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AWN Headline News

Series Headline News

Jo Jo Premieres in Short Form Series to Keep Kids Moving

That lovable clown JoJo, of the hit Playhouse Disney series, JOJO'S CIRCUS, stars in a new short-form series encouraging preschoolers to try basic energizing stretches, poses and movements to keep their body feeling good inside and out, and to help cultivate self-esteem for a lifetime of achievement and fitness. FEELING GOOD WITH JOJO premieres as part of a weeklong programming event, Movin' and Groovin' with JoJo Week, Feb.20-24, 2006, at 8:55 am). The series will then air in its regular daily time periods, starting Feb. 27, at 7:55 and 10:25 am.

Digital Headline News

BV's Eight Below Wins Box Office Race

Buena Vista's sled dog race movie, EIGHT BELOW (with vfx by Stan Winston Studio, Stan Winston Digital, Illusion Arts, CIS Hollywood & ILM), was the surprising winner in the four-day President's Day weekend box office race, debuting at $25M for the weekend ended Feb. 20, 2006. Also leading the pack in a strong second place was Fox's DATE MOVIE, with Furious FX and Pacific Title contributing vfx, and an opening debut of $21.8M.

Film Headline News

Wallace & Gromit Wins Best British Film at BAFTAs

The winners for the Orange BAFTA Film Awards 2006, held the Odeon Leicester Square, have been announced. WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT surprised many with its win for Best British Film, beating out favorite THE CONSTANT GARDENER as well as TRISTRAM SHANDY: A COCK & BULL STORY, FESTIVAL and PRIDE & PREJUDICE. In the Short Animation Film category, FALLEN ART from Jarek Sawko, Piotr Sikora and Tomek Baginski took home the prize.

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN led all winners with four awards, including Best Film and Best Director for Ang Lee.

Headline News

New Zealand's PM Objects to South Park Religious Gag

New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark an avowed agnostic said she found the depiction of a statue of a menstruating Virgin Mary on upcoming episode of SOUTH PARK offensive, reports the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Despite protests and a call for a boycott from Roman Catholic bishops, Channel 4 plans to still air the controversial episode in May.

Film Headline News

Cameron Confirms His Next Project

TITANIC director James Cameron has confirmed that his top-secret film, PROJECT 880, will be his next film, reports ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Previously, Cameron was set to make a live-action version of BATTLE ANGEL, based on Yukito Kishiro's Japanese graphic novels, but script issues have delayed that project.

"We've moved PROJECT 880 into first position," Cameron said. "It's as classified as the Manhattan Project." However, rumors abound that the film will be a version of AVATAR, the director's long gestating love story set against interplanetary war.

Film Headline News

Taiwanese Fish Short Smiles at Berlin Film Fest

The Berlin International Film Festival wrapped up its festivities on Feb.18, 2006, with its awards ceremony, bestowing the animated Taiwanese short, WEI XIAO DER YU (A FISH WITH A SMILE), with the Special Prize of the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk.

The 10-minute film was directed by C. Jay Shih, Alan Tuan and Poliang Lin. The winners will receive 2,500 euros.

Artists Headline News

Digital-Tutors Releases RenderMan for Maya & XSI Training DVDs

Digital-Tutors announced the availability of the first interactive training solution for RenderMan for Maya and two introductory guides to Rigging and Enveloping in XSI.

INTRODUCTION TO RENDERMAN FOR MAYA provides more than three hours of project-driven training to increase the artist's understanding of RenderMan for Maya. Perfect for artists new to the powerful capabilities of RenderMan for Maya and experienced artists seeking time-saving tips and techniques.

Animation Headline News

Aaron Simpson New JibJab Animation Production & Development VP

Emmy-nominated animation producer Aaron Simpson joins JibJab Media as vp, animation production and development. Simpson will oversee JibJab's animation productions, including projects for the Internet and mobile devices, as well as an animated feature film.

Media Headline News

Editshare Launches Next Gen Collaborative Editing & Shared Media Storage Systems

EditShare will be unveiling the next generation (version 4.0) of its award-winning EditShare family of systems at NAB 2006, (booth SL 1410). Available by the end of Q2 2006, EditShare version 4.0 will bring users a host of new productivity enhancing features, including support for uncompressed HD, faster hardware and larger hard drives, and a new scalable architecture.

Headline News

Mimzy Adults Cast for Kids Sci-Fi Flick

New Line Cinema has cast Rainn Wilson (NBCs THE OFFICE) and Joely Richardson (FXs NIP/TUCK) in its sci-fi family film, MIMZY, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. New Line Cinema co-ceo Bob Shaye is set to direct.

The story follows two siblings, who discover a box of toys sent from the future, which gives them strange abilities. Wilson will play a science teacher and Richardson is the siblings' mom.

The studio is hoping to begin production in Vancouver in March.

Tobey Emmerich will shepherd for the studio.

Studio Headline News

Norway's First CG Feature To Hit Theaters in April

Produced by Storm Studio, SLIPP JIMMY FRI (FREE JIMMY), Norway's first CG animated feature, is set to premiere in Norway on April 21, 2006. Written and directed by underground cartoonist Christopher Nielsen, the films $16 million budget also makes it the country's most expensive film production to date.

