AWN Headline News

Diablo Developers Start Up Hyboreal Games Studio

A group of seasoned gaming veterans have formed Hyboreal Games as a new development studio on Nov. 28, 2005. Hyboreal Games was founded by Eric Sexton, Michio Okamura and Steven Woo, all industry veterans and former developers for Blizzard North, where their contributions were essential to the success of the highly acclaimed DIABLO franchise, which has sold well over 13 million copies worldwide. The Hyboreal Games mission is to make best-selling game franchises by applying the proven formula of mass accessibility, addictive game play and longevity through re-playability.

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Headline News

Complete Animated Aeon Flux on DVD

In anticipation of next weeks release of the live-action AEON FLUX movie with Charlize Theron, AEON FLUX: THE COMPLETE ANIMATED COLLECTION (Paramount Home Ent., $38.99) recently made its DVD debut. The futuristic cult series from creator Peter Chung, which began on MTVs LIQUID TELEVISION, was a very sophisticated and adult series that didnt shy away from sex and violence. The provocative DVD cover image alone, revealing Aeons eye with a fly caught between the lashes, is enticing enough. One wonders how the live-action version will achieve a comparable impact.

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Motion Headline News

RE:Vision Effects Releases 64-Bit Support for Discreet and ReelSmart

RE:Vision Effects Inc. announced 64-bit support of its Irix Discreet systems (Sparks) versions of Twixtor, its popular retiming solution, and ReelSmart Motion Blur, which adds and removes motion blur based on per-pixel calculated motion. The new releases also work within the Linux versions of Smoke and Flint and are available for Burn render farms.

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Headline News

Cartoon Network Gives Merry Toons Throughout Holiday Schedule

The Christmas cartoons start arriving way early this year as Cartoon Network fills almost the entire month of December with holiday programming. Cartoon Network brings new and favorite holiday specials every Sunday-Friday at 7:30 pm all month long, beginning Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005. Highlights of Cartoon Networks holiday programming schedule are as follows, all times ET/PT:

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Series Headline News

Nickelodeon’s New Heroic Super-Spy Family Takes to the Airwaves

The undercover exploits of Nickelodeons THE XS, an animated family of world-class super-spies who live incognito in suburbia, unfold in nail-biting and funny fashion on the original new Nicktoon series, premiered with a triple lineup of episodes on Nov. 25, 2005, at 8:00, 8:30 and 9:00 pm. These oddball operatives thwart dangerous evildoers without upsetting the neighbors, in this cloak-and-dagger comedy from Annie Award-winner Carlos Ramos (OH YEAH! CARTOONS). The series airs regularly on Fridays at 8:30 pm.

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

Holiday Headline News

YTV & Treehouse Trim Up Holiday Programming for December

YTV and Treehouse in Canada have a month-long lineup of holiday programming to help every member of the family ring in the festive season.

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

Headline News

Harry Connick Jr. Sings & Narrates NBC Happy Elf Special Dec. 2

IDT Ent. will celebrate the holidays with its first CG-animated special, THE HAPPY ELF, featuring narration and all new original holiday songs written by Grammy and Emmy winner Harry Connick Jr., which airs Dec. 2, 2005, 8-9:00 pm on NBC. THE HAPPY ELF tells the story of Eubie the Elf, one of Santa's helpers whose enthusiastic, rose-colored view of the holiday season is tested when he sets out to save Christmas for an entire town of naughty children in a sad little place called Bluesville.

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Awards Headline News

Still Time to Enter the Promax/BDA Arabia Awards

Promax/BDA Arabia Dubai, IndiaMarch 14 15, 2006Deadline: January 20, 2006

The Promax/BDA Arabia Awards are part of the Dubai conference, awarding Gold and Silver trophies in more than 21 categories. Promax/BDA is the association for those working in broadcast promotions, marketing and design. At the conferences leading figures from around the world, as well as experts from the Arabia region, share their secrets and keep you up to date with the latest advances within the industry.

