AWN Headline News

Nicole Kidman has signed on to play the villainous and glamorous Mrs. Coulter in New Line's adaptation of Phillip Pullman's HIS DARK MATERIALS: THE GOLDEN COMPASS, reports VARIETY. The $150-million budgeted film is scheduled to start lensing in September at London's Shepperton Studios.

Chris Weitz will direct from his own script. British actress Dakota Blue Richards will make her major screen debut in the lead role of Lyra Belacqua, who must travel to a parallel universe to save her best friend from the forces of evil.

Only a few weeks after joining, Oscar-winner Hayao Miyazaki has resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, VARIETY reports.

A spokesman for Studio Ghibli stated the reason the director resigned was his desire to "concentrate on his creative activities." Miyazaki is in pre-production on his next feature and does not want to be distracted by Academy duties.

Miyazaki received an Oscar for his film SPIRITED AWAY and was nominated this year for HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE.

The latest Acrobat edition of Animation World Magazine is now online for download this month covering recruiting and jobs. Jan Nagel gets to the root of why and how people transform mundane jobs into fulfilling careers and make transitions in response to changes in the animation industry. Pamela Kleibrink Thompson provides the ins and outs of cutting a killer demo reel, which will help you open door to employment. Marisa Materna looks into the progress of AnimationMentor.com bringing animation education into the comfort of our homes via the Internet.

Walt Disney Pictures has announced that Patton Oswalt, Brian Dennehy, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofalo, Ian Holm and John Ratzenberger will voice Disney/Pixar's animated-adventure RATATOUILLE, opening June 29, 2007.

Bandai Ent.s series EUREKA 7, a co-production with mega animation house Studio BONES, won two SPJA Awards at the 2006 Anime Expo, held annually in the U.S. The series won for Best TV Series and Best Female Character (Eureka) for the USA release. EUREKA 7 airs on Cartoon Networks Adult Swim block, is on DVD by Bandai Ent. and is available for streaming and download at Bandai Ent.ts Animevillage.com.