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AWN Headline News

Star Headline News

Laura’s Star Rises on DVD

LAURA'S STAR, the acclaimed German animated feature, directed by Thilo Gruf Rothkirch and Piet de Rycker (THE LITTLE POLAR BEAR), makes its way to DVD Sept. 26 (Warner Home Video, $14.98).

LAURA'S STAR was released theatrically in Europe and won numerous awards, including the Adults Jury Price, Animation, at the 2005 Chicago International Children's Film Festival, a Lola for Outstanding Children or Youth Film Award at the 2005 German Film Awards, and was nominated for Best Film at the 2005 Carrousel International du Film.

Home Headline News

MGM Reorganizes Distribution for DVD and TV

After reinventing itself and launching a New Media division, MGM will now reestablish its worldwide TV distribution in-house and consolidate its DVD business with Twentieth Century Fox rather than splitting home entertainment releases between Sony Pictures Ent. and Fox. It should be noted that both Sony and Fox are aligned with the Blu-ray format for high-def DVD. Additionally, MGM and Fox will continue their successful international theatrical distribution relationship.

Series Headline News

Marty Krofft’s NYC SuperShow

By Guest (not verified) | Wednesday, May 31, 2006 at 12:00am

On May 22, 2006, half of the sibling duo that created some of the 1970s most fondly remembered childrens TV shows spoke at NYCs Makor Center. On tour to promote the ongoing Rhino Video release of his and brother Sids classic series, Marty Krofft looked back at their creation and shared some surprising news about their return.

Headline News

CinemaNow to Offer Download-To-Own Disney Movies

CinemaNow Inc. has struck a non-exclusive agreement with Buena Vista Home Ent. (BVHE) to offer Disney movies on a download-to-own basis through its website. BVHE will additionally offer select new movies beginning with GLORY ROAD on June 6, which will coincide with the timing of its DVD release. This agreement will also allow on demand viewers to move their content onto approved portable devices.

Awards Headline News

Sci-Tech Aps in the Mail for 79th Academy Awards

Officially launching the 79th Academy Awards season, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is mailing more than 850 application request forms to individuals and companies representing the scientific and technical community in the U.S. and abroad in the next few days.

Headline News

Digital Musings From the Editor:

VFXWORLD concludes May with Karen Raugusts fascinating look at The Value of Shorts for studios, including a sneak peek at the new program at Disney following the Pixar purchase. J. Paul Peszko analyzes the summer of CG water in depth, focusing on the latest fluid sim advances in both POSEIDON and PIRATES THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MANS CHEST. Meanwhile, Tara DiLullo breaks down some of the intriguing vfx work in X-MEN: THE LAST STAND, which just broke the Memorial Day holiday box office record.

Film Headline News

Two Animated shorts Honored at Cannes

The 59th International Film Festival in Cannes, held May 17 to 28 2006, awarded the Palme d'Or to British director Ken Loach for THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY, an incisive look at strife in Ireland circa 1920. Two animated shorts, CONTE DE QUARTIER (URBAN TALE) by Florence Miailhe, and MR. SCHWARTZ, MR. HAZEN & MR. HORLOCKER, a student film by Stefan Mueller, amongst the 55 films from 30 countries in competition.

Headline News

fxphd Opens Professional Online Training School

fxphd, the formal training arm of fxguide.com a long time valued industry source for news and visual effects tips has been launched. Unlike fxguide, fxphd is a formal structured course that builds week to week into a complete understanding of the subject at hand. Students are able to discuss with course leaders each week and have their work reviewed and accessed.

Effects Headline News

Lightborne Launches New CG Division

Motion design and production company Lightborne has expanded its offerings with a new CG division, headed by digital effects supervisor David Lombardi. Lombardi, who has worked extensively in commercials, videogames, feature films, episodics and music videos, will be responsible for new business development, maintaining client relations, overseeing all visual effects work and building the CG department. He is currently working on a CG-driven spot for Hasbro Tooth Tunes via ad agency Wonder Group.

Headline News

Animal Logic Brings Piggy Banks to Life for Bank of New Zealand

Animal Logic artists collaborated with director Josh Frizzell and Curious Film to animate scores of piggy banks that travel across land and sea for the Bank of New Zealands latest campaign. Nerissa Kavanagh served as vfx producer for Animal Logic.

Headline News

Doogal Makes the Roundabout to DVD

DOOGAL, the second 3D-animated feature acquired by The Weinstein Co., recently found its way onto DVD (Genius Products, $28.95). Like the previous smash, HOODWINKED, the kid-friendly comedy/adventure was recast with American stars. The Pathe production was also retitled and rewritten predominantly by FAIRLY ODDPARENTS creator Butch Hartman, with lots of American movie references thrown in.

Headline News

X-Men Makes Record Memorial Stand

X-MEN: THE LAST STAND certainly made its mark, debuting with a record breaking Memorial Day holiday gross of $122.8M over the four-day period ended May 29, 2006. The third X-MEN in Foxs Marvel franchise this time directed by Brett Ratner boasts vfx from Cinesite, Framestore CFC, MPC and Weta Digital, among others.

Headline News

Superman Returns to Open Two Days Early

Perhaps encouraged by the record-breaking opening of X-MEN: THE LAST STAND, Warner Bros. Pictures has pushed up the release of SUPERMAN RETURNS to June 28, giving it two more days at the box office before Disneys PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MANS CHEST opens on July 7.

