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AWN Headline News

Film Headline News

Yankee Irving Signs All-Star Voice Roster

IDT Ent. announced that Rob Reiner, Whoopi Goldberg, Brian Dennehy, William H. Macy, Mandy Patinkin, Dana Reeve, Robert Wagner, Richard Kind, Raven-Symone and New York Yankees manager Joe Torre will head an all-star voice cast in its first CG-animated feature film, YANKEE IRVING. In addition, Oscar-nominated and Emmy Award-winning composer John Debney will create the films original score.

Final Headline News

Final Fantasy XI: The Vana'diel Collection for Windows Arrives

Square Enix Inc. announced that FINAL FANTASY XI: THE VANA'DIEL COLLECTION is now on sale. The special gold foil All-In-One packaging includes the RISE OF THE ZILART and CHAINS OF PROMATHIA expansion packs as well as TETRA MASTER, the wildly popular and addictive mini-game, on one DVD. FINAL FANTASY XI: THE VANA'DIEL COLLECTION will provide the easiest installation ever of the first cross-platform, cross-continent massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG).

Headline News

Carol Laumen To Oversee DIC Retail Initiatives

Marketing veteran Carol Laumen joins DIC Entertaiment Inc. as vp, retail development to serve as the companys retail expert and liaison between the licensees and retailers. Laumen will be responsible for building relationships with the retailers and developing support for DICs brand properties, including Trollz, Classic Trolls, Strawberry Shortcake and Strawberry Shortcake Baby.

Headline News

Lions Gate & RichCrest Animation Commit to Three-Picture Pact

Lions Gate Entertainment, in Toronto, and Crest Animation Studio's U.S.-based subsidiary, RichCrest Animation (RCA), have struck a co-production and co-financing deal to produce three animated feature films.

The first film under the new agreement will be the previously announced SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE. A second, currently untitled feature project is in development, and the third project is yet to be identified. Lions Gate will distribute the three films worldwide, except in India where Crest is headquartered.

Studios Headline News

Septagon Studios Unleashed

Septagon Studios will directly move toward the publishing market of comicbooks, graphic novels and soon expand into other formats. The objective of Septagon Studios is to add to the diversity of the comicbook market with a wide variety of titles in a wide range of different genres. Septagon Studios will not limit itself by targeting a specific audience.

Cartoon Headline News

Cartoon Network Launches Tickle U To Humor Preschoolers

Based upon studies that say humor will improve a childs life, Cartoon Network has launched a weekday morning franchise, Tickle U, featuring original and acquired television shows from around the world such as PEPPA PIG, GERALD MCBOING BOING AND YOKO! JAKAMOKO! TOTO! designed specifically for preschool children. Tickle U, which premiered Aug. 22, 2005, airs weekdays from 9-11:00 am, focuses on developing and nurturing a childs sense of humor and optimism as essential life skills.

Animated Headline News

Amelia Bedford to Manage BKN Brands in U.K.

Amelia Bedford joins BKN International A.G. as brand manager for the U.K. responsible for licensing in the U.K. across the range of BKN's brands, including LEGEND OF THE DRAGON, KONG - THE ANIMATED SERIES and KONG: KING OF ATLANTIS. She joins the New Media team and will help coordinate and implement marketing and promotional activity.

Bedford was senior brand manager at HIT Ent., working on renowned brands Angelina Ballerina and Barney. Prior to that she worked at Jetix Consumer Products as U.K. licensing manager.

Series Headline News

G7 Animation Roars Into Production on Biker Mice From Mars Series

Gang of Seven (G7) Animation embarks on its biggest assignment in the companys brief history, beginning pre-production on 26 new episodes of BIKER MICE FROM MARS. This marks the return of the hugely popular series from the early 90s.

The new series is a co-production of U.K.-based brand management company, Criterion, Licensing Ltd.; creator/exec producer Rick Ungars Brentwood Television Funnies, Inc.; and animation production facility, Philippines Animation Studio (PASI).

Nickelodeon Headline News

Nina Hahn to Head Int’l Development for Nickelodeon

Nina Hahn joins MTV Networks in the newly created position of vp, international development, Nickelodeon. Based in London, Hahn will develop relationships and partnerships for international kid-focused creative ideas and talent for development and placement on Nickelodeons channels around the world. She is also charged to ensure that Nickelodeons channels outside the U.S. are more closely connected to the production of key Nick series in the U.S.

Series Headline News

G4 Acquires Three Anime Series From ADV Films

G4 - Videogame TV has acquired anime series RAHXEPHON, CROMARTIE HIGH SCHOOL and COLORFUL from ADV Films. The futuristic action-packed series RAHXEPHON premieres first as part of G4's all-new late-night TV block, Barbed Wire Biscuit, on Sept, 2, 2005, at 12:00 am ET/9:00 pm PT.

