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AWN Headline News

Headline News

JAKKS Pacific and HIT Ent. Enter into Dino-Mite Agreement

JAKKS Pacific Inc. has signed a multi-year, master toy licensing agreement with HIT Ent. to manufacture and market a full line of products based on the big, purple dinosaur, Barney. Under its Child Guidance preschool division, JAKKS Pacific will develop toy products in multiple categories, including learning toys, plush and more.

Headline News

Claudio Cappon New Head at RAI

RAI has upped Claudio Cappon, to the Italian pubcaster's top position, director general, according to the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

Cappon, 53, held the same top operative post at RAI from February 2001 to March 2002. Most recently, Cappon had been president of Italy's TV producers' association, ATP.

Season Headline News

Fox Sets Fall Premiere Dates For 2006-2007 Season

FOX has set the fall premiere dates for its new and returning series, including its Sunday night animation block, which will air new episodes starting Sept. 10, 2006. Six new primetime shows and a new late-night entry join returning favorites on the fall schedule.

The premieres are listed below in chronological order. All times are ET/PT.

Monday, Aug. 218:00-9:00 pm, PRISON BREAK (Season premiere)9:00-10:00 pm, VANISHED (Series premiere)

Wednesday, Aug. 308:00-9:00 pm, BONES (Season premiere)

Television Headline News

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Canadian Premiere on Family Channel June 23

The MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE makes its Canadian television premiere on Astral Medias Family Channel during a special primetime preview on June 23, 2006, at 7:00 pm before settling into its regular Friday morning timeslot on June 30 at 10:30 am.

Disney Headline News

Disney Plays at Licensing Show

Disney is unveiling a host of licensing programming for its preschool and boy line of properties.

"Parents have enjoyed Mickey and Pooh for years, and now a new generation of preschoolers are being introduced to these characters with a fresh CG-animated look. LITTLE EINSTEINS rounds out a very strong preschool block that blends entertainment with education," said Andy Mooney, chairman of Disney Consumer Products (DCP). "Retailers are also seeing potential in these shows and clearing shelf space based on the strength of Playhouse Disney as a preschool platform."

Channel Headline News

HIT to Launch Euro Kids Network

HIT Ent. is set to launch a European kids channel within 18 months in a partnership with Hallmark Intl owners Sparrowhawk Media, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

CEO Bruce Steinberg, former ceo of channel group Fox Kids Europe, plans to leverage the brand internationally, but will not launch in the U.K., where he feels the market is overcrowded.

The new partnership will be similar to the broadcaster's U.S. channel Sprout, which it operates in partnership with PBS, Comcast and Sesame Workshop.

World Headline News

Arthur and the Minimoys Finds New World

Spanish distributor New World Films Intl has obtained all Spanish rights to Luc Besson's live-action/animated family film ARTHUR AND THE MINIMOYS, reports VARIETY.

Adapted and directed by Besson, the film follows the story of 10-year-old Arthur, who ventures into the secret world of the Minimoys. Live-action stars are Freddie Highmore and Mia Farrow, with Madonna, Snoop Dogg and David Bowie providing voices.

ARTHUR was acquired by Madrid-based company New World from Besson's EuropaCorp at May's Cannes market.

Motion Headline News

Mainframe Leverages Vicon for Tony Hawk CG Skating Feature

Vicon, developer of Academy Award-winning motion capture technology, announced the use of a Vicon MX40 motion capture system by Mainframe Ent. for the 70-minute animated movie TONY HAWK IN BOOM BOOM SABOTAGE. Vicon MX motion capture offered the extreme accuracy and realtime performance required to record the signature performances of skateboard legend Tony Hawk and a supporting cast of skaters to bring true-to-form performances to their counterparts in the all-CG film.

Headline News

Early Dennis Muren on Display in Equinox DVD

Before STAR WARS and JURASSIC PARK, ILMs Dennis Muren, the nine-time Oscar-winning vfx artist, joined forces with a group of talented young filmmakers to create an homage to creature features in the eerie monster mash EQUINOX, which recently arrived on DVD (The Criterion Collection, $39.95).

Nick Headline News

Nick Jr. Greenlights Second Season Of The Wonder Pets!

