SIGGRAPH 2005 Posts Electronic Theater Program
ACM SIGGRAPH has posted the program for the Computer Animation Festivals Electronic Theater for SIGGRAPH 2005, the 32nd International Conference on Computer Graphics & Interactive Techniques, being held July 31 to Aug. 4 in Los Angeles, California.
The screenings will be held in Hall K Aug. 1 (7:00-9:00 pm), Aug. 2 (1:30-3:30 pm, 7:00-9:00 pm) and Aug. 3 (1:30-3:30 pm, 7:00-9:00 pm).
The Electronic Theater program includes:
* 9U.S.Director: Shane Ackerwww.shaneacker.comContact: Shane Acker
Vicon Forms Feature Unit
Vicon, developer of Academy Award-winning motion capture technology, the Vicon Feature Unit (VFU), a new Los Angeles-based entity devoted to on-site consulting, custom service, development and pipeline building for its film, videogame and TV clientele. VFU will be able to provide everything from purchasing and setup advice, pre-production, capture and post-production services through to custom hardware and software to rapidly deliver on unique studio requirements and project demands.
Nick Orders 20 New Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends Episodes
Nickelodeon has ordered 20 new episodes of MISS SPIDER'S SUNNY PATCH FRIENDS, a 3D animated co-production from Nelvana/Absolute Pictures, which airs weekdays on Nick Jr. at 10:00 am. The series is based on the beloved book series by David Kirk (published by Callaway & Kirk).
"Miss Spider's message of friendship and kindness to fellow bugs is an important one for all of us ... bug or human!" said Brown Johnson, exec creative director, Nickelodeon Preschool Television. "It's great to be working with Nelvana and David Kirk on another season of this beautiful series."
BKN Signed Global Interactive Licensing Deals on Legend of the Dragon
BKN International A.G. announced during the Licensing International 2005 Trade Show in New York City that it has signed worldwide interactive licensing deals for two of its animated titles with The Game Factory, Inc (Game Factory) and Planeta DeAgostini Interactive (Planeta).
AWN & VFXWorld Sponsor VES’ eDwards
Animation World Network and VFXWorld are proud to announce that we will be a media sponsor for the Visual Effects Societys eDIT 8.Filmmakers Festival in Frankfurt, Germany, Oct. 9-11, 2005. We will be sponsoring eDward VI, which celebrates the work of talented artists under the age of 30. The theme for this years competition is Artificial Humans. The top finalists will be showcased in a gallery of AWN. For more information on the event, visit http://www.edit-frankfurt.de.
Digital Musings From the Editor:
Continuing our focus this month on education and jobs, Karen Raugust looks at how Indian animation and vfx programs are teaming up with studios and software providers such as Alias to expand their workforce and grow their 3D industry. Meanwhile, later on this week and next, Alain Bielik explores the cutting edge vfx in both BEWITCHED and HERBIE: FULLY LOADED, which are also part of the programming lineup this weekend at the 2005 VES-VFX Festival of Visual Effects, June 24-26 at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica.
New Captain Scarlet Powered by Vicon MX40 Cameras
GERRY ANDERSONS NEW CAPTAIN SCARLET, the 3D-animated TV series currently airing in the U.K. and picked up for U.S. distribution by Sony Pictures Television, marks the first entertainment project completed with Vicons four-million pixel MX40 motion capture cameras.
2005 VES-VFX Festival Bows This Weekend at the Aero
The latest in visual effects artistry will be on display this weekend, as the Visual Effects Society presents the 2005 VES-VFX Festival of Visual Effects, June 24-26 at the newly renovated Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. The festival boasts 15 events, including chats with Academy Award- winning visual effects artists, screenings of topical vfx films, panels with the leaders of vfx used in television, commercials, games and more. Tickets can be purchased online at www.vesfestival.org and are also available by calling the Visual Effects Society office at (310) 822-9181.
Nick & Viacom Latin America Forms Retail Partnership with Ripley In Chile
Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products Latin America, and Ripley, one of the largest department stores in Chile, have formed an exclusive retail partnership to bring some of Nickelodeons most popular properties to Ripleys, across multiple categories with special marketing and promotional tie-ins.
Toy Story 3 Slated for Summer 2008
Disney Consumer Products chair Andy Mooney announced that the Pixar-less TOY STORY 3 will open in the summer of 2008 at the International Licensing Show in New York City.
This comes on the heels of Disney Feature Animation announcing at Los Angeles ACM SIGGRAPH earlier in the week that it will be heavily recruiting CG talent for TOY STORY 3 at SIGGRAPH 2005.
