Qubo, a new multi-platform television network for children that champions literacy and positive values through entertainment, will launch its first platform, the qubo programming block, this September. Broadcasting in both English and Spanish, the block will premiere on NBC and Telemundo on Saturday morning (Sept. 9), Telemundo on Sunday morning (Sept. 10) and ION Media Networks' i network on Friday afternoon (Sept. 15).
Disney's Oscar-winning animated feature, THE LITTLE MERMAID, makes its digital debut during a special limited engagement from Sept. 7-24 at Hollywood's legendary El Capitan Theatre.
The engagement, which celebrates the upcoming Oct. 3 release of the special edition DVD from Walt Disney Home Ent., will spotlight an all-new digital restoration of the film with enhanced picture and sound. Plus, every show throughout the entire run will offer a live appearance by Ariel.
THE 58TH ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS show, hosted by Conan OBrien will broadcast live from Los Angeles historic Shrine Auditorium, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006, (8:00-11:00 pm ET live/PT tape delayed) on NBC.
Karen Roberts joins PorchLight Ent. in the newly created post of svp, acquisitions to expand the company's library of family-friendly, live-action and animated programming. Roberts will be based in Los Angeles and report to Bruce Johnson, PorchLights ceo and William Baumann, coo. Roberts and her team will aggressively identify and pursue finished feature films that support PorchLights overall acquisition strategy add new projects to the companys development slate.
Autodesk Inc. launched new versions of its visual effects and editing systems: Autodesk Inferno 2007, Autodesk Flame 2007, Autodesk Flint 2007, Autodesk Fire 2007 and Autodesk Smoke 2007. Focusing on connectivity and productivity, these latest versions streamline workflow and provide artists with more time for creativity. The products, which have been used to create noteworthy content for PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST, X-MEN: THE LAST STAND and LADY IN THE WATER, will be showcased in Amsterdam at the International Broadcasters Convention (IBC), Autodesk stand 7-420, from Sept.
NVIDIA Corp. announced an array of NVIDIA Quadro FX graphics that are now available in the high-performance 64-bit Sun Ultra 40 workstations. Prominent in the film and broadcast, digital content creation, oil and gas, geosciences, mechanical computer-aided design (CAD) and medical imaging industries, Sun Ultra 40 workstations deliver record-setting performance in many industry benchmarks and offer ultra-fast processing for large, complex datasets.
STASH MAGAZINE has announced the winners of the 2006 Global Student Animation Awards. The three Category Winners and Best of 2006 were selected by an international panel of 16 judges from all parts of the animation, vfx and motion design industry.
The audience choice award is the result of more than 10,000 votes cast by online viewers of the 2006 semi-finalist films.
2006 Animation Winner & Best Of 2006 AwardHUMANS / Greg Gunn, Casey Hunt, Reza Rasoli / Otis College of Art & Design
2006 Motion Design Winner
This week Fred Galpern reviews Maya 8, the first release under the new ownership of Autodesk. In addition to offering a more streamlined toolset, Maya is more compatible with 3ds Max. For one thing, theres the addition of the integrated FBX format, allowing users to import and export data between Max and Maya. And now theres cross functionality in Maya with Autodesks Toxik too.
Square Enix Inc. announced today (Aug. 23, 2006) that FINAL FANTASY III for the Nintendo DS will ship to retailers on Nov. 14, 2006. Incorporating the latest in portable gaming technology. FINAL FANTASY III features graphics that have been reworked and remodeled in full 3D, providing a brand new experience while maintaining the mythical FINAL FANTASY look and feel.
Massive Ent., a studio in Vivendi Games Sierra Ent. division, is using modo for WORLD IN CONFLICT, the upcoming Cold War strategy game for the PC due in spring 2007. modos flexible user interface and powerful UV tools dramatically increased the Swedish developers production of detailed realistic models and was used to produce more than 90% of the titles in-game models.
Director Chris Wedge (ROBOTS and ICE AGE) is collaborating once again with childrens author/production designer William Joyce (ROBOTS) on an adaptation of Joyces illustrated book, THE LEAF MEN AND THE BRAVE GOOD BUGS, reports THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Wedges New York-based Blue Sky Studios would produce the 3D-animated feature in conjunction with Twentieth Century Fox Animation.
LucasArts will partner with Free Radical Design to develop a new videogame for next-generation console platforms. Product and release details will be unveiled at a later date.
Free Radical has always been about titles with great gameplay and innovative design, said Peter Hirschmann, vp of product development at LucasArts. In the battle for videogame quality, these guys are at the front of the line. This teams pedigree is one of the best in the business.
