Animation World Network

Designer Charles McElmurry Passes Away

Designer/illustrator Charles O. McElmurry passed away Dec. 5, 2005, at the age of 84 in Santa Rosa, California. McElmurry grew up in Los Angeles and attended Chouinard Art Institute. He began his career in the animation industry at Walt Disney in 1942, but was soon drafted into the Marine Corps and sent to Quantico, Virginia. He spent the war years in a film unit there. He attended Chouinard Art Institute on the GI bill.

He later worked for many independent studios in New York, France, and California including Quartet Films, Jay Ward, Cartoon Farm and Bill Melendez.

In In Passing, In Passing | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe, North America

Universal Headline News

Witherspoon to Develop Troubles

Universal Pictures has acquired Don Winston's supernatural spec script, OUR FAMILY TROUBLES, and will develop the drama under a new name as a starring vehicle for Reese Witherspoon, Variety reported.

Witherspoon and her Type A Films partner Jennifer Simpson are set to produce it. Universal svp Holly Bario will oversee the film.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

42 Songs Compete for 78th Oscar

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that 42 original songs from eligible feature-length motion pictures are being considered for the 78th Academy Awards.

The original songs from animated or visual effects related films include:* "Can't Take It In" from THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE* "Do the Hippogriff" from HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE* "Great Big World" from HOOKWINKED* "If I Apologize" from MIRRORMASK* "It Ain't Over Yet from RACING STRIPES

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Motion Events

Boston Motion Picture Awards

Begins: December 15, 2005

The 2005-2006 Boston Motion Picture Awards is officially open for entries in the categories of "Motion Picture Shorts" and "Motion Picture Features."

Professionals and students welcome. Apply online or by standard entry form.

This year you could win money for future work; Final Draft screenwriting software; a web page dedicated to your film; a review of your film for press kits, posters, and DVD packagaing; a personal finance guide; personalized trophies and awards certificates, and exposure through BMPA press releases!

In Event Types: Animation, Documentaries, Features, Live Action, Short Films

Events

LA SIGGRAPH Narnia Screening

Begins: December 15, 2005

Los Angeles ACM SIGGRAPH presents a special screening of THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE. As part of the evenr, Dean Wright, VFX supervisor of NARNIA and VFX producer of the Academy Award winning LORD OF THE RINGS, will present the making of the visual effects.

Speakers will include: * Bill Westenhofer

In Event Types: Discussion, Screenings, Animation, Features, Live Action, Visualization, Visual Effects

Events

Which Way Did They Go?

Begins: December 15, 2005

, New York, USADecember 15, 2005

In Event Types: Discussion, Exhibits, Screenings, Animation, Features, Television

Read More about Which Way Did They Go?»

Events

WIA/LA Christmas Party: "Apr

Begins: December 15, 2005

WIA/LA is hosting its annual Christmas party. The event will take place at the Brasserie Barsac, 4212 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood, California. An assortment of nibbles will be available, accompanied by a no-host bar. The caroling starts 6:00 pm. To RSVP, call (310) 535-3838 or e-mail LAchapterrsvps@aol.com

In Event Types: Discussion, Animation, Business / Management, Documentaries, Features, Interactive, Live Action, Licensing, New Media, Short Films, Special, Special Effects, Television, Visualization, Visual Effects, Web / Internet, Other

Events

ADVA Academy Awards for Excellence

Begins: December 15, 2005

ADVA- The Academy of Digital Video Arts presents the ADVA Academy Awards for Excellence. You do not need to be a member of ADVA to enter the competition. Competition is open to professionals, students and amateurs. From independent films, weddings, commercials, corporate communications and industrial videos to 3D animation, special effects and event videos, best actor, best actress, stunts, hair and make-up, screenplay, wardrobe and costume design, dozens of categories will be recognized and awarded.

In Event Types: Contests, Animation, Documentaries, Features, Live Action, Television, Other

Show Headline News

JibJab Recaps 2005 on Jay Leno

Set to air Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005, at 11:35 pm, THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO will premiere 2-0-5, the latest animated spoof from JibJab.

"From Katrina, FEMA, bird flu, insurgents, Cindy Sheehan and Scooter Libby to Tom Delay... there were so many issues facing the President, we had to make the song lightening fast to squeeze them all in," said Gregg and Evan Spiridellis, co-founders of JibJab. "People will want to watch it again and again to catch all the references."

In Television, Television | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Studio Headline News

Blue Planet Studio's New Website Features Forensic Animation

Blue Planet Studio Inc., a 3D animation and digital media design firm in San Diego recently launched its newly developed website featuring its most recent projects, which include 3D animation and graphics support for a wide variety of high-tech companies, both locally and nationally.

In Interactive, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Television Headline News

Zucker & Falco To Lead New NBC Universal Television Group

Jeff Zucker has been named ceo and Randy Falco has been named president/coo of a newly integrated NBC Universal Television Group. Beth Comstock has been appointed to the newly created position of president, NBCU Digital Media and Market Development.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Digital Headline News

Weta Digital Uses Massive to Ape Reality on Kong

Massive Software continued pioneering use of the company's AI-driven 3D animation system by Weta Digital for more than 600 visual effects shots on KING KONG. The Massive work on the film, which follows Weta's industry-leading innovation with Massive on such movies as THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and I, ROBOT, creates a living, breathing backdrop of activity on Manhattan and Skull Island.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Australia

Headline News

Kong Fails to Crack $10M on Opening Day

Peter Jacksons KING KONG captured $9.75M yesterday in its opening box office bow, ranking 21st on the all-time list of Wednesday openers. Falling well below industry expectations, the Universal Pictures release had a per-screen average of $2,735 on 3,567 screens. Overseas, however, KONG opened much stronger, pulling in $8M on 4,659 screens in 36 markets. Biggest openings were in Australia ($860,000), Germany ($664,000) and Jacksons New Zealand home ($297,000). Box office information obtained from boxofficemojo.com and VARIETY.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Australia, Europe

Design Headline News

Gnomon Workshop Releases Five New Analog Training DVDs

The Gnomon Workshop and Design Studio Press have released five new training DVDs, three from veteran Scott Robertson, and the first two from the concept designer known as Puddnhead.

