TGS Announces Amapi 3D V.5
Template Graphics Software (TGS) recently announced that its modeling and
animation software Amapi, was receiving an upgrade. The new release will be
'officially' announced at the Mac World Expo in January, however, the new
version is available now. It features Dynamic Geometry, which allows users
to edit an object dynamically by changing its outline, profile or basic
structure, through the software's ability to remember the construction
history of the object. The upgrade also has a new Decimation tool, which
3D Studio MAX 3.1 Now Shipping
Discreet recently released a maintenance update to 3D Studio MAX 3 which,
in the coming weeks, will be distributed free of charge to all registered
users of the software. The announcement comes shortly after the company
declared success at clearing well over 100,000 copies, and are reinforcing
their commitment to users by bringing them new features so soon after the
initial release of the software. The update includes data containers for
Quebec Animation Makes Quite A Team
Twenty 2D/3D animation and special effects companies from Quebec, Canada
have formed a union in order to better promote the award winning work done
in the region. Called Quebec Animation, the association is supported by the
Quebec Minister of Industry and Commerce, the Quebec Minister of
Communications and Culture, the Quebec Minister of International Relations,
the Montreal Bureau of Cinema, and the Canadian Service Center in
Multimedia Applications (CESAM). The association sets up a focal point for
Angela Anaconda Marathon
Fox Family's newly picked up ANGELA ANACONDA rings in the New Year with a
14-episode marathon on January 1, 2000. The seven-hour event will start at
7 am and run 'til 2 pm on Fox Family. The show that TV Guide recently named
one of the top ten new kids shows of 1999 regular airs at 1 pm on Saturdays
and Sundays on Fox Family.
Batman Descends On DVD & Video
The Dark Knight descends into video stores December 21, 1999 with three new
BATMAN BEYOND videos and two new DVDs -- BATMAN BEYOND: THE MOVIE and
BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM. Each of the three BATMAN BEYOND VHS tapes
(DISAPPEARING INQUE, SCHOOL DAYZ, TECH WARS) all feature three episodes of
the Warner Bros. cartoon series. The BATMAN BEYOND DVD features the movie
and four bonus episodes of the series. BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM is the
first feature animated movie and has sold millions of copies on VHS
Women In Animation Writers' Group
* Thursday, January 13, 2000. Westwood, California, U.S.A.
The Women In Animation Writers' Group begins a new series of seminars at
Saban Entertainment at 7:30 pm. Have you always wanted to write for
animation, but you don't where to start? What's the difference between
writing for animation and live-action? What are some of the techniques for
writing gags? Join us and find out! For more information please contact
Jean Ann Wright at (818) 360-8321. RSVP required.
A Closer Look: The Brave New World of Internet Entertainment, Part 2
The past few weeks were marked with announcements regarding companiesbeginning to broadcast animation over the 'net, and this is only going tointensify...
The Acrobat issue of Animation World Magazine is now on-line!
This month Animation World Magazine is taking a special focus on AsianAnimation, especially Japan. Kosei Ono profiles Japanese artist, TadahitoMochinaga, and Gigi Hu introduces us to two of Japan's leading independentfilmmakers. A group of key creative talent from Blue Sky Studios recentlytoured Japan and have provided us with a scrapbook of photos and stories.Andrew Osmond takes an indepth look at the impact Japanese animation ishaving on animation made outside of Japan and we begin the first in a
Job Opportunities for an Academic Director and an Assistant Professor.
The Art Institutes International at San Francisco, a post-secondary,degree granting educational institution, is seeking a qualified candidateto serve as ACADEMIC DIRECTOR for its computer, multimedia and graphicdesign programs...
ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Expo offers new pavilions.
ASIFA-Hollywood will host its 7th Annual Animation Expo on March 3-4, 2000,in Glendale, California...
Ottawa Festival recognizes industry achievements in animation
Ottawa '00 will take place from September 19-24, 2000. The OttawaInternational Animation Festival will recognize industry achievements inanimation with a new competition devoted solely to commissioned works...
Brussels 2000 announces official selection
Each year the Brussels Cartoon and Animated Film Festival programs the'cre de la cre' in international animation...
FPS Issue #18 now available!
In this new issue #18: Cover Story: "Return to Pepperland" by AndrewOsmond. Features: Multiplying the Monster; Newsreel: What's New inToontown; Festival Watch: SIGGRAPH '99, The Montreal World Film Festival,TDIF '99, SAFO '99, and Animart; Doin' It on the Low End: Painting Frames;Women in Animation: On a Roll: NFB Film Keeps Pleasing Jurys; Short andSweet; Education: Training on the Right Side of the Brain; Cartoons:Spliced; In Progress: Bully Dance, A Monster's Calling and Ho-Ho-Ho;
QAS profiles more animators
The Quickdraw Animation Society web site has been updated...
