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AWN Headline News

Headline News

Nelvana Re-Cultivates Care Bears Broadcast And Home Video

Toronto-based Nelvana Ltd. has completed a series of broadcast and home entertainment deals for its popular library series CARE BEARS in Scandinavia, Greece, Israel, Poland, Bulgaria and Romania.

Nelvanas Scandinavian agent Kidz Entertainment has completed deals for the first 49 episodes in Sweden (Channel 5), Denmark (TV Danmarks) and Norway (TV2), while Greece-based Alter Channel and Kazakhstans Channel 1 & 2 have also picked up the same 49. Meanwhile, EUROCOM TV in Romania has acquired episodes 1-26 of the 1980s 2D series.

Kids Headline News

Discovery Kids U.K. Picks up Bjorn Bear

Ohm:tv has been licensed its latest animation series, BJORN BEAR, to U.K.-based Discovery Kids.

The 7x39 series, produced by Swedish Animation House Happy Life, is co-produced with WDR, which holds the rights for German-speaking territories and Swedish SVT, which holds the Scandinavian rights.

Television Headline News

Dan Taylor Named New President of MGM

Daniel Taylor has been appointed president of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., following completion of the sale of MGM to the consortium now acquiring the film/TV studio and its library. The investor group consists of Providence Equity Partners, Texas Pacific Group, DLJ Merchant Banking, Sony Corp. of America and Comcast Corp.

Interactive Headline News

Atari Plans The Matrix: Path Of Neo Holiday Release

Atari Inc. is developing and publishing THE MATRIX: PATH OF NEO, an interactive console and PC game based on the blockbuster motion picture trilogy THE MATRIX, THE MATRIX RELOADED and THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS from Warner Bros. Pictures for a 2005 holiday release on PS2, Xbox and PC.

Headline News

Rhythm & Hues Gets Smart with Massive

Rhythm & Hues was the first vfx studio to apply Massives new Smart Stunts capability on Foxs ELEKTRA last year. Smart Stunts simplifies the creation of large groups of CG characters or creatures in Massive, the Academy Award-winning 3D animation system for AI-driven crowd-related effects used in THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, developed by Massive Software.

Animated Headline News

Pepe Le Pew Marathon Smells Fine For Valentine Day

Boomerang, Cartoon Networks commercial-free classic animation network, will present a Valentines Day mock-celebration Love Stinks! featuring that odiferous lover with a French accent, Pepe Le Pew, in a 24-hour marathon beginning at 6:00 on Feb. 14, 2005. Looney Tunes ardently amorous skunk earnestly tries to win the tender affections of unwitting females never quite succeed, he remains loves greatest champion through his enduring optimism and never-say-die commitment to the pursuit of lamore.

Special Headline News

New Ed, Edd n Eddy Valentine’s Day Special on Cartoon Network

Ed, Edd and Eddy take a big whiff of Valentine love in HANKY PANKY HULLABALOO, a new 30-minute special makes its debut Feb. 11, 2005, airing at 7:00 pm, 9:00 pm and 11:30 pm with a replay on Valentines Day, Feb. 14, at 7:30 pm.

On Valentines Day at Peach Creek High, lanky Ed is bracing himself for the inevitable assault of kisses from May Kanker. Eddy wants to turn the days romantic yearnings into cold, hard cash. Double-D sees the day as a chance to let that special someone know you care.

Festival Headline News

SCI-FI-LONDON Announces 4th Festival Awards

The SCI-FI-LONDON film festival (London International Festival of Science Fiction and Fantastic Film) announced the winners of this years awards, doled out Feb. 6, 2005. Cube Zero one for Best Visual Effects while Sky Blue took the prize for Best Anime.

Headline News

Hazy Mills to Shop Pooch Café For Animated Series

Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner's Hazy Mills Prods. has optioned the comic strip POOCH CAFé to develop as a half-hour animated comedy series, it was reported in THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

POOCH CAFé, created by cartoonist/animator Paul Gilligan, features a mutt named Poncho who frequents the local watering hole called Pooch Café, where he discusses with his doggie friends such issues as tail-chasing, cat surveillance and the embarrassment of toilet bowl water breath.

Million Headline News

Pixar Profits Up While Down on Disney Sequels

Pixar Animation Studios Inc. will not take a role in The Walt Disney Co.'s production of sequels to Pixar films, said Steve Jobs, ceo of Pixar, during a telephone conference call with analysts regarding Emeryville, California, animation studios financial results for fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 1, 2005.

Books Headline News

Miramax Hyperion To Publish Betty & Veronica-Themed Lifestyle Books

Archie Comics Ent. Llc. has assigned Miramax Books/Hyperion Books for Children the master publishing rights to the companys Betty & Veronica franchise. Miramax Books/Hyperion Books for Children will publish a wide range of Betty & Veronica-themed lifestyle books aimed at the tween and teen markets, with titles focusing on fashion, fitness, beauty, music and boys.

Animation Headline News

Pixar’s Kahrs to Speak at Gnomon School on Feb. 24

Pixar animator John Kahrs, who worked on THE INCREDIBLES from model testing through completion, will discuss his work at Gnomon School of Visual Effects Feb. 24 at 7:00 pm.

Kahrs refined facial articulation for Mirage and Violet, and animated Bob and Syndrome, while working on Helen, Dash and Violet as well. He reveals the thought process he undertakes when trying to give each character life from the inside out...and the ways he brings detail and subtlety (or not) to each action.

