This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for March 6, 2006
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
AWN Headline News
AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for March 6, 2006
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!
Nick Sets Development Slate & Creates Inkubators Animation Lab
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 Reports Incredible Profits in 2005
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
Cartoon Movie 2006 Kicks Off With Asterix And The Vikings Preview
KOCCA Launches Non-Profit Animation Studio
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.
Softimage Launches Face Robot
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.
In Anime, Technology, Visual Effects, Anime, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia
Stan Lee & John Dykstra To Auction Off Shoes
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.
In Interactive, Visual Effects, Games, Interactive, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All
Jim Henson Co. Toons Up With Varjak Paw
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 Fog Helmer To Direct Giver
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.
Incredibles Wins DVDX Awards
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 & Skywalker Sound Announce Strategic Partnership
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.
SpongeBob SquarePants Dives Onto PSP
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.
DI Colorist Doug Delaney Joins Post Logic Studios L.A.
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.
In People, Visual Effects, People, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Australia
Digital Musings From the Editor:
For Robert Townes ASK THE DUST (opening Friday), the filmmakers were required to recreate Depression-era L.A. in sunny Cape Town, South Africa.
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
It's Time To Get Involved With AWN's MIP-TV Special Newsletters!
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
All your news can be sent to editor@awn.com. For sales opportunities, contact Dan Sarto at dan@awn.com or call (323) 606-4200.
John Lasseter Becomes ShoWest’s First ‘Pioneer of Animation’
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.
Sony’s Animated Open Season to Open in IMAX 3-D
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.
Ninja Turtles to Go Head-to-Head with Meet the Robinsons
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.
New Cars Trailer to Premiere March 9
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.
SCI FI to Premiere Battlestar Galactica Season 3 in October
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.
Joe Letteri to Supervise VFX for The Water Horse
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.
In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Australia
CG Pioneer's Retrospective Art Show Debuts at SIGGRAPH 2006
SIGGRAPH 2006, the 33rd conference and exhibition on computer graphics and interactive techniques, held in Boston on July 30-Aug. 3, features the first, extensive retrospective of graphics pioneer Charles A. Csuri's computer art and animation.
In Event, Visual Effects, Event, Visual Effects | Headline News | Special Events: SIGGRAPH | Geographic Region: All
ATI Unleashes Mobility Radeon X1800 Notebook Series
ATI Technologies Inc. has once again raised the bar for notebook gaming with the launch of its Mobility Radeon X1800 series. Delivering the world's fastest gaming performance in today's most graphically intensive games-including Shader Model 3.0- the feature-rich Mobility Radeon X1800 XT takes the lead in the highly competitive notebook gaming segment and is closely followed by Mobility(TM) Radeon X1800.
In Technology, Visual Effects, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe
Singapore Film Fest Promotes Film As Artistic Medium
Singapore Film Fest Promotes Film As Artistic Medium19th Singapore International Film FestivalSingapore, SingaporeApril 13-29, 2006
Launched in 1987, the Singapore International Film Festival sets out to promote film as an artistic medium, provide the opportunity to audiences to view films not otherwise released commercially, create awareness of the finer points of filmmaking through seminars and workshops by overseas professionals, pave the way for a Singapore film industry and provide an international showcase for Asian Cinema.
