Mega Bloks Inc. is partnering with Bardel Entertainment Inc. to make a sequel to last year's DRAGONS FIRE & ICE epic movie adventure. YTV will broadcast the new DRAGONS METAL AGES in fall 2005 while the previous distribution partners Lions Gate, Paramount, and Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution LP are onboard again for the global home entertainment distribution of the second Dragons movie.
ANIMA'05 - III Còrdoba Animation Festival, which took place in Córdoba, Argentina, April 27-30, 2005, handed out its awards on the closing day of the event. German director Gil Alkabetz took home the top prize for his film MORIR DE AMOR.
Professional jury members were Giannalberto Bendazzi (Italy), Irene Blei (Argentina) and Pablo Rodríguez Jáuregui (Argentina). Student's jury members were Federico Caram, Armando Frezze, Silvana Staudinger (Students from the Dept. of Film and TV, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba).
U.K.-based Lionhead Studios, creator of the FABLE and BLACK & WHITE game franchises, is adopting SOFTIMAGE|XSI software as the standard 3D art and animation tool for future development projects. Artists at Lionhead plan to use SOFTIMAGE|XSI software to create and animate the characters, props and environments for their next generation of PC and console games. The transition is set to take place in multiple phases starting next month.
With the theme of feature films, the latest Acrobat version of Animation World Magazine is now available for download. Karen Raugust tackles the production of indie animated features. Phillipe Moins reports about the European scene. Chris Panzner kicks off his series on commissioned work, while Rick DeMott writes about the early 2004 Oscar buzz.
From September 2005, the Department of Electronics at the University of Kent will complement its BSc in Multimedia Technology and Design with an MSc in Computer Animation. This MSc, which is a direct collaboration between the Department of Electronics and Mike Eames, head of animation at Framestore CFC, will equip students to become highly skilled professionals in the animation and visual effects industry.
Cartoons on the Bay handed out its Pulcinella Awards on April 30, 2005, with AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER, FOSTERS HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS and PEPPA PIG all taking home two awards each. The event wrapped on Sunday with the awards shows having to turn away people because it was over capacity.
Alienware announced the availability of the new Alienware Aurora: Star Wars Edition, the first-ever officially licensed STAR WARS PC. Aurora: Star Wars Edition systems are based on AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 processors and packed with exclusive STAR WARS content such as desktop skins, fan club membership and movie soundtrack samples. The systems are available in two versions, Dark Side and Light Side, which feature breathtaking STAR WARS artwork on the cases.
Gizmondo Europe Ltd, subsidiary of Jacksonville, Florida-based Tiger Telematics Inc., can confirm the new multi-entertainment handheld will be stocked by more than 700 stores across France for launch on May 19, 2005. The retailers confirmed for launch are Antares, Virgin Megastore, PC City, 3 Suisses (VPC), Leclerc, Madison Nuggets, Cora and Surcouf handled by three distributors Innelec, Erbel-Disca 7 and Sodifa, while Darty and Boulanger will be supplied directly by Gizmondo France. Gizmondo France will also be working with leading distributor, DIES, for Belgium and Luxemburg.
Fox Broadcasting Co. has arranged a great many varieties of animated sitcoms into a great bouquet to be presented to viewers on May Day, May 1, 2005, with the return of FAMILY GUY at 9:00 pm, debut of the AMERICAN DAD series, airing at 9:30 pm, KING OF THE HILL at 7:00 pm and, reportedly, 350th episode of THE SIMPSONS at 8:00 pm.
VIII International Short Film Festival of Barcelona MECAL 2005Barcelona, SpainSeptember 10-18, 2005Deadline: June 30, 2005
MECAL 2005 is international and contains three principal sections: short films, documentaries and obliquas section. Entries can have originated from 16mm. or 35mm film, digital or Betacam, but must be converted to DVD, VHS-NTSC or PAL for submission. For more information, visit www.mecalbcn.org.
Platinum Studios and The Shop Prods. have chosen Alan McElroy (SPAWN) to write the screenplay for the $18 million budgeted first ever CG theatrical horror feature, BONESAW, based on the Platinum Studios graphic novel by acclaimed Scots writer Rob Moran. Relativity Management, one of Hollywood's leading talent management firms, will be co-financing the picture and is arranging the international elements. Production is set to begin in early 2006, and be completed fall 2007. McElroy will be splitting his time between his Ohio home and the Vancouver production offices of BONESAW.
Digital Vision announced that Industrial Light & Magic has used its AGR4 ME motion-compensated grain & noise management system to prepare the digital cinema master for George Lucas STAR WARS: EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH, which hits theaters May 19, 2005.
