Animation Magazine Press Box

Associate Creative Director Barry Munsterteiger, Producer Kenji Hayashi and
Associate Art Director Adam Oestergaard Handle Growing Volume of Design
Work

San Francisco, CA (January 26, 2010)-Bonfire, the motion design and
integrated media company, and sister facility of Bay Area mainstay Phoenix
Editorial, announced it has grown its team. Associate Creative Director
Barry Munsterteiger, Producer/Technical Advisor Kenji Hayashi, and
Associate Art Director Adam Oestergaard have been recruited to handle
Bonfire's growing volume of design work.

Bonfire is starting the new year with a number of high profile design
assignments. The company has also seen an increase in clients coming to
Bonfire to help solve their design challenges - whether it's creating
futuristic product UI design, immersive digital entertainment experiences,
or creative content for the big screen.

Said Julia Sonder-Patchin, executive producer for Bonfire and Phoenix
Editorial, "It was clear as 2009 was drawing to a close that we needed to
expand, so we've added to Bonfire's already heavy-duty brain trust. Barry's
many years with Apple enable him to communicate with our technology clients
on a user level. He's also an amazing designer, most notably in the world
of user interface design. We're also fortunate to add Kenji, an extremely
detail-oriented producer and an expert at compression technology, so he'll
be a huge asset as we upgrade our production pipeline. Rounding out the
trio is Adam, who truly has the makings of a rock-star animator."

Barry Munsterteiger is a formally trained industrial designer whose
specialty is solving complex business problems through design. With
experience that spans digital, broadcast, user experience and user
interface design, Munsterteiger brings strategic thinking as well as
technical and creative innovation to Bonfire, where he'll be working
closely with Creative Director Matt Silverman and Associate Creative
Director Phil Spitler on Bonfire's highest profile technology clients.

"When we decided we needed another creative leader on our team, Barry was
the first person I thought of. We've worked together on numerous projects
over the years for Apple, and our careers have followed similar core paths
while diverging in different directions," said Bonfire Creative Director
Matt Silverman. "His unique expertise from his time at Apple will help
Bonfire transition into the new bleeding-edge motion-intensive interactive
space."

Munsterteiger comes to Bonfire after spending nearly eight years with
Apple, most recently as a creative director, where he played a key role in
R&D that led to the development of iTunes LP and iTunes Extras. He also
spent five years as technical director and was the very first person hired
to join Apple's in-house motion graphics department. Munsterteiger's career
has included management and design posts at several Bay Area design and
technology companies. He began his career as an industrial designer,
working at Index Design & Associates, and Procter & Gamble.

Producer and Technical Advisor Kenji Hayashi will be working across both
Bonfire and Phoenix Editorial and will be tasked with what he
affectionately dubs, "extreme cat-herding." Hayashi's key responsibilities
will be bringing together creative teams from both facilities on jobs,
managing the budget schedule and overseeing the post-production workflow,
in particular video compression and how it relates to acquisition, post and
delivery. Before joining Bonfire/Phoenix, Hayashi was an executive producer
at Compression Group, and prior to that, spent five years at Rough House
Editorial, where he was executive technical director and producer.

Denmark native Adam Oestergaard is a talented animator and 3D artist who
honed his skills during a 10-month-long stint at Bonfire while attending
the Academy of Art, San Francisco to earn his MFA in Visual Effects.
Previous to heading out to California (and thus, fulfilling a childhood
dream), Oestergaard studied at Northern England's Cumbria Institute of the
Arts, where he earned a degree in 3D and Visual Effects.

About Bonfire Labs
Bonfire specializes in designing moving images combined with compelling
narratives for any medium - from TV and feature film, to high-definition
LED screens and mobile devices. The company taps into a wealth of talent,
including creative directors, graphic designers and visual effects artists,
to deliver work for clients that have included HBO's "True Blood," Bank of
America, Microsoft, Adobe and other Silicon Valley companies. Bonfire
launched in 2009 as the sister company to San Francisco mainstay Phoenix
Editorial. For more information about Bonfire, please visit
www.bonfirelabs.com.

About Phoenix Editorial
Phoenix has been a mainstay in the San Francisco post-production and design
community since 1991. The company's award-winning roster of editors works
with creatively-driven advertising agencies, including Organic, Venables,
Bell & Partners, Goody, Silverstein & Partners, Publicis & Hal Riney, Heat,
AKQA and McCann-Erickson on campaigns and brand initiatives for Apple,
Microsoft, Audi, PG&E, Palm, HP, Adobe, AT&T, Sega, EA, HBO and Sprite. In
2009, Phoenix Editorial re-launched its motion graphics and visual effects
division Bonfire. For more information about Phoenix Editorial:
www.phoenixedit.com.

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Company to Bring Warhammer 40,000 Characters to Life with Facial Animation for New
Animated Movie

LOS ANGELES, CA - Jan. 26, 2010 - Image Metrics, the leading provider of facial animation technology and services for the entertainment industry, is providing facial animation for the characters in the upcoming animated science fiction thriller film, Ultramarines. Produced by UK-based Codex Pictures, in association with Good Story Productions and Canadian co-producer Pop6 Studios, Ultramarines is based on Games Workshop's iconic property Warhammer 40,000, the epic tabletop war game set in a bleak universe in the 41st millennium. The film's release date has yet to be revealed. Ultramarines is Image Metrics' first project with Codex Pictures.

"Given the legacy of the Warhammer 40,000 game, Image Metrics is especially excited to work with Codex Pictures on Ultramarines to bring the unique science-fiction universe to the medium of film," said Brian Waddle, executive vice president of Image Metrics. "Creating an alternate world that fully immerses the audience becomes even more challenging when working with a legacy property, especially when in a new medium. Animating lifelike characters that establish believability is a critical part of forging this connection with viewers. The Image Metrics technology is a perfect match to create the facial detail and high fidelity animation required to bring movies like Ultramarines to life."

Charged with creating lifelike superhuman Space Marine characters, Image Metrics is using performance capture data and character rigs provided by Pop6 Studios to deliver approximately 65 minutes of animation for the Ultramarines movie.

"Ultramarines demands high quality facial animation in order to believably portray the Warhammer 40,000 characters. Image Metrics is the ideal technology partner for the project, giving us total freedom to animate the character in 3D space and lighting without restrictions or compromises on camera angles," said Vanessa Chapman, Codex managing director.

About Games Workshop
Games Workshop is the world's largest tabletop wargames company. Based in Nottingham, UK, it designs, manufactures and distributes its range of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 games, miniature soldiers, novels and resin models through more than 370 of its own Hobby centers, mail order, Internet and independent retail channels in more than 50 countries worldwide. Further details on the company can be obtained at www.games-workshop.com. © 2010 Games Workshop Ltd. Games Workshop, Warhammer 40,000, Ultramarines, the foregoing marks' respective logos and all elements from the Warhammer 40,000 universe are either ®, TM, and/or © Games Workshop Ltd. 2000-2010, variably registered in the UK and other countries around the world. All Rights Reserved.

About Codex Pictures
Codex Pictures is a London, UK-based production company with a focus on high quality animated features for theatrical and DVD release.

The team behind Ultramarines were producers of the original trilogy of highly successful and multi award-winning BIONICLE DVDs, made for the LEGO Company.  

About Image Metrics
Image Metrics provides facial animation services and software to the interactive entertainment and film industries. Developed by a team of computer vision Ph.D.s, Image Metrics rapidly re-creates facial performances without markers or makeup, achieving levels of realism and fidelity that are unparalleled in computer graphics. Image Metrics' solutions enjoy widespread adoption by some of the best-known production studios in the entertainment world, including Digital Domain, Rockstar Games and Sony Computer Entertainment. Image Metrics has offices in Manchester, UK and Santa Monica, California.

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Academy Award® Winning Studio Integrates Real-Time 3D Workflow and Rendering to Streamline Productivity

Los Angeles, CA -- January 26, 2009 -- StudioGPU has entered into an agreement with Weta Workshop, a multiple Oscar® winning one-stop studio servicing the world's creative industries, to integrate and further develop StudioGPU MachStudio™ Pro for its television production pipeline.  

MachStudio Pro real-time 3D workflow and rendering software allows artists, designers, engineers, directors, and technical directors (TDs) to work with 3D lighting, camera views and multi-point perspectives in an interactive non-linear fashion with real-time high fidelity views as they will appear in the final rendered format.

"Improving 3D workflow throughout our facility is an ongoing priority at Weta Workshop," says Andrew Smith, Business Advisor for Weta Workshop Ltd. "MachStudio Pro will fit nicely into our television pipeline, giving our team more tools to keep pushing the limits of creativity. The ability to work together with StudioGPU to continue developing MachStudio Pro with respect to our specific pipeline needs will allow us to continue improving efficiency and content delivery for future Weta Workshop television projects."

Weta Workshop, a conceptual design and physical manufacturing facility best known for its design and effects work on award-winning film projects, including the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, King Kong, The Chronicles of Narnia and Avatar, offers services to all creative industries throughout the world. For more information about the Weta Workshop, please visit www.wetaworkshop.co.nz.

