AWN Headline News

Hot off its deal with Nickelodeon, Worldwide Biggies Inc. has entered into an agreement with Ilion Animation Studios to produce the studios first CG theatrical release entitled PLANET ONE. Albie Hecht, the ceo of Worldwide Biggies Inc., and Ilion have signed the Oscar-nominated writer of SHREK and SHREK 2, Joe Stillman, to pen the script. Ilion Animations Studios is the theatrical animation company started by the founders of Pyro Studios, best known as the creators of the international hit videogame series COMMANDOS.

Walden Media, Beacon Pictures, Revolution Studios and Ecosse Films have teamed to produce a feature based on children's fantasy novel THE WATER HORSE, by British author Dick King-Smith. Weta Digital and Weta Workshop have been tapped to handle the visual effects.

Robert Nelson Jacobs will write the script and Jay Russell will direct. Production is set to start in May in New Zealand.

The book follows a lonely boy in Scotland who finds a mysterious egg from which hatches a "water horse" a mythical sea monster of Scottish legend.

The Academy Award-nominated WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT is premiering on DVD and VHS Feb. 7, 2006, from DreamWorks Home Ent. The film is featured on more than 50 top ten lists and honored with multiple critics awards and industry honors including 16 Annie Award nominations.

Myron Waldman, an animator and illustrator who worked at Fleischer Studios on BETTY BOOP, POPEYE, SUPERMAN and CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST shorts, died Feb. 4, 2006, at New Island Hospital in Bethpage, New York, reports THE NEW YORK TIMES. He was 97 and lived in Wantagh, New York. This family said the cause of death was congestive heart failure.

Avanca 2006 International Meeting of Cinema, TV, Video and MultimediaAvanca, PortugalJuly 26-30, 2006Deadline: May 2, 2006

Avanca Film Festival presents a forum for the best in cinema, TV, video and multimedia. The event features screenings, surprises, workshops, exhibitions, meetings and discussions.

Going into the WGA Awards, THE SIMPSONS was certain to win, because it was the only show nominated in the Animation category. Michael Prices "Mommie Beerest" episode beat out five other SIMPSONS episodes to take home the Writers Guilds top honors.

In the TV Graphic Animation category, the winner was INAUGURATION 2005, written by Steve Bottorff, Eric Diga, Lisa Fisher, Alice Kreit and Casey Sattler of ABC.

For a complete list of winners, visit www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=1607.