THX Ltd. announced that it will be demonstrating a new visual equalization (EQ) technology for videogame consoles at CES. The technology was created to enhance how gamers experience the visual quality of games content played on their favorite console. Demonstrations will be available to the public at booth # 20533 in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center during regular exhibit hours.
Digital-Tutors announced the worldwide availability of its highly anticipated "Maya Intermediate: Female Android Modeling" training kit -- the latest release in a series of industry leading training resources for digital artists. In more than seven hours and four discs of comprehensive training methods, "Maya Intermediate: Female Android Modeling" guides users through the technical and artistic process of modeling a female android.
Warner Bros. Pictures' THE POLAR EXPRESS: AN IMAX 3D EXPERIENCE again set new records for an IMAX film by amassing more than $5.45 million from Dec. 26 through Jan.1, making it the highest grossing week in IMAX's history.
TV-Loonland recently announced sales of seasons II and III of its TV series, THREE FRIENDS AND JERRY, as well as the half-hour 3D Christmas special, DONNER, to Jetix Germany (formerly Fox Kids Germany).
Buena Vista Interactive, a publishing label of Buena Vista Games Inc., will publish TIM BURTONS THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS: OOGIES REVENGE for the PlaySation2 and Xbox, to be released in October 2005 along with BVGs previously announced TIM BURTONS THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS: THE PUMPKIN KING title for Game Boy Advance. Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of videogames and developer of the console titles will publish the PlayStation 2 title in Europe in 2005.
Perforce Software now allows integrations between Perforce SCM, its software configuration management system, and three popular graphics applications: Discreets 3ds max, Adobes Photoshop and Alias Maya. The new integrations encourage collaboration during the creative process and enable artists and developers to version, store and manage their code and digital assets more efficiently.
Universals MEET THE FOCKERS set two additional records over the New Years holiday weekend ended Jan. 2, 2005, while hauling in $41.7M: the largest New Years Eve gross of $12,140,181 and the largest New Years Day gross of $18,271,940. The impressive cume to date stands at $162.4M.
Coinciding with the Christmas release of Foxs FAT ALBERT feature, UrbanWorks Ent. (in partnership with Entertainment Rights) has released two volumes of FAT ALBERT AND THE COSBY KIDS for the first time on DVD: FAT ALBERT AND THE COSBY KIDS THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION ($49.99) and FAT ALBERT AND THE COSBY KIDS ($14.99). Both contain best of collections of the popular, Emmy-nominated animated TV series from Filmation that ran on CBS from 72-84.
THE ULTIMATE MATRIX COLLECTION (Warner Home Video), THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING SPECIAL EXTENDED EDITION (NEW LINE HOME ENT.), THE STAR WARS TRILOGY (Fox Home Ent.) and MARY POPPINS 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (Buena Vista Home Ent.) have scored major nominations for the Fourth Annual DVD Exclusive Awards.
The 2004 DVD Exclusive Awards, sponsored by DVD EXCLUSIVE magazine, a sister publication to VARIETY, will be presented on Feb. 8, 2005, at the Annenberg Building at the California Science Center near the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
DreamWorks Animation reported that the SHREK franchise has generated more than $1.6 billion in consumer home entertainment spending since its launch in 2001 with the record-shattering SHREK. SHREK 2 has sold more than 37 million units worldwide since its November release through DreamWorks Home Ent. That makes SHREK 2 the third highest grossing feature in U.S. history the number one home video release of the year.
With the success of Sony Computer Entertainment Europes virtual acting work on the upcoming interactive THE GETAWAY: BLACK MONDAY, Sony Computer Entertainment America will present it at Sundance, reports HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The goal is to highlight the game's cinematic aspects and Hollywood ties.
The sequel game, which ships Jan. 25, 2005, recreates 25 square miles of London's "Congestion Zone" and uses live actors for the game's central characters, utilizing them throughout the $20 million project's 18-month development schedule, which is rare for games.
For January 2005, Kids' WB! will see the exclusive U.S. premiere of POKÉMON THE MOVIE: DESTINY DEOXYS as well as the third season premiere of WHAT'S NEW SCOOBY-DOO?
DIC Entertainment (DIC) has inked deals with key international broadcasters for the six all-new animated STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE specials.