MachStudio Pro Information
Award-winning MachStudio Pro supports Microsoft Windows 7, Windows XP Professional and Windows Vista operating systems on most professional graphic accelerator cards. MachStudio Pro software is available in North America for $3,999 (USD) or bundled with the AMD ATI FirePro V8750 3D workstation graphics accelerator card for $4,999 (USD). For pricing in other regions, visit www.studiogpu.com/buy/locator. Student, education and volume licensing is also available upon request. Visit the StudioGPU web site at www.studiogpu.com.


About StudioGPU
StudioGPU develops software and technology that frees digital artists from the creative shackles of time, money and resources. MachStudio Pro empowers artists and designers working in film, broadcast, game development, computer-assisted design (CAD), and pre- and postproduction to create and manipulate fully rendered film-quality 3D design and animation in real-time.

Vancouver Film School and Pixologic Announce Official Partnership
 
January 26, 2010 - Vancouver, BC and Los Angeles, CA - Vancouver Film School (VFS), Canada's premier entertainment arts institution, and Pixologic, maker of the award-winning 2D/3D sculpting, texturing, and painting application ZBrush, today announced an official partnership agreement to provide VFS with full access to educational licenses for Pixologic's cutting-edge software, ZBrush.
 
The partnership is the first of its kind for Pixologic in Canada. The agreement will primarily benefit students of VFS's Animation & Visual Effects programs, respected worldwide for their graduates, including District 9 director Neill Blomkamp among many others. VFS students will have access to the latest innovative tools available in ZBrush, upgrades and technical support.
 
"Pixologic enthusiastically supports education and is committed to providing artists with the most innovative cutting edge tools of their craft," says Pixologic Chief Operating Officer Jaime Labelle. "From illustration to animation and visual effects to game design, we at Pixologic recognize the standard of excellence that comes from the entire VFS community and are thrilled to partner and support them in their creative process."
 
ZBrush's place within the Animation & Visual Effects curriculum means that students are provided with skills and experience in a tool that is widely used on top films like Avatar, Watchmen, and District 9, and games like Gears of War 2 and Dragon Age: Origins, all properties on which VFS Animation & Visual Effects graduates have worked. The partnership gives students at VFS a crucial advantage as they begin their careers.
 
"This partnership really allows us to take advantage of what Pixologic brings to the table with their products," says VFS's Managing Director Marty Hasselbach. "It also allows Pixologic to benefit from what VFS does, and that is create fantastic work using their cutting-edge software, ZBrush."
 
To learn more about the partnership and to view examples of student work using ZBrush, visit vfs.com/pixologic
 
 
- 30 -
 
About Vancouver Film School
Vancouver Film School is Canada's premier post-secondary entertainment arts institution and one of the most distinguished in the world. Its 13 production-oriented programs encompass all aspects of visual media, from Animation & Visual Effects to Acting to Film Production to Game Design to Sound Design. In one year or less, students at VFS work with industry leaders in a studio environment while creating professional-quality reels and films that get them noticed on the global stage. VFS graduates have a profound effect on the entertainment industry, playing key roles behind the scenes in 9 of the 10 highest grossing films of 2009.
 
About Pixologic Incorporated
Pixologic Incorporated was founded in 1997, and develops and markets innovative software tools for the film and video, games, graphic design and illustration markets. Pixologic is privately owned and is located in California with offices in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area and Bordeaux, France.
 
About ZBrush
ZBrush is an integrated modeling, texturing, and illustration environment. ZBrush's innovative set of real-time sculpting, texturing, and deformation tools is used in major film studios and game companies worldwide. Its instant feedback and real-time response makes it the most natural feeling digital sculpting tool available today. As a stand-alone application, ZBrush offers tremendous flexibility and appeals to a wide audience.
 
 

New partners, new products, new content and new events for the world's number 1 pre-school brand
 
LONDON, 26 January, 2010 - HIT Entertainment, a leading provider of quality children's entertainment and owner of the world's number 1 pre-school brand - Thomas & Friends™ - is sending everyone's favourite true blue engine on an exciting global journey in 2010 to celebrate 65 years of making tracks to great destinations.
 
Starting in January, new partners will come aboard to unveil new Thomas & Friends products; long term licensees will debut anniversary items; new content will launch on TV, DVD and online; themed live events will take place on four continents and top tier partners across retail and marketing will mark the exciting milestone with special celebratory activities.
 
Consumer Products
HIT Entertainment continues to have strong partner relationships, and this year both long term and new licensees are set to unveil a wealth of products across key categories.
 
Starting in January 2010 Fisher-Price, the new global master toy partner for Thomas & Friends, will unveil and begin to roll-out itsTake-n-Play line of portable playsets in the US, UK, EMEA and Latin America along with an array of preschool items, including puzzles, games, bath toys, plush, push 'n go and pullback vehicles and talking preschool vehicles.  Fisher-Price will also launch new TrackMaster sets in the US and South America, while in the UK and EMEA Tomy will continue with new TrackMaster products and pre-school items until Fisher-Price take over the TrackMaster brand in the Fall.
 
In Asia, Fisher-Price will launch Take-n-Play across all territories and will take over the TrackMaster rights from Funtastic(Australia/NZ) as of the Fall.  In Japan, Thomas & Friends' consumer products will mark the anniversary with the debut of the first local character - Japanese engine Hiro. New toys for this market will come from TakaraTomy, Pilot, TakaraTomy Arts and apparel fromWorld Inc.
 
Long term partner, Learning Curve, will continue to manufacture and market the Thomas Wooden Railway, and will launch a new "Early Engineers" line, designed specifically for children as young as 18-months old.  The Early Engineers Line features larger engines that are perfect for small hands, tracktiles that provide secure layouts and simple to use destinations. This line is compatible with the rest of the Thomas Wooden Railway.
 
Additional new partners for 2010 include global licensor MEGA Brands who will launch an all-new line of Thomas & Friends construction toys; Flair and Sambro will introduce new ranges of Thomas Arts and Crafts products for Spring 2010 in the UK; American Greetings (North America) will introduce a full array of Thomas & Friends party supplies and decorations, greeting cards, invitations, stickers, gift packaging and seasonal items, such as Valentine's Day cards and Christmas ornaments; Global Designs (US) will bringThomas & Friends backpacks and accessories to the mass and mid-tier market; Jay Franco (US) will unveil new Thomas & Friendsbedding designs and Upper Deck (US) will introduce new Thomas & Friends trading cards.
 
Publishing
In the UK, five new characters join the Thomas Story Library in May, taking the collection to 65 books in the 65th year. A special anniversary edition of the original Thomas the Tank Engine book by the Rev. W Awdry will follow in June containing an introduction featuring rare photographs and sketches. All titles are published by Egmont for the international markets.
 
'Thomas to the Rescue' story book was selected for World Book Day in the UK and Ireland this year and on Thursday, 4 March, a film of Sir Topham Hatt (The Fat Controller) reading the book will be screened to children in schools around the country.
 
In North America long time publishing partners Random House will also publish special Thomas & Friends titles, including a re-release of the classic 'Happy Birthday Thomas.'
 
Apparel
In the apparel category, key partners and retailers including Topsville in the US and Next and Marks and Spencer in the UK, will be unveiling ranges with a vintage theme featuring original illustrations of Thomas. Special 65th anniversary swingtags will also be present on select items.
 
Broadcast
Kicking off the anniversary year, in Q1 2010 Thomas & Friends will premiere a new series on FIVE in the UK, Treehouse TV in Canada, TV Tokyo in Japan and in Q4 in the US. Now produced in full CG animation, Thomas & Friends is more vibrant, detailed and engaging than ever. For the first time, Thomas and his engine friends speak in their own voices, allowing them to tell their own stories of teamwork, determination and friendship.  New characters to join the adventures on the Island of Sodor include Japanese engine Hiro, Victor and Kevin from the Sodor Steamworks, and Charlie, a new steam engine with a reputation for fun and mischief!
 
Home Entertainment
Several new Thomas DVD titles will be released in 2010. A special 'Best of Thomas' anniversary edition will hit shelves in the UK in April and in the US in June, and a box set of the classic series' 1-11 will be released in the UK in the Fall.
 
'Misty Island Rescue', a brand new 60-minute CG animated special is currently planned for release around the world, in counties including the UK, US, Australia, Germany, Benelux and Spain this Fall. It will be launched with cinematic premieres in all major markets.
 
In Asia Pacific, 'Hero of the Rails', which enjoyed much success in other markets during 2009, will be at the forefront of the Thomas DVD offering. It will launch in Q2 in Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan and later in the year in other Asia Pacific markets.
 
Film
In Los Angeles, work has commenced on a theatrical feature for Thomas & Friends. Scriptwriter Josh Klausner ("Shrek the Third") issigned on to develop the script to bring Thomas to the big screen
 
Live Events
'Day Out With Thomas' which enables families to enter the magical world of Thomas & Friends will mark the 65th anniversary with special celebratory events. In the UK, 7 heritage railways will stage themed parties, while in the US and Canada a "Celebration Tour" will visit heritage railroads in more than 45 cities. These unique 'Day Out With Thomas' events will offer children the opportunity to ride on a nearly 20-ton replica of Thomas the Tank Engine, meet Sir Topham Hatt (The Fat Controller) and engage in a variety of other anniversary-themed crafts and activities.
 
