Leading the delivery of interoperable Storage Area Networks (SAN) to the marketplace, DataDirect Networks Inc. has introduced SANware, a series of certified SAN application suites that incorporate hardware, software, professional services and support to solve customers' unique storage management needs. The company's SANware Application Suites were developed as a turnkey solution to address end-user requirements of proven and tested SAN solutions that minimize system downtime and ensure smooth implementation.

What changes can we expect to come about in the relationship between humans and large data repositories? How will intelligent environments influence our access to information? Is there really a clear boundary between the artificial and the real? And finally, how will the latest innovations in Information Technology come together to help us turn information into knowledge that is useful and meaningful?

The Ottawa School of Art (OSA) has launched an innovative, structured program teaching basic animation skills. The Animation Certificate Program has grown from courses run over several years.


The Ottawa School of Art was founded in 1879 and incorporated in 1976 as a non-profit charitable organization. School focus is high caliber visual art training.

Several films produced by RIT students will be screened at this year's SIGGRAPH conference including 'Head Quarters' by Jason Donati, 'Evolution in the First Person' by Elouise Oyzon and 'division' by George Nadeau. RIT will have an alumni, students, faculty and friends reception on Tuesday evening. Marla Schweppe, Duane Palyka and Johnny Robinson, all of the School of Film and Animation will attend the conference. In collaboration with the RIT School of Printing, students in the RIT School of Film and Animation have produced flipbooks again.

The 26th International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive
Techniques is starting this Sunday, August 8 in Los Angeles. Visit the
SIGGRAPH Schoolhouse and its Electronic Library, a meeting place and
resource space, which offers attendees reference material and resources
for educators and students. As a leading publication in the animation
field, Animation World Magazine will be offered in the Electronic
Schoolhouse Library for on-line reference. Printouts of individual
articles will be made available to students by request.

Among the events at this year's ComicCon International, the US's largest
comic book convention, will be a celebration of the Animation
Renaissance. Chris Prynoski, creator of the new series MTV DOWNTOWN,
will host a panel discussion with three of the show's writers, and
present an episode from the series. The convention takes place Thursday,
August 12 - Sunday, August 15 in San Diego, California, USA. For more
information visit www.comic-con.org.

Retired Disney veterans Bill Matthews and Ken Southworth will be the
special guest instructors at VanArts (Vancouver Institute of Media Arts)
in August...

This week's updates to the Calendar of Events include Cartoombria
International Animation Festival in Italy, and the San Francisco
Independent Film Festival. The Calendar of Upcoming Events is a
constantly changing reference source for what's happening around the
World of Animation. Use it to stay abreast of animation related
activities across the globe. If you know of animation related events
that we don't have listed, send an email with the pertinent facts to
annick@awn.com. We'd love to publish your event information for free!

AWN recently launched the "Career Coach," a new monthly column by Pamela
Thompson, a noted authority on jobs and recruiting within the animation
and visual effects industries.


AWN recently launched the "Career Coach," a new monthly column by Pamela
Thompson, a noted authority on jobs and recruiting within the animation
and visual effects industries. Pamela's new column is written
exclusively for AWN's Student Corner, and offers practical advice on key
issues related to jobs, recruitment, education and training, as well as

This week's comic is about X-ray baggage inspection in a US airport...

This week's quiz features questions about the lore of animation’s
past...How much do you really know about animation? Test your skills and challenge your brain. Each week, we'll see just how "smart" you really are! Take up the challenge by answering five multiple choice questions on a specific theme. For our second edition, we're asking questions about stop-motion and puppet animated films. Good luck...you'll need it!


You can find AWN's weekly Animation Trivia Quiz at:


www2.awn.com/quiz

It was a rough weekend for Warner Bros.' newly released THE IRON GIANT at the US boxoffice. THE IRON GIANT, directed by Brad Bird, was the first 100% animated film to be released since June's SOUTH PARK, but despite nearly unanimous praise from critics and fans, it finished a lackluster ninth with a gross of just $5.7 million.

Discreet, a division of Autodesk, Inc., announced the worldwide availability of 3D Studio MAX Release 3 software, the latest release of its award-winning, professional, 3D modeling and animation solution designed specifically for Intel architecture and Microsoft Windows NT. Shipping with the 3D Studio MAX R3 software is a free update to Character Studio" Release 2.2. With an enhanced collaborative workflow environment and powerful new renderer, 3D Studio MAX supports hundreds of third-party commercial and free plug-ins, many of which will be available for 3D Studio MAX R3 software today.

Discreet, a division of Autodesk, Inc., announced the worldwide availability of 3D Studio MAX Release 3 software, the latest release of its award-winning, professional, 3D modeling and animation solution designed specifically for Intel architecture and Microsoft Windows NT. Shipping with the 3D Studio MAX R3 software is a free update to Character Studio" Release 2.2. With an enhanced collaborative workflow environment and powerful new renderer, 3D Studio MAX supports hundreds of third-party commercial and free plug-ins, many of which will be available for 3D Studio MAX R3 software today.

New York City-based Cyclotron@Post Perfect has signed Alex Seiden as
Creative Director. Seiden will direct commercial projects. Seiden comes
from ILM where he was a Director & Visual Effects Supervisor on such films
as JURASSIC PARK, DRAGONHEART, and STAR WARS: THE SPECIAL EDITION. He also
directed a PSA for the American Psychiatric Association, and numerous
live-action second unit and special effects shoots.

Mark Lasoff has joined Stan Lee Media Inc. as executive vice president to
oversee production of the Web-based company's upcoming super hero projects.
Prior to this, Lasoff created visuals for Disney's upcoming CGI feature
DINOSAURS, which will mix live-action backgrounds with animated characters,
and was part of the visual effects team for TITANIC.

Gold Coast, Australia-based EA Australia, a subsidiary of Redwood City,
California-based Electronic Arts, has hired Steve Dauterman to head a new
development studio located in Australia. Dauterman, formerly Director of
Development for LucasArts, had been with the Lucas group for ten years,
initially as Financial Analyst for Lucasfilm before moving across to
LucasArts in 1992. Since working at LucasArts he has overseen the
development of such worldwide interactive titles as "Rebel Assault," "Dark

Sherman Oaks, California-based Warner Bros. TV Animation Studio has
completed a spot featuring the classic cartoon characters, Tom and Jerry,
in Promise Buttery Light "Butter Trouble," a :30 for New York-based agency
McCann Erickson. In the cel-animated spot, Tom attempts to trick Jerry by
switching Promise Buttery Light for plain butter.

Stockholm, Sweden-based Filmtecknarna F. Animation has completed the
animation for "Chilled Cream," a three-spot campaign for British beer
company Boddington. The three ads combine 2D animation with 3D background
and CGI effects. The design of the characters and the overall look of the
films were created at Filmtecknarna under the creative direction of Stig
Bergqvist and Jonas Dahlbeck. The sound editing and overall production
management was handled by London-based Nexus Films with producer Chris
O´Reilly in charge.

White Plains, New York-based J.J. Sedelmaier has completed two :30 spots
for Old Navy. "Girls Zip Pocket Flares" features a young magician who
conjures up and controls Old Navy's new zip pocket jeans for her friends.
In "Boys Boarder Jeans," boys show off their large style jeans while
walking the dog, sawing a log, talking to a frog, and paying the rent while
skateboarding. The spots feature a '60s retro-style designed by David
Sheldon.