AWN Headline News

This week in AWN's Forums, an African animator working in India asks for advice on how he should go about returning to his native country to set up a studio there. In the blogging-verse, some are upset with Jib Jab's recent "sell-out" to Budweiser. What do you think? Another member asks how does one get into the direct-to-video market? Members are talking to a new alternative to Flash. A member wants to know what to wear to a job interview. Others are talking about LITTLE BIRDY, MADAGASCAR and REVENGE OF THE SITH. Additionally, more members are posting their work for others to check out.

Cookie Jar Education has acquired the Kingsley and Fiesta lines of ESL (English as a second language) and SSL (Spanish as a second language) books and education materials from San Diego, California-based Kingsley Publishing, the publisher responsible for the development of the properties.

Canada's YTV will be holding a FAIRLY ODDPARENTS marathon and superhero themed programming block during June.

YTV will air four back-to-back episodes of THE FAIRLY ODDPARENTS to honor the beginning of summer vacation, on Thursday, June 23, beginning at 4:00 pm.

Beginning Saturday, June 4, YTV will kick off its month long superhero programming. On June 12, HOLLYWOODS 10 BEST SUPERHEROES will countdown the best movie superheroes in history at 7:00 p.m.

Moondance 2005 came to a close on May 15 and handed out its awards. Pjotr Sapegin's acclaimed THROUGH MY THICK GLASSES was awarded the Moondance Columbine Award, which promotes and reflect non-violent conflict resolution, alternatives to violence, or shows why a violent resolution to conflict is counter-productive and inhumane. Being recognized alongside Sapegin for their work on the project were Marcel Jean and David Reiss-Anderson.

With principal photography set to begin Aug. 2, X-MEN 3 has now lost its director for the second time, reports the trades. Replacing Bryan Singer, director of the first two X-MEN films who left to helm SUPERMAN RETURNS, LAYER CAKE director Matthew Vaughn is now stepping down, citing personal reasons. The director had hoped to commute from his home in London to the shoot in Vancouver, but when that seemed impossible he decided that leaving the film was a better choice than uprooting his family.

Exodus Film Group announced the addition of two CG-animated features to their film slate THE HERO OF COLOR CITY and AMARILLO ARMADILLO. These two films are a direct response to overwhelming industry and investor interest in Exodus CG-Animated film IGOR, which is currently in production.