Meanwhile, two animated features have swapped release dates: Warner Bros. has moved up THE ANT BULLY a week to July 28 after Paramount pushed back THE BARNYARD a week to Aug. 4.

Production Headline News

Disney Vet Lenora Hume New EVP Production & Programming for HIT Ent.

Thirty-year entertainment industry vet Lenora Hume exits DisneyToon Studios to join HIT Ent. in London as evp, production and programming. Hume will assume the position early June and will be responsible for refreshing the existing slate of HITs classic pre-school entertainment, including BOB THE BUILDER, THOMAS & FRIENDS, BARNEY, PINGU and ANGELINA BALLERINA, as well as building new brands through content development and acquisitions. Based in the companys London office, she will report to HIT Ent. ceo Bruce Steinberg.

Series Headline News

City of Men Going Digital

Fernando Meirelles' shingle O2 Filmes is prepping interactive animated content for cell phones and the Internet, reports VARIETY.

It's dedicated new-media department, O2 Digital that was launched in mid-2005, is prepping computer-animated episodes based on CITY OF MEN, the TV series spin-off of Meirelles' breakout film, CITY OF GOD.

Game Headline News

Marvel and Activision's X-Men: The Official Game on Retail Shelves

Playing up to the release of Twentieth Century Fox and Marvel Studios' feature film, X-MEN: THE LAST STAND, Activision Inc. sent out X-MEN: THE OFFICIAL GAME to retail outlets in the U.S. The game catapults players into an original storyline and enables them to command the distinct powers of Wolverine, Nightcrawler and Iceman as they battle classic Brotherhood villains, including Sabretooth, Lady Deathstrike and Multiple Man and traverse unique environments that showcase each character's abilities while trying to save mutant-kind.

Headline News

Nintendo of America Makes Key Executive Promotions

On the heels of the successful unveiling of the new Wii console, Nintendo of America Inc. announced three key executive promotions. Current president Tatsumi Kimishima takes on the new role of chairman of the board/ceo while Reggie Fils-Aime is promoted from evp of sales & marketing to president/coo. Additionally, Mike Fukuda is being promoted from svp of business development to evp of business development.

Visual Headline News

Blade Runner: Final Cut to Arrive in 2007 for 25th Anniversary

Warner Home Video has retained long-term rights to Ridley Scott's BLADE RUNNER, reports VARIETY, paving the way for a new FINAL CUT in 2007 in honor of the 25th anniversary of the influential sci-fi thriller based on Philip K. Dick's novel. A limited theatrical release of the FINAL CUT will be followed by a collector's edition DVD containing all four versions of the Harrison Ford-starrer (including theatrical version, director's cut and international version).

Digital Headline News

Digital Domain Promotes Molly Hansen to VP

Molly Hansen has added the title of vp to her existing portfolio as the general counsel and head of business affairs of Digital Domain, the Academy Award-winning full-service digital studio and production company that was acquired last week by South Florida-based Wyndcrest Holdings Llc. Director Michael Bay is one of the principals and co-chairs the Digital Domain board with John Textor.

Painting Headline News

Luxology Delivers modo 201

Luxology Llc. announced the immediate availability of modo 201, its 3D modeling, painting and rendering software built on the ultra clean modo code base. modo 201 combines significant modeling advancements with cutting-edge 3D painting and rendering technologies in a modern workflow customized to enhance productivity for 3D artists working in game development, film visual effects, video production, graphic arts and design visualization. modo 201 is available for immediate download from Luxology at modo3d.com or can be purchased from selected resellers.

Wars Headline News

Star Wars: Clone Wars Debuts on iTunes

Cartoon Network's Emmy Award-winning animated series STAR WARS: CLONE WARS is now available for purchase and download on iTunes® Music Store (www.itunes.com).

Beginning today (May 25, 2006), the 20 chapters of STAR WARS: CLONE WARS Volume 1 are available on iTunes, with the action-packed STAR WARS: CLONE WARS Volume 2 following later in June. Each chapter, or episode, costs $1.99 while the full season of Volume 1 is available for $10.99 and can be viewed, after download, on a computer or on an iPod.

Online Headline News

Disney & Shanda to Bring Disney Content to China's Online Game Market

Walt Disney Internet Group and Shanda Interactive Ent. announced that the two companies have entered into an agreement to bring Disney's branded entertainment content to China's online game industry via Shanda's online game operating platform. The agreement calls for Shanda to develop, distribute and operate an online casual game based on the worlds of Disney and featuring some of Disney's most popular animated characters.

Focus Headline News

Ang Lee Lusts Over WWII-Era Thriller

Ang Lee has pacted with Focus Features to direct LUST, CAUTION, an espionage thriller set in WWII-era Shanghai. Bill Kong, who previously produced Lee's CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, will produce. Focus Features ceo James Schamus will exec produce.

Mainframe Headline News

Mainframe Ent. Scores 2006 MTV Movie Awards Animation

Mainframe Ent. will create original logos, branding, opening and closing segments, and introductions for upcoming 2006 MTV MOVIE AWARDS broadcast, which air June 8 on MTV. The studio will blend elements of 2D and 3D animation to create stylized animated sequences for the awards show. The studio contributed branding to the awards program last year after it launched a full service creative services division.

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