In the US, Six Flags America, based outside of Washington DC, will open the 5th and largest Thomas Town on Memorial Day weekend 2010. Featuring 10 rides, the new Thomas Town is more than double the size of any existing Thomas Town. Kids and parents will celebrate Thomas' anniversary with special parties at all Six Flags locations on 6/5 (5th June). And in the UK, Drayton Manor Park, home of Europe's Thomas Land, will round off the year with the ultimate 65th anniversary extravaganza event on Saturday, 4 December. Similar celebrations are planned in Thomas Land Japan at Fujikyu Highland near Tokyo.
 
2010 also sees the launch of the 2nd Thomas theatrical tour entitled "A Circus Comes to Town". It will open on Friday, 10 September and tour across the UK and Ireland until Sunday, 8 May 2011. Premier Stage Productions will be producing and promoting "A Circus Comes to Town" in conjunction with AEG Themestar.
 
Digital
The brand's main website, www.thomasandfriends.com, is getting a CGI makeover timed to the 65th anniversary with new navigation, functionality and content. In the UK, US, Australia and Canada completely redesigned homepages have launched featuring an all-new Engine Depot, a 65th anniversary section, and more than 60 new activities. All major markets will follow suit in 2010. Localised versions of the website also exist in a number of countries, including China, Japan and Korea. In the UK, a 65th anniversary landing page has been especially created, providing a hub for fans to access all the exciting events and activities slated for 2010.  A similar one will also launch in the US in March.
 
Additionally, HIT launched the first Thomas & Friends iPhone app and official Facebook Fan page. The app, selling for $1.99, contains Thomas & Friendsmatching games, puzzles and mazes designed especially for children aged 2-5 years old.  The official Facebook fan page includes the latest news, videos and photos from Thomas & Friends.
 
Marketing Support
In the UK, a special guide "The Little Blue Book" has been distributed through retailers, VUE cinemas, Thomas DVD cases and nurseries, providing a complete overview of activities taking place throughout the celebratory year. One highlight is a Thomas themed month in March at Hamleys, featuring an interactive branded window display, alongside engaging activities such as an attempt to make the longest Thomas train out of cake (on Sunday 7th March).
 
In Asia Pacific, individual countries will launch the anniversary year in their own unique ways. For example, in Taiwan Thomas the Tank Engine will appear for the first time ever as a festive giant lantern in Taipei city as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations (February 20 - March 7). Additional marketing activity in the region will be pegged to the theme of parent-child quality time. Competitions will run offering families the opportunity to visit one of the Thomas Lands around the globe.
 
"This global celebration is unprecedented in the brand's 65 year history and befitting a character so loved around the world," said Rick Glankler, SVP, Global Brand Management, HIT Entertainment. "Everyone's favourite number 1 engine is paired with a wide array of top-tier partners, all united in their support and excitement for this powerhouse brand.  2010 is going to be an exciting year for Thomas on his journey to another 65 years of great destinations!"
 
Peter Byrne, EVP Consumer Products International, HIT Entertainment added, "Thomas' 65th Anniversary really represents a unique sales opportunity for all of our partners around the world. There is incredible momentum building across product, marketing and promotions, which is guaranteed to drive the Thomas brand to whole new level. Activity throughout 2010 really cements Thomas & Friends' status as the undisputed number 1 global pre-school brand".
 
ends
 
About HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment is one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT's portfolio includes properties, such as Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Thomas & Friends™, Pingu™, Fireman Sam™, Angelina Ballerina™ and Rainbow Magic™. HIT represents Chapman Entertainment's Fifi and the Flowertots™ and Roary the Racing Car™ in North America  as well as Wallace & Gromit™, Shaun the Sheep™,Timmy Time™ and Aardman Classics from Aardman Animations.  HIT also acts as representative for The Wiggles® in the UK. Launched in 1989, HIT's lines of business span television and video production, content distribution, publishing, consumer products licensing and live events and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan.   HIT is a part-owner of US-based preschool channel, PBS KIDS SproutSM, and international preschool channel JimJam, (outside of the US, UK and China). For more information, visit www.hitentertainment.com.
 
 

Bi-weekly Podcast Training on Luxology's modo Premiers Today on PixelCorps.tv and iTunes

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - Jan. 25, 2009 - Luxology® LLC, an independent technology company developing next-generation 3D content creation software, today announced a free bi-weekly podcast on the company's 3D modeling and rendering software modo®. Created by Pixel Corps, a worldwide guild of content creators, each podcast will be hosted by Pixel Corps founder and Chief Architect, Alex Lindsay, with Pixel Corps digital effects artist McKay Hawkes as the show's first guest.

Beginning today, the first podcast will focus on realistic rendering and examining the integration of CAD files in modo. Future podcasts will explore additional features within modo and how the software fits into larger visual effects pipelines in a variety of industries. While Pixel Corps has always centered heavily on training and education, this will mark a new initiative to provide software training to the public for free. For more information or to download the complimentary podcast, please visit http://www.pixelcorps.tv/modoshop.

About Luxology
Based in Mountain View, Calif., Luxology® LLC is an independent technology company developing next-generation 3D content creation software that enhances productivity via artist-friendly tools powered by a modern underlying architecture called Nexus®. Founded in 2002 by Allen Hastings, Stuart Ferguson and Brad Peebler, Luxology is home to some of the top 3D engineering expertise in the industry. More information on the company, its licensable Nexus technology, its flagship product modo® and a gallery of artists' images from the active modo community is available online at www.luxology.com.

About Pixel Corps
Joining together professional digital artists and enthusiasts alike, Pixel Corps is a worldwide guild offering extensive training, access to the industry's most advanced applications, professional-quality field assignments and community participation unlike anything else available. Through the Pixel Corps, members have the opportunity to participate in a variety of projects ranging from podcast and feature film production to advancing their skills through specially designed challenges and seminars. Founded in 2002 by industry veteran, Alex Lindsay, Pixel Corps has grown to more than 1,500 members in over 36 countries. For more information, visit www.pixelcorps.com.

######
Reader Contact:
Luxology LLC
2525 E. Charleston Road, Suite 104
Mountain View, CA 94043
(650) 336-1380
info@luxology.com
www.luxology.com

Alliance between Brosta TV LLC, strategic arm of TV Asahi Corporation, Japan's major nationwide TV network, and the creative concept design wing of Rhythm & Hues Studios, the Academy Award winning animation and effects facility, will begin with an entertainment property for mobile platforms.

 

LOS ANGELES & TOKYO - January 25th, 2010: Brosta TV LLC and Rhythm & Hues Studios have entered into a co-producing relationship with the goal of creating original intellectual properties for the global market. Both parties aim to conceive and produce cutting edge entertainment blending eastern and western cultures designed to appeal to audiences and consumers worldwide. The initial focus of the alliance is on the development of animated characters and ancillaries for mobile platforms, starting in early 2010, with potential for partnerships in other media, including books, manga (graphic novels), games and eventually films or TV series.

 

According to Brosta TV CEO Takaharu Nakano, "We believe this is an epoch-making blend between one of the leading creative studios in Hollywood and one of Japan's rising producers of global entertainment properties. We are very excited about leveraging our reach and experience introducing new experiences for audiences across a variety of media, in partnership with Rhythm & Hues, who will bring their tremendous depth of creative resources."

 

Stacy Burstin, executive producer of Rhythm & Hues' Design division, added "We are very excited about the innovative content this relationship will produce and are confident about its international appeal on the world market. By combining the world-class talent within both R&H and Brosta TV, we will have the ability to create and tell unique stories and produce them through new technologies including mobile and social networks. Our relationship will also take advantage of new and emerging distribution methodologies as well as the traditional entertainment pipeline."

 

Specific details about the project are expected to be announced in Spring 2010.

 

ABOUT RHYTHM & HUES

 

For 23 years, R+H design artists have collaborated in creating award winning characters, 3D worlds and matte paintings and innovative concept designs. Film credits include "The Golden Compass," "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," and "Fast and the Furious." R+H Design clients include such popular brands as Electronic Arts' SIMMS, Activisions' "Guitar Hero," Full Tilt Poker, and numerous advertising and pharma clients. Under the leadership of Executive Producer Stacy Burstin, who has led the division since 1998, R+H Design is poised to expand into new areas including gaming, mobile applications and social networks. R+H Design is represented by re:Sources (www.resourcesfx.com/company/index.html#company) and Bernstein & Andruilli (http://www.ba-reps.com).

