AWN Headline News
U.S. Born & Raised Anime Series Kappa Mikey Takes to Worldwide Waves
KAPPA MIKEY, the first global acquisition by MTV Networks, and the only anime series to be entirely created and produced in the U.S., is now airing on Nicktoons Network at 8:00 pm on Saturdays. It repeats on Nicktoons Networks' primetime programming block from 7:00 pm to midnight Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Beginning in May, KAPPA MIKEY will roll out across Nickelodeon's international channels, including Nick Asia, Nick UK, Nick Spain, Nick France and Nick Europe.
Students: Time To Enter Angelus Film Festival
2006 Angelus Student Film Festival Hollywood, California, USAOctober 21, 2006Deadline: July 1, 2006
The Angelus Student Film Festival cultivates and honors future filmmakers as they explore and create works that respect the dignity of the human person. Angelus Award winning films reflect values such as redemption, spirtuality, dignity, tolerance, equality, diversity, hope and triumph of the human spirit.
DIC Names Kaaren Lee Brown to Oversee Programming for CBS Saturday Morning Block
On the heels of the recent announcement of the partnership between CBS and DIC Ent. to launch CBSs Secret Saturday Morning Slumber Party, DIC has appointed Kaaren Lee Brown svp of creative affairs. Brown will oversee all aspects of programming for the new branded Saturday morning kids programming block.
Milano Film Festival Issues Call For Entries
11th Milano Film FestivalMilan, ItalySeptember 2006 Deadline: May 31, 2006
The 11th edition of Milano Film Festival will be held next September in Milan, at the Piccolo Teatro and Castello Sforzesco. The event features two International Competitions open to feature and short films of any genre, language, running time and format, provided that they have been produced after Jan. 1, 2005.
The Batman & Teen Titans Complete First Season on DVD
Warner Home Video and DC Comics have teamed up to release first seasons of two of the popular cartoon action series, THE BATMAN: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON and TEEN TITANS: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON, both available now in Dolby Surround Stereo for $19.98 on DVD.
Toonacious Family Ent. Engages C&I Partners to Fund Animated Films
Toonacious Family Ent. has contracted with C&I Partners to raise funds for CG and 2D animated feature films with budgets targeted from $30 to $60 million. Toonacious has a slate of five animated features in development and will oversee all aspects of production from the Burbank, California, studio.
My Gym Partner's a Monkey in Full Swing on Cartoon Network
MY GYM PARTNER'S A MONKEY has swung onto Cartoon Network, featuring the animated antics of a 12-year-old boy accidentally attending an all-animal and aquatic creature middle school. The series, which had a sneak-peak on Feb. 20, 2006, airs Fridays at 9:00 pm on Cartoon Network.
Because of an administrative mix-up (a typo changing Lyon to Lion), Adam Lyon, a human boy, is accidentally transferred to the all-animal Charles Darwin Middle School, where the animal inhabitants of the local zoo and aquarium send their kids.
Scott Sassa Joins GameFly Board of Directors
Scott Sassa has joined GameFlys board of directors. Sassa's more than two decades of entertainment media and Internet industry experience includes serving as president of NBC West Coast, Friendster and Turner Ent. Group.
British and Canadian Tooners Partner on New Ricky Sprocket — Showbiz Boy
Studio B Prods. and TELETOON are partnering with Alison Snowden and David Fine (the Oscar-winning creators of BOB AND MARGARET) and Bejuba! Ent. for the animated series, RICKY SPROCKET SHOWBIZ BOY. Studio B Prods. will be co-producer and animation studio for the series with Snowden Fine. Bejuba! will distribute and exec produce the series set to air on Canadian specialty broadcaster TELETOON in the fall 2007.
Meet the Robinsons Pushed Back to 2007
MEET THE ROBINSONS, Walt Disney Feature Animations 3D-animated follow-up to CHICKEN LITTLE, has been pushed back from Dec. 15 to March 30, 2007 (with a simultaneous platform in Disney Digital 3-D), the studio confirmed. This will apparently give first-time director Steve Anderson more time to finish and fine-tune, not surprising given the new Pixar merger and the director-friendly mandate under president Ed Catmull and chief creative officer John Lasseter.
