Pileated Pictures announced that it recently wrapped production of a dozen animated episodes to support the launch of Trivial Pursuit DVD for Kids. The team at Pileated handled all aspects of production for Parker Brothers, owned by Hasbro, including animation, design, voice-over production, video post work and DVD authoring.

Wildform, Inc. announced the release of a new, consumer priced “Lite” version of its popular presentation program, WildPresenter, which allows users to create Flash slide shows, flow charts, ads, online lessons and sales presentations.

Users can combine text, images, audio, artwork and shapes as well as add hundreds of animations, slide transitions and Flash features such as play controls, preloaders, links and mouse-overs. Additionally, users can import and then edit, combine and manipulate any Flash SWF and FLV file.

This week in AWN's Forums, members are debating the pros and cons of steady work versus exciting projects. Others are chiming in one who they think is the greatest Looney Tunes director. More discussion continues on why drawing is so important. There’s a member who is wondering whether they are being taken advantage of with a recent salary offer as a Flash animator. Other member has questions about making maquettes. There are also a thread on Cintiq and tablet-based animation, outsourcing and experimental animation.

KAPPA MIKEY, the breakout Nicktoons Network hit anime/comedy series about a struggling American actor-turned-Japanese anime star, migrated to Nickelodeon as of Aug. 20, 2006, at 11:00 am, leading into the net's new series, SHURIKEN SCHOOL at 11:30 am.

Nicktoons Network, Nickelodeon’s 24-hour animation network, and Frederator Studios announced award winners from Nicktoons Network Animation Festival during the festival’s first two-day live event at the Nick Toon Studio lot in Burbank, California. Keith Dawkins, gm, Nicktoons Network, emceed the presentation of the awards plus a sneak peak at the shorts to be broadcast.

The winners and prizes are as follows:
Student Award Winner — LIBRARYHEAD by David Bazelon, Los Angeles

Warner Bros. Online is launching a website for the classic animation house Hanna-Barbera, relaunching its Scooby-Doo website and add a host of new content to its LooneyTunes.com site.

Beginning in mid-August, each site will roll out new, innovative, interactive content, including: broadband video channels featuring classic animated shorts; original downloadable audio content; customized applications; social networking; user-generated content; games and much more.

Adult Swim’s newest original series, METALOCALYPSE, which premiered Aug. 6, 2006 at 11:45 pm, earned the network’s best premiere delivery and ratings to date in 2006, according to preliminary data from Nielsen Media Research. The animated satire on extreme rock bands ranked #1 in its time period among adults and men 18-24 and men 18-34. The premiere also charted strong double-digit delivery and ratings gains among all targeted young adult demos.

This week in AWN's Forums, there’s a new thread dedicated to good podcasts about animation. A member is getting advice on how to turn his big Flash bummer into an animation success. Others discuss why drawing is important. There’s a thread discussing racist imagery in classic cartoons. A member has a question about copyrighting scripts. Others are posting their work or equipment for sale. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!

This week in AWN's Forums, a member posts his big Flash bummer. Another member is looking for information on master’s degrees. There are multiple threads asking software and hardware questions from 3D scanners to Flash. There’s a post discussing Disney’s latest short, LITTLE MATCH GIRL. The world’s funniest cartoon quotes are being collected in one thread. There’s a member that needs help on walk cycles.

DC Comics, Warner Home Video (WHV) and Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) announced the start of production and distribution of “DC Universe,” a series of original, animated PG-13 movies. The slate features two to three action-packed films per year.

With 2006 being the 40th Anniversary of SPEED RACER, Art Asylum will be premiering episodes of the new animated promos, as well as the videogame, upcoming SPEED RACER soundtrack and toy line exclusively at Booth # 3913 at San Diego’s Comic-Con, July 19–23, 2006. Each day of the show fans can come by and watch the individual episodes while they meet the team from Heroes Garage.

Radical Axis, Inc., an Atlanta studio that specializes in animation and design for broadcast (AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE, SQUIDBILLIES), is producing Comedy Central’s new animated half-hour series, FREAK SHOW. The show chronicles the adventures of a band of freak show performers and second-rate superheroes. Created by comedians David Cross and H. Jon Benjamin, Freak Show will premiere Oct. 4, 2006, 10:30 pm.

Animation production company Noodlesoup Prods. has renamed itself World Leaders Ent. with the launch of the new animated series SUPERNORMAL, its first global co-production with U.K. TV leader Granada Television.

SUPERNORMAL is the story of Eric Normal, a special boy with no super powers, who attends Superhero Junior High School and befriends three of the “less promising” but “stand-out” members of the student body.

D7 Studios has launched the first chapter of its new animated adventure series, D7PEACEMAKER – REVELATION, in multi-platform release, including High Definition, DVD, iPod and Internet download at www.D7.com. The online version of the series allows the viewer to watch and interact with additional scenes, giving more insight into specific characters and foreshadow events to come.

DesignMentor Training announces the addition of master illustrator/animator, Chris Georgenes, to its roster of Flash trainers. Georgenes teaches Flash Animation, the final class in DesignMentor's comprehensive Flash Design Portfolio-Builder Program, where students learn character animation and techniques used to enhance any Flash design project. By using basic frame-by-frame techniques and tweening, Georgenes teaches students to draw and animate simple characters, add motion, drama and expression.

Nexus Prods. has completed a series of animated short films for Animal Planet, Italy.

The films, written and directed by Bessy & Combe, Carolina Melis and Celyn, range from one to three minutes and feature a break dancing cat, a snake-impersonating giraffe and some stampeding mammoths.

The three episodes of MAGIC CAT, directed by Celyn, each tell a tale of a little boy, Paulo, and his sometimes surreal adventures with a mysteriously appearing cat who seems to be able to bend space and time at will.

Spanish 3D school Sintesys has launched a new 3D chat online as a service directed to its website users and school students.

HOUSTON CHRONICLE editorial cartoonist Nick Anderson has moved into 3D animation with a new short on Chron.com, reports EDITOR & PUBLISHER. The first animation skewers the Supreme Court's recent Texas redistricting ruling.

Anderson said future animations "will grow in complexity." The opportunity to do 3D animation was his "deciding factor in accepting the job at the CHRONICLE. It is an incredible opportunity to redefine the role of a staff cartoonist."

This week in AWN's Forums, a potential student has some questions and concerns about online animation schools. Others are still abuzz about 2D animation returning to Disney. There are also several posts asking for help in using Flash. More members post their frustrating work experience in a thread titled “The definition of frustration.” Another member wants to know if it’s worth attending the Ottawa Festival. A junior member shows off his daunting effort animating in a foreign language.

This week in AWN's Forums, a member presents the definition of frustration. Another thread is collecting member’s favorite animation style. Others are talking about the return of 2D to Disney. A member has a question regarding character design in Flash. Others are talking about return of FUTURAMA. A potential student has questions about Animation Mentor. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!