Check Out The Changes In The Theatrical Release Database
This week the Theatrical Release Database has two new trailers, a date change and new title information.
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AWN Headline News
This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for May 6, 2004
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for May 6, 2004
This week in AWN's Forums, a junior member wants some help on deciding between UCLA and USC. A senior member is looking for other Web designers to talk about delivery optimizing. Another member is looking for freelance animator rates. Another thread deals with 2D artists learning Maya. Others are discussing the short ROCKFISH and series SAMURAI JACK. A member is looking for databases of cartoony sounds. Another thread posts a link to Miyazaki's HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE.
rhinofx Shows off New ATI Graphics Technology with Doublecross
When ATI Technologies launched the latest generation of its Radeon graphics technology in April, the company wanted a visual demonstration piece that would show off the card's realtime rendering and graphics capabilities.
Radium Spins Off New Design Division
Leading digital effects studio Radium has launched a new design division. In addition to offering full CGI, editorial and visual effects services, Radium now has a complete design division with eight designers. The talent includes Tuesday McGowan, Sebastian Harms, Christopher Wargin, Melinda Tidwell, Lisa Overton, Lisa Berghout, Stacy Nimmo and Christopher Kirk. All of these artists are well versed in a variety of mediums such as broadcast, film, television and print design.
Final Fantasy Game Gets DVD Sequel
In a unique move showing the increased fan following for videogame stories, Square Enix has announced that it will release a DVD sequel to its 1997 hit game, FINAL FANTASY VII, reports VARIETY. The CGI animated feature, FINAL FANTASY VII ADVENT CHILDREN, will continue the story of the game, which sold more than 9 million units worldwide. No release date has been set. The first move into film for this popular gaming franchise was the 2001 photoreal feature FINAL FANTASY, which was a disaster at the box office.
First 5 Minutes of Shrek 2 To Air on Nick
Nickelodeon will air the first five minutes of SHREK 2 on May 18, 2004 at 7:00 pm, the night before the DreamWorks film opens in theaters nationwide.
"Giving kids the opportunity to see something top secret reinforces Nickelodeon's relevance to kids," said Nickelodeon president Cyma Zarghami. "It's very exciting to offer kids an exclusive insider's look at one of the biggest pop culture events of the year."
Nick’s Jimmy & Timmy Combine 2D/3D Worlds in Special/DVD
Nickelodeon combines two of its most popular cartoon series for an hour-long special, THE JIMMY/TIMMY POWER HOUR. In it, the 2D FAIRLY ODDPARENTS' star Timmy Turner goes 3D in Retroville, the world of THE ADVENTUES OF JIMMY NEUTRON, BOY GENIUS while its 3D star, Jimmy Neutron, takes a 2D turn in ODDPARENTS Dimmsdale. The show premiered May 7, 2004 at 8:00 pm with encore presentations May 8 at 7:00 pm and May 9 at 5:00 pm.
THE JIMMY/TIMMY POWER HOUR will be released on DVD May 11.
ResPower Supports mental ray
ResPower Inc., the world's first and only fully self-service render farm, supports the Academy Award-winning mental ray rendering software from mental images. Now, mental ray users worldwide can outsource their rendering to the ResPower Render Farm for fast, quality results - 24/7.
SOFTIMAGE|XSI Helps Visualize Plans for World Trade Center Site
Softimage Co. announced that Archimation, one of Germany's leading architectural presentation firms, used SOFTIMAGE|XSI software to create 3D renderings for two of the architectural firms designing the buildings to be constructed on the World Trade Center site in New York City.
Polar Express Goes 3D for IMAX
IMAX Corp. and Warner Bros. Pictures have struck a deal where the CGI feature, THE POLAR EXPRESS will screen in IMAX 3D format day-and-date with the release of the film in conventional theaters, Nov. 19, 2004. The film will be digitally converted into IMAX 3D using both the proprietary IMAX 3D conversion process and IMAX DMR(R) (Digitally Re-mastering) technology.
Catch All the Oscar Nominated Shorts at the Academy Screening
Academy's Annual Short Films ScreeningBeverly Hills, California, USAMay 7, 2004
Return of the King Cleans Up At Saturn Awards
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING was the big winner at the 30th annual Saturn Awards, garnering eight statuettes at the May 5, 2004 ceremonies held at the Universal Sheraton in Los Angeles. KING reigned in awards for best fantasy film, best actor (Elijah Wood), best supporting actor (Sean Astin), best director (Peter Jackson), best writing (Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens) and best music (Howard Shore), among others.