 

ABOUT BROSTA TV LLC (www.brosta.tv/e)

 

Brosta TV LLC., established in 2007 in Tokyo, is a strategic business unit formed under TV Asahi Network, one of the Japan's top nationwide TV networks, to spearhead the next era of content and media businesses across all media. Globally, Brosta TV's business domain ranges from finding and fostering up-and-coming creators in all creative forms, planning and creation of original intellectual properties which are aimed to be franchised out to all sorts of contents and merchandising, development and production of digital contents for all mobile devices, consumer game or internet platforms, development and production of conventional media contents covering books, manga (graphic novels), animation, film, TV series and DVD. Brosta TV also operates its own media channels on both internet and mobile phone platforms, and partners with strategic media companies to run various media businesses, including digital signage media.

 

ABOUT TV ASAHI CORPORATION (http://company.tv-asahi.co.jp/e/)

 

TV Asahi is a major broadcaster with 23 local affiliates that extend coverage across the entire Japanese archipelago. Our global network of 12 bureaus abroad ensures speedy newsgathering from all over the world. TV Asahi has been a pioneer in the application of satellite technology in broadcasting in Japan, and we will continue to take up new challenges that will keep us at the frontier of broadcasting.

The International "relaunch" of SAILORMOON will take off from Italy.  
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 
Paris (January 25, 2010) - Toei Animation and Backstage ink a deal to re-launch the classic
'anime' SAILORMOON on the Italian market. The Italian agency will manage the exploitation of
the following rights for Italy: TV, publishing, merchandising and theatrical release. The feasibility
of this project also relies on a close collaboration with the original author of SAILORMOON, Mrs
Naoko Takeuchi.
 
«We are very happy» commented Kanji Kazahaya, Directeur General, Toei Animation Europe, «to
have Backstage as the licensing partner of SAILORMOON. It is one of the most important factor
of success. We are certain that strategically Italy is the ideal country to initiate a global re-launch
of the classic Japanese animated series, such as SAILORMOON. The Italian public has
traditionally been passionate about 'anime'».
 
Toei Animation confirms the trust given to the Italian agency, which is already in charge of
managing other important Toei Animation properties such as Dragon Ball, Saint Seiya and One
Piece.
 
In Japan, SAILORMOON has been a real cultural phenomenon but also one of the biggest success
worldwide during the 90's. With 5 seasons, a total of 200 episodes of 26 min. each, plus six
feature films, SAILORMOON managed to conquer a wide public, mainly female, thanks to its
uniqueness and a plot full of humor, actions and emotions.
 
«We are thrilled to manage SAILORMOON rights for the second time» said Gianpietro Peia,
Backstage CEO. «We are very proud of the outcome of the delicate negotiation with the author
and also of the trust gained by Toei Animation. SAILORMOON can rely on hundreds of passionate
and excited fans so we are positive about obtaining good commercial results. Many Italian
companies have already expressed their interest and they will be able to take advantage of a
totally new and redesigned Style Guide». 
 
Mediaset have already purchased the TV rights and they should air the first series in Autumn
2010. 
 
 
 
 
 
Credits:
 
Toei Animation Europe, SAS
With headquarters in Tokyo and sales offices in Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Paris, Toei Animation (Jasdaq: 4816) ranks
amongst the world's most prolific animation production studios. Toei Animation's operations include animation
development and production, and worldwide marketing and program licensing. Founded in 2004, Toei Animation Europe, is
in charge of the distribution and exploitation of Toei Animation's animated series in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Among its most famous series: Captain Harlock, Dragon Ball, Saint Seiya, Sailormoon, Digimon Adventure, One Piece,...
www.toei-animation.com
 
Backstage
Backstage is one of the first Italian independent agency that since 1991 has been active in the licensing business. It operates around
different main fields: Entertainment (from Tv animated series to movies), Brand and Art licensing.  Backstage works with the most
renowned Italian companies building a relationship of mutual trust with Licensees and Licensors (Toei Animation, Marvel, Lucasfilm,
Artestar, etc.). The mission of Backstage is to provide its commercial partners with a complete service while developing effective
licensing campaigns. Backstage operates with the headquarter in Modena and one office in Milan. 
Counting 15 employees divided in different departments, it guarantees a high level of service both to the Licensor and the Licensees
through sales, communication, marketing and Brand Assurance activities. The wide choice of characters allows the development of
diversified licensing plans, all customised to satisfy every single need of our partners. 
www.backstagelicensing.com.
 
 

PRAGUE / CZECH REPUBLIC, 25 January 2010 - „New Wave of Czech Animation" - the most recent project

of the International Festival of Animated Films ANIFEST operating under the umbrella of the Institute of Czech Animation launches the first DVD of a series introducing the selection of young Czech artists - animators. Apart from already known names, e.g.Galina Miklínová or Michal Žabka, the DVD also features the representatives

of a newly emerging generation:  Martin Duda, Zdeněk Durdil, Edita Krausová, Aneta Kýrová, Jaromír Plachý, Lucie Sunková and Václav Švankmajer. The non-commercial disc of 90 min with English subtitles is meant

to become the long missing tool internationally promoting the best young Czech animators. The dramaturgist

and the author of the introductory text is the nestor of Czech animation Jiří Kubíček - the Professor of the Film and TV School of Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Animated Film Department.

 

                 After movie theatres had abolished the screening of shorts before a feature-length films (which used to be guarranteed by law in the CR before 1989), and given the international tendency towards producing commercial feature-length formats, the original short films have become a sort of „endangered species". Despite the fact that for animated production the category of short films  is essential and it boasts by a long tradition and famous names, short animated films can only be seen at festivals. This is why the Czech Animation Institute / AniFest  consider  it their priority to continue the long tradition of classice masters of Czech animation, e.g. J.Trnka, K. Zeman, J. Švankmajer, B.Pojar, or J. Barta, P.Koutský, M. Pavlátová and many others and through its new project „New Wave of Czech Animation" introduce young Czech animators to the world professional audience as well as to the large public. The  DVDs will be presented primarily at leading international festivals, in Czech Cultural Centres and at various film events worldwide.

 

In his introduction, Professor Kubíček says: „Without anybody planning or forecasting it, Czech animation saw the birth of something new, congenial, viable and meaningful. Let's call it the "New Wave" as this technical term has a grounded tradition and a solid foundation in the Czech film industry. It is a symbol".

 

 

CONTENT:

Contact (2003)

Director: Martin Duda

Designer: Martin Duda

Technique: 3D computer, 2D computer

Screenplay: Martin Duda

Music: Matouš Godík

Producer: FAMU Praha

Playfulness, harmony and conflict between cartoon and digital animation.

 

Game (2004)

Director: Galina Miklínová

Designer: Galina Miklínová

Technique: Drawing on Paper, 2D Computer, Camera-Free

Screenplay: Galina Miklínová

Music: Pavla Milcová, Petr Binder

Producer: Alkay s.r.o.

Rules and accidents between two players - hand painted and colored "total" animation with subsequent

computer processing in Prague's Alkay studio. The work on the film and screenplay took a year.

 

Geranium (2005)

Director: Lucie Sunková

Designer: Lucie Sunková

Technique: Painting on Glass

Screenplay: Lucie Sunková

Music: Vladimír Merta

Producer: Krátký film Praha, Spinel Prague Production.

A male and a female fall in love in a bar called Pygmalion. They decide to lead wonderful suburban life together gardening and growing geraniums together. However, their destiny prevents them from doing so and both of them make a mistake that proves fatal to their dreams. There is a geranium at the window to serve as a reminder - nothing else remains.

 

A Scene from the Life of Antelopes (2004)

Director: Edita Krausová

Designer: Edita Krausová

Technique: 2D Computer

Screenplay: Edita Krausová             

Music: Funthomas

Producer: VŠUP

An interpretation of one of the fables for misbehaved children by Jacques Prévert. Antelopes live in Africa with aboriginals and whites. Stray bullets accidentally hit an antelope. Her friends wait in vain for her to come back for dinner...

 

Radio Kebrle (2006)

Director: Zdeněk Durdil

Designer: Zdeněk Durdil

Technique: 2D computer, combination

Screenplay: Zdeněk Durdil, Džian Baban, Vojtech Mašek

Music: Džian Baban

Producer: FAMU/Bionaut

FreshFilmFest 2007

FILM FUTURA 2009

Prior to founding his legendary Monstrkabaret, renowned variety artist and entertainer Fred Brunold, scraped by doing anything and everything he could. For instance, he worked as an employee at a certain parasitic radio station. Fred's rich experience from his job as a reporter is illustrated in this enlightening story about little Janik and his dangerous excursion to see his grandfather, Jaroslav Kebrle.

 

The Clod (2007)

Director: Jaromír Plachý

Designer: Jaromír Plachý

Technique: 2D computer                                                                     

Screenplay: Jaromír Plachý

Music: Jaromír Plachý

Producer: Jaromír Plachý

One unusual morning for one unusual creature.

