Press Release from Starz Media and Syfy

Press Release from Psychic Bunny

Next Gen content produced by those who consume it: hybrid production studio Psychic Bunny is excited to unveil its original content banner Lead Balloon (www.madeoflead.com). Launched to produce feature films, web series, games, mobile and interactive projects, Lead Balloon is currently wrapping two projects, an exclusive web series "Coma, Period" with a distribution deal soon to be announced and an independent feature film "The Echo Game."

Press Release from Bent Image Lab

The Portland, Oregon-based production company and creative laboratory Bent Image Lab is further expanding its roster with the recent signing of veteran animator and director Ken Lidster. Known for brilliant, award-winning commercials, such as those for Brisk iced tea that feature the voices and animated likeness of such stars as Bruce Willis and Danny DeVito, Lidster has directed noteworthy spots for Energizer, Chips Ahoy!, Kellogg's, Oscar Mayer, Quaker Oats, and Target.

Press Release from MAXON Computer

NEWBURY PARK, Calif.-- MAXON Computer, a leading developer of professional 3D modeling, painting, animation and rendering solutions, today announced details of its presence at the SIGGRAPH 2009 convention -- the leading international conference and exhibition on computer graphics and interactive techniques taking place August 3rd through August 7th at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

MAXON at SIGGRAPH 2009

Press Release from Mechanism Digital

Press Release from NewTek Inc.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- July 8, 2009 -- NewTek Inc., manufacturer of industry-leading video and 3D animation products, today announced the release of the 3D Content Pack Volume 1: Sports, a collection of network-style, ready-to-use, customizable animated 3D scenes designed for use with LightWave 3D and 3D Arsenal. The NewTek 3D Content Pack, Volume 1: Sports offers nearly 100 dynamic and animated scenes designed for football, baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey productions.

Each sequence contains:

Press Release from GenArts Inc.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- July 7, 2009 -- GenArts Inc., the premier provider of specialized visual effects software for the film, television and video industries, announced today a monthly license rental option for its flagship GenArts Sapphire visual effects software for Adobe After Effects and Apple Final Cut Pro. The program is designed to offer Sapphire's entire suite of industry-leading visual effects plug-ins at an extremely affordable cost of entry, thereby providing access to a much broader range of users.

Press Release from Toei Animation

LOS ANGELES -- July 7, 2009 -- Toei Animation has secured a number of Latin America-based licensees for DRAGON BALL Z, ONE PIECE and SAINT SEIYA, it was announced today by Eduardo Lucio, sales manager, Latin America.

Kunio Kato's 2009 Academy Award-winning animated short film, LA MAISON EN PETITS CUBES, as well as his earlier work, THE DIARY OF TORTOV RODDLE are streaming today on Crunchyroll. More information can be found at:

http://www.crunchyroll.com/library/La_Maison_en_Petits_Cubes and http://www.crunchyroll.com/library/The_Diary_of_Tortov_Roddle.

Press Release from MK12 and Cut + Run

Flying -- or modern day travel via air -- evokes a variety of images but certainly rarely as beautiful or sublime as what unfolds in the new Swiss Air film directed by Marc Forster ("Quantum of Solace," "Finding Neverland," "Monster's Ball"). To help orchestrate and unite the myriad of elements involved, Forster turned to Cut + Run Editor Jay Nelson who worked hand-in-hand with the director and the effects production company MK12 on the project.

Dr. Ed Catmull, President, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, has been selected by the VES Board of Directors as the recipient of the "2010 Georges Melies Award." The award will be presented at the 8th Annual VES Awards, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on February 28, 2010.

Press Release from NVIDIA

Starz Digital Media, a division of Starz Media, has launched ABE Toons, a new online video site for indie animators and a consumer destination for animated shorts.

Press Release from NANDO@BENT

International award-winning Creative/Director Nando Costa, founder of top industry leading design and animation studio Nervo, has teamed with Portland-based Bent Image Lab to form, NANDO@BENT. Costa brings his entire Nervo shop to BENT, including creative partner Linn Olofsdotter. Costa, age 30, will become the fourth partner of BENT which includes: Co-Founder/EP Ray Di Carlo, Co-Founder/Director Chel White, and Co-Founder/Director David Daniels.

Press Release from Anime Network

HOUSTON, TX -- June 22, 2009 -- Today Anime Network, America's #1 Anime Channel, formally launched its new online player at www.theanimenetwork.com. Anime Network's new online service includes over 40 hours of free content as well as a premium package that gives users unlimited access to more than 300 hours of anime, live action films, and J-rock videos.

Press Release from Nice Shoes

NEW YORK (June 15 2009): Nice Shoes' new Creative Director Aron Baxter has come full circle. The London-born Baxter joined Nice Shoes as a senior VFX artist in January 2003 then moved over to Guava, the company's sister VFX Company. Now, with the merger of Nice Shoes and Guava, he has returned to the parent company to assume the new role of Creative Director.

Additionally, Jack Fahey has been appointed Head of Sales for the Nice Shoes family of companies which includes Nice Shoes, Nice Spots and Freestyle Collective.

Japanese manga publisher Futabasha is suing Korean film production house Show East over the rights to turn OLD BOY into a feature film in the U.S., reports ANIME NEWS NETWORK.

Show East produced a popular 2003 Korean version directed by Chan-wook Park. The suit was filed on Monday.

Futabasha is suing to confirm the lack of a binding contract between the two parties, due to an alleged breach. They allege that Show East violated the agreement, nullifying it, when Show East got Universal Pictures to sign on for a remake.

The new episode of SCIENCE OF THE MOVIES features the work of Zoic Studios and Gentle Giant Studios:

Crafting an Action Figure: Episode Airs Thursday, June 18 at 10 PM

Press Release from eyeon Software Inc.

Animation, comics, graphic novels, and anime will take center stage at Film Independent's 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival. This year's festival, held June 18-28, will feature a wide variety of options for graphic arts fans, highlighted by the U.S. debut of the award winning animated feature PONYO, written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.