AWN Headline News

Headline News

Gotham Group Takes Totally Spies Into Feature Film Arena

The Gotham Group has signed French animation producer/distributor Marathon as a client. The Gotham Groups first priority is making a deal for an animated feature film version of Marathons hit animated series TOTALLY SPIES. The series is plays on Cartoon Network in the U.S. and is carried by more than 200 markets worldwide. The show follows the adventures of three teenage girls from Beverly Hills who has been recruited as secret agents. The trio must juggle boys, shopping and of course, saving the world, while still finding time to do their homework.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe

Television Headline News

Davatzes Steps Down At A&E

A&E Television Networks (AETN) announced that after 21 years at the helm of the company, Nickolas Davatzes will be stepping down effective April 1, 2005. Abbe Raven, who is currently president of A&E Network-USA, will succeed Davatzes to become the second president/ ceo in the companys history. Davatzes will assume the title of ceo emeritus and, in transitioning to retirement, will remain an adviser to AETN from its offices in Stamford, Connecticut. His is the longest tenure of any cable programming chief executive in the industrys history.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Film Headline News

Tampere Film Festival Grand Prix Goes to Pjotr Sapegin

The Grand Prix at Tampere 35th International Short Film Festival has been awarded to the Norwegian Pjotr Sapegin for his film GJENNOM MINE TYKKE BRILLER (THROUGH MY THINK GLASSES) (2004). The jury characterized the clay animation as skillful and imaginative, a work of art and humanity and remarked that it portrays the human nature in a poetic and loving way.

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Game Headline News

Gish, Wik And The Fable Souls Top Titles at Independent Games Festival

GISH and WIK AND THE FABLE SOULS were the grand prizewinners at the 7th Annual Independent Games Festival, which has come to be known as the Sundance Festival of the videogame world. GISH won in the Open category while WIK captured the Web/Downloadable grandprize, netting each of the game development teams $15,000, at a ceremony March 10, 2005, at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco,

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Music Headline News

Optronica Fest Wants Cutting-Edge Works

Optronica Festival: The London International Festival of Audiovisual ArtLondon, U.K.July 21 24, 2005Deadline: April 15, 2005

Addictive TV and Cinefeel in collaboration with the National Film Theatre are organizing Optronica a festival of audiovisual art dedicated to the fusion of music and visual. The festival is supported by The Arts Council of England. Optronica will feature live multimedia performances, screenings, panel discussions and talks.

In Call for Entries, Call for Entries | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Festival Headline News

Norwich International Animation Fest Returns Annually!

Norwich International Animation FestivalNorwich, U.K.October 20 23, 2005Deadline: June 24, 2005

In Call for Entries, Call for Entries | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Festival Headline News

DIY Book Festival Wants Your Self-Published Work

The 2005 DIY Book Festival Los Angeles, California, USAOctober 1, 2005Deadline: September 25, 2005

In Call for Entries, Call for Entries | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

World Headline News

Animation World Magazine April Editorial Focus/Opportunity

The April issue of ANIMATION WORLD MAGAZINE will focus on gaming.

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Headline News

More Than a Dozen Updates In The Theatrical Release Database

This week in the AWNs Theatrical Release Database. we a bunch of new pages, trailers and various other updates.

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Animation Headline News

This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for March 15, 2005

Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.

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Animation Headline News

AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for March 15, 2005

This week in AWN's Forums, moderator Larry L post some develops that might be a sign of 2Ds rebirth. Post your thoughts. A couple members need some help with animating in Flash. Another member has questions regarding contracts. A 3D student wants to know if animators are good illustrators. A junior member from Brazil wants to know how important life drawing is for animators. Other are posting galleries of their work for members to check out.

In Flash, Flash | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, South America

Digital Headline News

Lucas and Cameron to Showcase Digital 3D at ShoWest

Texas Instruments will unveil a glimpse of its future plans for digital cinema and 3D movies at ShoWest, the annual convention for movie exhibitors, March 14 -17, 2005, in Las Vegas. TI has planned what it considers a landmark demonstration with STAR WARS creator George Lucas and TITANIC director James Cameron on March 17 at 11:30 am to showcase 3D theatrical entertainment with TIs DLP Cinema technology. TI will for the fourth consecutive year serve as the corporate sponsor of ShoWest.

In Business, Business | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Imax Headline News

Robots Offers Riveting IMAX Opening

On its way to posting $36M in its opening weekend last week, Fox/Blue Skys 3D-animated ROBOTS: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE took in a strong $1.4M in only 58 North American IMAX theaters. ROBOTS, marks the first spring day-and-date DMR (Digital Remastering) release for IMAX after the hugely successful 3D IMAX presentation of POLAR EXPRESS, which pulled in more than $45M domestically.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Short Headline News

The Incredibles to the Rescue on DVD

When Brad Bird came to Pixar to shake things up with THE INCREDIBLES, he also wanted to raise the bar for DVDs as well, bringing a video camera in tow all through production. Judging from the some of the supplemental material on the fabulous two-disc COLLECTORS EDITION that streets today (Walt Disney Home Ent., $29.99), there were plenty of friendly creative fights. Brad was a great documentarian, DVD producer Ann Brilz told AWN. He wanted to record the experience warts and all. Gathering the material with Brad was an honest, candid look at the production.