The Global Gaming League (GGL), the leader in competitive videogaming entertainment, announced a strategic partnership with ClanBase.com, Europe's leading competition organizer for online gamers. The partnership will see the two companies working together to take competitive online videogaming to the next level by combining their respective communities and talents. Together, they form the world's largest online gaming community with more than a million players from 190 countries around the world.
A 5,000-year-old animated piece on an earthen goblet was found in Burnt City in Sistan-Baluchistan province, southeastern Iran, reports IRANIAN.WS. On this ancient piece, the artist portrayed a goat jumping toward a tree to eat leaves.
The earthenware found in Burnt City, one of the most developed of ancient civilizations, show the images of goat and fish more than any other subject.
Animation and creative solutions company, Synergy Images, has announced that it would be partnering with Australia's Edith Cowan University, to offer its employees a masters degree in interactive multimedia technologies, reports CYBERMEDIA NEWS.
Synergy president/ceo, Malini Subrahmaniam said, "This master's degree would enable us to have a world class animation team in our company."
The Original STAR TREK series continues to live long and prosper on DVD in newly remastered and complete series box sets. Paramount Home Ent. recently released the second and third season collections in time for the Holidays ($129.99 each).
Marvel Comics has brought Mark Paniccia on board as a senior editor to significantly bolster the publishers presence and success in the hot teen graphic novel category. He will also recruit a new generation of comicbook writers and artists.
Square Enix Inc., the publisher of Square Enix interactive entertainment products in North America, will ship FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST AND THE BROKEN ANGEL to retailers in the U.S. on Jan. 18, 2005 for PlayStation2.
Based on the wildly popular anime and manga series in Japan, FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST has made its way to America, beginning with a TV series on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim and a DVD release is set for 2005.
CaféFX used its CG skills to recreate the 1935 world speed record-setting flight for THE AVIATOR, as well as additional shots of Howard Hughes reviewing a fleet of Lockheed Constellation aircraft.
CaféFX artists additionally used NewTeks LightWave 3D in the production of content and shots for FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX and BLADE: TRINITY.
Genius Products Inc. has signed of a licensing agreement with The Topps Company Inc., to create and distribute animated childrens and family oriented productions under the Bazooka logo. The first titles, acquired from Bogner Ent. Inc., are set to be released first quarter 2005, with titles such as BLACK BEAUTY, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, TOM SAWYER and TREASURE ISLAND. Each title in this new line will be hosted by Bazooka Joe and include a new Topps trading card with the box cover art on one side and a Bazooka Joe comic on the other, along with a stick of gum.
Hayao Miyazakis lastest HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE drew 1 million viewers in South Korea in its opening weekend, reports ASIA PULSE.
"Never before has any Japanese film reached such numbers in such a short period of time," Kang Eun-gyeong of Laughing Boa said.
The film opened on 237 screens in Korea on Dec. 23, 2004, becoming the first Japanese movie that ranked first in the local box office in its debut week (Dec. 23-26) with 770,000 viewers. Miyazakis last film SPIRITED AWAY was only seen by 2 million viewers in its entire run in Korean theaters.
Chinese Internet cartoonist Zhu Zhiqiang has won a court battle against the U.S. footwear and apparel maker Nike Inc. over the company's use of his "Little Match Man" illustration, reports the ASSOCIATED PRESS. Zhu had sought $240,000 in compensation, but a Beijing court only granted him $36,000 in compensation and forced Nike to issue a public apology to Zhu, the CHINA DAILY newspaper said.
"I got what I wanted - confirmation on my copyright over my stickman," Zhu said.
Design engineer Takuo Miyagishima, has been voted the Gordon E. Sawyer Award by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He will be presented with the first Oscar statuette of 2005 at the Scientific and Technical Awards Dinner on February 12 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
Established in 1981, the Sawyer Award is "presented to an individual in the motion picture industry whose technological contributions have brought credit to the industry."
![NewTek Ships VT[4] SP1](https://www.awn.com/sites/default/files/styles/small_featured/public/image/featured/16652-newtek-ships-vt4-sp1.jpg?itok=cP71dA2N "NewTek Ships VT[4] SP1")
![NewTek Ships VT[4] SP1](https://www.awn.com/sites/default/files/styles/tiny_featured/public/image/featured/16652-newtek-ships-vt4-sp1.jpg?itok=NRlJ1B5g "NewTek Ships VT[4] SP1")
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