July 2009 Archives

VES ANNOUNCES KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR PRODUCTION SUMMIT 09: Technology Futurist Eric Haseltine

By Editorial on July 30, 2009 1:16 PM
Los Angeles, July 30, 2009 -- The Visual Effects Society announced today that Technology Futurist, Eric Haseltine, will be the keynote speaker at the VES' Production Summit 09 on October 24th. Haseltine, the former Director of Research at the National Security Agency (NSA) and CTO for the U.S. intelligence community under the Director of National Intelligence, and former head of Walt Disney Imagineering, will give the keynote address at the one-day industry-wide event which will be held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Marina del Rey.

Haseltine, a self proclaimed 'psycho-ecologist' with a Ph.D in physiological psychology, is known for applying neuroscience to new technologies, using how the human brain naturally wants to interact with technology to improve performance. Haseltine offers a vision on the intersection of technology and human nature, providing a unique perspective about the application of brain science to technology developments.

Before entering government service and Walt Disney Imagineering, Haseltine was Director of Engineering for Hughes Aircraft. He holds 15 patents in optics, special effects and electronic media, and has been published in more than 100 science and technical journals.

Eric Roth, VES Executive Director, states, "We're honored to have a visionary like Eric Haseltine as our keynote speaker. He is someone who can illuminate not only what's on the horizon now but also, what lies ahead from a global technology and psychological perspective. He's sure to provide a fascinating point of reference for exploring our future
Continue reading VES ANNOUNCES KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR PRODUCTION SUMMIT 09: Technology Futurist Eric Haseltine.

Gamers Rev Your Engines! Free Realms™ Launches Newest Game Update: Speedway Thunder

By Editorial on July 30, 2009 1:14 PM
Realms Comic Book Also Hits Stands

Free Realms™ launches its latest game update, Speedway Thunder featuring fast cars, new profession progression and two new thrill-a-minute tracks to shakedown guaranteeing epic crash and draft action!
 
Kart Racers and Demo Derby Drivers can put the pedal to the metal and level up in more than 40 new quests per job, and earn cool trophies and quest rewards like wearables and car parts. Two new car models and 18 new karts available for purchase in the Station Marketplace will help players push the limit on the leaderboards and smash the competition.
 
To give your vehicle a boost, new parts can be acquired and installed in the all new Garage! Not only will your karts go faster and turn better, but you can make them look even more awesome with mods and other sweet visual parts.
 
And Card Duelists, don't forget you get the exclusive 'Cardie Racer' as part of the items included with the Free Realms Trading Card Game Passport to Free Realms Starter Deck, available at select retailers.
 
 
Continue reading Gamers Rev Your Engines! Free Realms™ Launches Newest Game Update: Speedway Thunder.

NVIDIA at SIGGRAPH 2009: The GPU Revolution is Here!

By Editorial on July 30, 2009 1:13 PM
What: NVIDIA at SIGGRAPH 2009: The GPU Revolution is here!
When: Aug. 4-7
Where: New Orleans, NVIDIA SIGGRAPH booth #2001

At SIGGRAPH next week, NVIDIA and its partners will be demonstrating how NVIDIA technology is powering the latest innovations in art and science.

Stop by the NVIDIA SIGGRAPH booth to discuss the GPU Computing revolution, view demos of newly announced solutions and see the latest software applications taking advantage of the massively parallel power of NVIDIA processors.

A wide range of SIGGRAPH exhibitors are also demonstrating NVIDIA Quadro GPU-based systems and NVIDIA CUDA-based software solutions, including:

Autodesk
Blue Sky Studios
BOXX Technologies
Craft Animations
Dassault Systems Dell
Dell
Digital Domain Productions
Elemental Technologies
JVC
LAIKA
Motion Analysis
PipelineFX
Pixar Animation Studio
Planar Systems
PNY Technologies
Point Grey Research
Purdue
The 3D Shop
TurboSquid
Rhythm & Hues Studios
TechViz
Wacom Technologies
On Wednesday, Aug. 5, from 12 - 3 p.m., hear Jeff Brown, general manager of the Professional Solutions Group at NVIDIA, and Rolf Harken, president, CEO and CTO of mental images, further discuss GPU Computing and the latest trends in CG computing and visualization at the Peddie Research SIGGRAPH Luncheon for press and analysts.
NVIDIA will also be making 13 presentations, including papers, panels and tutorials, and leading six special sessions throughout the week, designed to give attendees up-to-date information on the latest technical innovations from NVIDIA, with topics ranging from 3D Vision technology to ray tracing on the GPU. To view the schedule, visit: http://www.nvidia.com/object/siggraph_2009 or follow @nvidiadeveloper on Twitter.