Howl’s Castle Moves to DVD
The Oscar-nominated HOWLS MOVING CASTLE from Hayao Miyazaki bows on DVD March 7, 2006, along with MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO and WHISPER OF THE HEART (Walt Disney Home Ent., $29.99). Based on the English novel by Diana Wynn Jones, HOWLS is a fascinating mixture of Eastern and Western sensibilities. Once again, the director follows the magical and spiritual adventures of a young heroine (in this case, Sophie, a hat maker) amid the tumult of war and sorcery. Stylistically, Miyazaki blends 3D environments much more significantly than in the past.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Now on DVD
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, the fourth feature in the popular POTTER franchise, debuts March 7 on DVD (Warner Home Video, $30.97 for two-disc special edition). GOBLET OF FIRE will also be available in UMD format for PSP.
TWC Hires Director Justin Klarenbeck
Director Justin Klarenbeck has signed with TWC for exclusive representation in commercials as the company continues to add highly accomplished, multi-talented filmmakers to its staff. Klarenbeck, whose expertise ranges from visual effects to directing talent, is probably best known for his automotive work, within credits including virtually every leading automaker. His recent work includes spots for Toyota, Chevy, Lexus, Honda and Mercedes Benz.
Vicon Ent. Division Opens L.A. Base
Underscoring its increasing market strength and proximity to innovation in motion pictures, games and television, Academy Award-winning motion capture technology developer Vicon recently launched a Los Angeles-based operation for its U.S. entertainment division.
Rez-Illusion Goes Seamless on The Hills Have Eyes
Rez-Illusion Visual Effects has completed 136 visual effects shots for Fox Searchlights THE HILLS HAVE EYES (opening March 10).
Directed by Alexandre Aja, the film is a remake of Wes Cravens 1977 cult classic and tells the terrifying story of the Carter family that strays unwittingly into a government atomic testing zone while traveling and becomes the prey of cannibalistic mutant human monsters.
Stan Glasgow Named President/COO of Sony Electronics
Stan Glasgow will succeed Hideki Dick Komiyama as president and coo of Sony Electronics Inc. (SEL), the $11 billion electronics arm of Sony in the U.S., effective April 1.
Komiyama will now serve as SEL's chairman of the board, while continuing as corporate evp and senior general manager for Sony Corp. heading up global sales and marketing.
BOXX Support New AMD Opteron Processors 885 and 285
BOXX Technologies Inc. will further increase the processing power of the new BOXX APEXX 4 super-workstation and its 3DBOXX 7400 and 5400 series dual-processor workstations by supporting Dual-Core AMD Opteron models 885 and 285.
King Kong and Wallace And Gromit Grab Oscar Gold
The Oscars favored animated characters tonight (March 5, 2006) bestowing the coveted trophy to longtime animation industry favorites KING KONG , WALLACE & GROMIT and John Canemaker during the 78th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.
Family Reunion Still Leads Box Office
TYLER PERRYS MADEAS FAMILY REUNION led the box office for the second consecutive week with $12.6M, despite a 58% drop, over the traditionally slow Oscar weekend ended March 5, 2006. The Lionsgate release has attracted a two-week cume of $47.7M. Bowing in second was Warner Bros. 16 BLOCKS (with vfx by LairdFX and Mr. X), posting $11.8M. Slipping to third with $10.1M and a cume of $58.6M was Buena Vistas EIGHT BELOW (with vfx by Stan Winston Studio, Stan Winston Digital, Illusion Arts, CIS Hollywood & ILM).
Wallace And Gromit & Family Guy Win Top Animated Honors at Gold Reel Awards
WAR OF THE WORLDS won the top honor Best Sound Editing in Feature Films Sound Fx/Foley at the MPSE Golden Reel Awards while WALLACE & GROMIT: CURSE OF THE WERERABBIT and FAMILY GUY topped animated honors during the black-tie ceremony on March 4, 2006, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA was also a big winner for Best Sound Editing in Feature Films Dialogue/ADR. The Golden Reel Awards acknowledge the year's best work in the various areas of sound editing
Winners of the MPSE Golden Reel Awards are:
Agency's Client Roster Grows to 10
The Ashy Agency has expanded its 2006 client roster, while concurrently showcasing a new corporate logo and identity branding system for itself.
TELETOON Springs Up Five New Promotions In March
TELETOON has teamed with five marketers to bring five new promotional initiatives to fans this March.