Anime

Anime Network Teams with Waldenbooks

The Anime Network has announced a nationwide in-store signage promotion with Waldenbooks, America's largest mall based book retailer. Starting August 1, 2003, Waldenbooks will promote the Anime Network with signs placed in the manga section of its stores. The deal is an extension of the partnership between Waldenbooks and the networks parent company A. D. Vision, Inc., which brings home-entertainment anime products in Waldenbooks locations.

In Anime, Licensing, Anime, Licensing | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Australia, North America

Headline News

A.D. Vision Announces Launch of ADV Toys

A.D. Vision Inc. has officially announced the founding of ADV Toys, the firm's new merchandise division. Word of the new arm was first hinted at Anime Expo 2003. The new division will create toys and collectible merchandise based upon the company's film, manga and original content properties.

In Anime, Licensing, Anime, Licensing | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Brickyard Headline News

boujou Helps Unite Beetle and iPod in New Spot

Brickyard VFX recently used boujou, the 3D camera matchmoving software from 2d3 to complete a complex shot tracking for PODS UNITE, a new commercial promoting Volkswagen's New Beetle and the Apple iPod. A longtime 2d3 customer based out of Boston, Brickyard handled all visual effects and compositing for the 30-second tie-in spot, produced via advertising agency Arnold Worldwide.

In Anime, Commercials, Visual Effects, Anime, Commercials, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Films Headline News

Theatrical Release Database: More Than 20 New Films & Alamo & Matrix 3 Trailers

In addition to more than 20 new films in AWNs Theatrical Release Database, you can also view the trailers for two of the falls most anticipated films THE ALAMO and MATRIX REVOLUTIONS. We added pages for the two Go Fish anime releases MILLENNIUM ACTRESS and GHOST IN THE SHELL II, as well as the live-action version of the anime flick BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE. Making the jump from the small screen will be the feature film version of THE FAIRLY ODDPARENTS.

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Effects Headline News

Bauhaus Releases Pre-Release Version of Mirage

Bauhaus Software Inc. has announced the launch of its flagship product, Mirage, a unified environment for creating animated graphics and special effects. Mirage seamlessly integrates realtime video paint, animation and effects functionalities into a single product. Designed for projects of any resolution, ranging from HDTV and film to web video, Mirage provides a common sense, powerful alternative to expensive proprietary solutions and complex software workflows. Mirage is based on technology formerly distributed as NewTek's Aura Video Paint.

In Anime, Technology, Anime, Technology | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Series Headline News

Bandai Launches Witch Hunter Robin Website

Bandai Entertainment has launched www.witchhunteronline.com to help promote the upcoming DVD release of Shukou Murases anime series, WITCH HUNTER ROBIN. The site will feature information about the characters, setting, production as well as news reports, background information, DVD release dates and trailers. An interactive Witch Hunting Experience is planned to go live at the end of August. 2003

In Anime, Interactive, Anime, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Digital Headline News

ABC Dials Digital Bucket to Promote Fall Season on DVD

ABC Television recently turned to emerging media and post studio Digital Bucket to create an innovative DVD promoting the network's new fall season. An entertaining and effective promo give-away, the DVD will inform viewers about the new programs, movies, returning ABC favorites and the TGIF franchise.

In Anime, Flash, Television, Visual Effects, Anime, Flash, Television, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Freddy Vs. Jason Director Options Blood

Director Ronny Yu (FREDDY VS. JASON) has optioned rights to the anime movie BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE for a live-action feature, according to SCI FI WIRE. The original 2000 movie directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo concerns a vampire hunter on a military base.

In Anime, Films, Visual Effects, Anime, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Dreamworks Headline News

Millennium Actress First to Go Fish for DreamWorks

As part of the recent studio trend, DreamWorks SKG has formed a new specialty division, Go Fish Pictures, with MILLENNIUM ACTRESS, the critically acclaimed anime title by Satoshi Kon, as its first release. MILLENNIUM ACTRESS opens September 12, 2003 in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco and Toronto. INNOCENCE: GHOST IN A SHELL II will follow in the spring of 2004, but there may be more titles in between, including live action.