Throughout the show, NVIDIA will be hosting the ever-popular Sketch Match competition, taking place at booth #3424. Show attendees will have a chance to show off their creativity as they race the clock and compete against fellow illustrators, animators and designers. Prizes include award-winning NVIDIA Quadro professional solutions, professional software packages and more.

Please join NVIDIA and help give back to New Orleans at the NVIDIA SIGGRAPH Big Easy Charity Bash on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 9 p.m. Please stop by the NVIDIA booth to pick up an invitation.

If you haven't booked your show briefing, or if you are not going to be at SIGGRAPH and would like to schedule a web-based briefing, please contact julie@liaisonpr.com.

Remember, once the show opens, you can always visit NVIDIA.com for up-to-date information on NVIDIA's SIGGRAPH news, key product demonstrations and more.

Thank you!

Imagi Studios Keys in Award-Winning Composer John Ottman and Sound Designer Richard Anderson for Upcoming Animated Feature 'ASTRO BOY'

By Editorial on July 30, 2009 1:11 PM
LOS ANGELES, July 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagi Studios has signed composer John Ottman and sound designer Richard Anderson for the studio's upcoming animated feature film "Astro Boy," scheduled for domestic release via Summit Entertainment on October 23, 2009. The announcement was made today by "Astro Boy" producer Maryann Garger.

Ottman has received numerous awards throughout his career, including a BAFTA Award for "The Usual Suspects." Most recently he received a Saturn Award® for his work on "Superman Returns." Ottman's credits include a variety of motion picture and television projects, including "Valkyrie" and films in the "Superman Returns," "X-Men" and "Fantastic Four" comics-genre franchises.

Anderson's work has been nominated for two Oscars®, including winning a Special Achievement Award for his work on "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Anderson has worked on numerous mega-blockbusters including "Shrek the Third," "The Lion King," "Star Trek" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

Imagi Studios is currently in post-production on "Astro Boy", produced by Maryann Garger and directed by David Bowers ("Flushed Away"). Set in the future, the CG-animated feature film is about a young robot with incredible powers and is based on the iconic character which has enjoyed great acclaim and success around the world for over 50 years. "Astro Boy" features the voices of Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell, Samuel L. Jackson, Nathan Lane, Eugene Levy, Matt Lucas, Bill Nighy, Donald Sutherland and Nicolas Cage as 'Dr. Tenma'. Slated for theatrical release on October 23, 2009, Summit Entertainment will distribute "Astro Boy" worldwide except for Imagi's reserved territories of Japan, Hong Kong and China.

ABOUT IMAGI
Imagi International Holdings Limited (Stock Code 585, Pink Sheets: IINHY) is a listed company on the main board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Imagi Studios' principal business is the development and production of CG-animated theatrical feature films. Imagi's first theatrical movie "TMNT" was released in March 2007, opening #1 in U.S. box office revenue, the first time in history that an Asian animated film achieved that honor. Imagi's CG production studios are located at its Chai Wan (Hong Kong) corporate headquarters with development and marketing operations based in Los Angeles, California, and an office in Tokyo. "Astro Boy" is Imagi's next motion picture for worldwide theatrical release in October 2009. For further information, please visit www.imagi.com.hk.

Centraline and ToonZip Confirm Cross-Border Collaboration to Produce Comedy Adventure Animation Series at SICAF 2009

By Editorial on July 30, 2009 1:09 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, 30 July 2009 - A Malaysian animation production company, Centraline Animation Sdn Bhd (Centraline) and Korean media content producer, ToonZip have announced the joint-production of a 3D adventure comedy animation series at the Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival Promotion Plan (SPP) last Thursday.

 

Entitled Robot ARPO, the 52-episode animation series depicts the story of a fearsome combat robot that has been turned into domestic helper by a wacky earthling family, reflecting how robots have become more prevalent in our daily lives as technology continues to evolve in rapid rate. 

