CORPSE BRIDE upset favorite WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT and THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE to win Best European Animated Feature at this years British Animation Awards hosted by the comedian Jeremy Hardy and held at the Shaw Theatre in London. Aardmans BBC-3 special ANGRY KID: WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE walked off with the Best TV Special award and Hat Trick and Decodes BROMWELL HIGH Baby Boom won the Best Comedy Award.
Microsoft offered details for Ultra-Mobile Personal Computers (UMPCs), a new category of mobile computing devices that features small, lightweight, carry-everywhere hardware designs coupled with the full functionality of a Microsoft Windows-based PC and a choice of input options, including enhanced touch-screen capabilities. Much like a pocket PC, it will be ideal for gaming and for creating 3D models while on the go.
The Web & Mobile Development Conference will be launched at NAB2006 on April 25-26, 2006, in Las Vegas. This new educational technology conference, targeted toward professional Web designers, developers and content providers, will debut as part of the NAB2006 MultiMedia World Conference package.
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.
This week in AWN's Forums, a member needs some help on their first attempt with stop-motion. Another member vents about a bad freelance gig. Theres a thread debating color theory. Others are asking for business partners. A thread celebrates avatar fanart. A student member from India continues to get advice on studying classical animation in the States. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!
At its 2006-07 upfront presentation, Nickelodeon announced a slate that will include content developed from such platforms as feature films, videogames, broadband and international production, as well as a multi-million dollar development slate for non-linear productions. New projects have been commissioned from Steve Oedekerk, The Wayans Brothers, Alison Taylor, Jorge Gutierrez and Sandra Equihua Nick will also premiere 254 new episodes during the 2006-07 season, as well as new platforms for content including video podcasts.
Pixar Animation Studios reported 2005 was the companys most profitable year ever. For the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2005, Pixar earned $152.9 million, or $1.24 per fully diluted share, on revenues of $289.1 million. Topping earnings of $141.7 million on revenues of $273.5 million for the year ended Jan. 1, 2005.
Cartoon Movie 2006 Kicks Off With Asterix And The Vikings Preview
KOCCA (Korea Culture & Content Agency), an organization which supports and fosters foster the continuing expansion of Korean animation production for the global marketplace, has established a full-service, state-of-the-art 2D/3D animation studio.
With facial animation becoming more of a necessity the Oscar-winning KING KONG relied on it heavily Softimage unveils SOFTIMAGE | FACE ROBOT this month, the industrys first software application dedicated to the creation of believable facial animation for high-end film, post and games productions.
Stan Lee, creator of Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk and the Fantastic Four, and John Dykstra, Academy Award winner for visual effects on STAR WARS and SPIDER-MAN 2 are auctioning off their shoes to raise money for mentoring throughout the world. The Get in Their Shoes Campaign is a call to action by successful business leaders, athletes, entertainers and politicians to rally youth and aspiring leaders to lift themselves out of their limiting circumstances by proactively interviewing successful professionals within their own communities.
The Jim Henson Co. has optioned feature film rights to SF Saids fantasy novels VARJAK PAW and its sequel THE OUTLAW VARJAK PAW, reports VARIETY. The company plans to develop the property as an animated film.
The books illustrator Dave McKean, who directed the Henson film MIRRORMASK, is set to direct. McKean will team with Said to adapt the screenplay.
The original book follows a Mesopotamian blue kitten as he learns he is part of a mystical tradition of magical martial arts and sets out to save his family.
HOUSE OF SAND AND FOGs Vadim Perelman is set to adapt and direct a film based on Lois Lowry's Newbery Award-winning fantasy novel THE GIVER for 20th Century Fox and Walden Media, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Perelman will work from an earlier draft written by Todd Alcott.
The story is set in an idyllic future society where all memory of human history has been erased. A 12-year-old named Jonas life is turned upside down when he inherits the role of the Giver the sole keeper of human emotions.
