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AWN Headline News

Festival Headline News

VES Festival to Highlight Shorts and Other Special Programs

The 2006 Festival of Visual Effects will feature a lineup of revolving showcases highlighting the creativity of digital visual effects artists from the earliest pioneers to the latest innovators. These four different programs will complement the previously announced schedule of panels and presentations being held at this year's Festival, July 6-8, at the famed Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California. Each program will be scheduled at least once per day and will be shown at the Steven Spielberg Theatre at the Egyptian Theatre complex.

Headline News

32nd HUMANITAS Prize Winners Announced

MISS SPIDERS SUNNY PATCH FRIENDS writers Alice Prodanou, Michael Stokes and Steven Sullivan won the $25,000 HUMANITAS Prize for Children's Animation today, June 28, 2006, during a luncheon ceremony at the Universal Hilton Hotel, in Universal City, California. Eleven winning writers, representing a diverse slate of work, won these prestigious prizes and $145,000 were awarded in eight categories for films and television shows that "entertain and enrich the viewing public."

Disney Headline News

Walt Disney Co. Picks John Pepper to Succeed Sen. Mitchell as Chairman

The Walt Disney Co. board of directors today (June 28, 2006) elected independent Disney director and former Procter & Gamble chairman/ceo John E. Pepper, Jr., to serve as non-executive chairman of the board, effective Jan. 1, 2007. Pepper succeeds Senator George J. Mitchell, who has served as Disney chairman since March 2004.

Film Headline News

Golden Compass to Start Sept. 4

New Line Cinema has officially greenlit production on THE GOLDEN COMPASS, the highly anticipated adaptation of the first of author Philip Pullman's bestselling HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy. Production on the $150 million film is scheduled to begin Sept. 4, 2006, in the U.K., with Oscar-nominated writer/director Chris Weitz (ABOUT A BOY, ANTZ) at the helm. Digital Domain reportedly will handle vfx with Oscar nominee Mike Fink (CONSTANTINE, X-MEN, X-2) serving as visual effects supervisor.

Software Headline News

Luxology Taps Bob Bennett for VP of Marketing

Luxology Llc. has hired Bob Bennett as vp of marketing. An active player in the 3D software field for more than 15 years, Bennett has held key positions at leading software developers such as Alias Systems, Microsoft and Autodesk. Joining Luxologys team of industry gurus, Bennetts exceptional level of skill and experience will expand Luxologys core knowledge and provide a driving force in modos market expansion.

Software Headline News

eyeon Eyes Fusion 5.1

eyeon Software gears up for the fall trade show season with the pre-announcement of its SIGGRAPH 2006 release of Fusion 5.1.

eyeon will soon unveil Fusion version 5.1, introducing more than 25 new technologies to their industry-leading compositing application. eyeon spent more than two years redeveloping the core architecture of Fusion 5. The 5.1 release will add a host of new features and functionality to this highly-adaptable visual effects system.

Headline News

Dead Superman Writer Revives Paramount's First Archival Toons Ever

With the release SUPERMAN RETURNS theres been a revival of interest in all things Superman.

Harrison Klein met Dr. Jay Morton Paramounts original Superman screen and animation writer recently deceased in 2002 when he was 91 and Klein was a play producer in Miami. At dinner Morton told Klein his story that started back when he was a starving scruffy teen sleeping in Central Park as a homeless boy during the depression.

Award Headline News

Moondance Hands Out Awards

Moondance 2006 wraps up its four-day event with the announcement of its winners. At he Boulder, Colorado event more than 10 deals and/or important alliances for Moondance projects were made. Visitors attended the networking parties, pitch panels and workshops.

For animated features, John Douglas SARA AND THE STARFISH won the Calypso Award for encouraging a spirit of enterprise in saving the environment, habitats and wildlife. Moreover, James Keeshens EL DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS took home the Seahorse Award for men writers and filmmakers.

Series Headline News

ITV Taps Ricky Gervais for Toon

ITV has signed comedian Ricky Gervais to produce a TV series based on his best-selling children's book, FLANIMALS. THE OFFICE star will narrate the series, as well as voice the parts of some of his monster characters.

Gervais has devised a clay-animated ITV1 series of six 30-minute episodes for an adult as well as a younger audience. FLANIMALS is the third show the comedian has created, following the success of his debut series THE OFFICE and his follow-up EXTRAS.

Film Headline News

Wolverine Spin-Off Coming Soon

At Cine Expo in Amsterdam, 20th Century Fox enticed European exhibitors with its planned X-MEN spinoff WOLVERINE with rumors flying that the studio is setting 2007 as the release year for the film. WOLVERINE star Hugh Jackman confirmed his involvement via video from his native Australia during the Gold Reel Awards luncheon. THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER originally reported that film was certainly set for next year, but has since removed mention of 2007 from its Cine Expo piece.

Visual Headline News

Mecha Master Yutaka Izubuchi Comes to Anime Expo

Bandai Visual USA Inc. will be highlighting its presence at the 15th annual Anime Expo being held July 1-4, 2006, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, with a rare U.S. appearance of legendary anime mecha designer Yutaka Izubuchi. Bandai Visual USA will also be showcasing the anime masterpiece PATLABOR 2 THE MOVIE limited edition DVD that will be released by Bandai Visual USA and Image Ent. on July 11.

