Jennifer Garner To Host Academy's Sci-Tech Awards
ALIAS star Jennifer Garner will present the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Scientific and Technical Awards on Feb. 14, 2004 at the Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena.
AWN Headline News
Tickets on Sale for Annie Awards on February 7
The 31st Annual Annie Awards, celebrating the best in animation for 2003, are coming on Feb. 7, 2004 to the Alex Theatre (216 N. Brand Blvd.) in Glendale, California, and tickets are on sale now.
Shrek 2 To Premiere at Cannes
Cannes Film Festival has selected SHREK 2 for the main competition in the 2004 event, which runs from May 12-23. The premiere will be on May 15, at 7:30 pm and voice cast including Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Julie Andrews, Antonio Banderas and Rupert Everett are scheduled to be attending.
Canadian Animator Michèle Cournoyer Comes to REDCAT
On February 6, 2004, REDCAT will be hosting a screening for Canadian animator Michèle Cournoyer's work. The event will begin at 7:30 pm.
Psyop Creates Unique Ball Town in Lotto Spot
Creative collective Psyop recently completed LOTTOLAND, a :30 CG animated spot for the Colorado State Lottery via Karsh & Hagen, Denver. The spot began airing late January 2004.
Psyop collaborated with designer Justin Fines to anthropomorphize lotto balls and give them their own parallel world -- a unique ball town. They experimented with different looks and shadings to create a unique dimensional feel and in the end came up with a fresh style of 3D animation and rendering.
In Commercials, Visual Effects, Commercials, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All
Discreet Ships New fire and smoke
Discreet has begun shipping worldwide its non-linear editing and finishing systems, fire 6 and smoke 6. Discreet's editing systems are shaping a new generation of powerful data-centric workflows for digital film, high definition television (HDTV) and standard definition television projects.
In Technology, Visual Effects, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America
Alias to License Diva
First Alias furthered its continuing strategic partnership with Weta Digital, now the 3D graphics technology powerhouse has formed a stronger alliance with Los Angeles-based motion capture production company House of Moves. Alias will develop and integrate House of Moves' Diva software into future versions of Maya.
In Anime, Business, Visual Effects, Anime, Business, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All
Pixar to Go its Own Way
It's official: Pixar has concluded discussions to extend its long-term partnership with The Walt Disney Co., and will go its own way as a potential indie powerhouse with its own strong brand identity. The Emeryville, California-based CG animation studio still has two features to deliver to Disney: THE INCREDIBLES in 2004 and CARS in 2005, but is now free to continue negotiations for a distribution deal with another studio. Last August, Pixar chairman and ceo Steve Jobs initiated talks with Fox and Warner Bros.
AWN Launches 2004 Oscar Showcase!
AWN is proud to announce the launch of this year's Oscar Showcase!
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
Animation Guild Updates Website & Posts January Newsletter
The Website now includes the Animation Guild's current collective bargaining agreement, wage minimums, and the results of the most recent survey showing median "going rates" in job categories covered by the guild.
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
New Trailers Hit Theatrical Release Database!
If you haven't checked it out yet or want to see it again, AWN has added the first trailer for the upcoming Universal monster movie VAN HELSING in the Theatrical Release Database.
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for Jan. 29, 2004
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for Jan. 29, 2004
This week in AWN's Forums our members have already begun discussing Pixar severing ties with Disney. The Oscar have also sprung up discussion with bloggers posting thoughts about the irony if BROTHER BEAR won as well as their picks for what they feel will win. One of our member is asking for help with a Photoshop problem. Other are posting their life drawings. Lots of talk still comes in about the Net first Flash feature. Also, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!
New Transformers: Energon Invades Cartoon Network
TRANSFORMERS: ENERGON, the newest installment of the legendary story matching the Autobots versus the Decepticons, joins Cartoon Network's Saturday lineup of action/adventure programming starting Jan. 31, 2004 at 7:30 pm.
Lucy Liu Guests On Jackie Chan For Chinese New Year
International action hero Jackie Chan is celebrating the Chinese New Year during the third annual Jackies Chantastic Chinese New Year, and welcomes his good friend Lucy Liu as a guest voice on his Kids WB! hit anime- style comedy/adventure series, JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES, at 8:00 am on Jan. 31, 2004. In addition, Michael Rosenbaum of The WB's hit SMALLVILLE also makes a special guest-voice appearance.
