This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for Sept. 18, 2006
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.
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AWN Headline News
AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for Sept. 18, 2006
This week in AWN's Forums, members cant help but talk about the 20th anniversary DVD of TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE. Several threads are discussing the prospects for animation education in India. Theres a thread talking about a new movie made entirely in 3ds Max. A member has a question about blending colors in cel-shaded animation. Another member has questions about rendering in Maya. Others continue to post their work for another members to critique.
Computer Art Biennale Wants Computer Graphic Art
VII Computer Art Biennale Rzeszów 2006 Rzeszów, PolandNov. 4 31 Dec. 2006Deadline: Oct. 6, 2006
VII Computer Art Biennale aims to show achievements in computer art, which will stimulate the development of computer graphic art, and to establish a permanent gallery of computer art. Only graphic works produced by the computer (as computer prints, matchprints, proofs etc.) in the years 2004 2006 will be accepted for the competition. Every artist participating in the competition can submit an unlimited number of works.
Studio B Wins Four Elans
On Sept. 14, 2006, in Vancouver, B.C., the Canadian Awards for the Electronic and Animated Arts (CAEAA) winners were announced.
The theater was packed with videogame and animation luminaries as well as new media art schools' top talents who were wined, dined and entertained by William Shatner and a host of industry celebrities.
"The evening was a huge success," said Yannis Mallat, ceo of Ubisoft's Montreal studio. "The first edition of the Canadian Awards for the Electronic and Animated Arts is a step forward for the entire Canadian video game industry."
Warner Home Video Debuts Scooby-Doo In Pirates Ahoy! on DVD
Warner Home Video (WHV) is releasing the original animated movie SCOOBY-DOO IN PIRATES AHOY! on DVD Sept. 19, 2006 ($19.98).
In the movie, Scooby-Doo and the gang take a creepy cruise into the legendary Bermuda Triangle. From alien sightings to Skeleton Ghost Pirates, spooks and scares lurk around every corner. If Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Daphne, Fred and Velma cant solve this maritime mystery, they may walk the plank and become the Triangles next victims.
TVPaint Releases TVP Animation 1.1 for PC & Mac
TVPaint Development, a graphic and animation solution provider, is about to release TVP Animation 1.1 for both PC-Windows and Mac-Universal Binary platforms. Made by artists for artists, this software, using a bitmap approach, provides a customizable drawing toolset.
TVP Animation is the first release of a new range of TVPaint products, taking advantage of the TVPaint technology. TVPaint Animation will fit in any production workflows, traditional, fully digital or hybrid.
New additions to version 1.1 include:
ADV Releases Comic Party, Kalideo Star & Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok
On Sept. 19, 2006, ADV Films will release the first volume of COMIC PARTY: REVOLUTION TV, the fifth volume of KALIDEO STAR: NEW WINGS and the final volume of MYTHICAL DETECTIVE LOKI RAGNAROK. These titles follows ADVs previous September releases of MACROSS, MICHEL, NANAKA 6/17, JINKI: EXTEND, THIS UGLY YET BEAUTIFUL WORLD and THE UFO ULTRAMAIDEN VALKYRIE OVA.
COMIC PARTY REVOLUTION TV offers an insiders look at the world of fan comics.
Anthony Marcoly Upped to President of BVI Sales & Distribution
Anthony Marcoly has been promoted from evp to president, sales and distribution, Buena Vista International Inc., taking on a more comprehensive management role overseeing all aspects of sales and distribution for Disney and Touchstone Picture films internationally, as well as continuing his oversight of international acquisitions.
Monster House Goes a Haunting on DVD
The spooky, all-CG MONSTER HOUSE will arrive on DVD, Blu-ray Disc and PSP in time for Halloween on Oct. 24 (Sony Home Ent., $28.95, $38.95 and $28.95, respectively).
The second Imagemotion performance capture movie following THE POLAR EXPRESS, MONSTER HOUSE is from first-time director Gil Kenan with a script by Dan Harmon & Rob Schrab and Pamela Pettler, and exec produced by Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg. Vfx supervisor for Sony Picture Imageworks was Jay Redd.
Betsy’s Kindergarten Adventures Welcomed BY PBS KIDS
Corner Stone Animation announced that PBS KIDS has committed to airing 26 half-hour episodes of BETSYS KINDERGARTEN ADVENTURES, the animated educational preschool television series. The series features a dream team of voice-over talent, composed of Daveigh Chase (LILO & STITCH), Nancy Cartwright (THE SIMPSONS), Fred Willard (CHICKEN LITTLE), Vicki Lewis (FINDING NEMO), Bess Armstrong (MY SO-CALLED LIFE), Sally Struthers (ALL IN THE FAMILY), Cree Summer (X-MEN LEGENDS), Richard Horvitz (POWER RANGER) and Tom Bosley (HAPPY DAYS).
Disney Pins Mobile Distribution Deal with Thumbplay
Thumbplay Inc., a leading online retailer of mobile entertainment content, announced a mobile content distribution agreement with the Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG).
As part of the agreement, Thumbplay will distribute content from WDIG's publishing labels mDisney, creator of Disney-themed mobile content, and Starwave Mobile, the company's third-party mobile content licensing and publishing arm. The offerings will include graphics, tones and mobile games.
Playmates Toys With The Land Before Time
Universal Studios Consumer Products Group and Playmates Toys announced a domestic licensing agreement, whereby Playmates will serve as the master toy licensee for the upcoming animated television series, THE LAND BEFORE TIME. The 22-minute animated series will air on Cartoon Network beginning spring 2007. The toy line will launch in fall 2007 with the introduction of a full line of figures, vehicles, playsets and plush.
