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AWN Headline News

Headline News

Eovia Announces Hexagon 2

Eovia Corp. has introduced Hexagon 2, a more comprehensive version of the popular 3D polygonal and subdivision modeler, which now includes a multitude of valuable features that allow 3D artists and illustrators to build, texture and preview detailed 3D models prior to rendering.

Game Headline News

4Kids, Microsoft Unveil Viva Piñata

By Joe Strike | Thursday, March 16, 2006 at 12:00am

On Wednesday, March 15, 2006, 4Kids Ent. unveiled the fruits of its partnership with Microsoft Game Studio at a New York City press event, an entertainment property called VIVA PIÑATA.

In the fall, PIÑATA will both as a debut as a 26-episode CGI series on 4Kids FOX TV Saturday morning block, and as an "immersive" Xbox 360 videogame. In 2007, after the property is an established entity, 4Kids plans to back up PIÑATA with an extensive licensing and merchandising campaign.

Music Headline News

Musifier Virtual Orchestra Streamlines Gaming Music

InterAmus Music Systems AB announces a new technology for compositional realtime music morphing at the Game Developers Conference, GDC 2006 in San Jose. This technology makes it possible to create computer games with music that seamlessly follows the story in the game, without knowing the gamers actions or the outcome of the game.

Headline News

Manitoba's Largest Anime Event Seeks New Mascot Design

Ai-Kon organizers are seeking a new design for Aiko, the Ai-Kon mascot, for use on the convention's 2006 promotional materials. A stylish, energetic anime girl with pink hair and blue eyes, Aiko appears on a variety of Ai-Kon promotional items, including t-shirts, posters, flyers, badges, programs and the Ai-Kon website (www.ai-kon.org).

Television Headline News

Chris Hinton’s CNote Wins Genie Awards

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television has announced the winners of the 26th Annual Genie Awards, celebrating excellence in Canadian cinema. Outside of the live-action film C.R.A.Z.Y. snatching up 11 awards, Chris Hinton and Michael Fukushimas CNOTE won for best animated short.

For more information on the Genie Awards, visit www.genieawards.ca.

Headline News

Del Toro Howls For Wolf Man Remake

Universal Pictures has tapped Benicio Del Toro to headline its remake of the horror classic, THE WOLF MAN, reports VARIETY. SEVEN writer Andrew Kevin Walker will pen script from which Scott Stuber, Rick Yorn, Mary Parent and Del Toro will produce.

Like the original 1941 Lon Chaney Jr. film, the redo will be set in Victorian England where a man who returns from America to his ancestral homeland and is transformed into werewolf after being bitten.

Headline News

PlayStation 3 Launch Moved to November

Its official; Sony Computer Ent. Inc. (SCEI) has announced that it has moved the launch PlayStation 3 (PS3) to early November 2006 when it will be simultaneously released in Japan, North America and Europe. With a monthly production capacity of one million units, SCEI will push forward a product launch to spread the platform rapidly throughout the world, together with a strong lineup of game titles.

Headline News

ibanana integrated media Launches in Canada

Industry exec Michael Hefferon, announced the official launch of ibanana integrated media inc., an entertainment company he heads dedicated to developing and producing integrated content for television, web, mobile and gaming platforms.

Responding to industry demand for dynamic content with digital media convergence, ibanana has developed a concept that utilizes the strengths and applications of each platform to develop inherent synergies.

Film Headline News

Jesse Rosensweet to Direct Canada’s First Stop-Motion Feature

Director Jesse Rosensweet, winner of the Cannes Film Festivals 2002 Jury Prize for his stop-motion short, THE STONE OF FOLLY, will direct Canadas first stop-motion animated feature, NEWTON AND LEO. The film will be produced by Dean English of Vancouver-based Perfect Circle Prods. Karen Powell is serving as exec producer.

Motion Headline News

Vicon Increases Game Development Roster for MoCap

Vicon has added several new games industry customers validating its position as the predominant provider of in-house motion capture systems and outside motion capture services for game development. More than 800 Vicon MX40 cameras have been installed since June of last year at leaders in the field ranging from Ubisoft and SQUARE ENIX to Electronic Arts. These companies expand a prestigious roster of Vicon games clients worldwide that already includes Epic Games, Microsoft Games, Midway Games, Quantic Dream, Sony Computer Ent.

Headline News

Bluefish444 Offers Iridas File Support for HD/Lust

Bluefish444, a leading supplier of uncompressed video cards for the Windows and Linux operating systems, announced that Iridas has certified all of the HD/Lust file formats for use with its applications. This allows colorists and post-production artists to ingest video media for use in SpeedGrade DI or FrameCycler DDS, as well as playing back rendered sequences through an HD SDI output.

