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AWN Headline News

Mipcom Headline News

Don’t Miss Getting Into AWN's MIPCOM Newsletter!

Continuing our special event specific Flash Newsletters, we will be publishing a special edition for MIPCOM. The market is fast approaching and our editorial and advertising staff is gearing up for the MIPCOM-specific Flash Newsletters. Here are the dates for the publications. Please send your news two weeks prior to the publication date.

MIPCOM NewslettersSept. 26Oct. 3

All your news can be sent to editor@awn.com. For sales opportunities, contact Dan Sarto at dan@awn.com or call (323) 606-4200.

Animation Headline News

AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for Sept. 18, 2006

This week in AWN's Forums, members cant help but talk about the 20th anniversary DVD of TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE. Several threads are discussing the prospects for animation education in India. Theres a thread talking about a new movie made entirely in 3ds Max. A member has a question about blending colors in cel-shaded animation. Another member has questions about rendering in Maya. Others continue to post their work for another members to critique.

Headline News

Computer Art Biennale Wants Computer Graphic Art

VII Computer Art Biennale Rzeszów 2006 Rzeszów, PolandNov. 4 31 Dec. 2006Deadline: Oct. 6, 2006

VII Computer Art Biennale aims to show achievements in computer art, which will stimulate the development of computer graphic art, and to establish a permanent gallery of computer art. Only graphic works produced by the computer (as computer prints, matchprints, proofs etc.) in the years 2004 2006 will be accepted for the competition. Every artist participating in the competition can submit an unlimited number of works.

Game Headline News

Studio B Wins Four Elans

On Sept. 14, 2006, in Vancouver, B.C., the Canadian Awards for the Electronic and Animated Arts (CAEAA) winners were announced.

The theater was packed with videogame and animation luminaries as well as new media art schools' top talents who were wined, dined and entertained by William Shatner and a host of industry celebrities.

"The evening was a huge success," said Yannis Mallat, ceo of Ubisoft's Montreal studio. "The first edition of the Canadian Awards for the Electronic and Animated Arts is a step forward for the entire Canadian video game industry."

Home Headline News

Warner Home Video Debuts Scooby-Doo In Pirates Ahoy! on DVD

Warner Home Video (WHV) is releasing the original animated movie SCOOBY-DOO IN PIRATES AHOY! on DVD Sept. 19, 2006 ($19.98).

In the movie, Scooby-Doo and the gang take a creepy cruise into the legendary Bermuda Triangle. From alien sightings to Skeleton Ghost Pirates, spooks and scares lurk around every corner. If Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Daphne, Fred and Velma cant solve this maritime mystery, they may walk the plank and become the Triangles next victims.

Animation Headline News

TVPaint Releases TVP Animation 1.1 for PC & Mac

TVPaint Development, a graphic and animation solution provider, is about to release TVP Animation 1.1 for both PC-Windows and Mac-Universal Binary platforms. Made by artists for artists, this software, using a bitmap approach, provides a customizable drawing toolset.

TVP Animation is the first release of a new range of TVPaint products, taking advantage of the TVPaint technology. TVPaint Animation will fit in any production workflows, traditional, fully digital or hybrid.

New additions to version 1.1 include:

Animation Headline News

ADV Releases Comic Party, Kalideo Star & Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok

On Sept. 19, 2006, ADV Films will release the first volume of COMIC PARTY: REVOLUTION TV, the fifth volume of KALIDEO STAR: NEW WINGS and the final volume of MYTHICAL DETECTIVE LOKI RAGNAROK. These titles follows ADVs previous September releases of MACROSS, MICHEL, NANAKA 6/17, JINKI: EXTEND, THIS UGLY YET BEAUTIFUL WORLD and THE UFO ULTRAMAIDEN VALKYRIE OVA.

COMIC PARTY REVOLUTION TV offers an insiders look at the world of fan comics.

Headline News

Anthony Marcoly Upped to President of BVI Sales & Distribution

Anthony Marcoly has been promoted from evp to president, sales and distribution, Buena Vista International Inc., taking on a more comprehensive management role overseeing all aspects of sales and distribution for Disney and Touchstone Picture films internationally, as well as continuing his oversight of international acquisitions.

Licensing Headline News

Taffy Names Cynthia Money President, Worldwide Consumer Products

Licensing veteran Cynthia Money joins the Taffy Ent. team as president, worldwide consumer products, to build the consumer awareness and innovative marketing platforms for all of the companys award-winning brands. Money will be based in Los Angeles.

Series Headline News

Betsy’s Kindergarten Adventures Welcomed BY PBS KIDS

Corner Stone Animation announced that PBS KIDS has committed to airing 26 half-hour episodes of BETSYS KINDERGARTEN ADVENTURES, the animated educational preschool television series. The series features a dream team of voice-over talent, composed of Daveigh Chase (LILO & STITCH), Nancy Cartwright (THE SIMPSONS), Fred Willard (CHICKEN LITTLE), Vicki Lewis (FINDING NEMO), Bess Armstrong (MY SO-CALLED LIFE), Sally Struthers (ALL IN THE FAMILY), Cree Summer (X-MEN LEGENDS), Richard Horvitz (POWER RANGER) and Tom Bosley (HAPPY DAYS).

Mobile Headline News

Disney Pins Mobile Distribution Deal with Thumbplay

Thumbplay Inc., a leading online retailer of mobile entertainment content, announced a mobile content distribution agreement with the Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG).

As part of the agreement, Thumbplay will distribute content from WDIG's publishing labels mDisney, creator of Disney-themed mobile content, and Starwave Mobile, the company's third-party mobile content licensing and publishing arm. The offerings will include graphics, tones and mobile games.

