Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) Europe has promoted Finn Arnesen to the joint roles of svp of Original Animation and Acquisitions for Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Toonami throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) as well as international head of Program Production with responsibility for all areas outside the U.S.
Telefilm Canada will sponsor the International Tête-à-Tête at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), a series of one-on-one meetings designed to foster co-production activity and international sales. In association with the festivals Trade Forum, this initiative offers the occasion for Canadian industry players to discuss projects face to face with international producers, distributors and sales agents during private half-hour meetings.
This week the Theatrical Release Database we have more than half a dozen date changes. With MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 3 getting a new director and later release date, star Tom Cruise and director Steven Spielberg have moved forward with their rendition of WAR OF THE WORLDS. Production delays have pushed off the release dates for X3, X4, THE RING 2 and THE WILD. DAREDEVIL might not see a sequel, but Elektra will get another shot at the big screen sooner than you think.
This week in AWN's Forums, a member is trying to find rare animated shorts from Tim Burton. Another member asks what is the best scanner for 2D animation. Another thread is looking for members' favorite animated shorts to increase their toon knowledge. Several junior members continue to ask for software and school recommendations. Additionally, members continue to discuss Craig McCracken's new series FOSTER'S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS.
The Iranian animation film THE HOLE by Vahid Nasirian and produced by the Experimental and Documentary Film Center took home the second prize in the international competition section at the 19th Odense International Film Festival, which was held from August 4-9, 2004 in Denmark. The juvenile jury gave its prize to LOVE TRICYCLE by Andrew Goode (Australia).
ADV Films, the #1 producer-distributor of anime in the U.S., has announced its slate of releases for Aug. 17, 2004. Titles include NURSE WITCH KOMUGI: A VACCINE FOR HUMANITY! Volume 1, EL PARAÍSO DE HELLO KITTY: KITTY LINDA and MUTANT X: SEASON 2, DISCS 5-6 as well as a new AniMini collection.
Mac gamers can now get in on the SPIDER-MAN 2 fun as thanks to Aspyr Media, Inc. now shipping SPIDER-MAN 2: THE GAME, FOR MACINTOSH. Licensed by Activision, SPIDER-MAN 2: THE GAME, FOR MACINTOSH was developed by Ryan C. Gordon, who has previously worked with Aspyr Media on SHREK 2: THE GAME.
Toon Boom Animation Inc. has appointed two new resellers in China and Korea. As part of its new distribution strategy in Asia, Dison Computer Graphics & Image Company Ltd. will now take care of Toon Boom's products throughout Mainland China, while CS M&C Technology Inc. will do the same in Korea. Both Dison and CS M&C will also provide first-line support to Toon Boom's local customers within the same time zone and language.
THE NINE DOG CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, produced by Earthworks Entertainment, will have its Christmas 2004 premiere on the Disney Channels in Germany, Italy and in all of Asia, with further international TV deals expected shortly and a deal for the U.S. market is in the works.
NINE DOG CHRISTMAS stars nine extraordinary stray dogs who overcome tremendous odds to help Santa bring the spirit of Christmas to children all over the world when the reindeer flu threatens to ground Santa's sleigh. James Earl Jones narrates the family musical adventure story.
HP introduced groundbreaking new software at SIGGRAPH 2004 that allows customers in graphics-intensive fields such as engineering and graphic design to collaborate with teams across geographically dispersed regions in realtime.
Dan Castellaneta will be awarded this year's Primetime Emmy Award for animation voice over performance for his work on THE SIMPSONS as the dysfunctional family patriarch, Homer, Homer, as well as Krusty the Clown, Grampa Simpson, Groundskeeper Willie, Barney Gumble and Mel.
David Raksin, the Oscar-nominated composer wrote the memorable theme for 1944's LAURA, and scored several classic UPA cartoons in the 1950s, died Aug. 9. 2004, at the age of 92.
ASSOCIATED PRESS reported that Raksin, who had been ailing for several years and had early stage Alzheimer's disease, died at his home in Van Nuys, California, according to his son, Alex Raksin.
TOKYOPOP Inc. and Blizzard Ent. will develop a three-book manga series titled WARCRAFT: THE SUNWELL TRILOGY. The manga will be penned by NEW YORK TIMES best-selling fantasy author Richard Knaak -- who is also writing a trilogy of WARCRAFT novels -- and illustrated by Jae Hwan Kim, artist of TOKYOPOP's KING OF HELL series. WARCRAFT: THE SUNWELL TRILOGY VOLUME 1: DRAGON HUNT debuts in early spring 2005.
The Gnomon Workshop has announced the addition of Eric Hanson as senior producer of DVDs for the Gnomon Workshop Digital Library. Hanson brings a background in architecture, 3D imaging and more than a decade of experience in feature visual effects production.
