ABC has pulled sci-fi/drama THRESHOLD from its sweeps lineup, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The freshman series began its run on Fridays at 9:00 pm and was later moved to the 10:00 pm slot with mild improvements. The Paramount Network TV show, which stars Carla Gugino, will be replaced by a repeat of CBS' promising new crime drama CRIMINAL MINDS for the November sweeps week.
IMAX Corp. and Warner Bros. Pictures announced that HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE and THE POLAR EXPRESS: AN IMAX 3-D EXPERIENCE registered the highest grossing weekend ever at IMAX theaters, with combined grosses of $3.1 million, each on 66 screens over the three-day period from Nov. 25-27.
Stan Berenstain, who along with his wife created the popular BERENSTAIN BEARS children's books, died on Nov. 26, 2005, reports CNN. He was 82 and lived in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
THE INCREDIBLES meets X-MEN and more in SKY HIGH (Buena Vista Home Ent., $29.99), which debuts on DVD Nov. 29, 2005. Kurt Russell stars in a cute throwback to his old Disney movies in this superhero riff (look out for Lynda Carter as the principal). Contains lots of vfx from Asylum VFX, Furious FX, Lola Visual Effects and Realscan 3D.
Bonus features include:* Alternate opening that many will find too over-the-top* Welcome to Sky High featurette
Monster Distributes has been busy closing sales following a successful MIPCOM, including two sales to Animania HD, a high-definition channel solely dedicated to animation, which has taken both PICME (104x5), from Irish production company Jammedia, and JUNGLE BEAT (13x5), from Zimbabwean production company Sunrise Media for U.S. high-definition broadcast.
A group of seasoned gaming veterans have formed Hyboreal Games as a new development studio on Nov. 28, 2005. Hyboreal Games was founded by Eric Sexton, Michio Okamura and Steven Woo, all industry veterans and former developers for Blizzard North, where their contributions were essential to the success of the highly acclaimed DIABLO franchise, which has sold well over 13 million copies worldwide. The Hyboreal Games mission is to make best-selling game franchises by applying the proven formula of mass accessibility, addictive game play and longevity through re-playability.
In anticipation of next weeks release of the live-action AEON FLUX movie with Charlize Theron, AEON FLUX: THE COMPLETE ANIMATED COLLECTION (Paramount Home Ent., $38.99) recently made its DVD debut. The futuristic cult series from creator Peter Chung, which began on MTVs LIQUID TELEVISION, was a very sophisticated and adult series that didnt shy away from sex and violence. The provocative DVD cover image alone, revealing Aeons eye with a fly caught between the lashes, is enticing enough. One wonders how the live-action version will achieve a comparable impact.
Innoventive Software, Llc. announced that its previsualization and storyboarding software, FrameForge 3D Studio, is now available for Windows fully localized in French with a French Installation and Getting Started Manual included.
Instead of David Beckham, the first 3D football animation produced in Singapore has the likes of characters with nicknames like Gangsta and Gorilla, reports YAHOO! NEWS SINGAPORE. But the creators of the series at Intense Animation Studios are confident it will score globally.
Produced by a Singapore company, the content will be distributed worldwide on broadband and even television.
The 12-minute pilot will be ready by early 2006 and is part funded by the Media Development Authority to be distributed by broadband and broadcast television.
PBS KIDS Sprout, a new television and online provider of content devoted to preschool children and their parents and caregivers, has appointed Sandy Wax president of the network and Andrew Beecham has joined svp of programming. In addition, Diana Kerekes, vp/general counsel of content development for Comcast Corp., assumes a seat on the PBS KIDS Sprout board of directors after serving as acting gm for the network during its development and launch.
THQ Inc. announced it has been named interactive game licensee for Columbia Pictures' next performance-capture film, MONSTER HOUSE from award-winning exec producers Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg. The film is directed by Gil Kenan, produced by Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey and is also exec produced by Jason Clark. THQ's worldwide agreement with Sony Pictures Consumer Products includes videogames for console and select handheld gaming systems. The MONSTER HOUSE videogames are slated for release in conjunction with the film release in summer 2006.
Baraka Post Production was appointed by Miami-based advertising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky and Outsider director James Rouse to provide pre-production expertise, on-site location advice, post production and 3D animation effects for a series of five commercials for Slim Jim.
The Algoma, Canada city council will look into the feasibility of building an adjacent Animation Centre to the Art Gallery Of Algoma, reports LTV.com. Gallery curator, Michael Burtch has championed the idea of a gallery of donated animation cels worth several million dollars from several cartoon series including SUPER DAVE OSBORNE and other successful Canadian productions. A study conducted in March said that a center of sufficient size and scale could draw tourists to the city. Councilor Steve Butland has put forth a resolution to create a task force to help develop a plan for the center.
Taylor Jessen takes a look at the anime feature that got away named My Life As McDull.
Annecy award-winner and leading Oscar contender THE MYSTERIOUS GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORATIONS OF JASPER MORELLO has won director Anthony Lucas the Digital Pictures AFI Award for Best Short Animation at the Australian Film Institute (AFI) awards. The event handed out its honors at a star-studded event on Nov. 26, 2005 in Melbourne.
Malin Erixon's seven-minute DEATH BY HEART took home the "Made in Stockholm" award on Nov. 26, 2005, at the Stockholm International Film Festival. The film produced by Ganzanderes Animation was recognized by the jury "for odd but gifted animation which, by a surrealistic touch, mixes expressions and narratives in a free manner." The festival, which featured 160 films from nearly 40 countries, can be visited online at www.filmfestivalen.se/sitelliteroot/index/festival2005.
Electronic Arts and Digital Illusions announced that the expansion pack for the award-winning BATTLEFIELD 2 PC game are now shipping to retail outlets and available via download at www.downloader.ea.com. Powered by the BATTLEFIELD 2 game engine, BATTLEFIELD 2: SPECIAL FORCES brings players into the realm of covert ops with the latest, most technologically advanced vehicles and weapons systems.
Actor Pat Morita, best known for his iconic role as martial-arts master/handy man Mr. Miyagi in THE KARATE KID franchise, has died, reported the AP. He was 73.
There were conflicting reports regarding the cause of death. His daughter Aly Morita stated he died Nov. 24, 2005, of heart failure at a Las Vegas hospital; while longtime manager Arnold Soloway said he died of kidney failure at a hospital where he was awaiting a transplant.
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.
This week in AWN's Forums, a high school freshman wants some advice on whether to take drawing classes over intro to animation courses.
Comedy Central recently launched its first broadband-optimized video channel "COMEDY CENTRAL MotherLoad," offering exclusively new original series and content from classic Comedy Central shows such as Robert Smigel's TV FUNHOUSE. To view "MotherLoad" go to www.comedycentral.commotherload.
Irving Ludwig, former president of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, and one of the most respected and innovative executives in theatrical film distribution, passed away at his home in Santa Monica, California, from natural causes on Nov. 26. He was 95-years -old.
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE topped the box office for the second consecutive week during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday period ended Nov. 27, 2005. The fourth entry in the hugely successful Warner Bros. franchise (with vfx from Double Negative, Framestore CFC, MPC, ILM, Cinesite, Animal Logic, The Orphanage, BUF and Rising Sun) added $81.3M for a total gross of $201M.
Nik and Nancy are starting to dig into their closets -- the first of many
house sales !!
Vintage clothing from the 20's, 30's and 40's
Hats and accessories
A few just plain oddities
Come buy or just by to say hello
Sunday, November 27 - 11 AM to 6ish (as long as people are buying)
2066 30th Avenue between Pacheco & Quintara in San Francisco
It
