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Digital artist/designer Ben Orisich has joined New York-based design, production and VFX company Cyclotron. The 25 year-old Orisich comes to Cyclotron from four years at Click 3X in Atlanta where he was senior Inferno artist. Prior to joining Click 3X, he was a freelance artist specializing in compositing, digital effects and editing. Orisich began his career as an intern at WHOA! Films, pursuing interests in compositing, animation and editing. Orisichs work has won numerous awards, including the Gold BDA International Design Award (2000), an Emmy (1998) and an Addy Gold Award.

Visual effects and design studio A52 recently completed work on a series of 30-second spots for the FOX network, which debuted on January 18, 2002 and counted down to February 3, 2002, Super Bowl Day. The spots promoted the scheduled live Super Bowl performances of U2, Paul McCartney, No Doubt and other artists, and featured multiple layers of high-contrast imagery composited with text and other graphic elements. A52 also provided visual effects on the spots.

Pixar Animation Studios will be honored with the Producers Guild of Americas (PGA) inaugural Vanguard Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in new media and technology. The PGA cited Pixars significant contributions in the field of computer graphic imaging (CGI) technology since its inception 15 years ago. Pixar created the first full-length computer animated feature film, 1995s TOY STORY and their RenderMan software propelled computer graphics into mainstream movie-making by allowing computer generated images to blend in seamlessly with live-action scenes.

Each week, Animation World Magazine offers new articles, specialfeatures and theme-based coverage of the art, craft and industry ofanimation. New this week:

- Find the Right School for YouWe are always asked, "What's the best animation school to attend?" And the answer is..."It depends on you." Dan Sarto offers a checklist of advice to find the right school for you.

Kirkland, Washington's Amaze Entertainment is looking for a BACKGROUND ARTIST . . . Lille, France's An Eye for an Eye is looking for a 3D ANIMATOR . . . Olympia, Washington's Catalyst FX is looking for a 3D ANIMATOR/MODELER . . . HoChiMinh, Vietnam's Demen Animation Co. is looking for an ANIMATION AGENT . . . Digital Creations is looking for a FLASH ANIMATOR (UNPAID) . . . London, UK's EMailYourCV is looking for a 3D GAMES PROGRAMMER and a PS PROGRAMMER . . . Glendale, California's NeoPets, Inc. is looking for an ILLUSTRATOR/ARTIST . . .

Led by strong sales for its HARRY POTTER game franchise, Redwood City, California-based Electronic Arts (EA) reported a net profit of $132.3 million, or 92 cents per share, compared with net earnings of $88 million, or 63 cents per share, in the year-earlier period. Excluding goodwill and other charges, the company reported earnings of $147.1 million, or $1.03 per share. Revenue in the quarter was $832.9 million, up from $640.3 million a year earlier.

The animated opening sequence for the February 3, 2002 broadcast of Super Bowl XXXVI on FOX Sports was created in Discreets 3ds max 4. The FOX network set the tone for the big game with a CG flythrough of a futuristic, stylized New Orleans scene and ended with a visualization of the Lombardi trophy during the beginning moments of the telecast. 3ds max software was used to model and animate low-polygonal CG characters creating a bustling atmosphere within the Mardi Gras setting.

Animation producer Millimages is expanding into German territory with the acquisition of 51% of the Hamburg-based animation company, Toons n Tales. This latest acquisition follows the companys announcements in 2001 of the launch of Millimages USA, headed by Dorian Langdon, and the international distribution center, Millimages London. Toons n Tales managing director and co-founder Sunita Struck, will continue to oversee the company in partnership with Millimages.

The innovative studio that brought the synthespians of FINAL FANTASY to life, is planning to close up shop. Pressure from parent company Square Co., Ltd. of Tokyo is forcing Honolulu-based Square USA into closure, if they cannot find investors between now and March 31, 2002. Square Co. ceased funding of the studio in September, and although Square USA attempted to find partners in major U.S. studios, they have not been able to procure outside funding. Although the studio hopes an investor will appear in the 11th hour, a March 31st shut down seems inevitable.