The digitally animated sci-fi crime thriller RENAISSANCE has arrived on DVD from Miramax Home Ent. The film was crowned Best Picture at the 2006 Annecy International Film Festival and was an official selection at last year's Toronto Film Festival. The DVD sells for $29.99.

This week in AWN's Forums, a junior member has several questions on how others have produced independent projects. RATATOUILLE is out and the forum members are talking. Others are chatting about Annecy winner PETER AND THE WOLF. A senior member has re-watched CINDERELLA and found it disappointing. What do you think? Others have software questions. And as always, there are members posting their work for others to check out. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!

Kahani World Inc. in Canada and Accel Animation Studios in India have packed to produce three motion pictures and 11 direct-to-DVDs, which the parties hope to spin off into further opportunities in TV, mobile, new media & web formats. One of the largest motion picture deals in Indian animation, the parties toasted the deal at MIFA last month during Annecy, to mark the first international market where Indian animation companies had come together to present India's capabilities and accomplishments on the world stage.

ANIMANIMA International Animation Festival 2007
Cacak, Serbia
Sept. 20-22, 2007
Deadline: June 30, 2007

The award-winning French animated film, KIRIKOU AND THE SORCERESS, is making the transition to a stage musical this fall in a new production, KIRIKOU AND KARABA.

Michel Ocelot, creator/writer/director of the film, has written the musical's libretto and additional lyrics. The project is taking the majority of his time he told a press gathering at the Annecy Festival, during a Q&A session after a screening of his latest film, AZUR ET ASMAR.

Aardman Animations has found an American home for its internationally successful children's property SHAUN THE SHEEP. The animated series, which just last week won the Cristal Award as Best TV Production at the Annecy Animated Film Festival, will premiere on Disney Channel on Sunday, July 8, 2007, in primetime. Since its successful launch as the most viewed show at Mipcom 2006, the property has sold to primary broadcasters in 145 territories including Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Germany, India, France, Benelux, Japan and Latin America.

The coveted short film Annecy Cristal award at the 31ST International Festival of Animated Film at Annecy went to PETER AND THE WOLF by Suzie Templeton for the U.K. and Poland, as well as the Audience Award, while the Cristal for Best Feature went to FREE JIMMY by Christopher Nielsen for Norway and the U.K. The awards were presented at the closing ceremony held on Saturday, June 16, 2007, in Annecy, France.

The Annecy international animation market MIFA opened its doors this morning to sunshine and a marked growth in, as well as a greater variety of participants, while the festival, which started on Monday, dealt with rain and less U.S.-based company sponsors.

While the absence of a big presence from Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network is quite noticable, the French broadcasters and other Europeans have filled the gap for what is the premiere animation festival in the world.

Handcranked, otherwise known as the veteran animation director team of Bryan Papciak and Jeff Sias, will join Global Mechanic to be represented for commercial production worldwide, it was announced by Global Mechanic exec producer Matthew Charde. Global Mechanic produces commercials, television series and films in all media, working with directors internationally and studios on both coasts of North America.

This year ANNECY PLUS 3 moves to a new home at Le Venitien Bar and Lounge on the Square de l' Eveche, less than 500 meters from the Bonlieu. The screening will take place on June 15, 2007, with music and films starting at dusk.