DVD Review: Snow White And Shrek
Two landmark animated features are now available on DVD and Snow White and Shrek both have a lot to offer says Jerry Beck.
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Producing Animation: The Voice Track
Catherine Winder and Zahra Dowlatabadi give step-by-step instructions about what one can expect during a production's casting process. How and when will auditions take place? Who will call? All this and more revealed!
Monsters Is Huge
Disney/Pixars MONSTERS, INC. dominated the box office this weekend, taking in an astounding $63.5M, the biggest opening ever for an animated film and for a Disney film. The family-friendly features opening take was no doubt helped by Star Wars fans who wanted a first glimpse of STAR WARS: EPISODE II. A teaser trailer for the highly anticipated sequel was attached to MONSTERS, INC. A full 2-minute preview will screen with HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERERS STONE, which is scheduled to be another big opening when it hits theaters on November 16th.
Activision Withdraws Registration For Common Stock Offering
Activision, Inc. has discontinued its previously announced public offering of common stock due to current market conditions. The company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission an application for the withdrawal of its registration statement covering the 6 million shares of its common stock that were to be issued in the proposed public offering. The company has also discontinued any further marketing efforts in connection with the offering. However, the companys Board of Directors has approved a three-for-two split of its outstanding common shares.
Victory And Neptuno Join Forces To Co-Produce Animated Series
Victory Film Productions and Neptuno Films Deutschland have signed a co-production deal to produce two animated series for the worldwide market. Series in the pipeline are the classic story of the cat PUSS IN BOOTS (52 x 26) who travels around the world in search of adventure, and AMBI & LANCE (104 x 7). The preschool property follows the adventures of Ambi the ambulance and Lance the doctor, who look after the health of everyone in the county in an original and amusing way. Both co-producers will cover the budget expenses and distribution will be handled by Neptuno.
Cartoon Network Latin America Unveils Its New Line-Up
Cartoon Network Latin America has secured television rights to CORRECTOR YUI, STATIC SHOCK, X-MEN EVOLUTION, ANGELINA BALLERINA and POPOLOCROIS to premiere on the channel in December 2001. In addition, the network will be premiering the fourth season of POKEMON beginning in January 2002 and launches the original series, TIME SQUAD in February 2002. Speaking of TIME SQUAD, TV GUIDE recently voted it one of the ten best new shows for kids in the U.S. FAIRLY ODDPARENTS and JUSTICE LEAGUE made the top ten as well.
Future Animators Of The Future 2nd Annual Animation And Video Festival
Begins: November 2, 2001
The Future Animators of the Future (www.fafcom.com) is pleased to present the second annual FAF show. The show will run through November 2001, playing in Boston, New York City and San Francisco. It will be a great chance to meet some independent animation and video artists.
The festival is currently accepting submissions for up to ten minute video and animation shorts on digital media.
This Week At Animation World Magazine
Each week, Animation World Magazine offers new articles, special features and theme-based coverage of the art, craft and industry of animation. New this week:
- Speaking For Zimself: A Conversation With Jhonen Vasquez Martin"Dr. Toon" Goodman invades the mind of Jhonen Vasquez, the creator of Invader Zim, to discuss Zim, Jhonen's ideas and inspirations, and the ups and downs of producing his first animated series.
This Week In Gene Deitch's "How To Succeed In Animation"
If you enjoyed reading the book on-line and would like to own a copy of the manuscript, an Acrobat PDF copy is available...
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
Job Opportunities For Animators, Web Designers, Compositors And More
Gaffney, South Carolina's Animink Incorporated is looking for a WEB DESIGNER . . . Toronto, Ontario's Chuck Gammage Animation is looking for a COMPOSITOR . . . Chertsey, Surrey's Electronic Arts, an entertainment software company, is looking for a CHARACTER ANIMATOR . . . Glendale, California's Excel Media Group is looking for an AGENT/REPRESENTATIVE . . . Sydney, Nova Scotia's Helix Digital Inc. is looking for a PRODUCTION ASSISTANT . . . Moorpark, California's Paradox Development is looking for ANIMATORS proficient in 3DS MAX . . .
MPSC Has A New Website
The MPSC Local 839 IATSE, the labor union for screen cartoonists and CGI artists and technicians in southern California, has created an all new Website hosted by Animation World Network...
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Plympton Appearances Page Updated!
Want to find out where Bill Plympton's MUTANT ALIENS and EAT are screening?
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
ASIFA-San Francisco Presents An Evening With Tom Sito
Join ASIFA-SF on Wednesday November 7, 2001 at 7:30 pm for an evening with Tom Sito at...
