This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for Oct. 9, 2006
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.
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AWN Headline News
AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for Oct. 9, 2006
This week in AWN's Forums, moderator Larry L posts some observations from China. Theres a thread discussing Disneys short film, LITTLE MATCH GIRL. A junior member is looking for an internship in Colorado. Another poster presents 2D or not 2D that is the question. Others are talking about THE SIMPSONS MOVIE. A member has a question about licensing fees for U.S. animated series. Others have questions about schools and software. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!
Google To Acquire YouTube for $1.65B in Stock
Google Inc. announced that it has agreed to acquire YouTube, the consumer media company for people to watch and share original videos, for $1.65 billion in a stock-for-stock transaction. Following the acquisition, YouTube will operate independently to preserve its successful brand.
Scarface: the World Is Yours Takes North America
Sierra Ent. is set to deliver SCARFACE: THE WORLD IS YOURS to North American store shelves on Oct. 8, 2006, for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Windows PC. In addition, SCARFACE fans will have an opportunity to score additional Tony Montana merchandise and bonus material through a pre-order campaign and a special "Collector's Edition" of the game. SCARFACE: THE WORLD IS YOURS is licensed by Universal Studios Consumer Products Group.
Little Mermaid Promotes Ocean Awareness in PSAs
The Advertising Council announced in partnership with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Environmental Defense and The Walt Disney Studios Buena Vista Worldwide Home Ent. Division, the launch of a multi-media public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to encourage all Americans to protect the oceans from the devastation of marine debris.
Eloise Jumps From Page to TV Screens
Based on the bestselling book series from Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight, ELOISE will make its debut an animated TV series on Starz Kids & Family Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006, at 6:00 pm (ET/PT). ELOISE consists of a 13x22 series of episodes and several one-hour specials.
Sony & Minimax Announce Acquisition Of Anime Channel, A+
Sony Pictures Television Intl (SPTI) and Minimax, one of the leading childrens TV channels in Central Europe, announced SPTIs acquisition of A+, a dedicated channel for anime programming that airs on Minimax in Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The channel will be part of SPTIs international networks group, which includes more than 45 channels around the world.
Classic Media Manages Gumby
Classic Media and Premavision Inc., owner of GUMBY, announced it has entered into a long-term joint venture under which Classic Media will manage all rights to the GUMBY characters.
Rogue Stakes 3-Year Deal in Platinum Dunes
Rogue Pictures, Universal-based Focus Features genre division, has inked a three-year first-look deal with Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Forms Platinum Dunes, VARIETY reports. Bay, Fuller and Form will produce horror films, with budgets south of $25 million, for Rogue, which will give the trio as much as 10% of first-dollar gross.
Google Eyeing YouTube
According to THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, Google is in negotiations to buy YouTube. Both companies have yet to comment on the reports. The article states that Google is floating $1.6 billion as a possible pricetag for the viral video site. YouTube founder/ceo Chad Hurley previously said he was not adverse to either an IPO or a sale of his quickly growing media phenomenon. However, media experts have also sighted YouTubes legal woes with companies over copyright violations as a stumbling block for any acquisition.
NBC Saves Heroes For Full Season
Due to the success of its first two episodes, HEROES has been picked up for a full season by NBC, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The new drama averaged 13.5 million viewers and a 5.7 rating/14 share for adults 18-49. This put it as the #1 new series among that demographic.
Airing on Mondays at 9:00 pm, the show chronicles the lives of ordinary people around the world, who begin to discover that they have superhuman abilities.
Paramount & Nick Game for Sunken Places
Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies have agreed to co-produce THE GAME OF SUNKEN PLACES, based on M.T. Andersons Scholastic Press book, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The project was pitched to the studios by screenwriter Matt Nix.
The story chronicles two boys as they learn that their housing development is really a gigantic game. The boys must play the game in order to validate human's worth to an alien race.
Cartoon Network Completes Production on First Live-Action Movie Re-Animated
Cartoon Network announced that it has completed principal photography on its first-ever original live-action television movie, RE-ANIMATED, which will combine elements of live-action and animation. The project was announced in March at Cartoon Networks upfront presentation and is in post-production with a premiere date yet to be determined.
Fremantle Acquires Friends And Heroes
The Fremantle Corp. has acquired the new combined 2D and 3D animated production, FRIENDS AND HEROES. The distribution company will showcase the animated series at MIPCOM along with a substantial list of previously announced programming. This series will also be made available at MIPCOM Jr.
