NBC Universal Renews Universal Studios President/CEO Ron Meyer
Universal Studios president/ceo Ron Meyer has signed a new five-year contract and will continue to lead the studios motion picture, parks & resorts and studio operations.
AWN Headline News
THQ Wants to Destroy All Humans! on the Big Screen
THQ Inc. announced that it has engaged United Talent Agency (UTA), a leading Hollywood talent and literary agency, to expand the brand of THQ's recently-released, top-selling DESTROY ALL HUMANS! videogame title. UTA aims to guide the property through its development into major motion picture and television projects, overseeing activities related to development, financing, production and distribution. This is the first time THQ has secured agency representation for one of its own original properties.
Amended Class Action Suit Filed Against DreamWorks Animation
The law firm of Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman LLP announces that an amended class action lawsuit was filed on July 21, 2005, on behalf of purchasers of the securities of DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. that extends the Class Period. The previous Class Period was from October 28, 2004, to May 10, 2005. The new Class Period is from October 28, 2004, to July 11, 2005.
Disney Nabs Gibson’s Apocalypto
Disney has won a bidding war for the domestic distribution rights to Mel Gibsons next directorial effort, APOCALYPTO, reports VARIETY. Gibsons Icon will handle international distribution. THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST director also wrote the script for the film, which will start production in Mexico in October for a summer 2006 release. Icon partner Bruce Davey will produce alongside Gibson.
In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America
Limelight Networks Launches Flash Video Streaming Solution
Limelight Networks announced the immediate availability of Flash video streaming for its industry-leading Content Delivery Network.
Sprite Animation to Premiere Journey Short at SIGGRAPH 2005
Sprite Animation Studios will premiere the original CG-animated short film, JOURNEY TO THE WEST, at the 2005 SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festivals Animation Theater. JOURNEY TO THE WEST is directed by Moto Sakakibara and produced by Junichi Yanagihara and Kyoko Aihara. With its beautiful use of color and funky pop images, JOURNEY TO THE WEST is a vivid demonstration of Sprite Animation Studios imaginative creative abilities.
Zack Petroc to Teach Digital Human Sculpting at Gnomon Workshop
Renowned digital modeler Zack Petroc (SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW) will teach a five-week course in Digital Sculpting of the Human Form at Gnomon Workshop. This course will run on Mondays from 7:00 to 10:00 pm, beginning Aug. 8 and running through Sept. 5. Those interested can register online, in person, via fax or postal service. For more information call 323/466-6663.
Autodesk Releases New Versions of VFX, Editing & Digital Color Grading Systems
Autodesk Inc. released new versions of its visual effects, editing/finishing and digital color grading systems. Used to create high-value feature film and television content, Autodesk's systems have been used on such major projects as CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, FANTASTIC FOUR, SPIDER-MAN 2, THE SOPRANOS and the CSI franchise.
In Anime, Technology, Visual Effects, Anime, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Special Events: SIGGRAPH | Geographic Region: All
Korea's Toon Biz Growing
Korea's animation industry is seeing increased growth as it moves from a subcontractor to a source of original productions, reports ARIRANG NEWS. For years, Korean producers had a hard time even garnering an audience in their own country, always being overshadowed by products from Walt Disney and Studio Ghibli.
Star-Studded Voice Talent Announced for New Marc Ecko Game
Atari Inc. and Marc Ecko announced an star-studded lineup of Hollywood talent providing voices for the characters featured in the videogame, MARC ECKO'S GETTING UP: CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Rosario Dawson, Brittany Murphy, George Hamilton, Giovanni Ribisi, Adam West, Andy Dick, Charlie Murphy, The RZA and Michael "M.C. Serch" Berrin will all add their voices to the first authentic videogame based on urban culture and graffiti art. Hip-hop artist Talib Kweli who will voice Trane the game's lead character was announced earlier this year.
Ant Bully Doesn’t Shrink on IMAX 3D
IMAX Corp., in association with Warner Bros. Pictures, Playtone Prods., its principals Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman and John A. Davis of DNA Prods., announced that THE ANT BULLY will be released simultaneously in IMAX 3D and conventional 2D format on Aug. 4, 2006. The film will be digitally converted into IMAX 3D and feature proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The picture marks Playtone's third IMAX film project and Warner Bros. Pictures 10th film commitment to IMAX. Warner Bros. Pictures will be the exclusive distributor of THE ANT BULLY to IMAX theaters worldwide.
FableVision Acquires GET A CLUE, Releases ESSAY EXPRESS
Children's digital media and publishing company FableVision Inc. extends its educational products offerings with the acquisition of the award-winning GET A CLUE software program from the Core Learning Group Llc as well as the release of its new ESSAY EXPRESS software product.
