YIN, YANG, YO!, which debuted as the highest rated animated series in Jetix history, celebrates the Halloween holiday with an original episode, airing in a special time period (8:00 pm) during the YIN, YANG, YO! Screamathon on Oct. 23, 2006. "Scary, Scary Quite Contrary" airs as part of a three-hour marathon, 7:00-10:00 pm during the Jetix comedy/action/adventure programming block on Toon Disney.
Lynn Chadwick has been promoted from vp, European sales and distribution to vp, worldwide sales and distribution for Nelvana Enterprises, responsible for overseeing sales activities around the globe. She has moved from the London office to company headquarters in Toronto with all international sales execs reporting directly to her. Chadwick reports to Doug Murphy, president, Nelvana Enter.
HIT Ent., one of the worlds leading pre-school childrens entertainment producers and rights owners, has stepped up the companys licensing activities into new and existing territories across Europe, with new deals in Scandinavia.
THE SIMPSONS fans are in store for more tricks and treats than ever before as FOX launches the first-ever Treehouse Of Horror XVII: Slice-Dice-and-Win contest. The Treehouse Of Horror XVII Halloween trilogy airs Nov. 5, 2006, 8:00-8:30 pm on FOX.
From Oct. 16-Nov. 5, fans can take a stab at cutting their own SIMPSONS Treehouse Of Horror XVII promo spot using a unique web-based editing tool located on THE SIMPSONS micro-site: www.thesimpsons.com/treehouse.
Takashi Shimizu, director of the hit sequel THE GRUDGE 2, exclusively tells VFXWORLD that he used visual effects minimally in order to enhance the haunted house type of scares in the film. While I dont think its a good idea to rely on visual effects too much, I really like using them effectively, the director said. Ever since I was a kid, I have always enjoyed movies with visual effects, and they have given me great inspiration.
Caligari Corp. announced version 7.5 of trueSpace, the industrys first 3D software application to feature realtime collaborative authoring technology. The new release, which will become available in Q4 2006, will feature a number of significant enhancements, including brand new character animation, modeling, rendering and collaborative tools and a simplified UI. trueSpace7.5 is the only 3D authoring product on the market to offer all aspects of realtime design, modeling, animation and rendering within a virtual 3D space shared by remote participants over the broadband internet.
The latest hit from DreamWorks Animation, OVER THE HEDGE, comes to DVD on Oct. 17, 2006 (DreamWorks Animation/Paramount Home Ent., $19.95). The DVD features an all-new 3D-animated short created by the filmmakers, HAMMYS BOOMERANG ADVENTURE, directed by story artist Will Finn (who provides optional commentary), which reunites all of the films characters and original voice talent in a backyard spin on reality TV that shows what happens when you combine the ever-mischievous RJ the raccoon, three curious porcupine kids, a boomerang and a video camera.
Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven and Beast Boy are back to save the world in their very first animated feature on DVD, TEEN TITANS: TROUBLE IN TOKYO (Warner Home Video, $19.98), to be released Feb. 6, 2007.
Autodesk 3ds Max 9 modeling, rendering and animation software is now shipping. The latest release of the 3D software provides dramatic improvements in display performance and complexity management required by next-generation production pipelines. It also includes significant rendering enhancements for architectural professionals. From the greatly expanded boundaries of the first-ever 64-bit release of 3ds Max to the newly integrated hair-styling interface, 3ds Max artists have more options, better performance, and greater flexibility than ever before.
NORBIT director Brian Robbins has been tapped to direct Eddie Murphy in STARSHIP DAVE, VARIETY reports. The 20th Century Fox project is in pre-production and will be produced by Deep River Prods. and Guy Walks Into a Bar.
March has been set as the start date for production.
Nickelodeons Australian Kids Choice Awards 2006 has announced its winners at a star-studded event at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. More than one million votes were cast by Australian kids for their favorite stars from television, film, music and sport.
