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.
Platinum Dunes has hired Jonathan Liebesman (DARKNESS FALLS) to helm the untitled prequel to the TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE remake, according to HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Platinum Dunes' Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller are producing the film for New Line Cinema, who will have Toby Emmerich, Mark Ordesky and Guy Stodel shepherding. Sheldon Turner wrote the first version of the script with David Schow providing a rewrite. The film will probably start filming in late summer in Austin, Texas.
Thurl Ravenscroft, who provided the rumbling "They're Grrrrreeeat!" for Kellogg's Tony the Tiger ads and voiced many Disney characters, has died of prostate cancer, reports CNN. He was 91.
"I'm the only man in the world that has made a career with one word: Grrrrreeeat!" Ravenscroft told the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER in 1996. "When Kellogg's brought up the idea of the tiger, they sent me a caricature of Tony to see if I could create something for them. After messing around for some time I came up with the 'Grrrrreeeat!' roar, and that's how it's been since then."
Howard Morris, best known for roles on YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS and as poetry-spouting Ernest T. Bass on THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, died on May 22, 2005, reports CNN. He was 85.
For his animation career, the comedian was under contract in the 1960s with Hanna-Barbara Prods. and ended up providing voices for such shows as THE JETSONS, THE FLINTSTONES, ATOM ANT, THE ARCHIE SHOW, BEETLE BAILEY, MY FAVORITE MARTIANS, COW AND CHICKEN and DUCKTALES. He also did most of the voices for Gene Deitch's Oscar-winning classic short, MUNRO.
ACM SIGGRAPH announced the program for the Computer Animation Festival for SIGGRAPH 2005, the 32nd International Conference on Computer Graphics & Interactive Techniques, being held July 31 to Aug. 4 in Los Angeles, California. The Computer Animation Festival jury chose 68 selections from 560 entries for exemplary use of computer-generated imagery and compelling storytelling. This year marks the first two-time winner (Tomek Baginski) in the SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival history.
Pixar Animation Studios Inc. shares rallied to their highest-ever level on Monday, May 23, 2005, lifted by positive broker's comments about anticipated higher box office sales and expectations of a rise in the number of feature films produced.
Shares of Pixar jumped $2.29, or 4.5%, to $52.97 in afternoon trading on the Nasdaq stock market. At the current price, the stock is up about 23% so far this year. In April, Pixar approved a 2-for-1 stock split.
Darryl's Hard Liquor and Porn Film Festival MontrealMontreal, Quebec, CanadaJune 18, 2005Deadline: May 23, 2005
2005 WIN AwardsLos Angeles, California, USASeptember 26, 2005Deadline: May 31, 2005
Women's Image Network produces The WIN Awards to honor media-makers who create films, commercials and television that either feature female leads or are created, directed and/or are written by a woman.
CINANIMA 2005Espinho, PortugalNovember 7-13, 2005Deadline: July 22, 2005
CINANIMA's purpose is the promotion of the animation art worldwide. Every year CINANIMA holds an International Competitive Program, Panorama Screenings, retrospectives, Special programs, exhibits, seminars and workshops, besides promoting the gathering of directors, animators, producers and the audience in general in a friendly atmosphere. For more information, visit www.cinanima.pt.
The latest Acrobat edition of Animation World Magazine has gone live! This issue tackles Internet and wireless. Greg Singer speaks with speaks with several studios and indie artists to learn how they make Flash animation look so good. Rick DeMott talks with Gregg and Evan Spiridellis of JibJab Media and John Evershed of Mondo Media about how two firms vastly different during the dotcom bubble of 2000 have survived and now thrive on the Net. Karen Raugust chronicles how wireless is creating a quiet animation boom.
This week in AWN's Forums, a junior member wants to know if a person can create a cartoon series without character designs.
TIME MAGAZINE movie critics Richard Corliss and Richard Schickel have selected the 100 best films of all time in a web exclusive (www.time.com). Among the live-action alphabetical selections are THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, STAR WARS, BLADE RUNNER, E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL, THE FLY remake, KING KONG and METROPOLIS. The only two animated entries were FINDING NEMO and PINOCCHIO.
We all knew it was going to be big out of the gate, and STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH delivered a record-breaking $158,449,700 for its first four days in release, Thursday through Sunday, May 19-22, 2005. That number eclipses SPIDER-MAN 2s $130.5M. Along the way, SITH (with eye-catching vfx from ILM) also racked up records for midnight showing, opening and single day, two-day and three-day. For the weekend, SITH collected $108,435,841: the second-best weekend ever next to SPIDER-MANs $114.8M.
![Palisades Makes Big Splash With [Adult Swim] Action Figures](https://www.awn.com/sites/default/files/styles/small_featured/public/image/featured/17865-palisades-makes-big-splash-adult-swim-action-figures.jpg?itok=qZ7VRakC "Palisades Makes Big Splash With [Adult Swim] Action Figures")
![Palisades Makes Big Splash With [Adult Swim] Action Figures](https://www.awn.com/sites/default/files/styles/tiny_featured/public/image/featured/17865-palisades-makes-big-splash-adult-swim-action-figures.jpg?itok=PnP4Nhw0 "Palisades Makes Big Splash With [Adult Swim] Action Figures")
Palisades Toys are about to release action figures based on Cartoon Networks uber-popular [adult swim] properties. Expect the Series 1 action figures to begin showing up at retail outlets sometime in the next few weeks. Each two pack will come with loads of character and episode specific accessories.
Series One includes:AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE Master Shake & Mothmonsterman 2-packSEALAB 2021 Dr. Quentin Quinn & Debbie DuPree 2-packHARVEY BIRDMAN, ATTORNEY AT LAW Phil Ken Sebben & Bear 2-pack
The No. 37 R&J Racing Dodge Charger has joined forces with UNDERDOG for two of NASCAR's most high profile races, the Nextel Cup All-Star Challenge and the Coca-Cola 600 on May 28, 2005. The No. 37 racecar will be fueled by the "speed of lightning and roar of thunder" in its all-new red, white and blue UNDERDOG paint scheme.
In recent months the team has been referred to as the 'underdog' of Nextel Cup. Beginning with a 9th place finish in the Daytona 500, the team has sought week after week to qualify and race in every Nextel Cup event on the schedule thus far.
