Digital 04 Studios is proud to announce the addition of LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic and Autodesk Inc. to the //ADAPT digital art production techniques conference taking place on Sept. 23-24, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Montreal.
As August comes to a close, VFXWORLD continues its focuses on new technology. Renee Dunlap looks at the early buzz behind Movas Contour Reality Capture System; Karen Raugust reports on how the Art Directors Guild and the Society of American Cinematographers are trying to create and promote a non-linear workflow and its impact on the VFX industry; and Paul Peszko examines several new emerging technologies that are helping 3D become more dynamic and interactive.
Luxology Llc. is now offering its imageSynth plug-in for Adobe Photoshop CS and CS2 software. imageSynth is advanced technology that allows Adobe Photoshop users to quickly and easily create seamless textures, synthetic images, backgrounds and generate high-resolution images from low-resolution sources. Previously available exclusively to modo users, the imageSynth plug-in is now available to the entire Photoshop community and can be purchased directly from the Luxology website.
The complete program is now available online for the Visual Effects Societys eDIT 9. Filmmakers Festival in Frankfurt, Germany, Sept. 24-26.
The festival program is subdivided into the following thematic program areas: feature film, animation, commercials, television, media industry and for the first time documentary. In addition, the festival's guests of honor will be interviewed at the Festival Honors Salon.
LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic and Autodesk will participate in to the ADAPT 2006 digital art production techniques conference taking place on Sept. 23-24 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Montreal.
Our goal is to create an environment where art can be studied, discussed and enjoyed. It is heartwarming to see the support and trust from the industry in what is only our first edition, said Digital 04 Studios co-founder Emile Ghorayeb.
Rainmaker Animation & Visual Effects has entered into an agreement to acquire all of Mainframe Ent., with the new corporate name to be Rainmaker Ent. Inc. (REI).
This was the result of Rainmaker acquiring the balance of the 38% of the outstanding shares of Mainframe not owned by Rainmakers majority owned subsidiary, RNK Capital Ltd. Partnership (RNK Capital LP), by way of an amalgamation, resulting in a cash purchase price of $0.24 per share.
Artist-owned-and-operated visual effects studio Brickyard VFX has wrapped two new music videos. The first video was directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris and promotes the song "Tell Me Baby" for The Red Hot Chili Peppers. The second promotes DeVotchKa's "Till the End of Time" from LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE.
The School of Cinema-Television at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles has established the John C. Hench Division of Animation & Digital Arts via a $5 million endowment gift from the estate of the late Disney animation artist Hench (PETER PAN, DUMBO, FANTASIA, 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, ALICE IN WONDERLAND).
In an effort to streamline operations and facilitate the expansion of its two channels AXN ASIA and Animax ASIA SPE Networks Asia underwent a re-organization. In the last three months, the organization moved to consolidate the functions of program and brand marketing under the two channel brands AXN and Animax. In the past, staff from programming, marketing and creative services reported to their respective functional heads.
Electronic Arts announced that MADDEN NFL 07, the newest iteration of the EA SPORTS best-selling football franchise with the exclusive videogame license of the NFL and PLAYERS INC, is in stores everywhere. MADDEN NFL 07 features the all-new Lead Blocker Control and the new highlight stick so players can run like the real players run. NFL Superstar: Hall of Fame mode comes to Madden NFL 07 this year, where you can live the life of an NFL Superstar.
ADV Films, on Aug. 29, 2006, released the seventh and final volume in its modern mecha romance epic GODANNAR: WAR BRIDE. In addition, previously in August, ADV release new DVD editions of SHADOW SKILL and GATCHAMAN.
Nicktoons Network, Nickelodeons 24-hour animation network, will be airing six new half-hour specials of EDGAR & ELLEN, the animated tales of mischievous twins that originated as short form programming on the network. The first of these specials, ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES, coinciding with the back-to-school season, will premiere Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006, at 8:30 pm. Viewers may catch a sneak peek of the special by logging on to www.nicktoonsnetwork.com and www.edgarandellen.com.
