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AWN Headline News

Digital Headline News

Sony Focuses on Future of Entertainment at CES 2006

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES Booth # 14200), Sony will be focusing on four "pillars" or categories of entertainment to highlight its moves into the future of entertainment. The company will announce new products and strategies as it pertains to high definition, digital cinema, videogaming and e-entertainment, during the conference in Las Vegas, running Jan. 4-7, 2006.

Mobile Headline News

MFORMA Releases Call of Duty 2 Mobile Game

MFORMA announced that it has released Activision Inc's. CALL OF DUTY 2 to mobile users everywhere. A sequel to MFORMA's CALL OF DUTY mobile game of 2004, one of the most successful mobile games of all time, CALL OF DUTY 2 is the mobile version of Activision's critically-acclaimed CALL OF DUTY 2 game.

Animation Headline News

Indian Studio Boasts 12 Seconds of Animation Per Day

Bangalore, India-based Ittina Studios boasts that its employees are producing 12 seconds of animation a day, reports THE BUSINESS STANDARD. U.S.-based studios like Pixar and DreamWorks expect their animation artists to produce no more than 3-5 seconds per day.

Film Headline News

TCM Offers Chance to Win Ultimate Hayao Miyazaki DVD & Book Sweepstakes

In January 2006, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will honor one of Japan's most celebrated filmmakers, Oscar-winning animator Hayao Miyazaki. For this celebration, which coincides with the director's 65th birthday, TCM has created The Ultimate Hayao Miyazaki DVD & Book sweepstakes with partners Buena Vista Home Ent. and VIZ Media to provide anime fans with the chance to win the definitive collection of Miyazaki's work, including a variety of books, graphic novels and collection of DVDs, featuring Hayao Miyazaki's latest theatrical release, HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE.

Effects Headline News

VES Adopts New Logo

The Visual Effects Society (VES), which has grown to nearly 1,350 members in 16 countries, has adopted a new logo to update its look. "The goal was to create a dynamic and classic logo that shows the Visual Effects Society as continuously projecting new ideas out into the world, said exec director Eric Roth.

Music Headline News

Board 2046 on DVD

2046, Wong Kar Wais wistful sci-fi love story about trying to recapture lost memories (with stunning vfx from French-based Buf) has arrived on DVD (Sony Pictures Home Ent., $29.95). A fitting follow-up to IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE, theres more than meets the eye (neon lights, swirling smoke, CGI trains and dreamy close-ups) in this erotic, improvisational journey. Extras include breakdowns of vfx, music and numerology.

Bonus features also include:* Alternate ending* Deleted scenes: Black Spider and the Android visit Chow

Imax Headline News

Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet Dive Into Deep Sea 3-D

DEEP SEA 3-D, the new documentary from IMAX Corp. and Warner Bros. Pictures, will be co-narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winselt and will feature an original score from Danny Elfman (CORPSE BRIDE and CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY). This marks the first doc to boast the actors voices and the first original IMAX production to be scored by the award-winning composer.

Headline News

Ted Rae Hired as VFX Supervisor for Apocalypto

Ted Rae will serve as visual effects supervisor on Mel Gibsons APOCALYPTO, the mythic action-adventure set against the turbulent end times of the once great Mayan civilization, now shooting in Mexico and slated for a summer release by Disneys Touchstone Pictures.

Nickelodeon Headline News

Scannell Ankles MTV & Nick; Zarghami to Lead New MTVN Kids & Family Group

Herb Scannell has stepped down as vice chairman, MTV Networks, and president, Nickelodeon Networks to pursue other business opportunities, triggering a restructuring of the Nickelodeon Networks management structure.

Licensing Headline News

HIT Ent. Expands Global Licensing Crew

HIT Ent. Ltd. (HIT) London announced a raft of new agent appointments to represent its properties across the world. "This marks a major shift in gear for HIT as we reinvigorate our licensing business in all key markets," said Peter Byrne evp of International at HIT. "It's all part of a major refocus of the company and our aggressive expansion drive into international territories."

Headline News

Urbaniacs Blasts Off with Kickin’ New Games

Urbaniacs.com has launched two new Flash games ROOF RUCKUS and BALLIN.

In ROOF RUCKAS, players must control Blast-off Rocket Captain as he leaps from building to rooftop collecting special treasures, which aid him along his journey. Making things more difficult for the super duper hero is henchmen lurking on various rooftops just waiting to send him crashing to the ground below.

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.

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