AWN Headline News
Troy Sails Onto DVD
The summer blockbusters continue to roll out on DVD with Warner Home Videos release of TROY ($29.95) on Jan. 4, 2005.
It’s Time To Get Involved With AWN’s NATPE Special Newsletters!
Continuing our special event specific Flash Newsletters, we will be publishing special editions for both NATPE and MIP-TV. The NATPE market is fast approaching and our editorial and advertising staff are gearing up for the NATPE-specific Flash Newsletter series. Here are the dates for the publications.
NATPE Flash NewslettersJanuary 12January 19
MIP-TV Flash NewslettersMarch 23March 30April 6
itty bitty HeartBeats Signs New Licensing Partners
LevyMann Entertainment, the creator and producers behind the childrens animated series, ITTY BITTY HEARTBEATS, have teamed up with new licensee partners Franco Manufacturing, Baby Boom Consumer Products, Wiesner Products and Waterbury Garments for several new lines of itty bitty products.
These new licensees add to their deals in place with StudioWorks Ent. (Ventura Video), Fruit of the Loom and Penguin Books, which is releasing three new ITTY BITTY HEARTBEATS titles.
This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for Jan. 3, 2005
AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for Jan. 3, 2005
This week in AWN's Forums, members post examples of simple animation invoices for others to reference.
Nomination Period Ending Soon for Game Developers Choice Awards
5th Annual Game Developers Choice AwardsSan Francisco, California, USAMarch 7-11, 2005Deadline: January 14, 2005
Telluride IndieFest Issues Call for Entries
Telluride IndieFest 2005Telluride, Colorado, USAAugust 31 - September 4, 2005Deadline: May 31, 2005
Telluride IndieFest showcases the best independent films and screenplays in the world and does not require films to 'premiere' at its event. The event limits films and screenplays to 1,000 entries. ALL selected artists will have the opportunity to have their entry presented to some of the most-respected Hollywood talent agencies, production companies and film distributors. For more information, visit tellurideindiefest.com.
DIC Signs More Licensees For Trollz 2005 Launch In North America
DIC Entertainment (DIC) has inked additional deals for its all-new tween entertainment and lifestyle property, TROLLZ. There is now approximately 35 licensees in the U.S. and Canada secured for the 2005 launch.
Nick Ups Kaufman for Global Marketing
Pamela Kaufman has been promoted from svp, Nickleodeon marketing to evp, marketing and worldwide promotions, expanding her responsibilities to include strategic planning of worldwide programming launches as well as global partnership deals.
"Pam Kaufman is one of the most successful marketers in the entertainment industry," said Nickelodeon TV president Cyma Zarghami, to whom Kaufman will continue to report. "Her consumer marketing and property management skills have raised the creative bar for the entire industry and have turned our TV properties into gold."
West Midlands Animation Development Scheme
Light House, in partnership with Screen West Midlands, and animation companies Screenburn and The CharacterShop in the U.K., are launching a new initiative to provide work placement opportunities for talented new animators with these regional animation companies.
Legendary Comics Artist Will Eisner Dies at 87
Legendary comics and graphic novel artist and writer Will Eisner died Jan. 3, 2005, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the age of 87, following complications from quadruple heart bypass surgery, reports Bob Andelman, author of the upcoming authorized biography, WILL EISNER: A SPIRITED LIFE.
A comics artist since the 1930s, Eisner was the first to use "silent" balloonless panels to show characters' emotions by focusing attention on their accentuated facial expressions.
Intergraph Shipping SmartPlant 3D 5.0
Intergraph Corp. has shipped SmartPlant 3D 5.0. The new version delivers many enhancements for structural modeling and design, 3D model exportation, global worksharing and system support. Intergraph's current customers, including some of the world's largest owner/operators and engineering companies, drove the development of SmartPlant 3D 5.0. The software provides the capabilities needed to design and maintain process, power and marine facilities and keep them "as-built" throughout the life cycle.
ADV Films Announces Release Of Three Titles In Hi-Def
ADV Films announced the release of NOIR, RAHXEPHON and FULL METAL PANIC! in high definition throughout 2005. Through the use of Windows Media High Definition Video (WMV HD), movies can now be viewed on computers with DVD drives, as well as on many new set-top DVD and digital media players, with amazing quality and resolution up to six times higher than that of today's standard DVDs.
Sands Storms Into DreamWorks as Pres/COO
Rick Sands has been named as the new president/coo of DreamWorks SKG. In his new post, Sands will primarily be responsible for overseeing the management of day-to-day operations of the private company, reporting directly to principal partner David Geffen.
Amelie Director Joins Grand Large
Curious Pictures announced that it has joined forces with Grand Large, the Paris-based commercial production company, and will be working with Grand Larges new award-winning French director, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, director and writer of AMELIE and A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT.
Grand Large has a compelling group of feature directors, and I am really excited about them and their work, said David Starr, exec producer/marketing director for Curious Pictures. If there is one director that I have always wanted to work with, it is Jean-Pierre Jeunet.
THX to Demonstrate Visual EQ Technology at CES
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 Releases "Maya Intermediate: Female Android Modeling" Training
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.
Polar Express Sets More Imax Records
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 Sells Series & Special To Jetix Germany
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).
Nightmare Before Christmas Set for Game Series in 2005
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 Offers New Configuration Management Integrations
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.
Fockers Sets More Holiday Records
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.
Hey, Hey, Hey! It’s Fat Albert on DVD
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.