THQ Inc. has released HELLO KITTY BUBBLEGUM GIRLFRIENDS for PC and Mac. Published by ValuSoft, a division of THQ, the videogame based on the SANRIO property is rated "E" for Everyone and is available at retailers in the U.S. for $19.99 SRP.
Romania-born cartoonist and illustrator André François, whose satirical style moves editorial cartooning away from traditional realism, died on April 11, 2005, at his home in Grisy-les-Plâtres, France, reports THE NEW YORK TIMES. He was 89. Cause of death was heart and kidney failure.
Best-selling strategy game STRONGHOLD 2 was developed by FireFly Studios and published by 2K Games, a publishing label of Take2 Interactive, using Lifemode Interactives LifeStudio:HEAD.
Former Comedy Central and MGM Interactive executive, Kenneth Locker has joined Cookie Jar Entertainment, the programming and licensing arm of Cookie Jar Group, in the newly created position of svp of Digital Media, Cookie Jar. Locker will be responsible for leveraging new and existing content for the company, across a variety of platforms, including the Internet, wireless, broadband and IPTV.
Vince Roberts has been promoted to the newly created position of evp, worldwide technology and operations, Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group and Walt Disney Television International. He will be responsible for the global technical and operational strategic direction and ongoing management of all television and IT functions across the Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group, including Disney Channel, Toon Disney, SOAPnet, ABC Family and JETIX; and Walt Disney Television International, including, Disney-branded networks in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, Japan and Canada.
HP launched the first business desktop system for Microsoft Windows x64 Editions. The new business desktop PCs and workstations with advanced security features are specifically designed to take advantage of enhancements planned for Microsofts upcoming Longhorn operating system. HP also is enhancing system performance with support for the new Microsoft Windows x64 Edition operating systems across the HP ProLiant server line and on new business desktops and workstations.
Shane Ackers 9 was selected Best of Show and Tomek Baginski becomes the first Computer Animation Festival repeat winner, as ACM SIGGRAPH announced the Computer Animation Festival's Best of Show Award and Jury Honors winners for SIGGRAPH 2005. The 32nd International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques will be held July 31 through Aug. 4 in Los Angeles, California.
The Computer Animation Festival jury selected three award winners from 560 entries for exemplary use of computer-generated imagery and animation, and compelling storytelling.
Buena Vista Games (BVG) announced it will become a multi-platform publisher in summer 2005 and launch a portfolio of high profile videogames in the U.K., Germany and France as well as extend its current portfolio of kids- and family-focused titles to a wider audience, to include 'tween, teen and core gamers.
Jill Lindeman joins Disney ABC Cable Networks Group as vp/creative director for marketing, Disney Channel, responsible for the creative direction and management of all on-air promotion for Disney Channel, Toon Disney, Jetix, Playhouse Disney and ABC Kids, including the development and production of interstitials for Disney Channel. Additionally, Lindeman has oversight of the creative direction for off-air initiatives including print production, online development and marketing collateral.
She reports to Matt Palmer, svp, marketing, Disney Channel, in Burbank, California.
fmx/05, the 10th International Conference on Animation, Effects, Realtime and Content, commences April 27 to April 30 in Stuttgart, Germany.
Topics range from film and TV production, animation, effects and realtime to scientific applications, games and the latest software solutions. The organizers anticipate about 2,000 visitors a day, ranging from artists, technical directors, vfx supervisors and post- production companies to animators and broadcasters along with students and young professionals.
Cherry Road Films and Darko Ent. announced that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will star opposite Seann William Scott (AMERICAN PIE films, THE DUKES OF HAZZARD) and Sarah Michelle Gellar (THE GRUDGE) in the science-fiction thriller SOUTHLAND TALES for writer-director Richard Kelly (DONNIE DARKO). Sean McKittrick will produce under the Darko Ent. banner he co-founded with Kelly. Cherry Road principals Bo Hyde and Kendall Morgan will produce.
Helen Blayney joins Celador International as senior sales manger, kids division, where she will be responsible for sales of the companys growing portfolio of childrens programming, including ROOBARB & CUSTARD and TALES OF THE RIVERBANK. Blayney reports to Cathy Laughton, who joined London-based Celador Intl in February 2005 as head of kids programming to champion of its new kids division, Celador International Kids.
At da Vinci's annual Master Colorist Awards competition ceremony on April 19, 2005, at NAB2005, da Vinci announced the winning entries in the four categories of the competition. The winners this year are:
Theatrical release TRAVELERS AND MAGICIANS Digital Pictures Sydney Colorist: Siggy Ferstl
TV And Long Format C.S.I. Down the Drain The Post Group L.A. Colorist: Paul Westerbeck
Commercials NORTHWEST AIRLINESEncore HollywoodColorist: Laura Jans Fazio
