AWN Headline News

Headline News

Majesco Ships Guilty Gear Judgment for the PSP

Majesco Ent. Co. has shipped GUILTY GEAR JUDGMENT FOR PSP, to give players a powerful 1-2punch. Developed by ARC System Works, GUILTY GEAR JUDGMENT is rated T for Teen and is available across the U.S. for a suggested retail price of $39.99.

"GUILTY GEAR JUDGMENT offers gamers incredible value by combining two deep fighting games on one UMD," said Majesco marketing vp Ken Gold. "Both games feature the character-driven gameplay and unique signature attacks that have defined the GUILTY GEAR series across multiple systems and made it a fan favorite."

In Interactive, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Peter Jackson Options Temeraire Book Series

Peter Jackson has privately optioned TEMERAIRE, a historical fantasy series by Naomi Novik, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

Taking place in an alternative reality version of the Napoleonic Wars, the fantasy saga adds an air force of dragons and valiant aviators to the tale. After capturing a French ship, British naval Capt. Will Laurence finds an unhatched dragon egg on board, which was intended as a gift to Napoleon from the Emperor of China. After the egg hatches, Laurence leaves his life at seas to become captain of the dragon he names Temeraire.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Headline News

Schumacher Revisits Vamps in Town Creek

Joel Schumacher will revisit the world of vampires when he directs Gold Circle Films' TOWN CREEK, reports VARIETY. Lionsgate will distribute the film in the U.S. while Mandate Pictures will tackle foreign sales.

Dave Kajganich (THE VISITING) wrote the script, which follows two brothers who must battle a family who has been sheltering a Nazi vampire for years. Production on the Gold Circle-financed flick will begin in March 2007.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Film Headline News

Next Besson Film to Be His Last

Luc Besson (THE PROFESSIONAL, THE FIFTH ELEMENT) has told the ASSOCIATED PRESS that his forthcoming film, ARTHUR AND THE MINIMOYS, will be his last directorial effort. Besson plans to focus his energy on civic projects, including a foundation he is forming to help youths in France's inner cities.

MINIMOYS will open in France on Dec. 13, 2006, and in North America on Jan. 12, 2007.

"They are my 10 little babies," he said. "I love them all. I am pleased to have completed this cycle. That is finished."

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Film Headline News

Stone’s Jagger to Produce Animated Ruby Tuesday

Mick Jagger is set to co-produce RUBY TUESDAY, an animated film written and directed by Paul and Gaetan Brizzi, VARIETY reports.

The Rolling Stones singer will produce the film via his Jagged Films production company along with EuropaCorp, which will also handle distribution and sales of the film globally. EurpaCorp's Luc Besson and Pierre-Ange Le Pogam will co-produce.

Filled with 12 Rolling Stones tunes, the film will follow a single mom looking for happiness in New York City.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Fox Ups Shannon Ryan & Elissa Johansmeier in Publicity Ranks

Two veteran FOX publicity execs have been promoted to vp as Shannon Ryan has been named vp, entertainment publicity, and Elissa Johansmeier has been promoted to vp, publicity and corporate communications. Both report to Joe Earley, evp, publicity, corporate communications and creative services for FOX, who also announced several additional promotions within the networks publicity department.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Entertainment Headline News

Sony Launches PSP Entertainment Pack

Sony Computer Ent. America today (Sept. 12, 2006) announced a new $250 Entertainment Pack holiday bundle, including a movie, game and 1GB memory stick for its PSP handheld.

Available, beginning Sept. 13, the package features a PSP system along with the best-selling off-road racing game ATV OFFROAD FURY BLAZIN' TRAILS, the LORDS OF DOGTOWN UMD movie and a Sony 1GB Memory Stick Pro Duo. With an SRP of $249.99, the PSP Entertainment Pack offers holiday shopping at a price last year's Giga pack.

In Interactive, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Animation Headline News

eDIT 9. Presents Trends in Animation

The eDIT 9. Filmmakers Festival in Frankfurt, Germany, Sept. 24-26, 2006, takes a look at the latest trends in animation in a variety of screenings, panels, presentations and workshops that are not only aimed at professionals, but also at anyone interested in the subject of animation.