Games Headline News

Turner Sets GameTap Subscription Rate & Free Two-Week Trial

Turner Broadcasting System will charge a $14.95 per month subscription rate for the fall debut of its GameTap broadband entertainment network and give subscribers a two-week trial period for unlimited access.

The first network of its kind, GameTap allows subscribers to access a huge vault of games, ranging from the early arcades to console and PC titles, using a broadband-connected PC, as well as original Turner programming.

Motion Headline News

Motion Analysis Offers Multi-Person, Realtime MoCap System

Motion Analysis Corp. recently delivered its multi-person realtime motion-capture system to XTrackrZ Inc. A 20- camera Eagle-4 Digital system was used for capturing six performers at 120 fps in realtime in the Los Angeles studio of XTrackrZ. Each performer was wearing 42 markers. The Eagle-4 cameras captured and Motion Analysis EVaRT software tracked the motion, solved and retargeted the data of all six performers in realtime.

Version Headline News

RE:Vision Effects Releases RE:Flex 3

RE:Vision offers RE:Flex 3, which brings intuitive morphing and warping directly to combustion 3.0 or later, After Effects 5.0 or later, Shake 3.01 or later and Discreet Systems (IFFFS). Superior results are achieved using RE:Vision Effects' proprietary and sophisticated technology. RE:Flex is especially easy to learn because it uses the host program's own drawing and masking tools (when available) to direct the morphing and warping, so there is no need to learn a whole new user interface.

Universal Headline News

Halo to Descend on Screen Summer 2007

Fox and Universal have finalized their deal with Microsoft to turn hit videogame HALO into a feature film for release summer 2007, according to VARIETY. As part of the deal, the studios will dole out $5 million against 10% of the gross to the house that Bill Gates built.

Universal will handle production and domestic distribution with Fox covering foreign distribution and will split revenues 50/50.

Game Headline News

Urbaniacs Flips for New Memory Game

Urbaniacs, the create-your-own superhero online community, has launched its newest game, FLIP IT. The classic memory game challenges players to match cards containing the faces, body parts and equipment of the Urbaniac heroes. Each round adds more cards with bigger chances to win more Urbos, which be used to purchase cool stuff for ones superhero.

Software Headline News

Vue 5 Easel To Ship in September

e-on software announced the September release of Vue 5 Easel, the new entry-level version of its award winning Vue product line. Vue 5 Easel will sell for $99.

Vue 5 Easel is specifically designed for digital artists and hobbyists looking for a simple introduction to 3D. With a rich and easy-to-use feature set, Vue 5 Easel will let newcomers to 3D create images and animations within minutes.

Headline News

Quiet Man Slam Dunks with Adidas and Foot Locker

Its a scramble for maximum hang time as visual effects and animation company Quiet Man recently completed CUBED, a :15 spot for Adidas and distributor Foot Locker. The commercial began airing Aug. 17.

We really achieved the look we wanted in this project, something sleek and sophisticated but still conveying that the shoes are available and accessible to everyone, said Amy Taylor, exec director of Quiet Man.

Headline News

A Virgin Beats Red Eye and Valiant

Another R-rated comedy found its way to the top of the box office chart in its debut Universals THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN grossed $21.4M for the weekend ended Aug. 21, 2005. DreamWorks RED EYE, the Wes Craven airplane thriller (with vfx by Digital Dream), bowed in second with $16.1M.

Movie Headline News

Disney Channel Airing The Proud Family Movie

The animated Disney Channel Original Movie, THE PROUD FAMILY MOVIE, a family comedy based on the critically acclaimed Disney Channel series of the same name, premiered Aug. 19, 2005, at 8:00 pm with ratings to make the channel proud. The movie rebroadcasts at 8:00 pm on Aug. 20, 21, 24 as well as September 1, 11 (with an additional run 1:00 pm) and 27.

Headline News

Spawn Gets The Devil of a Voice Cast

IDT Ent. and Todd McFarlane Prods. have announced the voices for the characters featured in the return of TODD MCFARLANES SPAWN: ANIMATION TV series, including Keith David returning as Spawn.

The ensemble cast includes:* Keith David (PITCH BLACK, THERES SOMETHING ABOUT MARY) as the voice of Spawn, the tortured soul on an eternal battle with evil, caught between heaven and hell.* Carl Weathers (ROCKY, PREDATOR) lends his voice talent as Captain Edwards, a long time police captain who tries going by the book despite rampant crime.

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