MIPCOM Junior 2006 Presents A Major Program
MIPCOM Junior's 14th edition presents its largest ever conference program and a total of eight events center on the flourishing children's TV market. Some of the key topics scheduled to be discussed include multi-platform content, licensing and merchandising and programming strategies.
Miyazaki Starts Next Film for Summer 2008
Hayao Miyazaki has started production on his latest untitled animated feature at his Studio Ghibli, reports VARIETY.
Scheduled for summer 2008, his last picture bowed in 2004 HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, which grossed $170 million in Japan alone and $225M internationally.
International and U.S. distributors have yet to be announced. Toho has handled all of Miyazaki's recent pictures.
Adam Watson Joins Rushes
Award-winning vfx operator Adam Watson, whose CV includes stints on Oscar-nominated feature films MOULIN ROUGE and THE MATRIX, is joining Rushes expanding VFX department.
Watson joins the team headed up by Paul Hannaford. Further, he joins at an opportune time for Rushes, following its recent multi-million pound investment on new kit, suites and talent.
In People, Visual Effects, People, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Australia
X-Men, Little Mermaid Make Fourth Quarter DVD History
X-MEN: THE LAST STAND (Fox Home Ent.) and THE LITTLE MERMAID DVDs (Buena Vista Home Ent.) kick-started the fourth quarter on Oct. 3 with combined sales exceeding $80 million for an opening day fourth quarter record, reported the industry trades.
Industry sources estimated first-day sales of X-MEN at 2.6 million units and LITTLE MERMAID at 1.6 million units (including sales to rental dealers).
X-MEN is the biggest October DVD debut ever, and LITTLE MERMAID is the biggest animated DVD debut for October.
TELETOON Gives Kids What They Want For Halloween
TELETOON has a spooky lineup planned for October in celebration of Halloween as well as Canadas Thanksgiving Day.
On Friday the 13th at 4:00 pm (ET/PT), TELETOON will air Tim Burtons BEETLEJUICE, staring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis. To celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, TELETOON will hold a movie marathon on Oct. 9. The schedule includes:
* 9:00 am SCOOBY-DOO AND THE RELUCTANT WEREWOLF* 11:00 am QUEST FOR CAMELOT
G4 Plays with ‘80s Videogame Toon
G4 has tapped writer/director/actor Adam de la Pena, creator/co-star of Comedy Central's I'M WITH BUSEY, to create an animated pilot, which follows 1980s videogame programmers, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
The as-yet-untitled project specifically chronicles two videogame programmers as their lives descend into chaos after a wild Texas businessman, who knows nothing about games, buys their company.
De la Pena's L.A.-based firm, Monkey Wrangler Prods. will produce the show.
Digital Musings From the Editor:
As part of our exclusive OPEN SEASON production diary, VFXWorld offers Building the CG Pipeline, which chronicles how Sony Pictures Animation collaborated with Imageworks to create a pipeline to help launch its first 3D-animated feature.
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NVIDIA Quadro Plex Now Shipping
NVIDIA Corp. announced that the Quadro Plex 1000, the first dedicated visual computing system (VCS), is now shipping in volume and available directly from the NVIDIA store at the company website or authorized partners.
In Technology, Technology | Headline News | Special Events: SIGGRAPH | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe
Digital-Tutors Offers Body Mechanics and Character Animation Training
Digital-Tutors, an Autodesk Authorized Publisher, announced the availability of BODY MECHANICS AND ANIMATION IN MAYA: LIFTING HEAVY OBJECTS, an interactive guide to learning body mechanics and character animation techniques and the newest release in a growing library of interactive training for emerging digital artists. BODY MECHANICS AND ANIMATION IN MAYA: LIFTING HEAVY OBJECTS provides more than 6.5 hours of project-based training for both new and experienced animators seeking to create believable animations with life and personality.
MAXON Releases CINEMA 4D R10 and BodyPaint 3D R3
On the eve of its 20th anniversary, MAXON announced the upcoming availability of CINEMA 4D Release 10 and BodyPaint 3D Release 3. With these landmark releases, MAXON has enhanced its modeling, animation and painting softwares to build upon a reputation for ease of use with countless workflow improvements.
Spiderwick Captures Four More Actors
Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Martin Short and Joan Plowright are in talks to step into Paramount's THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
Recently, Izabella Miko (COYOTE UGLY) and Andrew McCarthy (E-RING) signed on as the leader of the elves and the main characters father, respectively.
