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AWN Headline News

Boom Headline News

Toon Boom Studio V2 Now Available

Toon Boom has released an upgrade to their Toon Boom Studio 2D animation solution for the Web. Like Version 1, the Toon Boom Studio V2 camera tool allows the user to approach the project cinematically, choreographing a production within the computer in a virtual 3D environment. Other upgrades in V2 include enhanced lip-synching tools and compatibility with Macromedia Flash MX, with a swf importer and the Toon Boom Studio Importer for Macromedia Flash MX.

Game Headline News

Industry Got Game At E3Expo

60,000 interactive entertainment professionals from more than 70 countries converged on the Los Angeles Convention Center for the eighth annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3Expo). According to the show's owner, the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), approximately 400 exhibitors showcased thousands of new computer and video games and products, including more than 1,000 never-before-seen titles.

Film Headline News

Film Roman Gets Shagged For Sho Too

Film Roman Commercials and Special Projects division has produced animated opening title sequences, interstitials and several commercials promoting "Night Out On Sho Too," a Wednesday night program block featuring gay-themed movies, original series and specials. The animated spots, which are currently airing on Showtime, bring to life the characters featured in the retro, "tiki-lounge" style paintings by California-based artist Shag.

Headline News

Plympton Goes To The Net With Three Spots For Wilson Sporting Goods

Animation production house Acme Filmworks and director Bill Plympton have hit a grand slam with three spots for Wilson Sporting Goods by way of ad agency Euro RSCG McConnaughty Tatham of Chicago. The three spots revolve around tennis players mistreated by opponents using a Wilson Triad tennis racket. Their experience on the court becomes so traumatizing that the athletes seek psychological help. "The agency had these psychological Freudian subconscious drawings," said director Bill Plympton. "The concept was to not make the drawings realistic.

Animation Headline News

Siggraph 2002 Presents The Computer Animation Festival Awards

ACM SIGGRAPH has announced the SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival's Best Animated Short and Jury Award winners for SIGGRAPH 2002. The SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival showcases films documenting significant advances in technology, interactive techniques and the creative potential of computer graphics. The two award winners were selected from 640 entries. Poland's Tomek Baginski won the Best Animated Short award for THE CATHEDRAL, based on Jacek Dukaj's novel of the same name.

Film Headline News

A Film Estonia Rocks The Eurovision Song Contest

Estonian animation studio A Film Estonia has recently completed the production of two animated "postcards" for the 47th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), which will be held on May 25, 2002 in Tallinn, Estonia. The postcards will be seen as two of the many interstitials shown between the competing songs during the European broadcast of ESC. The aim is to introduce different aspects of the host country.

Animation Headline News

Writing For Feature Animation Book Hits The Shelves

A new book is available to teach the fundamentals of writing for feature animation. GARDNER'S GUIDE TO FEATURE ANIMATION WRITING: THE WRITER'S ROAD MAP, by Marilyn Webber, teaches how to develop marketable animation stories and scripts. The basics of writing for animated features are described along with the distinctions between animation and live-action scripts and how to examine feature animation genres. In addition, readers are given the tools to create cohesive plot structures, characters, original scenes and dialogue, including how to integrate comedy into an animation screenplay.

Awards Headline News

Winners Announced For Student Academy Awards

The winners of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 29th Annual Student Academy Awards competition have been announced. The nominated films were voted upon by Academy members and the winning students will be flown to Los Angeles to participate in a week of industry-related activities and social events that will culminate June 9, 2002 with the awards presentation ceremony at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Animation Headline News

Job Opportunities For Animators, Illustrators, Agents, Instructors And More

Washington, DC's Capital Children's Museum is looking for a CARTOON ANIMATION INSTRUCTOR . . . Clay Pixel Studios is looking for a MOTION PICTURE TRACK LEAD and a WEB DESIGNER - LEAD . . . HoChiMinh, Vietnam's Demen Animation Studio is looking for an AGENT . . . Manhattan Beach, California's Digital Aftertime Studios is looking for a 3D FREELANCER . . . Glendale, California's DreamWorks Animation is looking for a TECHNICAL WRITER . . . Atlanta, Georgia's Fathom Studios is looking for a LEAD ANIMATOR . . .

Headline News

TAIS Presents Cordell Barker in Person.

The Toronto Animated Image Society (TAIS) presents an evening with award-winning Canadian animator Cordell Barker. Cordell will showcase his work, including the Oscar-nominated short films "The Cat Came Back" and "Strange Invaders," as well as numerous television commercials he has done in Canada, the U.S. and England. Thursday, June 6, at 8 pm. Room 303, Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Toronto. TAIS members free, everyone else $5.