Series Headline News

Playmates Toys With The Land Before Time

Universal Studios Consumer Products Group and Playmates Toys announced a domestic licensing agreement, whereby Playmates will serve as the master toy licensee for the upcoming animated television series, THE LAND BEFORE TIME. The 22-minute animated series will air on Cartoon Network beginning spring 2007. The toy line will launch in fall 2007 with the introduction of a full line of figures, vehicles, playsets and plush.

Series Headline News

Survivor Producer Buys Flamel Rights

SURVIVOR producer Mark Burnett has purchased the feature-film rights to the children's fantasy book series THE SECRETS OF THE IMMORTAL NICHOLAS FLAMEL, according to VARIETY.

THE ALCHEMYST, Michael Scotts first volume in the six-part series, will be published by Random House Children's Books in May. Burnett hopes to produce the project, which he will start shopping to studios in the next few weeks.

Headline News

Broadway Musical Tusk Headed to Animation

Steven Billing, writer and co-creator of the Broadway-bound musical TUSK, says the production is headed for animation. TUSK is the award-winning musical, which was part of the 2005 New York Musical Theater Festival in Manhattan. Billing is in negotiations with a Florida-based animation company that is interested in developing it into a feature film. TUSK premiered on stage in Albany, New York at The EGG Theater and on Broadway the following year in New York City. Billing is in negotiations with three theaters to have TUSK on stage again in the early part of 2007.

Animation Headline News

DreamWorks Enters WABAC Machine with Mr. Peabody & Sherman

DreamWorks Animation announced plans to bring the time-traveling adventures of MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN to the big screen. LION KING director Rob Minkoff will helm the CG feature.

Ive always loved MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN and am thrilled to direct them in their big screen debut, stated Minkoff, who developed the pitch for the film with longtime producing partner Jason Clark.

Avatar Headline News

Avatar Breaks New Ground as Primetime Special & Nick Nightly Strip

Just as Nickelodeon's hit animated comedy/adventure series, AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER, premieres in an all-new epic adventure titled, "Avatar: Secret of the Fire Nation" on Sept, 15, 2006, from 8:00-9:00 pm, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER reveals that Nick will air the show weeknights at 6:30 pm, starting Sept. 25. An expanded online initiative will also be launched for the show.

Headline News

Ubisoft Ships Enchanted Arms for Xbox 360

Ubisoft has shipped ENCHANTED ARMS exclusively for the Xbox 360 to stores in North America. ENCHANTED ARMS, the first true next-generation Japanese role-playing game (RPG), was created by development studio FromSoftware in Japan.

The adventure takes place in a fantasy world filled with beautiful cinematic graphics with vibrant characters. With more than 50 hours of gameplay, ENCHANTED ARMS is the only Xbox 360 RPG with the fast-action SpeedTactics Battle System, which enables the player to move their characters and use distance-dependent attacks while in battle.

Film Headline News

Barney the White House Scottish Terrier Doing Fest Rounds

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 12:00am

Sydney, Australia writer/director Anny Slater's comedy animation BARNEY THE WHITE HOUSE TERRIER has been selected to screen at the Oscars qualifying Chicago International Children's Film Festival. Films that win at the festival are automatically short listed for nomination at the 2008 Oscars. The same film is one of only nine short films screened at the Boston Comedy Festival, where comedians Denis Leary and Lewis Black will be performing.

The film is an imagined conversation between President Bush's dog Barney and his secret service agent.

Movie Headline News

Jazwares Introduces Animated Movie Making Studio for Kids

Kids may now direct, produce and screen their own action movies with the MARVEL HEROES ANI-MOVIE, THE ANIMATED MOVIE MAKER from Jazwares Inc. The ANI-MOVIE lets young filmmakers create and edit action-packed movies, using the latest stop-motion, digital technology, and view them on their own television.

Festival Headline News

eDIT 9. to Honor Terry Gilliam and Andy Serkis

Director Terry Gilliam and actor Andy Serkis will be honored at the eDIT 9. Filmmakers Festival in Frankfurt, Germany, Sept. 24-26. Gilliam enjoys cult-status amongst generations of film-lovers. The writer, director and lead cartoonist shaped the style of the Monty Python group and their time. Films such as BRAZIL and 12 MONKEYS further cemented his reputation as an uncompromising filmmaker of extraordinary visionary power and humor.

Digital Headline News

Animal Logic Creates ‘Cardboard’ Environments for Music Video

Animal Logic has created a stylized world for Australian band Telemetry Orchestras latest music video, UNDER THE CHERRY TREE. The video clip is a four-minute allegory that explores the obstacles of love. Two characters travel on two different trains in parallel worlds; the boy from a dirty city, and the girl from a beautiful cherry tree orchard. They end up crossing into each others worlds and desperately try to stop their trains so they can be together, but end where the other began.

Visual Headline News

Barbara Genicoff Experiences Visual Evolution with Zoic

Zoic Studios announced the addition of Barbara Genicoff, as visual effects producer for commercials. The company, known for its outstanding visual effects in advertising, TV and feature film, has experienced significant growth in all areas and approached Genicoff as a complement to the burgeoning commercial team.

Wild Headline News

A Wild DVD

THE WILD, the 3D-animated feature from C.O.R.E. Feature Animation and distributed by Disney, comes to DVD on Sept. 12, 2006 (Walt Disney Home Ent., $29.99). Very similar to MADAGASCAR, with its New York Zoo to Africa premise, these zoo pals are nonetheless more photoreal-looking than the ones that inhabit the DreamWorks feature.

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