oston FIG announces Robin Hunicke, executive producer of the award-winning downloadable game Journey on Sony’s PlayStation Network, as the keynote speaker.

Universal Pictures debuts the first trailer for “Riddick,” the upcoming epic action-adventure starring Vin Diesel and written and directed by David Twohy.

Disney pulls makeover for Princess Merida of “Brave” amid controversy.

Hornet releases a new trailer for “Caveirão,” a short film directed by Guilherme Marcondes utilizing live-action, 2D animation and 3D VFX.

Digital Domain Co-Founder Scott Ross headlines panel of industry experts at live NYC event slated for June 10. Online viewers and onsite attendees can take part in real-time polling on key issues.

Thirteen students from nine U.S. colleges and universities, along with three students from foreign universities, are selected as winners in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Student Academy Awards competition.

The UK’s NFTS launches three-month training certificate in Character Animation to be taught at Aardman by industry professionals.

yfy begins production on the fourth season of “Haven,” which is set to premiere in October 2013.

Laura Vandervoort, “Smallville’s” Supergirl, joins the voice cast of “Captain Canuck” as Blue Fox.

Luc Besson’s “The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec” heads to disc August 13.

2nd Screen Global Con presents “Everything Small Screen,” a family-friendly expo and conference featuring kids’ entertainment, animation, second-screen, tech, and CGI.

SIGGRAPH 2013 releases an early preview of its schedule of production sessions to be featured at this year’s conference and as part of the Computer Animation Festival.

VFX company LOOK Effects helps “The Grand Budapest Hotel” find financial support from Baden-Württemberg’s regional funding agency.

Editorial house Spot Welders launches Shipping + Handling, headed up by VFX supervisor Casey Price and executive producer J. Patrick McElroy.

Blacklist’s Holbrooks, Y&R New Zealand and Flying Fish team up to create the spot, “Parcel,” for Red Cross New Zealand.

Seth MacFarlane will guest-voice on the season finale of “The Simpsons,” airing May 19.

Winners are announced for the 2013 edition of the New York School of Visual Art’s Dusty Film & Animation Festival and Awards.

Global VFX house welcomes Erik-Jan de Boer, James Jacobs and Keith Roberts.

Recording star Beyoncé creates an original song, “Rise Up,” for the upcoming Twentieth Century Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios motion picture, “Epic,” for which she also voices one of the lead characters.

London-based visual effects company uses pioneering VFX techniques to bring Audrey Hepburn back to the screen in a commercial campaign for AMV BBDO and Galaxy chocolate.