ANIMATION CLUB!!! presents 'Secret Handshake', a monthly animation night at Loop Bar in Melbourne. Each month, animators from all around the world create a short animation upon a given topic which is then screened and voted upon by the audience. The winner receives fame and glory, and gets to choose the next month's topic.

All animation styles are welcome -- from hand-drawn, flash, claymation, stop motion, pixellation -- or any combination of these. However -- it MUST be animated! No live action allowed!

Press Release from Moonscoop

Paris, 18 May 2009 -- Moonscoop, the worldwide brand management and entertainment company representing properties from some of the leading animation producers across the globe has scored a raft of TV sales for its hit series in Latin America and the Caribbean, in advance of the LA Screenings.

San Diego Asian Film Festival 2009
San Diego, California, USA
October 15-29, 2009
Deadline: June 10, 2009

This week in AWN's Forums, a newly-graduated animator wants to know how to start their career from scratch. Does anyone have any kind of Excel budget for an animation series? A member wants to put one together. An animator asked to do a music video wants to know the going rates are for animation work? It would be a 2D computer animation (PS/Flash/AE), about three minutes long. The conversation continues on what constitutes adult animation and how that differs from pornography.

This week in AWN's Forums, a member is looking for a 3D animator to create a bunch (600+) of short character animated videos for a new fitness website. A member wants to know how much to pay for a three-minute animated pilot in Flash. A discussion is going on about adult animation and what exactly that is. A student needs a quick and easy way of compositing one layer of animation over a background. Someone needs clips of birds circling a dazed characters' head. Besides WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT, what other places can this be found?

Press Release from lynda.com

Press Release from NetToons, Inc.

San Francisco, CA -- Cosmic Debris and NetToons, Inc. have announced the official launch of the user generated animation site www.tooncasts.tv/emily. This site lets the millions of Emily fans worldwide create and share their own Emily animations (Tooncasts) using the NetToons web-based editor and viewer.

Press Release from Amy Winfrey

LOS ANGELES, April 22th- Independent animator Amy Winfrey debuts a new series SQUID AND FROG. The web series, available at www.squidandfrog.com is an innovative blend of flash animation and puppets.

The two main characters, Squid and Frog, sing songs about lessons they have learned the hard way such as "Don't Use Butter Sticks as Skates" and "You Can't Learn Surgery From Television." Squid and Frog also recite "Haikus of Regret."

The Pulcinella Awards 2009 were announced at the conclusion of Cartoons on the Bay on Sunday. The various Pulcinella Awards are presented in seven competing categories, including best series for preschool, children, tweens and young adults, educational programming, best pilot, cross-media project, interactive animation, short film, best character, TV series, European program and best soundtrack.

This week in AWN's Forums, a member wants to know about any animation-related sites or interests to see in Paris, other than Disneyland Paris. What's a good rate to charge for a three-minute long Flash animated music video? A member wants some help pricing their services. Discussion continues on whether a one-year degree program is enough school. When animating two characters, do they share a cel? A member wants to know.