This month we take a look at one area of animation that has been showing enormous and steady growth. With game development on the rise and the emergence of new platforms, the gaming industry is rich with possibilities - not only economic but also artistic. Jacquie Kubin tells us why gaming is bigger than ever and how animators can bank on it in the future. Paul Younghusband discovers why Artworld UK is one of the leading, innovative gaming companies using digital images across several mediums for both continuity and profits.

* March 2001. World Wide Web



The Mogra Festival 2001 is an online exhibit highlighting work from motion designers from around the globe. The idea is to create a comprehensive gallery of both creative and corporate work created in After Effects and motion graphics. The online gallery will be located at www.pitchtv.com, similar to the Interactive Playground. There are plans in the works to create a physical exhibit in New York City. For more information visit Web: www.pitchtv.com.

Valencia, Spain's BLACK MARIA STUDIOS, an animation production studio specialized in 2D, 3D and Flash animation for TV, multimedia and Internet, is looking for 3D MODELERS and ANIMATORS with strong abilities for organic characters for TV productions. . . London, United Kingdom's Double Negative is looking for a CG R&D PROGRAMMER for its feature film visual effects team. . . New York's Epoch Films is looking for a RECEPTION/OFFICE MANAGER. . . New York's FDG, a live-action/broadcast design production company in the field of visual science, is looking for freelance 3D DESIGNERS/ANIMATORS. . .

A re-mastered version of the anime classic AKIRA is coming to theaters in the U.S. Long Beach, California-based Pioneer Entertainment, a top U.S. anime licensing company, is putting US$1 million into restoring the 1988 sci-fi epic. International Video Conversations is re-mastering and re-mixing the audio in Dolby Digital AC3 Surround Sound. In addition, the film will contain a new English dub created from a fresh translation of the Japanese script. Pioneer will release this restored version on DVD and VHS in the fourth quarter.

The erotic anime feature DEMON WARRIOR KOJI will heat up video stores on January 9, 2001. Man-demon Koji, with the aide of a morbid psychic, hunts down a monster hungry for blood. The film is from Toshio Maeda, creator of LA BLUE GIRL, UROTSUKIDOJI: LEGEND OF THE OVERFIEND, DEMON BEAST INVASION and NIGHTMARE CAMPUS. The dubbed VHS tape will retail for US$29.99. A dual-language DVD will be available on March 13, 2001.

Without one Y2K fear we are slipping into 2001 already. This issue we are taking on the big questions that are facing the animation industry on the brink of the new year. For instance, Eric Oldrin discusses everyone's favorite topic, the Internet, and its current identity crisis. Michael Hurwicz is ponders whether or not the Internet is actually helping independent animators. Are there increased distribution outlets in this new age or are our fearless independents still in an unfunded jam? Finally, we take a long hard look at the U.S.

West Hollywood, California visual effects and design house Ring of Fire has added four new talents to their roster including lead motion graphics/special effects designer Todd DuFour, Henry artist Paul Geiger, Henry artist John Ciampa and inferno* artist Danny Yoon. Previously, DuFour operated his own broadcast and Web design company called Burrn. Prior to opening Burrn, DuFour spent three years freelancing at ad agency TBWA/Chiat Day as their lead motion graphic designer. Previously, Geiger worked as a freelance Henry artist and before that he worked for Pittard Sullivan.

NewTek announced late last week that Lightwave 6.5, the new upgrade to their award-winning 3D software, is now available for download from their Website. The new version was originally to be called Lightwave 6.1, but NewTek decided that due to the large array of new features and improvements they would pitch it as a more significant upgrade. "Lightwave 6.0 was a monumental release, and the new architecture it provides has allowed this release to consist of hundreds of features in a relatively short amount of time. Upgrades to follow should be no less significant.

December's feature articles are based on the themes of location-based entertainment and anime. Karl Cohen is profiling Imax -- is animation's next frontier in peril? Also, Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman is discussing the past and future of LBE, specifically VR. On the anime side of things Fred Patten is profiling "Vampire Hunter D," the latest anime release to arrive on U.S. soil. Andrew Osmond is interviewing a number of experts and scholars on the stylistic merits of Japanese animation. Be ready to put on your thinking cap before reading this one.

