Czech AniFest Beckons!
5th Annual International Festival of Animated Films AniFest 2006Trebon, Czech RepublicMay 410, 2006Deadline: January 16, 2006
AWN Headline News
Time to Enter the European Independent Film Festival
European Independent Film Festival 2006Paris, FranceMarch 22-25, 2006Deadline: February 10, 2006
Original Kong Arrives on DVD
The long-awaited DVD debut of the original KING KONG (Warner Home Video, $26.99 for special edition or $39.92 for collectors edition) arrives Nov. 22, 2005, looking as great as you might expect of a vintage movie whose negative has long since vanished. Superb contrast and clarity are the result of a DVD production two years in the making, and now we can view the uncensored version in all its terror and glory. As Ray Harryhausen suggests in his commentary, this is the first example of an animated character in a starring role the first modern movie monster.
Ride the Polar Express on DVD
THE POLAR EXPRESS DVD hits retail shelves on Nov. 22, 2005 (Warner Home Video, $29.95). The two-disc special edition contains lots of bonus features devoted to the performance capture (Imagemotion from Sony Pictures Imageworks) that was the driving force behind the Robert Zemeckis/Tom Hanks movie adaptation of the popular Christmas tale by Chris Van Allsburg.
Disc two bonus features include:* You Look Familiar: Hear about Hanks' five unique roles, how each character was different and what it took for him to bring each one to life.
Goblet of Fire Shatters IMAX Records
IMAX Corp. and Warner Bros. Pictures announced that HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE shattered every record for an IMAX Hollywood simultaneous release. In its debut at 66 North American IMAX theaters, the film posted the biggest three-day opening ever, beating the previous record by more than 30%, with an estimated $2.93 million over the period ended Nov. 20, for a per-screen average of more than $44,000.
In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America
Producers Guild Adds Animated Film Producer of the Year Category
The Producers Guild of America has expanded the annual PGA Awards to include a seventh competitive category Producer of the Year in Animated Film. The PGA defines an animated feature film is defined as a motion picture created using a frame-by-frame technique of at least 70 minutes in running time with a significant number of the major characters animated, and in which animation figures in no less than 75% of the picture's running time.
Viacom Names Independent Directors to Boards of CBS & New Viacom
Viacom Inc. today (Nov. 22, 2005) announced the election of seven independent directors to the boards of the two new publicly traded companies that will be created following the separation of Viacom. Four directors join the board of CBS Corp. and three directors join the board of new Viacom, upon completion of the separation, is expected to occur by the end of 2005.
Rushes Create Enya’s Forest Fantasy Music Video
Rushes has just completed the vfx on a stunning new video for Enya titled AMARANTINE for Warner Music.
BOXX joins Alias in ‘Design for the Senses’ Tour
BOXX Technologies Inc. will co-sponsor a series of events with Alias surrounding the new release of Alias StudioTools13, the standard for outstanding design in transportation and consumer products.
The Design for the Senses events will gather leading designers in eight major design centers through the months of November, December and January. The tour represents an opportunity to showcase how the close cooperation between BOXX and Alias benefits the design community.
Quiet Man Cruises into Holiday Season with Visa
Visual effects and animation company, Quiet Man, goes boating in their latest spot for Visa via BBDO. A preview of the upcoming holiday season, the spot started airing Nov. 1.
Autodesk Introduces New Discreet Inferno Visual Effects System in Japan
Autodesk Inc. has released a new configuration of its Academy Award-winning Discreet Inferno visual effects system for the Japanese market. The system is designed to meet the specific platform performance and branding requirements of many Japanese post-production facilities.
endorphin 2.5 Learning Edition Now Available
NaturalMotion Ltd. announced the immediate availability of the companys free endorphin 2.5 Learning Edition (eLE). Based on endorphin, NaturalMotions award-winning character animation software, the new eLE includes all relevant product documentation and a comprehensive support network via the companys active endorphin forum. The software has no time restrictions and is fully functional; however, it is motion file export disabled and is not to be used for commercial production.
Concrete Pictures Gets into the ‘Game’ with MTV Promos
Helping to give game enthusiasts another way to get their fix, Concrete Pictures has teamed with MTV on two new promotional campaigns. The Philadelphia-based creative production company has applied its signature edge and ingenuity to GAMØRZ WEEK and TITLE TRACK, both part of the networks ongoing efforts to connect with the growing and increasingly vocal gaming demographic.
