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AWN Headline News

Headline News

Animator Huy Dang Joins Concrete Pictures

Animator/designer Huy Dang has joined Concrete Pictures, reporting directly to Andy Hann, vp of creative services. Dang will assist the companys creative directors and producers in making animation and design for broadcast work.

I have always wanted to be part a companys success story, Dang said. Concrete Pictures is not only an award-winning company, but a company that is enjoying rapid growth. I look forward to a long career with them.

Story Headline News

Toy Story Returns in 10th Anniversary DVD

Pixars landmark TOY STORY, the one that started it all, as they say, returns in a new and improved two-disc set in honor of its 10th anniversary (Buena Vista Home Ent. $29.99), Sept. 6, 2005.

For those who already own THE ULTIMATE TOY BOX, rest assured: theres still plenty of new material available, in addition to improved picture (increased bitrate of 7.5mbps) and audio (including the first DTS track for a Pixar DVD along with Dolby Digital 5.1 EX) both remixed by master sound designer Gary Rydstrom, now a Pixar staffer.

Nickelodeon Headline News

Nickelodeon Europe Takes Another Dose of Vitaminix

Nickelodeon Europe has purchased the VITAMINIX series from Barcelona-based Icon Animation for the broadcast on Nickelodeon channels airing in Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Holland and Flemish-speaking Belgium after a successful run on Nickelodeon channels in Latin America and Spain, of the 2D Flash animated shorts (104x2), which aim to teach children about the nutritional value of food, minerals and vitamins.

Home Headline News

The Incredibles Soar at VSDA Awards

THE INCREDIBLES was the big winner at 2005 Home Entertainment Awards, garnering three awards the 2005 Home Entertainment Awards, presented by the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) in recognition of outstanding achievement in home video. The awards were announced at VSDA's Home Entertainment 2005, which took place at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. VSDA's Home Entertainment 2005 is the annual convention of the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA).

Production Headline News

TELETOON to Develop 7 New Series with Canadian Producers

Animation channel TELETOON has struck seven new development agreements with Canadian producers for a diverse slate of titles that reflect the network's core programming blocks, including its kids and after-school lineup, as well as its successful Teen/Young Adult option, The Detour on TELETOON.

Headline News

Midway Scores Rights to EARTH 2160

Midway Games Inc. a leading interactive entertainment publisher and developer, has secured the U.S. and Canadian publishing rights for EARTH 2160, the highly-anticipated sequel in the top-selling and critically-acclaimed EARTH series of realtime strategy (RTS) titles. The game will publish in the U.S. and Canada in November 2005 for the PC.

Kids Headline News

CCTV & Nickelodeon To Stage The First Kids' Choice Honors in China

China's national broadcaster, CCTV and Nickelodeon are co-producing the first kids' show in China, THE CCTV-NICKELODEON KIDS' CHOICE HONORS. The event will be held at Tian Qiao Theatre in Beijing on Sept. 10, 2005, at 7:30 pm and will be televised on CCTV14 on September 23 at 8:00 pm and, additionally, on CCTV1 and CCTV4, reaching 300 million households throughout China.

Headline News

Transporter 2 Rules Labor Day Box Office

The disappointing summer ended with a bang, as Foxs action thriller, TRANSPORTER 2 (with vfx by big red pixel), broke the Labor Day opening record with $20.1M for the holiday period ended Sept. 5, 2005. Overall, the Labor Day box office topped last years, as the summer closed 9% lower than the record-breaking 94 season.

Marvel Headline News

Marvel Launches Independently Financed Film Slate

Marvel Enterprises Inc. announced the completion of a $525 million non-recourse debt facility, which will finance Marvel's production of up to 10 films based on characters from its stable of comicbook characters, including Captain America, Nick Fury and The Avengers. Paramount will distribute the film slate, with the first theatrical release expected for summer 2008. This arrangement gives Marvel complete creative control, the ability to build a film library and greater profit potential than it has received from films licensed to other studios.

Design Headline News

Heavenspot Animates Interactive Site for Tenacious D Feature

Heavenspot, a Hollywood-based full service international design agency, recently completed the interactive website launch for TENACIOUS D IN THE PICK OF DESTINY, a feature film that will be released by New Line Cinema in early 2006 starring Jack Black and Kyle Gass.

The interactive site package includes Flash animation, an original interactive interface, a progressive design aesthetic and high quality Flash video.

Film Headline News

Female Filmmakers Wanted for Reel Women Int’l Film Fest

Reel Women International Film Festival 2005Hollywood, California, USAMarch 23-26, 2006Deadline: December 1, 2005

Reel Women International Film Festival celebrates the role of women in cinema behind and in front of the lens. Categories include features, documentaries, shorts, animation and students. All film entries must be directed by a woman, or written and produced by women. Regular deadline is Oct. 14 and the late deadline is Dec. 1. For more information, visit www.rwiff.com.

Film Headline News

Silver Lake Film Fest Beckons!

