AWN Headline News

Focus Press has released the new book, ANIMATION WRITING AND DEVELOPMENT: FROM SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT TO PITCH, written by former Hanna-Barbera animator Jean Ann Wright.

The book takes students and animation professionals alike through the process of creating original characters, developing a television series, feature, or multimedia project, and writing professional premises, outlines and scripts. It covers the process of developing presentation bibles and pitching original projects as well as ideas for episodes of shows already on the air.

Eovia, developer and publisher of leading 3D animation, modeling and rendering software, introduces the Eovia TransPoser 2 plug-in. TransPoser 2 allows users to import Poser v5 and v4 characters and animations into Eovia Carrara 4 software, where they can be integrated in more complex scenes and brought to life. In addition to improved workflow, this new version includes Poser files into the Carrara 4 network rendering. Through special arrangement with DAZ Prods., TransPoser 2 comes with the Victoria 3.0 and Michael 3.0 models.

SCI FI Channel has renewed BATTLESTAR GALACTICA for a second season. The critically-acclaimed show has been a ratings powerhouse catapulting SCI FI to the top spot in cable among P25-54 for five consecutive Fridays. With an order for 20 episodes, BATTLESTAR will begin production in Vancouver in March for a summer premiere, returning as the anchor of the channel's SCI FI Friday block of primetime original series.

2005 ASIFA East Animated Film FestivalNew York, New York, USAMay 1, 2005Deadline: March 1, 2005

2005 ASIFA East Animated Film Festival screens the best in independent, commercial and student animation. All films are judged by a panel of ASIFA-EAST members and prizes are given in each category for first through third place. For more information, visit www.asifaeast.com.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products kicked off the world's largest toy trade show, the 2005 American International Toy Fair -- in New York City from Feb. 20-23, 2005 -- with a new lineup of licensed toys and products inspired by one of the world's most popular superhero franchises: BATMAN.

MATRIX producer Joel Silver confirmed that BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER creator Joss Whedon is being talked with to write and direct a new film version of WONDER WOMAN, reports SCI FI WIRE.

"I'm trying," Silver said in an interview at WonderCon in San Francisco on Feb. 19, 2005. "I'm trying to work a deal with Joss... I was just in the other room [where Whedon was talking about his upcoming SF movie, SERENITY]. I don't know if I could work that out. It's a complicated deal to do, but I would love him to do it. It would be great if he could do it."

Breakthrough Animation enters the 2005 New York International TOYFAIR with an extensive lineup of international licensing deals in place for the companys animated series, ATOMIC BETTY.