British actor/comedian Simon Pegg (SHAUN OF THE DEAD) wrote the English screenplay and the English-versions voice cast features Woody Harrelson, Kyle MacLachlan, Samantha Morton, Simon Pegg and Jim Broadbent.

Effects Headline News

War of the Worlds Artists Share Secrets with Master Storytellers

As part of Hollywoods Master Storytellers series, three of the visual effects artist behind the Oscar-nominated work on WAR OF THE WORLDS shared some the films secrets. On Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006, at Manns Chinese Theatres Complex at Hollywood & Highland, f/x legend Dennis Muren, visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman and animation supervisor Randal M. Dutra answered questions about their work on Steven Spielbergs blockbuster alien invasion adventure.

Post Headline News

Lori Joseph Named Producer At Spy Post

Lori Joseph joins San Franciscobased post-production company, Spy Post, as producer, working closely with svp/exec producer Anastacia Maggioncalda to produce for the telecine, visual effects and finishing departments.

"As we continue to grow our business, it is important to provide our clients with the level of production support needed to meet their expectations," said Eric Hanson, Spy Post ceo. "Lori has a proven track record as a producer in a variety of mediums and brings great focus, energy and professionalism to our team."

Animation Headline News

Seneca College Takes Animation Expertise To India

Indias Whistling Woods International, promoted by Mukta Arts Ltd. and Film City, and Seneca College have signed an agreement to create a Seneca-run diploma specializing in the art and technique of animation film making.

In addition to the new animation diploma program at Whistling Woods, Seneca will train Whistling Woods' faculty to provide high caliber education in animation.

Digital Headline News

Japanese Production Houses to Aid Chinese Animation School

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 12:00am

Sorun Corp., a Japanese company that consults on information systems, and Digital Hollywood, a Japanese digital creation school, have announced they will be investing in a new digital media school set up at Nankai University in the northeastern Chinese city of Tianjin, reports Yahoo.com.

The Tianjin Sorun Digital Media school will open this fall with capital of 210 million yen (1.8 million dollars). Sorun Corp. will invest 81% of the capital, with Digital Hollywood and Nankai University supplying 9.5% each.

Disney Headline News

Bambi II To Hit Moratorium 70 Days After Release

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 12:00am

In its first week of availability, Walt Disney Pictures' BAMBI II sold more than 2.6 million units on DVD in North America. In tribute to the 70th anniversary of Walt Disney's inception of his animated classic, BAMBI, Walt Disney Home Ent. will place BAMBI II under moratorium just 70 days after its street date.

Film Headline News

Curious George Soundtrack Tops Billboard 200

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 12:00am

The film may have only debuted at #3, but Jack Johnson and Friends' "Curious George: Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film" CD premiered at #1 on the Billboard 200, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

Johnson's companion to the 2D animated film held first-week sales of 163,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan figures for the week ending Feb. 12. The soundtrack is the first to reach #1 since the BAD BOYS II soundtrack opened at the top in 2003.

Headline News

SNL Actress Scouts Nick Toon Pilot

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 12:00am

SNL regular Amy Poehler has landed an animated pilot at Nickelodeon titled, SUPER SCOUT, VARIETY reports.

The show follows Bessie Higgenbottom, an optimistic Honeybee scout obsessed with collecting badges and fulfilling her superhero fantasies while her single, bar singer mom whisks her, her little brother and an eccentric group of friends on adventures around San Francisco.

Headline News

SpongeBob Creative Director Diggs Nick Deal

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 12:00am

Former SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS creative director Derek Drymon has inked a series pilot deal with Nickelodeon for the toon, DIGGS TAILWAGGER, reports VARIETY. The outer-space idea centers on a low-ranking pooch trying to raise the ranks aboard the Galactic Rover.

Marjorie Cohn, evp of development and original programming, said, Diggs is this irresistible Chris Farley-like character clumsy but well-meaning that gets into these hysterical predicaments."

Film Headline News

Nancy Drew Feature Goes Before Cameras

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 12:00am

Production has begun in Los Angeles on the family mystery adventure, NANCY DREW, starring Emma Roberts (Nickelodeon's UNFABULOUS), Josh Flitter (THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED), Max Thieriot (THE PACIFIER) and Tate Donovan (GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.).

Headline News

Paul McGuire to Head The CW Communications

Paul McGuire is the new svp, communications, The CW, the new fifth broadcast television network, a joint venture between Warner Bros. Ent. and CBS Corp. scheduled to launch in fall 2006. Dawn Ostroff, who is slated to become The CW's president of entertainment, made the announcement.

Film Headline News

Animated Oscar-Nominated Shorts to Play in Select Theaters

Magnolia Pictures and Shorts International have partnered to bring the Academy Award-nominated live-action and animated short films to select U.S. theaters before the Oscar broadcast on March 5, 2006. The films will later be available through HDNet and Magnolia's new Home Entertainment division, as well as across other platforms that include ShortsTV on mobile phones.

Trailer Headline News

Test Your Stuff at the Movie Trailer Showdown

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 12:00am

Movie Trailer Showdown CompetitionLondon, U.K.June 14, 2006Deadline: May 1, 2006

Frozen Moon Prods. Ltd. is hosting the Movie Trailer Showdown Competition. As an individual, team or company, the contest challenges entrants to make a film trailer no longer than 1.5 minutes.

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