AWN Headline News

Features Headline News

The Commotion about DV

Puffin Designs, the award winning company behind Commotion LE and theCommotion Player, recently announced that a new image editing and effectsprogram for MAC and PC users - Commotion DV - is now shipping. The newsoftware is designed to make the nitty-gritty work of making visual effectsbelievable a piece of cake. For example, Commotion DV features a SuperClonebrush which makes wire and rig removal, crowd scene generation/editing,shot clean-up and much more easier. This new release also features Puffin's

Features Headline News

Ulead announces Media Studio Pro 6.0

A new upgrade to Ulead's popular video editing software MediaStudio wasrecently announced, with an interesting list of new features. The newversion will feature an integrated editing, painting, audio, and titlingtool in the one package. Ulead are also expanding MediaStudio'scompatibility and output features by announcing support for DV, MPEG-2, VFWand WDM capture drivers, and IEEE-1394 support. More drag and drop effects,filters and transitions will be present in the new version, along with new

Headline News

Cambridge Animation Systems announces Animo Inkworks

British born Cambridge Animation Systems has announced a new plug-in forAlias|Wavefront's Maya which allows users to turn their 3D work intotraditional looking 2D animations. Animo Inkworks lets Maya animatorsexport their 3D data into Animo where it can be composited into a 2D sceneusing Animo's Scene III plug-in. This new release brings high-qualitytoon-shading to Maya users, and allows them to integrate their 3D and 2Dwork more tightly with a high degree of customisation.

Years Headline News

Don't miss the 2nd Annual Worldfest-Flagstaff International Film Festival

The 2nd Annual Worldfest-Flagstaff International Film Festival. Worldfest,which has been held in Houston for 32 years and additionally in Charleston,South Carolina for five years, takes place in Flagstaff, Arizona, thefestival's second appearance there. The festival's focus is on independentworks that have not yet been picked up for distribution. The widecompetition program features eight animation categories and several others,which may accept animated works, such as "computer generated/mixed media."

International Headline News

Don't miss the Cinanima International Animated Film Festival

The 22nd Cinanima International Animated Film Festival. Since 1977,Cinanima has been promoting the international art of animation in Espinho,a city located on the Northern coast of Portugal. The events takes placeMonday, November 8 - Sunday, November 14 in Esphino, Portugal. For moreinformation contact: Cinanima, Apartado 743, Rua 62-251, 4501 EspinhoCodex, Portugal; Tel. + (351) 2 734-4611, 734-1621; Fax: + (351) 2734-6015; or E-mail: cinanima@mail.telepac.pt(link sends e-mail). Also visitwww.awn.com/cinanima.

Headline News

Don't miss the seventh annual New York Digital Salon!

The School of Visual Arts (SVA) presents the seventh annual New YorkDigital Salon, an international juried showcase of computer-generatedartwork. Computer animation screenings will be shown at the SVAAmphitheatre and the exhibit takes place in the School's Visual ArtsMuseum, both located at 209 East 23rd Street. The event takes place Monday,November 8 in New York, New York, USA. For more information and to viewwork on-line, visit www.sva.edu/salon.

Production Headline News

Don't miss this lecture on Production Management!

ASIFA-Hollywood and Glendale Community College present theFourth Annual Lecture Series on "Production Management" with guest speaker,Kellie-Bea Cooper. Cooper, Production Manager at Phil Roman Entertainment,has produced award winning independent shorts in both traditional animationand computer animation which have been featured by SIGGRAPH. She has alsoworked with several studios including Jim Henson Interactive and WarnerBrothers. Her background includes work in live action, interactive, Web,

Film Headline News

Don't miss this symposium on The National Film Board of Canada

New York University hosts a symposium on The National Film Board of Canadain honor of the NFB's 60th anniversary. The event takes place Thursday,November 11 - Sunday, November 14 in New York, New York, USA. For moreinformation Tel. (212) 596-1660.

Headline News

Don't miss this tribute to the National Film Board of Canada!

