AWN Headline News

* Friday, April 14 - Tuesday, April 18, 2000. Positano (Amalfi Coast), Italy.

* Thursday, April 13 - Sunday, April 16, 2000. Taos, New Mexico, U.S.A.

SOFTIMAGE has announced that the latest upgrade to their flagship SOFTIMAGE|3D animation system was available for download from their Web site. This upgrade represents a milestone for SOFTIMAGE, as it is the first upgrade the company has chosen to distribute on-line (rather than wait 6-8 weeks for reproduction, duplication and distribution).

The new NBC animated sitcom, GOD THE DEVIL AND BOB, has been given the ax by five more stations across the U.S. NBC affiliates in Shreveport, Louisiana, Tupelo, Mississippi and Boise and Twin Falls, Idaho have moved the show to a late night time slot, while Pocatello, Idaho has completely pulled the show from its line up. Joining Salt Lake City which last week pulled the show from its schedule, the additional stations are in strict contrast to NBC's grand premiere of the series on Thursday, March 9, 2000. Currently, the show is positioned between the network's top shows FRIENDS and FRASIER.

BBC video brings to homes 13 tales from the TV series WILLIAM'S WISH

WELLINGTONS. The 5 minute stories feature a small boy and his pair of magic

boots. The show airs weekly on Cartoon Network and TVO. The tape will be

distributed in the U.S. and Canada by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Volume 1 will be available on March 7, 2000 and be priced at US$14.95.

Animation film company ADV Films has inked a distribution deal for the

entire catalog of films from The Right Stuf International, Inc. ADV's

library includes BKN cartoon MONSTER RANCHERS. "Because we have anime

standards such as NEON GENESIS EVANGELION and new classics like BUBBLEGUM

CRISIS: TOKYO 2040, forming an alliance with The Right Stuf is a dream come

true for us," states ADV Films President John Ledford. "The Right Stuf has

two of the true milestones of anime in their enormous catalog; KIMBA, THE

The Art Institute of Los Angeles has received approval from the Accrediting

Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT) to offer

Bachelor of Science degrees in computer animation, graphic design and

on-line media and marketing. Established in 1997 as a branch of The Art

Institute of Pittsburgh, the Los Angeles arm received state approval to

offer baccalaureate-level programs in September, 1999. With more than 850

students enrolled, The Art Institute of Los Angeles also offers Associate

In a meeting with key advertisers, Cartoon Network executives unveiled their business plan for the 2000-2001 television season, including upcoming original series, program acquisitions, which includes the exclusive Looney Toons rights, and comprehensive on-line initiatives. Cartoon Network will produce four original half-hour animated series through 2001, including SHEEP IN THE BIG CITY. This, their ninth original show, will premiere with 13 half-hour episodes in fall 2000.

Two months before the WORLD ANIMATION CELEBRATION opens, festival director TRACY CROSSLEY has left "to pursue other interests." WAC has appointed a new director Danielle Robertson. "The team we have assembled to produce this year's event has an incredible amount of festival experience and has banded together to produce a memorable experience for everyone involved," said Robertson. "We appreciate the contributions Tracy had made and wish her the very best in all her future endeavors."

With strictly live-action fare reigning the U.S. box office, SNOW DAY slipped to sixth place, while PITCH BLACK remained steady in fifth place. Paramount's kid-pic, with special effects by Curious Pictures, fell from #2, grossing US$4.8 million this past weekend and bringing its total gross to $49 million. USA Films' PITCH BLACK, with primary visual effects by Double Negative Ltd. and The Chandler Group, clocked in at #5 for the second straight weekend, grossing $5.07 million raising its total gross to $29.7 million.