AWN Headline News
Don’t Miss Out On AWN’S MIPCOM Special Newsletters!
Continuing our special event specific Flash Newsletters, we will be publishing special editions for MIPCOM. This event is fast approaching and our editorial and advertising staff is gearing up for the Flash Newsletter series. Here are the dates for the publications.
MIPCOM Flash NewslettersSept. 27, 2005Oct. 4, 2005Oct. 11, 2005
Check Out The Updates To The Theatrical Release Database
This week in the Theatrical Release Database, we have new pages in addition to some new trailers, date updates and name changes.
This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for September 12, 2005
AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for September 12, 2005
This week in AWN's Forums, a student wants to find out what positions are available for a student in animation studios. A beginner wants to know some tools to check out. More members are discussing whats wrong with animation in India. Moderator Larry L. talks about animation directors especially his fav Chuck Jones. A director posts some tips for animation supervisors to follow so they can meet their deadlines while still having fun. Another member is researching outsourcing. Debate still continues on FOSTERS HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS.
Hangzhou Designing to Become Animation Capital
Following the first China International Animation Festival held this past June in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang province, the government has released 15 new measures to help build the area into an "animation capital," reports PEOPLE'S DAILY ONLINE. The incentives call for developing animation industry in Hangzhou over a five-year plan period.
Indian and Malaysian Studios to Launch Two Kids Channels
UTV Software Communications Ltd. of India has announced a joint venture with the Malaysia-based Astro, a DTH and pay TV operator, to create two new channels in the region, reports the BUSINESS STANDARD. UTV will handle the content, marketing and brand building with the capital investment coming entirely from Astro. UTV will receive nearly $1 million a year as well as an option to invest up to 20% equity in the channel at par over three years.
ASIFA-Hollywood Calls for Help & Annie Footage
ASIFA-Hollywood is looking for individuals interested in serving on the various nomination committees for the upcoming 2005 Annie Awards. Categories include: * Home Entertainment * Short Subject * Games * Television Commercial * Television Production * Character Animation * Character Design (Feature and Television) * Directing (Feature and Television) * Effects Animation * Music (Feature and Television) * Production Design (Feature and Television) * Storyboarding (Feature and Television)
The Crab Revolution Takes Over Nextoons
For its second season, NEXTOONS: THE NICKTOONS FILM FESTIVAL has announced that Arthur de Pins, with his film, LA RÉVOLUTION DES CRABES, is the $10,000 Grand Prize winner.
blinkx Talks Up AtomFilm Content
blinkx announced a partnership with AtomFilms, which will make more than 1,000 of AtomFilms' short film and animation titles searchable via the blinkx.tv video search service.
Corpse Bride Bows in Toronto
TIM BURTONS CORPSE BRIDE made its North American debut Saturday night at the Toronto International Film Festival, and the director and a few of his collaborators commented on the stop motion animated feature at Sundays press junket.
Skywalker Sound Names Randy Thom Director of Sound Design
Randy Thom has been appointed as director of sound design at Skywalker Sound. Thom, recipient of last years Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing on THE INCREDIBLES, and previously a Best Sound Oscar for THE RIGHT STUFF, began working for Lucasfilm in 1979. His film projects this year include HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, as well as additional sound design for WAR OF THE WORLDS. A highly prolific sound designer and mixer, Thom is equally at home with animation or live action, with an additional 11 Oscar nominations during his career.
An Exorcism at the Box Office
Screen Gems THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE surprised everyone with its screaming debut of $30M for the weekend ended Sept. 11, 2005. Budgeted at $19M, the indie horror/courtroom drama, contains vfx from Captive Audience Prods.
War of the Worlds Helps Paramount Post Record Summer
Paramount Pictures has delivered the biggest summer at the domestic box office in the studio's history, with $503,031,989, besting the previous record of $412M, set in 1994, when the studio released FORREST GUMP.
Global Mechanic Launches New TV Series Division
Vancouver and Boston-based production company Global has created a new TV series division anchored by three new animation projects: 20 episodes of a new series for PBS and WGBH called FETCH!; three childrens books for the next season of the award-winning PBS series, BETWEEN THE LIONS, produced by WGBH Boston, Sirius Thinking Ltd. and Mississippi Public Broadcasting; and a five-episode original series created by Lincoln Pierce for a new programming block on Cartoon Network.