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AWN's Dan Sarto Chairs The Web Forum At LEAF
The London Effects & Animation Festival (LEAF) in London, England Tuesday, November 13 - Thursday, November 15, 2001 is hosting a special Web Forum on Thursday afternoon, November 15 2001, from 2 pm to 5 pm, which will be chaired by AWN's Dan Sarto. Featured sessions will look at the technological developments driving animation work, the tools available for Web-based work and a panel discussion on the future of animation on the Internet. Representatives from Toon Boom, MediaPEGS and Pepper's Ghost will be participating.
AWN's Theatrical Database Has Been Updated
AWN's Upcoming Theatrical Releases database has been updated with...
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
New Additions To AWN's Calendar Of Events
This week's updates to the Calendar of Events include: Japanese Animation: Anime And Its Influences: Wednesday, November 14, 2001, Los Angeles, California USA and eDIT 2001: Sunday, November 11 - Tuesday, November 13, 2001, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen Germany.
This Week's Animation Trivia Quiz
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz. This week...
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
Anime at AFI Fest 2001
Begins: November 1, 2001
Two Japanese animated feature films (dubbed in English) will premiere at AFI Fest 2001 at the Pacific Theatre in Hollywood (6433 Hollywood Blvd.). AH! MY GODDESS will screen Saturday, November 3rd at 4 pm and ESCAFLOWNE: A GIRL IN GAIA will screen Saturday, November 10th at 4 pm. Advance tickets available by calling 866 AFI-FEST or through www.afifest.com.
Align Your Chi - The Feng Shui Detective Is Coming!
STVDIO Media, an American-run animation house based in Hong Kong and specializing in 2D character animation, has been awarded a grant by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council to develop THE FENG SHUI DETECTIVE. Based on characters from author Nury Vittachi's book, a bestseller in Australia and Hong Kong, the animated version has already generated interest from regional media companies. The FENG SHUI DETECTIVE follows the adventures of a Chinese feng shui expert and his Australian teenage girl assistant who travel across Asia assisting the police with their investigations.
Todd McFarlane Creates New Characters For SHREK
The new SHREK game for Microsoft's Xbox game system features character contributions from Emmy winning producer/director, Todd McFarlane. "We are really excited about Todd's character contributions," said Vincent Bitetti, CEO of TDK Mediactive. "The twisted and quirky personalities that he incorporated into the game characters are a perfect match for the unique and irreverent humor of the game." Todd McFarlane collaborated with TDK Mediactive and developer Digital Illusions to create new, exclusive characters for SHREK for Xbox.
Animated Features One Step Closer To Gold
Thirteen is the lucky number for Oscar hopefuls in the Animated Feature category. The November 1, 2001 deadline has come and gone, and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences spokesperson John Pavlik told AWN thirteen applications for the Animated Feature Film Award were received. While Pavlik admitted that a couple of the films might have some eligibility problems, the Academy has enough applications to begin the screening process for qualification.
Toon Boom Studio Supports Mac OS X Version 10.1
Toon Boom Technologies Inc., has released Toon Boom Studio for Mac OS X Version 10.1. Toon Boom has optimized the performance of its software to fit to Apple's OS X upgrade. The free beta update installer, available for download at www.toonboomstudio.com, provides users with Toon Boom Studio's complete desktop application for Web productions. Based on feedback from participants, the beta update for Mac OS X Version 10.1 will be released in November and will be free for licensees of Toon Boom Studio.
The 3DO Company Announces Second Quarter Results
The 3DO Company has finished the fiscal second quarter ended September 30, 2001 in line with expectations. Revenues were $9.9 million, compared to $20.2 million reported for the second quarter of last fiscal year. The net loss for the quarter decreased by 42% to $9.7 million, or $0.20 per share, compared to a loss of $16.7 million, or $0.45 per share in the same quarter last year. The company recorded an adjustment to the second quarter of the prior fiscal year, which resulted in a reduction of $1.8 million of revenue and $0.5 million in cost of sales.
Motion Analysis Captures Two New Employees
MoCap systems manufacturer Motion Analysis Corporation has hired Jeff Thingvold as VP of application engineering and Napoleon Hambrick as VP of new media sales for North America, South America and Japan. Focusing on the new media animation sector of the motion-capture industry, Jeff Thingvold will coordinate the development of all software tools and incorporate customers' current and future needs into software technology designs. Prior to joining Motion Analysis Corporation, Jeff was the chief technology officer at Lambsoft.
House Comes To Life In 13 Ghosts
The newly released feature film 13 GHOSTS is a state-of-the-art remake of the classic William Castle horror film about a family that inherits a spectacular old house from an eccentric uncle, only to find the house is inhabited by a presence that has the new occupants trapped in their dream home. They eventually realize the house is a riddle, which may contain the key to their salvation. 175 special effects shots were created by visual effects lab Cinesite for the film. "The house is a very contemporary space," says Mike Fink, Cinesite's senior visual effects supervisor on the film.