Topics include:

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Award Headline News

Jakers, Peppa & Incredibles Win BAFTA Awards

The 10th British Academy Children's Film and Television Awards in association with Time Warner were held on November 27, 2005 at the London Hilton.

The Animation Award went to THE LITTLE REINDEER from Millimages UK and CiTV. The Pre-School Animation Prize went to Nickelodeon UKs PEPPA PIG.

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Headline News

SCI Talks Tomb Raider 3 With Paramount

SCI, the computer games company that owns Lara Croft, along with the TOMB RAIDER franchise, has begun talks with Paramount Pictures to venture forth with a third installment in the movie franchise, reports The Business Online. Angelina Jolie is expected to return as Lara Croft, the English archaeologist/adventurer. The previous two movies have grossed more than $450 million at the box office.

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World Headline News

Believe It or Not: Burton & Carrey Team on Ripley Bio-Pic

Director Tim Burton and star Jim Carrey are partnering for BELIEVE IT OR NOT!, an action/adventure loosely based on Robert Ripley, reports the trades. Alphaville's Jim Jacks and Sean Daniel will produce alongside Ken Atchity and exec producer Chi-Li Wong. Richard Zanuck, who worked with Burton on CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, BIG FISH and PLANET OF THE APES, is also in talks to produce.

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Headline News

Oscar-Nominated Actor Pat Morita Dies

Actor Pat Morita, best known for his iconic role as martial-arts master/handy man Mr. Miyagi in THE KARATE KID franchise, has died, reported the AP. He was 73.

There were conflicting reports regarding the cause of death. His daughter Aly Morita stated he died Nov. 24, 2005, of heart failure at a Las Vegas hospital; while longtime manager Arnold Soloway said he died of kidney failure at a hospital where he was awaiting a transplant.

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David Headline News

Baraka Works Magic For Slim Jim Campaign

Baraka Post Production was appointed by Miami-based advertising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky and Outsider director James Rouse to provide pre-production expertise, on-site location advice, post production and 3D animation effects for a series of five commercials for Slim Jim.

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Animation Headline News

This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for November 28, 2005

Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.

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Animation Headline News

AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for November 28, 2005

This week in AWN's Forums, a high school freshman wants some advice on whether to take drawing classes over intro to animation courses.

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Comedy Headline News

COMEDY CENTRAL MotherLoad Features Five Channels On Broadband

Comedy Central recently launched its first broadband-optimized video channel "COMEDY CENTRAL MotherLoad," offering exclusively new original series and content from classic Comedy Central shows such as Robert Smigel's TV FUNHOUSE. To view "MotherLoad" go to www.comedycentral.commotherload.

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Disney Headline News

Irving Ludwig, Pioneering Disney Distribution Exec, Dies at 95

Irving Ludwig, former president of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, and one of the most respected and innovative executives in theatrical film distribution, passed away at his home in Santa Monica, California, from natural causes on Nov. 26. He was 95-years -old.

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Headline News

Goblet of Fire Gobbles Up Box Office

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE topped the box office for the second consecutive week during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday period ended Nov. 27, 2005. The fourth entry in the hugely successful Warner Bros. franchise (with vfx from Double Negative, Framestore CFC, MPC, ILM, Cinesite, Animal Logic, The Orphanage, BUF and Rising Sun) added $81.3M for a total gross of $201M.

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Software Headline News

FrameForge 3D Previs Software Available in French

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.

In Technology, Visual Effects, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Series Headline News

Singapore Kicks Off Animated Football Series

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.

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

Kids Headline News

Sandy Wax & Andrew Beecham to Lead PBS KIDS Sprout

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.

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Headline News

THQ to Bring Monster House to Major Videogame Systems

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.

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Animation Headline News

Canada Looks at Opening Animation Centre

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.

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Film Headline News

Jasper Morello Wins Australian Film Institute Award

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.

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Festival Headline News

Death by Heart Wins at Stockholm Fest

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.

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