On Thursday, May 8, Imaginary Forces Director of Experience Design Tali Krakowsky will be presenting at the 13th International Conference on Animation, Effects, Games and Digital Media in Haus der Wirtschaft, Stuttgart, Germany. This session is part of the flashconference forum of the event.
MyToons.com will mark its first anniversary by collaborating with Adobe to deliver content to Adobe Media Player. High-quality, member-created animation from MyToons.com, along with video from television broadcasters and leading content publishers, will now be available on Adobe Media Player.
PBS KIDS Sprout is making viewers the stars of its new original afternoon block, THE SPROUT SHARING SHOW.
Launching on May 5, 2008 in the 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. ET timeslot previously occupied by THE LET'S GO SHOW (which is moving to weekend afternoons), THE SPROUT SHARING SHOW will be hosted by a group of fun and loveable hand puppets who will showcase viewer-submitted videos featuring preschoolers showing off their talents and "Look what I can do!" moments.
Emmy award-winning Toon Boom Animation announced the release of Toon Boom Studio Express 4. With this release, Studio Express 4 increases your ability to easily create eye-catching animation, all within a more user-friendly interface.
Feature highlights include:
*New flexible docking user interface*Calligraphic line styles for a unique animation look*Feather edges for creating blurs and glows*Vectorization using textures for bitmap integration
Attention animators! San Diego Asian Film Festival 2008 will once again be showcasing animated short films produced by animators of Asian ethnicities in a 90-minute all-animation program. All forms of animation (traditional, claymation, stop-motion, flash, CGI, etc) will be accepted for consideration into this competitive festival. Films by all animators pertaining to Asian issues and themes will also be considered. Only VHS and DVD (preferred) formats are accepted for consideration. A Best Animated Short Film Award will be awarded with prizes to be determined.
Cosgrove Hall Films, Europe's largest and most prolific animation company is set to unveil an exciting slate of programming at MIP TV 2008.
New programming launching at the market includes innovative home-grown animation; ROGER TO THE RESCUE, EDDIE RETRACTORHEAD and MY NEIGHBOUR IS AN EVIL GENIUS!
Created in-house in Toon Boom Harmony, ROGER TO THE RESCUE is a 52 x 10 minute series aimed at the 3-6 year old demographic.
New licensing deals continue to pour in as Speed Racer Enterprises prepares for the launch of the new animated television series SPEED RACER: THE NEXT GENERATION on Nicktoons Network, Nickelodeon's 24-hour animation network, on May 2, 2008.
The following companies are joining the blue-chip roster of licensees for both SPEED RACER: THE NEXT GENERATION and the classic SPEED RACER animated television series:
This week in AWN's Forums, pitching an idea to Cartoon Network is still a popular thread. Questions have arrived regarding animation basics, Flash and Photoshop. Others are adding to the discussion on the pros and cons of modeling your own CG characters or purchasing models. There's more talk on internships. EL TIGRE has a continuing thread. Members are still writing their thoughts about the influence of D&D co-creator Gary Gygax had on their lives.
Bringing children "a wonderful world of cultural discoveries," the award-winning former executive producer of Disney's BABY EINSTEIN and former vice president of Disney Interactive Studio's -- Learning is launching Global Wonders.
Global Wonders is a new children's multicultural education and entertainment brand to introduce children to the customs, music, languages and lifestyles of friends next door and around the world.
The visually explosive music video promotion for Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice 2008 Awards currently leaping off the small screen features animation and visual effects by Los Angeles studio Roger.
Comic actor and Kids' Choice host Jack Black stars in the video singing "Jack is Back" to AC/DC's famous rock anthem and taking viewers on a journey of wild imaginings that plunges Jack into a fully animated gooey world.
This week in AWN's Forums, a member has questions about adding voiceover tracks in Flash. Discussion fails to cease on pitching to Cartoon Network. More people write in on internships and what's the best PC for animation. Wacom vs. pencils is still a hot topic. While other members are sharing their recent work for others to critique. Plus, new members are introducing themselves weekly. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand-new stuff to check out in show and tell!
New teen virtual community, VizWoz (www.vizwoz.com) launches Friday in the UK.
VizWoz is a dynamic virtual world for teens offering entertainment, interaction and advanced game play through new and innovative technology.
The visual world of VizWoz is set to be a mass market highly immersive online gaming experience aimed at 11-14 year olds.
VizWoz was founded by serial entrepreneur, Daniel Laurence who also successfully founded School Stickers, UK's largest sticker company and MyStickers, UK's largest school incentive and reward initiative.
Heading to MIPTV? Have announcements you want to reach the animation community? Then send them to us. Each year Animation World Network publishes a special edition of the Animation Flash newsletter in PDF form specifically geared toward the big show. It's the perfect place to get the word out about the properties you're bringing to Cannes. Please send your news to AWN's news editor Annemarie Moody at annemarie@awn.com. News deadline is March 24th.