Best Internet Animation - AniFest 2008

Viewers´ Award - AniFest 2008

 

Mrs. G (2007)

Director: Michal Žabka   

Designer: Michal Žabka

Technique: Puppets

Screenplay: Michal Žabka

Music: Jan P. Muchow

Producer: Anifilm

Viewers Award - AniFest 2007
Golden Cactus trophy - Best International Animation - Rio de Janeiro 2008
Trudi for the best short animation - Trieste 2008
3rd award - Animfest 2009 and special mention by the student jury for best script

Best animated film - Balchik 2009

Mrs. G. is a puppet love story full of funny situations that occur during the co-existence between a man

and his unusual female life-partner. You can expect humor, romance and at times even thrills.

 

Whoops, Mistake! (2008)

Director: Aneta Kýrová

Designer: Aneta Kýrová

Technique: 2D computer

Screenplay: Aneta Kýrová

Music: Ivan Doležálek

Producer: Vendula Kraslová

The storks from the sky delivery service have long, noisily clapping beaks. When they stop to chat, anything can happen. Aneta Kýrová tells a story about two mismatched children, or it would be better to say a human baby and a bear cub. In the writer's version, the story has an unusual ending based on the common experiences

shared by all parents. In the end, parents must adapt to their offspring regardless of what they are.

 

 

 

Torchbearer (2006)

Director: Václav Švankmajer

Designer: Václav Švankmajer

Technique: Puppets

Screenplay: Václav Švankmajer

Music: ENVOI1

Producer: Bionatut

Cracow Student Jury Award

Fresh Film Fest - best animation

There is a city with a large labyrinth. Day and Night and the Sun and the Moon keep alternating above the city in a seemingly never-ending cycle. Suddenly the gear sticks and then stops and the city is covered in endless darkness. The hero enters the labyrinth and wanders along its dark corridors. He is followed by guards who, at first sight, look like motionless statues of Ancient women. But they come back to life behind the hero's back who is on his way into the heart of the labyrinth to pass three tests.

 

 

Vancouver, BC. Canada. January 21, 2010 - In a week of awards buzz for the film, it was announced today that District 9 has been nominated for the Special Visual Effects award at this year's Orange British Academy Film Awards.

 

Image Engine continue to accumulate reasons to celebrate this week, as their work for District 9 makes it to the shortlist of five films to be up for the prestigious BAFTA award.

 

This news follows the announcement earlier this week that Image Engine are also nominated in three categories at the industry VES Awards this year, and their inclusion on the shortlist for the coveted Oscar^® nomination, to be announced in February.

 

 

Image Engine CEO, Greg Holmes spoke on behalf of the company today:

 

 "It was a pleasure to work with Neill Blomkamp in bringing his aliens to life and we are all very proud of the results that we achieved together. I am delighted with today's news and thrilled that District 9 continues to impress audiences around the world."

 

District 9 and Image Engine will be vying with Avatar, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Star Trek and The Hurt Locker for the award for ' Special Visual Effects' at the ceremony on Sunday 21^st February 2010.

 

Peter Muyzers, COO said today:

"We are very grateful to Neill Blomkamp for the opportunity to work on this film.  This nomination is a testament to everybody at Image Engine who has raised the bar on this project and helped to put the company and the Vancouver visual effects industry on the world map."

 

District 9 Director, Neill Blomkamp, made the call to bring the majority of the visual effects work to Image Engine where he could rely on the focus and passion that the dedicated team would bring.

 "Image Engine's work (on District 9) ... is by far the best visual effects work that has ever been produced in Vancouver". Says Blomkamp. "...I think Image Engine has done absolutely top tier brilliant work that far exceeded my expectations!"

The greatest visual effects challenge was to create believable creature animation, which would seamlessly blend with District 9's critically acclaimed documentary style of filming.

Shawn Walsh, Visual Effects Executive Producer explains how Image Engine and Blomkamp worked together to create the director's unique vision.

"The key aspect was how Neill simply wanted the audience to 'accept' these bizarre intrusions into human life in Johannesburg. In a way, he wanted the visual effects to be invisible to the audience. Image Engine met this daunting challenge to put alien creatures in a real world setting to tell an incredible story in a credible way."

 

 

 

About Image Engine:

 

Image Engine provides world-class visual effects for feature films.

With over 15 years in the industry, several award wins and an impressive list of feature film credits including the recent District 9, Law Abiding Citizen, 2012, Watchmen, Orphan & currently The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, they are leading the growing feature film visual effects industry in Canada.

Image Engine is a privately owned and run company, based in Vancouver, BC.

 

 

Hilversum, 21 January 2010 - MIFFY - THE MOVIE, the latest project of Dutch Telescreen B.V., a leading production, distribution and Brand Management company and part of the German m4e AG, will be introduced at the European Film Market in Berlin. The 70-minute stop-motion cinema experience for 3-6 year olds (and the whole family) is currently in pre-production and is expected for delivery in November 2011. The movie will combine all of the hallmarks that have already been proven to work on TV for the latest 3D series "Miffy" (78 x 5') and for successful specials such as "Family Celebrations" (4 x 24') and "Explore the World with Miffy" (4 x 11').
 
MIFFY is a world famous character - celebrating her 55th birthday this year - created by Dutch author and illustrator Dick Bruna, whose copyrights are protected by the Dutch Mercis bv. Of the 117 original book titles of the little rabbit, more than 85 mio were sold in over 40 different languages and a broad range of merchandising products is available, ranging from baby, apparel to toys and gifts. MIFFY made her TV debut in 1992, appearing in 82 episodes of each 5 minutes in 2D animation, later a 3D animated series was produced. The series is currently broadcasted in over 40 countries and available on DVD as well. On top of that, MIFFY serves as a "celebrity character spokesperson" for UNICEF.
 
Telescreen Film Productions, a division of Telescreen B.V., is co-producing the movie with Dutch public broadcaster KRO at a budget of € 3.2 mio., and with the development support of the MEDIA programme of the European Union and the Dutch Film Fund.
The executive studio will be A.Film Denmark, renown for its work on film productions such as "FernGully: The Last Rainforest" (1992), "Quest for Camelot" (1998) and "Asterix and the Vikings" (2005).
 
The movie, built around a game that children know and love - a treasure hunt - celebrates the joy of curiosity, the fun of working together and the adventure of friendship. It will feature all of the characteristics that made MIFFY a beloved international phenomenon: the proven successful 3D animation style, the primary colours, songs and music that are rhyming and sing-able for a young child, the same cast of familiar Dick Bruna characters, a simple story line with as much recognisable situations and objects as possible, and a patient tone that emphasizes an almost idealized childhood - maybe the one we all wished for.
 
For the first time, voices will be added - individual voices that are characteristic of MIFFY's world: friendly, safe, funny, curious and surprising. A narrator will be there to guide the story when needed and to tie everything together in a friendly way. By adding new entertainment elements to create interactivity, every viewer will be invited to be a part of the story on screen.
 
The movie is structured as five story segments that string together to create the bigger overall story. In short: In the zoo MIFFY's parents set out a treasure hunt and give MIFFY and her friends five clues, one at a time. These clues in the form of a song are about the colour, shape or sound of an animal. Putting all solutions together, MIFFY and her friends can solve the treasure hunt...
 
As representative of Telescreen B.V., Theo van der Schaaf will attend the European Film Market. His contact details are:
Mobile:  + 31 653 882 124
E-mail:  Theo@telescreen.nl
 
Holland Film stand nr 5 at the Martin-Gropius-Bau building.
Hotel - Pullman Berlin Schweitzerhof
 
Hilversum, 21 January 2010
Telescreen B.V. - Managing Board
 
 

Montreal, January 21, 2010 - A year ago the National Film Board of Canada gave Canadians unprecedented access to 70 years of collective experience with the launch of its online screening room, <NFB.ca>. Three months ago the screening room went mobile with the introduction of the wildly popular iPhone app.
 
Today the NFB is introducing high-definition (HD) films online and adding a bonus feature of recent experiments in online 3D. These are the latest example of how the NFB is striving to use digital technologies to connect Canadians with their past, reflect and share their present, and explore their future.
 
"Canadians are the greatest consumers of video online as well as the greatest users of social networking site Facebook. Online is the new public space and as a public institution the NFB has a responsibility to occupy that space for Canadians and provide Canadians with a reflection of our realities. And it has to be a dynamic and interactive experience that is always engaging: for all Canadians and particularly younger Canadians and Canadians from diverse communities. What we've done to date is only a start: we will be making a tradition of releasing major new innovations at the start of each year," said Tom Perlmutter, Government Film Commissioner and NFB Chairperson.
 
After one year, the online Screening Room has registered over 3.7 million film views.
 
High definition
 
Starting today, 26 films are available in high definition at the Screening Room.
 
HD titles include Chris Landreth's Oscar-winning animated short Ryan, coproduced with Copper Heart Entertainment, as well as Cordell Barker's beloved musical comedy short The Cat Came Back. HD documentaries include Murray Siple's Carts of Darkness, a look at the extreme sport of shopping-cart racing, already one of the NFB's top-viewed titles in standard definition, and Brett Gaylor's award-winning Rip: A Remix Manifesto, co-produced with EyeSteelFilm.
 
