Jetix, action/adventure programming block on Toon Disney and ABC Family kicks off its first year anniversary by greenlighting a new original animated series, GET ED, from Walt Disney Television Animation (WDTA) to air this fall, and additional season pickups for three key original series SUPER ROBOT MONKEY TEAM HYPERFORCE GO!, W.I.T.C.H. and POWER RANGERS: MYSTIC FORCE (working title).
Boasting an all-new digital restoration derived from the original camera negative a first for Disney BAMBI debuts on DVD March 1, 2005 (Disney Home Ent., $29.99). The sublime 1942 animated masterpiece, featuring Bambi, Thumper, Flower, Owl and all of their memorable forest friends, elevated the craft with a newfound naturalism and lyricism, inspired, in large part, by the exotic beauty of background artist Tyrus Wong.
Disney's LITTLE EINSTEINS, an innovative new TV series for toddlers, emanating from the popular videos and CDs from The Baby Einstein Co., will premiere in October 2005 during the daily Playhouse Disney programming block on Disney Channel. The series and a Disney DVD/video release in August will build on the cachet of the infant/preschool brand Baby Einstein.
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.
MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE, a new television series starring Mickey Mouse and his pals, produced by Walt Disney Television Animation, will join Disney Channels learning-based Playhouse Disney programming block for preschoolers in early 2006.
This week in AWN's Forums, a junior member wants to know what are some good training DVDs to pick up. Others put their thoughts and congratulations for Brad Birds Oscar win. Another post asks where do they find freelance animators. In the Educators Forum, a member needs help finding a text to use for a primary school level. Also theres a new post regarding Animation Mentor. Elsewhere, various members want critiques on their work ranging from storyboards to shorts.
BFC Berliner Film Company has named veteran industry executive Roger R. Smith as special advisor to help launch the companys expansion into the home video and DVD markets. Smith will work closely with Rainer Soehnlein, ceo of BFC Berliner Film Companie Distribution GmbH and Sonja Brugger, co-ceo of BFCs distribution arm.
The prospects are looking good for a national animation fund in the U.K., according to Jonathan Peel, chair of Millimages UK and chair of the animation policy group of the British producers association PACT.
FlickerLab has wrapped up its new spot, APPARITION, an effects-laden :30 released in Spain for Ford Europe/Agency Bassat Ogilvy, Madrid.
Fox 2000 has optioned Stuart Hill's fantasy bestseller THE CRY OF THE ICEMARK, reports VARIETY. London-based Jigsaw Films Courtney Pledger and Sarah Radclyffe are set to produce. The book's U.K. publisher Barry Cunningham will serve as exec producer via his year-old Chicken House Ent. division, which handles the film and TV rights of his authors.
The quasi-Nordic prehistoric tale follows a teenage queen and her best friend as they form an alliance with werewolves, vampires and talking snow leopards to battle a massive army that is invading their homeland.
Like a typical Hollywood marriage, it seems that Peter Jacksons made in heaven collaboration with New Line has come upon irreconcilable differences. On Feb. 28, 2005, Jacksons Wingnut Films filled suit in Los Angeles claiming New Line and its subsidiary Katja Motion Pictures failed to properly calculate revenue from LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, reports the AP.
The WB has greenlit a pilot for an animated sketch-comedy show based on LiquidGeneration.com, reports VARIETY. The Website features irreverent Flash animation that parodies pop culture. LiquidGeneration.com founder/CEO Bruce Freud will exec produce with Brad Saranecki, Kim Klechner and Jerry Offsay. Freud was formerly the programming chief at Showtime.
Rendercore Inc. announced the release of the latest software support with Final Render and Cinema 4D on Rendercore's state-of-the-art renderfarm at its headquarters in downtown Los Angeles, California.
Legendary producer Robert Evans and comicbook genius Stan Lee are set to produce a new superhero franchise for Paramount Pictures titled, FOREVERMAN, reports THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. HELLBOY scribe Peter Briggs will pen the screenplay in collaboration with Lee. Idiom Films will produce the feature along with Evans and Lees POW! Ent. No details have released about the characters or story.
IMAX Corp. and Warner Bros. Pictures announced that BATMAN BEGINS will be simultaneously released to IMAX and conventional 35mm theatres on June 17, 2005. The film, which explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham, will be digitally re-mastered into the IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology for the IMAX release. Warner Bros. Pictures will be the exclusive distributor of BATMAN BEGINS to IMAX theatres worldwide.
Animation Entertainment releases its 13th "Festival" compilation titled, COMPUTER ANIMATION FANTASIES, on DVD.
Featuring the very best in CGI short films, this new collection includes the award-winning film, THIS WONDERFUL LIFE, with its ultra realism and touching story, the hilarious antics of CHAIN SMOKER, and the fun musical rhythms and storyline of TRAFFIC JAM. The collection also includes TODAY'S SCIENCE TOMORROW'S ART, ONE LUCKY NIGHT, THE DENTIST, HENRY'S GARDEN, THE EIDOLONS OF EDNA, SWINGY AND THE MAGIC HAT and ORNAMENTS.
Responsible for promotion and merchandising campaigns for all DreamWorks SKG event films since joining the company in 1996, Anne Globe has been named head of Worldwide Consumer Products and Promotions for DreamWorks Animation. She will be responsible for overseeing worldwide brand planning and promotion for all DreamWorks properties, with a focus on developing and implementing marketing strategies for merchandising and promotional programs in support of the studios animated and live-action feature film releases and television animation.
Ad agency JWT/Denver recently commissioned digital studio !mpossible Pictures to create a visually compelling spot for Ford. BIG PICTURE, which airs in the Midwest, takes viewers on an exhilarating topographical adventure and introduces the Ford Big Picture Event at Midwest Ford dealers.
George Lucas will present the SIGGRAPH 2005 keynote address, "George Lucas: A Keynote Q&A with the Father of Digital Cinema," on Aug. 1 during the 32nd International Conference on Computer Graphics & Interactive Techniques, July 31 Aug. 4 in Los Angeles.
Brown Johnson, formerly evp of Nick Jr., has been promoted to the newly created position of exec creative director of preschool television, Nickelodeon Television. Johnson will oversee development and production for all preschool programming across Nickelodeon networks, including Nick Jr. and NOGGIN.
RedOctane has established a new division of the company dedicated to publishing software with its first title for PlayStation2 to be announced in spring 2005.
"Launching into a new business segment with the publishing of videogames is a natural evolution for us," said Kai Huang, president of RedOctane. "We are committed to delivering the same high quality and fun found in our peripherals with the upcoming RedOctane software line."
The game will join a prestigious line of award-winning RedOctane videogame accessories.
For the 10th consecutive year, all films nominated in the visual effects category have been shaped with Discreet's solutions, including last nights winner, SPIDER-MAN 2.
Lions Gates DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN toppled Sonys HITCH during the Oscar weekend for the period ended Feb. 27, 2005, ringing up $21.9M vs. $20.4M for the popular Will Smith comedy that has taken in a mighty cume of $121.4M.
Wildcat Realizm graphics accelerators from 3Dlabs have been certified by leading Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) in the CAD and DCC markets. Leading software partners, including Alias, Autodesk, PTC, Softimage and SolidWorks have certified both the Wildcat Realizm 100 and 200 graphics accelerators.
