3dfx Interactive Inc. announced the completion of its merger with GigaPixel Corporation. Subsequently, George T. Haber, a founder of GigaPixel, and Andrei M. Manoliu, a member of the GigaPixel board of directors, will join the 3dfx board. "The merger marks an important step in enhancing the 3dfx technology leadership and expanding our business for the future," said Alex Leupp, president and CEO of 3dfx.
SGI and Intergraph Corporation, two of the leaders in high-performance graphics workstations and software, have announced an alliance that allows both companies to share each other's products and expertise. Under the partnership, Intergraph will purchase US$100 million in SGI products and services over three years. In turn, SGI will obtain assets from Intergraph, including Intergraph Computer Systems' Zx10 family of ViZual Workstations and Servers.
netGuru, Inc. (formerly Research Engineers, Inc.) has expanded its netGuruDigitalmedia facilities to provide animation, production and digital media services for U.S. and offshore producers. Based in both Yorba Linda, California, U.S.A. and Calcutta, India, the company offers animation services including 2D animation, clean-up, in-betweening, digital ink and paint, 3D animation, special effects compositing, audio/video editing, and Web and interactive animation and graphics. netGuru also markets AXA Team 2D Pro, a 2D pencil test and ink and paint software package, and newly released AXA-Web.
With three major releases this past weekend, Sony Pictures HOLLOW MAN was far from invisible at the U.S. box office, finishing in first place. The INVISIBLE MAN redux, with primary visual effects by The Ranch Entertainment, Tippett Studios and Sony Imageworks, grossed US$26.41 million, giving it the second largest August opening in history. Falling to second, THE NUTTY PROFESSOR II: THE KLUMPS dropped 58% from its debut weekend, with a gross of $18.17 million. The phat festival, with primary visual effects by Double Negative Ltd., has rounded up $76.7 million thus far.
With host Terrence "T-man" Masson, Creative Planet's
forum has become a hot topic. Check out the new threads on careers in
visual effects, crash zoom shot transitions, the shrinking miniature
FX market and the use of Macs in effects houses. Join the party and
meet the visual effects pros.
In
Sources say that Vancouver-based film producer Lions Gate Entertainment is on the verge of purchasing Harvey Entertainment. As reported in VARIETY, Harvey chairman/CEO Roger Burlage has been shopping the home of Casper around to many companies. Last spring Burlage saved Harvey from acquisition by Artisans by securing US$17 million in funding from entertainment company Kushner-Locke and then-investment banker and current Lions Gate vice-chairman, Michael Burns. The funds came in the form of $11.5 million in cash and $5.5 million in Kushner-Locke stock.
Northridge, California-based Lebedfilm Associates Ltd. is looking for
3D MODELERS and ANIMATORS to work on various animation projects and a
PROJECT MANAGER responsible for handling the day-to-day operations of
the company CG department. . . San Rafael, California-based
Stormfront Studios, Inc., a creative development house, is looking
for a 3D TECH ARTIST who is very familiar with 3D Studio Max. . . San
Bernardino, California-based Brooklyn Born Productions, in
NetGuru, Inc. (formerly Research Engineers, Inc.), an integrated
Internet technology and software company, has expanded its
netGuruDigitalmedia (www.guruanimation.com) facilities to provide
animation, production and digital media services for U.S. and
offshore producers. The new Calcutta studio is equipped with the
latest software including AXA Team 2D, After Effects, Director, 3D
Studio Max and Flash. The studio has already completed various
NetGuru, Inc., an integrated Internet technology and software
company, is now shipping AXA-Web 1.0, an accessory software
application for AXA Team 2D, its leading 2D ink & paint/compositing
animation software for the Window's environment. AXA-Web 1.0 provides
for batch raster to vector conversion for existing users of AXA as
well as all the major bitmap and vector file formats for conversion
for use on the Web, in Flash, or for print work. AXA-Web 1.0 lets the
The deadline to register your film for the Cinanima International
Animated Film Festival competition has been extended to August 8,
2000. Categories include: Features, Shorts, Commercials, Educational
Films and TV Series. For more information about entries, email
cinanima@mail.telepac.pt, call (+351) 22734-611, or fax (+351)
22734-6015. Since 1977, Cinanima has been promoting the international
art of animation in Espinho, a city located on the Northern coast of
In addition to the screening information, the Ottawa 00 International
Animation Festival Web site now offers a detailed program of
professional development and training workshops and panels.
