AWN Headline News

Creature Comforts Series Bows on DVD

Aardman Animations other great franchise, CREATURE COMFORTS, makes its way to DVD Sept. 27, 2005, by way of THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON (Sony Pictures Home Ent., $19.94). Spawned by the 1990 Oscar-winning stop-motion short, Nick Park continued his ingenious mockumentary format with 13 TV episodes in 2003. New to DVD, the COMPLETE FIRST SEASON expands the animals witty and philosophical perspectives beyond the local zoo (culled from interviews with ordinary British folk). Co-directed by Richard Goleszowski.

Bonus features include:

In Home Entertainment, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

9th Annual Hollywood Film Festival to Honor Miyazaki and Muren

The 9th Annual Hollywood Film Festival will honor Oscar-winning director Hayao Miyazaki with the "Hollywood Animation Award" and ILMs Oscar-winning senior visual effects supervisor Dennis Muren with the "Hollywood Visual Effects of the Year Award" at the awards gala Oct. 24, 2005, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Oscar-winning production designer Grant Major (KING KONG and THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) will also be honored with the Hollywood Production Design of the Year Award.

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Kids Headline News

PBS KIDS Sprout Launches New 24x7 PreSchool Network

PBS KIDS Sprout launched a new 24/7 preschool network on digital cable and satellite with more than 16 million committed subscribers dedicated to offering little ones safe, fun, quality content as well as a new website to give viewers online access and activities.

The PBS KIDS Sprout lineup of shows includes: SESAME STREET, BOB THE BUILDER, BARNEY & FRIENDS, THOMAS & FRIENDS, ANGELINA BALLERINA, SAGWA: THE CHINESE SIAMESE CAT, CAILLOU, THE BERENSTAIN BEARS, JAY JAY THE JET PLANE, TELETUBBIES, DRAGON TALES, PINGU, NODDY and more.

In Business, Business | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

TV-Loonland Starts Up Loonland Pictures

TV-Loonland has launched Loonland Pictures to market in-house and third-party productions. Loonland Pictures will be marketing the new TV-Loonland feature film, HEIDI, as its first production.

Loonland Pictures was able to sign on 20th Century Fox und NFP marketing* as marketing and distribution partners for the films Dec. 22, 2005 release.

In Business, Business | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Headline News

Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd Gig 2nd Season Now on DVD

Bandai Ent. and Manga Ent. have launched GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX 2ND GIG. Volume One of the second season of this smash hit Japanese animated television series was released in both a Standard Edition DVD as well as Special Edition DVD featuring DTS audio and a CD soundtrack on Sept. 27, 2005.

In Home Entertainment, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe, North America

Disney Headline News

Gabor Csupo To Direct Live-Action Terabithia

NARNIA partners Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media will reteam to produce the film adaptation of Katherine Paterson's Newberry Medal-winning children's novel, BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA, reports VARIETY. Gabor Csupo, co-founder of Klasky Csupo, will make his live-action directing debut on the film. Jeff Stockwell is adapting the script. Disney will be co-financier and U.S. distributor with Walden retaining international rights.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Australia

Dreamworks Headline News

DreamWorks & Kellogg Gobble Up Promotional Pact

DreamWorks Animation and Kellogg Co. have sealed a multi-year promotional agreement, reports VARIETY. Starting in 2006, Kellogg will have exclusive worldwide rights to DreamWorks film and home video properties for cereals, toaster pastries, cereal bars and fruit-flavored snacks, and exclusive U.S. rights for pancakes, waffles, cookies and crackers. Kellogg will market in more than 180 countries the DreamWorks-themed products on television, online and in stores. This marks the first deal between the companies. The agreement gives Kellogg exclusivity to DreamWorks, but not visa versa.

In Licensing, Licensing | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Visual Headline News

eDIT 8 Highlights DI & Editing

As part of the The Visual Effects Societys events for eDIT 8, the Filmmakers Festival, taking place in Frankfurt, Germany, from Oct. 911, 2005, will highlight digital intermediate (DI) and digital editing.