The program Best of Festivals opens on Sept. 24 with some outstanding international animation screenings:

In Event, Event | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Animation Headline News

Students: Still Time to Enter Anim!Arte 2006

Anim!Arte 2006 Brazilian Student Animation FestivalRio de Janeiro, BrazilNov. 17-24, 2006Deadline: Nov. 3, 2006

Anim!Arte 2005 celebrates the best in student animation from around the world. The best international animation done by a student (outside Brazil) will win the original Animarte´s Tropical Trophy. For more information, visit www.vouanimarte.com.br.

In Call for Entries, Call for Entries | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, South America

Music Headline News

Apple Introduces New iPod; Will Sell Disney Features Over Internet

Apple announced the launch of the new iPod and ceo Steve Jobs revealed that full-length features from The Walt Disney Co. would soon be sold over the Internet, reports BLOOMBERG. New Disney releases would cost $14.99; catalog titles would be offered for $9.99.

The new iPod is available in a 30GB model at the new low price of $249 and an 80GB model, which holds up to 20,000 songs or 100 hours of video, for $349. Time Warner Inc.'s AOL unit and Web retailer Amazon.com Inc. previously announced deals with several studios to sell or rent features.

In Interactive, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Wars Headline News

Original Versions of Star Wars Trilogy Arrive on DVD

In response to overwhelming demand from STAR WARS fans, Lucasfilm Ltd. and 20th Century Fox Home Ent. have released individual two-disc DVD sets of STAR WARS: EPISODE IV A NEW HOPE, EPISODE V THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and EPISODE VI RETURN OF THE JEDI ($29.98) on Sept. 12, 2006. Making these DVDs truly special, of course, is the inclusion, as special bonus material, of the original versions of the movies as seen in theaters in 1977, 1980 and 1983, respectively.

In Home Entertainment, Visual Effects, Home Entertainment, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Jim Carrey, Steve Carrell Cast in Animated Horton

Jim Carrey, who played a live-action Grinch, returns to the world of Dr. Seuss as the lead voice actor in HORTON HEARS A WHO from Twentieth Century Fox Animation/Blue Sky Studios, reports USA TODAY and the trades. Meanwhile, Steve Carrell (THE OFFICE) will co-star as the diminutive mayor of Who-Ville.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Kids Headline News

Corus Reorganizes TV & Content Divisions

Corus Ent. Inc. announced a new organizational structure for its television and content divisions. Corus Ent.s will focus on its kids portfolio highlighted by the integration of Nelvana Studios into the television division and the creation of Nelvana Enterprises, a separate business unit that will focus on leveraging Corus intellectual property internationally.

In Business, Business | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Wars Headline News

LEGO Star Wars II Puts Comical Spin on Original Trilogy

LucasArts and TT Games have shipped its hotly anticipated videogame, LEGO STAR WARS II: THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY, to retailers worldwide.

LEGO STAR WARS II combines the endless customization of LEGO play with a hilarious, tongue-in-cheek take on the epic story, characters and action from the classic STAR WARS: EPISODES IV, V and VI films. LEGO STAR WARS II is available on eight platforms, including the PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, PSP and Windows.

In Interactive, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Film Headline News

Dead Man’s Chest Gets $1 Billion Booty

Walt Disney Pictures PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MANS CHEST officially crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office on Friday, Sept. 8, thus becoming only the third film in history (behind TITANIC and THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING) to achieve this rare feat. DEAD MANS CHEST did it in nine weeks compared to 10 for THE RETURN OF THE KING. However, through the weekend ended Sept. 11, DEAD MANS CHEST has run its total to $1,004, 091,183, according to boxofficemojo.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Australia, Europe, South America

Headline News

Gnomon Approved to Offer Financial Aid

Gnomon is now able to offer financial aid through Federal Student Aid. Students who are enrolled in the Certificate in High-end Computer Graphics Program on a full-time basis and are citizens of the U.S. may be eligible to receive Pell Grant and/or Stafford Loan financial assistance.

