Flash Animated Theatrical Short Nears Completion
Director Richard Bazley is finishing up on a 7-minute theatrical short entitled THE JOURNAL OF EDWIN CARP, which was animated using Macromedia's Flash. Produced by Ray Bengston, the film is based on the book of the same name by Richard Haydn (voice of the caterpillar in Disney's original animated ALICE IN WONDERLAND). The short features the voice talents of British actor Hugh Laurie (STUART LITTLE, live-action 101 DALMATIONS). Richard Bazley was a lead animator at Disney and later at Warner Bros. on THE IRON GIANT.
Toy Story 2 DVD Has High Fidelity Cursing
Walt Disney is recalling copies of the new TOY STORY 2 DVD because it contains footage from Touchstone's R-rated HIGH FIDELITY. Costco stores received copies of the TOY STORY 2 DVD three-pack, which featured an F-word filled clip from FIDELITY in the middle of the movie. The glitch only effects the TOY STORY three-pack in less than 1% of the discs. "We are confident that the defective product has been isolated and removed from store shelves," Disney said in a statement.
India's Pentamedia Buys 51% Of Film Roman
Chennai, India-based Pentamedia Graphics, Ltd., formerly known as Pentafour Software and Exports, Ltd., and Film Roman, Inc. have announced a letter of intent pursuant to which Pentamedia will purchase a 51% stake in Film Roman. The deal was a US$15 million cash deal, which is aimed to close by January after regulatory and board approvals. In regards to the deal, Film Roman CEO and president John Hyde told AWN, "I think it allows us to execute our very specific five-year plan.
Top Anime Series Nadesico Volume 6 Hits Video Stores
The sixth volume of the MARTIAN SUCCESSOR NADESICO hits video stores October 24, 2000. In "Between Heaven and Hell," a new military initiative takes the Nabesico by surprise and Akito finds himself cut adrift. Volumes 1 through 5 are currently available. The tapes retail for US$19.98 (English Dubbed) and $29.95 (English Subtitled).
Sin: The Movie Seduces Home Viewers In October
Anime feature, SIN: THE MOVIE, will be seducing home viewers on VHS and DVD October 24, 2000. Lead by Colonel John Blade, HARDCORPS must uncover a string of kidnappings in Freeport and bring some semblance of peace to this crime infested 21st Century city. The flick is based on the FPS video game of the same name. Released by ADV Films, the DVD will feature both the English dubbed and English subtitled versions of the film, plus an alternate storylined version. The film will retail for US$19.98 (English Dubbed VHS) and $29.98 (DVD).
SIGGRAPH Is The Foremost Place To Highlight Your Digital Artwork
* Sunday, August 12, 2001 Friday, August 17, 2001. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Entry Deadline: March 21, 2001.
FCMM Offers A Showcase For The Burgeoning World Of New Media
* Thursday, October 11 Sunday, October 21, 2001. Montreal, Canada.
Entry Deadline: June 1, 2001.
EM.TV Names Rickmeyer CFO
German children's production company EM.TV & Merchandising AG has named Rolf Rickmeyer chief financial officer. This move comes in light of deputy chairman Florian Haffa's stepping down from the position. EM.TV's stock has lost more than two-thirds of its value since an accounting error in the acquisition of the Jim Henson Co. and Formula One cut earnings for the first quarter. Previously, Rickmeyer served as CFO for Lahmeyer AG, a German utility and machinery company.
Dominating Motion Capture
House of Moves (HOM), a world-leader in motion capture services and technology, has released its custom software plug-in Dominatrix for Maya 3.0 on Windows NT, with Win2k and Irix shipping soon. The Dominatrix plug-in addresses several problems by allowing animators to use traditional Inverse Kinematic "key-frame" animation techniques in conjunction with all of the nuances of motion-captured performance and allowing animators to compensate for differences in proportion between live performers and CG characters.
3D Models Up On 3Dup
3Dup.com and DeEspona Infografica have started distributing free 3D models over the Internet. The agreement between the Web portal for 3D artists, 3Dup.com, and DeEspona Infografica, a 3D modeling company, has started the free distribution of quality three-dimensional models for special effects in movies and advertising spots. DeEspona Infografica, a European company whose 3D models are used by DreamWorks (GLADIATOR) and RezN8 (spots on CBS, NBC and ABC), are among the best in the market due to the realism and finish. The models are available at http://3dup.com/highmodels.
WB Rocks Holidays With Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer Toon
To celebrate the holidays, Warner Bros. will release the direct-to-video title GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER. Produced by Phil Roman Entertainment, GRANDMA is based on the popular song of the same name and follows the misadventures of young Jake Spankenheimer on his journey to discover what happened to his missing grandmother. The original song was written by Randy Brooks and was recorded by Elmo Shropshire in 1979. Shropshire will provide the narration for the new cartoon. The new toon will arrive in video stores on October 31, 2000 and will sell for US$14.95.
