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Game Headline News

Three New Series to Premiere in 4Kids Fox Fall Lineup

4Kids Ent. celebrates its sixth year programming the 4-hour Saturday morning kids block on Fox with the most action-packed slate of original shows to date. Dubbed "The Game Station," the block will sport an all-new look and an all-new attitude when it's unveiled on Saturday, September 8.The three new series -- DINOSAUR KING, THE ADRENALINE PROJECT and YU-GI-OH! GX -- join such popular returnees as CHAOTIC, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: FAST FORWARD, VIVA PIÃATA, SONIC X and WINX CLUB.

Star Headline News

Star Trek: The Original Series to Launch on HD DVD

STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES, SEASON 1 will be released exclusively on HD DVD on Nov. 20 through a joint promotion with Toshiba America Consumer Products and CBS Home Ent. This marks the first full high-def launch of STAR TREK. The 10-disc set offers a combo experience with HD DVD on one side and standard DVD on the flip side.

As part of the promotion, purchasers of the boxed set and any Toshiba HD DVD player will get an exclusive, limited edition Phaser remote control that will operate Toshiba's HD DVD players.

Headline News

NicktoonsNetwork.com Gets a Bot Boost from Studiocom

Digital agency Studiocom has brought new life -- in the form of a spidery animated robot -- to the website of 24-hour animation channel Nicktoons Network. The new character and its accompanying logo not only change the experience of users on the site, but also capture the brand attributes and personality of Nicktoons Network. Although the network was only seeking a website redesign, Studiocom's creative team decided to go beyond the request and create a character that would both connect with animation fans and also act as the interface for the site.

Henson Headline News

Henson Co. and KCET to Team on Big Idea

The Jim Henson Company will partner with Los Angeles PBS station KCET to produce WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?, a new animated TV series to debut on PBS KIDS in 2008. The educational preschool series, which will promote science readiness by encouraging kids' instinctive curiosity about the world around them, is the latest in a long line of Henson-KCET co-productions, which include FRAGGLE ROCK, BEAR IN THE BIG BLUE HOUSE and MUPPET BABIES.

Nick Headline News

Nick Jr UK to Premiere Retooled Magic Roundabout

The U.K.'s Nick Jr will unveil a new CGI version of the classic animated series THE MAGIC ROUNDABOUT on Monday, October 22, 2007 at 8:00 am, with simultaneous on-air and online presentations. The world premiere of the first episode will air on cable and satellite preschool TV channels Nick Jr and Nick Jr 2, as well as on the Nick Jr on TMF programming block, available in all digital TV homes on music channel TMF. The episode can also be watched online via Nick Jr Video, the free broadband video player on Nick Jr's website, www.nickjr.co.uk.

Autodesk Headline News

Autodesk Launches Lustre 2008 Digital Color Grading System

Autodesk has launched the Lustre 2008 digital color grading system. Lustre has shaped colors and lighting in hundreds of feature films, trailers and TV shows, including BALLS OF FURY, EL CANTANTE, CHILDREN OF MEN, BABEL, KING KONG, CANE, PUSHING DAISIES and SWINGTOWN. Lustre 2008 will be showcased at Autodesk stand #7-420 during IBC 2007, held in Amsterdam's RAI Convention Center, Sept. 7-11.

Animation Headline News

IO Interactive Grabs morpheme for Game Development

IO Interactive is integrating NaturalMotion's morpheme into its game development pipeline and will be using it to design assets for an upcoming undisclosed next-generation game title. morpheme is robust animation middleware designed to give developers and animators unprecedented creative control over the look of their final in-game animation by allowing them to author and preview blends, blend trees and transition graphs in realtime.