On the heels of the first ASTRO BOY ULTRA COLLECTORS EDITION DVD SET 1, containing the first 52 episodes of Osamu Tezukas seminal anime TV series from 1963, comes ULTRA COLLECTORS EDITION DVD SET 2 on Aug. 29, 2006, with the final 52 episodes (Right Stuf, $129.99). For the first time ever on DVD, the legendary series can be experienced in a stunning new transfer.
BROTHER BEAR 2 is a DVD-only sequel to BROTHER BEAR that streets Aug. 29, 2006 (Walt Disney Home Ent., $29.99). The DisneyToon Studios 2D production picks up where the theatrical feature left off, with Kenai (Patrick Demsey) continuing his life as a bear with his adopted bear cub brother Koda (Jeremy Suarez). However, with spring in the air, Kenai is strangely haunted by the memory of childhood friend Nita (Mandy Moore). But Nita is part of an arranged marriage and they must figure out a way to continue their bond even though they now have little in common.
On Nov. 14, viewers will shout "Andale! Andale! Arriba! Arriba!" when Warner Home Video (WHV) releases LOONEY TUNES GOLDEN COLLECTION VOLUME FOUR ($64.92) and LOONEY TUNES SPOTLIGHT COLLECTION VOLUME FOUR ($26.99).
Wacom Technology Corp.s patented new Intuos3 4x6 pen tablet is designed for serious photographers, designers and artists seeking optimal pen control and comfort when working with a widescreen display. The Intuos3 4x6 joins Wacoms Intuos3 6x11 and 12x19 models to form a complete range of professional pen tablets that feature active areas matched to the screen aspect ratio of widescreens and dual monitors. This latest Intuos tablet provides 20% more active area than the model it replaces (Intuos3 4x5) and its available immediately at a suggested retail price of $229.95.
50th San Francisco International Film Festival San Francisco, California, USAApril 26May 10, 2007Deadline: Dec. 8, 2006
The San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF) is a celebration of international and independent film that has brought progressive and discerning Bay Area film audiences together with the best films and filmmakers in the world since 1957.
European Independent Film Festival 2007Paris, France March 16-18, 2007Deadline: Feb. 1, 2007
WOW! WOW! WUBBZY! launched across several media platforms, migrated to TV on Nick Jr. on Aug. 28, 2006. The 26-episode whimsical, animated preschool comedy starring three offbeat friends who use cooperation, creativity and humor to solve everyday kid problems, debuted with a roadblock on Nick Jr. and sister network NOGGIN on Monday with two back-to-back episodes from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. The series will air regularly on Nick Jr. weekdays at 11:30 am.
Hey, is your company going to Cartoon Forum?
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.
This week in AWN's Forums, members are debating the pros and cons of steady work versus exciting projects. Others are chiming in one who they think is the greatest Looney Tunes director. More discussion continues on why drawing is so important. Theres a member who is wondering whether they are being taken advantage of with a recent salary offer as a Flash animator. Other member has questions about making maquettes. There are also a thread on Cintiq and tablet-based animation, outsourcing and experimental animation.
Kerner Optical Llc., the new production company based in San Rafael, California, has officially opened for business. The company recently completed a deal finalizing its purchase from Industrial Light & Magic.
Digital-Tutors announced the availability of NEXT-GENERATION GAME TECHNIQUES IN XSI, a comprehensive resource for game artists and the newest release in an expanding library of interactive video-based training for emerging digital artists. Artists can now learn innovative and popular techniques being use in next-generation games in an interactive and self-paced setting.
While SNAKES ON A PLANE faded fast, Buena Vistas real-life football drama, INVINCIBLE, debuted in the top spot at the box office with $17M for the weekend ended Aug. 27, 2006. Holding second place was Sonys TAKKADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY, which hauled in another $8.1M for a cume of $127.8M. Shooting up to third place was Fox Searchlights LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE with $7.3M and $22.8M. The fourth spot belonged to newcomer BEERFEST from Warner Bros., with $7M.
