Spurred by SHREK 2's ranking as the #1 children's videogame in the U.S. for 2004, Activision Inc. and DreamWorks Animation announced that Activision will develop and publish videogames based on DreamWorks Animation's SHREK 3, which is scheduled for release in summer 2007.
e-on software announced that Vue 5 Infinite, the new version of the company's award-winning solution for professional natural 3D environments, is scheduled for release March 14.
At Game Developers Conference 2005, we challenge game developers to not just anticipate the future of games, but to live it.
On Tuesday, February 8, 2005, the Egyptian Theatre, in association with ASIFA-Hollywood, will present a program of work from Oscar-nominated Canadian animator Chris Landreth, followed by a discussion hosted by AWNs co-publisher Ron Diamond.
This week in AWN's Forums, moderator Larry L. confesses that he just doesnt get anime. A new thread as started for reactions to the first trailer of CORPSE BRIDE. More members post their worst memories of bad direction theyve been given in their careers. Others continue to post their thoughts on Cartoon Networks FOSTERS HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS. Another thread is discussing the Oscar nominations. Additionally, we have personal Websites, sketches and animation for everyone to check out.
MULAN II, the DVD premiere 2D sequel from DisneyToon Studios (Buena Vista Home Ent. $29.99), continues the highly popular Chinese legend of Fa Mulan (voiced again by Ming-Na Wen and sung by Lea Salonga) and her heroics. Story picks up one month after the first film, with Mulan becoming engaged to General Li Shang; however, the wedding plans are put on hold when they are assigned a secret mission involving arranged marriages for the three princesses with a rival kingdom to avert an invasion.
Dan Lee, who helped create such characters as TOY STORY 2s Jessie, MONSTERS, INC.s Boo, and FINDING NEMOs namesake, Nemo, passed away on Jan. 15, 2005, at the age of 35 of advanced metastatic lung cancer.
Mainframe Ent., a leading creator of computer-generated animation, and WizKids Inc., makers of the popular MAGE KNIGHT, HEROCLIX and MECHWARRIOR collectable miniatures games, have teamed up to create a feature-length direct-to-DVD 3D animated feature based on the MECHWARRIOR series of adventure games, books and toys, to be released in 2006.
ADV Films released SAIYUKI: DOUBLE BARREL COLLECTION, VOLUME ONE on DVD Feb. 1, 2005. The release is the first two-disc volume of the six volume series.
Vinton Studios has hired award-winning directors Courtney Booker, Jeff Drew and Aaron Sorenson for its advertising division.
Due to new developments in the audio-visual field over the past few years, Annecy has made some changes to its MIFA International Animated Film Market, which runs from June 8-10, 2005.
GREASE producer Robert Stigwood is planning to turn The Whos seminal rock opera TOMMY in the most expensive animated feature of all time. The film would be budgeted between $300 to $400 million and would feature voice work from top singers like Robbie Williams and Bono.
"Pete Townshend is right behind this. It will feature the biggest names in the music industry. The original movie costs 3-4 million dollars but this will cost 300-400 million dollars. If you are going to do it, you've got to do it right," said Stigwood.
AWN always maintains an aggressive slate of special Animation Flash event-based newsletters. Sent to to more than 40,000 subscribers, these full-color Adobe Acrobat publications are the perfect way for advertisers to reach the heart of the professional animation, visual effects and gaming communities. Download your copies (high resolution versions - low resolution available upon request) of past issues and check for upcoming publication dates below:
After recently closing its first Series A round of venture capital financing, Hawaiibased Pipelinefx has closed a reseller agreement with CG Wave Inc., one of Koreas most respected computer graphics software resellers.
Foxs horror thriller HIDE AND SEEK pushed out Sonys ARE WE THERE YET? in its theatrical debut for the weekend ended Jan. 30, 2005. HIDE AND SEEK pulled in $21.9M while ARE WE THERE YET? followed at number two with $16.3M and a two-week cume of $38.4M. Meanwhile, Clint Eastwoods MILLION DOLLAR BABY took off the gloves as it entered wide release and was the biggest box office recipient as a result of its seven Oscar noms, including Best Picture. The acclaimed Warner Bros. drama knocked down $12.2M and $21.5M to finish third.
Alias revealed the latest version of Maya 6.5, a performance-driven release optimized to meet the needs of games, film, broadcast and digital publishing professionals seeking dramatic performance enhancements while working with massive datasets. By re-architecting the software to boost performance across the package, Alias has prepared Maya to provide the power and reliability to work with the heaviest models, scenes and animation data.
Steve Hendricks has joined leading post-production boutique Post Logic Studios as president/ceo. With state-of-the-art facilities in Hollywood and New York, Post Logic has distinguished itself as a leader in digital intermediate and feature film restoration, and continues to expand into new and emerging arenas within the post-production realm. Hendricks brings a wealth of domestic and international experience into the company, and will oversee day-to-day business operations as well as expansion opportunities.
Television and screenwriter Don Payne will receive the 2004 Paul Selvin Award for his Fraudcast News episode of THE SIMPSONS at the upcoming 57th annual Writers Guild Awards ceremony to be held Feb. 19, 2005.
Albie Hecht, president of Spike TV, announced his resignation today (Jan. 31, 2005) due to creative differences.
The Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals have wrapped up their events and honored Chris Landreths RYAN and Benh Zeitlins EGG.
On Jan. 30, 2005, Sundance handed out its prizes with the Oscar-nominated animated short, RYAN, taking a honorable mention in the shorts category.
On Jan. 24, 2005, Xlibris released WALT'S PEOPLE TALKING DISNEY WITH THE ARTISTS WHO KNEW HIM VOLUME 1, the first volume of a series of books that collects the best interviews ever conducted with Disney artists.
Contributors to the series, edited by Didier Ghez, include noted Disney historians Robin Allan, Paul F. Anderson, Michael Barrier, J.B. Kaufman, Jim Korkis, Mike Lyons, John Province, Thorkil Rasmussen, Arn Saba and Klaus Strzyz.
Wao Corp., an Osaka-based cram school managing company, has announced that in 2006 it will launch a school to teach students how to produce animated films and operate animation production companies, reports YOMIURI newspaper. The school will be the first of its kind in Japan and is being established in the Suginami Ward, Tokyo ward where nearly 70 animation production companies are located.
Ottawa International Animation Festival 2005Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaSeptember 21-25, 2005Deadline: June 1, 2005
Disney/Pixars THE INCREDIBLES soared to victory for Best Animated Feature as well as taking the nine other categories it was nominated in, including three personal achievements trophies to Brad Bird for Writing, Directing and Voice Acting for the 2004 Annie Awards, held Jan. 30, 2005, at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California. The Nickelodeon series, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, won the top TV category, Best Animated Television Production at ASIFA-Hollywoods formal fete.
