AWN Headline News

Each week, Animation World Magazine offers new articles, special features and theme-based coverage of the art, craft and industry of animation. New this week:

- Animation - What The Heck Is It?Gene Deitch tackles the shifting definition of animation in this excerpt from his book, How To Succeed In Animation, (Don't Let A Little Thing Like Failure Stop You!), published exclusively on AWN.com.

The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television announced the nominees for the 16th Annual Gemini Awards, celebrating excellence in Canadian English-language television. The nominees for Best Animated Program or Feature are: ANGELA ANACONDA, CAILLOU II, CHILDREN OF CHELM, FRANKLIN, OLLIE'S UNDER THE BED ADVENTURES and YVON OF THE YUKON. The nominees for Best Visual Effects are: GENE RODDENBERRY'S ANDROMEDA, NUREMBERG PART 1, STARGATE SG-1 and THE OUTER LIMITS.

Prolific animation music composer Denis M. Hannigan is currently scoring RECESS CHRISTMAS: MIRACLE ON THIRD STREET, an OAV to be released on VHS/DVD November 6, 2001. This feature follows the adventures of the RECESS fourth graders as they attract fun and trouble during the holiday season. Along with scoring RECESS CHRISTMAS, Hannigan is also arranging parodies of classic Christmas songs that will be featured in the film. Hannigan has written music for animated features and many of today's most popular children's TV series including RECESS, CATDOG and RUGRATS.

New Riders Publishing has released a new series of books for CG professionals. The "digital" series features DIGITAL CHARACTER ANIMATION 2, VOLUME II: ADVANCED TECHNIQUES by George Maestri, a follow up to Maestri's classic, DIGITAL CHARACTER ANIMATION. The new volume is written directly for CG professionals, with more non-software-specific approaches to character animation. According to its creator, DIGITAL CHARACTER ANIMATION 2, VOLUME II is a book on how to really think like an animator.

BKN Internationals holiday film RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER AND THE ISLAND OF MISFIT TOYS is coming to MIPCOM. Featuring the voice talent of Rick Moranis and Jamie Lee Curtis and seven new holiday songs, the 3D animated sequel capitalizes on one of the favorite scenes from the classic RUDOLPH animated special. The 90-minute film is already scheduled to air during the 2001 holiday season on CBS in the U.S. and has video and DVD distribution in the U.K., Scandinavia and Spain.

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. announced that it has revised its fourth quarter publishing schedule as a result of the tragic events that occurred September 11, 2001 in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. Take-Two's corporate headquarters, which are located in downtown Manhattan, reopened for business on Monday, September 17, 2001 after being closed for four business days, although the company continues to experience disruptions in telecommunications and network services.

Adobe Systems Incorporated reported financial results for its third quarter ended August 31, 2001. In the third quarter of fiscal 2001, Adobe achieved revenue of $292.1 million, compared to $328.9 million reported for the third quarter of fiscal 2000 and $344.1 million reported in the second quarter of fiscal 2001. Pro forma diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2001, excluding non-operating gains and losses, were $0.28.

Cambridge Animation Systems, developer of Animo 2D software, has been purchased from Japanese investment bank Nomura by a digital media consortium that includes an original founder of the company. The new owners are moving the company to a new and larger facility in Cambridge, England. Over the past 18 months the new management team placed in the company by Nomura has completely reorganized Cambridge Animation Systems, expanded Cambridge's line of products and set up a growing reseller network worldwide.

DreamWorks Consumer Products has named Hasbro's WowWee subsidiary as master toy licensee for the upcoming theatrical animated release SPIRIT: STALLION OF THE CIMARRON. The film tells the story of a wild mustang stallion named Spirit and his journey through the untamed American West. Under the agreement, WowWee will offer a line of products based on the film including basic figures, playsets, deluxe figures, electronic and animatronic figures, accessories and role play items.

Are you sensing a pattern? In what is becoming a more common response in the entertainment industry to the terrorist attacks on the U.S., Digital Leisure executives have put the new game CRIME PATROL on indefinite hold. The game places players in the role of a police officer stopping criminals - including drug dealers, bank robbers, car thieves, and in the final level, terrorists.

Fox Family Channel will air an award-winning episode of KAMPUNG BOY Friday, September 28, 2001 (7:00 AM ET/PT). This will be the U.S. debut of the series, which garnered the Best Animated Television Series award at the 1999 Annecy International Film Festival. From a traditional village tucked away in the lush jungle of Malaysia, KAMPUNG BOY tells about the adventures of Mat, a nine year old boy, his family and his friends as they struggle to maintain traditional family values in an ever-changing technology-obsessed world.