In Event, Visual Effects, Event, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Headline News

Robots Shines on DVD

ROBOTS, Foxs latest 3D-animated feature from Blue Sky Studios and director Chris Wedge and production designer/producer William Joyce makes its way to DVD (Fox Home Ent., $29.98) on Sept. 27, 2005. Whether or not the comedy or emotions connect with you, ROBOTS is pure CG eye candy and tailor made for 3D animation. The DVD transfer, therefore, is quite stunning and shows off the design quite well.

In Home Entertainment, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Australia Highlight At Seoul Festival

As part of the official program of the Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival, the Australian Embassy will support an Australian animation showcase with a series of internationally recognized animated shorts from Australia. Films include Bruce Petty's LEISURE (Academy Award winner for best animated short in 1976), Adam Elliot's HARVIE KRUMPET (Academy Award winner for best animated short 2004) and Park Sejong's BIRTHDAY BOY (Oscar nomination for best animation short 2005). In addition to the screenings, Australian animation experts will host discussions during the event.

In Event, Event | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Australia

Film Headline News

Milch & The District! Win Ottawa

The 2005 Ottawa International Animation Festival announced the winners of the official competition during its closing ceremonies held this evening at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Following the award presentations, attendees enjoyed the Best of the Festival film screening that showcased the award winning films.

MERCURY FILMWORKS GRAND PRIZE FOR ANIMATED FEATURE THE DISTRICT! (NYOCKER!)/ Aron Gauder/ Hungary"for its visual innovation, energetic style, and fearless satire of contemporary culture and politics."

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe, North America

Animation Headline News

This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for September 26, 2005

Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.

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Animation Headline News

AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for September 26, 2005

This week in AWN's Forums, a member needs some tips for timing storyboards.

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Film Headline News

Deadline is October 3 for Short Film Oscars

Monday, Oct. 3, 2005, is the deadline for makers of eligible live-action and animated short films, as well as for countries submitting films in the Foreign Language Film Award category, to submit their entry forms and supporting materials to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for 78th Academy Awards consideration.

In Call for Entries, Call for Entries | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Software Headline News

SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.5.0 Now Available

Avid Technology Inc. announced the worldwide availability of SOFTIMAGE|XSI version 5.0, the latest edition of the companys flagship 3D animation software. Unveiled at the SIGGRAPH tradeshow in August, XSI v.5.0 software includes a wide range of powerful new features, including non-destructive character tools and a comprehensive set of migration tools for Maya users, all of which enable artists to meet todays demanding production deadlines while future-proofing their existing pipelines.

In Technology, Visual Effects, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Special Events: SIGGRAPH | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

BOXX Upgrades 7000 Series Workstations

BOXX Technologies plans to add a new level of performance to its 7000 series 3DBOXX workstations and RenderBOXX render nodes by offering the latest Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors Model 880 and Model 280.

Customers who choose 7000 Series systems from BOXX based on Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors continue to see increases in productivity resulting from AMDs Direct Connect Architecture, which directly connects the CPU, memory and I/O resources.

In Technology, Visual Effects, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Digital Headline News

Iridas and Rising Sun Research to Present SpeedGrade Seminars

Iridas, an industry leader in non-destructive color grading technologies, and Rising Sun Research, a pioneer in calibration tools for digital film, will present the SpeedGrade Seminars on Nov. 5, 2005, at the new DALSA Digital Cinema facility: 6160 Variel Ave., Woodland Hills, California. The cost is $25 per session, which includes a catered lunch and refreshments during the day. For more information, or to register, call 866-825-7999, or visit www.Iridas.com

In Event, Visual Effects, Event, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Australia, North America

Headline News

IntegrityWare Releases Power NURBS

nPower Software, a division of IntegrityWare Inc., released Power NURBS 1.0. nPower Software, a division of IntegrityWare Inc, released Power NURBS 1.0. Power NURBS is a hybrid modeling system, based on IntegrityWares SOLIDS ++ Kernel, that brings the highest orders of surfacing, solids modeling, analysis and tessellation technologies to users of the widely popular Autodesk 3ds Max and Viz 3D visualization solutions.