The 2006 DVD Exclusive Awards have announced. THE INCREDIBLES has been awarded the top prize of Overall DVD, New Movie. Pixar superhero epic also won for Behind-the-Scenes Program (new for DVD), Menu Design and New Movie Scenes (finished edited into movie or stand-alone).
Comic Book Movies, an entertainment company established by veteran film producer and comicbook authority Michael Uslan and visionary financier M. Jonathan Roberts, has announced a strategic partnership with Skywalker Sound for all post-production and sound services for their upcoming slate of features films, television and animation productions.
THQ Inc. announced that SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: THE YELLOW AVENGER has shipped for PSP. Based on the characters of Nickelodeon's chart-topping animated television show, the game explores a new dimension of SpongeBob as a superhero and is now available at retail outlets nationwide.
Leading longform post-production company Post Logic Studios has hired digital intermediate colorist Doug Delaney, who is best known for his work on the digital intermediate for THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING. As one of three colorists supervised by Peter Doyle and cinematographer Andrew Lesnie, ASC, Delaney spent more than five months in New Zealand on the meticulous color grading of the effects-laden epic.
For Robert Townes ASK THE DUST (opening Friday), the filmmakers were required to recreate Depression-era L.A. in sunny Cape Town, South Africa.
Continuing our special event specific Flash Newsletters, we will be publishing special editions for MIP-TV. The markets are fast approaching and our editorial and advertising staffs are gearing up for the MIP-TV-specific Flash Newsletter series. Here are the dates for the publications. Please send your news two weeks prior to the publication date.
MIP-TV Flash NewslettersMarch 14March 21March 28
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John Lasseter will be given the first Pioneer of Animation Award at the ShoWest exhibitors convention next Tuesday evening (March 14) in Las Vegas fola screening of CARS at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. Disney will release CARS June 9.
CARS is Lasseters first directorial effort since TOY STORY 2 in 1999, following A BUGS LIFE (1998) and TOY STORY (1995). In addition to being a co-founder and exec vp creative of Pixar Animation Studios, Lasseter is now chief creative officer of the combined Disney/Pixar animation departments.
OPEN SEASON, the first 3D-animated feature from Sony Pictures Ent., will open in IMAX 3-D simultaneously with the conventional release on Sept. 29. Sony Pictures Releasing will be the exclusive distributor of movie to IMAX theaters worldwide.
OPEN SEASON is directed by Roger Allers (THE LION KING), Jill Culton (who worked on Disney/Pixars MONSTERS, INC. and TOY STORY 2) and co-director Anthony Stacchi (whose credits include ANTZ).
OPEN SEASON stars the vocal talents of Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, Debra Messing and Gary Sinise.
The first 3D-animated TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES feature from The Weinstein Co. and Warner Bros. Pictures will find its way to theaters in North America on March 30, 2007. That means it will go head-to-head with Disneys next 3D-animated feature, MEET THE ROBINSONS, which has just been pushed back from Dec. 15 of this year.
Warner Bros. Pictures will handle domestic distribution and the Weinstein Co. will distribute overseas.
Walt Disney Pictures has launched the official website for Pixars CARS (http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/cars/) and will premiere the latest theatrical trailer March 9 on a variety of broadcast outlets, basic cable channels, Internet sites, in person at the Disney Theme Parks, ESPN Zones, Disney Stores (in more than 300 mall and shopping center locations across the U.S. and Canada) and on the ABC SuperSign in Times Square.
As SCI FI's hit series BATTLESTAR GALACTICA gears up for this Friday's 90-minute season 2 finale, the channel begins preparations for the October premiere of the show's eagerly anticipated third season. Production on season 3 begins in Vancouver in April.
Returning to its Friday night slot with a complete 20-episode order, season 3 of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA will contain vfx by Zoic Studios.
On the heels of receiving his KING KONG Oscar, Joe Letteri of Weta Digital will next supervise vfx for THE WATER HORSE from Walden Media, Beacon Pictures and Revolution Studios.
