HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE opens this week and we'll soon be offering extensive coverage of the excellent, naturalistic-looking work.

AWNtv presents Genre Wars, a fun experiment to ward off the summer boredom.

This week in AWN's Forums, a member recommends new book "Get Animated!" by Tim Maloney. Another member is looking for a Thursday Comic-Con pass that someone might want to sell or trade for another day? Anyone? A Canadian wants to know how many fellow Canucks will be at the Con. On traditional/flash animated projects, is there a specific way you are able to manage your digital assets like character designs, poses, animation, etc.? A member wants to know.

Not every summer movie contains flashy CG, but is still worth covering for its invisible craft.

AWNtv launches into a blue streak of humor. Do you like DOGGIE STYLE. Meet MIDGE & BUCK. Having URINE TROUBLE? Mr. Wong is. Beware of the MAN-BOT. Open the door to POLSUPAH. WERBOPBOP throws a party for adults only.

http://www.awntv.com/playlist/raunch-launch-pad

And drum roll, please, the cool vids of the week are -- Corentin Jaffre and Mathilde Soussi's MORISSON HOUSE, Bob Ray's APESH!T ROAD TRIP, and Alex Clark's INVASION.

Rocket off at: AWNtv.

This week in AWN's Forums, a new member is doing project for school and needs to describe the animation process to their class from a concept sketch to a full 3D character.

As great as ILM's work was on TRANSFORMERS (which should've won the Oscar), it's even better on REVENGE OF THE FALLEN, which you can read all about this week in my coverage.

This week in AWN's Forums, suggestions are rolling in to a potential animator who needs to learn to draw first. Is it best to dive into classes, or spend some time with a book? Which book is best? Is moving up the production pipeline food chain from Flash a good idea? Be sure to watch (or listen) for a new NPR show coming on the "mad" art of comic Harvey Kurtzman.

As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand-new stuff to check out in show and tell!

In tribute to Michael Jackson, AWNtv puts together this collection of animated shorts that celebrate song and dance.

Summer may just be officially starting, but it seems already half-over, thanks to the early movie season. So far, it's been "VFX on Steroids," what with WOLVERINE, STAR TREK, TERMINATOR SALVATION, ANGELS & DEMONS, LAND OF THE LOST and BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN aggressively raising the bar with high octane advancements across the board.