MAXON Computer has just released MAXON CINEBENCH R10 for all users, manufacturers and hardware testers who want to test the performance of graphics cards and CPUs for either Mac or Windows. The new version of MAXON CINEBENCH R10 contains new test scenes designed to meet the demands of state-of-the-art hardware. MAXON CINEBENCH R10 is based on MAXON Computer's CINEMA 4D.
SCI FI Channel's newest original action/adventure series, FLASH GORDON debuts Aug. 10 at 9:00 pm. Eric Johnson stars in this modern day retelling of the classic comic strip franchise, produced by Reunion Pictures and distributed internationally by RHI Ent.
Autodesk Inc. has released the 2008 version of its Animation Academy for Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk Maya software products. The team-based curriculum teaches students sophisticated 3D visualization and animation skills with the same technology that is used by professionals in the media and entertainment industry.
Animation Academy for 3ds Max is available to Windows operating system users. Animation Academy for Maya is available to secondary schools teaching on the Mac and Windows platforms.
Cartoon Network Studios' original animated movie, BEN 10: SECRET OF THE OMNITRIX, premieres at 7:00 pm on Aug. 10, 2007. Leading up to the premiere, Cartoon Network is showcasing four original movies: GOOD WILT HUNTING, WHERE'S LAZLO, THE BIG FIELD TRIP and BILLY AND MANDY WRATH OF THE SPIDER QUEEN, Aug. 6-9. Each night the movie will be followed by a sneak peek of the never-before-seen BEN 10 animated movie, BEN 10: SECRET OF THE OMNITRIX.
qubo, a 24/7 digital TV brand airing value- and literacy-focused kids programming announced its new lineup for fall 2007, starting Oct. 6. With new episodes that emphasize qubo's mission of providing family-friendly content that encourages children's literacy, positive values, imagination and more, the roster features new series like POSTMAN PAT and MY FRIEND RABBIT, as well as returning favorites, including VEGGIETALES, DRAGON, JACOB-TWO-TWO and JANE AND THE DRAGON.
Autodesk Inc. announced the second extension for Autodesk MotionBuilder 7.5 software for realtime 3D character animation and 3D storytelling for game, film and broadcast production. Autodesk MotionBuilder 7.5 Extension 2 delivers enhanced performance and stability, new features and functionality, as well as additional platform support for the Intel-based Macintosh operating system and the 64-bit Windows XP operating system. The extension will be available for download to all Autodesk MotionBuilder Platinum members later this month.
THOMAS & FRIENDS, the popular childrens series, rolls into 50 movie theaters across the U.S. on Sept. 8, 2007, at 10:00 am with a special screening event, including five never-before-seen episodes from the THOMAS & FRIENDS series. "Thomas & Friends On The Big Screen" is presented by NCM Fathom, the entertainment division of National CineMedia and HIT Ent.
DreamWorks Animation announced today (Aug. 6, 2007) that DW Investment II Inc. ("DWI II"), an entity controlled by Paul Allen, will sell approximately 10 million shares of the company's Class A common stock in a registered public offering underwritten by Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. Allen is also resigning from the animation company's board of directors.
Massive software released a major new upgrade to the Academy Award-winning, AI driven animation system, Massive 3.0 showcased at its SIGGRAPH 2007 booth #1428. Massive 3.0 delivers improved dynamics, dynamic hair and fur, lanes, layer simulations and more.
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) announced today at SIGGRAPH 2007 that legendary animator Gary Goldman, known for such animated classics as THE SECRET OF N.I.M.H. and ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN, and the videogames DRAGON'S LAIR and SPACE ACE, will join the college as an artist in residence in Savannah, Georgia.
Goldman will teach traditional 2D animation to graduate and undergraduate students in the School of Film and Digital Media, as well as give a campus-wide lecture on animation during the college's 10-week winter quarter in January 2008.
The fourth season of the Emmy Award-winning original animated broadband series, OFF-MIKES, produced by Animax Ent., has just launched on ESPN.com.
Toei Animation's hit animated series DIGIMON will makes its fifth season debut this fall on Toon Disney's Jetix block with DIGIMON DATA SQUAD, adding a new cast of characters and bold storylines to the globally renowned action/adventure franchise.
Darren Feher, evp/cto for NBC Universal, will take on a new role to create a media technology organization dedicated to digital product innovation and emerging technology. Feher will add new technology and engineering teams concentrating on the areas of digital asset management, content distribution, production and commercial planning across NBCU's broad portfolio of assets.
THE TEN, a feature film directed by David Wain featuring Paul Rudd, Wionan Ryder, and Jessica Alba features a seven-minute animated segment called, THE LYING RHINO, animated by Augenblick Studios. Produced by Wain, Jonathan Stern and Paul Rudd, THE TEN is a THINKFilm release opening Aug. 3, 2007.
Universal Pictures has acquired rights to a seven-book series of bestselling spy novels by Daniel Silva, reports DAILY VARIETY. The studio will possibly start with the sixth book in the series, the 2006 thriller THE MESSENGER and has set Pierre Morel to direct.
Mark Gordon and Josh McLaughlin will produce through the Mark Gordon Co.
The William Morris Agency (WMA) has signed TOKYOPOP, the leading publisher of manga graphic novels in North America and largest supplier of manga entertainment in the world. WMA will represent TOKYOPOP's original intellectual properties for film, television, digital, merchandising and game development.
Japan's Media Development Research Institute announced that the Japanese anime market grew to 241.5 billion yen (about $2.026 billion) in 2006, reports ANIME NEWS NETWORK. This is the highest level since the institute started surveying in 1990, and represents the third year of continuous growth.
DreamWorks Animation and Paramount will release the fourth installment in the lucrative SHREK franchise on May 21, 2010, reports VARIETY.
There will be a fifth SHREK as well, DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg said during an earnings call earlier this week,
SHREK THE THIRD grossed more than $320 million at the domestic box office and nearly $400 million overseas since premiering this summer.
Chilean filmmaker Nicolas Lopez will write and direct an untitled comedy thriller about a young woman who is sent to the past to prevent World War III, under Salma Hayek and partner Jose Tamez's new MGM-based production shingle Ventanazul, reports VARIETY.
Ventanazul is scouting hot young talent from Mexico, Chile and the U.S. for this and its other first few projects.
The Walt Disney Co. reports an improved profits of $1.2 billion, a 4.7% gain, on revenues of $9 billion, for the third quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2007, a 6.7% rise on the same period last year. The company credited strong TV program sales and higher theme park attendance for the gain.
Operating income in its Media Networks group jumped 23% to $1.358 billion.
