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AWN Headline News

Business Headline News

Carrie Dumont to Run Business Affairs for Cookie Jar

Carrie Dumont joins Cookie Jar Ent. as vp of its business affairs group to lead its expanding property acquisition, development and merchandising activities. Dumonts immediate focus will be in overseeing agreements with the ever-expanding roster of partners involved in Cookie Jars latest global television and merchandising sensation, THE DOODLEBOPS, as well the companys other renowned classic preschool brand, CAILLOU.

Animation Headline News

Computer Animation Studios In Ontario Form CASO Assoc.

The Computer Animation Studios of Ontario (CASO) has been formed to address the issues and opportunities of computer animation studios in Ontario. There are an estimated 50 studios in the Canadian province that produce computer animation and visual effects for feature films, television programs and television commercials. These studios employ anywhere from a few to hundreds of employees who use the latest in computer equipment and software to create world leading animation and digital visual effects.

Headline News

BVHEI Appoints Jerome Le Grand SCP/Deputy GM of Europe, Middle East and Africa

Buena Vista Home Entertainment International (BVHEI) has appointed Jerome Le Grand to the newly created position of svp/deputy gm of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Le Grand's responsibilities will include the management of the following departments: Finance, Operations/ESCO, Commercial Planning and Distribution, Emerging Markets Group for the EMEA. He will also serve as business contact for the European Legal Department.

Disney Headline News

Disney Orders 4th Season Kim Possible

Disney's KIM POSSIBLE the animated hit comedy/action series from Walt Disney Television Animation, resumes production for a fourth season of 22 new episodes. KIM POSSIBLE airs in the U.S. on Disney Channel, Toon Disney and the ABC Television Network's "ABC Kids" daypart.

The international hit, KIM POSSIBLE, is from multiple Emmy-nominated creators/exec producers Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle. Emmy nominee Steve Loter also returns as director and producer of the fourth season.

Nickelodeon Headline News

THQ Links Nickelodeon Videogames Titles

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, December 29, 2005 at 12:00am

THQ Inc. announced a new design feature that links multiple titles in THQ's Nickelodeon videogame lineup for the PlayStation 2, enabling expanded game play and special features for consumers who own more than one of the titles. THQ's Nickelodeon games that incorporate this special Cross Save feature include TAK: THE GREAT JUJU CHALLENGE, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: LIGHTS, CAMERA PANTS!, NICKTOONS UNITE! and BARNYARD, based on Paramount Pictures'/Nickelodeon Movies' upcoming theatrical release.

Anime Headline News

Central Park Media & New England Anime Society Celebrate 2006

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, December 29, 2005 at 12:00am

New England Anime SocietyBoston, Massachusetts, USADecember 31, 2005

Boston is home to America's longest running First Night celebration, and for the past two years, the city's New England Anime Society has been a part of this tradition. This year, the New England Anime Society is back and hopes to have its largest and most successful First Night anime event yet. On Dec. 31, 2005, the New England Anime Society will be welcoming in 2006 this time with a little help from Central Park Media.

Licensing Headline News

4Kids Not Renewing Pokemon License

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, December 29, 2005 at 12:00am

4Kids Ent. Inc. and Pokemon USA Inc. announced that they have agreed not to renew the POKEMON representation agreement set to expire on Dec. 31, 2005. Beginning in 2006, Pokemon USA Inc.'s in-house licensing group will handle all POKEMON licensing outside of Asia.

Headline News

NewTek Releases Free Update to VT[4] Integrated Production Suite

NewTek Inc. announced the release of a free update for VT[4] owners, version 4.6. The new version of the award-winning VT[4] Integrated Production Suite includes improved 3D animation and motion graphics tools, enhanced support for multiple monitors, improvements to the NewTek codec and all computer sources, including attached DV cameras, and can be used as a downstream key (DSK). The feature and maintenance update is a free download for registered VT[4] users.

Headline News

Color Astro Boy Now on DVD

While fans still await the original black-and-white ASTRO BOY series from 1963, the 83 color remake of Osamu Tezukas iconic work will have to suffice. ASTRO BOY COLLECTION BOX SET (Manga Ent., $39.98) contains 51 episodes spread across eight DVDs, with both the English language dialogue, and, for the first time, the original Japanese audio tracks.

Motion Headline News

RE:Vision Effects Releases Twixtor for XSI

RE:Vision Effects offers Twixtor, their popular retiming solution, for SOFTIMAGE|XSI animation software.

Twixtor 4.5 raises the bar in motion estimation. Nick Brooks, Oscar and Emmy winner for visual effects, said, "Twixtor 4.5 represents a new touchstone in retiming. The difference in accuracy means that retiming artifacts are either drastically reduced or disappear on the hardest to retime footage. "

Twixtor runs as an FxTree operator within SOFTIMAGE|XSI and provides the following features:* Calculation of motion vectors at each pixel.

