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AWN Headline News

Cartoons Headline News

ASIFA-Atlanta Presents Saturday Morning Cartoons Screening

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, February 15, 2001 at 12:00am

* Tuesday, March 6, 2001. Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.

ASIFA-Atlanta presents "Saturday Morning Cartoons," a screening of cartoon classics spanning three decades. Take a walk down memory lane with favorites including BEANIE & CECIL, HUCKLEBERRY HOUND, CRUSADER RABBIT, TOM TERRIFIC and ROCKY & BULLWINKLE. The event will run from 8 - 9:45 pm at Fountainhead Lounge, 485 Flat Shoals Avenue SE, Atlanta, Georgia. For more information contact Steve Mank at: Tel.: (404) 874-7200.

Entertainment Headline News

Illegal Pac-Man Games On The Web Leads To Lawsuit

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, February 15, 2001 at 12:00am

Twelve video game companies have filed a joint suit against four individuals accusing them of offering unauthorized versions of such games as PAC-MAN and DONKEY KONG on the Web. The suit seeks to shut down sites operated by Dasheill Ponce De Leon of Houston, John Sterling of Beaumont, Texas, Byron Beck of Monrovia, California and Kuei Lin Lo of Amherst, Massachusetts. The complaint also seeks monetary damages of US$150,000 for each copyright infringement.

Million Headline News

Cinar Extends Bank Credit

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, February 15, 2001 at 12:00am

Cinar Corporation has entered into an agreement with its banks to extend its credit line until October 15, 2001. Of US$24 million previously outstanding, half of the amount is still with standing. In certain circumstances prepayments will be required prior to October 2001. The plagued children's producer also announced that it would release its unaudited 2000 financial statements by March 31, 2001. "Cinar continues to have a strong balance sheet.

Union Headline News

Swedes' Push Harder For Euro Ban On Kids' Ads

On February 13, 2001, the European Union organized in Stockholm for an expert seminar on Children and Young People in the New Media Landscape. One of the main topics in the discussions was Sweden's European initiative for banning television commercials aimed at children. The European Union has a rotating presidency system, where every member country controls the administration for a half-year term. As current leader, Sweden has placed the matter of TV ads on the top of the EU agenda for this term.

Headline News

An "Art of Dr. Seuss" Exhibit Comes To So Cal!

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, February 15, 2001 at 12:00am

* Saturday, February 9 Saturday, March 31, 2001. Brea, California, U.S.A.

The Sarah Bain Gallery is presenting an exhibit of the "Art of Dr. Seuss." This is a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of the "Tufted Gustard" sculpture and purchase limited editions of your favorite artwork. For more information contact the gallery at: http://sarahbaingallery.com.

Sound Headline News

Learn More About Putting Your Voice On The Web

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, February 15, 2001 at 12:00am

* Wednesday, February 28, 2001. North Hollywood, California, U.S.A.

The Webisode Academy is holding a voice and sound capture workshop. Attendees will go to an actual sound studio and record their voices. A discussion will follow about the uses of voice capture on the Web. For more information on the workshop: E-mail: info@webisode-academy.com.

Animation Headline News

SimEx Shoots Kellogg’s Toucan Sam To the Moon

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, February 14, 2001 at 12:00am

SimEx Digital Studios has wrapped on a new Kellogg's Froot Loop spot, which launches Toucan Sam and his mischievous nephews into space. SimEx provided 2D and 3D animation, compositing, editing, as well as live-action shots for the 30-second commercial. "Rocket" has Toucan Sam and his three nephews propelling themselves into space in a primitive looking rocket. Shane Zalvin, Roberto Casale and Holger Leihe created the cel animation, with help from cel assistant directors Charlotte DeBlock and Ingin Kim. Digital ink and paint was completed at SimEx using the Toonz system.

Wild Headline News

Wild Brain Makes Hershey's Kisses Blush

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, February 14, 2001 at 12:00am

In celebration of Valentine's Day, Wild Brain has created a new spot for Hershey's, which has the famous Kisses candies blushing. Directed by Carl Willat, the commercial features two silver wrapped Hershey's Kisses as one kisses the other, its wrapper turns red and their tags embrace. The spot was animated in Softimage and rendered in Mental Ray with compositing done in Henry.

Headline News

Sesame Workshop Gain Two New VPs

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, February 14, 2001 at 12:00am

Sesame Workshop has announced that they have named Nancy Steingard to the new post of senior VP of creative development and have promoted VP of development Julian Scott to the position of VP of European operations. Steingard will oversee talent deals, the building of production and broadcast relationships and expanding the firm's new media options. Prior to her new job, Steingard was an executive VP at Universal Family Entertainment. Scott will head up a new London office, where he will oversee the company's actions in the European market, including projects with Granada and the BBC.

Visual Headline News

Cinesite Names Hoffman VP & Head of Visual Effects

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, February 14, 2001 at 12:00am

Dennis Hoffman has been promoted to vice president and head of visual effects for Cinesite. Since joining Cinesite as an executive producer in 1998, Hoffman has supervised the production of more than 1,500 visual effects shots on 65 projects including such films as RED PLANET, DEEP BLUE SEA, MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE and THIRTEEN DAYS. Prior to joining Cinesite, Hoffman was a producer and subsequently vice president/executive producer at Dream Quest Images, where his producing credits included CRIMSON TIDE, the Imax film ASTEROID ADVENTURE and the series EARTH 2, for which he earned an Emmy.

