This week in AWN's Forums, members are posting three sentences on CHICKEN LITTLE. A junior member wants to know why students first have cover 2D in colleges and can’t go directly into 3D animation? There’s a thread on painting in Photoshop. Members are still talking about Cartoon Network’s SUNDAY PANTS. Others have questions on exporting layers from Flash. Moreover, there’s a thread on pricing animation. As well, lots of members have posted their work for others to check out and critique.

Paramount Home Ent. has greenlit the first feature length production of QUEER DUCK – THE MOVIE from four-time Emmy award-winning creator and writer Mike Reiss (THE SIMPSONS, THE CRITIC). The original shorts were broadcast on the Net on Icebox.com and later aired on Showtime.

Frederator Studios founder Fred Seibert has launched Channel Frederator, the world's first cartoon video podcast created expressly for distribution of world-class content on portable video devices, such as the Apple iPod and the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP).

Episodes released weekly will contain several shorts from original and vintage cartoons submitted by producers from around the world, packaged into 10- to 15-minute episodes by the Channel Frederator programming team.

AMD announced that the digital backbone of the new Lucasfilm Animation Singapore digital animation center is powered by AMD64 processor technology. The Singapore facility is Lucasfilm Ltd.’s first animation studio in Asia and complements its new Letterman Digital Arts Center at the Presidio in San Francisco.

This week in AWN's Forums, members have started discussing THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. There’s a new thread talking about good books members have read lately. Another member needs some tips on Flash assembly. Others are debating TV shows with great writing. Moderator Larry L. returns from Paris and gives praise to the students there. In addition, there are posts discussing FOSTER’S and HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE. Other members continue to post their sketches and animation for others to critique.

In a deal signed at MIPCOM 2005, Icon Animation has signed a deal to bring its animated series LOLA & VIRGINIA (52x11) to Disney Channel Italy, adding to the earlier acquisition of the series by Disney Channel Spain. The series, which is targeted at girls 8-12, has already pre-sold to Nickelodeon Channel Latin America, Disney Channel Spain, RCTV Venezuela and Animania USA.

Jewish Animation Celebration
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
January 2006
Deadline: November 11, 2005

The Toronto Animated Image Society (TAIS) is hosting its Jewish Animation Celebration. The short film and video show is entering its third year and celebrates Jewish culture, tradition, art and community. It’s open to all kinds of animation, classical cels, paint, cutouts, Flash, 3D, puppets, etc. Entries’ total running time must not exceed 10 minutes. For more information, visit www.awn.com/tais.

While Aardman Animation studios in Bristol, England, was tragically engulfed in flames today, destroying its “entire history,” its latest stop motion feature, WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT debuted at the top of the U.S. box office for the weekend ended Oct. 9, 2005. The DreamWorks release (with vfx from MPC) posted $16M.

Cartoon Network will launch SUNDAY PANTS, a new Sunday evening, 30-minute showcase of original and acquired animated shorts, starting Oct. 2, 2005, at 9:30 pm. SUNDAY PANTS will feature a variety of animation styles, from traditional hand-drawn animation to artists working on computer-based Flash and CGI, as well as both original and acquired shorts, giving Cartoon Network the opportunity to work with many different animators from around the world.

Four of INTERspectacular's animated pieces for Comedy Central (ROBOGIRL, ALPHONSE AND ORVILLE, MONSTER MUNCHIES and STUMPY) have been accepted into the Ottawa International Animation Festival. The shorts will screen this week as part of the festival's Short Competition One. Screenings will take place at the Bytowne Cinema on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2005, at 9:00 pm and Sunday, Sept. 25, at 3:00 pm.

This week in AWN's Forums, a recent thread asks questions about character animation using Flash. Another member needs help with digital coloring backgrounds. Yet another member has questions about copyrighted music. Someone wants advice on pitching a series to Cartoon Network. There’s a thread asking why animation — what brought the other members to the medium. Another post deals with getting started on mouth charts. Moderator Larry L starts a thread on the rebirth of 2D.

Robin Lyons’ new company, Calon, recently formed from the original Cardiff-based Siriol team, is bringing its new creation, SAFEHOUSE HOTEL, to Cartoon Forum this week in Denmark.

Kids' WB! new 2005-2006 broadcast season will be highlighted by the world premieres of three new series and four returning hits. Kids’ WB! kicks off its new schedule Sept. 17 (8:00 am-12 pm ET /7:00-11:00 am PT). On Monday, Sept. 19 (3-5:00 pm ET/PT), the new season’s Monday-Friday weekday lineup will debut, introducing the high-octane vehicles-turned-robots world of TRANSFORMERS: CYBERTRON, along with more exciting adventures of returning shows, five days a week.

Continuing our special event specific Flash Newsletters, we will be publishing special editions for MIPCOM. This event is fast approaching and our editorial and advertising staff is gearing up for the Flash Newsletter series. Here are the dates for the publications.

MIPCOM Flash Newsletters
Sept. 27, 2005
Oct. 4, 2005
Oct. 11, 2005

Check out our previous special Flash newsletters.

Vancouver and Boston-based production company Global has created a new TV series division anchored by three new animation projects: 20 episodes of a new series for PBS and WGBH called FETCH!; three children’s books for the next season of the award-winning PBS series, BETWEEN THE LIONS, produced by WGBH Boston, Sirius Thinking Ltd. and Mississippi Public Broadcasting; and a five-episode original series created by Lincoln Pierce for a new programming block on Cartoon Network.

Animation channel TELETOON has struck seven new development agreements with Canadian producers for a diverse slate of titles that reflect the network's core programming blocks, including its kids and after-school lineup, as well as its successful Teen/Young Adult option, The Detour on TELETOON.

Nickelodeon Europe has purchased the VITAMINIX series from Barcelona-based Icon Animation for the broadcast on Nickelodeon channels airing in Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Holland and Flemish-speaking Belgium after a successful run on Nickelodeon channels in Latin America and Spain, of the 2D Flash animated shorts (104x2), which aim to teach children about the nutritional value of food, minerals and vitamins.

Heavenspot, a Hollywood-based full service international design agency, recently completed the interactive website launch for TENACIOUS D IN THE PICK OF DESTINY, a feature film that will be released by New Line Cinema in early 2006 starring Jack Black and Kyle Gass.

The interactive site package includes Flash animation, an original interactive interface, a progressive design aesthetic and high quality Flash video.

Pork and Beans Productions’ animated short, THE LAWS OF GRAVITY, has been selected to appear in Nicktoon’s the NEXTOONS: THE NICKTOONS FILM FESTIVAL, a weeklong festival of shorts submitted by animators worldwide. The short airs in the seventh episode on Aug. 27, 2005, at 9:00 pm ET/12:00 am PT and August 28 at 12:00 am ET/3:00 am PT on Nicktoons, as well as be simulcast on www.nicktoons.com.

This week in AWN's Forums, a junior member is looking for ideas on how to animation production in America. Another junior members continue to have questions about schools. Another member is organizing a group picture of forum members comprises of individuals’ drawings. There’s a thread on editing .SFW Flash animation. Others continue to discuss FOSTER’S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS. A musician is looking for animators to work with. There are additional posts with members’ artwork for others to check out.