Features

DVD Releases for June 3, 2008

After captivating audiences with THE SIXTH SENSE and UNBREAKABLE writer/director M. Night Shyamalan created his next mind-blowing movie event: SIGNS -- now more tantalizing than ever on Blu-ray Disc from Disney (vfx by Animal Makers and ILM). SIGNS is the gripping story of an ordinary family as they encounter the possibility that Earth is being invaded by creatures from another planet. When Graham Hess (Mel Gibson) and his family awaken to find a 500-foot crop circle in their backyard they're told extraterrestrials are responsible. As they watch with growing dread news reports tell of similar "signs" suddenly appearing all over the world. Don't even blink as razor-sharp high definition transports you to a new dimension of awe and terror. Jump out of your skin as the spectacularly enhanced audio quality intensifies every gasp heartbeat and otherworldly echo.

In Home Entertainment, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Entertainment Headline News

Lionsgate Secures Distribution Rights To Little Tikes

Lionsgate has entered into a distribution agreement with leading consumer entertainment products company MGA Ent. for the popular Little Tikes brand. The deal was announced Thursday by Lionsgate Exec VP of Marketing and Family Entertainment, Anne Parducci.

In Licensing, Licensing | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Features Headline News

Photoreal CG Used For New Hyundai Spots

Kicking tires and lifting hoods doesn't even begin to describe the experience you get watching the new series of spots for automaker Hyundai.

Two fast-paced, information-packed spots use photoreal CG animation to flip, rotate and spin cars so viewers get an amazingly thorough look.

Motion graphics point out scores of features and by the end of the 30-second spots, you feel like you've actually learned something.

In Anime, Commercials, Visual Effects, Anime, Commercials, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Features Headline News

New Site For Classic Cartoons

DIC Entertainment has launched an online video channel, www.kewlcartoons.com, dedicated to new and classic cartoons for families and children.

Frederic Soulie will head the division, managing the company's network of sites.

Kewlcartoons.com features free, on-demand streaming animated television series from DIC's library of 3,000 half-hours of programming including DINO SQUAD, INSPECTOR GADGET and THE LITTLES.

The community also features chat and games, and is user-friendly for PC and Mac users.

In Interactive, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Animated Headline News

12 Animated Features Submitted for 2007 Oscar Consideration

Twelve features have been submitted for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 80th Academy Awards, including such early favorites as RATATOUILLE, THE SIMPSONS MOVIE and PERSEPOLIS (which is also the French entry for Best Foreign Film). Under the rules, a maximum of three films can be nominated from this group.

The other nine submissions are: ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS, AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE COLON MOVIE FILM FOR THEATERS, BEE MOVIE, BEOWULF, MEET THE ROBINSONS, SHREK THE THIRD, SURF'S UP, TEKKONKINKREET and TMNT.

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Features Headline News

Surf's Up Swims to DVD, Blu-ray and PSP

SURF'S UP, the latest from Sony Pictures Animation, resurfaces today (Oct. 9, 2007) on DVD, Blu-ray and PSP ($28.95, $38.95 and $28.95, respectively). Headlining the bonus features is the all-new short, THE CHUBBCHUBBS SAVE XMAS.

The mockumentary-styled SURF'S UP about surfing penguins is directed by Ash Brannon and Chris Buck. David Schaub serves as senior supervising animator and Rob Bredow is the vfx supervisor. SURF'S UP stars the voice talents of Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel, Jon Heder, James Woods and Mario Cantone.

In Home Entertainment, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Features Headline News

4Kids.tv Relaunches with All-New Features

4Kids Ent.'s popular online destination for kids, 4Kids.tv, relaunched with brand new features and functionality in conjunction with the premiere of the sixth season of 4Kids TV -- the four-hour Saturday morning programming block on Fox -- on September 8, 2007.

In Interactive, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Features Headline News

Pixar Releases RenderMan Pro Server 13.5

Pixar Animation Studios is now offering RenderMan Pro Server version 13.5 software, together with a new licensing policy greatly increasing throughput on multi-processor computers.

