Innoventive Software, Llc. announced that its previsualization and storyboarding software, FrameForge 3D Studio, is now available for Windows fully localized in French with a French Installation and Getting Started Manual included.
Instead of David Beckham, the first 3D football animation produced in Singapore has the likes of characters with nicknames like Gangsta and Gorilla, reports YAHOO! NEWS SINGAPORE. But the creators of the series at Intense Animation Studios are confident it will score globally.
Produced by a Singapore company, the content will be distributed worldwide on broadband and even television.
The 12-minute pilot will be ready by early 2006 and is part funded by the Media Development Authority to be distributed by broadband and broadcast television.
PBS KIDS Sprout, a new television and online provider of content devoted to preschool children and their parents and caregivers, has appointed Sandy Wax president of the network and Andrew Beecham has joined svp of programming. In addition, Diana Kerekes, vp/general counsel of content development for Comcast Corp., assumes a seat on the PBS KIDS Sprout board of directors after serving as acting gm for the network during its development and launch.
THQ Inc. announced it has been named interactive game licensee for Columbia Pictures' next performance-capture film, MONSTER HOUSE from award-winning exec producers Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg. The film is directed by Gil Kenan, produced by Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey and is also exec produced by Jason Clark. THQ's worldwide agreement with Sony Pictures Consumer Products includes videogames for console and select handheld gaming systems. The MONSTER HOUSE videogames are slated for release in conjunction with the film release in summer 2006.
The Algoma, Canada city council will look into the feasibility of building an adjacent Animation Centre to the Art Gallery Of Algoma, reports LTV.com. Gallery curator, Michael Burtch has championed the idea of a gallery of donated animation cels worth several million dollars from several cartoon series including SUPER DAVE OSBORNE and other successful Canadian productions. A study conducted in March said that a center of sufficient size and scale could draw tourists to the city. Councilor Steve Butland has put forth a resolution to create a task force to help develop a plan for the center.
Annecy award-winner and leading Oscar contender THE MYSTERIOUS GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORATIONS OF JASPER MORELLO has won director Anthony Lucas the Digital Pictures AFI Award for Best Short Animation at the Australian Film Institute (AFI) awards. The event handed out its honors at a star-studded event on Nov. 26, 2005 in Melbourne.
Malin Erixon's seven-minute DEATH BY HEART took home the "Made in Stockholm" award on Nov. 26, 2005, at the Stockholm International Film Festival. The film produced by Ganzanderes Animation was recognized by the jury "for odd but gifted animation which, by a surrealistic touch, mixes expressions and narratives in a free manner." The festival, which featured 160 films from nearly 40 countries, can be visited online at www.filmfestivalen.se/sitelliteroot/index/festival2005.
Electronic Arts and Digital Illusions announced that the expansion pack for the award-winning BATTLEFIELD 2 PC game are now shipping to retail outlets and available via download at www.downloader.ea.com. Powered by the BATTLEFIELD 2 game engine, BATTLEFIELD 2: SPECIAL FORCES brings players into the realm of covert ops with the latest, most technologically advanced vehicles and weapons systems.
The Korea Culture & Content Agency (KOCCA) has set Dec. 9, 2005, to launch the organizations annual DARI Awards ceremony, honoring entertainment executives and companies for outstanding contributions in advancing the culture of Korea within the U.S. market. Created by KOCCA and the Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles (KCCLA), the annual DARI Awards (DARI is Korean for bridge) will also showcase work produced by events recipients.
The 2005 DARI Awards recipients are:
Mattel and Lions Gate Family Ent. announced two new 2006 Barbie direct-to-DVD titles, THE BARBIE DIARIES and BARBIE FAIRYTOPIA MERMAIDIA, with LGFE being awarded domestic distribution rights.
A spoof of science-fiction classic STAR TREK distributed free over Internet has become Finland's most viewed movie, REUTERS reports and has reached more than three million viewers in less than two months.
STAR WRECK: IN THE PIRKINNING is a full-length feature (with English subtitles) made by a group of students and other amateur filmmakers on a few home computers to create elaborate special effects on a minimalist budget.
As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday, we finish our focus on gaming, as Jacquie Kubin explores how MoCap is helping to drive the technology for the next-generation of consoles.
