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Japan Headline News

Xbox Debuts In Japan

Three months after its North American debut, the Xbox video game system launched in Japan on February 22, 2002. Bill Gates was on hand to present the first Xbox sold, and many gamers camped out overnight in the Shibuya District of Tokyo to make sure they were among the first in the country to get their hands on a console. Xbox is now on sale at thousands of Japanese retail outlets, and 12 game titles are available including PROJECT GOTHAM RACING, TENKU, JET SET RADIO FUTURE and DEAD OR ALIVE 3. A total of 22 titles are scheduled to be available in Japan by the end of March.

Headline News

Alias|Wavefront Makes 3D Computer Graphics Available To All

Alias|Wavefront has made a personal-use, non-commercial version of its award-winning Maya software available free to users of Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. Maya Personal Learning Edition 3D animation software can now be downloaded from the Alias|Wavefront Website. Maya Personal Learning Edition gives 3D graphics and animation students, current industry professionals, and those interested in breaking into the world of computer graphics an opportunity to explore Maya Complete software in a non-commercial capacity.

Awards Headline News

Goya Award Winners Announced

The 16th Annual Goya Awards, the Spanish Film Academys equivalent to the U.S. Academy Awards, were presented February 2, 2002. The awards honor Spanish produced films. Independent animated feature EL BOSQUE ANIMADO (THE LIVING FOREST) directed by Manolo Gómez & Angel de la Cruz won two awards, Best Original Song and Best Animated Film. The Best Animated Short Film was POLLO, directed by Manuel Sirgo.

Headline News

Hornet Taps Executive Producer Michael Feder, Expands Spot Roster

Design, animation and visual effects studio Hornet, Inc., is expanding its operations in the commercial arena with the addition of several directors, designers and animators. New additions include animator and director Steve Talkowski, character designer and director Peter de Séve, director and designer Brian Koons, title designer Deborah Ross and the collective design team HONEST.

Effects Headline News

Company 3 Takes Two

Santa Monica-based visual effects house Company 3 has hired Henry artist and visual effects supervisor Alex Brodie and visual effects producer Christine Carr. Both arrive from 525 Post Production, which curtailed operations in December. Brodie has a list of high profile credits in music videos and commercials including recent efforts like the Garbage music video "Cherry Lips," which featured an "invisible" band. In the spot, Brodie removed the bands heads and limbs to make it appear as though empty suits were playing guitars and other instruments.

Headline News

MADD Uses Animation To Send A Message About Drunk Driving.

A four-minute animated short film about the dangers of drinking and driving has been created to teach elementary school children about the importance of making the right choices when it comes to drinking. Stone Soup produced the film for the Texas-based Gulf Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Animated in a limited but colorful style, the character "Dudeasaurus," a half teen/half dinosaur, morphs into a super hero called MADDasaurus after saving a mans life.

Mobile Headline News

Scooby Doo In The Palm Of Your Hand

Cartoon Network will launch three pay-to-play games based on the SCOOBY-DOO cartoon series in early summer 2002, to coincide with the release of the SCOOBY DOO movie. Cartoon Network has partnered with mobile entertainment service provider Digital Bridges Ltd., to launch the Scooby mobile games and others based on Cartoon Network characters, throughout North America and Europe. The titles will encompass the entire range of current mobile gaming technologies available today including SMS, WAP, Java and BREW, allowing the vast majority of mobile handset owners the chance to enjoy the games.

Game Headline News

Gorillaz Are Game For Interactive TV

EMI recording artist and virtual band Gorillaz has teamed with media company Static 2358 to develop interactive TV content. A new game called Zombie Kong, featuring all four of the animated band members, will debut to more than 5.7 million digital satellite homes in the U.K., Friday, February 22, 2002 on Static's interactive television channel PlayJam. Game play involves viewers using their TV remote to control Gorillaz band member Noodle and help her find her way through 12 different levels.

Films Headline News

Madcat Women's International Film Festival

The Sixth Annual MadCat Women's International Film Festival, San Francisco and Berkeley, California, USA.

Tuesday, September 3 - Friday, September 27, 2002.

Early Entry Deadline: Tuesday, April 30, 2002.

Final Entry Deadline: Thursday, June 20, 2002.

Animation Headline News

New Animation Studio Launches In Los Angeles

Animax Interactive, a new digital animation studio, has launched their Website which features samples of the companys brand of "advertainment," including animated shorts featuring celebrity voiceovers that demonstrate and explain Animax Interactives business model. The company develops and produces entertainment for existing brands using both digital and traditional animation.

Awards Headline News

Lord Of The Rings Wins Big At BAFTA Awards

The British equivalent of the Academy Awards, the BAFTAs, were presented on February 24, 2002 at the Odeon Leicester Square in London. THE LORD OF THE RINGS won five awards, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Visual Effects. SHREK took the prize for Best Adapted Screenplay, beating four live-action films including LORD OF THE RINGS and Golden Globe adapted screenplay winner A BEAUTIFUL MIND. SHREK is nominated for an Academy Award in this same category. The BAFTA Award for Best Short Animation went to Suzie Templeton for her film DOG.

