Four of INTERspectacular's animated pieces for Comedy Central (ROBOGIRL, ALPHONSE AND ORVILLE, MONSTER MUNCHIES and STUMPY) have been accepted into the Ottawa International Animation Festival. The shorts will screen this week as part of the festival's Short Competition One. Screenings will take place at the Bytowne Cinema on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2005, at 9:00 pm and Sunday, Sept. 25, at 3:00 pm.

This week in AWN's Forums, a recent thread asks questions about character animation using Flash. Another member needs help with digital coloring backgrounds. Yet another member has questions about copyrighted music. Someone wants advice on pitching a series to Cartoon Network. There’s a thread asking why animation — what brought the other members to the medium. Another post deals with getting started on mouth charts. Moderator Larry L starts a thread on the rebirth of 2D.

Robin Lyons’ new company, Calon, recently formed from the original Cardiff-based Siriol team, is bringing its new creation, SAFEHOUSE HOTEL, to Cartoon Forum this week in Denmark.

Kids' WB! new 2005-2006 broadcast season will be highlighted by the world premieres of three new series and four returning hits. Kids’ WB! kicks off its new schedule Sept. 17 (8:00 am-12 pm ET /7:00-11:00 am PT). On Monday, Sept. 19 (3-5:00 pm ET/PT), the new season’s Monday-Friday weekday lineup will debut, introducing the high-octane vehicles-turned-robots world of TRANSFORMERS: CYBERTRON, along with more exciting adventures of returning shows, five days a week.

Continuing our special event specific Flash Newsletters, we will be publishing special editions for MIPCOM. This event is fast approaching and our editorial and advertising staff is gearing up for the Flash Newsletter series. Here are the dates for the publications.

MIPCOM Flash Newsletters
Sept. 27, 2005
Oct. 4, 2005
Oct. 11, 2005

Check out our previous special Flash newsletters.

Vancouver and Boston-based production company Global has created a new TV series division anchored by three new animation projects: 20 episodes of a new series for PBS and WGBH called FETCH!; three children’s books for the next season of the award-winning PBS series, BETWEEN THE LIONS, produced by WGBH Boston, Sirius Thinking Ltd. and Mississippi Public Broadcasting; and a five-episode original series created by Lincoln Pierce for a new programming block on Cartoon Network.

Animation channel TELETOON has struck seven new development agreements with Canadian producers for a diverse slate of titles that reflect the network's core programming blocks, including its kids and after-school lineup, as well as its successful Teen/Young Adult option, The Detour on TELETOON.

Nickelodeon Europe has purchased the VITAMINIX series from Barcelona-based Icon Animation for the broadcast on Nickelodeon channels airing in Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Holland and Flemish-speaking Belgium after a successful run on Nickelodeon channels in Latin America and Spain, of the 2D Flash animated shorts (104x2), which aim to teach children about the nutritional value of food, minerals and vitamins.

Heavenspot, a Hollywood-based full service international design agency, recently completed the interactive website launch for TENACIOUS D IN THE PICK OF DESTINY, a feature film that will be released by New Line Cinema in early 2006 starring Jack Black and Kyle Gass.

The interactive site package includes Flash animation, an original interactive interface, a progressive design aesthetic and high quality Flash video.

Pork and Beans Productions’ animated short, THE LAWS OF GRAVITY, has been selected to appear in Nicktoon’s the NEXTOONS: THE NICKTOONS FILM FESTIVAL, a weeklong festival of shorts submitted by animators worldwide. The short airs in the seventh episode on Aug. 27, 2005, at 9:00 pm ET/12:00 am PT and August 28 at 12:00 am ET/3:00 am PT on Nicktoons, as well as be simulcast on www.nicktoons.com.

This week in AWN's Forums, a junior member is looking for ideas on how to animation production in America. Another junior members continue to have questions about schools. Another member is organizing a group picture of forum members comprises of individuals’ drawings. There’s a thread on editing .SFW Flash animation. Others continue to discuss FOSTER’S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS. A musician is looking for animators to work with. There are additional posts with members’ artwork for others to check out.

Heavenspot, a full service international design agency located in Hollywood, recently completed an online game design for Watson DG on HUSTLE AND FLOW, a newly released feature film from Paramount Studios.

Catering to the features core youth market and hip-hop audience, the game package includes fresh sound effects, innovative flash interfaces, a progressive design theory and the ability to email your customized ride to a friend.

This week in AWN's Forums, a member asks whether ToonBoom Studio is worth the price. A student wants to know the pros and cons of the New England Institute of Art versus Ringling or Sheridan. Another student is looking to find a lead animator to interview for a school project. A member asks whether you can do traditional 2D animation in Flash. Others are looking for members to critique their work. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!

Bakers Man, an industry leader in Internet based technology, marketing communications and digital information management for the entertainment industry, has formed a new production company, TrueLight Entertainment, to provide a wide range of animation production, innovative marketing and e-learning services based on proprietary processes and tools. Industry veteran Kevin O’Donnell is president of new media company.

Alias has lots to demonstrate and talk about at its SIGGRAPH 2005 booth #1312 at the Los Angeles Convention Center with the release of its Maya 7 and MotionBuilder 7 software packages.

Maya 7 builds upon the architecture and performance enhancements in Maya 6.5 with new and improved tools for fast, realistic character animation, streamlined modeling and texturing, stunning visual effects and increased productivity. It also incorporates Pixar's patented technology.

This week in AWN's Forums, a member asks Flash so what’s so wrong with it? Another member wants to find a good drawing tablet. There’s a thread animation training for preschool kids. A new member introduces themselves to the forums. Another thanks the members for great feedback. Others continue to post their work for review. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!

Bitfilm Festival 2005
Hamburg, Germany
November 2-6, 2005
Deadline: July 15, 2005

The Bitfilm Festival for digital film and new media shows films that use digital technology in a creative and innovative way. There are six categories:

* 3D SPACE – Computer-generated 3D animations
* FX MIX - Digitally composed hybrids, mixing for example live action and animation
* FLASH ATTACK - Films produced in Macromedia Flash
* MACHINIMA - Movies made in real time with game engines

TIME WARP TRIO combines humor and great stories to ignite kids’ interest in history in a new action-adventure animated series, which debuted on the Discovery Kids on NBC Saturday morning block on July 9, 2005. The show will air weekly at 10:30 am (ET)/8:30 am (PT) (check local listings), and also airs on the Discovery Kids Channel.

Two short-form series, the new SHANE'S KINDERGARTEN COUNTDOWN (a spinoff of the popular SHANNA'S SHOW) and new installments of ADVENTURES IN NUTRITION WITH CAPTAIN CARLOS, premiered June 20 during Playhouse Disney's new "Breakfast with Bear" hour on Disney Channel. The programming block will now air weekdays from 7:00-8:00 am.

TOM Online, a leading wireless Internet company in China, will be the sole wireless and the premier Internet distribution partner for Warner Bros. Online (WBOL) in China.

TOM Online Inc. and WBOL formed a strategic partnership that includes the launch of the first official Warner Bros. Studios site in China, (http://ent.tom.com/warnerbros.html). Part of the popular TOM Online portal, www.tom.com, the site is the first to deliver official studio content to Chinese fans via the Internet and wireless platforms.