Newman Gears Up for Voice Role in Pixar’s Cars
Movie and race car legend Paul Newman will lend his voice to a car character in Pixar Animation Studios seventh animated feature, CARS, written and directed by John Lasseter, set for a holiday release in 2005 through Walt Disney Pictures.
Basil Booming With Licensing Deals
Entertainment Rights' top rating children's TV star, BASIL BRUSH, is teaming up with The Children's Society to help raise funds for the charity's work with disadvantaged kids via an exclusive two-year agreement with ER to produce four Basil Brush pin badges. The badges will sell for £1 each in high street retailers in the U.K.
eyeon Releases Courseware Edition 2 for Digital Fusion/DFX+
eyeon Software Inc. announced the availability of its latest courseware series, Edition 2, an integrated system-based learning experience, exploring the tools within Digital Fusion/DFX+ while outlining features, benefits and varying degrees of application. Edition 2 is a valuable resource for anyone looking to broaden their compositing foundation.
Les Armateurs Set for Kirikou 2, Nearing Next Chomet Film
Les Armateurs has announced that it will go into production on a prequel to its Annecy grand prize-winning feature KIRIKOU AND THE SORCERESS, titled THE CHILD KIRIKOU, reported VARIETY. Michel Ocelot, director and writer of the original, will write the new tale and direct it along with Benedicte Galup. Ocelot will split the directing duties because he is working on another project. The film has a budget set at $6 million and should reach theaters by the end of 2005.
Tom Ascheim New Nickelodeon Digital Television EVP/GM
Tom Ascheim takes on the newly created position of evp/gm, Nickelodeon Digital Television, overseeing all four of Nick's premiere digital television channels, which include Noggin, The N, Nickelodeon Games and Sports (GAS) and Nicktoons, as well as Nickelodeon Video on Demand (VOD) offerings.
IDT Finds Archie Comics Fun To Acquire
IDT Entertainment is fast approaching buying up all the ingredients it needs to be a completely diversified, worldwide entertainment conglomerate with its latest acquisition of a 5% equity interest in Archie Comics Entertainment, LLC. This agreement gives IDT the rights to co-develop and co-produce select animated properties based upon Archie Comics Ent. characters.
Alice Upgraded to Masterpiece DVD
Walt Disney's ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1951) may not be to everyone's liking, but it at least deserves careful consideration, since it really shines on the new two-disc Masterpiece Edition (Buena Vista Home Ent., $29.99) that hits stores Jan. 27, 2004. The feature has been cleaned up and remastered and shows off more vividly the work of the many talented animators (including Mary Blair, Bob Carlson, Marc Davis, John Hench, Ub Iwerks, Ollie Johnston, Milt Kahl, Ward Kimball, Eric Larson, Fred Moore and Frank Thomas).
Two Thumbs Up to The Critic on DVD
The CRITIC - THE COMPLETE SERIES comes to DVD Jan. 27, 2004 (Columbia TriStar, $49.95) in a three-disc set featuring all 23 episodes with its dry wit intact. Created by Al Jean and Mike Reiss of THE SIMPSONS, the ill-fated CRITIC bounced around from ABC to Fox to Comedy Central to the Internet, attracting a small but devoted following that adored the movie parodies. Jon Lovitz voices the animated Jay Sherman, the sad sack of TV film critic who gives thumbs down to every pathetic movie he's forced to review.
Extras include:* Commentary on eight episodes
Dilbert Completely on DVD
DILBERT - THE COMPLETE SERIES from '99 comes to DVD (Columbia TriStar, $49.95) Jan. 27, 2004. Check out all 30 episodes on this four-disc set from the first and second seasons and discover why the most popular comic strip of the decade made a smooth transition to animated series, thanks to irreverent writer/producer Larry Charles (SEINFELD and MAD ABOUT YOU).
Company 3 Hires VFX Editor Doolittle
Extending its capabilities in feature film post-production, Santa Monica-based Company 3 has hired visual effects editor and artist Rob Doolittle. Doolittle, who previously collaborated with Company 3 on BAD BOYS II, has broad experience in designing and executing VFX for features. Formerly an applications specialist with visual effects hardware manufacturer Quantel, Doolittle also is a leading expert in that company's Generation Q projects used in on-lining for film and high resolution video projects.
