AWN Headline News

Best Of Animation Show to Screen at Comic-Con

MTV and The Animation Show will host a special screening of THE BEST OF ANIMATION SHOW at Comic-Con on July 22, 2006 at 9:00 pm in Room 6CDEF. THE BEST OF ANIMATION SHOW is a feature-length compilation of the best animated short films in the world. The film is co-produced and created by Mike Judge (OFFICE SPACE, BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD, KING OF THE HILL) and acclaimed animator Don Hertzfeldt, whose 2001 REJECTED was nominated for an Academy Award.

THE BEST OF ANIMATION SHOW includes:BUNNIES: By Studio Soi RABBIT (new) By Run Wrake

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

Film Headline News

Animated Renaissance Comes to Comic-Con

Miramax plans to highlights its latest acquisition from France the motion capture film, RENAISSANCE. The studio will be located at booth #5469.

Directed by Christian Volckman, RENAISSANCE takes film noir to its most stylized edge, utilizing live action motion capture, animated in 3D and rendered in high contrast black & white to create a graphic novel look.

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

Mipcom Headline News

It's Time To Get Involved With AWN's Upcoming MIPCOM Newsletter!

Continuing our special event specific Flash Newsletters, we will be publishing a special edition for MIPCOM. The market is fast approaching and our editorial and advertising staff is gearing up for the MIPCOM-specific Flash Newsletters. Here are the dates for the publications. Please send your news two weeks prior to the publication date.

MIPCOM NewslettersSept. 19Sept. 26Oct. 3

All your news can be sent to editor@awn.com. For sales opportunities, contact Dan Sarto at dan@awn.com or call (323) 606-4200.

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Marvel Headline News

Marvel Comics & Planetwide Games Announce Comic Book Creator

At San Diego Comic Con in Booth #719, Marvel Comics and Planetwide Games will unveil new content for Planetwide Games original Comic Book Creator interactive entertainment software. Under the terms of the agreement between the two companies, Planetwide Games has the right to create and publish versions of the interactive software and content booster packs for Comic Book Creator based on classic Marvel s characters such as the X-Men, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Daredevil, Ghost Rider, The Punisher, Captain America, Thor, The Avengers, and Dr. Octopus to name a few.

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Music Headline News

Music Video & Commercial Trends News Wanted!

Animation World Magazine is focusing on commercials, IDs and music videos in August.

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Animation Headline News

This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for July 17, 2006

Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.

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Effects Headline News

MPC & Cinesite Provide VFX for Little Man

Moving Picture Co. (MPC) of London was hired to create the little man character in Sony/Revolutions LITTLE MAN, while London-based Cinesite contributed 210 vfx shots to the Wayan brothers comedy.

The Wayans filmmaking team enlisted visual effects supervisor Alex Bicknell and visual effects producer Rob Yamamoto to oversee the complex effects process, which included hiring outside effects houses, to watching over daily principal photography, to overseeing post-production.

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

Effects Headline News

GenArts to Showcase Sapphire Plug-Ins at SIGGRAPH 2006

GenArts Inc., a leading provider of digital visual effects plug-ins for the film, broadcast and video industries, will be showcasing Sapphire Plug-ins at SIGGRAPH 2006, being held Aug. 1-3 at the Boston Exhibition & Convention Center. Visitors to GenArts booth #1700 will see demonstrations on a wide range of platforms, including: Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro, eyeon Fusion, Apple Shake and Final Cut Pro, Avid Xpress Pro and Autodesk Combustion. GenArts will be presenting new versions of Sapphire Plug-ins for Apple Shake 4.1, Final Cut Pro 5.1 and Autodesk Combustion 4.

In Technology, Visual Effects, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Special Events: SIGGRAPH | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Radical Axis Animating Comedy Central’s Freaks

Radical Axis, Inc., an Atlanta studio that specializes in animation and design for broadcast (AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE, SQUIDBILLIES), is producing Comedy Centrals new animated half-hour series, FREAK SHOW. The show chronicles the adventures of a band of freak show performers and second-rate superheroes. Created by comedians David Cross and H. Jon Benjamin, Freak Show will premiere Oct. 4, 2006, 10:30 pm.

In Flash, Television, Flash, Television | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

NewTek Ships New LightWave 3D Version 9

NewTek Inc. announced the availability of the latest release of LightWave 3D version 9.0, the next generation of the Emmy-winning 3D application. The new release is the first in a series of major rewrites and restructuring of LightWave 3Ds core with the addition of comprehensive new features such as a node-based materials editor, optically correct cameras, adaptive pixel subdivision, Catmull-Clark subdivision surfaces, sub-surface scattering and vast render speed improvements.

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Animation Headline News

NaturalMotion Wins Industry Excellence Award at 2006 Develop Games Conference

NaturalMotion Ltd., developers of the highly-acclaimed euphoria and endorphin Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS) technologies has been awarded the Develop Industry Excellence Award for Tools and Middleware at the Develop Games Conference in Brighton, U.K. Competing against several other companies, NaturalMotion was selected by an independent voting panel of developers, as well as analysts and journalists.

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Artists Headline News

Digital-Tutors Releases UV Layout in XSI Training

Digital-Tutors released UV LAYOUT IN XSI, a comprehensive guide to learning the fundamentals of UV layout with in XSI and the latest release in a growing library of interactive training for emerging digital artists. Containing more than three hours of project-based training, UV LAYOUT IN XSI provides artists with time-saving UV mapping techniques, creative workflow and a firm understanding of XSI's UV tools. A 30-day trial version of SOFTIMAGE|XSI Foundation is also included, allowing artists immediate access to explore the software.

