Anime expert Fred Patten reviews the latest anime releases including Gravion, Magical Play: The Complete Collection, Miami Guns, Shootfighter Tekken and Wolf’s Rain.

Animation World Network has compiled the loving thoughts of many in the animation community as a tribute to the life and work of animation legend Frank Thomas.

With the release of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, Taylor Jessen chronicles what happened to Stephen Hillenburg for him to give up being a marine scientist and create the ever-optimistic sponge, who lives in a pineapple under the sea.

Continuing our monthly look at 3D environments, Stash magazine’s Stephen Price helped VFXWorld compile a gallery of some of the best 3D environments for Warhammer by Blur Studios and environmental pics by KDLAB.

Nancy Cartwright writes about preparing for an audition and how to stay professional despite it all.

Gene Deitch continues the hairy tails of eventually not making Charlotte’s Web.

Anil Wanvari and Anand Gurnani explore the blossoming visual effects industry in India, where 70% of the movies utilize digital magic to wow viewers.

Bill Desowitz interviews Incredibles director Brad Bird, supervising technical director Rick Sayre and effects supervisor Sandra Karpman about bringing human CG superheroes to the big screen.

Taylor Jessen reviews five short films: Backseat Bingo by Liz Blazer, Fowl Play! by Christopher De Santis, Save Virgil by Brad Ableson, A Work in Progress by Wes Ball and Tricks for a Treat by Jeff Mednikow. Includes QuickTime movie clips!

Animator Patrick Smith takes us on his personal journey through the Ottawa Animation Festival.

In this month’s excerpt from Stop Motion, Susannah Shaw describes how to work with companies that make models for you.

Justin Leach chronicles his experiences as 3D CG creator on Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence in this informative production journal.

In the spirit of Halloween, the Career Coach gives some helpful hints on how not to scare off your network on contacts and connections.

In this month’s excerpt from Stop Motion, Susannah Shaw continues her look at character design with making your own model.

Karen Raugust investigates how comic publishers are using new technology to market their products to new audiences.

Karl Cohen reviews Doing Their Bit, a well researched reference book about WWII cartoons.

Danny Fingeroth looks at what gets lost in translation from the comicbook page to the big and small screens.

Concluding our extensive interview with Tad Stones, Joe Strike talks with the animation vet more about Darkwing Duck and direct-to-video projects.

The Career Coach takes on a common obstacle in any career -- shyness.

Fred Patten went again to Anime Expo 2004 and reports back that anime convention had fallen behind the professional standards of the previous ones and there was a serious effort to stop pirating.