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AWN Headline News

Animation Headline News

AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for Nov. 29, 2004

This week in AWN's Forums, debate continues over comments made regarding the animation industry in India. Members continue to pour in their thoughts on THE INCREDIBLES. Others post their comments on THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE. Additionally, members get comments on their work ranging from shorts to Websites to portfolios. Theres also new info in a thread regarding the building of lightboxes and animation stands. Another thread asks whether we are in the second golden age of animation.

Total Headline News

Disney Thankful for November Box Office

With NATIONAL TREASURE and THE INCREDIBLES taking first and second place in the Thanksgiving Holiday box office ended Nov. 28, 2004, The Walt Disney Co. becomes the first studio to reap such an honor. In fact, the entire month of November belonged to the House of Mouse, as both films dominated the top of the chart also a record.

International Headline News

French TV Distributors & Producers in Force at Perking Showcase

TV France International, in collaboration with the French Embassy in Beijing and with support from the Chinese State Authority for Radio Film & Television (SARFT) have organized the first Peking Showcase, Nov. 28-29, 2004, at the Novotel Peace in Beijing. The event fits in perfectly with The Year of China in France.

Headline News

SMPTE Seminar Postponed

SMPTE Seminar 2004, presented in cooperation with the Entertainment Technology Center at USC and USC School of Cinema-Television, has been postponed due to the logistics of the holidays. The event, which was supposed to take place Dec. 4 5, will be postponed until after the first of the year.

The theme will be The New Digital Workflow: Case Studies from the Edge. It will take place at ETCs Digital Cinema Laboratory at the Hollywood Pacific Theatre, 6433 Hollywood Blvd. For more information, visit www.smpte.org/conferences/.

Shorts Headline News

Boomerang Swabs December Fridays with Popeye Salute

Fridays in December, Boomerang, Cartoon Network's 24-hour, commercial-free classic animation cable/satellite network, will host four consecutive all-day tributes to showcase original POPEYE THE SAILOR six-minute shorts from the golden age of theatrical animation. More than 200 of the original Max Fleischer and Famous Studios theatrical cartoons produced from 1933-1954, known as "two-reelers," will be spotlighted in color within the month-long salute. The television event will commence on Dec.

Books Headline News

Disney Animator/Illustrator J. P. Miller Dies

John Parr Miller, an early animator for Walt Disney and best-selling children's books illustrator, died on Oct. 29, 2004, in Long Island, reports THE NEW YORK TIMES. He was 91 and lived in Manhasset, New York. His death was announced by his family.

J. P. Miller is best known for his work on the Little Golden Books line of books. His THE LITTLE RED HEN is still a perennial seller, despite being published a half a century ago.

Animation Headline News

Bournemouth University Chooses endorphin

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, November 24, 2004 at 12:00am

NaturalMotion Ltd., a British developer of motion synthesis technology, announced that the National Centre for Computer Animation at Bournemouth University, U.K., will be using multiple licenses of endorphin across its animation and visual effects courses. endorphin, which uses AI and biomechanics techniques for realtime character motions, was chosen due to the advances it makes in computer animation and the possibilities it will offer students upon graduation.

Imax Headline News

Robots to Receive IMAX Release March 11

Hot on the heels of its record-breaking 3D launch of THE POLAR EXPRESS, IMAX has struck a deal with Twentieth Century Fox to release Blue Skys ROBOTS in the DMR (Digital Re-mastering) large-format process. Chris Wedges 3D-animated follow-up to his ICE AGE hit opens March 11, 2005.

Studios Headline News

New TrendWatch Report Analyzes Studio Costs

In its new COST ALLOCATION REPORT, TrendWatch Inc. details how U.S. studios allocate costs when adding new capabilities to their operations.

"Today's studios are facing difficult decisions on how they invest in talent, technology and physical facilities," said Jim Whittington, TrendWatch founding partner. "Given the importance that studios and their clients place on their capabilities and their people, understanding how costs are allocated for return on investment (ROI) is crucial for studios and the suppliers that sell to them."

Series Headline News

Digital Musings From the Editor:

Last year when VFXWORLD met David Schaub, the animation supervisor on THE POLAR EXPRESS, we couldnt resist offering him the chance to write an exclusive production diary on the making of Robert Zemeckis experimental film. Now you can read Schaubs first of three installments, Testing and Prepping, which should lend some context to this fascinating -- and controversial hybrid.

Animation Headline News

Send Your Love-Themed Toons to the Animation Block Party!