This week in AWN's Forums, a freelance animator opens a debate about buying 3D models versus creating them himself. More members are asking advice on pitching to the studios. A student has questions about internships. Debate continues over Wacom tablets versus pencils. There's a thread on the future of EL TIGRE. Another thread deals with making money with Flash animation. A tribute post has arrived for Gary Gygax, the co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons.
The adventure of one of television's finest dramas continues with BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: SEASON THREE from the immensely popular SCI FI Channel series, the Peabody Award-winning BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.
The Colonies' survivors have found their hopes of eluding their Cylon pursuers dashed by an invasion and occupation of their new home. As the fate of all human life hangs in the balance, friends become enemies, enemies become unexpected allies, and decisions are made that will haunt some people for the rest of their lives.
This week in AWN's Forums, members are debating a Canadian bill that would put decency restraints on government-funded films. A junior is asking for pitching advice. On the advice front, a student from the Philippines wants to know what he should get to practice animation at home. Discussion still continues on Wacom tablets versus pencils. A thread has started on Gary Gygax, the co-creator of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, who recently passed away. There are several posts with Flash questions. New art from the members has arrived.
Two new animated Web shorts give dark realization to author Toby Barlow's horror epic poem/novel SHARP TEETH, creator Radium announced Friday.
The work by designer/directors Brady Baltezore and Limbert Fabian of Radium, San Francisco/Dallas/Los Angeles can be seen at the book's website, www.sharpteeththebook.com.
Barlow is Executive Creative Director at ad agency JWT, NY.
Actor Jeremy Sisto voices Batman in the anticipated release of JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER, the second DC Universe original animated PG-13 film.
Based on the DC Comics graphic novel by Darwyn Cooke and produced by animation legend Bruce Timm, JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER features an all-star voice cast led by Sisto, Kyle MacLachlan (Superman), David Boreanaz (Green Lantern), Neil Patrick Harris (The Flash), Lucy Lawless (Wonder Woman), Kyra Sedgwick (Lois Lane), Brooke Shields (Carol Ferris), Miguel Ferrer (Martian Manhunter) and Phil Morris (King Faraday).
Today, to coincide with the 80th Academy Awards and the 85th anniversary of Warner Bros., Warner Home Video will release WARNER BROS. HOME ENT. PRESENTS: ACADEMY AWARD ANIMATION COLLECTION 15 WINNERS ~ 26 NOMINEES on DVD ($44.98 SRP).
In addition to the three-disc set, WHV will also release a DVD featuring the 15 winning cartoons only. Titled WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS: ACADEMY AWARD ANIMATION COLLECTION 15 WINNERS, this DVD will retail for $19.98 SRP.
During a black-tie event at Royce Hall in Los Angeles, ASIFA-Hollywood handed out prizes at the 35th Annual Annie Awards recognizing the year's best animation across film, television, commercials, videogames and short subjects. Host Tom Kenny entertained the crowd with his usual dose of manic humor, joking that HORTON HEARS A WHO was a Roger Daltrey fusion project about tinnitus.
So without further ado, the 2007 Annie Award winners are:
PRODUCTION CATEGORIES
Best Animated FeatureRATATOUILLE -- Pixar Animation Studios
Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film 2008Stuttgart, GermanyMay 1-6, 2008Deadline: Feb. 18, 2008
Spanish-language network Univision's premiere of its first-ever prime-time animated series, EL CHAVO: LA SERIE ANIMADA -- with Flash animation produced by Mexico City-based Anima Estudios -- captured the #1 spot among entertainment programming, excluding sports, among Adults 18-34 for its time period and saw double- and triple-digit audience gains in every other key demo, according to the Nielsen Fast Affiliate ratings.
* Univision captured the #3 spot among Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11 for the Sunday 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm hour, beating out CBS, NBC and CW.
Spain-based animation producer Black Maria has added YENNY, a new animated comedy-adventure series for teenagers, to its slate of projects. Based on an Internet comic strip by David Alvarez that was adopted by Universal Press Syndicate for digital distribution, YENNY follows the adventures of a big-footed Boricua girl. Alvarez is working together with Black Maria's creative directors in the graphic development of the series, which will follow the original storylines of the comic strips.
In a first for the channel, USA Network is taking a new approach to "pod-busting" with the introduction of THE BIG ADVENTURES OF LITTLE SHAWN AND GUS, a series of animated vignettes based on the hit series PSYCH, created by J.J. Sedelmaier Prods. Each vignette explores the timeless mysteries of childhood through the characters of young Shawn and Gus. The six animations range in length from 50 seconds to two minutes. USA will unveil a new adventure in the second break of every episode of PSYCH beginning Friday, Jan. 11 at 10:00 pm PCT when the show returns with new episodes.
The Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film has extended its entry deadline to Dec. 31, 2007. Next year's event will take place May 1-6, 2008 in Stuttgart, Germany.