In Home Entertainment, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Cartoon Headline News

Cartoon Network Kids' Marketer Dearsley

Veteran kids marketer Nibs Dearsley joins Turner Broadcasting as marketing director, overseeing U.K. commercial kids channels, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Toonami. She will manage, develop and lead the U.K. marketing team, while reporting to vp of network services, Joanne Barlow.

Previously head of marketing at Jetix throughout Europe and marketing manager of Nickelodeon in the U.K., Dearsley had a solid track record promoting kids' brands before earning a place with the market leader.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Animation Headline News

animate! tv 2005 Calls for Experimental Animation

animate! tv is commissioning another slate of experimental personal projects for television, with running times of up to 6 minutes and production budgets between £5,000 and £20,000. animate! believes that animation is not, and indeed never has been, exclusively driven by frame-by-frame process but by wider notions of synthesis. animate! supports innovative content and 'agenda' as well as new forms and techniques.

In Television, Television | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Dykstra Headline News

Dykstra Rides Hot Wheel, Skips Spidey 3

Instead of following-up his Oscar winning work on SPIDER-MAN 2 with work on the third film in the franchise, visual effects wizard John Dykstra is tackling McGs HOT WHEELS. The self-describe adrenaline junkie decided to take the challenge of bringing a variety of vehicle to life for Columbia Pictures toy franchise turned feature. Sony Imageworks' Scott Stokdyk will step in for Dykstra on SPIDER-MAN 3. Previously, Stokdyk served as visual effects supervisor on the webslinging flicks, for which he won the Oscar as well for the second films vfx.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, South America

Studios Headline News

Vinton Studios Secures Rights To The Wall And The Wing

Vinton Studios has nabbed the rights to author Laura Rubys second novel, THE WALL AND THE WING, due out from HarperCollins in 2006. In a high six-figure deal, Vinton Studios ceo Jeff Farnath announced that the book will be re-imagined for the screen and directed by Henry Selick (JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH and NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS).

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Square Headline News

Square Enix Brings Top Titles to Verizon’s V CAST

Square Enix and Verizon Wireless announced the availability of two new Square Enix titles for Verizon Wireless' new V CAST service -- FINAL FANTASY VII SNOWBOARDING and MUSASHI MOBILE SAMURAI. MUSASHI MOBILE SAMURAI will be available beginning March 15, 2005. V CAST from Verizon Wireless is the nation's first third-generation (3G) wireless broadband multimedia service for consumers allowing them to view high-quality 3D games and video clips because it runs on the Verizon Wireless broadband EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) 3G network.

In Interactive, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe, North America

Cartoon Headline News

Cartoon Movie 2004 Awards Triple Treat

The seventh annual Cartoon Movie in Potsdam, Germany, paid tribute March 12, 2005 to France 3 Cinéma, Ralph Christians and the directing team of Piet De Rycker and Thilo Rothkirch (Cartoon- Film, Germany) for significantly contributing to the success of the European feature animation industry. The event, set up by Cartoon as a movie version of its successful Cartoon Forum meeting for animated series, brought together some 448 participants to focus on the fast-growing sector for European animated feature films.

In Event, Event | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe

Iger Headline News

Robert Iger named new Disney CEO

It was a busy weekend for the Walt Disney Co. board of directors as it announced March 13, 2005, that Robert A. Iger had been unanimously elected ceo, replacing Michael D. Eisner, effective Sept. 30. He will succeed Eisner, current ceo, who announced his intention to retire in September with a year remaining in his contract, for which hell be paid.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Headline News

e-on Ships Vue 5 Infinite

e-on software announced the immediate availability of the much-anticipated Vue 5 Infinite, for Mac OSX and Windows. Vue 5 Infinite is the newest version of the company's flagship solution for the creation of natural 3D environments. Specifically designed for graphics professionals, Vue 5 Infinite combines a multitude of cutting edge features such as the new EcoSystem technology that easily integrates into existing production pipelines.

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Framestore Headline News

Framestore NY Builds ‘More Bars’ for Cingular Wireless

From their gleaming new space in Manhattans SoHo neighborhood, Framestore NYs team of artists recently manifested WORKDAY and TRIPLETS, new visual effects-driven spots in the ongoing high-profile Cingular Wireless More Bars in More Places campaign.

In Commercials, Visual Effects, Commercials, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Robots Animates March Box Office

Although it didnt measure up to ICE AGEs record-setting opening of $46.3M, ROBOTS still posted the second best March debut ever with $36M (including an impressive $1.4M in IMAX on 58 screens). The 3D-animated feature from Fox/Blue Sky won the weekend ended March 13, 2005, besting Buena Vistas Vin Diesel youth comedy, THE PACIFIER, which scored $18.1M for a two-week cum of $54.4M. In fact, ROBOTS skewed younger than most CG movies, attracting 44% of the under 12 crowd.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Television Headline News

TV Academy Student Winners Announced

Students from UCLA Graduate School of Film & TV and Brigham Young University took first place in the animation categories of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundations 26th Annual College Television Award. The winners were announced March 13, 2005, at a gala ceremony at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel.

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All