Motion Headline News

Vicon Acquires Peak Performance Technologies

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, February 10, 2005 at 12:00am

Vicon Motion Systems has acquired Peak Performance Technologies, Inc., enabling the combined company to expand its market reach, broaden its product range and strengthen the company's technology expertise in the motion capture field.

OMG Group chief exec Julian Morris commented: "We believe that this is an excellent acquisition for the group, bringing expansion into the sports market and video-based motion capture. Peak and Vicon, together, provide a compelling proposition across a wide market and product range."

Headline News

2d3 Ships boujou three

2d3 has begun shipping boujou three, the third-generation of its award-winning professional 3D camera matchmoving software. boujou three is designed for specialist tracking departments working on the most challenging shots, and complements boujou bullet, 2d3s easy-to-use volume tracking solution.

boujou three is built around a range of new technologies and features including:

Animation Headline News

Vanguard Taps Maya Pipeline for Valiant

Vanguard Animation has built its CG pipeline with Maya software from Alias, starting with its feature debut, the 3D VALIANT. This business model will allow them to produce more Hollywood-quality animated features faster, and for a much lower cost than is typical in the industry.

VALIANT releases in Europe on March 25, 2005, and across the U.S. on April 15.

Spot Headline News

Digital Musings From the Editor:

As VFXWORLD turns its focus in February to commercials, music videos and IDs, Tara DiLullo recently spoke with vfx artist Joe Laffey about his attention-grabbing spec spot, X-GAMES SKATEBOARD. The clever, fast-paced, MTV-style :45 spot features the tardy professional skateboarder, Caine Gayle, defying gravity, narrow alleys and city congestion to catch up to his fellow boarders on their X-Games-bound bus in Los Angeles. Laffey TV, the St.

Game Headline News

Don’t Miss the Seattle Video Game Industry Job Conference

Seattle Video Game Industry Job Conference and Resume WorkshopShoreline, Washington, USAFebruary 12, 2005

Seattle Video Game Industry Job Conference and Resume Workshop is taking place in the Seattle suburb of Shoreline at the Shoreline Center. Ten game companies are participating, including speakers from Mobliss, DigiPen (USA) Corp., Monolith Prods., Konami Digital Ent. -America, Sprout Games, Sony Online Ent., TKO Software, Gas Powered Games, Oberon-Media, Microsoft Xbox and Valve Software.

Headline News

LA ACM SIGGRAPH Presents The Process of Making Great Videogames

The Process of Making Great VideogamesWestwood, California, USAFebruary 8, 2005

LA ACM SIGGRAPH is hosting The Process of Making Great Videogames. Attendees will see the latest in videogames and the innovative ways in which they are being made. Presenters from Pandemic Studios, Shiny Entertainment & Electronic Arts will be presenting the latest in the art and science of game development.

Animation Headline News

KAFI 2005 Call For Entries Deadline Near!

Kalamazoo Animation Festival InternationalKalamazoo, Michigan, USADeadline: March 1, 2005

Animation as entertainment, education, employment and art will be in the spotlight when the third Kalamazoo Animation Festival International (KAFI) is staged the weekend of May 13 15, 2005, in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Call for Entries for 2005 is still open in Studio, Independent, Educational and Student Categories. Therell be more than $15,000 in cash and awards! In the spirit of ASIFA, entry is free. Have your entries postmarked by March 1, 2005.

Animation Headline News

Ottawa Int’l Animation Festival (OIAF) Issues Worldwide Call For Entries

Ottawa Intl Animation FestivalOttawa, CanadaDeadline: June 1, 2005

The Ottawa Intl Animation Festival (OIAF) has issued a worldwide call for entries for its 2005 festival, to be held Sept. 21-25 in Canadas capital. Since there no longer is an Ottawa Intl Student Animation Festival (SAFO), student animators are welcome to submit this year, along with Independent and commercial filmmakers working in a variety of media by June 1, 2005.

Cartoons Headline News

One Week Left to Enter Cartoons On The Bay 2005

Cartoons On The Bay 2005Positano, ItalyDeadline: February 15, 2005

The deadline is a week away to enter Cartoons On The Bay 2005 for the Pulcinella Awards 2005. The 9th International Festival on Television Animation welcomes new animated series, pilots, TV specials, short films, social and educational programs.

Take part in the Pulcinella Awards 2005 and send your programs by Feb. 15, 2005. Regulations and the entry form are available on the festival Website www.cartoonsbay.com and may be sent online.

Special Headline News

Scooby Gang Loves Valentine Mystery In Primetime Special

The Scooby Gang returns to The WB for some heartly laughs and adventures in the half-hour special A SCOOBY-DOO VALENTINE, Feb. 11, 2005, at 8:30 pm. The primetime special also will have an encore presentation during The WBs EASY VIEW on Feb. 13 at 5:00 pm. This brand new program, produced by Warner Bros. Animation, features JC Chasez, from mega-group NSYNC, making a special animated appearance as himself and the star-studded love interest of Shaggys ex-girlfriend.

Headline News

Nancy Fowler Named President, DIC Worldwide Consumer Products

Nancy Fowler (formerly Bassett) moves up from svp to the newly created position of president, Worldwide Consumer Products at DIC. She will expand her role to include actively participating in the acquisition of new childrens properties for the purpose of developing licensing and merchandising programs for DIC.

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