In Technology, Visual Effects, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Blu-ray Headline News

Pixar Shorts Vol. 1 Bound for DVD, Blu-ray

Buena Vista Home Ent. will debut PIXAR SHORT FILMS COLLECTION: VOLUME 1 Nov. 4 on DVD and Blu-ray, it was announced at Comic-Con Included will be Gary Rydstromâs LIFTED, MATER AND THE GHOST LIGHT, ONE MAN BAND, BOUNDIN, MIKEâS NEW CAR, FOR THE BIRDS, GERIâS GAME, KNICK KNACK, TIN TOY, REDâS DREAM, LUXO JR. and THE ADVENTURES OF ANDRE & WALLY B.

Bonus features will include audio commentary from various directors, a behind-the-scenes doc containing interviews with John Lasseter and others and animation tests.

In Home Entertainment, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Blu-ray Headline News

At World's End to Sail on DVD, Blu-ray

Buena Vista Home Ent. announced that PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END (with a maelstrom of new vfx from ILM) will hit retail shelves on Dec. 4, 2007, on DVD and Blu-ray Disc for $34.95.

Included among the bonus features will be a five-part behind-the-scenes doc, two interactive features (including "Enter the Maelstrom" and "Jolly Roger Host"), as well as nine additional featurettes and an outtake real -- all in 1080p high-definition on the Blu-ray edition.

Bonus features:* Documentary: "Masters of Design"

In Home Entertainment, Visual Effects, Home Entertainment, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Animated Headline News

The Invincible Iron Man Comes to DVD

Marvel, MLG Prods. 3 and Lionsgate bring a new animated feature, THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, to DVD (Lionsgate Home Ent., $19.98) on Jan. 23, 2007. Directed by Frank Paur (X-MEN EVOLUTION, BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES), they've gone back to the origin of Iron Man. While raising the ruins of a long buried Chinese kingdom, billionaire inventor Tony Stark unleashes an age-old prophecy that foretells the resurrection of the Mandarin, the emperor of China's darkest and most violent dynasty.

In Home Entertainment, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Features Headline News

Animated Feature Oscar Race Features 16

Now that 16 animated features were submitted for consideration in 2006, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences anticipates there will be a full slate of five nominees in the Animated Feature Film category.

The slate usually has three nominees, except for in 2002 when there were enough qualified features in the running to par down the field to five nominees.

The 16 features expected to compete for 79th Academy Awards nominations are:THE ANT BULLYARTHUR AND THE INVISIBLESBARNYARDCARSCURIOUS GEORGE

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Features Headline News

BCI Journeys Back To Oz on DVD

Created in the early 1970s, Filmation Studios JOURNEY BACK TO OZ, featuring the voices of Liza Minnelli, Mickey Rooney, Ethel Merman, Danny Thomas and Milton Berle, is now available on DVD from BCI. The DVD will sell for $14.98. Entertainment Rights Plc is the films rights holder.

In Home Entertainment, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Features Headline News

Harvey Birdman Files Volume 2 on DVD

Warner Bros. Ent. has released HARVEY BIRDMAN, ATTORNEY AT LAW, VOL. 2 on DVD. The two-disc set features 13 episodes, nine of which contain commentary by voice actors as Stephen Colbert, John Michael Higgins, Gary Cole, Peter MacNicol, Paget Brewster and Chris Edgerly.

Other bonus features include unaired scenes, a music video for Hey Mr. Passerby, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the series and the evolution of a scene, Fun With Audio segments and Clothes-less Animation Pass. The DVD sells for $29.98.

In Home Entertainment, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Features Events

Los Angeles Houdini Roadshow Event

Begins: October 26, 2006

Side Effects Software is brings its 2006 Houdini Roadshow, featuring customer presentations and Houdini feature demonstrations, to L.A.

This event is an opportunity to network with people in the Houdini community while learning about new features in Houdini. There will also be a sneak peek into some of the features coming in Houdini 9.

The event will take place at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects, 1015 N. Caheunga Stage 15, North Hollywood, California 90038.

In Event Types: Discussion, Seminars / Workshops, Animation, Features, Live Action, Short Films, Television, Visual Effects

Disney Headline News

Disney Fall Toy Line Features Cutting-Edge Toys

This holiday, Disney Consumer Products will present a lineup of cutting-edge electronics and imaginative toys inspired by Disneys latest hits as well as classics.

