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!

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.

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 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.

ANIMATION CLUB!!! presents 'Secret Handshake', a monthly animation night at Loop Bar in Melbourne. Each month, animators from all around the world create a short animation upon a given topic which is then screened and voted upon by the audience. The winner receives fame and glory, and gets to choose the next month's topic.

All animation styles are welcome -- from hand-drawn, flash, claymation, stop motion, pixellation -- or any combination of these. However -- it MUST be animated! No live action allowed!

San Diego Asian Film Festival 2009
San Diego, California, USA
October 15-29, 2009
Deadline: June 10, 2009

This week in AWN's Forums, a newly-graduated animator wants to know how to start their career from scratch. Does anyone have any kind of Excel budget for an animation series? A member wants to put one together. An animator asked to do a music video wants to know the going rates are for animation work? It would be a 2D computer animation (PS/Flash/AE), about three minutes long. The conversation continues on what constitutes adult animation and how that differs from pornography.

Press Release from lynda.com

This week in AWN's Forums, a member is looking for a 3D animator to create a bunch (600+) of short character animated videos for a new fitness website. A member wants to know how much to pay for a three-minute animated pilot in Flash. A discussion is going on about adult animation and what exactly that is. A student needs a quick and easy way of compositing one layer of animation over a background. Someone needs clips of birds circling a dazed characters' head. Besides WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT, what other places can this be found?

Press Release from NetToons, Inc.

San Francisco, CA -- Cosmic Debris and NetToons, Inc. have announced the official launch of the user generated animation site www.tooncasts.tv/emily. This site lets the millions of Emily fans worldwide create and share their own Emily animations (Tooncasts) using the NetToons web-based editor and viewer.

Press Release from Amy Winfrey

LOS ANGELES, April 22th- Independent animator Amy Winfrey debuts a new series SQUID AND FROG. The web series, available at www.squidandfrog.com is an innovative blend of flash animation and puppets.

The two main characters, Squid and Frog, sing songs about lessons they have learned the hard way such as "Don't Use Butter Sticks as Skates" and "You Can't Learn Surgery From Television." Squid and Frog also recite "Haikus of Regret."

The Pulcinella Awards 2009 were announced at the conclusion of Cartoons on the Bay on Sunday. The various Pulcinella Awards are presented in seven competing categories, including best series for preschool, children, tweens and young adults, educational programming, best pilot, cross-media project, interactive animation, short film, best character, TV series, European program and best soundtrack.

BEDTIME STORIES makes its DVD debut two days after its Blu-ray bow, along with DVD/Blu-ray releases of THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX, plus volume three of BEN 10: ALIEN FORCE on DVD, Disney Animation Collection, volumes 1-3 on DVD, MAX FLEISCHER'S SUPERMAN on DVD and more.

BEDTIME STORIES on DVD and Blu-ray

This week in AWN's Forums, a member wants to know about any animation-related sites or interests to see in Paris, other than Disneyland Paris. What's a good rate to charge for a three-minute long Flash animated music video? A member wants some help pricing their services. Discussion continues on whether a one-year degree program is enough school. When animating two characters, do they share a cel? A member wants to know.