HP announced the availability of a new entry-level workstation and desktop PC that feature the latest Intel technology, including the new dual-core Intel Pentium D processor and 945G chipset for greater performance and increased business productivity.
Digital-Tutors announced the worldwide availability of the MAYA ADVANCED: ULTIMATE FLUIDS training kit, the follow-up to the popular MAYA UNLIMITED: FLUID EFFECTS and latest release in a growing library of industry leading training resources for emerging digital artists. Using the combination of comprehensive project-driven training, Digital-Tutors is helping users to discover the difference and become their best in more than 3.5 hours of valuable training.
John Libbey Publishing will release in June a new book titled, YURI NORSTEIN AND TALE OF TALES: AN ANIMATOR'S JOURNEY, written by Clare Kitson. The book looks at how Norstein was able to make his famed TALE OF TALES under Soviet rule. The film fuses Norstein's memories of his past and hopes and fears for the future, his post-war childhood and remnants of the personal tragedies of war. The 168-page book will sell for £17.50. For more information, visit www.johnlibbey.com.
Film and game industry experts from Digital Domain, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Turner Studios and Weta Digital are scheduled to present Alias MasterClasses at SIGGRAPH, Aug. 1-5 in Los Angeles. May 31 is the early bird deadline to receive 20% off the cost of classes. Getting in early guarantees the opportunity to learn techniques that push the boundaries of creativity and improve production workflows.
Bauhaus Software Inc. announced the immediate availability of Boardomatic, a new set of digital storyboarding tools for the Mirage 2D animation and special effects system. Designed for 2D animators and storyboard artists accustomed to working on paper, Boardomatic allows artists to quickly and easily produce fully digital storyboards and animatics. Boardomatic is available to all current Mirage owners and users who downloaded the full-use Mirage demo version.
I, ROBOT and THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW (Fox Home Ent., $26.98) finally get two-disc collectors edition DVDs released on May 24, 2005, showing off their celebrated vfx (Digital Domain worked on both and Hydraulx, ILM, The Orphanage Custom Film Effects, Tweak Films and yU+Co contributed to TOMORROW). The Oscar-nominated I, ROBOT (titled ALL-ACCESS) benefits the most since its previous release was very bare bones. DAY AFTER TOMORROW now contains more docs and featurettes.
New I, ROBOT bonus features include:
POOHS HEFFALUMP MOVIE (Buena Vista Home Ent., $29.99), made by DisneyToon Studios and its former Tokyo animation unit, which has now regrouped independently as The Answer Studio, makes its way to DVD May 24, 2005. The irresistible movie introduces the charming mother and child Heffalumps to the Hundred Acre Wood and gives Roo the chance to shine when his pals are spooked and run for cover in this tale of overcoming Xenophobia. Voice cast includes Jim Cummings as Pooh, Paul Winchell as Tigger, John Fiedler as Piglet, Nikita Hopkins as Roo and Brenda Blethyn as Mama Heffalump.
London-based Framestore CFC created both the digital visual effects and the DI for THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN'S APOCALYPSE, the cult favorite comedy series that makes its way to the big screen June 3 in the U.K. Written by Jeremy Dyson, Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, and starring Gatiss, Pemberton and Shearsmith, THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN'S APOCALYPSE was produced by Greg Brenman and Ed Guiney, and directed by Steve Bendelack.
Last weeks E3 conference here in L.A. not only provided a plethora of exciting games on display, but also a chance to speak with industry insiders about the challenges ahead related to the next-generation consoles: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Nintendo Revolution. With PS3 and Xbox 360 in HD, you can be sure that the next versions of 3ds Max, Maya and MotionBuilder will play to their strengths with improved character animation, lighting, hair and cloth.
VIBE Magazine and POW! Ent. have announced an exclusive partnership to create an urban superhero. The relationship will be the first of its kind for VIBE, which is aiming to increase its brand beyond print while still leveraging the magazine.
DreamWorks Animation's MADAGASCAR THE GAME from Activision Inc. has hit stores in time for the May 27 release of MADAGASCAR. Based on the highly anticipated CG feature, MADAGASCAR THE GAME lets players discover their true animal instincts when an adventurous journey lands them on the remote island of Madagascar. Gamers must master each animal's individual survival skills in order to tackle obstacles and foes in scenarios from the movie and beyond.
JONA/TOMBERRY, the animated short directed by Rosto of the Netherlands, was awarded the Cannes Film Festivals Grand Prix Canal+ du Meilleur Court Métrage. The Award Ceremony of the Semaine International de la Critique / International Critics Week took place on May 20.