Hanson said, "I'm thrilled to be joining the Gnomon Workshop to help produce what I believe will be the premiere DVD series on visual effects production available. We'll be working with some of the brightest minds and greatest talents in visual effects to take the Gnomon Workshop into new, exciting territories."
This week in AWN's Forums, a junior member is looking for volunteer animators willing to work for a cause. Another member is looking for John K's Webtoons WEEKEND PUSSY HUNT and THE GODDAMN GEORGE LIQUOR PROGRAM. A new student wants members' opinions on the Vancouver Film School's 2D Animation program. A junior member wants to know how much physics should an animator know? Others are talking about animated shorts for mobile phones in Japan. Another thread looks for designs for a portable lightbox.
Howard Shore, the world-renowned film composer who composed the scores for THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, will compose game music for Webzen Inc.s next in-house developed game, SUN: SOUL OF THE ULTIMATE NATION. The massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) will be first introduced in early 2005 and launched later in the year. The original SUN soundtrack will be distributed for sale globally.
FUNimation Prods. has announced its acquisition of the GRAPPLER BAKI and GUNSLINGER GIRL anime TV series. The company has the rights to all 24 episodes of GRAPPLER BAKI, which aired in Japan in 2001. The sports series is based on the manga by Keisuke Itagaki, which is published by Akita Shoten in Japan. Produced by Madhouse in 2003, GUNSLINGER GIRL is a sci-fi action-adventure about a group of brainwashed girls, who have been trained to be professional assassins.
Bandai Ent. has announced it has secured the rights to three new anime series PLANETES, AVENGER and SHIN MEGAMI TENSHI DEVI CHILDREN.
PLANETES is a 26-episode sci-fi series produced in 2003 by Bandai Visual and Sunrise. Set in the year 2075, the hero works on a space station sweeping up space debris and dreams of owning a space ship of his own.
AVENGER is a 13-episode series produced by Bee Train (NOIR). In a bleak future, mankind has been forced to live in deteriorating dome cities and animated "dolls" take the place of children.
Penguin Group USA has signed a three-year deal to publish manga with Digital Manga Inc. in a deal brokered by Eloise Flood, publisher of Razorbill, the newly launched teen imprint from Penguin Young Readers Group and Hikaru Sasahara, ceo of Digital Manga Inc.
Lucasfilm Ltd. has announced that it has established Lucasfilm Animation Singapore, a digital animation studio designed to produce digital animated content, including films, television and games for global audiences. Gail Currey, vp/gm of Lucasfilm Animation, will lead the Singapore-based creative team. The other investors in the venture include EDB Investments Pte Ltd. and Creative Technology Ltd.
Square Enix Co., Ltd. has announced that it will screen a special preview edition of the upcoming FINAL FANTASY VII ADVENT CHILDREN at the 61st Venice International Film Festival, September 1-11 in Venice, Italy. The film is a direct-to-DVD CG-animated sequel to FINAL FANTASY VII, one of the best-selling PlayStation videogames of all time. FINAL FANTASY VII ADVENT CHILDREN will be shown as part of "Venezia Digitale," the new digital image category of the festival. Since the product is still in development, a special preview will be screened at the festival.
NVIDIA has signed agreements with six companies to sell and support the NVIDIA Gelato 1.0 GPU-accelerated final-frame renderer. The companies are also authorized to sell bundles of NVIDIA Quadro FX professional graphics hardware with Gelato. The NVIDIA Gelato resellers are:
* 3VIS in Montreal and Eastern Canada (www.3vis.ca or www.3vis.com)* BB.TEK.INC in India (www.bbtekinc.com)* Helios|Oceana in Toronto and Central Canada (www.heloc.com)
VirtueGraphics has created a 3D demonstration of yacht mechanical equipment for boat shows. The 3 1⁄2 minute animation featured Quantum's "zero speed" stabilizers, which are hydraulic-powered devices located under water in the middle of the yacht. The animation compared the stability of a yacht equipped with the Quantum Controls stabilizer against a yacht without one.
At SIGGRAPH 2004, the Gnomon Workshop and the Gnomon School of Visual Effects (booth #1113) will be showcasing its educational products with various presentations and its library of 82 DVDs. In addition, Gnomon will have books available to get them signed such as EXPOSE I, EXPOSE II, D'ARTISTE, ELEMENTAL and more from booth partners CG Networks and Ballistic Media.
Animated features are truly getting more and more respect at major film festivals. First it was INNOCENCE and SHREK 2 in competition at Cannes and now, for the first time in 30 years, an animated film will be in competition at the Venice International Film Festival. And who better to break the 30-year toon hiatus than Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki with his latest feature, HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE.