Independent Exposure 2006Various LocationsMarch 31, 2006Deadline: March 31, 2006
Steven Spielbergs WAR OF THE WORLDS remake comes to DVD Nov. 22, 2005 (DreamWorks Home Ent., $30). Meanwhile, the 1953 original containing special visual effects by Gordon Jennings was recently released in a remastered special collectors edition (Paramount Home Ent., $14.99). The colors are eye-popping, but the wires have not been digitally removed and are more clearly visible. Extras include the entire Orson Welles radio broadcast.
Peter Jackson has petitioned the Directors Guild of America to give an Animation Directed By credit on KING KONG to the supervisors who helped bring Kong to life, reports David Poland of MOVIE CITY NEWS (www.moviecitynews.com). However, the animators are not identified by Poland. Joe Letteri and Ben Snow served as visual effects supervisors and Christian Rivers directed the MoCap sessions with Andy Serkis.
The DGA has never allowed such a credit before.
Digital-Tutors announced its annual Thanksgiving sale, with 20% off all training products storewide. Save today by simply entering dtgive at checkout. The sale ends Nov. 29, 2005 at 9:00 am. (Central Time). Popular titles include: INTERMEDIATE: REALFLOW AND MAYA INTEGRATION, INTRODUCTION TO MAYA: 2ND EDITION, INTRODUCTION TO PAINT EFFECT, FUNDAMENTALS OF MENTAL RAY IN XSI, INTRODUCTION TO XSI and INTRODUCTION TO XSI RENDER TREE.
Shop online and visit www.digitaltutors.com/store.
SCI FI's next Saturday Action Movie premiere is MANTICORE, an original movie produced to air on the SCI FI Channel Nov. 26, 2005, at 9:00 pm and encores Dec. 1 at 9:00 pm.
Some 2,000 years ago, the ancient Babylonians created the ultimate weapon twin beasts insatiable in their thirst for blood, intended to drive the infidels from Babylon. With their mission accomplished, the beasts were imprisoned in stone by a mystical spell and have slept undisturbed.
Atari Inc. and Marathon Animation have released the TOTALLY SPIES! videogame to U.S. stores for the Game Boy Advance. This is the first game based on the TOTALLY SPIES! hit animated TV series that stars three teen super-spies from Beverly Hills, who fight international crime. Airing since 2001, Totally Spies! is seen in more than 100 markets worldwide, including the Cartoon Network in the USA.
The extensive overhaul of the TV-Loonland sales team produced a host of contracts with broadcasters and Home Entertainment vendors in Europe, Latin America and Australia the international producer/distributor of childrens and family entertainment reports. Projects with the greatest interest from buyers are new production HEIDI and the new in-house production, RUDI & TRUDI.
TripleTake Media, a company specializing in global entertainment brand development and a division of Los Angeles-based Diversified Ent. Properties Inc., and Steel River Prods., an independent childrens multi-media production company, have established a joint venture to develop and co-produce an animated series based on Steel Rivers original preschool property GOING TOPSY-TURVY.
Starz Ent. Group (SEG), Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media announced that they will partner to bring Starz and Encore viewers an exclusive sneak peek at Walt Disney Pictures' and Walden Media's THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE prior to its nationwide theatrical release on Dec. 9, 2005. Starz, Starz Kids & Family and Encore viewers will be taken behind the wardrobe door to experience a 30-minute Starz Original production and a nine-minute sneak peek of the film beginning on Thanksgiving day, Thursday, Nov. 24.
Winners were announced on Nov, 19, 2005, during the 3rd annual Spike TV "Video Game Awards 2005" ceremony held at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. Hosted by Samuel L. Jackson, the two-hour "game vs. game" extravaganza will premiere on Spike TV Saturday, Dec. 10 (9:00-11:00 pm, ET/PT).
With the release of Peter Jacksons KING KONG in theaters Dec. 14, 2005, the giant ape has begun making his presence felt in the videogame world as well. On the same day the official game based on the movie picked up an award at the Spike TV Video Game Awards, Ubisoft and Universal Studios Consumer Products Group announced that Academy Award-nominee Naomi Watts and Jack Black appear via likeness and provide voice talent for the videogame PETER JACKSON'S KING KONG: THE OFFICIAL GAME OF THE MOVIE.
Hida International Animation Festival of Folktales and FablesHida, JapanMarch 17-19, 2006Deadline: December 31, 2005
5th Annual International Festival of Animated Films AniFest 2006Trebon, Czech RepublicMay 410, 2006Deadline: January 16, 2006
