Heavenspot, a full service international design agency located in Hollywood, recently completed an online game design for Watson DG on HUSTLE AND FLOW, a newly released feature film from Paramount Studios.

Catering to the features core youth market and hip-hop audience, the game package includes fresh sound effects, innovative flash interfaces, a progressive design theory and the ability to email your customized ride to a friend.

Bakers Man, an industry leader in Internet based technology, marketing communications and digital information management for the entertainment industry, has formed a new production company, TrueLight Entertainment, to provide a wide range of animation production, innovative marketing and e-learning services based on proprietary processes and tools. Industry veteran Kevin O’Donnell is president of new media company.

This week in AWN's Forums, a member asks whether ToonBoom Studio is worth the price. A student wants to know the pros and cons of the New England Institute of Art versus Ringling or Sheridan. Another student is looking to find a lead animator to interview for a school project. A member asks whether you can do traditional 2D animation in Flash. Others are looking for members to critique their work. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!

Alias has lots to demonstrate and talk about at its SIGGRAPH 2005 booth #1312 at the Los Angeles Convention Center with the release of its Maya 7 and MotionBuilder 7 software packages.

Maya 7 builds upon the architecture and performance enhancements in Maya 6.5 with new and improved tools for fast, realistic character animation, streamlined modeling and texturing, stunning visual effects and increased productivity. It also incorporates Pixar's patented technology.

This week in AWN's Forums, a member asks Flash so what’s so wrong with it? Another member wants to find a good drawing tablet. There’s a thread animation training for preschool kids. A new member introduces themselves to the forums. Another thanks the members for great feedback. Others continue to post their work for review. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!

Bitfilm Festival 2005
Hamburg, Germany
November 2-6, 2005
Deadline: July 15, 2005

The Bitfilm Festival for digital film and new media shows films that use digital technology in a creative and innovative way. There are six categories:

* 3D SPACE – Computer-generated 3D animations
* FX MIX - Digitally composed hybrids, mixing for example live action and animation
* FLASH ATTACK - Films produced in Macromedia Flash
* MACHINIMA - Movies made in real time with game engines

TIME WARP TRIO combines humor and great stories to ignite kids’ interest in history in a new action-adventure animated series, which debuted on the Discovery Kids on NBC Saturday morning block on July 9, 2005. The show will air weekly at 10:30 am (ET)/8:30 am (PT) (check local listings), and also airs on the Discovery Kids Channel.

TOM Online, a leading wireless Internet company in China, will be the sole wireless and the premier Internet distribution partner for Warner Bros. Online (WBOL) in China.

TOM Online Inc. and WBOL formed a strategic partnership that includes the launch of the first official Warner Bros. Studios site in China, (http://ent.tom.com/warnerbros.html). Part of the popular TOM Online portal, www.tom.com, the site is the first to deliver official studio content to Chinese fans via the Internet and wireless platforms.

Two short-form series, the new SHANE'S KINDERGARTEN COUNTDOWN (a spinoff of the popular SHANNA'S SHOW) and new installments of ADVENTURES IN NUTRITION WITH CAPTAIN CARLOS, premiered June 20 during Playhouse Disney's new "Breakfast with Bear" hour on Disney Channel. The programming block will now air weekdays from 7:00-8:00 am.

Sedelmaier Productions has summoned his creative crew to produce a series of vitally important “cartoons” depicting the heroic actions of the Maxim Ranger as he strives to show man how to protect his precious sense of manhood in these perilously confusing times. The heroic figure is an animated icon for MAXIM MAGAZINE, the highly successfully men’s entertainment publication.

The art direction and gags in the new animated new comedy, DISNEY’S THE BUZZ ON MAGGIE, from Walt Disney Television Animation, may leave viewers bug-eyed like the design of its insect stars in a series that is quite a departure for the Disney Channel. The show debuted June 17, 2005, at 8:00 pm and now airs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on the channel’s weekend block at 5:30 pm.

Former Microsoft production manager and a producer of top-selling SIM CITY videogame, Matthew Thornton, established on June 1, 2005, the digital animation and production company One Red Room and is already producing two series for Disney.

This week in AWN's Forums, an African animator working in India asks for advice on how he should go about returning to his native country to set up a studio there. In the blogging-verse, some are upset with Jib Jab's recent "sell-out" to Budweiser. What do you think? Another member asks how does one get into the direct-to-video market? Members are talking to a new alternative to Flash. A member wants to know what to wear to a job interview. Others are talking about LITTLE BIRDY, MADAGASCAR and REVENGE OF THE SITH. Additionally, more members are posting their work for others to check out.

Cookie Jar Education has acquired the Kingsley and Fiesta lines of ESL (“English as a second language”) and SSL (“Spanish as a second language”) books and education materials from San Diego, California-based Kingsley Publishing, the publisher responsible for the development of the properties.

The latest Acrobat edition of Animation World Magazine has gone live! This issue tackles Internet and wireless. Greg Singer speaks with speaks with several studios and indie artists to learn how they make Flash animation look so good. Rick DeMott talks with Gregg and Evan Spiridellis of JibJab Media and John Evershed of Mondo Media about how two firms — vastly different during the dotcom bubble of 2000 — have survived and now thrive on the Net. Karen Raugust chronicles how wireless is creating a quiet animation boom.

Ex’pression College for Digital Arts has appointment Scott Tolmie as director of Industry Relations/Career Development Visual.

Before joining Ex’pression, Tolmie was animation art director at LeapFrog, where he led the creative development of new characters for the LEAPSTER educational gaming platform. He was also exec producer with Way Out West Animation, where he developed Flash animation and interface design for medical clients, including Heartbeat Digital.

The Animation Guild and Affiliated Optical Electronic and Graphic Arts, Local 839 IATSE, has updated their website, which is hosted by the Animation World Network.

This week in AWN's Forums, a would-be animation student wants to know what the best 3D schools are. Another member wants to know where they can get Flash character animation training. The question — how do I make a song continue to next scene — has been presented. There’s a thread that wants to know what other members think is the best Pixar film. A junior member wants to find some great tutorial sites. Lots of members continue to post there work for other to check out.

This week in AWN's Forums, a new member asks questions about quality issues regarding the transfer of Flash animation to video. More second Flash question comes in the form of a member wondering why his animation looks like trash. Another post asks: what’s the difference between cartooning and animation? There’s a thread asking users of XSI for help. Another blogger wants to know how you can teach yourself 2D. In addition, there’s a question about where are the best places on the Web to view animation.

Continuing our special event specific Flash Newsletters, AWN has added a new mailing for Annecy International Animation Festival and will continue with its coverage of Licensing. These two important events are fast approaching and our editorial and advertising staff is gearing up for the Flash Newsletter series. Please send releases to editor@awn.com. Here are the dates for the publications.

Annecy 2005
May 24, 2005

Licensing 2005:
June 7, 2005
June 14, 2005