Visual Headline News

Autodesk Launches New Versions of Visual Effects and Finishing Systems

Autodesk announced the 2008 releases of the Inferno, Flame and Flint visual effects systems, as well as the Fire and Smoke editing/finishing systems. These new releases are offered on Linux-based PCs, making Autodesk's visual effects and editing/finishing products more accessible to both high-end and mid-range markets. The new releases deliver open file systems, allowing for improved interoperability with third-party applications, as well as 100% clip compatibility across the Autodesk visual effects and editing/finishing pipeline.

Story Headline News

Futz! a Wrap for 9 Story Ent.

9 Story Ent. has announced that production has been completed on the first 26 episodes of its new animated comedy series FUTZ! The Teletoon Original Production is scheduled to premiere as part of the network's new fall programming lineup in September.

Targeting nine- to14-year-olds, the wacky comedy is a retro nonverbal cartoon based on the misadventures of its title character, who is ready for anything, prepared for nothing and always able to severely mess things up in just 180 seconds -- the length of each episode.

Imax Headline News

Order of the Phoenix Sets IMAX 3-D Record

Warner Bros. Pictures' HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX continues to break IMAX box office records through its 7th week. The IMAX 3-D release, has now earned more than $35 million worldwide ($24 million plus on 91 IMAX screens domestically and $11 million plus on 52 IMAX screens internationally), making it the highest grossing live-action Hollywood IMAX release.

Digital Headline News

Digital-Tutors Offers Creating Digital Humans Series for Maya

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 12:00am

Digital-Tutors introduced the CREATING DIGITAL HUMANS SERIES, a four-part collection of training and the latest release in a growing library of interactive training for emerging digital artists using Autodesk Maya. The series provides more than 20 hours of project-based training and guides artists through the technical and artistic processes of creating digital humans for use in film and games.

Headline News

Universal Laughs With Jeff the Immortal

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 12:00am

Universal has purchased Chris Bishop's supernatural comedy JEFF THE IMMORTAL, VARIETY reports. Marc Platt of Marc Platt Prods. is producing. Adam Goldberg will exec produce.

The story follows a slacker who discovers he has superpowers and begins using them in dubious ways.

Adam Siegel and Jared LeBoff are shepherding for Marc Platt Prods., with Jeff Kirschenbaum doing the same for Universal.

Film Headline News

Time to Enter European Independent Film Festival

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 12:00am

The European Independent Film Festival 2008Paris, FranceMarch 14-16, 2008Deadline: Jan. 15, 2008

Since its inception three years ago, the European Independent Film Festival has become the premier arena in Europe for independent filmmakers to screen their films to large international audiences, exchange ideas with other indie filmmakers, as well as to network with producers, talent scouts, agents and distributors.

Headline News

Romeo Must Die Helmer Controls Street Fighter

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 12:00am

Andrzej Bartkowiak, the helmer of action flicks such as ROMEO MUST DIE, EXIT WOUNDS and CRADLE TO THE GRAVE, has signed on to direct a second big-screen adaptation of Capcom's popular videogame STREET FIGHTER for Hyde Park Ent., reports VARIETY. Hyde Park head Ashok Amritraj and senior executive Patrick Aiello are the producers.

Justin Marks, who is also adapting VOLTRON and HE-MAN for the big screen, is penning the screenplay for STREET FIGHTER. The story will follow female fighter Chun Li's search for justice.

Films Headline News

Future Films Goes To Past for Viking Dream

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 12:00am

Future Films has tapped writer/director Menno Meyjes, who directed the upcoming MARTIAN CHILD and wrote the scripts for THE COLOR PURPLE and LIONHEART, to take the reins of its Viking flick, LAST BATTLE DREAMER, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Ryan Phillippe, Abbie Cornish and Sean Bean have already signed on to star.

Set in the 7th century, the story follows Viking warrior Thorfinn (Phillippe) and his brother Hakon (Bean) as they lead an invasion of Britian.