In Technology, Visual Effects, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Digital-Tutors Announces First XSI 5 Training Kits

Digital-Tutors announced the availability of the highly anticipated FUNDAMENTALS OF SOFT AND RIGID BODIES IN XSI and FUNDAMENTALS OF MENTAL RAY IN XSI training kits, the newest releases in a growing library and first release of training material for XSI v.5.0. A free trial of SOFTIMAGE|XSI V.5.0 FOUNDATION is included with both, FUNDAMENTALS OF SOFT AND RIGID BODIES IN XSI and FUNDAMENTALS OF MENTAL RAY IN XSI training kits providing immediate access to explore the software and expand the users skills.

In Anime, Education and Training, Anime, Education and Training | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Getting to Know Jack

jack is the new kid on the block of visual effects companies and is quickly making a statement. Having officially launched in Venice, California, feature film and commercial production companies now have a new creative partner for high-end visual effects, finishing and previs.

In Business, Visual Effects, Business, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Flightplan Takes Off; Corpse Bride Rises Higher

With a takeoff of $24.6M, Buena Vistas FLIGHTPLAN, the Jodi Foster airplane thriller (with vfx from Lola Visual Effects and Peerless Camera Co.), withstood TIM BURTONS CORPSE BRIDE for the weekend ended Sept. 25, 2005. However, Warner Bros. should be pleased with the $19.1M tallied by the stop-motion feature as it goes wide throughout North America. CORPSE BRIDE (with vfx by MPC) now has $19.65M. Coming in third place with $9.6M was DreamWorks romantic fantasy, JUST LIKE HEAVEN (with vfx by Big Red Pixel), which now totals $29.8M.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Animation Headline News

Nicktoons Now Nicktoons Network With New Logo, Look, Packaging & Website

Nicktoons, Nickelodeons 24-hour animation network, has renamed and rebranded itself to become Nicktoons Network on Sept. 23, 2005. The network, which became ad-supported I August, will continue to showcase a variety of animation all day and night. Targeting kids 6-14, Nicktoons Network features programming that is 75% exclusive to the channel. In addition to a new name and logo, Nicktoons Network sports a fresh look with new packaging both on-air and on the networks new website, www.NicktoonsNetwork.com.

In Anime, Business, Anime, Business | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Animation Headline News

Maya Academy Hosts Animation Career Seminar

Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics, a leading animation training institute in India and part of the internationally acclaimed Maya Entertainment Ltd., hosted a seminar on Career Opportunities in the Animation Industry at the Music Academy in Chennai recently, reports CHENNAI ONLINE.

In Education and Training, Education and Training | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Cartoon Headline News

JoJo in the Stars Wins 2005 Cartoon D'Or

The 2005 Cartoon d'Or has been awarded to Marc CRASTE of the U.K. for his short, JOJO IN THE STARS.

The Cartoon d'Or winner receives 15,000 euros from MEDIA as a pre-production aid to begin a more ambitious project like a feature film or a TV special. The prize was awarded on Sept. 24, 2005, at the closing night of the 16th Cartoon Forum held in Kolding, Denmark.

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Film Headline News

Disney Highlights Upcoming Animated Slate

With DreamWorks Animation recently announcing its slate of upcoming films, Walt Disney Studios chairman Richard Cook announced Disneys forthcoming films at the Walt Disney Studios Showcase, which offered previews of the studio's slate through 2008 and featured cameo appearances by Johnny Depp, Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster and Elton John, reports THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The daylong event was held at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland for exhibitors, retailers, merchandisers and other business partners.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All