, members are discussing Cintiq and Tablet Based Animation.

Comedy Central has ordered 10 episodes of Augenblick Studios' GOLDEN AGE, the first adult animated series to be produced by a major television network for broadband. The series premiered May 8, 2006 and will show weekly on its broadband channel, Motherload (www.comedycentral.com/motherload).

This animated dark comedy reveals the shocking true stories of the world’s strangest cartoon characters. Each episode uses a blend of mixed media to satirize classic cartoons from the past.

Continuing our special event specific Flash Newsletters, we will be publishing a special edition Annecy. The festival and market are fast approaching and our editorial and advertising staff are gearing up for the Annecy-specific Flash Newsletter. Here is the date for the publications. Please send your news two weeks prior to the publication date.

Annecy Flash Newsletters
May 30

All your news can be sent to editor@awn.com. For sales opportunities, contact Dan Sarto at dan@awn.com or call (323) 606-4200.

Continuing our special event specific Flash Newsletters, we will be publishing special editions for E3 and Annecy. The markets are fast approaching and our editorial and advertising staff are gearing up for the E3 and Annecy-specific Flash Newsletter series. Here are the dates for the publications. Please send your news two weeks prior to the publication date.

E3 Flash Newsletter
May 2

Annecy Flash Newsletters
May 30

The Annecy International Animated Film Festival has announced the films to be shown at this year’s event, which will take place June 5-10, 2006, in Annecy, France.

Five feature films will compete including Oscar-winner WALLACE & GROMIT: CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT from Nick Park and Steve Box. The other features include international sensation ASTÉRIX ET LES VIKINGS by Stefan Fjeldmark and Jesper Moller, GIN-IRO NO KAMI NO AGITO by Keiichi Sugiyama, RENAISSANCE by Christian Volckman and XXXHOLIC by Tsutomu Mizushima.

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has launched the first focused forum that will drive the agenda of animation and gaming industry in India. The forum aims to be the apex institution and the single point referral for anyone who is a part of the industry.

AMAZING ADRENALINI BROTHERS! animated series as found a home on all Cartoon Network feeds in Asia and Europe. Cartoon Network US and Latin America have also purchased the original shorts through Bejuba! Ent. and co-production partners Pesky and Studio B Prods.

CBS has ordered from Aardman Animations Ltd. an American version of the hit British television series CREATURE COMFORTS.

Based on the original Academy Award-winning short film created by Nick Park and Aardman, Aardman Animations will produce the half hour stop-motion animated series in Los Angeles and at its Bristol, England studios.

The British Academy has announced the nominees for the next Orange British Academy Film Awards to be held on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006, at the Odeon Leicester Square in London.

WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT will compete for the Alexander Korda Award for the Outstanding British Film of the Year. Its competition includes A COCK & BULL STORY, THE CONSTANT GARDENER, FESTIVAL and PRIDE & PREJUDICE.

The latest edition of the Acrobat version of Animation World Magazine has arrived online. In this edition from September 2005, the theme centers in on Education and Training. AWN polled its readers to see how they are training for careers and getting jobs. Managing editor Rick DeMott reports back with the findings and highlights. Tom Sito recounts his thoughts on visiting the Beijing Film Academy, giving a Western view of the education process in the East.