USA Network has ordered 13 one-hour episodes of the Emmy-nominated series THE 4400. The series will return to USA Network in summer 2007 with production scheduled to begin in Vancouver in early 2007. THE 4400 is produced by CBS Paramount Network Television in Association with Sky Television, Renegade 83 and American Zoetrope for USA Network.
Twin brothers Michael and Mark Polish (TWIN FALLS IDAHO, NORTHFORK) have sold two projects to Warner Bros. Pictures, according to the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
The first film will be LOOT, a heist movie set in Middle America that follows a group of blue-collar workers who pull off jobs during tornado season. They will follow that film up with HOW TIME FLIES, a cause-and-effect look at a world where time travel becomes accessible to the common man.
Michael will direct the films, while both he and Mark will write and produce. Mark also plans to act in LOOT.
Rogue Pictures has bought the feature rights to Chris Kirby's comicbook series LOST SQUAD, VARIETY reports. Adrian Askarieh and Daniel Alter have been attached to produce.
Illustrated by Alan Robinson, the comic tells the tale of a ragtag unit of Allied soldiers who fight Hitler's occult agents and other supernatural threats during WWII.
Devil's Due Publishing has published five issues since its debut last fall. Devil's Due publisher Josh Blaylock will co-produce the film project.
Relaxing in the stylish and comfortable client lounge at Pacific Soundwaves new post sound facility, it is evident how this veteran company has been able to cultivate its cool in a furiously hot industry. Their innovative 12,000 sq. ft studio embodies the critical ingredients needed to avoid the pitfalls of large-scale expansion; talented and experienced mixers, bleeding edge technology and unrivaled carte blanch client service.
Digital 04 studios presents, ADAPT 2006, a conference promoting the advancement of digital art. Seminars and demonstrations will create an educational environment for participants wishing to learn and be inspired from those who have worked on the biggest films and videogames of our time. For two days, on Sept. 23-24, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Montreal the digital world will come together under one roof.
Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) 2007 Nashville, Tennessee, USAApril 19-26, 2007 Deadline: Nov. 15, 2006
San Diego Latino Film Festival 2007San Diego, California, USAMarch 8 - 18, 2007Deadline: Nov. 1, 2006
Animation talent agency Gotham Group its stretching its wings in the production vein, signing deals with Lionsgate and IDT Ent. to co-finance 19 direct-to-DVD toons over the next three years for roughly $50 million, it was reported by DAILY VARIETY.
Gotham and its prez/founder, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, will produce 10 features for Lionsgate and nine for IDT under the deal. Gotham will pony up half the budget for each DVD, about $3 million, from a fund it has raised from Korean firm Sovic Venture Capital.
Viacom Inc. announced Aug. 21, 2006, that MTV and Nickelodeon will become full labels under the Paramount Motion Picture Group (PMPG) as part of a new structure designed to deepen their already successful track record with their core target audiences. The two former production companies, which had operated as on-lot producers, will now join several other labels under PMPG's umbrella, including Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, Paramount Vantage and Paramount Classics.
Nickelodeon presents a fun blend of Japanese and European animation design to viewers this August with new series, SHURIKEN SCHOOL, a quirky comedy with a martial arts twist about a boys adventures at Ninja school. SHURIKEN SCHOOL, which debuted on Nick Aug. 20, 2006, at 11:30 a.m. with new episodes following each week in the series regular timeslot, Sundays at 11:30 am. The original animated comedy series was created by Emilio and Jesús Gallego and co-produced by Xilam Animation in France and Zinkia Ent. in Spain.
KAPPA MIKEY, the breakout Nicktoons Network hit anime/comedy series about a struggling American actor-turned-Japanese anime star, migrated to Nickelodeon as of Aug. 20, 2006, at 11:00 am, leading into the net's new series, SHURIKEN SCHOOL at 11:30 am.
The ghosts of Christmas past, present and future are back, Looney Tunes style, when Warner Home Video (WHV) releases BAH, HUMDUCK! A LOONEY TUNES CHRISTMAS on Nov. 14 on DVD for $19.98.
Autodesk Media & Ent.s new community portal, Area (www.the-area.com), is now live. The site is intended to be a centralized repository of content created using Autodesk Maya and Autodesk 3ds Max animation, modeling and rendering software; Autodesk MotionBuilder character animation software; or Autodesk VIZ 3D modeling, rendering and presentation software. To foster collaboration and networking within the industry, content on the Area is intended to be generated by the community, and supported by Autodesk.