New additions to AWN's Calander of Events
This week's updates to the Calendar of Events includes the World AnimationCelebration in the U.S., and Anima Mundi 2000 in Brazil. The Calendar ofUpcoming Events is a constantly changing reference source for what'shappening around the World of Animation. Use it to stay abreast ofanimation related activities across the globe. If you know of animationrelated events that we don't have listed, send an email with the pertinent
This week's Animation Trivia Quiz: Pioneers in Computer Animation
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz...
Store Special: "Setting Up Your Shots"
"Setting Up Your Shots: Great Camera Moves Every Filmmaker Needs To Know,"was written by Jeremy Vineyard, a writer and director based in Los Angeles...
Harvey Makes The Net Richer
Harvey Entertainment Company has inked a deal with San Francisco-basedSpunky Productions, Inc., a digital media company, to produce anddistribute Richie Rich Web cartoons. The new toons will be available onboth SpunkyTown.com and the Harvey site. Spunky will adapt early comic bookadventures of the world's richest kid into 2 - 5 minute episodes to startairing during the holiday season. Product tie-ins will be developed by bothcompanies to be sold on both of their Web sites. Dan March, Director of New
Heisman Tackles Web
The Downtown Athletic Club (DAC), presenters of the Heisman Memorial Trophyfor the year's outstanding U.S. college American football player, havecontracted with Lemon Custard Comics, the San Francisco-based computeranimation production house, to produce a Flash-animated comic strip for theWeb to tell the story of the trophy and football in general. The firstinstallment, "The John W. Heisman Story," will run simultaneously onHeismanMemorialTrophy.com and LemonCustard.com. DAC plans to use the Web to
LIPSinc Releases Echo
LIPSinc., the producer of Ventriloquist for 3D Studio MAX, recentlyannounced that they had launched a new lip-synching program called Echo.Whereas Ventriloquist is a plug-in for 3D Studio MAX, Echo is a standaloneprogram which outputs in flipbook, dope sheet and function curve animationdata for animation platforms, interactive 3D game engines, and multimediaapplications. Timeline Studios, a company founded by best-selling authorMichael Crichton, is using Echo in the company's first title, slated for
Cinanima Cites Best
Cinanima '99 finished its week-long run on November 14, 1999. The Espinho,Portugal festival highlights the best in animation from around the globe.This year, the International Jury gave their Grand Prize to AlexanderPetrov's film THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA. The Canadian and Japanese producedfilm also won the RTP Prize, an award given by the Portuguese StateChannel's special jury, and the Best Soundtrack Prize. TheCanadian-produced film by Eugene Fedorenko and Rose Newlove entitled
The LEAF Falls On Phantom Menace
On November 18, 1999, LEAF, the London Effects & Animation Festival,bestowed their award for best effects in a feature film on STAR WARS:PHANTOM MENACE. Over 700 industry personalities watched LEAF's finale, anhour long visual effects smorgasbord from around the world. Rob Coleman wason hand to except the award for Industrial Light & Magic's work on thePHANTOM MENACE. Other winners included: AKA Pizazz's "Megalomaniac" forbest commercial animation; Jason Shulman's HOLLOW for best student film;
Girls Inc. Honors Cartoon Net's Simensky
Linda Simensky, Cartoon Network's VP of original animation, received one ofGirls Inc.'s four 1999 honors. With over 50 years of service, Girls Inc.has been dedicated to helping American girls become strong, smart and boldthrough educational programs. Each year the organization honors industryexecs who have helped challenge and inspire young girls across America.Along with CBS pres. Nancy Tellem, Lifetime VP Kelly Goode Abugov, andEntertainment VP at WB Jordan Levin, Simensky was recognized for her work
Charles Schulz Retires
Charles Schulz, the creator of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the entirePEANUTS gang, has decided that he will retire in order to concentrate onbeating his newly diagnosed cancer. This desicion will end almost fivedecades of Schulz's world-famous comic. Schulz, who has always refused tolet another artist draw PEANUTS, said he would stop producing new dailypanels as of January 3, 2000 but allow his syndicators to recycle comicstrips from 1974 if newspapers still wanted to run the strip. On a daily
Flordia-based AARGH! screams for Cold-Eeze
Florida, U.S.-based AARGH! ANIMATION, Inc., one of the largest independentcel animation houses, has produced a series of national spots for Cold-Eezecold medicine that combine live-action with cel animation. The celanimation was directed by Mark Simon and Dave Kallaher of AARGH! Nowrunning and continuing through the cold season, these spots, three :10spots and two :30 spots, are running in heavy rotation on major U.S.networks. The spots feature live-action actors whose sneezes morph theminto animated characters.
