Fantasm 2001 is a leading multimedia science-fiction, fantasy, horror, art, film and gaming convention. Foundation Imaging's computer animation wizard, Mojo, will be on hand to discuss his work on the TV series BABYLON 5, STAR TREK: VOYAGER and STARSHIP TROOPERS. Visitors can bring their demo tapes and questions on how to break into the computer animation business.
Also scheduled for Friday, May 11
The University of Washington is presenting a lecture by Jacquelyn Ford Morie, manager of creative development at the Institute for Creative Technologies at the University of Southern California. Her discussion is entitled, "The Digital Sound Stage of the Future: Roadmap to the Holodek." The event will be held in Room 108, in the Student Union Building on the UW campus at 4:30 pm. The lecture is sponsored by the Animation Research Labs and the Department of Computer Science & Engineering.
he Images Festival is an exhibition of artists' film, video and new media. The event searches out cutting-edge work from inventive filmmakers.
* Friday, May 11, 2001. North Hollywood, California, U.S.A.
* Friday, April 27 Saturday, April 28, 2001 and May 12, 2001. Valencia, California, U.S.A.
* Friday, April 20 Friday, June 8, 2001. Santa Monica, California, U.S.A.
* Friday, April 27 Sunday, April 29, 2001.Toronto, Ontario, Canada
* Wednesday, April 25, 2001. Toronto, Ontario, Canada
* Thursday, May 17 Friday, May 18, 2001. Córdoba, Argentina.
Entry Deadline: April 30, 2001
Alias|Wavefront announced on April 10, 2001, that next month it will be releasing a Maya exporter plugin that will transfer content into Macromedia Director 8.5 Shockwave Studio software. The Maya Shockwave 3D Exporter plugin will provide an export solution for the rapid refinement of content for the soon-to-be-released 3D version of the Shockwave Web platform. The plugin will be available for both Windows and Macintosh platforms.
Electric Rain announced the development of a plugin version of their Swift 3D product that will allow LightWave 3D users to export content directly to the Macromedia Flash file format, as well as other types of vector-based formats. Scheduled for a late Spring, 2001 release, the plugin will support both PC and Macintosh platforms, and will accurately render complex models as vector outlines, 1-4 color shaded cartoon files and realistic gradient shaded files.
Macromedia, Inc. and Intel Corporation announced on Tuesday, April 10, 2001, that the coming release of Director 8.5 Shockwave Studio will include new jointly developed 3D authoring capabilities, as well as a new version of the Shockwave Multiuser Server and support for both Flash5 and streaming RealMedia content. According to the announcement, the new software is integrated with existing 3D solutions to ensure developers do not have to abandon their 3D authoring software of choice, but rather import that content into Director.
Wireless entertainment company Eruptor Entertainment has launched the PortaBush, their newest PortaPet, which can be downloaded to handheld computers that use the Palm Operating System. A limited version with 25 percent of the complete feature set is available free of charge, while the full version can be purchased online for $4.99. The PortaBush, based on U.S. President George W.
John Kricfalusi's WEEKEND PUSSY HUNT is just one of many Webisodes scheduled to be shown this coming Sunday, April 15, on the premier of MTV DOWNLOADED. Hosted by Gimpy, one of the stars of the upcoming MTV animation series UNDERGRADS, MTV DOWNLOADED will showcase a number of Webtoons, including Joe Cartoon's SUPERFLY II, Aardman Animations' ANGRY KID, Mondo Media's HAPPY TREE FRIENDS and HEAVY METAL GUY, BullsEyeart's MISS MUFFY and Film Roman's HAIRBALLS. Following the 9 pm (ET/PT) premier, viewers will be able to log-on to mtv.com to watch, review and rate each complete Webisode.
IMagicTV, a provider of software products that allow telephone companies and other service providers to deliver multi-channel television and interactive media services, announced on Tuesday, April 3, 2001, that it has entered into a syndication agreement with AtomShockwave Corp. Under this agreement, AtomShockwave's film and animation brand, AtomFilms, will license and manage short film content for iMagicTV, providing customers with new short film titles each month, each with a 60-day licensing window.
A group of five former founders and senior executives of Icebox.com have purchased key assets from the defunct company, and plan to relaunch as a syndicator and developer of properties for the Web and television. The April 10, 2001 announcement also details a new syndication deal Icebox has inked with Mondo Media, creators of the Mondo Mini Show distribution network, which ensures distribution for many Icebox properties, including ZOMBIE COLLEGE and POKER NIGHT.
The 2001 Vancouver Effects & Animation Festival, held April 4-6, has announced its winners in animation, effects, video games/Internet and student films. RING OF FIRE, FOR THE BIRDS, BOB & MARGARET and CASPER all took home prizes. Find the complete and extensive list of winners at:
* Tuesday, September 4, 11, 18 and 25, 2001. San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
Early Deadline: April 30th, 2001
Late Deadline: July 5th, 2001
* Friday, November 16 Sunday, November 18. Bradford, U.K.
Entry deadline: July 27, 2001
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation TriviaQuiz...
Film Roman announced on Friday, April 6, 2001, that their board of directors has rejected last minute changes to the previously announced Pentamedia stock purchase agreement, and extended the deal close date to April 13 pending continuing discussions between the two companies. Under the terms of the existing agreement, Pentamedia was set to acquire a fully-diluted 60% stake of Film Roman in the form of newly issued common stock for $15 million in cash.
POKEMON 3, the third feature installment of the POKEMON trilogy, debuted in fourth place at the box office this weekend, taking in $9.18 million. SPY KIDS, Robert Rodriguez new espionage yarn, with primary visual effects by Hybride Technologies, captured first place for the second week in a row, grossing $17.8 million, with $49 million accumulated thus far. ENEMY AT THE GATES fell from sixth to seventh, grossing $3.45 million.
Cartoon Network plans to clean out their vaults and uncork a two-day, 20-hour "The Best We GoT" new and classic cartoon marathon on April 14 and 15, 2001. The marathon will showcase the best classic cartoons on Saturday, April 14, while on Sunday, April 15, the best cartoons from Cartoon Network's acclaimed original animation series will air. "The Best We GoT" will air from 12-10 p.m. (ET, PT) each day. More than 110 cartoons from Cartoon Network's vast archives of more than 8,000 animated titles will air.
Italys Mondo TV Group has acquired a 30.3% stake in German media company IGEL MEDIA AG. The agreement is contingent upon the approval of IGEL MEDIA AGs supervisory board. Under the terms of the deal, Mondo will receive 1,000,000 shares of IGEL. In addition to Mondo TVs acquisition, a commercial agreement has been signed between the two companies in which IGEL will take over Mondos European distribution of over 300 hours of animated productions including JESUS, THE KINGDOM WITHOUT FRONTIERS, THE SUPER HEROES and LUPO ALBERTO for all territories except Italy.