French-language HD titles include Claude Jutra's Mon oncle Antoine, chosen by critics as the greatest Canadian film of all time, Michel Brault and Pierre Perrault's classic Pour la suite du monde, along with great animations like Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski's Madame Tutli Putli and Sheldon Cohen's hockey classic Le Chandail, adapted from the story by Roch Carrier.
 
To visit the NFB's high definition video portal, go to <NFB.ca/HD>.
 
3D films
 
The NFB is sharing the fruit of its 3D experiments online with the acclaimed NFB animated shorts Drux Flux by Theodore Ushev and the Genie Award-winning Falling in Love Again by Munro Ferguson, as well as excerpts from Facing Champlain, a stereoscopic production created for the 400th anniversary celebrations in Quebec City, directed by Jean-François Pouliot and produced in collaboration with the Musée de la civilisation du Québec.
 
"Normally, organizations don't share their experimental processes," said Tom Perlmutter. "But we want to start changing that - letting Canadians into the creative workshop. It's a little retro at the moment with the funky glasses, but it's a playroom, it's the skunk work of testing things out while we figure out how to make this fully part of the NFB online experience."
 
These films will be available in 3D on the Screening Room as well as iPhones. Users will be able to order 3D glasses online, <NFB.ca/3D>, with free shipping in Canada.
 
A growing online collection
 
These new HD and 3D titles join over 1,400 NFB productions online at <NFB.ca>, in English and French, with new titles added weekly.
 
Available free of charge, 24/7, these titles include acclaimed auteur animation, point-of-view documentaries, new works by independent filmmakers, alternative dramas, cinéma vérité classics, and more.
 
About the NFB
 
Canada's public film producer and distributor, the National Film Board of Canada creates social-issue documentaries, auteur animation, alternative drama and digital content that provide the world with a unique Canadian perspective. In collaboration with its international partners and co-producers, the NFB is expanding the vocabulary of 21st-century cinema and breaking new ground in form and content, through community filmmaking projects, cross-platform media, interactive cinema, stereoscopic animation - and more. Since the NFB's founding in 1939, it has created over 13,000 productions and won over 5,000 awards, including 12 Oscars and more than 90 Genies. In 2009, Neighbours/Voisins by NFB animation founder Norman McLaren was added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. The NFB's new website features over 1,400 productions online, and its iPhone app has become one of the most popular and talked about downloads. Visit <NFB.ca> today and start watching!
 
-30-
 

Bristol, 21 January 2010. Aardman Rights has secured a number of key licensing partners for its hit pre-school property Timmy Time, plus a range of new gift deals for the award-winning Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Morph. 

Martin Yaffe International Ltd have signed with Aardman to produce Timmy Time outdoor toys. Launching in Summer 2010, the outdoor play equipment for the toddler and pre-school market will include hoppers and outdoor sports & playground games. In other Timmy Time deals, Baylis & Harding are to launch a range of toiletries including bathtime gift packs; Little Star Creations will devise a line in branded stationery and children's activity packs and Abbey Home Media Group is partnering with Aardman to produce audio story CDs. 

Other licensing deals for new gifts ranges from some of Aardman's world-class properties include Cheatwell Games, who are to produce a range of lenticular puzzles including Shaun the Sheep jigsaws and a Morph board game.

In addition, Ethos International Ltd is to introduce a line of Shaun the Sheep and Wallace & Gromit mugs and homeware gifts and The Novelty Gift Company will launch a range of Morph novelty gifts, including book ends, desktop buddy and wall clock.

Sean Clarke, Head of Aardman Rights says: "We are thrilled to sign new partners across our portfolio as we head into Toy Fair. The range and diversity of these deals highlights the flexibility and broad appeal of all our brands."

Timmy Time has enjoyed huge success since its launch on CBeebies in April 2009. The 52 x 10-minute stop-motion animated series has now reached over 9.4 million individuals*, and has proven to be such a hit that the BBC has now has ordered 26 more episodes, slated to start shooting from June 2010. Aimed at boys and girls, the non-dialogue series features a variety of animal noises, comedy, fun and strong character animation. Aardman's Jackie Cockle is the Creator and Producer, and Miles Bullough is Executive Producer.

The first series of Shaun the Sheep racked up television sales and licensing deals in over 150 territories and won several prestigious accolades, including the International Emmy Award. The second series recently launched on WDR in Germany and CBBC in the UK to impressive ratings, with UK audiences consistently outperforming the channel benchmark, reaching average audiences of over 172k**.

 

 

Shaun the Sheep is also proving to be a major licensing success, achieving over £25million retail sales since launch, with UK licensees across a broad range of categories, including Golden Bear, Egmont, Danilo, Silverknit, D3 Europe and H+A, in addition to numerous international licensees.

 

Wallace & Gromit celebrated their 20^th anniversary last year in style, taking over the prestigious 'Google Doodle' for the day and featuring in a Culture Show special, whilst maintaining a high UK profile throughout the year through the Cracking Ideas exhibition at the Science Museum in London (now relocating to the Glasgow Science Centre) and various promotional partnerships including Marks & Spencer and npower. Wallace & Gromit have also been chosen to front a brand new live action TV series, Wallace & Gromit present A World of Invention, commissioned by BBC One for late 2010 and also picked up by ABC Australia.

 

The unmistakable Morph has been on TV screens for over 30 years, since he first made an appearance on an episode of Take Hart in 1977. He remains a national treasure and is now attracting a new generation of fans.

London, 20 January 2010. The Foundry, leading developer of visual effects software whose products have been used to make globally acclaimed movies such as Avatar, is pleased to announce that Soho VFX, a world-class visual effects facility with studios in Toronto and Los Angeles, has invested heavily in Nuke.
 
Bill Collis, CEO, The Foundry, said,
 
"We are delighted to welcome Soho VFX into the Nuke family. We spent a lot of time working closely with Soho VFX to ensure that Nuke was going to fit nicely into their current pipeline. It is a big decision to change a business' complete pipeline over to a new product, no matter what it is. There are many areas the tools and companies need to ensure line up and we were very pleased to have been involved from the outset."
 
Allan Magled, CEO, Soho VFX, said,
 
"Soho VFX, like many facilities today, has spent years building a scalable workflow to satisfy the growing demands of the visual effects industry. This is not a simple task.

Ideally we need to ensure that the compositing tools that we use are fast, reliable, extremely customizable and that they enable us to push the boundaries of creativity. Most importantly they need to run on a variety of hardware platforms and work seamlessly with a multitude of other applications that are used across our facilities daily.

Our Nuke evaluation was quite lengthy.  We looked very closely at render and desktop performance over several iterations of the product. Integration into our current environment from both a developers and 2D Artist's standpoint was very important to us and, as such, we spent a lot of time looking at scripting and internal development tools in Nuke as well as ease of use in transitioning from our previous compositing application.  Lastly we took a strong look at the development history and future road map of Nuke to ensure its direction matched our own.

In doing so we have found Nuke to be a polished compositing suite with a long and bright future."
 
- ENDS -
 

Program Awards Up To $10,000 Toward Tuition and Other Educational Expenses

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - January 19, 2010 - Applications are now being accepted for the 2010 G.I.R.L. Scholarship to help educate and recruit more women into the field of video game production and design. Sponsored by Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in online gaming, and administered by Scholarship America®, a leading non-profit educational support program, applications are available at https://www.scholarshipamerica.org/gamersinreallife and more details, including official rules for entry are also available online at http://www.station.sony.com/girl/.
 
"The past two G.I.R.L. Scholarship recipients were such a valued addition to our team that we are thrilled to offer this program for the third consecutive year," said Laura Naviaux, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, Sony Online Entertainment.  "Our goal is to continue to encourage and reward women who share our commitment and passion for developing cutting edge online games for all demographic groups."
 
One skilled student will win up to $10,000 to be applied toward tuition and other educational expenses at the school at which the student is currently enrolled, and an optional internship of up to 10 weeks at one of Sony Online Entertainment's studios (room, board, transportation and living expenses not included).
 
To be eligible to participate, entrants must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program related to video games, including video game art, design, animation, production, programming or visual effects, must not graduate before the end of the 2011 spring term and must comply with the program's official rules. Entrants are required to complete an online application along with an existing piece of art, and if chosen as semifinalists, submit two pieces of concept art and one essay that will be reviewed by a panel of SOE judges. Online applications must be completed and submitted on or before February 15, 2010. SOE will announce the winner on or about May 20, 2010.
 
For more information about the G.I.R.L. Scholarship program, please visit http://www.station.sony.com/girl/.
 
About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games which have entertained millions of players around the globe. SOE creates and delivers compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchise EverQuest®, its successful online trading card game Legends of Norrath®, as well as the recent kids' phenomenon Free Realms™, SOE continues to raise the bar for online gaming and players worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, with additional studios in Austin, Seattle, Denver, Tucson, and Taiwan, SOE has a slate of engaging, high-quality games currently in development across new genres for all platforms and audiences.

SOE, the SOE logo, EverQuest and PlanetSide are registered trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment LLC. Free Realms and Legends of Norrath are trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment LLC.

