ADV Films is releasing two new volumes of episodes from the anime hit, MONSTER RANCHERS, on February 27, 2001. "It's Time To Get Tough!" has the crew continuing their search for the Phoenix, but problems get bad when Suezo discovers his new super power. In "Racing To Win!," Holly is wounded by one of Black Worms' poison stingers and Tiger of the Wind must race time to find the berries to save her. Each tape contains three episodes and will sell for US$9.99 each.

March is technology month. In this issue we will be discussing what the future will be like for the high-end computer hardware/software companies. Have their glory days passed? Are they just releasing new software versions to release new product or are these true advancements? Do studios need all of these versions? Due to previous advancements are studios now comfortably doing more with less due to the high-end/low-end technology blur and proprietary software? How does the cost of retraining factor into these decisions?

* Friday, March 30 - Sunday, April 1, 2001. Santa Clara, California, U.S.A.

ADV Films is releasing the first two volumes in the anime mini-series A.D. POLICE. This series is a spin-off of the widely popular BUBBLEGUM: CRISIS 2040 series. After a massive earthquake destroys Tokyo, high-tech robots are set forth to rebuild the metropolis, however when a widespread glitch begins a techno crime wave it’s the A.D. Police's job to save the city. Hitting stores on February 20, 2001, "Bad Blood" and "Love's Labor Lost" will sell for US$19.98 each.

Bill Plympton has updated his appearances page. In the upcoming months, "Mutant Aliens" and Bill's other films will be appearing in various festivals and other events, including the Boston Underground Festival, Massachusetts, February 20-27; Festival Du Dessin Anime, Brussels, Belgium, February 21-March 3; New York Underground Festival, New York, March 7-13; Images Du Nouveau Monde, Quebec, March 7-11; SXSW Festival, Austin, Texas, March 12-20; and CineAmbigu, Barcelona, Spain, in April.

This month we take a look at one area of animation that has been showing enormous and steady growth. With game development on the rise and the emergence of new platforms, the gaming industry is rich with possibilities - not only economic but also artistic. Jacquie Kubin tells us why gaming is bigger than ever and how animators can bank on it in the future. Paul Younghusband discovers why Artworld UK is one of the leading, innovative gaming companies using digital images across several mediums for both continuity and profits.

So, you ignored our awesome store specials and missed Valentine's Day. Don't worry, we can help. Nothing offers redemption better than Davey & Goliath's "Learning about Forgiveness."



- And if that special someone forgot about you, check out Davey & Goliath's "Learning to Be Responsible." Nothing like a gentle reprimand delivered with love and care.

Alias|Wavefront is celebrating due to the fact that their award-winning 3D animation system Maya was used to create the top four selling December 2000 titles for the PlayStation 2. Research by PC Data Inc. shows Electronic Arts' MADDEN NFL 2001 leading the list of top-sellers with SSX: SNOWBOARD SUPERCROSS (EA) second, TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT (Namco) third, and NHL 2001 (EA) fourth. All of these titles were developed by companies using Maya for the creation of game graphics such as characters, environments and effects.

Santa Monica, California's Anthropics, Inc., a computer graphics software company, is looking for a PRODUCTION USER/ENGINEER and a SENIOR PRODUCTION ENGINEER to deliver production material using the company's proprietary software. . . Beverly Hills, California's Batia and Aleeza Hair Salon is looking for a GRAPHIC/WEB DESIGNER to update the salon's Website. . . Woodland Hills, California's BlackMarket Productions is looking for a CHARACTER ANIMATOR for animation short & series pilots. . .

Image Courtesy of Josell Public Relations