Press Release from Moonscoop

Paris, 18 May 2009 -- Moonscoop, the worldwide brand management and entertainment company representing properties from some of the leading animation producers across the globe has scored a raft of TV sales for its hit series in Latin America and the Caribbean, in advance of the LA Screenings.

San Diego Asian Film Festival 2009
San Diego, California, USA
October 15-29, 2009
Deadline: June 10, 2009

This week in AWN's Forums, a newly-graduated animator wants to know how to start their career from scratch. Does anyone have any kind of Excel budget for an animation series? A member wants to put one together. An animator asked to do a music video wants to know the going rates are for animation work? It would be a 2D computer animation (PS/Flash/AE), about three minutes long. The conversation continues on what constitutes adult animation and how that differs from pornography.

This week in AWN's Forums, a member is looking for a 3D animator to create a bunch (600+) of short character animated videos for a new fitness website. A member wants to know how much to pay for a three-minute animated pilot in Flash. A discussion is going on about adult animation and what exactly that is. A student needs a quick and easy way of compositing one layer of animation over a background. Someone needs clips of birds circling a dazed characters' head. Besides WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT, what other places can this be found?

Press Release from lynda.com

Press Release from Amy Winfrey

LOS ANGELES, April 22th- Independent animator Amy Winfrey debuts a new series SQUID AND FROG. The web series, available at www.squidandfrog.com is an innovative blend of flash animation and puppets.

The two main characters, Squid and Frog, sing songs about lessons they have learned the hard way such as "Don't Use Butter Sticks as Skates" and "You Can't Learn Surgery From Television." Squid and Frog also recite "Haikus of Regret."

Press Release from NetToons, Inc.

San Francisco, CA -- Cosmic Debris and NetToons, Inc. have announced the official launch of the user generated animation site www.tooncasts.tv/emily. This site lets the millions of Emily fans worldwide create and share their own Emily animations (Tooncasts) using the NetToons web-based editor and viewer.

The Pulcinella Awards 2009 were announced at the conclusion of Cartoons on the Bay on Sunday. The various Pulcinella Awards are presented in seven competing categories, including best series for preschool, children, tweens and young adults, educational programming, best pilot, cross-media project, interactive animation, short film, best character, TV series, European program and best soundtrack.

This week in AWN's Forums, a member wants to know about any animation-related sites or interests to see in Paris, other than Disneyland Paris. What's a good rate to charge for a three-minute long Flash animated music video? A member wants some help pricing their services. Discussion continues on whether a one-year degree program is enough school. When animating two characters, do they share a cel? A member wants to know.

BEDTIME STORIES makes its DVD debut two days after its Blu-ray bow, along with DVD/Blu-ray releases of THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX, plus volume three of BEN 10: ALIEN FORCE on DVD, Disney Animation Collection, volumes 1-3 on DVD, MAX FLEISCHER'S SUPERMAN on DVD and more.

BEDTIME STORIES on DVD and Blu-ray

April 2009 will see the launch of the online SCARYGIRL gaming site, based on Nathan Jurevicius's Scarygirl concept. The project has been produced by Passion Pictures Australia with financial assistance from the Film Victoria Digital Media Fund. The game has been designed and developed by Touch My Pixel with in-game Flash animation from Renmotion and has taken the dedicated and creative team 22 months to develop and complete.

fmx/conference presents and reflects upon the latest trends in an extraordinarily dynamic industry. And one trend can be seen very clearly throughout animation, visual effects, games and postproduction: story is king. Computer-generated imagery or effects are only effective to the degree that they serve a suspenseful and overwhelming narration. A few highlights from the conference (held May 5-8 in Stuttgart, Germany), include:

Alphanim's new 52x13 series MATT'S MONSTERS has secured new broadcasts of the series with Cartoon Network in Asia, RTP in Portugal and Noga Communications in Israel.

Co-produced by Alphanim, RAI Fiction and Torino-based animation studio Lanterna Magica, MATT'S MONSTERS is a 2D/Flash comedy starring boy-next-door Matt Average, an 8 year-old monster enthusiast who takes family business quite seriously and, as soon as homework is done, rushes to help out in his mom and dad's monster care agency.

Open Development Call for Batman: Brave and Bold Flash Game
Deadline: March 27, 2009

Warner Bros. Animation and Mochi Media, in association with DC Comics, are having a casting call for developers to submit ideas for creating a new Flash game as a promotional brand extension for Warner Bros. Animation's hit animated series BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (www.braveandthebold.com), airing Fridays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Cartoon Network.

M&M's is asking Canadians to "Join the Hunt." Created by Proximity Canada, BBDO Toronto, and Firstborn Multimedia based in New York, the campaign uses television, point of sale and online media inviting consumers to find and collect eggs with PIN codes and point values hidden on the web and inside specially marked packages of M&M's Speck-tacular Eggs. The more points collected, the better the chances of winning thousands of instant prizes or one of three grand prize getaways to New York, Las Vegas or Orlando, Florida.

PINOCCHIO's 70th anniversary edition hits DVD and Blu-ray today, March 10, along with a four-film BATMAN anthology on Blu-ray, SOUTH PARK (12th season) on Blu-ray for the first time, HOWARD THE DUCK on DVD for the first time, SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK and TRANSPORTER 3 on DVD/Blu-ray and an edition of WOODY WOODPECKER favorites on DVD.

ALL-STAR SPORTS DAY! on DVD

SPECIAL AGENT OSO, a new animated television series starring Academy Award-nominee Sean Astin as the voice of Oso, a fuzzy, lovable, bumbling stuffed panda bear who is a special agent-in-training, premieres with two consecutive episodes Saturday, April 4 (8-9 a.m., ET/PT) during Disney Channel's learning-focused Playhouse Disney programming block.

The interactive series, which emphasizes discovery, humor and organizational skills, calls upon viewers to help accomplish special missions by breaking down everyday tasks using three simple steps, just as Oso does.

This week in AWN's Forums, members are discussing last weekend's Annie Awards. Did WALL-E and Pixar get snubbed, or is that just the way it goes? What are the 'Do's and 'Don't's for your pitch bible's design and layout? What are some good ways to develop empathy in animated characters? A member is having Flash issues, come help!

As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand-new stuff to check out in show and tell!

MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA comes in for a landing on DVD and Blu-ray on FRIDAY, February 6, 2009 from DreamWorks Animation.

With twice the laughs, twice the fun and twice the Penguins, the Move It! Move It! Double DVD Pack and Blu-ray include two animated adventures from Nickelodeon's new television series, THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR. The series stars Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, Private and King Julien back at the New York zoo where it all started -- on a mission... without permission.

FEAR(S) OF THE DARK came out Monday, with MADAGASCAR 2 hitting DVD/Blu-ray shelves on Friday. Tuesday releases include a MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER volume, AFRO SAMURAI: RESURRECTION, the 20th anniversary edition of OLIVER & COMPANY, direct-to-DVD SPACE BUDDIES and more.

AFRO SAMURAI: RESURRECTION on DVD and Blu-ray