MPC Licenses FlowLine Fluid System
London based vfx house, MPC (The Moving Picture Co.) has licensed FlowLine, a fluid simulation system developed by Munich-based vfx house Scanline, which simulates and renders photoreal fire and water. MPC and Scanline are working together on integrating FlowLine into MPCs large-scale production pipeline.
MPC has elected to work with Scanline to continue ongoing internal R&D focus on the development of its sophisticated in-house character/creature pipeline.
In Technology, Visual Effects, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe
California State U Chico Chooses Mirage for 2D Animation
California State University, Chico has purchased 100 seats of Bauhaus Softwareâs Mirage product. Integrated directly into the universityâs graphics and animation curriculum, Mirage will enable students to learn classical and modern 2D animation, in a completely paperless environment.
Terkel In Trouble Wins Zagreb
When Zagreb 2005 wrapped up its festival on Oct. 30, 2005, the international jury handled out its Grand Prize to Denmarks TERKEL IN TROUBLE. The A Film production was directed by Stefan Fjeldmark. Thorbjrn Christoffersen and Kresten Vestbjerg Andersen. Taking the Golden Zagreb prize was Annecy winner DISTRICT! (NYOKER!) from the Hungarian firm Lichthof Prods. Aron Gauder directed.
Winners of the 2005 BAF Awards Announced
The National Museum of Photography, Film & Television announced the winners of this year's BAF Awards as part of the 12th Bradford Animation Festival, which took place on Nov. 19, 2005 in Bradford, U.K. The BAF Awards celebrate the very best new animation from around the world, with more than 750 submissions whittled down to 30 films for the official selection.
Below is a complete list of winners.
Grand Prix (overall winner)TREE ROBO Dir, Moon-Saeng Kim
New Line Rushes Hour 3 Ahead
After years of dealmaking, New Line has finally signed the key players in making RUSH HOUR 3 happen, according to VARIETY.
The longtime hold out Chris Tucker will receive $20 million against 20% of gross, as well as a second-picture commitment for $20 million on a film to be determined later. The actor will not hold script approval as long as the final draft is similar to what writer Jeff Nathanson pitched.
Co-star Jackie Chan will net $15 million against 15% of the gross as well as control the films distribution rights in China and Hong Kong.
AWN To Publish Tributes to Derek Lamb & Wendy Jackson Hall
With the sad news of the passing of famed producer Derek Lamb and animator Wendy Jackson Hall, ANIMATION WORLD MAGAZINE will be publishing a tribute story to both individuals in December. Lamb started his animation career with the National Film Board of Canada in the 1960s. He worked extensively as a writer, director and producer in Canada, the U.S. and Europe, both in commercial and experimental film. Jackson Hall was part of the early core of AWN and ANIMATION WORLD MAGAZINE and went on to champion animation as an animator, teacher and writer.
Dimension Wants Game Adaptation Dead or Alive
Dimension Films has signed an agreement to acquire the North American distribution rights to the feature adaptation of Tecmo videogame, DEAD OR ALIVE, VARIETY reports. THE TRANSPORTER helmer Corey Yuen is directing. Devon Aoki, Sarah Carter, Natassia Malthe, Matthew Marsden, Jaime Pressly, Eric Roberts and Holly Valance will star.
Massive Update to the Theatrical Release Database
It been some time, but AWN has had a massive update to the Theatrical Release Database.
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for November 21, 2005
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for November 21, 2005
This week in AWN's Forums, members want other members to post pictures of themselves.
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
Goblet of Fire Lights Up Box Office
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE had the best opening yet for the popular franchise, raking in $102.3M for the weekend ended Nov. 20, 2005. In fact, the Warner Bros. wizard fantasy is second only to REVENGE OF THE SITHS $108.4M for openers this year. The first POTTER directed by Mike Newell and the first to don a PG-13 rating, THE GOBLET OF FIRE also boasts more impressive vfx from Double Negative, Framestore CFC, MPC, ILM, Cinesite, Animal Logic, The Orphanage, BUF and Rising Sun.
Polhemus Launches PATRIOT Class B
Polhemus has released the PATRIOT, a 6 Degree-of-Freedom (6DOF) tracking product, which been verified to meet the requirements of Class B digital device standards.
The PATRIOT is now available in both Class A and Class B emissions standards. The new Class B version of the PATRIOT meets the more stringent emissions requirements specified by the FCC and CE standards. The Class B PATRIOT also has a new look and is easily identified by the white plastic chassis. PATRIOT B can now be used in more rigorous residential and industrial laboratory environments.