Nickelodeon gm Katrina Southon said, Burps, Farts, Slime its every kids dream to combine them all in one big event with their favorite stars and performers. Nickelodeons biggest event to date was exactly what the kids of Australia voted for so thats what we delivered.
This month, in conjunction with the two-disc Platinum Edition DVD release of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, Disney Consumer Products (DCP) in collaboration with Walt Disney Home Ent. brings to stores the largest assortment of LITTLE MERMAID merchandise available since the film's 1989 release.
Buena Vista Games has released new handheld videogames based on the DISNEY PRINCESS and THE LITTLE MERMAID throughout North America. The new lineup includes: DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID: ARIEL'S UNDERSEA ADVENTURE for the Nintendo DS, DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID: MAGIC IN TWO KINGDOMS for Game Boy Advance and DISNEY PRINCESS: ROYAL ADVENTURE for the Game Boy Advance.
Columbia Pictures has hired FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS feature helmer Peter Berg to direct TONIGHT, HE COMES, the 10-years in the making superhero flick starring Will Smith, reports VARIETY. Previously, Jonathan Mostow and Gabriele Muccino were set to helm the picture, but left the project over creative differences.
The schedule sees lensing start in May for a summer 2008 release.
Antics is the fastest and easiest to use 3D animated previz software available for Creatives who make Films, Commercials and TV Programs.
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.
This week in AWN's Forums, members continue to discuss Disneys latest short film, LITTLE MATCH GIRL.
THQ's SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: CREATURE FROM THE KRUSTY KRAB is swimming its way onto retail outlets in the U.S. The title is now available for major gaming systems, including PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. The game will also be available as a launch title for Wii.
Atari, Inc. has completed the sale of Shiny Ent. to Foundation 9 Ent. The sale completes the operational streamlining and portfolio refocus by Atari announced in early 2006.
David Pierce, president/ceo of Atari said, "We now have a centralized organization that can utilize external studio execution while maintaining internal focus on creative development and production."
Atari will retain its current project planning formerly developed by Shiny, including EARTHWORM JIM. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The new E3 Media and Business Summit has changed its size, location and timing in reaction to widespread industry criticism that the event had grown too massively big and noisy for exhibitors to garner enough attention to justify the elaborate and expensive marketing pushes for the show. E3 will now be held July 11-13, 2007, in Santa Monica, California, and will combine the best elements of the former trade show into a business event celebrating the videogame industry's present and future, according to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).
Sonys THE GRUDGE 2 scared up $20.8M in its box office debut for the weekend period ended Oct. 15, 2006. This marks the12th number one hit for the studio, extending its record. Close behind in second place was Martin Scorseses THE DEPARTED (with vfx from The Basement, Lola Visual Effects and Ockhams Razor), which captured $19M for a two-week cume of $56.9M. Universals MAN OF THE YEAR, the political satire starring Robin Williams, debuted in third with $12.2M.
MAXON's CINEMA 4D and BodyPaint 3D were called upon by the visual effects and character animation artists at Sony Pictures Imageworks to create the classic cartoon look and feel of OPEN SEASON. MAXON software was used by texture artists, matte painters and look dev artists on every frame of film, from characters to rocks, in this, the first offering from Sony Pictures Animation.
Avid Technology Inc. announced the availability of version 5.6 of Avid Studio Toolkit, which delivers significant enhancements to a set of tightly integrated, industry-leading software applications, including Avid 3D, Avid FX and Avid DVD by Sonic. Avid Studio Toolkit is the first multi-format solution for simultaneous DVD and Blu-ray Disc authoring, designed specifically for professional film and video editors looking to create and deliver projects in HD.
For CHILDREN OF MEN (opening Christmas Day through Universal Pictures), director Alfonso Cuarón approached Framestore CFC to handle the film's most challenging single vfx element: a CG baby, which is first seen actually being delivered.
The University of Hawaii, in partnership with PipelineFX, has deployed a powerful animation render farm in support of digital media education programs across the island.