Digital Headline News

Framestore CFC Alters Landscape for Nanny McPhee

NANNY MCPHEE, the new children's fantasy film, directed by Kirk Jones and starring Emma Thompson and Colin Firth, from a screenplay by Thompson, opens Jan. 27 through Universal Pictures. A team of more than 80 artists and technicians at Framestore CFC in London worked for nine months on the films digital vfx, providing some 150 shots. In addition, Framestore CFC's Digital Lab facility created the film's distinctive Digital Intermediate.

Mill Headline News

The Mill Names Marc Ruxin COO

Marc Ruxin has been hired as the coo of The Mill Group North America and Alistair Thompson has been promoted to md of The Mill New York.

Ruxin will be responsible for the growth, management and development of new products and services for The Mill and BEAM.TV. Ruxin brings 13 years of experience leading strategy, business development and marketing efforts on both the client and agency side of the technology and entertainment business.

Creative Headline News

Sharon Ngoi New Creative Director on Disney Channel's Marketing Team

Sharon Ngoi joins Disney Channel's marketing team as creative director and will work on promoting the Playhouse Disney-branded block, a learning-focused daypart for preschoolers, their parents and caregivers.

Channel Headline News

VegasBuzzz.com Launches Anime News Channel

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, December 28, 2005 at 12:00am

Vegas Buzz (www.vegasbuzzz.com) has launched a new channel dedicated to Anime News. The channel will cover the gamut of anime, including manga. The new service will cover TV series and features that have kids as their core audience or adults only in mind. Vegas Buzz hopes to capitalize on the ever-growing arena, which has quietly become a billion dollar a year business. For more information, visit www.animevegas.blogspot.com/.

Games Headline News

Vivendi Universal Games Announces Ice Age 2 Game

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, December 28, 2005 at 12:00am

Vivendi Universal Games announced that a videogame is in development based on 20th Century Fox's upcoming family film, ICE AGE 2: THE MELTDOWN.

The videogame will be available in stores spring 2006 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance and PC. It will sell for $19.99 on PC, $29.99 for Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance and $39.99 for consoles.

Show Headline News

Big Machine Titles X-Testers For The Learning Channel

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, December 28, 2005 at 12:00am

Big Machine Design (BMD) has produced a new main title opening sequence and show graphics package for the TV program X-TESTERS, which airs on The Learning Channel. For X-TESTERS, BMD produced a main title opening sequence combining graphics and live action. BMDs client for the program was Lee Toft, post supervisor at Mike Mathis Prods.

Brickyard Headline News

Brickyard VFX Expands Workload for Volkswagen Shorts

Brickyard VFX expanded its work for Volkswagen from visual effects to end-to-end creative direction with 14 short films to promo the 2006 Volkswagen (VW) Passat. VW and advertising agency Arnold Worldwide tapped Brickyard as one of a handful of production entities to conceive and produce the clever and artsy :15-second films, each of which focuses on one of the features of the new "beyond-loaded" Passat. The Volkswagen Passat Feature Films Project has been rolled out via www.vw.com and traditional broadcast media.

Animation Headline News

Jupiterimages Acquires Animation Factory

Jupitermedia Corp. announced that its Jupiterimages division has acquired the assets of Animation Factory Inc., which includes the MediaBuilder Network of websites, (www.animationfactory.com) and (www.mediabuilder.com), from VA Software Corp. for $9.35 million in cash and the assumption of certain liabilities.

Film Headline News

Toy Story Added to National Film Registry

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced his annual selection of 25 motion pictures to be added to the National Film Registry. This group of titles brings the total number of films placed on the Registry to 425. This year the only animated title to make the list was Pixars TOY STORY.

Animation Headline News

AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for December 27, 2005

This week in AWN's Forums, a member says he has no problems with Flash until Another thread wants to know what other members think of animators lack of animation knowledge. In line with the holidays, members are asking what holiday films are members favorites. Another thread is collecting what people got for Christmas. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!

Brand Headline News

Bill Burke New HIT Ent. Brand Management VP

Bill Burke joins HIT Ent. as vp, brand management, to oversee the brand development of HIT's premiere properties BARNEY and THE WIGGLES, as well as the portfolio of brands from The Jim Henson Co. that HIT acts as worldwide representative for, including FRAGGLE ROCK and ANIMAL JAM. Additionally, he will focus on brand management for new content development. Burke is based in the HIT's New York City office and reports to Jamie Cygielman, svp, consumer products.

Ratings Headline News

Naruto Marathon to Animate Cartoon Network's Toonami for New Years

Anime fans may want to celebrate this New Years watching a 17-episode marathon of NARUTO, on Cartoon Network's Toonami, starting Dec. 31, 2005, at 2:30 pm consecutive episodes of the popular Toonami anime series NARUTO. The eight-and-a-half-hour-marathon will conclude with the premiere of a never-before-seen episode at 10:30 pm.

NARUTO is an adaptation of the popular manga series, NARUTO, created by Masahi Kishimoto. Cartoon Network airs the anime series during Toonami, Cartoon Networks Saturday primetime action block.

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