In Anime, Films, Anime, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Anime Headline News

Anime Network MIPCOM Bound to Shop

Anime Network, the first dedicated anime network in the U.S., plans to acquire more anime programming for its growing digital network at the upcoming MIPCOM market in Cannes, October 10-14, 2003.

With the diversity of programming available at MIPCOM, we expect to discover new sources for content which we can then bring back and introduce to American viewers, said Anime Network president Kevin Corcora. Were also anxious to meet and explore other opportunities for our sister companies, including ADV Films and NewType USA.

In Anime, Television, Anime, Television | Headline News | Special Events: MIPCOM | Geographic Region: All, North America

Painting Headline News

Maxon Releases BodyPaint 3D Release 2

Maxon Computers announced the release of BodyPaint 3D Release 2, which included development aid from Sony Pictures Imageworks. The new version includes fast and easy-to-use tools for distortion free painting and Projection Painting, which allows textures to be painted onto a 3D model without UV seams appearing. Used in conjunction with RayBrush mode, users can create perfectly mapped textures and view results in realtime.

In Anime, Technology, Visual Effects, Anime, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

My Life As A Teenage Robot Premieres

MY LIFE AS A TEENAGE ROBOT, a spin-off of the hit show OH YEAH! CARTOONS, premiered at 8:30 pm on August 1, 2003 on Nickelodeon. The series centers on a six-foot robot XJ-9 named Jenny (voiced by Jancie Kawaye) who is programmed to save the world with her incredible super powers and is really a sensitive teenager on the inside.

In Anime, Television, Anime, Television | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Headline News

Alias Launches Maya Personal Learning Edition 5

Alias Systems released Maya Personal Learning Edition 5, a fully functioning version of Maya Complete software for non-commercial use. Maya Personal Learning Edition was first launched in February 2002.

In Anime, Technology, Anime, Technology | Headline News | Special Events: SIGGRAPH | Geographic Region: All

Digital Headline News

What's Happening at SIGGRAPH 2003?

This year's SIGGRAPH is expected to draw more than 25,000 computer graphics and interactive technology professionals and 200 exhibitors at the San Diego Convention Center, July 27-31, 2003. The conference (Sunday through Thursday) includes a July 28 keynote address, "Modeling the Cosmos: The Shape of the Universe," by Cambridge University astrophysicist Anthony Lasenby (8:00-9:45 am, Room 20A-C).

In Anime, Event, Anime, Event | Headline News | Special Events: MIPCOM, SIGGRAPH | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Headline News

This Week In AWN's Forums

Having trouble pitching your idea to the studios? Check out what our forum members have to say about the plight of the pitch. Several threads contain opinions on various schools, festivals and books. One of our new members is calling out for answers on questions about writing for series. Another junior member wants to know about everyones experience working with puppets. Classic threads still continue blazing about anime and manga as well as members sketch art. And what makes you laugh? Find out what others are saying.

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Media Headline News

Central Park Media Manga Line Gets Fall Re-pricing

Central Park Media has announced that its fall 2003 line of manga titles will have a smaller size and a reduced price of $9.99. Commencing the launch of the new manga line will be the highly anticipated October 8, 2003 release of POPCORN ROMANCE by acclaimed graphic novelist Tomoko Taniguchi. The story follows two metal-head brothers who worry about their lost love when they take a forced vacation to their grandfathers farm.

In Anime, Books, Anime, Books | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Headline News

Kaydara Announces Alias' Support for FBX

Kaydara Inc., a leader in 3D character animation and motion capture technologies, has announced the support of Alias for the Kaydara FBX authoring file format. A free Kaydara FBX-Maya plug-in, which provides Maya software users with a seamless pathway for the acquisition and exchange of 3D data, will be bundled on the Maya CD and posted free on the Kaydara (www.kaydara.com/fbx) and Alias (www.alias.com) Websites.

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Headline News

Art Institute Forms First California Student Chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH

The Animation Club at The Art Institute of California --San Francisco (www.aicasf.aii.edu) has made its mark on the computer graphics and animation world by forming California's first student chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH, the world's largest organization of computer graphics professionals.