Robertson offers a three-volume series on rendering matte surfaces. The titles cover shading planar, round and complex curved surfaces. While he uses analog tools, such as charcoal and pencil, the skills are vital for anyone interested in foundation lighting concepts.

In Education and Training, Education and Training | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, South America

Headline News

Qube! 4.0 Released

Pipelinefx has launched Qube! 4.0, the latest major release of the companys flagship enterprise-class render farm management software for film production and game development.

Announced at SIGGRAPH 2005, the new version of Qube! offers some of the following sophisticated features:

* Enhanced support for applications, including Maya, Softimage, 3ds Max, Shake, NUKE, mental ray and compatibility with OSX Tiger.

* Enhanced GUI called Qubic, which allows easy configuration of the Qube! Supervisor.

In Technology, Technology | Headline News | Special Events: SIGGRAPH | Geographic Region: All

'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' Diaries: Part 3 — Sony Pictures Imageworks & Mr. Beaver

In the third installment of VFXWorlds exclusive production diaries, visual effects supervisor Jim Berney of Sony Pictures Imageworks chronicles the creation of photoreal Mr. Beaver from early test through final animation for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Includes QuickTime clips!

In Production | VFXWorld

Pitch ANIMATIONWorld

“Watch… Read… Listen… Ask:” Advice From Those in the Pitch

Creators of animation are so passionate about their ideas they sometimes have blinders on and try to pitch it to just about everyone. The mistake most make is they feel their show is perfect for all networks. They know that Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Disney Channel will want it. This is a BIG mistake!

Knowing what the networks are looking for is the most important part of developing a show. I cant just develop something because I love it or think it is a good idea or even because I think the merchandising is brilliant and will generate billions of dollars, says Bill Schultz, co-ceo, MYP/Taffy Ent. Those are all important. But, one of my key questions is where am I am going to sell it in the key territories? Schultz should know. He is a veteran of development, having worked at Cartoon Network on Ed, Edd and Eddy and Courage the Cowardly Dog, along with his work at Film Roman on The Simpsons, King of the Hill and Garfield and Friends. As a partner at MYP/Taffy, he has been successful in selling the show, Pet Alien, to Cartoon Network.

In Tutorials | ANIMATIONWorld

Headline News

Ghost Rider Races to 2007

Due to an overabundance of high-profile films, Sony has opted to move the screen adaptation of GHOST RIDER to President's Day weekend, Feb. 16, 2007, reports VARIETY. The $120-million Nicolas Cage vehicle was set to open July 14, 2006.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, South America

Years Events

Pixar: 20 Years of Animation

Begins: December 14, 2005

In keeping with the Museum of Modern Art

In Event Types: Exhibits, Animation, Features, Short Films

Animation Headline News

Digital Musings From the Editor:

KING KONG has arrived and VFXWORLD has a two-part series exploring Wetas innovative CG characters and environments in the highly touted Peter Jackson remake thats expected to be the box office juggernaut of the holiday season. In fact, Jackson was so pleased with the animation for Kong that, in an unprecedented move, he upped Christian Rivers and Eric Leighton to animation directors. Read all about the new technology advances and aesthetic choices in re-envisioning a classic 30s romantic adventure.

Bill DesowitzEditor

In Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Free Headline News

Get Free Passes to the ION Festival This Weekend!

The ION Animation, Games and Short Film Festival, held at the James Bridges Theater on the UCLA campus in Westwood, is only a couple of days away.

In Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Music Headline News

DIC Named Global Entertainment Licensing Agent for Zizzle's iZ

DIC Ent. has been appointed the global entertainment licensing agent for Zizzle Toys new, innovative musical icon iZ. As part of the licensing initiative, DIC will translate the toy into animated direct-to-DVD movies.

In Licensing, Licensing | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America

Digital Headline News

Mi is Miss Digital World 2005

The winner of Miss Digital World 2005 is the Asian model Mi, designed by Shinichi Yoshimoto. Miss Digital World is a virtual beauty competition, open to only exceptionally beautiful models designed in 3D graphic.

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America

Series Headline News

Miyazaki’s Son to Turn Earthsea Into Anime

Animation master Hayao Miyazakis son Goro Miyazaki will make his feature directing debut with an animated version of Ursula K. Le Guin's EARTHSEA fantasy novel series, reports various online outlets. The Studio Ghibli production will be titled GEDO SENKI (TALES FROM EARTHSEA) and is set to hit theaters in Japan July 2006. The film will be based on the third and fourth books in Le Guin's six-volume series, which was first published in 1968. Le Guin's series was previously adapted as LEGEND OF EARTHSEA, a live-action miniseries that aired in 2004 on the SCI FI Channel.

In Anime, Films, Anime, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

VFXWorld

'Building Interactive Worlds in 3D': The Donut Tutorial — Part 3

VFXWorld presents a new excerpt from Building Interactive Worlds in 3D by Jean-Marc Gauthier. This month's excerpt is a tutorial on creating an interactive path.

In Technology, Tutorials | VFXWorld