AWN Headline News
Lionhead Studios Integrates SOFTIMAGE|XSI into Game Pipeline
U.K.-based Lionhead Studios, creator of the FABLE and BLACK & WHITE game franchises, is adopting SOFTIMAGE|XSI software as the standard 3D art and animation tool for future development projects. Artists at Lionhead plan to use SOFTIMAGE|XSI software to create and animate the characters, props and environments for their next generation of PC and console games. The transition is set to take place in multiple phases starting next month.
Story Telling Through Animation Arrives in Book Stores
Charles River Media announces new book, STORY TELLING THROUGH ANIMATION. This book provides an in-depth guide to the process of conceiving, planning and producing an animated or live-action media production. It covers specific information for many forms of visuals, including traditional cel, stop motion, Flash or CG with a focus on the most critical aspect of any production the story.
Geneon Release Third Volume of The Daichis
The Daichis are at it again as they fight highly evolved aliens and brave family stress in THE DAICHIS VOLUME 3 PAY DAY, arriving on May 3, 2005 from Geneon Ent. THE DAICHIS ranked among the top 15 anime series of 2004, according to PLAY MAGAZINE. With an original story by Shoji Kawamori (BLUE SUBMARINE MAINE #6, ESCAFLOWNE, MACROSS PLUS), direction by Satoshi Kimura (TENCHI THE MOVIE 2 - DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS) and animation by Group TAC (STREET FIGHTER ALPHA MOVIE, SAIYUKI), THE DAICHIS credit list includes the top creative talents in the anime industry.
FlickerLab Moves On with Elephants
FlickerLab finished the animated TV commercial for MoveOn PAC, dramatizing the Republican effort to change Senate filibuster rules on Federal judicial appointments, in 44 hours for its debut April 26, 2005.
Ex’pression College Awarded National Accreditation
Expression College for Digital Arts announced that it has been awarded National Accreditation by the ACCSCT (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology). Accreditation is a means of assisting private career schools and colleges to become stronger and better institutions by setting standards of educational quality. Accreditation supports the efforts of institutions to achieve maximum educational effectiveness for students, employers and the public.
Samuel L. Jackson Becomes Animated As Afro Samurai
Samuel L. Jackson is set to voice and produce the animated action/adventure AFRO SAMURAI for Spike TV, with Japanese anime studio Gonzo and Japan's largest TV network, Fuji Television. The five-episode series will premiere on Spike TV in 2006.
Pileated Pictures Prides Itself on Animating for PBS’ Between the Lions
Pileated Pictures has completed 16 animated shorts that will open and close for the hit PBS show, BETWEEN THE LIONS, as well as a music video, which will air on several episodes.
The shorts are 30-second mini-rap songs, presenting vocabulary words highlighted within a particular episode. The shows cast of lions raps the lyrics, while Pileateds animation appears in thought bubbles above the big cats heads.
Nippon Toy Titans Converge as Bandai Buys Namco
Japanese toy giant Bandais got game, acquiring Nippon videogame giant Namco for $1.7 billion in cash and stock, in a huge development for the gaming industry.
Bandai owns the POWER RANGERS and DIGIMON, while Namco owns the classic PAC-MAN and new hit games such as TEKKEN. The financial and trade wires are buzzing about how this combination will create Japans second-biggest maker of toys and videogames.
Theatrical Release Database Sees More Updates
This week in the Theatrical Release Database, we have more than a half dozen changes including new trailers and date updates.
This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for May 2, 2005
AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for May 2, 2005
This week in AWN's Forums, a member wants to know why more and more Flash animation is being released in mov and mpg format. More tips on animating trees and rustling leaves have some in. A new member wants to know how other members broke into the animation biz. Another blogger is having a problem image plane in Maya 6.0 and needs help. More answers to the question of Indian 2D prices come in. And as always more members are looking for school and course advice.
University of Kent Launches a New Degree in Computer Animation
From September 2005, the Department of Electronics at the University of Kent will complement its BSc in Multimedia Technology and Design with an MSc in Computer Animation. This MSc, which is a direct collaboration between the Department of Electronics and Mike Eames, head of animation at Framestore CFC, will equip students to become highly skilled professionals in the animation and visual effects industry.
Quiet Man Provides CG Elephant for GE’s Singin’ in the Rain Spot
New York-based Quiet Man recently created a vibrant young CG elephant that hooves up the classic Gene Kelly SINGIN IN THE RAIN routine from the 1952 film. Quiet Man's CG elephant recreates the footwork from Kelly's famous routine for a General Electric corporate image TV commercial. Headed by ad agency BBDO New York, this light-hearted spot promotes G.E.'s involvement with ecological research and development. The spot began airing April 28, 2005.
Pixar Releases RenderMan Pro Server v12.5
Responding to the rapidly increasing performance demands of cinematic quality imagery, Pixar Animation Studios announced the release of version 12.5 of its award-winning RenderMan Pro Server software.