Nick Jr. has greenlit a second season of the hit animated series, THE WONDER PETS! The groundbreaking series, which premiered March 3, 2006, has consistently ranked among the top three preschool programs on all of commercial television.

Created and exec produced by Josh Selig of Little Airplane Prods. Inc., THE WONDER PETS! stars three courageous classroom pets who sing opera and travel the world as they take preschoolers on musical world adventures. THE WONDER PETS! airs regularly on Nick Jr. weekdays at 11:00 am.

Anime Headline News

Fullmetal Alchemist 2 Makes U.S. Debut at Anime Expo

Anime Expo and FUNimation Ent. have announced that the U.S. premiere of FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: THE MOVIE - CONQUEROR OF SHAMBALLA will be held at Anime Expo in the Main Events hall in the Anahiem Convention Center on Monday, July 3, 2006, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm. The event will be hosted by Anime Expo 2006 official Guests of Honor Japanese movie director Seiji Mizushima, Japanese voice actor for Edward Elric, Romi Paku, U.S. voice actor for Edward Elric, Vic Mignogna, FUNimation Guest U.S. English dub director, Mike McFarland and special guest Masahiko Minami, president of Studio Bones.

Nickelodeon Headline News

Go, Nickelodeon, Go, at Licensing Show

Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products comes to Licensing Show, June 20-22, 2006, at the Javits Center in New York City, with a hit-driven roster and expanded licensing programs for its newest hits including AVATAR, THE BACKYARDIGANS and GO, DIEGO, GO! Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products will be located at Booth #1317.

Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products will also announce plans for merchandising THE WONDER PETS!, the hit show on Nick Jr. that regularly ranks among the top three preschool shows on commercial television.

Game Headline News

EA Releases NFL Head Coach, Its First 3D Sports Strategy Game

Electronic Arts brings to life the triumphs and travails of one of sports most gut wrenching jobs with NFL HEAD COACH¸ a new franchise from the EA SPORTS brand. The first 3D sports strategy game, NFL HEAD COACH, challenges gamers to manage every aspect of a professional football team and build their franchise from the ground up will trying to become the greatest coach of all time.

Animation Headline News

Cosgrove Hall Animates Missing Doctor Who Episodes for BBC

Manchester-based Cosgrove Hall animators have employed the latest technology and animation magic to recreate two lost episodes from the cult classic series, for the BBC. The BBC was in a quandary when it decided to release the DOCTOR WHO series and discovered sadly that, although the soundtracks remained, some 100 episodes were missing from the archives.

Artists Headline News

ADAPT 2006 Brings Digital Art Masters to Montreal

Advanced Digital Art Production Techniques (ADAPT) is launching the first edition of a new conference aimed to bring world leading international & local digital art masters under one roof in Montreal. Presented by Digital 04 studios, the ADAPT 2006 Conference will take place Sept. 23-24 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Effects Headline News

Apple Releases Universal Shake 4.1

Apple has released Shake 4.1, the first Universal version of its industry leading compositing software and cut its price from $2,999 to $499 to fit almost any production's budget. Final Cut Studio editors can now take advantage of Shake for sophisticated 3D compositing, keying, image tracking and stabilization for the price of a plug-in. Shake continues to be the tool of choice for major movie studios and leading effects houses to create award-winning visual effects, including this year's Oscar winner, KING KONG.

Imax Headline News

Fifth Harry Potter Film to get IMAX Treatment

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX -- the third Harry Potter film to be converted into IMAX's format -- will be simultaneously released to both IMAX and conventional theaters on July 13, 2007. There is also the possibility of converting part of THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX into IMAX 3-D for broader appeal, as was done with SUPERMAN RETURNS.

Avatar Headline News

Nick Places Order for More Avatar

Nickelodeons AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER has been greenlit for 20 additional episodes to premiere in 2007. Created and exec produced by Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the new pick-up order will bring the total number of episodes for the series to 60, for a third season.

Online Headline News

DIC Ent. & AOL Align to Create Strategic TV & Online Partnership

DIC Ent. and AOL online kids destination, KOL, have formed a partnership to co-produce a new Saturday morning branded programming block, "KOL's Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party on CBS," which will premiere Sept. 16, 2006. DIC and KOL will also develop online and on-air co-production initiatives in conjunction with the block.

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