Animation Headline News

TVP Animation 1.0a Int’l Version Ships

TVPaint Development announces the availability of the international version of TVP Animation 1.0a, a graphic content and 2D animation solution. This software, due to its bitmap approach, is called to cover the essential needs of any artist. It provides them with a fully customizable drawing toolset.

Disney Headline News

Movie-Inspired Pirates Reopens at Disneyland

Pirates of the Caribbean reopened June 26, 2006, at Disneyland with lots of help from Captain Jack Sparrow and his foes from the movie franchise, as Disney Imagineers updated the venerable attraction from 1968 with a high-tech facelift. The counterpart at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, reopens July 7, coinciding with the theatrical release of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MANS CHEST.

Post Headline News

Larry Birstock Rejoins Post Logic as CEO

Larry Birstock returns to Hollywood-based Post Logic Studios as ceo. He replaces Steve Hendricks, who served as ceo from 2005 to the present, revitalizing Post Logic as an independent post-production and digital intermediate facility. Birstock previously served as evp from 2000 to 2005.

Animation Headline News

Traditional Animation & CG Walk Hand-In-Hand In New Book

Authors Angie Jones and Jamie Oliff offer up a new book, THINKING ANIMATION: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN 2D AND CG, which, as its title suggests, is designed to help traditional artists embrace new technology needed to stay employed. THINKING ANIMATION (www.thinkinganimation.com) is a one-of-a-kind book that emphasizes how artists can use traditional animation techniques and principles with today's computer-generated animation technology. Released June 27, 2006, the 300-page book is available from Thomson Course Technology (www.courseptr.com) for a retail price of $39.99.

Headline News

Sojitz Corp. Invests in A.D.Vision

A.D.Vision Inc. announced a substantial investment in the company today (June 27, 2006) by Japanese Contents Investment LPS (JCI), an investor group led by Sojitz Corp., in exchange for a minority equity stake. Additionally, was made by ARM Corp., a subsidiary of JCI, made a separate capital commitment for the acquisition of new filmed content.

Through its home video, broadcast, licensing, theatrical and publishing divisions, Houston-based A.D.Vision is the leading producer/distributor of Japanese animation and anime-related content outside Japan.

Game Headline News

Sprint, Cingular & Amp'd To Judge New Mobile Game Competition

LivePitch OnStageSeattle, Washington, USAJuly 13, 2006Deadline: June 30, 2006

Sprint, Cingular and Amp'd Mobile are set to judge the first ever LivePitch OnStage game competition at the Mobile Game Conference. Game developers and publishers are invited enter their new games, demos or concepts to score an opportunity to pitch live onstage before a panel of judges who can actually make a difference in their game's future. Think of it as AMERICAN IDOL for mobile game development.

Headline News

Screenwriter’s Challenge Gives Contestants 24 Hours

Screenwriters Challenge 2006World Wide WebSeptember 23, 2006 Deadline: July 19, 2006

All aspiring and competitive screenwriters worldwide are invited to participate in the Screenwriters Challenge 2006. Writers compete to see who can produce the best short screenplay (20 pages max.) on an assigned genre and subject in one week. Winners advance to compete for more than $14,000 in cash and prizes by writing a short script in just 24 hours.

Comedy Headline News

Fox Beats Bushes For New Animation Projects

Fox Ent. is looking for a few good animated laughs to bolster its Sunday toon stronghold anchored by THE SIMPSONS and FAMILY GUY, according THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

Fox Ent. president Peter Liguori told the trade that he and his development staff are in the thick of an aggressive summer hunt for new comedy projects that can be launched when AMERICAN IDOL returns for a sixth edition in January 2007.

Game Headline News

THQ Revs Up Cars Videogame

THQ Inc. is helping fans of Disney/Pixar film CARS continue the ride with a videogame, based upon the animated feature. The game, released for play on PlayStation2, Xbox GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PSP, Windows PC and Mac, is available at retail outlets in the U.S. It will also be available worldwide in 18 languages, and in more than 40 countries, including China, Thailand, Japan, Russia and Poland. Also this fall, the CARS videogame is expected to release for Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii.

Animation Headline News

I&P Artist Suzi Dalton Passes Away at 95

Ink-and-paint artist Suzi Dalton died April 10, 2006, at the age of 95, The Animation Guild website reports. She received a Golden Award from The Animation Guild Local 839 in 1985, for her then 50 years in her craft.

From 1934, until her retirement in 1973, she worked as an inker, drybrush artist and final checker for numerous studios, including Boyd LaVero, Mintz, Warners, Iwerks, MGM, Betty Brenon, Lantz, Snowball, Hanna-Barbera, Filmation, Celine Miles, Bakshi-Krantz and Cannawest.

Comedy Headline News

Comedy Central Acquires New Episodes Of Futurama

There's a new future for the popular FUTURAMA TV series with Comedy Central picking up rights to air at least 13 additional, soon-to-be-produced episodes, which will air in 2008.

This augments the initial license agreement Comedy Central entered into with Twentieth Century Fox Television last fall for Matt Groening's and David X. Cohens Emmy-winning animated comedy series FUTURAMA according to David Bernath, svp programming, Comedy Central.

Avid Headline News

Chapman University Equips New Film School with Avid Solutions

Avid Technology Inc. announced that Chapman University, which offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts degrees, has made a significant investment in Avid solutions for its new state-of-the-art film and media arts center in southern California. The new $41million, 76,000-square-foot facility, Marion Knott Studios, will serve as the home of the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University.

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