Check out the latest "behind the scenes" features and tutorials from
Visual Magic Magazine...
We've added a string of indexed new links to articles from Animation
World Magazine...
Plympton's new series of comics extracted from the comic book,
"Sleazy Cartoons of Bill Plympton," is for ADULTS ONLY...
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia
Quiz...
The Masters of Russian Animation collection is an extraordinary
collection of Russia's most important animated short films. Volume 3
includes ten films from directors Yuri Norstein, Eduard Nazarov,
Valentine Karavaev, Fyodor Khitruk, Nikolai Serebryakov, Ideya
Garanina, Alexander Gorlenko and Andrei Khrjanovsky.
your copy today for $24.95 plus shipping and handling.
Toon In is AWN's guide to what's new on the Net. This week's installment features Annecy aired shorts, Playboy contest winners and much, much more.
Get your Toon In here!
Every week AWN's associate editor Rick DeMott highlights what he thinks is the top new toon in cyberspace in "Rick's Picks!"
Rick's Pick For Friday, August 4, 2000!
Mondo Media has signed on to syndicate Honkworms FISHBAR. The series, featuring talking fish and a sassy Parisian lobster with an unnatural obsession with cows, was created by Honkworm founder Johan Liedgren and art director Janet Galore. Thus far there are nineteen completed Webisodes and Honkworm will produce 6 more so that Mondo Media will have six months worth of weekly programming to pitch to various Web sites.
Columbia TriStar Home Video is set to flood stores with HEAVY METAL 2000 and the original 1981 Heavy Metal in a two-pack release. On October 17, 2000, the HEAVY METAL sequel, which never found theatrical distribution in the U.S., will be available on VHS and DVD. The special widescreen DVD will feature Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and two-channel Dolby Surround Sound. The extra features on the HEAVY METAL 2000 DVD release will include: the short film JULIE STRAIN: SUPER GODDESS, animation tests, the trailer and multiple language tracks in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
Alias|Wavefront, a SGI subsidiary, announced four key senior management changes. Warren Pratt, the previous president of Alias|Wavefront, has been named chairman of Alias|Wavefront and senior vice president of engineering for SGI. Doug Walker, previously vice president of worldwide field operations and marketing, has been appointed president to fill Pratts place. Dave Wharry has joined Alias|Wavefront to fill the empty seat as vice president of worldwide field operations and marketing. Peter Mehlstaeubler has been promoted to vice president.
In light of Nasdaqs delisting of their stock, troubled animation producer Cinar Corp. has brought in investment bank Merrill Lynch & Co. to help assess the future options for the company, which may include the sale of all or parts of the company. "Merrill Lynch & Co. will work with us and our current advisors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, to review all strategic alternatives available to the Company in order to maximize future shareholder value, including any proposed business combination, partnerships or mergers," said Barrie Usher, President and CEO of CINAR.
RETURN OF THE JEDI and RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK producer Howard Kazanjian has joined Cornerstone Animation, Inc.s board of advisors. Kazanjian will serve as a production consultant on the companys major projects. "Needless to say, were thrilled to have someone of Howards talent, reputation and experience aboard," said Larry D. Whitaker, Jr., Cornerstones CEO.
* Thursday, September 7 Sunday, September 10, 2000. Brisbane, Australia.
Mattel Interactive has signed Scott Gorden (AN EXTREMELY GOOFY MOVIE) to write a live-action, made for television movie script featuring OREGON TRAIL characters from the successful gaming franchise. The script is scheduled for completion early this fall. THE OREGON TRAIL was originally introduced in 1971 as a text-based simulation created on a Teletype machine and mainframe computer, but has. Gordens other credits include SAVED BY THE BELL, MOONLIGHTING, A DIFFERENT WORLD and GOLDEN GIRLS.
Rhinoceros Visual Effects has signed five digital CG design artists: Armin Matin, Natalie Saenko, Jeff Guerrero, Patrick Porter and Mark Stienberg. The new team came from the now defunct R/Greenberg Studios, where Rhinoceros executive producers Michael Miller and Rick Wagonheim previously worked.