Anime 18, a top distributor of erotic anime, is releasing MAGIC WOMAN M on video December 12, 2000. Nineteen-year-old Meru is a sorceress who battles unsavory beasts with her explosive power unleashed during the state of pure ecstasy. The 60-minute adventure will sell for US$29.99.

All five episodes of the erotic anime series, NIGHTMARE CAMPUS, are coming to DVD on December 5, 2000. The series was created by Toshiro Maeda, creator of UROTSUKIDOJI: LEGEND OF THE OVERFIEND and LA BLUE GIRL. The series chronicles 19-year-old Masao's fight to save the world when a bloody sacrificial rite opens the gates of Hell. The DVD features: a "meet the cast" section; yearbook; promos; parental control features; interactive chapter stops; and three language tracks in English, Japanese and Japanese with English-subtitles.

December feature articles are based on the themes of location-based entertainment and anime. Karl Cohen is profiling Imax -- is animation's next frontier in peril? Also, Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman is discussing the past and future of LBE, specifically VR. On the anime side of things Fred Patten is profiling "Vampire Hunter D," the latest anime release to arrive on U.S. soil. Andrew Osmond is interviewing a number of experts and scholars on the stylistic merits of Japanese animation. Be ready to put on your thinking cap before reading this one.

Manga Video is releasing anime classic WINGS OF HONNEAMISE on DVD November 28, 2000. At the time of the production in 1987, HONNEAMISE marked the highest budget for any Japanese animated feature ever at ¥800 million (approximately US$8 million). The DVD's special features are: three language tracks, one in English, one in Japanese and one in Japanese with English subtitles; director commentary; an original promotional short; a deleted scene; conceptual artwork; and storyboards.

Based on the popular TV series SUPERDIMENSIONAL FORTRESS MACROSS, MACROSS II is the follow-up to the original anime classic. Hitting stores on November 28, 2000, the second film in the theatrical MACROSS franchise, continues the tale of Earth's fight against the Zentradi, an alien race of giants. Taking place eight years after the first MACROSS in a time of peace, renegade Zentradi bent on war use strength sapping music to defeat the humans.

The anime feature, LEDA: THE FANTASTIC ADVENTURES OF YOHKO, is arriving on video November 28, 2000. The story follows high school student Yohko as she travels to Earth's mirror planet Ashanti and must aid the universal warriors in defeating the dimension's new leaders from taking over Earth. The video will be available in an English-subtitled and English-dubbed version for US$9.95.

December will feature articles based on the themes of location-based entertainment and anime. Karl Cohen is profiling Imax -- is animation's next frontier in peril? Also, Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman will be discussing the past and future of LBE, specifically VR. On the anime side of things Fred Patten is going to review "Vampire Hunter D," the latest anime release to arrive on U.S. soil. Andrew Osmond is going to be interviewing a number of experts and scholars on the stylistic merits of Japanese animation. Be ready to put on your thinking cap before reading this one.

ADV Films and DIC will release the first two compellations of the popular TV anime series SAILOR MOON on November 21, 2000. The series is the story of Serena, a junior high school student who discovers that she has mystical powers and must defend the world against Queen Beryl and the evils of the Negaverse. ADV Films has licensed the first 82 episodes of the series from DIC and will be releasing them periodically. "The Legend Begins" and "The Power of Friendship" will be the first two volumes released, containing four episodes each. The tapes will retail for US$12.98 each.

ADV Films is proud to present the sequel to the popular SAMURAI X anime feature entitled SAMURAI X: BETRAYAL. After the Great Fire in Edo, Kenshin and Tomoe find peace on a small farm, however the rebellion is slowly rebuilding and the duo's peaceful existence is disrupted when dire news arrives from the city. ADV will release SAMURAI X: BETRAYAL in an English dubbed version on VHS. The DVD release of the film will contain both the English dubbed and subtitled versions. An English subtitled VHS version will be released under the original Japanese title, RUROUNI KENSHIN: BETRAYAL.

Anime 18 is set to unveil MASQUERADE "Darkness of Love" on video November 14, 2000. From Masaki Kajishima, the creator of PHOTON, MASQUERADE is an erotic thriller that delves into the desires and devastation of discovering eternal life. The video will sell for US$29.99.