All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

About Scholarship America®
Scholarship America is one of the nation's largest nonprofit, private-sector scholarship and educational support organizations. Its three primary programs -- Dollars for Scholars®, Scholarship Management Services® and ScholarShop® -- are united in the mission to expand access to education. Scholarship America (www.scholarshipamerica.org) has awarded more than $2 billion to nearly 2 million students since its founding in 1958, and is rated a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator.
 

19 January 2009 - Prime Focus has completed over 90 VFX shots for the BBC's
new 5 x 60m HD series "How Earth Made Us." The program explores how
geology, geography and climate have influenced and continue to shape human
history. Each episode examines a different force, including the effects of
deep earth, wind, fire and water. The series concludes with a look at how
the human race has become a geological force in its own right. The first
episode airs in the UK on BBC Two on Tuesday 19 January at 9pm.

Travelling to some of the most iconic locations on the planet, Professor
Iain Stewart discovers how the river Nile caused Egypt to dominate the
ancient world, how the break up of a super-continent 200 million years ago
shaped an energy revolution, and how wind patterns changed the history of
China and Australia.

"Graphics were a vital part of the series ambition, helping to explain the
nitty gritty of how the Earth has influenced human history," said Jonathan
Renouf, series producer for the BBC. "Prime Focus was great to work with.
The team grasped difficult concepts and came up with some stunning ways to
visualize them, whether it was the relationship between the planet's wind
systems and the growth of trade, or the way in which fault lines stimulated
the growth of early civilizations."

The Prime Focus team, led by Broadcast VFX creative director Simon Clarke
and VFX producer Melody Woodford, worked for eight months on the project,
supplying around 50 minutes of high-end VFX shots. "We were tasked to
create a large number of shots with a fairly tight budget and high
expectations of quality," said Simon.  "As well as creating credible visual
effects, many shots required a level of conceptual visualization to
demonstrate specific scientific phenomena. For example we were tasked with
depicting the formation of distinct sand dunes created by consistent wind
cycles that sculpt the shape of the land."

The initial phases of work involved blocking out camera moves to get some
sense of timing and to provide the edit with animatics. In parallel to
this, digital matte painters worked on creating high levels of texture
detail to apply to 3d models and backgrounds.  In addition the team was
tasked with streamlining the 'Earth' pipeline - optimizing render set ups
to deal with the vast amount of picture information and detail that were
required for the surface textures.

"For many shots the camera travelled more obliquely across the surface, so
a more three dimensional approach was called for in creating terrain and
volumetric clouds. This added another level of detail and scale enabling us
to start in fairly close on the earth and pull out wide. The clouds would
then scale accordingly," said Simon. "One particular shot caught the eye -
a huge pull out from an aerial live action shot of the presenter standing
on Mt. Connor in Australia to a 'space shuttle' type view of the earth,
giving the illusion that it was one seamless camera move."

Melody Woodford, the VFX producer, was able to call on the Prime Focus Film
VFX team in North America, who was busy working on James Cameron's Avatar
at the time, for a specific shot which showed the progression of giant
crystals forming in a Mexican cave. "We knew that our Film VFX colleagues
had used a piece of software for simulating the kryptonite sequences in
Superman Returns which was very similar to the look we were trying to
achieve," said Melody. "We did some modifications to the software and the
R&D that was behind it and then they took that sequence on board to deliver
the finished shot. It was a great example of our 'Worldsourcing' business
model."

Credits

Project:             How Earth Made Us
Client:                 BBC
Broadcaster:             BBC Two
Production manager:         Alison Castle
Series producer:         Jonathan Renouf
Executive producer:         John Lynch
Directors:     Matthew Gyves, Nigel Walk, Charles Colville, Annabel Gillings,
Matthew Dyas

VFX:                 Prime Focus
VFX creative director:         Simon Clarke
VFX producer:             Melody Woodford
VFX coordinator:         Paul Driver
3D:     Ian Baxter, Simon Goodchild, Sam Cox, Peter Forsythe, Scott Nelson,
Nick Hanks, Lenka Zuckova
2D:                 Graham Stott, Pedro Lara
Graphics / matte painters:     Johan Gay, Milan Schere
Flame:                 James Adamson, Adam Crocker

About Prime Focus
Prime Focus is one of the world's largest visual entertainment services
groups, specialising in creative and technical services for the film,
broadcast, commercials, music, games, internet and media industries. With a
market capitalisation of $140m USD, it operates nine facilities in India,
four in the UK and four in North America, offering clients access to a
talent pool of over 600 visual effects artists worldwide.

Prime Focus Limited is a public stock company with shares traded in the
Mumbai and National Stock exchanges in India (Symbol - PRIMEFOCUS). Prime
Focus also owns and operates Prime Focus London plc (Symbol - PFO), which
is publicly traded in the LSE's AIM market. For more information, please
visit www.primefocusworld.com.

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BURBANK, Calif., Jan. 19, 2010 - USA Gymnastics and Warner Bros. Consumer Products announced today that the Supergirl brand, based on the DC Comics' character, will be the title sponsor of the 2010 Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup, a competition for 36 of the country's rising female gymnasts hosted by 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin and USA Gymnastics.  Proceeds from the event benefit the Nastia Liukin Fund, a charitable fund within the National Gymnastics Foundation.
 
"Supergirl is the ideal sponsor for this event featuring rising gymnasts," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "The Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup will showcase some of the top up-and-coming gymnasts in the country, giving athletes a unique chance to pursue their passion with independence, creativity and style."
 
The Supergirl S-shield is universally recognized as an unmatched symbol of strength, leadership and female empowerment, and uniquely embodies the ideals of the Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup.  This special event, which celebrates the accomplishments of young, rising stars, continues the Supergirl brand's support of today's action sports girl and builds on the spirit of the Supergirl Jam, the industry's only large-scale, all-girls action sports competition.
 
"We believe in supporting young athletes and events that allow them to demonstrate their impact on young women everywhere," said Karen McTier, Executive Vice President of Domestic Licensing and Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products.  "Supergirl celebrates the strength, power and skill of female athletes and Nastia represents the best of not only women's gymnastics, but also achievement for girls of all types.  Her integrity, commitment to giving back, sportsmanship and leadership embody the traits represented by the Supergirl brand."
 
"I am excited about Supergirl's involvement with the Cup," said Liukin, who has a total of nine world and five Olympic medals to her credit. "Gymnastics is such a great sport for young women, and the lessons gymnastics teaches girls are the essence of the Supergirl brand - dedication, teamwork, self-esteem and passion for what you do.  Building a partnership with USA Gymnastics and the Supergirl brand really helps solidify my vision on health, fitness and lifestyle issues that affect millions of girls."
 
To qualify for the inaugural Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup, gymnasts will be chosen from 15 invitationals that are part of the Nastia Liukin Cup Series.  Each invitational will select a minimum of two athletes from their respective fields to compete in the Cup. The events participating in the NLCS are:
 
·         CGA Parents Club Coaches Spectacular, Covington, Ky., Jan. 15-17
·         John Macready and John Roethlisberger's Flip Fest Invitational, Knoxville, Tenn., Jan. 15-18
·         Cereal City Classic, Kalamazoo, Mich., Jan. 22-24
·         Rock-n-Roll Classic, Broadview Heights, Ohio, Jan. 22-24
·         Parkettes Invitational, Allentown, Pa., Jan. 29-31
·         Wisconsin Dells Gymnastics Vacation Classic, Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Jan. 29-31
·         The Fiesta Bowl Classic, Chandler, Ariz., Feb. 5-7
·         IGI Chicago Style Meet, Chicago, Ill., Feb. 12-14
·         WOGA Classic, Frisco, Texas, Feb. 13-14
·         Buckeye Classic, Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 19-21
·         Circle of Stars, Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 19-21
·         Excalibur Cup, Virginia Beach, Va., Feb. 19-21
·         Pikes Peak Cup, Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 19-21
·         Presidential Classic, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Feb 19-21
·         The Long Beach Open, Long Beach, Calif., Feb. 26-28.
 
Gymnasts who compete in the Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup will receive a Nastia Liukin-designed leotard and a warm-up from GK Elite; two tickets to the Tyson American Cup and recognition during the event; and the opportunity to meet Liukin and participate in a team photo.
 
The inaugural Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup is scheduled for March 5, 2010, at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass., and will be televised on Universal Sports.
 
Tickets for the Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup may be purchased in conjunction with a ticket purchase for the Tyson American Cup.  For more information, go to www.NastiaLiukinSupergirlCup.com.
 
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About Nastia Liukin
At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Liukin's total of five medals tied the U.S. gymnastics record for most medals in one Olympic Games, currently held by Mary Lou Retton (1984) and Shannon Miller (1992). Liukin's medals are: gold - all-around; silver - team, balance beam and uneven bars; and bronze - floor exercise. Liukin is just the third U.S. woman to win the Olympic all-around crown. Earlier in 2008, Liukin won the all-around title at both the Tyson American Cup and the Pacific Rim Championships presented by Gillette Venus. Liukin has nine world medals to her credit: For 2008, she was named the USOC's Co-Sportswoman of the Year, the Women's Sports Foundation's Individual Sportswoman of the Year and the United States Sports Academy Female Athlete of the Year. Liukin and her teammates on the 2007 U.S. Women's World Championships Team were selected as the 2007 U.S. Olympic Committee's Team of the Year.  She was also chosen as one of 2009's most influential women by MSN Lifestyle. Liukin is still competing and is coached by her father, Valeri, who has four Olympic medals from 1988, including two gold. She trains at WOGA.
 
