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Atom Ent. announced the opening of AtomFilms Studio, a new program which invests in independent producers to create broadband entertainment. AtomFilms Studio announced six development projects and plans to produce dozens more projects during the course of the year. New shorts from AtomFilms Studio will be distributed beginning this spring on the award-winning AtomFilms website (www.atomfilms.com) and its online and mobile entertainment partners.

Digital Video has released Toonz 5.0 Harlequin, which steps into paperless animation by integrating vector drawings in its traditional workflow based on raster drawings. This new environment allows to manage drawings, images and animation levels the way one prefers, preserving their nature throughout the workflow, with no unwanted conversion from raster to vector, or vice versa.

Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert's Ghost House Pictures has netted the film rights to Japanese videogame SIREN from SCE Worldwide Studios, Sony Computer Ent.'s worldwide game development studios for the PlayStation platforms, reports VARIETY. Working closely with the games director Keiichiro Toyama, Michael Gordon (forthcoming 300) will pen the script.

DODGEBALL director Rawson Marshall Thurber has inked a deal to write and direct the big-screen adaptation of MAGNUM P.I. for Universal Pictures, reports the trades. Brian Grazer will produce via his Imagine Ent. company.

Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz. Check out the latest installment from quizmaster Karl Staven, an accomplished independent animator and head of the Animation Department at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

HOODWINKED, the independent CGI animated feature released in January 2006, opened with better than expected results its first weekend in release. Do you know anything about this film yet? If not, you probably wont know the answer to most of these questions.

Anima Mundi 2006Rio de Janeiro & São Paulo, BrazilJuly 14-30, 2006Deadline: March 27, 2006

Anima Mundi is the International Animation Festival of Brazil, which brings to the Brazilian audience the best selection of films and videos from around the world. It is a variety specially designed for the adults and the children. The event runs in Rio de Janeiro from July 14-23 then moves to São Paulo from July 26-30. For more information, visit www.animamundi.com.br.

Action/Cut 2006 Short Film CompetitionLos Angeles, California, USAAugust 15 - September 1, 2006Deadline: May 15, 2006

ADV Films will release three new anime titles on Jan. 24, 2006. The new releases include new volumes of PRINCESS TUTU and ES OTHERWISE and the colossal new NEO RANGA COMPLETE COLLECTION.