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.

Criterion Ltd. & Rick Ungar’s Brentwood Television Funnies Inc. are producing a brand new animated series of the 1990s hit series, BIKER MICE FROM MARS.

fmx/05, the 10th International Conference On Animation, Effects, Realtime and Content, saw a record breaking attendance of 3,500 people as it handed its top award to Blur Studios’ Oscar nominated short film GOPHER BROKE. Compared to 2004, this makes for a plus of about 50% or 1,200 visitors – an increase that is mainly due to the excellent response of the industry. The event ran from April 27 to April 30 in Stuttgart, Germany.

Pileated Pictures has completed 16 animated shorts that will open and close for the hit PBS show, BETWEEN THE LIONS, as well as a music video, which will air on several episodes.

The shorts are 30-second mini-rap songs, presenting vocabulary words highlighted within a particular episode. The show’s cast of lions raps the lyrics, while Pileated’s animation appears in thought bubbles above the big cats’ heads.

FlickerLab finished the animated TV commercial for MoveOn PAC, dramatizing the Republican effort to change Senate filibuster rules on Federal judicial appointments, in 44 hours for its debut April 26, 2005.

Charles River Media announces new book, STORY TELLING THROUGH ANIMATION. This book provides an in-depth guide to the process of conceiving, planning and producing an animated or live-action media production. It covers specific information for many forms of visuals, including traditional cel, stop motion, Flash or CG with a focus on the most critical aspect of any production — the story.

This week in AWN's Forums, a member wants to know why more and more Flash animation is being released in mov and mpg format. More tips on animating trees and rustling leaves have some in. A new member wants to know how other members broke into the animation biz. Another blogger is having a problem image plane in Maya 6.0 and needs help. More answers to the question of Indian 2D prices come in. And as always more members are looking for school and course advice.

This week in AWN's Forums, a couple members need tips on animating rustling trees and leaves and 2D fog. Another member presents the question — what’s the future of Flash. There’s a thread asking for Indian 2D prices. Additionally, a blogger has questions about using music in animation. Others have questions about sound and Foley. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!

WIA International will be hosting a book signing and panel discussion regarding the evolution of Flash on April 19, 2005 at Cartoon Network Studios. This will also be members last chance to cast their vote for the board of directors and by-laws amendments.

The book signing will include Martha Sigall, Jean Wright and Clifford Parrot, signing their latest books. Additionally, ChromaColour is providing new "ChromaColour Pallets for Macromedia Flash" software as a door prize. Other door prizes include tickets to HYPEFEST Film Festival, WIA T-shirts and more.

AMD and DreamWorks Animation SKG Announce Strategic Alliance

AMD will provide the AMD Opteron processor with Direct Connect Architecture for DreamWorks Animation's next-generation enterprise servers, workstations, render farm nodes, enterprise desktops and enterprise laptops. The new agreement also includes marketing opportunities for AMD to utilize characters from DreamWorks Animation motion pictures, as well as work with DreamWorks Animation to promote upcoming film and home video releases.

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 live action, effects and animation.
* 64K Demos: Audiovisual programs that work with a PC's processor and videocard.
* Flash: Linear films and interactive works made with Macromedia Flash.

Continuing our special event specific Flash Newsletters, AWN will return again to coverage of E3 and add a new mailing for Annecy International Animation Festival. 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.

E3 2005
May 10, 2005

Annecy 2005
May 24, 2005

BOXX Technologies Inc., has added Tarari The Acceleration Co. to the growing list of partners in the “Ultimate Swag Bag” promotion, celebrating NAB 2005 by giving back to the digital content and video community with the ultimate swag for digital creativity. As a top sponsor, Tarari will contribute a Tarari Encoder Accelerator for Windows Media valued at more than $13,000.

Women In Animation International will elect its new board of directors and treat members to a panel discussion about The Evolution of Flash, April 19 from 6:30-9:00 pm at Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank, California. Panelists include those who make FLASH work on the Internet and in television animation, along with helping you to build your own home studio, lead by Heather Kenyon, Cartoon Network senior director of development/original animation.

Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival - SICAF 2005
Seoul, South Korea
August 11-16, 2005
Deadline: April 30, 2005

Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival (SICAF), the most popular festival in Asia, celebrates the art of cartoons, animation and derivative multi-contents. The event consists of three parts – the convention and exhibition, business market and animated film festival.

This week in AWN's Forums, moderator Larry L post some develops that might be a sign of 2D’s rebirth. Post your thoughts. A couple members need some help with animating in Flash. Another member has questions regarding contracts. A 3D student wants to know if animators are good illustrators. A junior member from Brazil wants to know how important life drawing is for animators. Other are posting galleries of their work for members to check out.

While the U.S. isn’t seeing much hockey action these days, those Canadians stay animated about the sport as hockey star Trevor Linden is featured in Studio B’s animated series, BEING IAN, airing at 6:30 pm on March 15, 2005, in the episode '”Hockey Night In Burnaby,” on YTV.

The WB has greenlit a pilot for an animated sketch-comedy show based on LiquidGeneration.com, reports VARIETY. The Website features irreverent Flash animation that parodies pop culture. LiquidGeneration.com founder/CEO Bruce Freud will exec produce with Brad Saranecki, Kim Klechner and Jerry Offsay. Freud was formerly the programming chief at Showtime.

Toon Boom Animation has released Toon Boom Studio v2.5 for Windows and Mac in French. The company, based in Montreal, a bilingual territory in Canada, said it was only natural to add the French capability to Toon Boom Studio's advanced feature set.

Toon Boom Studio integrates many outstanding features including:
* 3D Sceneplanning to Layout your Animation
* Dynamic Multiplane Camera Moves and Effects
* Drawing Mode to Draw and Organize Your Assets
* Optimized Library for Reuse of Templates
* Automated Lip Sync Mapping

fmx, a key event in animation, visual effects, games and other 3D content, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year (April 27-30 in Stuttgart, Germany) by continuing to offer a holistic, cinematic and integrated approach to the booming CGI industry. You can see the changes in CGI reflected in the new design for the fmx/05 logo and trailer, based on the clip, “Timeless,” by Filmakademie graduate student Linus Ewers.