Electronic Arts and its Austin, Texas subsidiary, ORIGIN Systems have announced they will release ULTIMA ONLINE: THIRD DAWN early next year. THIRD DAWN is the third upgrade to the popular game that currently boosts more than 200,000 active subscribers. The new version will have enhanced gesturing and motion-captured 3D animations. In addition, THIRD DAWN will include an enhanced lighting and shading system, one new environment, over a dozen new monsters and improved music and sound effects.

AWN's Web Animation Guide is the place for what's new on the Net. This week's installment features kudos to Stain Boy, a few early pokes at the U.S. election fiasco and much, much more.





Get your Web Animation Guide here!





Also every week AWN's associate editor Rick DeMott highlights what he thinks is the top new toon in cyberspace in "Rick's Picks!"

Read Rick's Pick For Friday, November 3, 2000!

AtomFilms and Lucas Online are joining forces to launch The STAR WARS Fan Film Network, an official Website for STAR WARS-inspired fan work. AtomFilms is now accepting submissions of STAR WARS parodies and documentaries for consideration to showcase on the site. The STAR WARS Fan Film Network will launch later this year as a premier spotlight within www.atomfilms.com. Participants will have access to a library of audio clips including Darth Vader breathing, the lightsaber wave and Rebel blaster fire, to incorporate into their own original works.

AWN's Web Animation Guide is the place for what's new on the Net. This week's installment features a Distant Corners' Halloween horror marathon, AtomFilms' Animation Showdown and much, much more.





Get your Web Animation Guide here!





Also every week AWN's associate editor Rick DeMott highlights what he thinks is the top new toon in cyberspace in "Rick's Picks!"

Mattel Media has begun shipping THE WILD THORNBERRYS RAMBLER game for Game Boy Color. The new game, based on the popular Nickelodeon animated series, is comprised of 6 different games featuring the series' characters. In addition, players can challenge each other in a special two-player mode. "Mattel Media seeks to bring entertainment to children in all of their favorite ways," said Amy Boylan, executive vice president of Mattel Media.

Urban Entertainment solidified deals to produce five new Webtoons with directors John Singleton (BOYZ 'N THE HOOD), George Tillman Jr. (SOUL FOOD), Malcolm Lee (THE BEST MAN) and writers Chris Mack (ER) and Cheo Hodari Coker (the upcoming HBO Marion Barry biopic). Singleton and comedian Freddy Ricks will co-create HUSTLIN' HANK, a satire of New York street life. Lee will create the comedy MY BABIES' MAMAS, which focuses on one man's mishaps with the multiple mothers of his children. Tillman will team with producer Robert Teitel (MEN OF HONOR) on a yet to be announced project.

AtomFilms has launched Animation Showdown, which will allow Netizens the chance to vote on which Webtoon pilot will become the next AtomFilms series. AtomFilms' registered Insiders will select one pilot each month, from now until January, to green light into a series. This month's Animation Showdown features pilots from two studios whose previous works have been aired on AtomFilms. The first, Mongadillo Studios, known for SHAWKS, is presenting THE BOTTLE and the second is HAMMOND RYE, a pilot from Hyperbole Studios, the creators of DOG, BUDDHA, ELVIS.

Stan Lee Media (SLM) and SciFi.com have signed a deal to Netcast 12 Webisodes of SLM's newest series THE DRIFTER. Debuting next year, the series follows Zane (a.k.a. the Drifter), who travels into the past to prevent a global computer meltdown in 2074 that kills 423 million people. SciFi.com has signed distribution deals with other Net content creators such as Wildbrain.com's SPACE IS DUM and Othervision.com's INDIE PLANET. SciFi.com is the official Website of cable channel the SciFi Channel, which is owned by USA Entertainment.

Brilliant Digital Entertainment (BDE) is branching out into the music business with its new Brilliant Animated Music division. So far DreamWorks Records and Island Def Jam Music Group have signed on to have music from their catalogs transformed into 3D Multipath videos. Heading up the new arm will be Grammy-award winning record producer Lee Jaffe, attorney David Codikow and Andrew Lee, who was recently promoted to BDE's senior VP of strategy and development.

A new site has been designed to connect voiceover talent with casting directors, agents, animation studios and advertising firms via the Internet. Voicebank.net will allow voiceover talent the chance to post their work or listen to demo reels by searching through a Web database. The site is set up to interconnect all aspects of the voice casting process from receiving audition requests, printing copy and spec sheets to recording, encoding, sending and receiving voice auditions, approvals and finished spots.