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, November 24, 2004 at 12:00am

Animation Block PartyBrooklyn, New York, USAFebruary 14, 2005Deadline: January 24, 2005

Animation Block Party is committed to presenting the best animation. This particular show is in honor of Valentines Day. All submissions must have some kind of L-O-V-E related theme. Despite this subject matter, the event is accepting all-genres of work. For example, one may submit a horror animation as long as there is a love connection within the films context.

Headline News

Prisoner of Azkaban Escapes on DVD

Alfonso Cuarón stepped into the directors chair for HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, the third and darkest entry so far in the smash movie franchise, which arrives on DVD Nov. 23, 2004 (Warner Home Video, $29.95). Not surprisingly, along with the creepier plot and creeping sense of doubt, the vfx are up to the task, particularly the CGI creatures such as Buckbeak and the Dementors.

Design Headline News

Former ESC Ent. Staffers Form Evil Eye Pictures

In the wake of ESC Ent.s shutdown, former senior staffers Dan Rosen, Matt McDonald and John Jack have launched Evil Eye Pictures in the San Francisco Bay Area.

A design and compositing-focused company, Evil Eye specializes in art direction, compositing, shot design, on-set supervision, matte painting, set extensions, motion graphics and title design. With years of experience in creating and supervising 3D imagery as well, Evil Eye provides a critical eye, working with clients to achieve their unique vision.

Spot Headline News

R!OT Resurrects McQueen as Bullitt for Mustang Ad

FilmCore editor Nicholas Wayman-Harris helped to bring Steve McQueen back to cinematic life for an ingenious FIELD OF DREAMS-inspired commercial for the Ford Mustang. Wayman-Harris edited theatrical and television versions of a spot in which images of the late actor drawn from the 1968 film BULLITT are used to make it appear as though he is behind the wheel of the 2005 version of the classic sports car.

Game Headline News

New James Bond Game Puts Players in Villain’s Hands

Electronic Arts announced the release of the latest videogame in the JAMES BOND series, GOLDENEYE: ROGUE AGENT. This first-person shooter gives players the chance to explore the dark side of the Bond universe and experience life as a ruthless, unpredictable villain. The game is available for PlayStation 2, Xbox and the Nintendo GameCube.

"By allowing fans to step into the shoes of the bad guys, GOLDENEYE: ROGUE AGENT is the most exciting, cutting-edge episode of the Bond videogame series to date," said Patrick Gilmore, exec producer at EA Los Angeles.

Animation Headline News

Guru Takes Teletoon On a Promo Detour

guru animation studio just completed a six-spot broadcast promo campaign for Canadas TELETOON network. Produced in collaboration with branding outfit Fishdog, Toronto, with DJ/turntablist Kid Koala providing sound design and music, guru handled the spots from concept through animation, to promote the networks primetime young adult-oriented programming block, The Detour.

Games Headline News

Nintendo DS Launches

On Nov. 21, 2004, Nintendo launched its new handheld videogame platform, Nintendo DS. Boasting dual screens, touch-screen and voice-recognition interfaces and two forms of wireless connection, the one million Nintendo DS units available in North America already are expected to be depleted by year's end.

Million Headline News

Howl's Moving Castle Leads Animation Box Office Overseas

Animation master Hayao Miyazaki' continues his box office success in his home country of Japan with the record breaking debut of his new feature, HOWLS MOVING CASTLE, reports VARIETY. The film made $14.3 million on 448 screens last weekend, accounting for 72% of the territory's entire box office. It is expected that a third of Japans population will see the film. The film had the third highest debut, behind the first two HARRY POTTER films.

Headline News

Oscar Credits & Music Submission Forms Due Dec. 1

The deadline for submission of Official Screen Credits and Music Submission forms to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is Dec. 1, 2004. In order for a feature film to be considered for the 77th Academy Award, the distributor or producer must file an Official Screen Credits form with the Academy on or before the deadline.

Live-action Headline News

Cameron Confirmed Next Film As Live-Action Anime Remake

Director James Cameron (TITANIC and TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY) confirmed on NPR (National Public Radio) that his next directing gig will be on the live-action adaptation of Yukito Kishiro's BATTLE ANGEL ALITA.

"We're in pre-production right now on a project called BATTLE ANGEL, which is something I've been working on for several years and we're just, we're finishing up the shooting draft right now. We've been designing, it's a big science fiction film and a couple things that will be interesting about this project," he says in the interview.

Awards Headline News

Escape Awards Offers Jobs at U.K. Firms!

Escape Awards 2004World Wide WebJanuary 21, 2005Deadline: January 21, 2005

Escape Studios is hosting the Escape Awards, which aims to find the best in emerging talent. The event offers work placements at top U.K. companies, which include Aardman, Cinesite, The Mill and Lionhead Studios. Other sponsors include Alias with media partnership from 3D World, Computer Arts and CG Networks.

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