Search form

AWN Headline News

Headline News

NVIDIA Completes Acquisition of ULi Electronics

NVIDIA Corp. announced that it has completed the acquisition of ULi Electronics Inc., a leading developer of core logic technology.

The acquisition represents the company's ongoing investment in its platform solution strategy and is expected to strengthen its sales, marketing and customer engineering presence in Taiwan and China.

Headline News

Lion King Stage Show To Open In Shanghai

The Walt Disney Co. announced its award-winning musical THE LION KING will open at Shanghais Grand Theatre on July 18, 2006, and play for 100 performances.

The engagement will be presented by The Shanghai Grand Theatre in association with The Walt Disney Co., who is the title sponsors of the production. Special support has also been provided from the China Culture Development Fund, with media support from Wenhui-Xinmin United Press Group.

Animation Headline News

UTV Invests $5 Million in Animation

Indias UTV has invested in a brand new animation facility at its Andheri Studio with 225 workstations replete with blade render farms and 3ds Max software. The investment of close to $5 million will allow the more than 25,000-square-foot facility to complete High Definition (HD) work for its clients in North America and Europe.

The studio is working on 15 direct-to-video features as well as a 52-episode TV series and 20 short series.

The facility operates 24/7 with a built up capacity to execute more than 150 minutes of 3D animation a month.

Anime Headline News

Toon Radio Acquires Anime Genesis for Podcasts

Toon Radio has acquired the broadcast rights to the anime talk show podcast, ANIME GENESIS for its Internet broadcast. The a weekly hour-long anime talk show keeps listeners up to date on the latest happenings in the world of anime and manga, with commentary and discussion from the hosts.

Series Headline News

Cartoon Network Latin America Acquires Monster Series & Special

Cartoon Network Latin America has acquired animation series, BROTOWN, JUNGLE BEAT and the animated special, APE, from Monster Distributes and its Latin American agent HOLA Ent.

JUNGLE BEAT (13x5), from Sunrise Media, has also just been sold to Rai Cinema Italy, Orf Austria, Multithematiques France and Lagardere Images in the Middle East. Previously sold to many other territories, the non-dialogue CGI series, the first animated series from Zimbabwe, features a cast of animals including Giraffe, Monkey, Bee and Tortoise, in bizarre situations with hilarious results.

Special Headline News

It's Time To Get Involved With AWN's GDC & MIP-TV Special Newsletters!

Continuing our special event specific Flash Newsletters, we will be publishing special editions for GDC & MIP-TV. The markets are fast approaching and our editorial and advertising staffs are gearing up for the GDC & MIP-TV-specific Flash Newsletter series. Here are the dates for the publications. Please send your news two weeks prior to the publication date.

Games Developers Conference 2005 Animation Flash NewsletterMarch 7

MIP-TV Flash NewslettersMarch 14March 21March 28

Animation Headline News

AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for February 20, 2006

This week in AWN's Forums, a junior member has questions about combining 2D and 3D. Another member has a question about buying a good sound card. Theres a thread on the NEW YORK POST article that claims former Disney head Michael Eisner trying everything to stop Disneys acquisition of Pixar. Theres a junior member who is bored and needs some good suggestions on animation to check out. A member wants to know what the going rate is for concept artists. Theres a thread on VFX in Asia.

Game Headline News

THQ Releases of Paws & Claws Pet Resort for Game Boy Advance

THQ Inc. has released PAWS & CLAWS PET RESORT, a videogame for animal lovers pamper their favorite creatures at their own pet resort. Published by THQ's ValuSoft division, PAWS & CLAWS PET RESORT is rated "E" for Everyone and is available for Game BoyAdvance at retail outlets throughout North America for $19.99 SRP.

Headline News

Activision Wins Gaming Rights to Transformers Franchise From Hasbro

The Hasbro Properties Group, the intellectual property development arm of Hasbro, Inc. has granted Activision Inc., a leading publisher of interactive entertainment software products, the global rights, excluding Japan, to develop console, handheld and PC games based on Hasbro's renowned TRANSFORMERS brand. The first game will be tied to the much-anticipated July 4, 2007, movie release of the live-action TRANSFORMERS film from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures.

Studio Headline News

TELETOON Airing BC Kids’ PSAs

Canadian specialty network broadcaster TELETOON has begun airing three public service announcements (PSAs) developed by BC children. CAMP TELETOON is a community-based partnership initiative between Vancouver-based Arts Umbrella, TELETOON and Vancouvers Studio B Productions. The PSAs were produced in just under a three-week period this past August, by 12 children (ages 9-12) who received scholarships to animate what was on their minds. The 30-second PSAs are titled The Environment, Cooperation and Self-Esteem and will air nationally on the English network, starting Feb. 20, 2006.

Kitty Headline News

Hello Kitty to Star in Clay Animation TV Series

Hello Kitty, the feline icon of cuteness, and her friends will star in a TV series to be aired in more than 15 countries, it was revealed by the Sanrio company and reported by the AFP (AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE) news service.

HELLO KITTY, STAMP VILLAGE, a 26-part series done in clay animation featuring the adventures of the mouthless cat and her companions in a forest, will be completed this month and will air in Asia, Europe and North America.

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.

Pages