Autodesk Headline News

Autodesk Mini-Site Launches

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 12:00am

Autodesk Media and Entertainment and Animation World Network have partnered on a new mini-site, bringing professionals in-depth videos and articles on Autodesk software and the brilliant work studios are creating using Autodesk products. Autodesk takes viewers behind the scenes at Sway Studios, a company that makes commercials with an emphasis on photorealism. Get up close with Insomniac Games and how they are leading the way in PS3 games. Go behind the game creation at Neversoft Ent. as they shows off their extreme style. Enter the virtual garage of Armstrong White.

Animation Headline News

Latest AWM Acrobat Edition Now Available

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 12:00am

The latest Acrobat edition of Animation World Magazine has now gone live for free for a limited time. This time around the focus is recruiting and jobs. Joe Strike reports back on the changing and expanding partnership between animation studios and the growing number of animation schools. Janet Hetherington talks to professionals in the animation, TV and film industries to find out what they did before they landed their dream job. Karen Raugust reports on how digital technologies have changed the recruiting process, but passion, talent and teamwork still rule.

Digital Headline News

Habbo User Toons Compete For Habbowood Award

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 12:00am

Habbo announced today the kickoff of the first worldwide Habbowood Digital Movie Awards 2007. Using the Habbowood MovieMaker tool, aspiring filmmakers are invited to take the director's chair and create, star in and share their own animated movies in hopes of winning a Habbowood Award. For the first time ever, after claiming the top prize in Habbo.com, the winning film will be entered into a global contest against the winners from 18 other Habbo communities around the world to compete for a grand prize trip for two to Hollywood.

Headline News

WB To Unveil T-Works Immersive Online Animation Experience

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 12:00am

In spring 2008, Warner Bros. Ent. will launch T-Works, a brand-new broad-appeal immersive animation experience which, for the first time ever, brings together all of the key characters from the studio's core animated properties. T-Works is a cross-divisional and companywide initiative designed to take the studio's wealth of animated characters to a fully immersive and customizable online world.

Blogs

3:10 TO YUMA (1957) (***1/2)

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 9:30pm

This minor Western classic has a similar vibe to another famed Western, HIGH NOON. One man stands against the urging of everyone to do what is right. The chief difference between this film and the Gary Cooper classic is the presence of the charming killer played by Glenn Ford.

Dan Evans (Van Heflin, SHANE) is a rancher whose farm is suffering under a two-year draught. His wife Alice (Leora Dana, POLLYANNA) worries that they won't survive the year in the desert. One day with his two sons, Dan finds outlaw Ben Wade (Ford, THE BIG HEAT) using his cattle as a blockade in a stagecoach robbery. Later Dan reluctantly lures Wade into capture and aids the stage line owner Mr. Butterfield (Robert Emhardt, KID GALAHAD) in taking the bandit to Contention City to put him on the 3:10 train to Yuma.

Events

The 7th Enterprise Architecture Conference & Exhibition

By Guest (not verified) | Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 11:00am
Begins: September 5, 2007

The Enterprise Architecture 2007 Conference will bring together architecture, IT, and program management professionals from government, industry, and academia. The participants will discuss current trends in architecture, regulatory guidance, challenges for public sector enterprises, and lessons learned by those managing complex implementations in government organizations. The conference program is intended to be an interactive, professional education and networking experience. For information on attending or sponsorship opportunities, visit http://events.fcw.com/EventOverview.aspx?

Work Events

Morphy Fall Animation Art Auction

By Guest (not verified) | Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 11:00am
Begins: September 5, 2007

Morphy Auctions is hosting its fall animation art auction. Work will include original comic art, concept drawings, production cels, limited editions and comic book covers. Artists whose work will be on sale include:

* Hank Ketcham* Art Bartsch* Walter Lantz* David Berg* Stan Lee* Mary Blair* Bill Scott* Bud Blake* Ted Sears* Don Bluth* Webb Smith* Jim Bodrero* John Stanley* Al Capp* Frank Thomas* Mel Casson* Myron Waldman* Tom Cooke

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