Headline News

Maya Used In Top 4 PlayStation 2 Titles

Alias|Wavefront is celebrating due to the fact that their award-winning 3D animation system Maya was used to create the top four selling December 2000 titles for the PlayStation 2. Research by PC Data Inc. shows Electronic Arts' MADDEN NFL 2001 leading the list of top-sellers with SSX: SNOWBOARD SUPERCROSS (EA) second, TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT (Namco) third, and NHL 2001 (EA) fourth. All of these titles were developed by companies using Maya for the creation of game graphics such as characters, environments and effects.

Services Headline News

Screamline Launches Web-Based Rendering Free Trial

Screamline Rendering Services, provided by Intel's Internet Computing Services, is offering the 3D animation and visual effects community a special trial of their Web-based rendering services and project management software. Those wanting to take advantage of this free trial offer can download a copy of the JobAnalyst management tool from the Screamline Website. Then, at no cost, rendering projects can be uploaded and artists can enjoy free rendering services for the first 1000 frames of their work. Robert J.

Effects Headline News

Digital Film Tools Releases Composite Suite 1.5

Digital Film Tools has released Composite Suite 1.5, a comprehensive set of special effects plug-ins for Avid Editing Systems and Adobe After Effects. Composite Suite includes 14 effects plug-ins that were until recently, only available in-house at Digital FilmWorks. It features selective color correction, matte generation, natural lighting effects, as well as specialized tools for combining imagery such as fire, smoke and explosions.

Headline News

Animation Stock Ticker For Tuesday, February 13, 2001

AWN's stock ticker features the most prominent publicly traded companies in the world of animation. AWN, Inc. makes available certain financial information from third party information providers. AWN does not give advice in any such fields, and has not reviewed, and in no way endorses the validity of such data. This information is provided solely as a means to keep our readers informed of the market performance and trends of certain companies. AWN strongly suggests that one seek advice from a competent professional regarding any investment or financial issues.

Million Headline News

Cast Away Holds Strong At The International Box Office

CAST AWAY is still holding strong at the international box office. In Germany, the desert island adventure rounded up another $3.73 million, escalating its cume to $21.46 million. VERTICAL LIMIT climbed into second with a gross of $1.84 million, raising its German cume to $4.34 million. In third, BEDAZZLED seduced $1.4 million, bringing its German cume to $4.49 million. THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE made its German nod in fourth with a gross of $663,408. At #8, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON collected $477,415, pushing its German cume to $2.35 million.

Headline News

U.S. Primetime TV Ratings For The Week Of February 5 – 11, 2001

After last week's impressive 9.8 rating, THE SIMPSONS slipped this past week, finishing in 41st place with an 8.2 rating/12 share. Its Fox Sunday night animation cohorts, KING OF THE HILL and FUTURAMA, took #73 and #79 respectively. KING garnered a 5.5 rating/9 share and FUTURAMA grabbed a 4.6 rating/8 share. The rest of the primetime animated fare, CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH, GARY & MIKE and THE PJS finished in the cellar all tied for 111th place, with a 1.5 rating/3 share.

Entertainment Headline News

Z.com Closes Up Shop

Add one more name to the long list of the dotcom dearly departed. Z.com has announced that on Friday, February 16, 2001 they will be closing their doors for good. This move comes only a week after Icebox.com closed down an entertainment site that was in talks to merge with Z.com. The entertainment Website had high-profile backers such as Basic Entertainment, 3 Arts Entertainment, IdeaLab!, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Maverick Records partner Guy Oseary. The demise of the company is a result of declining ad revenue and a weak syndication market.

Nominations Headline News

Oscars Do Not Reject Father & Daughter & Periwig-Maker

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences has announced their nominations for the coveted Oscar award. Receiving nominations for best animated short were Michael Dudok de Wit's lyrically elegant FATHER & DAUGHTER, Steffen and Annette Schaffler's moody puppet film THE PERIWIG-MAKER and Don Hertzfeldt's humorously chaotic short REJECTED. GLADIATOR, HOLLOW MAN and THE PERFECT STORM all received nods for best visual effects. Surprisingly absent from the F/X nomination list was Disney's $150 million-plus budgeted DINOSAUR.

Headline News

Two New Sailor Moon Tapes Hits Store Shelves

ADV Films is releasing two new volumes of SALIOR MOON on February 13, 2001. "Red Hearts & Silver Crystals" and "Introducing Sailor Jupiter" both contain never-before-released episodes. Each tape holds four episodes and will retail for US$12.98 each.

Final Headline News

Agent Aika: Final Battle Hits Video

Central Park Media is releasing AGENT AIKA: FINAL BATTLE on February 13, 2001. While on vacation, Aiko is seduced by a master manipulator and she must fight to retain her freedom. The film is from the creator of the PROJECT AKO series, Katsuhiko Nishijima. An English dubbed version will sell for US$19.99.

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