 

"Centraline is pleased to be working with ToonZip, one of the most promising animation companies in Korea," Centraline's Chairman Damien Leong said.  "For a Malaysian-based animation entity, the collaboration with ToonZip represents an invaluable opportunity for us.  It allows us to lead a new wave of Malaysian animation talents and showcase to the world what we are capable of achieving and how far the Malaysian animation industry has evolved," he added.  

 

Commenting on the collaboration, Kamil Othman, Vice President of Multimedia Development Corporation (MDec) reiterates the view of co-production is the most practical way to go for the digital animation industry today. "Collaborations between creative companies will always result in synergies which may be difficult to achieve by any company doing it alone" he said. "I am proud to say that the co-production between Centraline and ToonZip, as well as other collaborations being established, will continue and sustain the growth of Malaysia's library of exportable content to the world", said Kamil.

Continue reading Centraline and ToonZip Confirm Cross-Border Collaboration to Produce Comedy Adventure Animation Series at SICAF 2009.

Rocket to represent St Trinian's films and cartoon rights as new movie goes into production

By Editorial on July 29, 2009 10:30 PM
The 2007 screen return of the classic British school for unconventional young ladies, St Trinian's, was a hit in more ways than one. Not only did it make an impressive $25 million at the UK box office - putting it in the top five highest grossing British independent films of all time­ - but it showed the potential of St Trinian's as a brand. Naughty, quirky, sexy, edgy, irreverent, cool and fun: the St Trinian's brand is all these things and many more.

 

And St Trinian's is again set to take the country by storm as producer Fragile Films confirm that a new movie, ST TRINIAN'S® II:  The Legend of Fritton's Gold, is now in production. Filmed at the world-famous Ealing Studios and distributed in the UK by Entertainment Film Distributors, it is due for release in December this year.

 

ST TRINIAN'S® II:  The Legend of Fritton's Gold sees the return of many stars from the first film, such as Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Jodie Whittaker and Celia Imrie as well as the arrival of several high-profile new cast members including David Tennant of Dr Who, Sarah Harding from Girls Aloud and Montserrat Lombard of Ashes to Ashes...

 

St Trinian's potential, not only in cinemas but as a brand, is clearly enormous. The filmmakers have recognised that brand potential and also found the perfect licensing partner to make it happen. As filming on the second movie in the St Trinian's franchise goes into production, Rocket Licensing is delighted to announce that it has been retained to represent licensing for the franchise.

Continue reading Rocket to represent St Trinian's films and cartoon rights as new movie goes into production.

SAMURAI JACK to Rise Again on Boomerang

By Editorial on July 29, 2009 1:08 PM
Emmy-winning Animated Series to Air Monday-Sunday at 11 p.m. (ET)
Starting Aug. 3



               One of the most respected animated series in recent
years, SAMURAI JACK is making its way to commercial-free Boomerang
starting Monday, Aug. 3, at 11 p.m. (ET).  A Cartoon Network original
series from acclaimed creator Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter's Laboratory,
micro-series Star Wars: Clone Wars), SAMURAI JACK features a distinct
animation style and storytelling that earned multiple industry
accolades, including five ASIFA Annie Awards and the 2004 Primetime Emmy
Award as Outstanding Animated Program.  The heroic story of a samurai
warrior on a journey to defeat an evil shape-shifting wizard-including
the awe-inspiring finale to the 52-episode arc-will be presented each
night of the week at 11 p.m. without commercial interruption.

SAMURAI JACK tells the story of a great warrior banished to the future
by the nefarious wizard Aku.  Samurai Jack travels the world,
encountering an amazing array of cultures and civilizations, seeking the
portal to send him back to his own time.  A man of few words, Jack
relies on his mental and physical training as a warrior to help him fend
off the evil wizard's forces.  Jack's only goal is to find the time
portal so that he may return home to liberate his people from the
terrible sorcerer and his demon forces that rule the world.  The show is
highlighted by its magnificent artistry, gripping action sequences and
evocative score, giving Samurai Jack a cinematic feel.  .

"Stylistically, this isn't like any other animated show on television,"
said Tartakovsky in 2001.  "We're using music, cinematic storytelling,
and very stylized backgrounds to create mood and atmosphere as SAMURAI
JACK travels exotic landscapes.  The environment is a major character in
each show."

Continue reading SAMURAI JACK to Rise Again on Boomerang.