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

Film Headline News

Superman Producer Turns to Comicbook Inspired Films Again

Pierre Spengler, one of the first three SUPERMAN films, will return to comicbook inspired films with a 12-picture deal drawn from titles in the catalog of French graphic novel publisher Humanoides Associes, according to the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

The first will be the live-action film I AM LEGION, adapted from the World War II political intrigue written by Fabien Nury and illustrated by U.S. graphic artist John Cassaday.

Spengler's company, Clubdeal Ltd., will produce the films, whike he is talks with a U.S. distributor to release all 12 films in the U.S.

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

Cartoons Headline News

John K Posts WB Toons Online, Starts War of Words

REN & STIMPY creator John Kricfalusi believes "Warner Bros. Cartoons hates their fans, after Warner Bros. Ent. forced YouTube to remove clips of classic Looney Tunes shorts for its website, which were posted by John K, according to the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

On Kricfalusis blog (johnkstuff.blogspot.com), the acclaimed animator posts informative essays about his favorite cartoons, which he has posts clips from to illustrate his point.

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Headline News

Foxx Prays for the Power of Duff

Jamie Foxx and his manager Jaime Rucker King are set to produce THE POWER OF DUFF, joining Marc Platt, who already has been developing the feature film via his Marc Platt Prods, according to the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Foxx and King will help develop the drama, which Foxx may star in.

Universal won the script in a bidding war last year, paying $900,000 against $1.25 million. Russell Crowe, Ron Howard and Tom Hanks have circled the project as well.

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

Cartoon Headline News

André 3000’s Class of 3000 to Debut in November on Cartoon Network

CLASS OF 3000, the highly-anticipated primetime half-hour animated series created and exec produced by André Benjamin (OutKast) and Tom Lynch (ROMEO!), will debut in November. The series focuses on a group of musically-gifted kids and an unlikely visitor named Sunny Bridges who brings sunshine to their lives.

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

Comics Headline News

Middle Eastern Superheroes Coming To Comic-Con

AK Comics Jalila, Rakan, Zein and Aya hit Comic-Con via newly published U.S. issues featuring AKs roster of caped Middle Eastern superheroes.

From a booth, attendees will be introduced to pages of four U.S. titles featuring the visually striking superheroes, as well the creative team bringing them to life. The L.A.- and Cairo-based company also will assemble artists, writers and editors for a panel to be presented 10:30 am in Room 8 on Thursday, July 20, 2006.

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

Headline News

Adobe Hosts MAX 2006 Conference and Fourth Annual MAX Awards

Adobe MAX 2006 Conference and Fourth Annual MAX AwardsLas Vegas, Nevada, USAOctober 23-26, 2006Deadline: September 1, 2006

Adobe Systems hosts the Adobe MAX 2006 Conference, giving developers and designers a forum to network, share ideas, get hands-on technical training from certified experts, gain new skills and learn about new and emerging Adobe products and technologies. Adobe also announced the call for entries for the fourth annual Adobe MAX Awards, which recognize customer achievement in eight different categories.

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

Headline News

Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee 2007 Calls for Entries

Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee 2007Kansas City, Kansas, USAApril 12-16, 2007December 10, 2006

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

Cartoon Headline News

Squirrel Boy Series Premieres on Cartoon Network

An original news series, SQUIRREL BOY, created and exec produced by Everett Peck (DUCKMAN) and produced at Cartoon Network Studios, premieres July 14, 2006, at 7:00 pm.

It stars 10-year-old Andy Johnson and his best friend and pet, Rodney, a talking squirrel with lots of big ideas. These two lead each other into all sorts of adventures in Andys backyard and throughout the neighborhood. Andys often-exasperated dad (Mr. J) wants to kick the oblivious Rodney out on his furry tail.

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

Headline News

Six New & Eight Incumbents Governors Elected to AMPAS Board

Six new governors have been elected to represent their branches on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Eight incumbent governors were reelected.

Newcomers to the board are Rob Epstein, documentary branch; Mark Goldblatt, film editors; and James L. Brooks, writers. Returning to the board after a hiatus are Paul Mazursky, directors; Mark Johnson, producers; and Bill Taylor, visual effects.

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

Media Headline News

Astral Media & Corus Ent. to Take Bite of TELETOON from Cookie Jar

Astral Media Inc. and Corus Ent. Inc. announced today (July 13, 2006) they would acquire the remaining 20% of the TELETOON network from the shareholders of The Cookie Jar Group.

Subject to the approval of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), this transaction will give Astral Media and Corus Ent. each an additional 10% ownership of TELETOON, bringing their individual ownership to 50% each. The price for this acquisition is approximately CDN $96 million.

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

Animated Headline News

Flickerlab Signs Animation Director Eric Merola

FlickerLab, the New York City-based design and animation studio, has added director of animation Eric Merola to its creative roster, responsible for the direction of animated spots and the creation of original content. He will also work directly with FlickerLab founder/creative director Harold Moss as a creative partner on original properties, both live-action and animated.

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

Television Headline News

Lionsgate Buys South Park Distributor Debmar-Mercury

Lionsgate has acquired television distributor Debmar-Mercury Llc., which owns the distribution rights to SOUTH PARK. Debmar-Mercury will continue to operate, still headed by principals Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein, under the Debmar-Mercury banner as a wholly-owned subsidiary.

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

Film Headline News

Imagica Reorganizes, Renames

Imagica Holdings Inc. has reorganized its group companies. The parent company has been renamed Imagica Robot Holdings Inc. Imagica Technologies Corp., the engineering solutions division responsible for developing the Imager XE and HSX Film Scanners and the Imager HSR Film Recorder has been spun off as an independent entity.

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