Guava Studios Buys Sledgehammer For New 3D Department
Guava Studios has purchased a Sledgehammer HD!O system from Maximum Throughput of Montreal as the core shared storage component for its new 3D animation department.
AWN Headline News
MirrorMask Dazzles on DVD
The Jim Henson Co.s underrated fantasy, MIRRORMASK, featuring the directorial debut of illustrator Dave McKean, makes its way to DVD (Sony Pictures Home Ent., $26.96). Full of evocative imagery set against the backdrop of the kingdom of the Dark Lands, MIRRORMASK utilized a crew of 15 CG artists hired straight out of Bournemouth University and supervised by CG producer Max McMullin, who has worked on all of McKeans shorts. MoCap was done at Artem Digital.
Bonus features include:
In Home Entertainment, Visual Effects, Home Entertainment, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All
Stuart Little 3 Continues on DVD
For the recently released STUART LITTLE 3: CALL OF THE WILD direct-to-DVD (Sony Pictures Home Ent., $24.94) Mainframe Ent. was called upon to provide a whole new animated look: CG with a cartoony feel aimed at young viewers. While camping during summer vacation, Stuart must save Snowbell the cat from The Beast that lives in the woods with the help of a new friend, a skunk named Reeko. STUART LITTLE 3 is directed by Audu Paden (SPIDER-MAN animated series and ROUGHNECKS: THE STARSHIP TROOPERS CHRONICLES), with Michael J.
Sony Targets May 23 for Launch of First Blu-Ray Disc Titles
Sony Pictures Home Ent. (SPHE) will deliver the first wave of Blu-ray Disc (BD) titles on May 23, three months after the rival HD-DVD format begins its launch. Delivery will coincide with the launch that day of the first commercially available BD player from Samsung Electronics, which will be followed shortly by BD players from Pioneer and Sony along with a BD compatible VAIO PC from Sony.
SPHE and MGM Home Ent. will first release eight BD titles, with another eight following shortly June 13.
Family Reunion Leads Box Office
TYLER PERRYS MADEAS FAMILY REUNION from Lions Gate led the box office with an opening bow of $30M for the weekend ending Feb. 26, 2006. Slipping to second place with $15.8M was Buena Vistas sled dog race movie, EIGHT BELOW (with vfx by Stan Winston Studio, Stan Winston Digital, Illusion Arts, CIS Hollywood & ILM) In two weeks, EIGHT BELOW has earned $45.2M. Holding at third place with $11M was Sonys remake of THE PINK PANTHER (2D-animated titles by Kurtz & Friends and vfx by Pixel Magic), which has a cume of $60.8M.
NASA Enlists Houston Students for Mars Project
Media arts and animation students from The Art Institute of Houston have been enlisted by NASA to create new designs for an all-terrain vehicle for exploration on Mars, reports the HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL. The 11-week quarter class will have students developing the vehicle, a power module to help recharge the vehicle when out in the field and a stationary land base.
"When academia participates in real world problems, students move from theory to application which involves risking and failing," says Anthony C. Bruins, NASA's Mission Control Center system architect.
Day After Tomorrow Scribe Penning Prince of Persia & More
The Walt Disney Co. has tapped THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW writer Jeffrey Nachmanoff to pen three projects, including the feature adaptation of Ubisofts videogame PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME, reports VARIETY. In addition to the Jerry Bruckheimer Films-produced PERSIA, he will also tackle Bruckheimer's UNNATURAL HISTORY and the LivePlanet-produced LIBERTY.
Don Knotts Dies at 81
Don Knotts, who became a TV icon on THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW playing bumbling deputy Barney Fife, passed away on Friday, Feb. 24, 2006, at the age of 81. Knotts died of pulmonary and respiratory complications at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills.
In the world of animation, Knotts is most remembered as the title character in live-action 2D animation hybrid, THE INCREDIBLE MR. LIMPET, where he played a meek clerk who turns into a fish after the Navy rejects him.
Golden Reel Nominations Announced
The MPSE has announced its nominations for the MPSE Golden Reel Awards, given annually for the best work in the various areas of sound editing: dialogue & ADR, effects & foley, and music.
The MPSE Career Achievement Award will be presented to music editor Else Blangsted during the black-tie ceremony on March 4, 2006, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
The nominations are:
Best Sound Editing in Feature Film: AnimatedCHICKEN LITTLETIM BURTONS CORPSE BRIDEHOWLS MOVING CASTLEMADAGASCAR
Zenith Ent. & Neptuno Films Greenlight King Arthur’s Disasters Season 2
Zenith Ent. in London and Neptuno Films of Barcelona have renewed the animation co-production agreement to co-finance a second season of 13 half hours of KING ARTHURS DISASTERS for transmission on CiTV in September 2006. The first series starts its digital run in spring 2006 on Nickelodeon UK.
Zenith will deficit finance and retain distribution rights, excluding Spanish/Brazilian-speaking territories that are reserved for Neptuno. Both companies will finance the series and Cake Ent. Ltd. will distribute the series in key territories for Zenith.
Last Chance to Vote In AWN’s Oscar Showcase!
It's your last chance to vote in AWN's 2006 Oscar Showcase.
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
4Kids Ent. Ups Carlin West to SVP, New Concept Acquisition & Development
4Kids Ent. Inc. has promoted Carlin West from svp of marketing and licensing to svp of new concept acquisition and development, responsible for the strategic identification and development of new product concepts and non-television properties.