Key features of RenderMan Pro Server v12.5 include accelerated ray tracing, support for hierarchical subdivision surfaces, an API to read and write point cloud files, ray tracing visibility and shading attribute simplification and many other improvements and optimizations.
Autodesk Delivers 3ds Max 7.5 to Subscription Customers
Autodesk has begun deploying Autodesk 3ds Max 7.5 software to its base of subscription customers. Significant enhancements range from a robust integrated hair and fur system and the most current version of mental ray 3.4 together with eight satellite render node licenses to a new design toolset that combines the feature sets of 3ds Max and Autodesk VIZ software. 3ds Max 7.5 files are completely cross compatible with the current 3ds Max version 7 software.
Andrew Hall to Supervise A52's CG Department
Emmy Award-winning Los Angeles visual effects and design company A52 has hired Andrew Hall, formerly a feature film animation supervisor for Digital Domain, as CG supervisor.
Hall began his career at London's The Motion Picture Co., earning the title of senior animator and working on numerous TV commercials and features, including THE ENGLISH PATIENT, TOMORROW NEVER DIES, RICHARD III and THE MIRACLE MAKER.
Shinya Yarimizo Joins Pipelinefx
Shinya Yarimizo, formerly of Square USA and the International Pacific Research Center (IPRC) at the University of Hawaii School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, has joined Pipelinefx as a senior software engineer. Yarimizo worked on the Production Software Group that developed the technical infrastructure for creating FINAL FANTASY THE SPIRITS WITHIN, the 3D-animated feature film produced by Square USA in Honolulu. Led by Pipelinefx cto, Troy Brooks, the Production Software Group was also responsible for building the predecessor to qube!
Hitchhiker’s Guide Has the Box Office Answer
Buena Vistas THE HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (with vfx by Cinesite) topped the box office chart in its debut for the weekend ended May 1, 2005, collecting $21.1M. Universals THE INTERPRETER, last weekends winner, slipped to second place, with $13.8M for a two-week total of $43.1M. The other big opener, XXX: STATE OF THE UNION (with vfx from ILM), didnt fare so well for Sony Revolution, as Ice Cube stepped in for Vin Diesel. The Lee Tamahori actioner netted a disappointed $12.7M for a third place finish.
American Dad Short in Theaters Before Fever Pitch
Crossing over from small screen to big screen fans, 20th Century Fox has been exercising some synergy, releasing AMERICAN DAD: INSIDE THE CIA, a never-before-seen short, running exclusively before the film FEVER PITCH, starring Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon. The three-minute short, which is a take-off on CIA training films from the 50s, is screening before the Fox film, FEVER PITCH, holding in seventh place at the box office in the U.S. in its fifth week of release while the Fox TV series, AMERICAN DAD, premiered May 1 9:30 pm on FOX.
Animator/director Ed Friedman Passes Away at 92
Animator/director Ed Eddie Friedman passed away on April 29, 2005, at the age of 92 in Los Angeles, due to complications from a stroke he had suffered a stroke about a year ago. From 1933 until 1989, Friedman worked for Iwerks, Mintz/Screen Gems, John Sutherland, Disney, UPA, Format, Bagle Productions, Ed Graham and Filmation.
DreamWorks ‘Animation Now’ at Lincoln Center
Forty-five years ago, when Walt Disney had a new animated feature to plug he used his Sunday night TV series to give his audience a look at the film and share some secrets of its making. When DreamWorks Animation SKG wanted to let the world know theyve arrived as a publicly owned company spun off from the original DreamWorks with five films scheduled for release between now and 2007 they went Walt one better.
Harry Potter 4 Headed to IMAX Day-and-Date
IMAX Corp. and Warner Bros. Pictures announced that HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE will be simultaneously released to both IMAX and conventional theatres on November 18, 2005. The film is based on the best-selling J.K. Rowling book and is the fourth installment of the tremendously successful HARRY POTTER film series, which has grossed a total of more than $2.6 billion around the world. HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE will be digitally re-mastered into IMAX's format through the company's IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology and released to the worldwide IMAX theatre network.
Send Your Films to Poland
12th International Film Festival "ETIUDA&ANIMA 2005"Cracow, PolandNovember 18-24, 2005Deadline: October 15, 2005
12th International Film Festival "ETIUDA&ANIMA 2005" will feature an international student and short film competition. The following prizes will be awarded at Anima 2005 competition: Grand Prix Golden Jabberwocky, Silver Jabberwocky, Bronze Jabberwocky, Special Golden Jabberwocky for the Best Animated Student Etude of the Festival. The jury also reserves the right to award Honorary Diplomas.
Avatar, Foster’s & Peppa Win at Cartoons on the Bay
Cartoons on the Bay handed out its Pulcinella Awards on April 30, 2005, with AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER, FOSTERS HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS and PEPPA PIG all taking home two awards each. The event wrapped on Sunday with the awards shows having to turn away people because it was over capacity.