In Anime, Education and Training, Anime, Education and Training | Headline News | Special Events: SIGGRAPH | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Perception Designs Kiosk Display For National Constitution Center

Design/post-production house Perception has delivered kiosk display sequences for the National Constitution Center (www.constitutioncenter.org), which opened its doors in Philadelphia July 4, 2003. For the seven 10-second animation sequences, Perception teamed with director Hock Films Jonathan Hock, who recently collaborated with Perception on the show opens to ESPN's STREETBALL and BLOCK PARTY. The permanent exhibit, entitled "Point Counterpoint," presents short films featuring actors arguing both sides of some of the influential teachings of American history and culture.

In Anime, Places, Anime, Places | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Teen Titans Takes to the Airwaves on Cartoon Network

TEEN TITANS, a series based on the popular DC Comics comic book characters, moved up on the Cartoon Network schedule to premiere July 19, 2003 at 9:00 pm. It seems appropriate for this new generation of superheroes to hit the airwaves as comic fans in the thousands are attending the world's largest comic book convention, the Comic-Con 2003 in San Diego through the weekend.

In Anime, Television, Anime, Television | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Animation Headline News

The June Acrobat Edition of Animation World Magazine is Now Online!

Now available is the June Acrobat Edition of Animation World Magazine, focusing on Independent Animation. Rick DeMott talks to Mike Nguyen about his independent feature MY LITTLE WORLD. We also have profiles on two indie creators Dr. William Moritz and Debra Solomon. As well, Dave Warren takes us down the first leg of his bumpy trail to bring life to his self-produced TV series. For an international flare, we focused on Bulgaria. The Animation Pimp tells us that change is good, while Dr. Toon uncovers the evil empire of Disney.

In Anime, Anime | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Effects Headline News

Digital Anarchy Launches Toolbox for Adobe After Effects

Digital Anarchy, a leading provider of cost-effective special effects software for Adobe, Apple and Discreet products, has released the Anarchy Toolbox for After Effects. Anarchy Toolbox is a set of nine tools for creating a wide variety of sophisticated effects, including creative blurs, beautiful glows, controlled distortions, seamlessly tiled images, warped graphics and utilities.

In Anime, Technology, Visual Effects, Anime, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Anime Headline News

KOCH Gets Into Anime

KOCH Entertainment Distribution, a growing music and video distributor in Port Washington, New York, signed an exclusive distribution deal with AnimEigo, a leading Anime label that specializes in releasing the finest Japanese Animation and Samurai films in the North American market. KOCH will distribute AnimEigo's entire catalog, which includes well-known classic titles such as MACROSS (the series that became the core of ROBOTECH), BUBBLEGUM CRISIS, URUSEI YATSURA, KIMAGURE ORANGE ROAD, OH MY GODDESS!

In Anime, Home Entertainment, Anime, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Toonami Will Replace CNX

The CNX daytime anime programming block, Toonami, has become so popular in Europe that the third kid's animation channel from the Cartoon Network stable will be rebranding under that name in September 2003.

The Toonami concept began as a programming block on Cartoon Network and was then expanded into the daytime hours on CNX. Shows like DRAGONBALL Z and X-MEN: EVOLUTION have consistently been amongst the highest rated cartoons with boys 10 to 15, the target audience for the new channel.

In Anime, Television, Anime, Television | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Africa, Europe

Headline News

FUNimation Gets the Goods on Detective Conan

FUNimation Prods., Ltd. has acquired the rights to DETECTIVE CONAN, a Japanese mega-hit series produced by TMS Entertainment, Ltd., the Fort Worth-Texas-based company announced during the recent Anime Expo 2003 in Anaheim, California.

DETECTIVE CONAN is one of the highest rated series in Japan, is in its sixth season with 300 half-hours produced as well as two movies, THE TIME BOMBED SKYSCRAPER and THE FOURTEENTH TARGET, which FUNimation also acquired the rights to. Home video release dates for the features are tentatively scheduled for late spring 2004.

In Anime, Television, Anime, Television | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia