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AWN Headline News

Series Headline News

Talks Begin on Produce New Futurama Episodes

FUTURAMA producers are in talks with 20th Century Fox TV to bring back the animated series from SIMPSONS creator Matt Groening and SIMPSONS vet David X. Cohen, reports VARIETY. The studio declined to comment on the negotiations, but it is said that the initial order would be limited and the episodes would not necessarily air on Fox, where the final new episode aired in Aug. 2003.

Disney Headline News

Disney Animated Shorts & TV Series Coming to iTunes

The Walt Disney Co. will now offer additional programming from ESPN and ABC Sports, ABC Ent. and Touchstone Television, ABC Family, ABC News, Buena Vista Television, Disney Channel and SOAPnet, as well as content produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation on the iTunes Music Store (www.itunes.com).

Beginning later this month, Disney Channel will provide episodes of the animated series KIM POSSIBLE and THE PROUD FAMILY. In addition, the libraries of ABC Ent. and Touchstone Television will sell the popular 1970's Saturday morning SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK vignettes.

Business Headline News

HIT European Consumer Product Business Reorganized

HIT Ent. has reorganized the HIT European consumer product business, designed to simplify future communications with its partners and support future growth across a new category-based infrastructure.

The multiple brand group structure is now disbanded. The three new business units, according to Peter Byrne, evp HIT Int'l are:

UK Consumer Products: Focusing on the core U.K. licensing business teams aligned by category, supported by an international marketing group, managing the entire HIT portfolio of brands.

Television Headline News

Viacom Completes Separation Into CBS Corp. and VIA

Viacom Inc. has completed the transaction to separate into two publicly traded entities: CBS Corp. and "New" Viacom Inc. Shares of the two new companies commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Jan. 3, 2006, under the symbols: "CBS.A" (CBS Corp. Class A Common Stock) and "CBS" (CBS Corp. Class B Common Stock) and "VIA" (Viacom Inc. Class A Common Stock) and "VIA.B" (Viacom Inc. Class B Common Stock).

The move to separate Viacom's businesses was announced in June 2005.

Headline News

Narnia Tops Kong at New Year’s Box Office

Buena Vistas THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA squeaked past Universals KING KONG at the New Years holiday box office ended Jan. 2, 2006. With impressive vfx from Rhythm & Hues, Sony Pictures Imageworks and ILM, NARNIA garnered $33.7M. Meanwhile, KONG (with impressive vfx of its own from Weta Digital) captured $31.8M. Thus, NARNIA has a four-week cume of $225.7M vs. KONGs three-week cume of $174.5M.

Headline News

Eovia Carrara 5 Now Shipping

Eovia Corp. announced the immediate availability of the international English and French language editions of its complete 3D solution, Carrara 5. Responding to the need for mainstream accessibility while addressing the sophisticated requirements of professionals, Eovia Carrara 5 is made available in two versions. Both Carrara 5 and the more extensive Carrara 5 Pro present a potent and compelling suite of 3D modeling, animation and rendering tools wrapped within a more enjoyable user interface.

Series Headline News

Televisa Tooning Up Animated El Chavo del Ocho

Mexico's media conglom Televisa is preparing an animated version of its 1970s children's comedy EL CHAVO DEL OCHO, reports VARIETY. Televisa plans to open pre-sales for the series later this month in Las Vegas at the National Association of Television Program Executives meeting.

Anima will produce the 26x30 series, which will update the Spanish-language afternoon classic with a modern spin. The series will be ready to air in late 2006.

Headline News

Starz Ignites Portable Internet Video Market With the Launch of Vongo

Starz Ent. Group Llc. (SEG) announced the premiere of Vongo a new video download application and service for broadband that delivers movies and other video content over the Internet for playback on Windows-based PCs, laptops and select portable media devices, as well as on a TV.

Game Headline News

2006 Game Developers Choice Awards Open For Nominations

Nominations are now being accepted for the 6th annual Game Developers Choice Awards, the most prestigious honors in game development. Entries can be submitted through www.igda.org/awards up until Jan. 13, 2006. The awards ceremony, produced by the Game Developers Conference (GDC) and presented by the International Game Developers Assoc. (IGDA), will take place Wednesday, March 22, 2006 during the GDC. The gala, held in conjunction with the Independent Games Festival, will be hosted at the San Jose Civic Auditorium.

Headline News

Cuppa Coffee Brands Gospel Music Network

Cuppa Coffee helped Gospel Music Channel viewers get into the holiday spirit with a new set of Christmas-themed branding elements for the recently launched network, marking the most recent installment in the studio's most expansive broadcast design package to date.

Television Headline News

Stars Lined Up for New Seasons of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis

Principal casts for both SCI FI Channel hit original series, STARGATE SG-1 and STARGATE ATLANTIS, will reprise their roles for the recently announced new seasons of the shows.

Returning for another tour of duty on STARGATE SG-1 will be Ben Browder, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Michael Shanks and Beau Bridges. Now onboard as a regular cast member in season 10 will be Claudia Black, from the current season for her portrayal of "Vala," the sexually-charged, ethically-challenged thief-of-all-trades who spends all her free time tormenting Daniel Jackson (Shanks).

Animation Headline News

Catapult Animation Studio Launches in Malaysia

Catapult Animation Studio has opened in Malaysia, looking to execute projects on a "work for hire" basis. Capabilities include 3D animation, modeling, background and set designing, as well as 2D and Flash-based projects.

Catapult also can provide full optical motion-capture services with a 16-camera setup operating in its sister studio. "We look forward gaming, animation and filming companies to look ASEAN region as their point for cost effective execution," according to Kavitha Jaganathan, one of the heads at Catapultas, which oversees the new animation studio.

Game Headline News

DeVry University Offers Online Game & Simulation Programming Degree Program

Building on the success of the game and simulation programming (GSP) baccalaureate degree program at 11 of its campuses nationwide, DeVry University will offer the GSP degree program online beginning in spring 2006.

The relatively young academic specialty of computer game technologies has grown in popularity in response to the skyrocketing videogame industry. According to the NPD Group, Inc. a global leader in sales and marketing information, videogame sales have grown from $6.6 billion in 2000 to $9.4 billion in 2004.

Comedy Headline News

Director Kenan Moran Signs with Curious Pictures

Comedy director Kenan Moran has signed with Curious Pictures for exclusive TV commercial representation.

Moran, who recently directed a seven-spot Comedy Central image campaign through the company on a freelance basis, was working with Czar U.S. An alumnus of MTVs on-air promo department, he brings a comic sensibility and solid live-action experience to a production company long associated with animation and mixed media work.

Series Headline News

VTV Producing 100 Volume Historical Cartoon

Vietnam Television (VTV) is set to produce the first two volumes of a historical cartoon series in celebration the 1,000th anniversary of the ancient capital Thang Long, now known as Hanoi, reports VietnamNet.vn. The series, entitled CHIEC GIENG THOI GIAN, (THE WELL OF TIME) includes 100 volumes representing different historical periods in Vietnam since the establishment of the country.

Animation Headline News

Colorado to Ring in New Year with Animation of India

On Jan 1., 2006, Colorado PBS stations will be airing ANIMATION OF INDIA by U.S.-based artist Manick Sorcar, reports WebIndia123.com. The hour and 45-minute program will start airing at 6:00 am.

"ANIMATION OF INDIA was selected for the early morning telecast as Saturday and holiday mornings are considered to be prime time for children's programs. This is when the kids get up and stay glued in front of their favorite cartoons, starting from dawn to mid-morning," Sorcar told IANS over phone from Denver.

Disney Headline News

Disney Sees New Original Movie & Series In January

Disney Channel's January is highlighted the debut of the new animated comedy series THE EMPEROR'S NEW SCHOOL, based on the feature, THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE on Disney Channel, Toon Disney and Saturday mornings on ABC Kids. For the youngest viewers, a new season of HIGGLYTOWN HEROES debuts with guest stars Emmy Award-winning choreographer and actress Debbie Allen as the dance instructor who helps saves the day.

Headline News

Serenity Comes to DVD

SERENITY, the feature adaptation of Joss Whedons short-lived cult series, FIREFLY, is now available on DVD (Universal Studios Home Ent., $29.98). The renegade crew of the Serenity battle military tyrants and bloodthirsty creatures in this expanded adventure (with more elaborate vfx from Zoic Studios) thats supposed to be STAGECOACH set in space (as opposed to STAR TREK, which was BONANZA set in space).

Bonus features include:* Commentary by writer/director Whedon * Deleted scenes and outtakes

Season Headline News

Final Star Trek: Enterprise Season on DVD

STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON recently bowed on DVD (Paramount Home Ent, $129.98), capping off the phenomenal sci-fi franchise. The final and undeniably best season (with terrific vfx from Eden FX and others) ties this prequel premise closer to the original series including the formation of The Federation and offers several nostalgic nods along the way, leading to the controversial segue to THE NEXT GENERATION in the final episode, These Are the Voyages

Disney Headline News

Valiant Flies on DVD

The maiden 3D-animated feature from the U.K. made by Vanguard Animation was pretty and amiable enough, but failed to make a box office dent after being deemed too cliché ridden and kid-friendly. Now the World War II pigeon adventure produced by John H. Williams (the SHREK movies) and directed by Gary Chapman gets another chance on DVD (Disney DVD, $29.99).

Bonus features include:* Bloopers* VALIANT Training Challenge: Three different game levels

Digital Headline News

Fantastic Four to the Rescue on DVD

One of the seasons top DVD sellers, FANTASTIC FOUR (Fox Home Ent. $29.99) no longer suffers from comparisons to THE INCREDIBLES. Apparently viewers are appreciating the virtues of big screen adaptation of the Marvel Comics first superhero family (with noteworthy vfx from Café FX, Giant Killer Robots, Hydraulx, Kleiser-Walczak Digital Effects, Meteor Studios, Pacific Title & Art Studio, Pixel Magic, SW Digital and Soho VFX).

Bonus features include:* Commentary by: Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis and Ioan Gruffud # 3 * Three deleted scenes

Effects Headline News

Ring of Fire Creates ‘Forces of Nature’ for Winter Olympics

VFX boutique Ring of Fire recently completed effects on the dynamic Forces of Nature spot for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games on NBC. In this spot, directed by Kendall Bowlin of The NBC Agency, the sheer power of the Olympic athletes seem to change their environment by conjuring up extreme phenomena around them. The dramatic effects in the spot give it a supernatural feel.

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