In Education and Training, Education and Training | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Mobile Headline News

NVIDIA Powers First DVB-H-Based Mobile TV Cell Phones

NVIDIA Corp. announced that its NVIDIA GoForce handheld graphics processing units (GPUs), are powering some of the world's first mobile TV production rollouts.

DVB-H, or Digital Video Broadcasting for handheld devices, delivers digital broadcast quality TV to your mobile phone. NVIDIA GoForce handheld GPUs provide hardware acceleration for Mobile TV, delivering higher quality visuals than devices using only software, and with less drain on the battery thanks to new power saving technologies employed by the GPU.

In Technology, Visual Effects, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Headline News

The Covenant Leads Soft Box Office

Screen Gems horror flick, THE COVENANT (with vfx from Luma), captured the top spot at the box office in a weak weekend for the period ended Sept. 10, 2006, with $8.8M. HOLLYWOODLAND, (with vfx by Mr. X) inspired by the mysterious death of actor George Reeves (TVs SUPERMAN), bowed in second, picking up $5.9M for Focus Features. INVINCIBLE, the previous leader, slipped to third, catching $5.6M and $45.5M for Buena Vista. THE PROTECTOR, from The Weinstein Co., debuting in fourth with $5M. Lionsgates CRANK followed in fifth with $4.9M and a cume of $19.9M.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Ojarumaru Creator Dies of Apparent Suicide

Creator of long-running Japanese children's cartoon series OJARUMARU, Rin Inumaru, has apparently committed suicide by jumping off the roof of a 14-story apartment building in Tokyo, various news sources have reported. Police have informed the press that Inumaru left suicide notes to her mother, expressing trouble with her work.

The 48-year-old cartoonist leapt from the roof on Sept. 10, 2006, landing on the roof of a five-story building below. She died of her injury shortly after the fall.

In In Passing, In Passing | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Headline News

BicBac Animation Parody Named Finalist for the Creative Media Awards

Centive announced that its viral marketing campaign BicBac (www.centive.com/bicbac) has been named a finalist for the Creative Media Awards presented by MEDIA MAGAZINE.

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Books Headline News

Library Adds Animated Versions Of Classic Children’s Books

The Lafayette Public Library has added animated versions of classic childrens books to its website www.lafayette.lib.la.us, reports THE DAILY ADVERTISER. This new feature, called Tumble Books, includes sound, music and narration added to read-along text.

In Education and Training, Education and Training | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

HIT Ent. Expands Into Hong Kong

HIT Ent. is expanding with a new office servicing the Asia Pacific region in Hong Kong. HITs Asia Pacific licensing, TV sales and distribution will be handled out of Hong Kong, enabling the company to work more closely with its broadcasting partners, licensees and licensing agents.

The Hong Kong office will service Australia, Korea, South East Asia and India. HIT already operates an office in Japan.

In Business, Business | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America

Headline News

Animator Jan Svochak Passes on at 80

Animator Jan Svochak died of lung cancer Sept. 6, 2006, in Florida at the age of 80. J. J. Sedelmaier (J.J. Sedelmaier Prods.) relates, "Most people know Jan's work from the years he put in on the Hawaiian Punch campaign. He was the head animator from the '60s up to the early '90s.

In In Passing, In Passing | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Animation Headline News

Don’t Miss The New Acrobat Mag While Its Still Free!

The latest Acrobat edition of Animation World Magazine is now available. Its free for a limited time only! This months issue tackles the topic of comics, comic strips and illustrations. Jim Korkis uncovers the secret life of animators, who in lean times or more prosperous times have all worked in the world of comicbooks. Korkis also speaks with Floyd Gottfredson, who brought Mickey Mouse to the world via daily comic strips. Joe Strike looks into the art and artists behind classic and contemporary movie posters.

In Headline News | Special Events: Annecy | Geographic Region: All

Animation Headline News

This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for Sept. 11, 2006

Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz. Check out the latest installment from quizmaster Karl Staven, an accomplished independent animator and head of the Animation Department at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Anime cartoon emotional conventions are a little different than some that we are used to in U.S. animation and comics. We will describe drawn anime visual shortcuts, all you have to do is match it to the emotion that it is associated with.

In Anime, Anime | Headline News | Geographic Region: All