Effects Headline News

Queen Rules The Box Office

QUEEN OF THE DAMNED, the latest screen adaptation from Anne Rices VAMPIRE CHRONICLES, took a bite out of this weekends box office debuting at number one. The thriller, with visual effects by Grey Matters FX and Manex, earned $15.1M. QUEENs sexy vampires handily beat last weeks number one film, the Denzel Washington-starrer JOHN Q, with visual effects by The Effects Group. The hostage drama came in second with $12.5M for a cume of $39.8M.

Animation Headline News

Sportsblast Goes For Bardel As The Kellys’ New Animation Partner

SportsBlast, the animation development company founded by voice-actor Nancy Cartwright (THE SIMPSONS, RUGRATS), has chosen Canadian-based animation house Bardel Entertainment as its new animation partner for THE KELLYS, the animated Web series about a family of professional stock car racers. Bardels production credits include the DreamWorks films JOSEPH: KING OF DREAMS and THE ROAD TO EL DORADO, as well as work for Columbia TriStar, Disney and Fox. Bardel will provide all the visual elements for THE KELLYS second season, which begins in February 2002.

Headline News

Blackjack Hits Feature Film Development

Platinum Studios and Catch 23 Entertainment will co-produce a live-action feature film based on writer Alex Simmons graphic novel series BLACKJACK. BLACKJACK debuted in 1996, and the series details the exploits of independent African-American soldier of fortune Arron Day a man called "Blackjack" as he roams the globe seeking adventure and warding off danger.

Headline News

Smurfs: Back In Blue

Are you ready for more Smurfs? Because it looks like IMPS, the Belgian company that owns the worldwide license for Smurfs merchandising, is planning to create a new series of the cuddly blue creatures in Smurfy 3D. According to A&A computer systems, the technology provider to IMPS, the company is working on a pilot for a new Smurf series, which will possibly be produced in 3D. An IMPS representative stated that 3D "offers tremendous creative possibilities that have so far been unused in the Smurfs' cartoon world."

Animation Headline News

SimEx Skates With Sonny For Cocoa Puffs

For General Mills new 30-second spot, "Skateboarding," ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi, New York commissioned the artists at SimEx Digital Studios to complete 2D and 3D animation, compositing and editing. "Skateboarding" features the classic animated character Sonny the Cuckoo Bird and Cocoa Puffs cereal. As two young children watch Sonny skillfully control his skateboard up and down a half pipe he lets them know that Cocoa Puffs cereal will provide them with the energy they need for an action-packed skateboard run.

Animation Headline News

The Acrobat Issue Of Animation World Magazine Is Now Online!

The January 2002 Acrobat issue of Animation World Magazine is now online! In this issue, we honor animation legends that passed away in 2001. Read tributes to Bill Hanna, Robert Abel, Maurice Nobel, Faith Hubley and Jan Lenica. Gene Deitch gives us a few tips about luck. Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman takes on live-action animated features, with a vengeance. Plus, take a look at four studios that have decided to produce their own independent animated features and find out why Lille, France is a hotbed of cutting-edge Web animation.

Animation Headline News

Job Opportunities For Animators, Artists, Writers, Instructors And More

Vancouver, BC's Bardel Entertainment Inc. is looking for an ASSISTANT ANIMATION DEPARTMENT COORDINATOR and a SENIOR CHARACTER FLASH ANIMATOR . . . Newport Beach, California's Carera Productions is looking for a TELEVISION ANIMATION WRITER (PRESCHOOL) . . . Los Angeles, California's Channel M Productions is looking for a CARTOONIST/ANIMATOR . . . Kerala, India's Creative Animation is looking for a BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT MANAGER . . . Los Angeles, California's Dreams Come True Films is looking for a COMIC BOOK ARTIST . . .

Nickelodeon Headline News

THQ And Nick Strike Deal For Interactive Games

Kids videogame publisher THQ and Nickelodeon have an extensive videogame lineup for 2002 featuring popular Nickelodeon shows. In addition to games based on Nickelodeon's television series RUGRATS, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS and ROCKET POWER, THQ will also offer an interactive adaptation of Nickelodeon's upcoming theatrical release THE WILD THORNBERRYS and games based on the JIMMY NEUTRON: BOY GENIUS movie and upcoming JIMMY NEUTRON television series.

Animation Headline News

New Additions To AWN's Calendar Of Events

This week's updates to the Calendar of Events include: Banned On Earth Animation Extravaganza: Wednesday, February 20 - Saturday, June 15, 2002, Everywhere, USA . . . Melbourne International Student Animation Festival: Thursday, April 18 - Sunday, April 21, 2002, Melbourne, Victoria Australia . . . Basic Introduction to Life Sculpture: Wednesday, May 22 - Wednesday, July 24, 2002, Toronto, Ontario Canada . . . Life Drawing for Complete Beginners: Monday, May 27 - Monday, July 22, 2002, Toronto, Ontario Canada . . .

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