AWN Headline News

AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for March 15, 2005

This week in AWN's Forums, moderator Larry L post some develops that might be a sign of 2Ds rebirth. Post your thoughts. A couple members need some help with animating in Flash. Another member has questions regarding contracts. A 3D student wants to know if animators are good illustrators. A junior member from Brazil wants to know how important life drawing is for animators. Other are posting galleries of their work for members to check out.

In Flash, Flash | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, South America

Digital Headline News

Lucas and Cameron to Showcase Digital 3D at ShoWest

Texas Instruments will unveil a glimpse of its future plans for digital cinema and 3D movies at ShoWest, the annual convention for movie exhibitors, March 14 -17, 2005, in Las Vegas. TI has planned what it considers a landmark demonstration with STAR WARS creator George Lucas and TITANIC director James Cameron on March 17 at 11:30 am to showcase 3D theatrical entertainment with TIs DLP Cinema technology. TI will for the fourth consecutive year serve as the corporate sponsor of ShoWest.

In Business, Business | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Imax Headline News

Robots Offers Riveting IMAX Opening

On its way to posting $36M in its opening weekend last week, Fox/Blue Skys 3D-animated ROBOTS: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE took in a strong $1.4M in only 58 North American IMAX theaters. ROBOTS, marks the first spring day-and-date DMR (Digital Remastering) release for IMAX after the hugely successful 3D IMAX presentation of POLAR EXPRESS, which pulled in more than $45M domestically.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Short Headline News

The Incredibles to the Rescue on DVD

When Brad Bird came to Pixar to shake things up with THE INCREDIBLES, he also wanted to raise the bar for DVDs as well, bringing a video camera in tow all through production. Judging from the some of the supplemental material on the fabulous two-disc COLLECTORS EDITION that streets today (Walt Disney Home Ent., $29.99), there were plenty of friendly creative fights. Brad was a great documentarian, DVD producer Ann Brilz told AWN. He wanted to record the experience warts and all. Gathering the material with Brad was an honest, candid look at the production.

In Home Entertainment, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Cartoon Headline News

Cartoon Network Kids' Marketer Dearsley

Veteran kids marketer Nibs Dearsley joins Turner Broadcasting as marketing director, overseeing U.K. commercial kids channels, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Toonami. She will manage, develop and lead the U.K. marketing team, while reporting to vp of network services, Joanne Barlow.

Previously head of marketing at Jetix throughout Europe and marketing manager of Nickelodeon in the U.K., Dearsley had a solid track record promoting kids' brands before earning a place with the market leader.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Animation Headline News

animate! tv 2005 Calls for Experimental Animation

animate! tv is commissioning another slate of experimental personal projects for television, with running times of up to 6 minutes and production budgets between £5,000 and £20,000. animate! believes that animation is not, and indeed never has been, exclusively driven by frame-by-frame process but by wider notions of synthesis. animate! supports innovative content and 'agenda' as well as new forms and techniques.

In Television, Television | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Dykstra Headline News

Dykstra Rides Hot Wheel, Skips Spidey 3

Instead of following-up his Oscar winning work on SPIDER-MAN 2 with work on the third film in the franchise, visual effects wizard John Dykstra is tackling McGs HOT WHEELS. The self-describe adrenaline junkie decided to take the challenge of bringing a variety of vehicle to life for Columbia Pictures toy franchise turned feature. Sony Imageworks' Scott Stokdyk will step in for Dykstra on SPIDER-MAN 3. Previously, Stokdyk served as visual effects supervisor on the webslinging flicks, for which he won the Oscar as well for the second films vfx.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, South America

Studios Headline News

Vinton Studios Secures Rights To The Wall And The Wing

Vinton Studios has nabbed the rights to author Laura Rubys second novel, THE WALL AND THE WING, due out from HarperCollins in 2006. In a high six-figure deal, Vinton Studios ceo Jeff Farnath announced that the book will be re-imagined for the screen and directed by Henry Selick (JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH and NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS).