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents the National FilmBoard of Canada's 60th Anniversary Animation Celebration. The Academy islocated at 8949 Wilshire Blvd. The event takes place Thursday, November 18,8 pm. Beverly Hills, California, USA. For more information Tel. (310)247-3000.

Company Headline News

Imagine Entertainment and DreamWorks team for POP.com

Imagine Entertainment, a film and television production company formed in1986 by producer Brian Grazer and director Ron Howard, and DreamWorks SKG,which was formed by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen,are joining forces to create a new internet entertainment company calledPOP.com. The new company is an equal partnership, to be funded by VulcanVentures, Inc., the investment organization of DreamWorks investor Paul G.Allen. Launching in Spring 2000, POP.com is an independent digital

Series Headline News

Fox cancels SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED and BIG GUY

Fox has removed Saban Entertainment's SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED, the futuristicSpider-Man series, and Columbia/TriStar Television's BIG GUY AND RUSTY THEBOY ROBOT, which was based on the Frank Miller/Geoff Darrow comic bookabout a little Astro Boy-like robot and his Gigantor-like pal, from the FOXKids line-up. Both series debuted in September. They have been replaced bySaban Entertainment's THE AVENGERS, and additional time slots for BKN(Bohbot Kids Network)'s MONSTER RANCHER and Toei Animation Co.'s DIGIMON:DIGITAL MONSTERS.

Headline News

Disney and Hong Kong reach agreement for new theme park

The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong SAR Government have reached anagreement for a proposed Hong Kong Disneyland, a theme park development tobe built as the anchor of a tourism center on Lantau Island. Overlookingthe water at Penny's Bay, and on a main transit route from the new HongKong International Airport, the project will make Lantau Island aworld-class tourist destination and take advantage of the location's easyaccess by rail, highway and ferry to attract guests to the Park. Currently

Film Headline News

Don't miss the Best Of Banff Television Festival!

The annual Best Of Banff Television Festival is a traveling showcasefeaturing highlights of the 20th Banff Television Festival, which tookplace June 13 - 19 in Banff, Canada. The program will make its Ottawa,Canada stop at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull on November 17,1999. S4C/BBC's GOGS: GOGWANA, winner of this year's Banff's Best AnimationProgram Award, and NFB of Canada/Channel Four's SNOW CAT, a nominee forBest Animation Program at Banff, will be the featured animated programs.

Animation Headline News

Don't miss the ASIFA-East animation art auction

The 1999 ASIFA-East animation art fund raiser auction takes place onFriday, November 12, 1999. Films will be shown from Cartoon Network, KarenAqua, Nickelodeon's BLUE'S CLUES, Bill Plympton, J.J. SedelmaierProductions, Academy Award Winning Blue Sky Studios (BUNNY), and manyothers. After the films are shown, artwork or items relating to the filmswill be auctioned and all the money will go to benefit ASIFA-East, the EastCoast chapter of the international animation society. The auction takes

Shorts Headline News

Don't miss the Women In Animation Shorts Fest 2

The Women In Animation Shorts Fest 2 is a showcase for short animatedfilms made by WIA members and other filmmakers from around the world. Thisevening's program includes LIFE, the hilarious new animated jam sessionfrom Mo Willems and 32 other animators from New York, including TissaDavid, George Griffin, Yvette Kaplan, Candy Kugel and Bill Plympton.Admission is FREE and open to the public. The event takes place Friday,November 12, 1999 at 7:00 pm at Santa Monica College, Academy of

Story Headline News

Canuck Creations nears completion on THE PRODIGAL SON

Toronto-based Canuck Creations Inc. is in the final stages of productionon THE PRODIGAL SON, a futuristic look at an ancient Bible story. Canuckproduced the short from conceptual design to final color, combining 2D and3D elements. The 24-minute film will be the main attraction for the youthpavilion at World Expo 2000, which will take place in Germany. Otherfeatures Canuck has worked on include THE STORY OF JOSEPH, the DreamWorksdirect-to-video sequel to the animated feature, THE PRINCE OF EGYPT,

Spot Headline News

HRA completes spot for Heinz spaghetti

London-based HRA has completed "Eddie Spaghetti," a :30 for Heinzspaghetti and agency Leo Burnett, Chicago. The spot depicts the journey ofa piece of spaghetti from plate to boy's mouth, inside of which a party isin progress. The ad, directed by Kim Burdon, features 3D computeranimation, traditional cel animation, live-action, and puppetry.

