NPAR 2000 is the first international symposium dedicated to non-photorealistic animation and rendering, including cartoon animation systems and techniques. Held in conjunction with the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, SIGGRAPH and Eurographics, the symposium will bring together researchers and practitioners from academia and the industry. It will showcase cutting-edge research in non-photorealistic animation and rendering systems and techniques, and present examples of their application in original computer-animated films. Papers ad animation submissions must be sent by November 15, 1999.

WAC will showcase more than 800 films, including the best in both classic and contemporary animation. As the main attraction, WAC will present awards to the best new animated works from around the world. The World Animation Celebration will present a trade show, an international business conference, world and American film premieres, seminars, symposiums, tributes, salutes to new European animation, special programs on new computer animation and a survey of the world's best animated commercials. Cash prizes, awards and commissions will be presented to winners in categories that include feature and short films, television series, television specials, commercials, public service announcements, educational films, experimental animation, computer animation, and animation intended for children.

ASIFA-Hollywood and Glendale Community College are offering life-drawing workshops. The workshop offers live models in pose from one to fifteen minutes in duration, about forty poses per session. Professional assistance is available from the workshop supervisor. The classes run Wednesdays from 7 to 10 pm. The price is US$10 for the public and $7 for ASIFA-Hollywood members.

The First Annual Amazing Kids! Animation Contest will give young animators a chance to be mentored by professional animators from DreamWorks Animation. The contest is part of a partnership between Amazing Kids!, a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring excellence in children, and DreamWorks Animation. The event is hosted on the Amazing Kids! Web site and is open for kids 6-17 years old. As part of the contest, DreamWorks is providing original content for the Amazing Kids! Web site, including animation lessons for kids taught by DreamWorks animators. A panel of DreamWorks animators will choose the winners. Winning prizes include copies of the Web-based animation software program, Macromedia Flash, donated by leading Internet entertainment and software company shockwave.com. All contest entries will be posted on the Amazing Kids! Webspace in the "Amazing Kids! Animation Station," (premiering in late summer, 2000).

LFCA 2000 will mark the the Large Format Cinema Association's 4th annual Conference and 3rd annual Large Format Film Festival. The competition is open to all member of the international large format industry. The Festival highlights new and classic works in 15/70 and 8/70, an historical tribute to a pioneer of the large format film industry, and a closing gala featuring a 5/70 Hollywood widescreen classic. The Conference will feature panels, technical sessions, historical tributes, awards, and a keynote presentation.

The conference session tracks include case studies, new technologies and industry directions covering a wide range of topics in media asset management, content databases, IP rights management and e-business.

The 3D Conference provides four days of in-depth classes focused on the art and technology of 3D. It addresses the needs of professionals using 3D technology in a wide variety of contexts, including entertainment, architecture, engineering, science, medicine, and legal affairs. More than 70 intermediate to advanced classes provide training and instruction in 3D tools and techniques used in animation, modeling, rendering, visual effects, industrial visualization, web design, broadcast and film design, and digital video. The event attracts over 3,000 graphics professionals to its conference program and product exhibition. Parties interested in teaching courses at the 3D Conference must send submissions by September 24, 1999.

Presented by triple Oscar winner Richard Williams, this course is for professionals in the field, including classical animators, computer animators, assistant directors, producers, layout artists and instructors. Richard Williams will demonstrate his points with drawing, performance, and personal and professional film clips. The cost for each 3-day masterclass is $1000. Seating is limited to 150 participant per weekend.

Comic book fans can hobnob with the best in the business on a 7 day/7 night cruise benefiting the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a non-profit organization protecting the First Amendment rights of the comics community. The "Making Waves" cruise will stop at three Mexican ports -- Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan. The event will feature week-long programming including: cocktail parties, slide shows, panel discussions, Q&A sessions, writer seminars, chalktalks, dinner parties and much more. Prices include food, room service, accommodation and tips. Several accommodations are offered from luxury suites to "starving artist" rates. Comic book artists present on the cruise will include Neil Gaiman, Will Eisner, Kurt Busiek, Dan Clowes, Jeff Smith, Jules Feiffer, Frank Miller, P. Craig Russell and many more.

Motherwell College will be holding an Animation Week where guest speakers from the U.K. and Europe will be participating in seminars. The event will hold hands-on sessions for the public. Companies and speakers featured will include Dave Sharp, Dave Brown, Russell Murray, Laurie McCulloch [Digital Animation], Richard Scott [Axis Animation], representatives from Codemasters, The Lost Boys [Holland], Lego, Lesley Keen (Ex Inner Workings) and Alan McFarlane (Head of Art at Steel Monkeys). The event is a celebration of Motherwell's new course of study in film craft and animation.