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Series Headline News

Animated Harold And The Purple Crayon Coming To HBO

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, May 1, 2001 at 12:00am

Sony Pictures Family Entertainment has begun production on HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON, a new animated series scheduled for a December 2001 premier on HBO Family. Academy Award nominee Sharon Stone is set to narrate the series. Based on the classic children's book by Crocket Johnson, the simple characters and situations will be illustrated using cel animation. The series will feature all new characters and situations, as well as those which have appeared in the first book.

Million Headline News

Simpsons Actors Raise The Stakes

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, May 1, 2001 at 12:00am

According to an article in VARIETY, the six stars of THE SIMPSONS are signing deals worth a reported $100,000 per episode. The new contracts reportedly will pay Dan Castellaneta, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Yeardley Smith, Julie Kavner and Nancy Cartwright $2.2 million per season for the next two seasons, with an option for a third season of 22 episodes at $125,000 per episode. Currently, each of the actors makes $70,000 per episode, a significant jump up from the $25,000 per episode they were making in 1998, when they threatened to leave the show unless they received substantial raises.

Animation Headline News

Creative Planet Launches Movie Magic Animation Budget Builder

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, May 1, 2001 at 12:00am

Creative Planet, Inc., AWNs parent company, announced on Monday, April 30, 2001, the release of the Animation Budget Builder, a custom add-on for the industry-standard Movie Magic Budgeting software geared for the animation industry. The add-on was designed by Catherine Winder and Zahra Dowlatabadi, authors of the upcoming book, PRODUCING ANIMATION, and represents broadening interest in the development of Movie Magic software. "For years, Movie Magic Budgeting has been a fantastic tool for budgeting and managing the costs of physical production," said Winder.

Digital Headline News

Restored Akira Playing LA, SF and NYC

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, May 1, 2001 at 12:00am

The anime classic AKIRA, fresh from a $1 million restoration, has been released on the big screen in a few select theatres in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City. With digital projection, this is the cleanest, crispest print ever seen to date. AWN was invited to a special pre-release screening and was very impressed by the quality of the print and restoration. First released theatrically in Japan in 1988, AKIRA has garnered legions of fans around the world and is still considered a masterpiece of cel animation.

Interactive Events

I.D. Magazine Interactive Media Design Review

By Guest (not verified) | Monday, April 30, 2001 at 11:00am
Begins: April 30, 2001

I.D. Magazine is recognizing outstanding interactive work for the year 2000. Eligible for the awards are CD-Roms, Websites, games, kiosk interfaces, promotional demos and unpublished prototypes. A panel of judges will choose gold, silver and bronze prizewinners. All winners will be featured in the June issue of I.D. MAGAZINE. Last entries will be accepted no later than January 15, 2001 and any entry postmarked after January 8 must include an additional US$25 late fee.

Short Events

Sharon Katz' New Short Premieres At The Toronto Jewish Film Festival

By Guest (not verified) | Sunday, April 29, 2001 at 11:00am
Begins: April 29, 2001

Sharon Katz' new short, THE ANGEL'S FOOT CAKE / DER FUS TORT premieres April 29, 2001 at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival. THE ANGEL'S FOOT CAKE is a raucous modern Yiddish tale accompanied by Klezmer music. For more information on Sharon Katz' work, including her previous short, HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANNAH

Digital Headline News

Rieders Named Counsel At Lucas

Alan Keith, chief administrative officer and vice president of Lucas Digital, announced that Robert Rieders has been named general counsel of Lucas Digital Ltd. LLC. Rieders will also serve as corporate secretary to the Lucas Digital board of directors "We are very pleased that Rob Rieders is joining our organization," said Keith. "Lucas Digital is looking at a future that encompasses continued growth, with projects of scope and size unlike anything in our first twenty-five years.

Kids Headline News

Diecks Group Redesigns Discovery Kids Network

Creating what is arguably both the biggest project and greatest success in its eight years of operation, New York's The Diecks Group recently delivered a complete redesign of Discovery Kids Network, a three-hour block of programming aired on weekends on the Discovery Channel. Creative director Brian Diecks and The Diecks Group team were the exclusive creators of 122 on-air design elements, including block opens, next-ons, bumpers, interstitials and promo elements. The project required extensive live-action, 3D animation, effects compositing and 2D graphics.

Headline News

Adobe Optimizes Photoshop For Intel Pentium 4

Adobe announced at NAB the upcoming availability of a plug-in that will optimize Photoshop software for use with the Intel Pentium 4 processor. The new plug-in takes advantage of Intel's latest processor technology and reaffirms Adobe's commitment to providing outstanding performance on the latest technology platforms. Photoshop's software Pentium 4 processor plug-in is expected to be available in May, with no charge to all Photoshop users. Graphic artists who use Photoshop on Intel machines will directly benefit from the Pentium 4 processor's high performance and 144 new instructions.

Films Headline News

Peter Lord And Nick Park Honorary Guests Of The 2001 Annecy Festival

By Dan Sarto | Sunday, April 29, 2001 at 12:00am

This year, the Annecy International Animated Film Festival (June 4-9, 2001) will pay tribute to Great Britain, with a profile of Aardman Animations, along with screenings of classic British shorts, THE YELLOW SUBMARINE, the Bolex Brothers' THE SECRET ADVENTURES OF TOM THUMB, and more. For its 2001 edition Annecy received 1,070 films (1,092 in 2000). 242 of them, representing 26 countries, have been selected for official competition with 193 in competition and 49 in panorama. Confirmed jury members are: AWN's Ron Diamond (producer and publisher, USA), John R.

