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!

INKHEART, PINK PANTHER 2 and WALTZ WITH BASHIR make their DVD and Blu-ray debuts on June 23, 2009. Also out: TOM AND JERRY: THE CHUCK JONES COLLECTION on DVD.

INKHEART on DVD and Blu-ray

Press Release from Disney Channel

Disney Channel has ordered a second season of its hit Playhouse Disney animated series, "Special Agent Oso," starring Academy Award nominee Sean Astin. The announcement was made today by Nancy Kanter, senior vice president, Playhouse Disney Worldwide.

Press Release from Smith Micro Software, Inc.

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. -- Smith Micro Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMSI) Productivity and Graphics Group today announced the availability of Anime Studio Debut 6. Anime Studio Debut 6 offers a comprehensive set of easy-to-use animation tools that help hobbyists, artists, and students create animations and cartoons for home videos, school projects, or their websites, and even share them via popular social networking sites such as Facebook and YouTube.

Press Release from Not to Scale

When Birdy Nam Nam the French Hip Hop mix-master maestros first contacted cult illustrator Will Sweeney to see if he could help out with a video for their forth coming track release 'The Parachute Endings', the first question was how? and what? could be done in the timeframe available.

Press Release from The MoonScoop Group

This week in AWN's Forums, an aspiring animator is 26 and wants to go back to school. Is 26 too old to get started? An entertainment company is looking for a studio to help them develop their first 2D animated feature. A student wants some feedback on an advertising project. Someone wanting to get started in animation wants to know the best way to get started -- Flash? A Wacom tablet? Help them 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!

The SIGGRAPH 2009 Technical Papers program is the premier global forum presenting groundbreaking research from today's leading international organizations. Topics will feature the latest computer graphic innovations from a detailed simulation of intrusive surgical procedures to the development of infra-red flash photography. A total of 439 submissions were reviewed by a distinguished panel of 54 jurors, and 78 papers were selected for presentation at SIGGRAPH 2009.

Press Release from Toon Boom Animation Inc.

Toon Boom Animation Inc. has announced the release of Toon Boom Animate Pro, the high-performance animation software for professionals. Toon Boom Animate Pro is the most complete professional animation software for serious animators, offering award winning state-of-the-art content creation, animation and compositing toolset for any animation style within a single all-in-one desktop application.

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.