Film Headline News

VES, ACM SIGGRAPH Los Angeles to Explore Games and Film

The Visual Effects Society (VES) and the Los Angeles Professional Chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH are jointly sponsoring "Experiential Narrative in Games and Film," which will take on the issues of how to keep an audience engaged and participating. The event will take place March 25 at the Digital Cinema Laboratory at the Pacific Hollywood Theater, 6433 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California, 90028. The event begins at 10:00 am with a social hour followed by the panel discussion from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Animation Headline News

Cinesite Expands 3D Roster With Award-Winning Artists

Cinesite (Europe), which recently completed work on Warner Bros. V FOR VENDETTA (opening March 17), has hired Quentin Miles as animation director. Ben Shepherd recently joined the team as visual effects supervisor and is currently working on X-MEN 3 for Twentieth Century Fox.

Anima Headline News

Anima Awards Milch Top Prize

Anima, the premier animation festival in Belgium, announced the winner of this years event on March 5, 2006.

As part of the festival, Anima was announced its nominations for the Cartoon dOr 2006, which include: * NOCTURNE, Guillaume Delaunay (France)* VERSUS, François Caffiaux, Romain Noël, Thomas Salas (France)* FLIEGENPFLICHT FÜR QUADRAT KÖPFE, Stefan Flint Müller (Germany)* LOISEAU DO, Henri Heidsick (France)* HOT DOG, Joke Van Der Steen & Valère Lommel (Belgium)

Headline News

Boomerang Celebrates St. Patrick's Day with Stone-Age Salute to The Great Gazoo

Helping classic cartoon fans enjoy a "Bit of the Blarney," Boomerang, Cartoon Network's 24-hour commercial-free sister network, will celebrate St. Patrick's Day (Friday, March 17, 2006) with five favorite episodes of THE FLINTSTONES featuring the gloriously all-green character from outer-space, The Great Gazoo. Playing three times throughout the day 9:00-11:00 am, 4:00-6:00 pm and 8:00-10:00 pm (ET) THE GREAT GAZOO MARATHON pays homage to the beloved feature character so wittily portrayed by comedian Harvey Korman with a distinctively snooty voice.

Headline News

Genemation Heads to GDC

Genemation Ltd., sector leading developer of 3D face synthesis and character modeling tools, announced the April launch of GenHead v3.1. The beta will be demoed at the upcoming GDC expo (Booth #1645) in San Jose, California, March 22-24, 2006. GDC attendees can pre-order GenHead v3.1 or via the website: www.genemation.com for $995.00 saving $500. This offer will run for four weeks following the show.

Star Headline News

Star Cave Studios Leads Irish Invasion At GDC

Leading Irish game developer, Star Cave Studios Ltd. is heading to GDC to showoff their portfolio of games. Among the products Star Cave Studio is bringing is a AAA online & multiplayer atmospheric, combined FPS shooter and RTS game named TERRA : FORMATIONS, which is in development for PC and scheduled to appear on leading next generation game consoles.

In TERRA : FORMATIONS, players take control of a marine on a mission to stop an alien race from taking over the galaxy. The game is available at GDC by appointment only.

Animation Headline News

Blur Joins Lapin Blanc Animation For Commercials

Lapin Blanc, animation unit of London commercials and film company Lucky Elliot, has signed Oscar nominated animation studio Blur. Celebrating a 10th Birthday, Blur Studio produce some of the worlds finest digital content for features, commercials, game cinematics, music videos and theme park rides. Blur announced at this year's Sundance Festival they are to develop a feature version of the 2005 Academy-nominated short GOPHER BROKE.

Animation Headline News

#1 SpongeBob Spurred China to Ban Hybrids

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS is now China's #1 rated TV cartoon, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Since its debut on Jan. 29, 2006, the super sponge has grabbed a stronghold in the country, highlighting the increasing difficulty for home-grown toons to make a dent in the market.

Television Headline News

Melissa Rivers To Emcee TV Academy’s College TV Awards

Melissa Rivers, host of TV Guide Channel's event programming, will emcee the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundations 27th Annual College Television Awards at 7:00 pm on March 19, 2006, at the invitation-only College Television Awards Gala at the Culver Studios. The winning entries will be showcased at the annual College Television Awards Festival on March 20 at 7:30 pm at the Television Academys Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in North Hollywood, which is open to the public.

Super Headline News

Basil Brush Gets Tooned, Postman Pat Goes to Germany

Entertainment Rights Plc. (ER) announced that the BBC has commissioned 13 more half-hour episodes of THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW for the BBC and the CBBC channel. The agreement brings the total number of episodes of THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW under license to the BBC to 65.

Festival Headline News

Rushes Soho Shorts Calls for Entries

Rushes Soho Shorts 2006 Piccadilly, U.K. July 29 August 4, 2006Deadline: May 5, 2006

Rushes Soho Shorts Festival showcases the work of some of the U.K.s most talented young filmmakers. Awards for the best director in each category will be presented on August 3, at the star studded Festival Awards night held at one of Londons hottest venues, The CC Club in Piccadilly.

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