Headline News

Johnny Bravo Mother's Day Mama-Thon Coming To Cartoon Network

By Dan Sarto | Sunday, April 29, 2001 at 12:00am

On Sunday, May 13, Cartoon Network will present JOHNNY BRAVO'S MOTHER'S DAY MAMA-THON, a 7-hour tribute to the Lady Who Brought Us the Sultan of Self Regard, His Mama. During the Mama-Thon, which runs from 12-7 pm (ET/PT), viewers can witness the many facets of Mama's personality, including disciplinarian (she wields a paddle in PREP SCHOOL JOHNNY), protector (leading a team of commandos to the mall to rescue her beloved son in LAW AND DISORDER), and even diva (Mama does a Marilyn Monroe impression in DUDE RANCH DOOFUS).

Open Headline News

Wild Brain Opens And Closes The Chuck Jones Show

By Dan Sarto | Sunday, April 29, 2001 at 12:00am

San Franciscos Wild Brain, Inc. has announced their work on the animated open, close and lifts for Cartoon Network's new weekly series, THE CHUCK JONES SHOW, which premiered on the cable network this past April 8, 2001. In the 30-second open, Wile E. Coyote zooms around on an Acme rocket, interacting with old Chuck Jones characters such as the Road Runner, Michigan J. Frog, Duck Dodgers, Marvin the Martian and Bugs Bunny. The characters eventually fall onto a stage and surround an animated, framed picture of Chuck Jones. As Wile E.

Cartoon Events

Cartoon Network A Racket In Mexico

By Guest (not verified) | Saturday, April 28, 2001 at 11:00am
Begins: April 28, 2001

Cartoon Network Latin America and the ATP, with the support of La Federacion Mexicana de Tenis, play host to Cartoon Network SMASH Tennis in Mexico starting April 28, 2001. The international touring program, designed to introduce kids to tennis, is hitting Mexico for the first time and features many of Cartoon Network Latin America

Open Events

Art Institutes International at San Francisco Open House

By Guest (not verified) | Saturday, April 28, 2001 at 11:00am
Begins: April 28, 2001

Upcoming high school graduates, artists, creative career seekers and anyone interested in a career in the creative arts is invited to attend an April 28 Open House at The Art Institutes International at San Francisco. The Open House will include presentations from faculty and staff about the school

Awards Events

Harvey Awards 2001

By Guest (not verified) | Friday, April 27, 2001 at 11:00am
Begins: April 27, 2001

Named after the late comics genius Harvey Kurtzman, the Harvey Awards honor outstanding work in comics and sequential art. Harvey Kurtzman (1924-1993) was a cartoonist, writer, editor and the founder of MAD Magazine. Nominations for the Harvey Awards are selected exclusively by comics creators -- those who write, draw, ink, letter, color, design, edit or are otherwise involved in a creative process. The awards have 20 categories, ranging from Best New Talent to Best Cartoonist.

Animation Events

Max The Mutt Animation School Open House

By Guest (not verified) | Friday, April 27, 2001 at 11:00am
Begins: April 27, 2001

Max the Mutt Animation School, also known as Studio M, is having its second Open House. Student work from both the Visual Arts Literacy and Classical Animation Programs will be on display, including life drawing, painting, background painting, cartooning, character design and more. Friday

Events

Sakura Con 2001

By Guest (not verified) | Friday, April 27, 2001 at 11:00am
Begins: April 27, 2001

Sakura Con 2001 is a Japanese anime and manga convention. Voice-over actress Lia Sargent will be the guest of honor. Lia has provided voices for shows such as TRIGUN, COWBOY BEBOP, EL-HAZARD and many others. The event will feature discussion panels with voice actor/industry guests, an art show, a Japanese cultural discussion, demonstration panels, video gaming and a dance.

Events

ASIFA-Central Conference and Retreat

By Guest (not verified) | Friday, April 27, 2001 at 11:00am
Begins: April 27, 2001

ASIFA-Central is having its ninth annual Animators Conference and Retreat. Events include presentations, workshops, animation screenings, networking time, outdoor BBQ and a late night Animator's Bonfire! Registrations accepted onsite for the weekend or for Saturday only. Utica is located on the Illinois River, 90 miles west of Chicago (90 minutes), at I-80 near I-39 (Illinois Rte 51).

Film Headline News

Creative Capers Appoints New VP Of Development

By Dan Sarto | Friday, April 27, 2001 at 12:00am

Sue Shakespeare, president of Creative Capers announced that Danica Zimmerman has joined the animation and design studio as vice president of development. In her new role, Zimmerman will oversee development of live-action and animated projects for both television and film. Prior to joining Creative Capers, Zimmerman most recently was vice president of development for Film Roman. While at Film Roman, Zimmerman oversaw series TV development and was instrumental in expanding Film Roman's advertising department. According to Shakespeare, "We are thrilled that Danica has joined our team.

Headline News

Kaydara Appoints Oosterwaal COO

By Dan Sarto | Friday, April 27, 2001 at 12:00am

Kaydara has announced the appointment of Jan Oosterwaal as chief operating officer. Oosterwaal brings over 25 years of business and management experience to Kaydara. Over the course of his career, he has held top-level management positions at Nortel Networks, Domtar, and most recently, founder, president and CEO of Exeltherm Inc. In these previous management roles, Jan has successfully enhanced the value of his business ventures through team-building and customer focus.

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