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Square Headline News

Square Enix Brings Top Titles to Verizon’s V CAST

Square Enix and Verizon Wireless announced the availability of two new Square Enix titles for Verizon Wireless' new V CAST service -- FINAL FANTASY VII SNOWBOARDING and MUSASHI MOBILE SAMURAI. MUSASHI MOBILE SAMURAI will be available beginning March 15, 2005. V CAST from Verizon Wireless is the nation's first third-generation (3G) wireless broadband multimedia service for consumers allowing them to view high-quality 3D games and video clips because it runs on the Verizon Wireless broadband EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) 3G network.

In Interactive, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe, North America

Cartoon Headline News

Cartoon Movie 2004 Awards Triple Treat

The seventh annual Cartoon Movie in Potsdam, Germany, paid tribute March 12, 2005 to France 3 Cinéma, Ralph Christians and the directing team of Piet De Rycker and Thilo Rothkirch (Cartoon- Film, Germany) for significantly contributing to the success of the European feature animation industry. The event, set up by Cartoon as a movie version of its successful Cartoon Forum meeting for animated series, brought together some 448 participants to focus on the fast-growing sector for European animated feature films.

In Event, Event | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe

Iger Headline News

Robert Iger named new Disney CEO

It was a busy weekend for the Walt Disney Co. board of directors as it announced March 13, 2005, that Robert A. Iger had been unanimously elected ceo, replacing Michael D. Eisner, effective Sept. 30. He will succeed Eisner, current ceo, who announced his intention to retire in September with a year remaining in his contract, for which hell be paid.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Headline News

e-on Ships Vue 5 Infinite

e-on software announced the immediate availability of the much-anticipated Vue 5 Infinite, for Mac OSX and Windows. Vue 5 Infinite is the newest version of the company's flagship solution for the creation of natural 3D environments. Specifically designed for graphics professionals, Vue 5 Infinite combines a multitude of cutting edge features such as the new EcoSystem technology that easily integrates into existing production pipelines.

In Technology, Technology | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Framestore Headline News

Framestore NY Builds ‘More Bars’ for Cingular Wireless

From their gleaming new space in Manhattans SoHo neighborhood, Framestore NYs team of artists recently manifested WORKDAY and TRIPLETS, new visual effects-driven spots in the ongoing high-profile Cingular Wireless More Bars in More Places campaign.

In Commercials, Visual Effects, Commercials, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Robots Animates March Box Office

Although it didnt measure up to ICE AGEs record-setting opening of $46.3M, ROBOTS still posted the second best March debut ever with $36M (including an impressive $1.4M in IMAX on 58 screens). The 3D-animated feature from Fox/Blue Sky won the weekend ended March 13, 2005, besting Buena Vistas Vin Diesel youth comedy, THE PACIFIER, which scored $18.1M for a two-week cum of $54.4M. In fact, ROBOTS skewed younger than most CG movies, attracting 44% of the under 12 crowd.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Television Headline News

TV Academy Student Winners Announced

Students from UCLA Graduate School of Film & TV and Brigham Young University took first place in the animation categories of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundations 26th Annual College Television Award. The winners were announced March 13, 2005, at a gala ceremony at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel.

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Television Headline News

TV Academy to Unveil Hanna & Barbera Sculpture

William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, creators of some of television's most memorable cartoon characters and animated series, will have a wall sculpture of them dedicated during a ceremony at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza in North Hollywood on at 11:00 am on March 16, 2005.

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Alias Searches for Next Maya Masters

Alias announced that nominations for its 2005 Maya Masters will be accepted until March 18 at 11:59 pm (EST). Now in its fifth year, the Maya Masters program recognizes talented members of the computer graphics community whose spirit and imagination reshape and redefine the boundaries of technology, art and visualization. No more than six Maya artists are chosen from the dozens of nominations received each year for this coveted award. The 2005 Maya Masters will be announced and honored on the Alias Global Users Assn. (AGUA) mainstage during SIGGRAPH in Los Angeles on July 31.