Survivor Producer Buys Flamel Rights
SURVIVOR producer Mark Burnett has purchased the feature-film rights to the children's fantasy book series THE SECRETS OF THE IMMORTAL NICHOLAS FLAMEL, according to VARIETY.
THE ALCHEMYST, Michael Scotts first volume in the six-part series, will be published by Random House Children's Books in May. Burnett hopes to produce the project, which he will start shopping to studios in the next few weeks.
Broadway Musical Tusk Headed to Animation
Steven Billing, writer and co-creator of the Broadway-bound musical TUSK, says the production is headed for animation. TUSK is the award-winning musical, which was part of the 2005 New York Musical Theater Festival in Manhattan. Billing is in negotiations with a Florida-based animation company that is interested in developing it into a feature film. TUSK premiered on stage in Albany, New York at The EGG Theater and on Broadway the following year in New York City. Billing is in negotiations with three theaters to have TUSK on stage again in the early part of 2007.
DreamWorks Enters WABAC Machine with Mr. Peabody & Sherman
DreamWorks Animation announced plans to bring the time-traveling adventures of MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN to the big screen. LION KING director Rob Minkoff will helm the CG feature.
Ive always loved MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN and am thrilled to direct them in their big screen debut, stated Minkoff, who developed the pitch for the film with longtime producing partner Jason Clark.
Avatar Breaks New Ground as Primetime Special & Nick Nightly Strip
Just as Nickelodeon's hit animated comedy/adventure series, AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER, premieres in an all-new epic adventure titled, "Avatar: Secret of the Fire Nation" on Sept, 15, 2006, from 8:00-9:00 pm, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER reveals that Nick will air the show weeknights at 6:30 pm, starting Sept. 25. An expanded online initiative will also be launched for the show.
Ubisoft Ships Enchanted Arms for Xbox 360
Ubisoft has shipped ENCHANTED ARMS exclusively for the Xbox 360 to stores in North America. ENCHANTED ARMS, the first true next-generation Japanese role-playing game (RPG), was created by development studio FromSoftware in Japan.
The adventure takes place in a fantasy world filled with beautiful cinematic graphics with vibrant characters. With more than 50 hours of gameplay, ENCHANTED ARMS is the only Xbox 360 RPG with the fast-action SpeedTactics Battle System, which enables the player to move their characters and use distance-dependent attacks while in battle.
Taffy Names Cynthia Money President, Worldwide Consumer Products
Licensing veteran Cynthia Money joins the Taffy Ent. team as president, worldwide consumer products, to build the consumer awareness and innovative marketing platforms for all of the companys award-winning brands. Money will be based in Los Angeles.
eDIT 9. to Honor Terry Gilliam and Andy Serkis
Director Terry Gilliam and actor Andy Serkis will be honored at the eDIT 9. Filmmakers Festival in Frankfurt, Germany, Sept. 24-26. Gilliam enjoys cult-status amongst generations of film-lovers. The writer, director and lead cartoonist shaped the style of the Monty Python group and their time. Films such as BRAZIL and 12 MONKEYS further cemented his reputation as an uncompromising filmmaker of extraordinary visionary power and humor.
In Awards, Visual Effects, Awards, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe, South America
Animal Logic Creates ‘Cardboard’ Environments for Music Video
Animal Logic has created a stylized world for Australian band Telemetry Orchestras latest music video, UNDER THE CHERRY TREE. The video clip is a four-minute allegory that explores the obstacles of love. Two characters travel on two different trains in parallel worlds; the boy from a dirty city, and the girl from a beautiful cherry tree orchard. They end up crossing into each others worlds and desperately try to stop their trains so they can be together, but end where the other began.
A52 Create CG Spots for Pioneer
A52 visual effects supervisor Andy Hall has directed the HD broadcast spots, and overseen development of print/online elements, for advertising agency RPA's $20 million national cross-media advertising campaign for Pioneer Electronics.
In Commercials, Visual Effects, Commercials, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All
Barbara Genicoff Experiences Visual Evolution with Zoic
Zoic Studios announced the addition of Barbara Genicoff, as visual effects producer for commercials. The company, known for its outstanding visual effects in advertising, TV and feature film, has experienced significant growth in all areas and approached Genicoff as a complement to the burgeoning commercial team.
A Wild DVD
THE WILD, the 3D-animated feature from C.O.R.E. Feature Animation and distributed by Disney, comes to DVD on Sept. 12, 2006 (Walt Disney Home Ent., $29.99). Very similar to MADAGASCAR, with its New York Zoo to Africa premise, these zoo pals are nonetheless more photoreal-looking than the ones that inhabit the DreamWorks feature.
The Tick Debuts on DVD
THE TICK, featuring the big blue, somewhat confused animated superhero and his accountant sidekick, based on Ben Edlunds comic, debuted on DVD in late August in THE TICK VS. SEASON ONE collection (Buena Vista Home Ent., $34.99). However, the two-disc set contains only 12 out of 13 episodes from 94. According to the studio, Due to creative considerations episode 11 ("The Tick vs. The Mole Men") is not included. However, we hope to include it in future Tick releases."
Blizzard Licenses Havok Physics Technology
Havok 4.0, the leading gameplay physics and animation solution from Havok, has been licensed to Blizzard Ent.
Havok 4.0 will add power and flexibility to our development process, said Mike Morhaime, president/co-founder of Blizzard Ent. Were looking forward to utilizing this technology with our upcoming games.
In Technology, Visual Effects, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe
