netGuru Expands Into Animation
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.
Hollow Man Far From Invisible At The Box Office
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.
Today's Hot Topics In Creative Planet's Discussion Forums
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
Lions Gate Set To Purchase Harvey
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.
New Jobs: Animators, Digital Artists, Directors, Visual Artists And More...
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
Netgurudigitalmedia Expands Domestic And Offshore Animation Services
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 Introduces Axa-Web 1.0 Animation Software
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
Cinanima 2000: Last Call For Entries
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
Ottawa 00 Workshop Program Now Available
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.
New At Visual Magic Magazine
Check out the latest "behind the scenes" features and tutorials from
Visual Magic Magazine...
What's New In The Student Corner?
We've added a string of indexed new links to articles from Animation
World Magazine...
Plympton's Comic Of The Week
Plympton's new series of comics extracted from the comic book,
"Sleazy Cartoons of Bill Plympton," is for ADULTS ONLY...
This Week's Animation Trivia Quiz
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia
Quiz...
Store Specials: Masters Of Russian Animation Volume 3 Now Available In DVD
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: Web Animation Guide For Friday, August 4, 2000
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 To Distribute Honkworm’s Fishbar
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.
Heavy Metal Two-Pack Arrives On Video
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.
Four Top Level Changes At Alias|Wavefront
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.
Cinar Sale Next Possible Option In Light Of Delisting
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.
Jedi Producer Joins Board At Cornerstone Animation
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.
Sydney's Japanime Fest To Hold Austrlian Premiere of Vampire Hunter D 2000
* Thursday, September 7 Sunday, September 10, 2000. Brisbane, Australia.
Mattel Interactive To Turn Oregon Trail Into TV Movie
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 Raises Digital CG & Design Artist Staff By Five
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.
face2face Adds New Directors Of Business Development & Marketing
face2face, a Lucent Technologies-owned facial analysis software developer, has named Kathleen Papera as director of business development and Rich Smith as director of marketing. In her new post, Papera will oversee face2face's marketing strategy, focusing on the gaming community. Papera will also be in charge of finding and managing relationships with complementary partners in the gaming industry, as well as supervising gaming customer's beta sites. "When I was first introduced to face2face's alterEGO, I knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of this venture," said Papera.
Wild Brain Passes The Test For Sony Music
Wild Brain has finished three spots for Sony Music Entertainments "Pass It On" campaign. "Adventure," "Love" and "Street Party" air exclusively on MTV and highlight several of Sony Musics top artists by combining live-action music video footage with traditional cel animation. Creative director Ed Bell brought to the project his futuristic hip hop/anime designs, while director Robert Valley helped bring to life the surreal tone of the spots. "Ed Bell created a new genre of animation that isnt confined by stylistic boundaries," said Valley.