Features Spotlighted In Latest Animation World Magazine Acrobat!
The latest Acrobat version of Animation World Magazine is now online! From November 2005, the theme covers various aspects of the animated features industry. Joseph Gilland looks into how artists integrate various design styles into one cohesive animated feature. Rick DeMott dives into the rocky waters of Oscar buzz to see what information he can fish out. Taylor Jessen takes a look at the anime feature that got away named MY LIFE AS MCDULL. Christopher Panzner looks into the increasing amount of animated features being produced in Europe and why they are not coming to American theaters.
Paul Condolora Upped SVP/GM at Cartoon Network New Media
Paul Condolora has been promoted from vp/gm to svp/gm for Cartoon Network New Media with expanded duties that include further developing new Cartoon Network and Adult Swim-branded products and services for burgeoning distribution platforms such as broadband, VOD, wireless and interactive television. Based in Atlanta, Condolora will continue to report to Mark Norman, svp of business operations for Cartoon Network U.S. and Boomerang.
This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for February 27, 2006
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz. Check out the latest installment from quizmaster Karl Staven, an accomplished independent animator and head of the Animation Department at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for February 27, 2006
This week in AWN's Forums, a junior member has concerns about leaving India to study classical animation in Canada because of the poor jobs prospects. Others are discussing THE CORPSE BRIDE and the work of John Hubley. Another member wants to know the least painfully way to animated tentacles. A senior member posts a link to an American Greeting e-card that might get Christians rioting. Other continue to post their work for members to critique.
ILM Relies on Vue 5 Infinite From e-on
Industrial Light & Magic is using Vue 5 Infinite, e-on softwares natural 3D environment solution, on some of its upcoming projects, filling a void in its existing tool set.
"e-on products are a great addition to our production tool set and we are planning to expand their use throughout our entire facility, said Cliff Plumer, Lucasfilm cto. You will probably be seeing a lot of Vue in future productions.
ManiaTV! Announces Second Annual LIVE Internet Film Festival
ManiaTV! LIVE Internet Film FestivalWorld Wide Web June 5 11, 2006Deadline: May 26, 2006
ManiaTV! (www.ManiaTV.com), the worlds first live 24/7 Internet Television Network, is hosting its 2006 Internet Film Festival. With live viewer voting from across the world, the Internet film Festival is the online destination for aspiring filmmakers. Last years ManiaTV! Live Internet Film Festival featured some of the most inventive young directors from around the globe submitting animated shorts, commercial spoofs and feature films.
Animation Block Party Taking Entries for 2006 Event
Animation Block Party 2006Brooklyn, New York, USAJuly 22-24, 2006Deadline: June 16, 2006
Animation Block Party 2006 features more diverse award categories, a new jury of animation talents and fresh chances to exhibit films at more venues. Animation Block Party 2006 will officially transmit at Rooftop Films, Galapagos Art Space and BamCinematek.
Haydenfilms Online Film Fest Open 2006 Event
Second Annual Haydenfilms Online Film FestivalWorld Wide WebAugust 30 - October 30, 2006Deadline: July 15, 2006
The Second Annual Haydenfilms Online Film Festival welcomes all student and independent films of any genre. A judging panel consisting of film experts and professors from New York University, Central Michigan University, Ohio University School of Film, Rochester Institute of Technology and others will critique each film to elect the finalists that will have their films showcased on the site for two months.
Lucy Lawless Joins Battlestar Galactica
SCI FI Channel has added Lucy Lawless to the cast of its original series, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, as she reprises her role as D'Anna Biers in a 10-episode arc in the show's eagerly anticipated third season, which begins production in Vancouver, in April 2006.
Lawless' second guest appearance airs Feb. 24, in the episode, "Downloaded," which gives viewers their first real glimpse into the Cylon world. The second half of season 2 of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA premiered Jan. 6.
South Park Adds Qube! Render Farm System to Pipeline
The animated SOUTH PARK series has integrated the Qube! render farm management system from PipelineFx into its Maya animation and rendering pipeline, running primarily on Apple Macintosh hardware. The award-winning series created and exec produced by Matt Stone and Trey Parker and produced by South Park Studios has aired on Comedy Central since 1997.
wondertouch Releases particleIllusion Professional Emitter Libraries
wondertouch announced the release of the Professional Emitter Libraries, a collection of six new particle emitter libraries for the company's award-winning particleIllusion 3.0 software, widely regarded for creating high-quality, complex particle animations.
Weinstein Co. Seeks Kramer’s Evil Script
The Weinstein Co. has scooped up the rights to the script EVILSEEK from writer Wayne Kramer (THE COOLER, RUNNING SCARED) who will also direct and produce the supernatural thriller. Kramers partner Michael Pierce (RUNNING SCARED) will also produce via their True Grit Prods. banner. The Weinstein Co. will fully fund the project, which will star Thomas Jane (THE PUNISHER).
ka-chew! Animates Title Sequence for Golf Channel’s The Daly Planet
Hollywood-based ka-chew! has completed production on the animated titles sequence for pro golfer John Dalys show THE DALY PLANET, airing on The Golf Channel. Using 2D animation created by Dave Vandervoort, director Dave Foss incorporated photos, live footage and graphics to create a spacey, Jetsons-like feel, emphasized by a giant globetrotting animated John Daly, to help launch the show.