About Warner Bros. Consumer Products:
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
 
About DC Comics:
DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and The Sandman. These DC Super Heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics' Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.
 
About USA Gymnastics
Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States.  Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport.  Its disciplines include men's and women's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics.  For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.
 
About the Tyson America Cup
The 2010 Tyson American Cup is one of the most prestigious international invitationals and features an all-around format.  Ticket information are currently on sale, and the U.S. gymnasts who have already accepted invitations to compete in 2010 are 2009 world all-around silver-medalist Rebecca Bross; 2009 U.S. all-around champion and 2008 Olympic high bar silver-medalist Jonathan Horton; and 2009 U.S. all-around silver-medalist Tim McNeill, who was seventh in the all-around at the 2009 World Championships. The remaining U.S. woman and the international field will be announced in the near future. The list of former champions comprises some of the sport's best-known names, including Bart Conner, Paul Hamm, Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin, Shannon Miller, Carly Patterson, Mary Lou Retton and Peter Vidmar.  For more information, go to www.tysonamericancup.com.
 

London/New York, 18 January 2010: Leading family entertainment producer and distributor Chorion is partnering with ScrollMotion, creators of the Iceberg Reader and a leading developer of original iPhone applications, to bring its Mr. Men and Little Miss classic books to the iPhone and iPod Touch. Available now in iTunes, the digital books expand upon the traditional children's book reading experience by incorporating scrolling image exploration, interactive controls and a voice recorder.

The titles currently on offer are: Mr. Happy, Mr. Tickle, Mr. Bump, Mr. Messy, Mr. Mischief, Mr. Perfect, Mr. Funny, Mr. Grumpy, Little Miss Sunshine, Little Miss Chatterbox, Little Miss Giggles, Little Miss Stubborn, Little Miss Fun, Little Miss Naughty, Little Miss Bossy, and Little Miss Trouble. The book apps are available for $3.99 each, with an introductory price of $1.99 each for Mr. Tickle and Little Miss Chatterbox, and can be downloaded here:

http://ax.search.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/search?entity=software&media=all&page=1&restrict=false&startIndex=0&term=Mr.+Men+and+Little+Miss.

A video demo of the applications is available here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a42kFqHLhU.

This deal marks Chorion's first iPhone and iPod Touch app license for the Mr. Men and Little Miss brand.

Cheryl Gotthelf, SVP Global Brand Management at Chorion said: "The success of The Mr. Men and Little Miss brand on television, DVD, and on the web has made it clear that the original book-based brand is as relevant today as it was when originally launched. The move to this popular digital platform makes its unique form of humor and self expression accessible to audiences of all ages in the formats they find most appealing. We are delighted to have signed this deal with Scrollmotion."

"There is nothing quite like watching tiny fingers trace those 'extraordinary long arms' of Mr. Tickle throughout the digital world that's made possible on the iPhone touchscreen," said ScrollMotion Chief Creative Officer Josh Koppel.  "The Mr. Men and Little Miss series translates so perfectly to this medium; we're thrilled to be working with Chorion to bring these classic titles to new generations of readers."

 

 

 

Chorion is continuing to build the global reach of its much-loved Mr. Men and Little Miss brand with apparel offerings for adults and kids at leading retailers worldwide and the Mr. Men and Little Miss publishing program goes from strength to strength, with over 12 million books sold in the UK, US, France and Australia in 2008.  Chorion is seeking more partners for its growing novelty, seasonal and collectable categories.

 

The Mr. Men Show is also continuing its worldwide rollout with broadcasters including ABC Australia, Cartoon Network Asia, Korea and Japan, Canal J Russia, TG4 Ireland, True Visions Thailand, Happy TV Serbia, Disney Taiwan and RTP Portugal all taking the show.

 

A total of 104 x 11 minute episodes are currently available internationally, following Cartoon Network US and Five UK's commitment to a second season of the animated sketch show.

 

Based on the original Mr. Men and Little Miss books created by Roger Hargreaves, The Mr. Men Show is the first animated sketch comedy for kids. It is an inspired re-imagining of this classic property, blending fast-paced physical humour and verbal wit with beloved, personality-driven characters.

About Chorion 

Chorion is a leading provider of quality family entertainment for the global marketplace. Chorion brings a combination of brand management savvy and creative vision to the development of literary copyrights across all media. Chorion's portfolio includes classic children's brands such as Mr. Men and Little Miss, Beatrix Potter, Paddington, Noddy, OLIVIA, and The World of Eric Carle as well as art and lifestyle brands. Chorion also owns and manages the literary works of Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler and Georges Simenon, among others.

 

Chorion's animated television productions include OLIVIA, The Mr. Men Show, Famous Five: On the Case and Noddy and Noddy in Toyland. New productions for 2010 include The Octonauts and Gaspard and Lisa.

 

Chorion has offices in London, New York and Sydney. For more information, please visit www.chorion.co.uk.

 

About ScrollMotion

ScrollMotion

 is a media and technology company specializing in the development of innovative applications for mobile devices. Using proprietary technology for the iPhone and iPod Touch, ScrollMotion is reshaping digital art, information and entertainment in an intuitive and enjoyable way. The company's flagship product, the Iceberg Reader, offers consumers a user-friendly and true-to-text eBook experience. ScrollMotion is also helping many of the greatest names in traditional media successfully transition to digital and mobile programming. To see the full catalog of children's books from ScrollMotion, please click here. 

Loreto, Italy (Jan. 11, 2010) Rainbow SpA has closed a major deal with Italian Home Entertainment power house 01 Distribution for the rights to its iconic girls' property, Winx Club. The deal encompasses all four seasons of the hit show as well as the DVD rights to the upcoming WINX ON ICE live show, touring Italy, France and Russia this spring. The Italian WINX ON ICE tour will feature a unique show at world famous Verona Amphitheatre which will be converted into and Ice Palace for the event. Winx Club is the number one girls' property for 4-12 year olds in Italy, achieving consistently high ratings on RAI for all four seasons. The video sales will be widely supported by various major Winx Club events throughout the year, including the live WINX ON ICE SHOW and the launch of a second feature film in 3D, "The Magic is Back" (working title).

 

In Russia, where Winx Club is also the top 4-12 year old girls' property broadcast on CTC (with an average 17.3% rating), Novij Disk have purchased the Home Entertainment rights for all four Winx Club Series. The deal covers home video and DVD rights in Russia and former CIS.  Rainbow's latest property, "PopPixie" will also see the inside of Russia's Home Entertainment business with rights going to HITLAB ENTERTAINMENT, with the expectation of reaching the same massive local success as Winx Club.  "PopPixie" is Rainbow's brand new animated comedy aimed at 5-12 year olds, based on the entertaining and quirky Pixie characters introduced in "Winx Club" Series Two.

 

About Rainbow SpA

Founded in 1995, Rainbow is a pioneer in the European animation industry and the largest animation studio in Europe. With over 200 full time staff, including an award-winning  team of directors, scriptwriters, artists, special effects and 3D designers, as well as a fully dedicated sales and licensing force, Rainbow has quickly grown to be Europe's leaders in high-rating, quality animated series and movies with proven licensing results. Rainbow has offices in Italy (Loreto & Rome), Spain, Holland, and Singapore. Rainbow's biggest success to date is Winx Club: 104 half-hours of fairy adventure, broadcast on 150 networks worldwide. For more information please go to: www.rbw.it and www.winxclub.com.

Toronto / Los Angeles / London - Jan. 6, 2009 - Leading independent studio E1 Entertainment announces the appointment of Jennifer Chambers as VP of Creative Affairs. 

 

Chambers will be based at E1's Los Angeles office and report directly to Michael Rosenberg, Senior VP of Creative Affairs for E1 Television where she will be responsible for all scripted development.

 

"I'm thrilled to welcome Jen to the E1 team," commented Michael Rosenberg.  "I'm looking forward to teaming up with her again to create and develop top-quality scripted programming."

 

Before joining E1, Chambers was employed at Maverick Television where she helped develop the company's full slate of one-hour and half-hour projects including The Riches for FX.  She also worked in the drama development department for Fox Network, working on projects such as The O.C., Wonderfalls, House, and Bones.  Chambers began her career in the TV lit department at the Paradigm Agency. 

 

E1 continues to build worldwide recognition as one of the industry's leading creators, producers and international distributors of quality entertainment.  The indie studio has a track record of attracting impressive in-demand creative partners, top networks and specialty broadcasters, such as Stephen King and SyFy for the television series Haven (based on the author's novella, The Colorado Kid), HBO for Hung, CBS and CTV for The Bridge and ABC and Canwest for Copper.