Plympton Sows Fan and the Flower at Festivals
Bill Plympton 's new short film, THE FAN AND THE FLOWER, is now appearing in film festivals around the world. The film is about an ill-fated and unconsummated romance between an electric ceiling fan and a flower, with a magical fairytale ending, by the prize-winning indie auteur, Plympton. Based on a story by Dan O'Shannon, THE FAN AND THE FLOWER is the narrated by Paul Giamatti (SIDEWAYS, AMERICAN SPLENDOR).
Now showing at Anima Mundi in Brazil, the film was recently showcased at the Comic-Con International Film Festival in San Diego.
Moore Marked For Omen 666
John Moore (BEHIND ENEMY LINES, FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX remake) has been fired by 20th Century Fox to direct a remake of the 1976 horror classic THE OMEN titled, THE OMEN 666, reports VARIETY. Writer Dan McDermott is contemporizing the tale of the birth of the Antichrist to an unsuspecting family. Fox president Hutch Parker and Peter Kang will shepherd the project, which is set to start filming in October.
Cartoon Network Downloads Technology & Engineering Emmy Nom
Cartoon Network is up for its first ever Advanced Media Technology & Engineering Emmy for its work on Codename: Kids Next Door Operation: B.E.S.T. in the 57th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards which will be presented Sept. 29, 2005, at the Bristol-Meyers Squibb Headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey.
This is the third year The National Television Academy has honored the work being done in Interactive Television, New Media and related programming and technology.
Sony’s In-Game Auctions Launch
Station Exchange, Sony Online Ent.s official site for secure in-game player auctions, has officially launched. Station Exchange is going live for EVERQUEST II on two all-new servers (The Bazaar and Shadowhaven). EQII players will be given the option to have their characters moved for free over to the new servers or they can start up brand-new characters there. Players who do not wish to participate in Station Exchange can continue playing on their current servers.
This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for July 18, 2005
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
First Annual Science Fiction Short Film Festival Launched
The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (SFM) in partnership with the Seattle International Film Festival Group (SIFF), announced the launch of the first-annual Science Fiction Short Film Festival, to promote and encourage awareness, appreciation and understanding of the art of science fiction cinema.
AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for July 18, 2005
This week in AWN's Forums, a member asks Flash so whats so wrong with it? Another member wants to find a good drawing tablet. Theres a thread animation training for preschool kids. A new member introduces themselves to the forums. Another thanks the members for great feedback. Others continue to post their work for review. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!
IMAF Looks For Best In Manga & Anime Talent!
Animators around the world are invited to get started on their entries for IMAFs competition to identify the best in Manga and Anime talent. You have until September 30, 2005 to submit your work for a chance to win a share of the $75,000 prize fund which will be split amongst new, original and talented animators, both professional and amateur.
Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:Best Character DesignBest StoryboardBest Short Animation
EcoArts Film Fest Kicks Off Its First Year
EcoArts Film Festival 2005Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana IslandsJuly 29-31, 2005Deadline: July 22, 2005
Miami Int’l Short Film Fest Wants Your Flicks
Miami International Short Film Festival 2005Miami, Florida, USAOctober 24-29, 2005Deadline: September 30, 2005
Miami International Short Film Festivals goal is to bring films to an atmosphere where people can experience cultures from around the world. The festival, dedicated to promote the short film genre, showcases films that run from one to 20 minutes long. Awards are presented in a variety of categories, such as narrative, documentary, experimental, animation and best local Miami production.
SGM Publishing Prepares To Launch Tutenstein Magazine
PorchLight Ent.s animated series Tutenstein will turn new pages in publishing history as the series about the kid pharaoh of yore catapulted into the present day finds new life as a new childrens magazine under the same name from Turkeys SGM Publishing. The monthly 40-page Tutenstein branded publication will be issued this September.
SIGGRAPH 2005 Hosts Full-Dome Animation Theater
The SIGGRAPH 2005 Computer Animation Festival will feature full-dome video projection, a rapidly growing medium of immersive display, at the 32nd International Conference on Computer Graphics & Interactive Techniques being held July 31 to Aug 4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The worlds best full-dome animations from DomeFest 2005 are being shown at SIGGRAPH 2005. The animations produced by students, institution, and full-dome professionals are screened daily on a 9-meter-diameter digital dome assembled specially for SIGGRAPH 2005.
In Event, Event | Headline News | Special Events: SIGGRAPH | Geographic Region: All, Europe, North America
Digital Musings From the Editor:
We had a great time at Comic-Con in San Diego last weekend. In terms of movie sneak peeks, the highlight was certainly Bryan Singers SUPERMAN RETURNS presentation, including the marvelous reel showing off several dramatic moments and the filmic retro look (REBECCA in color, as Singer put it), courtesy of the new Genesis digital camera from Panavision. A close second was the climactic KING KONG T-Rex fight sequence, comprised mostly of animatics but exciting and promising, to be sure.