In Anime, Licensing, Anime, Licensing | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Music Headline News

Apple Introduces New iPod; Will Sell Disney Features Over Internet

Apple announced the launch of the new iPod and ceo Steve Jobs revealed that full-length features from The Walt Disney Co. would soon be sold over the Internet, reports BLOOMBERG. New Disney releases would cost $14.99; catalog titles would be offered for $9.99.

The new iPod is available in a 30GB model at the new low price of $249 and an 80GB model, which holds up to 20,000 songs or 100 hours of video, for $349. Time Warner Inc.'s AOL unit and Web retailer Amazon.com Inc. previously announced deals with several studios to sell or rent features.

In Interactive, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Features Headline News

Flash-Animated Broken Saint Reborn On DVD

BROKEN SAINTS, the Flash-animated graphic novel epic that was told in byte-size installments over the course of three years, is now assembled in a comprehensive four-disc collectors set DVD, available Aug. 1, 2006, for the first time in the U.S. from Fox Home Ent. ($49.98). The original Web premiere of BROKEN SAINTS has received more than five million visitors and numerous awards, including the Audience Award For Online Animation at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and Producer Of Year at the 2005 Canadian New Media Awards.

In Home Entertainment, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Focus Headline News

Ang Lee Lusts Over WWII-Era Thriller

Ang Lee has pacted with Focus Features to direct LUST, CAUTION, an espionage thriller set in WWII-era Shanghai. Bill Kong, who previously produced Lee's CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, will produce. Focus Features ceo James Schamus will exec produce.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Features Headline News

Focus Features Picks Up Laika’s Coraline

Focus Features has acquired the world rights to Laika Ent.s stop-motion feature, CORALINE, based on the book by Neil Gaiman, reports VARIETY.

The film features the voice of Dakota Fanning as a young girl who walks through a secret door in her new house where she discovers an alternate version of her life.

Laika supervising director Henry Selick is adapted the script and will co-helm alongside Mike Cachuela. Pandemonium Films head Bill Mechanic is producing with Laika's Mary Sandell. They Might Be Giants will provide the songs.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Features VFXWorld

The Digital Eye: Just in Time Features

In the latest Digital Eye, Craig Zerouni of Side Effects Software explores how quickly experimental CG techniques become mainstream features.

In Production | VFXWorld

Series Headline News

VIZ Media Offers Diverse Collection Of Anime Titles For Holiday

VIZ Media Llc. has announced a collection of fourth quarter anime releases that will make unique gift selections for the 2005 holiday season. These DVDs include exclusive box sets, the latest episodic volumes for ongoing series, as well as single DVD volumes for newly launched properties.

In Anime, Home Entertainment, Anime, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe

Films ANIMATIONWorld

Book Review: 'The Animated Movie Guide'

Andrew Osmond chats with Lloyd Price, supervising animator on Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit, about bringing Aardman superstar plasticine duo to the big screen.

In Reviews | ANIMATIONWorld

Awards Events

SDA Home Entertainment 2005 DVD Technical Awards

Begins: July 27, 2005

For the past several years, the Video Software Dealers Association has acknowledged outstanding DVD product through its DVD Technical Awards. It recognizes such features as commentary, supplementary materials, menu features and more. To be eligible, titles must have been released between April 1, 2004

In Event Types: Contests, Animation, Business / Management, Documentaries, Features, Live Action, New Media, Short Films

Features Headline News

Constantine Comes to DVD

Travel to hell and back when CONSTANTINE blasts onto DVD July 19, 2005, in single and two-disc deluxe editions (Warner Home Video, $29.98 and $30.99). This vivid, cinematic comic book adaptation is an action-packed thriller from DC Comics/Vertigos HELLBLAZER and stars Keanu Reeves (THE MATRIX trilogy) and Rachel Weisz (THE MUMMY). As John Constantine, Reeves fights a new otherworldly foe in a City of the Angels where spirit-world bounds have brokenand all hell is breaking loose.

In Home Entertainment, Visual Effects, Home Entertainment, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All