IBM'S TotalStorage Tape Solution Implemented at Sony Imageworks
IBM has shipped its 500,000th IBM TotalStorage Linear Tape Open (LTO) drive solution to Sony Pictures Imageworks. The company purchased the new storage technology solution to back up its digital animation productions.
Bruce Rosenblum President of New Warner Bros. Television Group
WB vet Bruce Rosenblum has been named president of the newly formed Warner Bros.Television Group, to oversee and grow the entire Warner Bros. portfolio of television businesses, including worldwide production and distribution as well as broadcasting.
Man with the Screaming Brain Film Arrives on Sci-Fi Channel & Dark Horse Comics
Bruce Campbells telemovie, MAN WITH THE SCREAMING BRAIN, debuted on the Sci-Fi Channel, Sept. 10, 2005, at 9:00 pm and will be rebroadcast Sept. 15 at 9:00 pm as part of SCI FI's original movie franchise.
Self-proclaimed B-movie star Bruce Campbell of EVIL DEAD, ARMY OF DARKNESS and BUBBA HO-TEP fame co-wrote MAN WITH THE SCREAMING BRAIN with David Goodman, and also directed and starred in it as well. The film chronicles the adventures of an uptown banker who is brought back to life by a mad scientist with humorously bizarre results (www.scifi.com/screamingbrain).
Naruto Makes Cartoon Network Debut Sept. 10
NARUTO, made its U.S. and English-languae debut on Sept. 10, 2005, at 9:00 pm during Toonami, Cartoon Networks high-rated action block. The series, which first aired in Japan in 2002, has already acquired a huge fan base in the U.S. through DVD sales and bootleg tapes.
NARUTO is an adaptation of the popular manga series, NARUTO, created by Masahi Kishimoto. Cartoon Network will air 52 episodes of the anime series during Toonami, Cartoon Networks Saturday primetime action block.
Gilligan’s Island’s Bob Denver Dies
Bob Denver, the pop culture icon who will forever be remembered as the title character on GILLIGANS ISLAND, died on Sept. 2, 2005, from complications due to surgery for throat cancer. He was 70 years old. For animation fans, Denver again took on the role of Gilligan for the Filmation produced cartoon, GILLIGANS PLANET. The series lasted one season on CBS in 1982, with the original cast of characters marooned on a distant planet instead of an isolated island.
Disney Channel Kicks Off Fall Lineup
Disney Channel's September is highlighted by two new series joining the Jetix action/adventure lineup GET ED and KONG: THE ANIMATED SERIES presented mornings on ABC Family and evenings on Toon Disney.
Also in September, Toon Disney's popular Jetix block expands by 20 hours weekdays (7:00 pm 2:00 a. ET/PT) and weekends (4:00 pm 2:00 am ET/PT), delivering programming for kids 6-11, especially boys 6-11.
Digitally Restored Cinderella to Premiere at El Capitan
Walt Disney's fully restored animated classic, CINDERELLA, which debuts on DVD Oct. 4 (Buena Vista Home Ent., $29.99), will be digitally projected during a special theatrical engagement at Hollywoods El Capitan Theatre, Sept. 15-25, 2005.
Charlie Arrives on DVD Nov. 8
Tim Burtons CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, which collected a sweet $205 million at the box office with the help of vfx from Moving Picture Co., Framestore CFC, Cinesite (Europe), Digital Domain, Darkside Effects Ltd. and Neal Scanlan Studio, makes its DVD debut on Nov. 8 (Warner Home Video, $30.97 two-disc deluxe edition, $28.98 single disc).
Special edition bonus features include:
* Five making-of featurettes:
Chocolate Dreams: Learn about Burton's vision for the film and how he adapted the story.
T-Splines Maya Plug-in 1.0 Starts Shipping
T-Splines LLC, leading developer of 3D animation modeling software, has begun shipping the T-Splines Maya plug-in 1.0, opening a new frontier in 3D modeling by solving two problems that have plagued the 3D modeling industry since its inception: greater surface control and seamless merging. A free trial of the T-Splines Maya plug-in Learning Edition may be downloaded at the T-Splines website, www.tsplines.com.
17 Scientific Achievements in Competition for 78th Academy Awards
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Scientific and Technical Awards Committee will review 17 scientific and technical achievements for 78th Academy Awards consideration, according to committee chair Richard Edlund, but its not too late to submit entries. Pixar Animation Studios and Industrial Light & Magic are being considered for two achievements each.
"This list of achievements is announced to allow individuals and companies with similar technology or claims of prior art the opportunity to submit their technology for review," said Richard Edlund.