Comedy With Devilish F/X Bedazzles US Auds At #2
With the Robert DeNiro and Ben Stiller comedy, MEET THE PARENTS, taking the top stop for the third straight week, the new devilish comedy, BEDAZZLED, debuted in #2. The sell-your-soul side-splitter, with primary visual effects by Rhythm & Hues, seduced US$13.11 million out of U.S. moviegoers' pockets. Losing 59% at the ticket window, New Line's LOST SOULS scored only $3.24 million in seventh. The evil enchanter, with primary visual effects by Cinesite and yU + Co, has scared up $12.88 million in total in 10 days. Coming in 8th, the reissue of THE EXORCIST spun another $2.91 million.
UPA Co-Founder Hurtz Passes
One of the founders of the UPA animation studio, William Hurtz, has passed away. He was 81 years old. Hurtz started his career at Disney in 1938 as an assistant. He assisted Art Babbitt on FANTASIA's "Mushroom Dance Sequence." Hurtz was an active member of the Hollywood Cartoonists' Union and made the motion to strike at Disney in 1941. Hurtz spent the war years at the Film Motion Picture Unit. FMPU was stationed in Culver City as part of the U.S. Army Signal Corps under Major Rudy Ising of Harmon & Ising fame. Throughout World War II they did training cartoons for overseas servicemen.
This Week's Web Animation Guide For Friday, October 20, 2000.
AWN's Web Animation Guide is the place for what's new on the Net. This week's installment features some funny BitMagic shorts, an edgy new Webisode of WHERE ARE THE TOONS NOW?, Tom Snyder Productions and much, much more.
Get your Web Animation Guide here!
Also every week AWN's associate editor Rick DeMott highlights what he thinks is the top new toon in cyberspace in "Rick's Picks!"
Paris-based Mac Guff Ligne Walks Dinosaurs For Lego
Paris-based Mac Guff Ligne, a part of the Ron Soodalter Associates International consortium of post-production studios, has finished two 3D dinosaurs for a new Lego commercial. The 30-second "Dino's Dinner" spot combines walking and talking dinosaurs in live-action settings juxtaposed against kids playing with their Lego sets. Mac Guff Ligne, which produced the spot for New York ad agency Lowe, Lintas, used the Web as a means to deliver the images to the client. "I think this arrangement worked brilliantly," said spot producer Eve Frumkin of Lowe, Lintas.
Spontaneous Combustion Ignites For AT&T
Spontaneous Combustion, a digital studio specializing in the creation of visual effects and design, has completed the CGI effects and compositing for three 30-second spots for AT&T's "Boundless" campaign. The campaign plays on AT&T's logo as it touts its broadband technology and ends with typography that transitions from either "broadband" or "wireless" into "boundless," followed by "att.com." In "Push Pin," blue pushpins fly, hitting a white wall forming the AT&T globe logo.
TOPIX/Mad Dog Has Signed Richard Fink As East Coast Rep
Toronto-based TOPIX/Mad Dog, a computer graphics and animation facility, has signed New York-based Richard Fink and The Richard Fink Agency to head East Coast sales. Specialists in character animation, special effects, film titling, type and broadcast design, TOPIX creates photo-realistic, computer-generated animation for the advertising, feature film, broadcast and music video industries. At the same time TOPIX's post-production arm, Mad Dog, is one of Canada's leaders in the high-end post industry, using inferno* and flame*.
ATTIK/New York Names Cohen Director Of Client Services
ATTIK, an all-media creative solutions company, has named Ian J. Cohen director of client services. In his new post, Cohen will oversee the management and development of current and potential clients. Cohen comes to ATTIK from New York-based Artustry Partnership, which he helped launch with commercial director Bob Giraldi and managing partner David Sklaver.
SKYY Short Film Awards Honors The Top In Short Format
* April 2001. Hollywood, California, U.S.A.
Entry Deadline: February 28, 2001.
Virtual Reality Conference Appears In London
The Virtual Reality Conference to be held in London on Thursday, November 16 through Friday, November 17, 2000.
Cartoons On The Bay Wants Animation From Around The Globe
* Thursday, April 5 Monday, April 9, 2001. Positano (Amalfi Coast), Italy.
Entry Deadline: January 21, 2001
The Acrobat Issue Of Animation World Magazine Is Now On-Line!
This Month: Licensing and Merchandising...
New Jobs: Animators, Digital Artists, Directors, Visual Artists And More...
Portland, Maine's Sputnik Animation, a small studio developing animated content for broadcast and the Web, is looking for 2D CHARACTER ANIMATORS. Computer experience a plus. . . Greensburg, Pennsylvania's DreamForge Entertainment Inc., an established computer game development studio, is looking for 3D LEVEL MODELERS for an original action/adventure game being developed as a first next generation Xbox title and a prominent PC license for one of the biggest game publishers in the U.S. . .
Larry Lauria's Animation Workshop World Tour!
Award-winning former Disney animator and educator Larry Lauria has fourteen animation workshops scheduled between now and the beginning of July 2001. The events range from the LEAF and Moondance festivals to workshops in Tampa, Phoenix, Long Island, St. Louis area, Long Beach, Tuscany (Italy) and more. They cover the gambit from animation fundamentals and character design to writing for animation and storyboarding and range from beginning to advanced levels. For more information, email Larry at lanimate@piasanet.com.
Awn Launches Feature Film Release Database
AWN has just launched a brand new Feature Film Release database, complete with searchable information...