In Awards, Visual Effects, Awards, Visual Effects | Headline News | Special Events: SIGGRAPH | Geographic Region: All

Series Headline News

Deitch, Aardman, Gavioli Bros., Rainbow Take Awards At Cartoons On The Bay

Rai Trade is taking Cartoons on the Bay, the worlds leading TV animation Festival, back to Positano, which will again be the international cartoon capital from April 27 to May 1, 2005. The best productions will again be fighting it out for the prestigious Pulcinella Awards, the international contest dedicated to television programs animated series, specials and shorts produced over the previous year.

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Headline News

Digic & Black Hole Choose Maya & Alias MotionBuilder for RTS Game

Alias announced that Hungary-based computer animation studio Digic Pictures and computer and videogame developer Black Hole Ent., both subsidiaries of Cinergi Interactive Llc, chose Alias software solutions as their core tools to produce the realtime strategy computer game (RTS) ARMIES OF EXIGO. The title is a fantasy RTS game where the boundaries of the battlefield are broken and war is waged both above and below the ground.

In Anime, Interactive, Anime, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Special Events: SIGGRAPH | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Animation Headline News

Tehran Intl. Animation Festival Winners Announced

The award winners of the 4th Tehran International Animation Festival were announced at the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA) on March 10, 2005, reports MEHR NEWS.

In the Iranian competition section, first prize went to Moin Samadis STOP, I AM TAKING OFF, second prize to Vahid Nasirians THE HOLE and third prize to Mahbod Bazr-Afshans ESCAPE. The special jury award went to IRANIAN CHAT, directed by Amir Saharkhiz.

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Australia, Europe, South America

Animation Headline News

Animation Academy Moves to Church/Office Due to Condo Project

Due to a new condominium project, the Animation Academy, which was operating at 3407 W. Olive Ave., will now hold classes at the Burbank Association of Realtors offices and Trinity Foursquare Church, reports the DAILY NEWS. The location were the school use to be is now part of a 3.8-acre Media District site designated for a Platt Cos. project that will include 220 condo units, 20,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, a church and a child-care facility.

In Business, Business | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Animation Headline News

Doonesbury’s Duke 2000 Now on DVD

From Garry Trudeau, the creator of the DOONESBURY comic strip, comes this collection of more than 30 computer animated shorts, featuring Duke, the maverick Reform Party candidate for the presidency of the United States. The DUKE 2000 WHATEVER IT TAKES DVD captures more than 90 minutes of the 3D animation that put the outspoken candidate live on LARRY KING, TODAY and dozens of other shows. It sells for $19.95.

In Home Entertainment, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Headline News

Tractor Tom Plows Up Roadshow Ent. Deal

Contender Entertainment Group has secured a VHS/DVD deal in Australia with Roadshow Entertainment for its pre-school favorite TRACTOR TOM.

TRACTOR TOM has become an enormous success amongst pre-schoolers, combining a farmyard environment, cheery sing-alongs and bright imagery. It debuted down under in November 2004 on the Seven Network.

Roadshow Ent. will release the first TRACTOR TOM title, BAA BAA TOM SHEEP & OTHER STORIES VHS/DVD on May 19, supported by a huge integrated marketing campaign.

In Television, Television | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Australia

Headline News

Reiss To Develop Strategic Product Integration For Showtime

To amplify Showtime Networks' efforts to develop strategic product integration relationships that will complement its marketing campaigns for its original programming, Showtime has hired Penny Reiss in the newly created position of vp, product integration. Reiss, who will be based out of Showtime Networks' Los Angeles office, will be responsible for coordinating the day-to-day responsibilities associated with product integration. This includes forging product alliances, commercial tie-ins and merchandising opportunities with outside companies.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Game Headline News

Playmakaz $50,000 Contest Calls for Entries

Game Playmakaz ContestWorld Wide WebSeptember 9, 2005Deadline: July 31, 2005

Zango, the provider of exclusive free premium content online, announced the official launch of its Game Playmakaz Contest for independent game developers. The winning submission will be awarded a $50,000 game development contract with Zango. Finalist submissions will also be considered for Zango licensing agreements. Zango will announce the winning game during the Austin Game Conference in Austin, Texas.

In Call for Entries, Visual Effects, Call for Entries, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All