Avi Lerner's Millennium Films, Taurus Ent. and Emmett/Furla Films have announced they will remake of George A. Romero's DAY OF THE DEAD, reports VARIETY. Millennium will finance and distribute the film. Taurus Ent. held the rights to the original and Paul Mason and Jordan Rush brought the project to Emmett/Furla.
The 1985 third sequel in Romero's zombie series followed a group of scientists and military personnel holed up in an underground bunker.
Darryl's Hard Liquor and Porn Film Festival 2005Toronto, Ontario, CanadaOctober 7, 2005Deadline: August 15, 2005
The Hard Liquor and Porn Film Festival is an annual showcase for funny and creative short films about sex. The Festival began in 2000 as a party in the humble bachelor apartment of filmmaker Darryl Gold and continues to grow every year. Filmmakers, animators, actors, writers, comedians, musicians, artists and any other reprobates (gay or straight) are welcome to submit films. For more information, visit www.hardliquorandporn.com.
Taiwan International Children's TV & Film Festival (TICTFF) 2006Taiwan, Republic of ChinaJanuary 13-17, 2006August 20, 2005
THE AVIATOR, Martin Scorseses celebrated Howard Hughes biopic, lands on DVD in an impressive two-disc set on May 24, 2005 (Warner Home Video, $29.95).
SON OF THE MASK got its DVD release May 17, 2005 along with a remastered version of the manic Jim Carrey original from 1994 (New Line Home Ent., $27.95 and $19.97) with new bonus features. Jamie Kennedy stars in the sequel about an aspiring animator who dons the ancient mask and becomes an animated Tex Avery/Chuck Jones-inspired creation, along with his dog and infant son when they get a hold of the mask. Directed by Lawrence Guterman (CATS & DOGS), SON contains loads of CGI and assorted vfx by ILM, Digital Dimension, Tippett Studio and Keith Vanderlaans Captive Audience Prods.
Autodesk Inc. announced plans to support Sony Computer Ent. Inc.'s (SCEI) next-generation PlayStation 3 unveiled at E3 last week. Autodesk also announced intention to support 3ds Max title developers who may rely on the Collada? format to streamline the complexities of next-generation game title development.
DECODE Ent. has further expanded its presence by signing a five-series deal with Cartoon Network Latin America. The 65-hour package, which spans programming for all age ranges, includes primetime series BROMWELL HIGH (13x30 episodes); delightfully illustrative preschool series FRANNYS FEET (39x22 episodes); teen-skewed UNDERGRADS (13x22 episodes); and the second season of GIRL STUFF/BOY STUFF (39x30 episodes) alongside KING (52x22) for 6-11 years olds.
Alias revealed that its Maya software was the chief 3D animation technology and the only non-proprietary animation solution used to realize key 3D characters and scenes in the record-breaking STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH.
Working with Pedone & Partners of New York, Hornets directing duo JJ & Maithy have completed their first directing project for Hornet, a :30 spot for Sweet'N Low starring TVs most cool, collected cat, the Pink Panther. The spot began airing May 23, in anticipation of the Aug. 5 release of THE PINK PANTHER remake starring Steve Martin.
Registration for summer term 2005 at the Gnomon School, which runs from June 27 through Sept. 11, is in full swing. You can register online at www.gnomon3d.com/registernow.html, in person, via mail or by fax. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can also call (323) 466-6663 to make an appointment.
Gnomon has added five new courses that echo the advances and changes in the industry:
Geneon Ent. releases a host of new titles on May 24, 2005, including RUMIKO TAKAHASHI ANTHOLOGY V3 A TOUCH OF MAGIC, HANAUKYO MAID TEAM LA VERITE SAVING MARIEL (V.3), DAPHNE IN THE BRILLIANT BLUE VOLUME TWO REUNION" and STAR OCEAN EX VOLUME THREE MAGICAL MOONLIT FLOWERS.
The stylized action series from Genndy Tartakovsky (STAR WARS: CLONE WARS, DEXTERS LABORATORY) returns as Warner Home Video debuts SAMURAI JACK: SEASON TWO on DVD. This two-disc collectors set contains all 13 episodes (more than 4 hours) featuring the animated warrior, and will be available on May 24, 2005, for $29.98.
Animation as entertainment, education, employment and art was in the spotlight when the third Kalamazoo Animation Festival International (KAFI) was staged the weekend of May 13-15, 2005.
