AWN's Web Animation Guide is the place for what's new on the Net. In this week's installment a new ANGRY KID, a funny satire from the creator of Icebox's QUEER DUCK, a brand new Webisode of LIKE, NEWS and much, much more!
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Also every week AWN's associate editor Rick DeMott highlights what he thinks is the top new toon in cyberspace in "Rick's Picks!"
March is technology month. In this issue we will be discussing what the future will be like for the high-end computer hardware/software companies. Have their glory days passed? Are they just releasing new software versions to release new product or are these true advancements? Do studios need all of these versions? Due to previous advancements are studios now comfortably doing more with less due to the high-end/low-end technology blur and proprietary software? How does the cost of retraining factor into these decisions?
Venice, California's Digital Domain, one of the largest visual effects studios in Los Angeles, which creates digital effects for feature films, commercials and location-based entertainment projects, is looking for a RENDER WATCHER. . . Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's Drexel University, Department of Media Arts, is looking for an ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, COMPUTER ANIMATION to teach undergraduate courses. Depending on interest and expertise, there may be opportunities to teach in other areas including: 3D modeling, compositing, gaming, story conceptualization and character development/direction. . .
This summer, VanArts (Vancouver Institute of Media Arts) will hold one-month intensives (no prerequisites required) in classical and computer animation...
As part of InternetWorld (Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., March 12-16, 2001), FlashCore, the new media community that hosts the Flash User Group, is presenting an online entertainment forum Wednesday, March 14, 2001. The keynote address will begin at 5 pm, and the speaker is TBA. Beginning at 5:45 pm, Clive Henrick, multimedia developer, Netgroupie.com, will run a demonstration of integrating DVD and Flash with the Web using InterActual Player 2.0.
The M.P.S.C. Local 839 IATSE, the labor union for screen cartoonists and CGI artists and technicians in southern California, has updated their AWN page with the February 2001 edition of their newsletter, The Peg-Board...
ASIFA-Colorado was officially inaugurated and celebrated on January 19, 2001 with a party which brought together an audience of over 120 animators, students and animation enthusiasts...
On Thursday, March 22, 2001, the Toronto Animated Image Society (TAIS) presents a double event: Richard Reeves and Frozen Moments. Animator Richard Reeves will be on hand to introduce his award-winning films "Sea Song" and "Linear Dreams" and premiere some new works. Richard has mastered the technique of creating animated films by scratching, bleaching and painting on raw 35mm movie film to create beautiful animated films without using a camera.
This year, again, AWN is the place to go to discover all the animation nominees for the coveted Short Animated Film Oscar award...
The Rochester Institute of Technology will be screening its film and video MFA theses. The February screening will be held on campus at the newly revamped Webb Auditorium at 7 pm. The other date's time and location is yet to be announced.
REALVIZ and Alias|Wavefront are now offering REALVIZ's award-winning ImageModeler to all new customers of Maya Complete and Maya Unlimited. ImageModeler provides computer graphics professionals with more intuitive and innovative image-based solutions to complex production challenges for the creation of graphics and visual effects for film, broadcast, game development and the Internet.
On March 6, 2001, U.K.-based Kelseus will release Version 1 of CLOTH, a new plug-in for 3D Studio MAX. CLOTH produces highly realistic animation of clothes on animated figures and objects, taking into account all of the cloth geometry that collides with another object - not just the vertices. It also boasts complete integration with Max Dynamic Effects such as the Wind and Gravity Space Warps, and it can maintain libraries of cloth materials, which can be re-used between scenes.
Mark Simon, co-founder of AARGH! Animation, Inc., has resigned from the company to start a new cel animation development and production studio. The new Orlando-based A&S Animation, Inc. already has two short-form animation series in production entitled, TIMMYS LESSONS IN NATURE and MY WIFE IS PREGNANT. In addition, the studio is developing several 30-minute animated series. Simon is the author of STORYBOARDS: MOTION IN ART. For more information on A&S Animation contact Mark Simon at E-mail: msimon@cfl.rr.com.
