AWN Headline News
This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for July 31, 2006
AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for July 31, 2006
This week in AWN's Forums, a member posts his big Flash bummer. Another member is looking for information on masters degrees. There are multiple threads asking software and hardware questions from 3D scanners to Flash. Theres a post discussing Disneys latest short, LITTLE MATCH GIRL. The worlds funniest cartoon quotes are being collected in one thread. Theres a member that needs help on walk cycles.
NUKE Community Expands
At SIGGRAPH 2006, D2 Software Inc., a subsidiary of Digital Domain, Inc., is announcing strong momentum for its NUKE high-end compositing software with four visual effects companies in the U.S. and Canada purchasing the software in June and July. Mr. X, Image Engine, Furious FX and SpeedShape all selected NUKE to handle high-end compositing work for film, video and animated projects.
Brad Pitt Set for Aged Benjamin Button
Brad Pitt has agreed to star in the long-in-development Paramount/Warner Bros. production, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, reports VARIETY. The film will reunite Pitt with FIGHT CLUB director David Fincher and BABEL co-star Cate Blanchett. The project has been developed for more than a decade in several different incarnations.
Eureka 7 Wins Two SPJA Awards
Bandai Ent.s series EUREKA 7, a co-production with mega animation house Studio BONES, won two SPJA Awards at the 2006 Anime Expo, held annually in the U.S. The series won for Best TV Series and Best Female Character (Eureka) for the USA release. EUREKA 7 airs on Cartoon Networks Adult Swim block, is on DVD by Bandai Ent. and is available for streaming and download at Bandai Ent.ts Animevillage.com.
X-Men 3 Taking Stand on DVD in October
20th Century Fox Home Ent. announced that X-MEN: THE LAST STAND, the third-highest grossing film of 2006, will arrive on DVD Oct. 3, 2006, in two extras-laden special editions, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
TV Academy Unveils Primetime Emmy Engineering & Interactive TV Winners
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has announced the recipients of the 2006 Primetime Emmy Engineering Awards and Interactive Television Emmy Awards. Recipients will receive their awards during the Primetime Creative Arts ceremony Aug. 19, 2006, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
The Interactive Television Emmy winners are as follows:Area 1: Outstanding Achievement for Enhanced or Interactive Programming: TelevisionTiVo Service, TiVo, Inc. 2005-2006Jim Barton
Intel Unveils Faster Processors
Intel Corp. has introduced 10 Intel Core 2 Duo and Intel Core 2 Extreme processors for consumer and business desktop and laptop PCs and workstations, reshaping how computers perform, look and consume power.
Camille Eden Joins Framestore CFC
Framestore CFC has hired Camille Eden as 3D resource manager. With more than 12 years of experience in film, television and visual effects production, will oversee the care and management of the company's flourishing 3D team members, including 3D artists, lighting and technical directors.
Imageworks Takes the Stage at SIGGRAPH 2006
Sony Pictures Imageworks is set to showcase its innovative and diverse range of CG work and digital effects at SIGGRAPH 2006 in Boston on July 31-Aug. 3.
modo Strengthens Ant Bully
DNA Prods. used modo from Luxology Llc. as one of its main modeling tools for the Warner Bros. 3D-animated feature, THE ANT BULLY, opening July 28, directed by John A. Davis (JIMMY NEUTRON). modo was chosen for its intuitive user interface and advanced toolset, and DNA used it to model a majority of the films assets, ranging from dynamic environmental features and plants to houses and cars.
NaturalMotion Makes Waves at SIGGRAPH 2006
NaturalMotion Ltd will launch an additional third product line during SIGGRAPH 2006. The product launch will take place aboard The Lady Christine, an ocean cruiser moored at the infamous Boston Harbor.
Also aboard Lady Christine, NaturalMotion will demonstrate euphoria, its revolutionary run-time Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS) technology that is being used in several AAA next-generation titles, including LucasArts INDIANA JONES 2007 (working title); and endorphin 2.6, the newest version of its powerful, 3D character animation software.
Pixar Reveals Latest RenderMan Technology at SIGGRAPH 2006
Pixar Animation Studios will reveal the next stage in RenderMan development at the SIGGRAPH 2006 conference in Boston, where the studio will demonstrate the latest upcoming RenderMan products, including version 2.0 of its popular RenderMan for Maya plug-in, the latest RenderMan Artist Tools 7.0 and the debut of its next generation successor RenderMan Studio.
Over the Hedge To Arrive on DVD Before Halloween
DreamWorks Home Ent. has announced that OVER THE HEDGE will arrive on DVD Oct. 17 2006. The DVD features an all-new mini-movie created by the filmmakers exclusively for this release, HAMMYS BOOMERANG ADVENTURE, which brings back all of the films characters and original voice for a backyard spin on reality shows that shows what happens when you combine the ever-mischievous RJ the raccoon, three curious porcupine kids, a boomerang and a video camera.
Ratatouille Traps Voice Cast
Walt Disney Pictures has announced that Patton Oswalt, Brian Dennehy, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofalo, Ian Holm and John Ratzenberger will voice Disney/Pixar's animated-adventure RATATOUILLE, opening June 29, 2007.
Kids Flip For Nicktoons
Nicktoons Network is giving kids everywhere a chance to learn about animation by handing out flip books that play back full-motion clips from two new original animated shows with a simple flip-of-a-thumb. The flip books will be distributed free to kids all summer long through the Nicktoon Networks cross-country mobile tour.
Monster House Helmer Adapts Ember
MONSTER HOUSE director Gil Kenan is developing a live-action adaptation of THE CITY OF EMBER, based on the 2003 book by Jeanne DuPrau, reports SCI FI WIRE.
"It's science fiction, and that's all I'm going to say," Kenan said in a recent interview. "It's a post-apocalyptic children's film. It's going to be closely based on the novel."
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS and CORPSE BRIDE screenwriter Caroline Thompson will pen the script with Playtone and Walden Media producing.
NYIT Launches Master of Fine Arts Program in Graphic Arts
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) announced the launch of a new Master of Fine Arts (MFA) graduate program with a specialization in computer graphics and animation.
10-Minutes of Ultimate Avengers 2 To Debut on Habbo
Lionsgate has launched the first 10 minutes of its Marvel animated feature, ULTIMATE AVENGERS 2, on the popular website, Habbo.com. This event marks the first time the online community will be able to view 10 full minutes of a never-before-seen film prior to its release.
Best of Saturday TV Funhouse Coming to DVD
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: THE BEST OF SATURDAY TV FUNHOUSE is coming to DVD on Oct. 24, 2006, from Universal Studios Home Ent. Produced by Broadway Video, the DVD features highlights from a series of irreverent adult cartoons that skewer everything from politics and current events to superheroes. The brainchild of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE's Emmy Award winning writer Robert Smigel, these animated segments introduced some of the show's most memorable sketches and characters.
Sony Pictures Taps JAKKS Pacific For Surf’s Up Toys
Sony Pictures Consumer Products (SPCP) and JAKKS Pacific Inc. have announced a new licensing agreement to produce and distribute toys and leisure products based on the upcoming animated feature film, SURFS UP. The second animated feature film from Sony Pictures Animation, SURFS UP is scheduled for release by Columbia Pictures on June 8, 2007.
Tribune Promotes L. Clark Morehouse & Marc S. Schacher
Tribune Broadcasting, a division of Tribune Co. has promoted L. Clark Morehouse III to evp/gm of Tribune Ent. Co. (TEC), Tribune's Los Angeles-based television programming and distribution business. Additionally, Marc S. Schacher was named svp/programming and development of Tribune Broadcasting.
Morehouse will oversee all aspects of Tribune Ent. operations, including sales. He joined TEC as svp/advertising sales in 2000.
EA to Unleash The Sims 2 Pets
Fans of the popular SIMS videdogame series may enrich the lives of their Sims with the addition of an animal companion. Electronic Arts announced SIMS 2, is going to the dogs and for that matter, to the cats, guinea pigs and birds too. The company is releasing The Sims 2 Pets on current generation console systems, handheld platforms and as a PC expansion pack. THE SIMS 2 PETS will build on the THE SIMS 2 experience that allows players to create and control digital characters throughout their lives while determining the outcome of their relationships and choosing their destiny.
John A. Davis Eyes Heinlein’s Star Beast
ANT BULLY director John A. Davis divulged at Comic-Con that he is planning to direct a live-action/animated feature based on sci-fi author Robert Heinleins STAR BEAST, which is being developed at Warner Bros.
STAR BEAST takes place 400 years in the future and concerns a boy and his enormous pet that turns out to be a genius alien. The alien would be CG and animated by Davis DNA Prods. in Dallas, Texas, which animated Warner Bros. THE ANT BULLY (opening July 28, 2006) as well as the JIMMY NEUTRON feature and TV series.