Animation Headline News

AWN's Discussion Forums - What's New?

Visit all of AWN's Discussion Forums to stay in touch with the animation community! This week, hot forum discussions include a debate about visual effects-heavy summer blockbusters like SPIDER-MAN and STAR WARS: EPISODE II, which 2D ink and paint software is best and how to break into gaming. In The Animator's Desktop, Tony White has posted his third introductory lesson on the fundamental principles of 2D animation, entitled "Making Things Move Well." Over in Show and Tell, check out Dr.

Series Headline News

ABC Family Hosts Spider-Man Through The Years

Can't wait for the new Spider-Man television series? Well, revisit some classic episodes from past series during ABC Family's "Spider-Man Through the Years" block marathon. Airing Memorial Day weekend in the U.S. (May 25-27, 2002), each block will showcase Spider-Man, his evil nemeses the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus and Mysterio and superhero friends like the X-Men and the Incredible Hulk, while the marathon's interstitial moments will feature trivia about the Spider-Man character.

Spot Headline News

SimEx Is Batty For Froot Loops

Do bats and toucans get along in the wild? Apparently so in a new spot SimEx Digital Studios created for Kelloggs Froot Loops cereal. SimEx provided live-action production, 2D and 3D animation, compositing and editing for the 30-second spot "Batty," which features FruitLoops spokesbird Toucan Sam encountering a cave full of hungry Froot Loops loving bats. Under the direction of SimEx director Jean Perramon, John Howley, Jae Kim and Tom Sito were responsible for creating cel animation with assistant animator Brett Newton and assistant director Ingin Kim.

Headline News

Creative Artists Agency To Rep Lara Croft

It's not the first time a 3D character has gone totally Hollywood (did you see SHREK at this year's Academy Awards?), but Lara Croft, the computer-generated star of the TOMB RAIDER franchise, can now say, "Get me my agent!" Is demanding her own trailer far behind? Los Angeles-based talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), announced they have signed wealthy British treasure hunter Lara Croft for representation.

Effects Headline News

The Little Black Book Of Visual Effects Launches Online Resource

The editors of The Little Black Book of Visual Effects have partnered with entertainment consulting company Razorview, Inc. to launch lbbvfx.com, an online resource for the visual effects community. The print version of The Little Black Book of Visual Effects currently lists approximately 4,900 qualified visual effects professionals, all of whom are now part of the online resource. All new applicants to lbbvfx.com are provided with a basic listing for free as long as they have verifiable credits and references.

Headline News

Nelvana Ups Toper Taylor

Nelvana's Toper Taylor has been promoted to president of international distribution, marketing and consumer products with responsibilities for Nelvanas extensive portfolio of brands. Taylor also remains president of Nelvana Communications, the Los Angeles-based sales and development office of Nelvana Ltd. Adding to his current responsibilities, Taylors new role is to unify all distribution, licensing and merchandise sales activities under one structure that will be focused on maximizing Nelvanas roster of brands.

Cartoons Headline News

Cartoon Network's Toonheads Goes To War

This Memorial Day weekend, Cartoon Network's series TOONHEADS offers a look at what happened when animated characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Popeye were enlisted by the war effort in TOONHEADS: THE WARTIME CARTOONS. While soldiers were fighting overseas, cartoon characters kept Americans laughing on the home front, finding humor in such wartime realities as energy conservation, rationing, recycling scrap iron for munitions and the widespread fear of enemy bombing raids on American cities. They also served in an official capacity when Warner Bros.

Headline News

KAFI Winners Announced

May 17-19, 2002, Kalamazoo, Michigan hosted the first Kalamazoo Animation Festival International (KAFI). $15,000 in cash prizes was handed out to winners in 24 competition levels. Honorees included a Gold for Zach Schlappi's PASTA FOR WAR in the Student Graduate Films category, and TONGUES AND TAXIS by Michael Overbeck won the Independent Short Film Gold Award, and tied with ROCKIN' & ROLLIN' for Best In Show. ROCKIN' & ROLLIN' also won filmmakers Mark Waring and Gordon Allen a Gold in the First Film category. For a full list of winners please visit the KAFI Website at:

Games Headline News

E3 Preview

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) will take place this year at the Los Angeles Convention Center from May 21-24, 2002. Highlighting the best in interactive entertainment, E3 plays host to over 62,000 retailers, distributors, developers and investors in the interactive entertainment business. New releases in the gaming world are the order of the day at E3, along with some great game demonstrations, two days of conferences and panels and even an appearance by Lara Croft.

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