The U.S. Recording Academy handed out its Grammy awards, giving two statuettes to TOY STORY II. The first went to "Woody's Roundup Featuring The Riders In The Sky" for outstanding musical album for children. The second went to Randy Newman's tune "When She Loved Me" for outstanding song written for a motion picture, television or other visual media.
At a press conference in New York on Wednesday, Cartoon Network executives unveiled the new TV and online schedule for 2001-2002. The network announced four new series for 2001. Launching in June 2001, TIME SQUAD, created by Dave Wasson (MAX AND HIS SPECIAL PROBLEM), centers on a group of time travelers who must travel into the past to change events, which are disrupting the future. Launching in August 2001, SAMURAI JACK, created by Genndy Tartakovsky (DEXTER'S LABORATORY), tells the story of a great warrior displaced to the distant future by the evil shape-shifting wizard Aku.
Each year the Brussels Cartoon and Animated Film Festival programs the "cr
Comfortably remaining the top toon, THE SIMPSONS ranked #34, with an 8.8 rating/14 share. In a three-way tie for 63rd place, KING OF THE HILL pegged a 5.8 rating/10 share. Also in a three-way tie, FUTURAMA descended into the 78th slot with a 4.9 rating/9 share. Sinking into the WB basement, THE PJS piled up a 1.5 rating/3 share. However it was UPN's animated Friday line-up that proved the worst in toondom. GARY & MIKE placed 114th with a 1.4 rating/3 share and CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH placed 116th with a 1.3 rating/2 share. These ratings and shares represent primetime TV in the U.S.
Inkwell Images has purchased the only existing picture and sound negatives to a series of early Max Fleischer Bouncing Ball SONG CARTUNES. Inkwell purchased the prints from New York-based Movietronics film library. One title, MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME is one of the earliest attempts at animating dialog, as a black dog character mouths, "Follow the ball and join in, everybody!" Produced in 1924, they feature synchronized sound and are part of the Library of Congress' archives, however their prints are without soundtracks.
Imax Corp. has announced that due to a corporate restructuring it will lay off 130 of its 1,000 employees. The restructuring comes as a result of several theater-chains' recent bankruptcies, which has lowered the demand for large screen films. The company will consolidate its sound and projection systems manufacturing at its facilities in Mississauga, Ontario and will scale down film production at its studio in Birmingham, Alabama. Imax will take a first quarter 2001 loss as a result of restructuring costs.
* Friday, November 16 Saturday, November 17, 2001. New York, New York, U.S.A.
Entry Deadline: April 13, 2001
* Wednesday, March 14 - Sunday, March 18, 2001. Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.
* Friday, March 30 - Sunday, April 1, 2001. Santa Clara, California, U.S.A.
Walt Disney Studios has promoted Dean Hallett to executive VP and chief financial officer. Hallett, an 11-year veteran of Disney, previously served as senior VP and chief financial officer of the studio. He assumed that role in April, following the departure of Rob Moore. Hallett will continue to oversee all financial, strategic and operational aspects of the firm. As executive VP, he will help develop and expand strategy and management. Hallett joined Disney in 1990 as a manager in the corporate management audit department.
Gillian Samuels has joined Digital Pictures as marketing director and executive producer. In the new role, Samuels will oversee the development of the firm's brand, capitalize on new and existing markets and help expand their design and high-end visual effects capabilities in both television and film. Previously, as director of marketing and client services at Garner MacLennan Design, Samuels was responsible for the marketing and developing of the Broadcast Design division.
Spontaneous Combustion helped bite off the heads of Pepperidge Farms' Goldfish for a new ad campaign. Filmed by New York-based Chelsea Pictures, the campaign consists of one 30-second, a 20-second with a 10-second endtag, and a 15-second ad. The spot begins with CG goldfish swimming and diving through a page of sheet music. As the fish start to swim throughout the room, live-action footage of kids and mothers munching on goldfish fill the scene.