JAKKS Pacific Signs Star Wars TV Games License
Malibu, California-based JAKKS Pacific Inc. announced that it has signed a worldwide license with Lucasfilm Ltd. to produce TV Games products based on the STAR WARS franchise. The STAR WARS TV Games lineup is slated to launch in fall 2005, and is expected to retail for approximately $20.
3D Festival Awards 'Nemo' & 'King' Top Honors
The 2004 edition of the 3D Awards names 'Finding Nemo' the best 3D animated feature film; 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' is crowned with the prize for best feature film visual effects.
IDT Ent. Gets A Little Stan Lee Power
Spreading its areas of interest and wealth around, IDT Entertainment announced May 6, 2004 it has acquired a minority equity interest in POW! Entertainment LLC, headed by comic book legend Stan Lee. In addition, IDT Ent. has acquired exclusive distribution rights for all POW Ent. animated DVD properties plus the companies will co-produce and co-develop a minimum of six animation projects for direct-to-DVD distribution and broadcast.
Six Flags Over Texas Debuts 4-D SpongeBob SquarePants Ride
SpongeBob is leaving his pineapple under the sea to star in SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D, a brand new underwater motion simulator ride based on Nickelodeon's popular cartoon series, at Six Flags Over Texas. The interactive attraction puts riders in the middle of all the action and deceives their senses with state-of-the-art technology and special effects.
Digital Musings From the Editor:
The summer movie season kicks off this Friday with the highly anticipated release of VAN HELSING, and Ellen Wolfe will have the opening day scoop on how ILM has reimagined Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man and a few other scary creatures.
DreamWorks Bites Big Promo Deals For Shark Tale
DreamWorks Consumer Products has lined up a host of partners to support the computer animated feature film SHARK TALE, which arrives in theatres October 1, 2004. The film has attracted a diverse mix of promotional support including returning partners Burger King Corp., General Mills and Hewlett-Packard, as well as new partnerships with Coca-Cola, Krispy Kreme and Great Clips.
Art Institute SF Hosts Summer Studio Workshops for High School Students
The Art Institute of California - San Francisco is hosting special Summer Studio Workshops, June 22-25, giving high school seniors the opportunity to explore the creative arts, meet fellow young creative people and learn about new design technologies. The hands-on workshops will be held for students interested in learning more about videogame development, computer animation, graphic design, fashion design, interior design and Web design. Students can choose one of five different workshops.
SPE Launches Animax Channel in India
SPE Networks Asia will launch the highly successful anime channel, Animax, in India on July 5, 2004, on the heels of a successful Animax Asia rollout three months ago. Animax South Asia will be the first and only 24-hour-a-day network in India dedicated to popular animation from Japan.
Customized for India and dubbed in Hindi and English, Animax will target Indias youth and young adults with animation programming. The One Alliance will distribute Animax across India, and SET India will represent Animax in advertising sales.
Academy Announces Finalists for 2004 Student Academy Awards
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has selected 29 students from 17 colleges and universities as finalists in its 31st annual Student Academy Awards competition. A third of the finalists will compete in the Animation category. Gold, silver and bronze medals, along with accompanying cash prizes of $5000, $3000 and $2000, may be awarded in each of the four categories. Winning filmmakers will participate in a week of industry-related and social activities, culminating in the presentation ceremony on June 13, 2004.
The animation finalists are:
FOX Nets NBC Exec Wilson As New TV President
Longtime senior television exec Ed Wilson, who recently left his position as president of NBC Enterprises, has joined the FOX Broadcasting Co. as president of the FOX Television Network. Wilson will be responsible for supervising all affiliate relations, advertising sales, legal, broadcast standards and Fox Ent. Group (FEG) integrated marketing operations for the network. He will also work closely with FEG on business development opportunities for the network.
Shrek 2 Moved Up Two Days to the 19th
Due to fan demand, DreamWorks has moved up SHREK 2 opening date from May 21 to May 19, 2004. Tickets for the blockbuster sequel will be available for advance sale on the Internet, beginning on May 7, 2004.
Sony Vice-Chair to Deliver Executive Summit Keynote
The IEMA (Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association), the trade organization representing the video and computer game industry's category-leading retail companies, announced that Yair Landau, the vice-chair of Sony Pictures Ent. and president of Sony Pictures Digital, will deliver the keynote address at the 2004 IEMA Executive Summit -- the association's annual conference.
