The inspiration and music is from Japan but the animation talent and work is all done in America in Cartoon Network’s new 2D series, HI HI PUFFY AMIYUMI. The 30-minute animated comedy about the fictional adventures of two very real-life Japanese pop stars, debuts Nov. 19, 2004, at 7:30 pm during “Fridays,” CN’s popular primetime block of animated comedies.

Held on Nov. 1, 2004, the British Television Advertising Craft Awards, in association with AFM Lighting, hand out its honors at The Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. The awards were dominated by Sony PlayStation MOUNTAIN commercial, which was shortlisted for 10 out of 20 categories. Produced by Gorgeous Enterprises for TBWA/London, the spot landed six awards, including one awarded in recognition of The Mill's post-production.

Comedy Central’s animated series, SHORTIES WATCHIN' SHORTIES, returns with all-new episodes tonight, Oct. 28, 2004, at 10:30 pm. The inventive half-hour show pairs animation and stand-up comedy, with potty-mouthed, under-supervised infants whose primary babysitter is the television set. The show premiered on April 28.

Indie animator Mitch Butler did a short animation in two days for NIGHTLINE, which aired Oct. 22, 2004, at 11:30 pm on ABC and will be shown again sometime this week on ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT WITH PETER JENNINGS. It shows little cartoon voters running around being influenced by campaign workers.

“I’ve been lucky enough to do a number of character animations for ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT and NIGHTLINE this year,” said Butler. “Animation for journalism is really an interesting area, a bit of the SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK approach.”

ANIMAX has produced a series of six short-form animated Webisodes for the Starlight Starbright Foundation aimed to help teen copy with chemotherapy treatments. The series, COPING WITH CHEMO, can be found at www.slsb.org/chemo. The goal of the series is to help teens with cancer deal with the impact chemotherapy has on their lives and their bodies.

This week in AWN's Forums, the hot topic is the success of SHARK TALE. Is it deserved or not? A junior member wants to know if anyone knows any good books or Websites that show sequences of movements broken down into individual frames. More discussion continues about whether members should disclose what region of the world they are from. Members continue to post their favorite lines from animated films. Two animators want to know the job prospect skinny on the After Effects animation, character designs and Flash animation fields.

Aardman Animation and DECODE Ent. have signed a co-production deal to produce an animated sketch show for CiTV and Canadian specialty network TELETOON, Miles Bullough, Aardman’s head of broadcast announced at MIPCOM.

This week in AWN's Forums, a new member is looking for venture capital for several new projects. A junior member needs some help with lip-synching in Flash. More debate continues about the Nickelodeon Animation Festival. Members are still discussing Cartoon Network’s FOSTER’S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS. In a fun thread, a member asks what is your favorite line from an animated film? Someone has inquired about the cost of a 20-minute children animation video. Another member is looking for volunteer animation help. Another post asks what members favorite animation style is.

Oregon animation guru Will Vinton has joined The Art Institute of Portland as Artist-in-Residence. Winner of Oscar, Emmy and Clio awards, Vinton is well known his pioneering work in Claymation and stop-motion animation. “The Artist-in-Residence position helps further the mission of the College to support the creative community in Portland” said Steve Goldman, president of the College. “It is an honor to forge this new partnership with an artist of Will Vinton’s stature and accomplishment.

Cartoon Network Studios has promoted Jennifer Pelphrey from director to vp of production. In her expanded role, Pelphrey will oversee day-to-day production of all the studio’s original series, maintaining responsibilities for scheduling, budgeting and administrative management.

This week in AWN's Forums, a junior member wants to know if Macs or PCs are the standard in the animation community. Another thread wants others to recommend good books on Flash. More debate continues on why the anime style of animation is becoming more and more influential on U.S. productions. There’s a new thread asking about tutorials on animating smoke, fire, explosions and water. A senior member wants to know what other members have done to promote peace and understanding in the world?

Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts-based Pileated Pictures announced the release of GUS AND INKY’S UNDERWATER ADVENTURES- CHAPTER 3 – WILD WORD ROUND UP, the latest in a series of free, online e-learning games and animations, based on a character from the award winning PBS show, BETWEEN THE LIONS. The series of educational activities developed for the National Center for Learning Disabilities’ (NCLD) “Get Ready to Read!” program is aimed at fostering early literacy skills among preschool children. The games can be found at www.getreadytoread.org.

This week in AWN's Forums, a junior member asks what the deal is with shows imitating anime style. Moderator Larry L wants to start up a project entitled Animators for Peace. Talk has begun about Macromedia’s development of a new version of Flash designed for animators and artists. Another member wants to know where they can find voice actors. One thread talks about the sad issue of clients who don’t pay for work completed and what one can do about it. Several posts have new Flash animation to check out.

Media Classics Group International, Inc. announced that it has completed international distribution agreements with ENT INC. a Beverly Hills-based entertainment company for the distribution of its animated cel art library. This group of assets includes original art works that were the actual production cels used to create such animated TV shows as FLASH GORDON, BACK TO THE FUTURE, EWOKS, GHOST BUSTERS and HE-MAN.

Digital-Tutors announced the availability of MAYA DYNAMICS: PARTICLES AND FIELDS training kit, with more than 218 minutes of instruction. Highlights include: creating particle emitters, working with cycle emission, emitting from surfaces, colliding particles with surfaces and driving particle simulations with texture maps.

Eovia Corp. introduced Carrara 4, the powerful, approachable, complete 3D solution, replacing Carrara Studio 3, now available in Pro and Standard versions. Carrara 4 Pro delivers an enhanced breadth of capabilities and power for professionals while Carrara 4 Standard provides the same approachable interface at an even more affordable price for non-experts.

The 2005 model Corvette marks only the sixth redesign of the classic American sports car in 51 years. Confident its latest model won’t disappoint, Chevrolet and advertising agency partner Campbell-Ewald, Detroit, planned a major launch by teaming up director Guy Ritchie (SNATCH) of Anonymous Content with Venice, California-based visual effects studio Digital Domain (www.digitaldomain.com). The result is an “epic” :60 spot designed to reflect the significance of such a major automobile launch.

This week in AWN's Forums, a new thread wonders whether Pixar Animation is taking 3D animation down a dead end. Another post is trying to find out what the most popular media players are. There’s a member looking for software to alter voices and another who needs help with Flash compression. One thread discusses the pros and cons of joining the Union. Additionally, a thread debates the increase in fundraising for film productions on eBay. A member is also looking to find people in the P2P animation community.

Don’t be expecting a POWERPUFF GIRLS knockoff if you tune into Craig McCracken’s latest 2D creation, FOSTER’S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS, which debuts Aug. 13, 2004 at 7:30 pm on Cartoon Network with a 90-minute feature. Witty observations on present-day life, relationships and trends are woven in with a wild/colorful assortment of oddball characters in this mostly adult comedy.

Cartoon Network brings back the world's greatest superheroes in a brand new half-hour series entitled JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED, which premieres on July 3, 2004 at 8:30 pm. This new series, animated by Warner Bros. Animation, expands on the activities of the DC Comics characters, following the conclusion of JUSTICE LEAGUE, and brings forth many more characters to help fight crime and thwart threats to Earth.