Internet Headline News

Disney Internet executive appointed to watchdog group

Larry Shapiro, executive vice president of business development andoperations for Disney's Buena Vista Internet Group (BVIG), has beenappointed to the COPA Commission on Child Online Protection. COPA is taskedwith identifying and studying technological or other methods to reduce andrestrict access to harmful material for minors on the Internet. "Since itsinception with Disney Online, Buena Vista Internet Group has been committedto providing trusted environments and entertaining destinations online. We

Series Headline News

FILM ROMAN begins production on THE OBLONGS

North Hollywood, California-based Film Roman has begun production on THE OBLONGS, a television series that will be distributed by Warner Bros. Television on The WB Network for the 2000 season. THE OBLONGS is the second animated prime-time series, after Howard Stern's DOOMSDAY for UPN, that Film Roman has added for the 2000 television season.

Headline News

THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL tops US boxoffice

Newly released Warner Bros.' THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, with visual effectsby Hollywood, California-based K.N.B. EFX Group, Inc., topped the USweekend boxoffice with an estimated $15.1 million. The film is a remake ofthe 1958 William Castle horror film that starred Vincent Price. BuenaVista's THE SIXTH SENSE, with visual effects by DreamQuest, finishedeighth, grossing an estimated $3.2 million for a total of $259.8 million;and the American version of Hayao Miyazaki's PRINCESS MONONOKE, which is

November Headline News

Bill Plympton and Larry Lauria will be appearing at the Savannah Film Festival

The Savannah College of Art and Design will host animators Bill Plymptonand Larry Lauria during the week of November 8, 1999 at the Savannah FilmFestival in Savannah, Georgia. On Monday, November 8, Bill Plympton willtalk about "Life as an Independent Animator and Filmmaker" at 11:00 am inthe City Lights Theater. Plympton will discuss his work and show footagefrom past and recent works. On Friday, November 12, Larry Lauria will givea "Character Design Workshop" at 9:00 am in SCAD's Trustee Theater. Lauria,

Headline News

Disney announces Goofy, Winnie The Pooh, Belle, and Inspector Gadget videos

Buena Vista Home Video is releasing new videos featuring Goofy, Winnie thePooh, Belle, and Inspector Gadget early next year. WINNIE THE POOH, AVALENTINE FOR YOU! is due January 11, 2000 on VHS for US$14.99. In thevideo, which premiered last year as a television special, Pooh and hisfriends are afraid that Christopher Robin has been bitten by a Smitten whenhe becomes interested in a girl. They search the Hundred Acre Wood for thelove bug, hoping it will bite him again and cure his lovesickness. BELLE'S

Headline News

Disney's TARZAN is coming to home video

Disney's TARZAN premiers on video and DVD on February 1, 2000, and a TARZANCOLLECTOR'S EDITION DVD will be released on March 21, 2000. TARZAN willfeature the "Strangers Like Me" music video by Phil Collins, and the DVDwill be DVD-ROM-enabled (with internet links) and loaded with excitingextras for all the family, including a never-before-seen recording sessionby Phil Collins and guests, a Read-Along, a Trivia Game, various sneakpeeks and many other features. Spanish and French versions of the video

Headline News

Simon & Schuster releases MISS SPIDER'S TEA PARTY CD-ROM

Simon & Schuster Interactive has released a MISS SPIDER'S TEA PARTY CD-ROM.Based on the best-selling MISS SPIDER'S TEA PARTY children's books by DavidKirk, the CD-ROM recreates the spectacular, colorful imagery that hasthrilled children and critics alike. The CD-ROM allows children to assistMiss Spider in throwing a tea party through eight fun games that providevaluable learning experiences. The activities are designed to help kidsincrease color, sound, and shape identification, enhance coordination and

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