Silver Lake Film Festival 2006Silver Lake, California, USAMarch 23-31, 2006Deadline: December 15, 2005

The organizers of Silver Lake Film Festival, one of Los Angeles' leading showcase for independent film, have announced its sixth annual edition with the ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood once again serving as the primary venue.

In 2004 Silver Lake Film Festival screened more than 285 feature, documentary and short films.

Headline News

Diego Goes In September on Nick Jr.

Nick Jr. will spin off Dora the Explorers wildly popular cousin Diego to his own action-adventure series in September. The animated preschool show GO, DIEGO, GO! will debut in primetime on Nickelodeon on Sept. 6, at 8:00 pm, and will then join Nick Jr.s regular weekday lineup the next morning at 11:00 am. Eight-year-old Diego, a bilingual animal rescuer and nature expert who has the ability to talk to animals, takes preschoolers on interactive, high-stakes journeys inspired by the rich environments of Latin America and by the animals that make their homes in those habitats.

Headline News

Playmates Master Toy Licensee For Strawberry Shortcake Franchise

Joining a lineup of more than 350 licensees worldwide, Playmates Toys announced that it will launch an extensive array of brand new STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE dolls and toys in 2006 as the brands master toy licensee. First introduced in 1980 by the brands owner/creator, American Greetings Corp., STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE became one of the biggest licensing programs of its time, generating more than $1 billion in retail sales between 1980 and 1985.

Headline News

EA Realigns Management Team

Electronic Arts (EA) announced a series of executive changes as the company prepares for the next generation of growth. Effective immediately, Paul Lee will serve as president of EA Worldwide Studios, replacing Don Mattrick, who has chosen to seek other opportunities after 23 years of leadership at EA and Distinctive Software (acquired by EA in 1991). David Gardner will now serve as coo of EA Worldwide Studios.

Leading EA's publishing organization will be Gerhard Florin, evp of International Publishing, and Frank Gibeau, evp of North American Publishing.

Special Headline News

Special Edition Titanic DVDs Set Sail Oct. 25

The ultimate TITANIC DVDs will be released on Oct. 25 in a special edition, a special collectors edition and a deluxe collectors edition, it was announced by Paramount Home Ent., Twentieth Century Fox Home Ent. International and James Camerons Lightstorm Ent. The three-disc special collectors edition ($29.99) will be available in the U.S., Japan and Korea, while the two-disc special edition will be available in Europe, Australia and Latin America.

Turbo Headline News

Turbo Squid Weathers Hurricane Katrina

We at AWN were relieved to hear at last from Beau Perschall, vp of publishing for Turbo Squid, who reports the New Orleans-based 3D software company has weathered hurricane Katrina. He shared that the company is slowly reconnecting its many tentacles while the site has remained alive through the ordeal.

He was able to evacuate his family to stay with friends in North Carolina and is hearing that his house and others are intact for the most part.

Animated Headline News

Palm Springs Festival of Shorts Rolls Out The Animation

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, September 1, 2005 at 12:00am

Numerous animated flicks will be on the big screen at this year's Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films, to be held from September 20 to 26 at the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs.

The fest has announced its roster of 324 films, selected from more than a record-setting 2,400 worldwide entries, up 10% from last year. It will showcase 86 world premieres, 27 North American premieres and 15 U.S. premieres. Some of the animated films:

6:30 pm, Tuesday, Sept. 20 Opening Night: International Award Winners

Film Headline News

Sawney Beane Eats Up Competition at Edinburgh Fest

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, September 1, 2005 at 12:00am

THE TRUE STORY OF SAWNEY BEANE about a cave-dwelling Scottish cannibal family won the McLaren Award for New British Animation at the 59th Edinburgh International Film Festival. The six-minute film written and directed by Elizabeth Hobbs and co-produced by Katja Anderson for Red Kite Animations and Michael Fukashima for the National Film Board of Canada in association with Scottish Screen.

Disney Headline News

Steve Bardwil New Legal Affairs EVP for Walt Disney Studios

The Walt Disney Studios has appointed Steve Bardwil to the newly created position of evp of legal affairs, responsible for overseeing all legal affairs for the various entertainment business units studio wide including Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, Miramax Films, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Walt Disney Feature Animation, DisneyToon Studios and Buena Vista Theatrical Group and its publishing units.

Movie Headline News

SCI FI’s Highest Rated Original Movie Pterodactyl Encores

SCI FI's wildly successful original movie franchise soared to its best-ever household ratings (2.6 HH) with PTERODACTYL, which was first broadcast Aug. 27, 2005. This film produced exclusively for and by SCI FI Channel will air again tonight, Sept. 1 at 9:00 pm.

Online Headline News

Li Ka-shing Invests in Online Game Animation

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, September 1, 2005 at 12:00am

Li Ka-shing, one of the worlds richest men, will invest more than RMB 2 billion to create a company for online games animation, reports CHINA KNOWLEDGE. Experts believe that the main investors of the development project will be Li Ka-shings Cheung Kong Holdings, and Hutchison Whampoa (60% stake) as well as some local enterprises in Guangzhou (40% stake). The facility will be located near the Guangzhou International Toy and Gift Centre.

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