Michael Eisner's Tornante Co. has hired Mike Hammer to write the screenplay for a BAZOOKA JOE feature, based on the comicstrip that where included in Bazooka bubble gum, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. This will be Hammer's first professional script after graduating from Chapman University. Hammer's spec script, SONNY TAKES TO PERU caught the attention of Tornante execs. Eisner acquired Bazooka in 2007 when he purchased the Topps trading card company for $380 million.

Tom Perlmutter, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the National Film Board of Canada, today awarded the prize for the 5th NFB Online Short Film Competition to Joaquin Baldwin. His film SEBASTIAN’S VOODOO was honored at the Short Film Corner in the presence of Jerome Paillard, Executive Director of the Marche du Film of the Cannes Film Festival.

Press Release from Aardman Rights

Bristol, 20 May 2009. Leading independent distributor Aardman Rights has concluded a number of new licensing deals for its brand new preschool series TIMMY TIME, which has made a hugely successful debut on CBeebies in the UK.

In Central and Eastern Europe, Regio is on board as toy partner for TIMMY TIME in Hungary where Minimax has the broadcast rights. Also One 2 Play is managing all rights to the property in ex-Yugoslavia.

Press Release from PPC Enterprises

PPC Enterprises has revealed that phenomenally successful porcine pair Pinky and Perky are due to appear in their very own CD Rom game from Avanquest -- one of the biggest publishers of computer games in the UK.

Australia's THE DAILY TELEGRAPH reports that director George Miller is scouting locations for the fourth installment of the MAD MAX series. Citing insiders, the paper says the film could start filming as soon as late 2009.

Press Release from Novel Entertainment

Oxford, 19 May 2009. Leading independent producer Novel Entertainment is further expanding the reach of its hit property HORRID HENRY, appointing Stella Projects as licensing agent for the brand in Australia and New Zealand.

Press Release from Warner Bros. Digital Distribution

Burbank, Calif., May 19, 2009 -- Halcyon Games, a division of The Halcyon Company along with Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution today announced the first full length Machinima series titled TERMINATOR SALVATION: THE MACHINIMA SERIES.

Press Release from Fitz Roy Media

NEW YORK -- (May 18 2009) -- New York-based Fitz Roy Media, has secured new international licensing deals for leading UK girls' brand SECRET WINGS.

The company has secured a Pan-European deal with E-Max Ensobrados Martorell, S.A.U of Barcelona, Spain to produce a variety of children's paper based collectibles for the property. Brazil's Keterly Cateras Bolsas Limited has signed to produce a variety of stationery products including pencil cases, backpacks, vanity cases, folders, binders, lunch bags and wallets.

This week in AWN's Forums, a member wants to know the pros and cons on hosting your own site vs. paying someone to host the site for you. A student would like guidance as to portfolio requirements for MA in Animation at SCAD. Someone wants to pitch an animation series in Australia and is looking for places to do so.

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

ANGELS & DEMONS opened soft at the U.S. box office for the weekend of May 15-17. The religious thriller (vfx by Double Negative, CIS Vancouver, The Moving Picture Co., Plowman Craven & Associates, and The Senate Visual Effects) put $46.2M in the collection plate for Columbia Pictures.

Press Release from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Beverly Hills, CA -- Twelve students from eight U.S. colleges and universities have been named winners in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 36th Annual Student Academy Awards competition. They will participate in a week of industry-related activities and social events, culminating in the awards ceremony on June 13 at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater. One film student from Sweden also has been selected to receive this year's Honorary Foreign Film award.

Press Release from MPC

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.

Press Release from Frantic Films VFX

Press Release from Cartoon Network

HONG KONG (May 18, 2009) -- Taking another step forward in its quest for global domination, the LEAGUE OF SUPER EVIL, a.k.a. L.O.S.E., will now air across Asia, thanks to a far-reaching deal with Cartoon Network.

Press Release from DECODE Enterprises

Toronto, London 13 May 2009. Leading kids and family entertainment specialist DECODE Enterprises, the distribution subsidiary of DHX Media Ltd., has scored further deals in Asia for KID VS KAT (52x11' / 26x22'), an animated series produced by Studio B Productions in association with YTV Canada and Jetix Europe.

Press Release from McDonald's

OAK BROOK, Ill., May 13 -- McDonald's and Twentieth Century Fox today announced their new global partnership surrounding the studio's highly anticipated calendar of blockbuster movies through 2010. The multi-faceted partnership offers something for everyone, including never-before-seen technology and animation; innovative Happy Meal toy collections; and restaurant promotions in thousands of restaurants worldwide.

ANIMA'09 -- 5th Cordoba International Animation Festival
Cordoba, Argentina
October 8-10, 2009
Deadline: July 17, 2009

ANIMA'09 will take place in the city of Cordoba, Argentina, from October 8 through 10, 2009. The festival is organized by the Centro Experimental de Animacion and the Secretaria de Extension Universitaria, National University of Cordoba.

This fifth edition of the ANIMA will be dedicated to exploring the concept of Identity Traits. Therefore, we open the following:

SIGGRAPH announces the selection of award nominees for the SIGGRAPH 2009 Computer Animation Festival to be held in New Orleans this August. Nominees were chosen from 770 submissions from around the globe, presented by both professional studios and students alike. In all, more than 140 films will be shown during the Computer Animation Festival. The award winners will be announced during the conference.

May 12 to 20 is your chance to vote online for your favourite short among the finalists of the 5th NFB Short Film Competition -- Cannes 2009. Just go to www.nfb.ca/cannes or www.youtube.com/nfb.