Marvel/Fox Zoom Lawsuit Against Sony/ Revolution
Marvel Enterprises and 20th Century Fox have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Revolution Studios and Sony Pictures Ent. over the production of sci-fi comedy ZOOM, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The case claims that the film, which stars Tim Allen and Chevy Chase and is based on Jason Lethcoe's graphic novel ZOOM'S ACADEMY FOR THE SUPER GIFTED, copies too much of the X-MEN mythology.
The lawsuit filed June 20, 2005, in U.S. District Court, Central District of California is seeking injunctive relief and monetary damages.
Bandai & Manga Ent. To Release Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex Volume 7
Manga Ent. and Bandai Ent. have announced the release of the seventh and final volume of GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX in both Standard and Limited Editions versions on July 26, 2005. Both editions contain three half-hour episodes encoded directly from high-definition masters, featuring superb surround sound plus bonus extras.
The Special Edition comes with a Laughing Man T-shirt, Tachikoma Collectors ID card and an exclusive collectors tin DVD Box that will fit all of the 7 Volumes of the SAC series together.
Animation/Robot Exhibition Proposed in Japan
The Japan Business Federation proposed June 21, 2004, holding an animation and robot exhibition to help boost the number of foreign tourists to Japan to 10 million by 2010, reports Yahoo.com.
The nation's biggest business lobby, known as Nippon Keidanren, recommended Japan host an animation and robot exhibition as early as 2009 between the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2010 World Exposition in Shanghai to introduce Japanese pop culture and state-of-the-art technologies to the world.
Dragon Booster Scorches with New Licensing Deals
Alliance Atlantis has secured North American publishing and apparel deals for its children's CGI animated property, DRAGON BOOSTER.
Hyperion Books for Children, having acquired the U.S. and Canadian publishing rights, will launch a series of DRAGON BOOSTER books beginning in fall 2005. Extreme Concepts, who will begin rolling out the clothing line in fall 2005, has licensed the DRAGON BOOSTER apparel rights in the U.S.
Nick Brings Avatar & Three Nick Jr. Programs to Licensing
Nickelodeon comes to Licensing Show at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City with a brand-new licensing program for AVATAR, Nickelodeon's newest animated series that is already the number-three animated program on television, third only to powerhouses SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS and THE FAIRLY ODDPARENTS. The network also brings new plans for animated hit show DANNY PHANTOM, live-action tween favorite ZOEY 101 and hotter-than-ever SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS.
Naruto Licensed To Bandai America
VIZ Media Llc. announced a master licensing agreement with Bandai America for videogames on Sony-based platforms and trading card games for VIZ Medias new series, Shonen Jumps NARUTO.
AWN Giving Away Tickets For The Joe Grant Celebration!
Family, friends and colleagues of pioneering Disney artist/storyman Joe Grant will celebrate his life and career on June 28 at The Alex Theatre in Glendale at 7:00 pm.
Nelvana Gets Mobile at Licensing Show With DTV & Horticulture Deals
At Licensing Show, Nelvana has announced its direct-to-DVD plans, mobile initiatives and a new deal with London's Royal Horticultural Society.
As the Nelvana readies its production slate for the next two years, it is working on a comprehensive DTV strategy that will encompass titles based on its library, original and acquired content.
Latest Animation Guild Newsletter Hits The Net!
The Animation Guild has posted the June issue of their newsletter, The Peg-Board, on their website at http://www.mpsc839.org, which is hosted by Animation World Network.
This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for June 20, 2005
AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for June 20, 2005
This week in AWN's Forums, more members share their thoughts on their favorite underrated Disney film.
Win a Comicbook Deal in the Screenwriting Expo 4 Screenplay Competition
Screenwriting Expo 4 Screenplay CompetitionWorld Wide WebNovember 13, 2005Deadline: August 22, 2005
The Screenwriting Expo 4 Screenplay Competition is giving away $80,000 in cash and prizes. The Expo 3 Screenplay Competition is supported by the Writers Guild of America, west.
Atomic Betty Licensed to Hallmark Cards
ATOMIC BETTY producer Breakthrough Animation, through its representative Joy Tashjian Marketing Group Llc. (JTMG), has added Hallmark Cards Inc. as the newest licensee for its Cartoon Network animated series. Hallmark has licensed ATOMIC BETTY for product categories encompassing party goods, party decorations, gift wrap, greeting cards and Christmas ornaments.
Acker Gets the Gold at Student Academy Awards
Shane Acker from University of California, Los Angeles won the Gold Medal for his film, 9, in the animation category in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 32nd Annual Student Academy Awards competition June 12, 2005. He was among 12 winning film students that participated in several days of industry-related activities and social events prior to the awards presentation ceremony at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.