EAT, DRINK, AND BE HEALTHY WITH CURIOUS GEORGE® THIS FALL ON PBS KIDS®

By Editorial on July 28, 2009 1:06 PM
    All-New Health & Fitness Themed Season Features Exuberant  New
     Character Allie Whoops and Exciting Guest Star Ed Begley Jr.


Boston, MA and Universal City, CA, July 28, 2009--America's favorite
little monkey swings back into the PBS KIDS lineup this fall with an
all-new set of health and fitness themed (mis)-adventures. Premiering
Tuesday, September 8 (check local listings), the fourth season of
CURIOUS GEORGE introduces preschoolers to the concepts of nutrition,
physical fitness, why pesky germs can cause the sniffles--and the
smartest way to fight them off!

"Teaching young children the principles and benefits of a healthy
lifestyle is of global importance today," said Senior Producer for WGBH
Dorothea Gillim. "The health and fitness theme of our fourth season
teaches preschoolers how exercise and healthy eating habits not only
help them lead better lives, but that a healthy lifestyle can also be a
lot of fun and taste delicious!"

Lessons about health and fitness are seamlessly embedded into episodes
that find George playing personal trainer to Professor Wiseman, turning
fresh fruits and vegetables from the farmer's market into delicious
juice, and fighting off Toots the Germ. In the season's premiere
episode, actor and environmental activist Ed Begley, Jr. makes a special
guest appearance as Dr. Greenbeen--a horticulturist who teaches George
why pruning trees is essential to their growth. In future episodes
George, The Man with the Yellow Hat, and their friends dig a canal in
hopes of rescuing a fish who finds himself far from home, learn why
Gnocchi the cat has allergies, and help their canine friend Charkie to
focus so she can finish the course required for her obedience school
exam.

Continue reading EAT, DRINK, AND BE HEALTHY WITH CURIOUS GEORGE® THIS FALL ON PBS KIDS®.

Call to animation students to enter Teesside's Animex Awards

By Editorial on July 28, 2009 1:05 PM
Organisers of the Animex Awards at Teesside University are welcoming work from animation students across the globe.
 
The awards are held as part of the annual Animex Festival of Animation & Computer Games, which this year celebrated its tenth anniversary.
 
In the six years that the competition has been running alongside the festival entries have flooded in from students across North America, Asia and across Europe.
 
Justin Greetham, Head of the Animex Awards, said: "Whichever way we look at it, it's always great to see new work being submitted to Animex Awards from educational establishments which are new to this field.

"For those students and educators working with stop motion animation, Animex is one of the few competitive events which recognises and rewards stop motion animation techniques.
 
"Animex supports 2D and 3D animation, stop motion, motion graphics, visual effects and experimental animation techniques."
 
For more information about entering the Animex Awards visit the Animex website at www.animex.net/awards. Closing date for entries is October 1.
 

KABILLION SURPASSES 3 MILLION VOD VIEWS IN MAY & JUNE

By Editorial on July 28, 2009 1:04 PM
Kids Entertainment Channel Now Among Top-Rated Video-on-Demand
Offerings on Comcast, Charter, Bresnan & Blue Ridge Cable Systems
 
LOS ANGELES, July 28, 2009 - Kabillion, the Emmy® Award-winning multi-platform kids' entertainment service, announced today that it surpassed three million Video on Demand orders in May and June 2009, according to data compiled by Rentrak©.  This establishes a new high-water mark for the two-year old network, which offers high quality animated and live-action kids' series entertainment.
 
As of July 1st, Kabillion also moved up to become the sixth-highest rated channel overall among children's VOD channels on the Comcast, Charter, Bresnan & Blue Ridge cable systems. Geared toward children between the ages of 6 and 11, Kabillion On Demand is currently available to 20 million VOD-enabled digital cable television subscribers, comprising 90% of the top 25 TV markets.
 
Kabillion, which launched in January 2007, offers high-quality animated and live-action kids' series entertainment, games, music and chat and is available both as a free VOD channel and a free online broadband site (www.Kabillion.com).  Ad-supported and completely free to its users, Kabillion also boasts a fully-vetted COPPA and CARU-compliant environment, offering parents peace of mind.  The network's programming content includes the Emmy Award winning "I Got a Rocket!" and a mix of new and classic favorites like "Bobby's World," "Underdog," "My Little Pony," "Transformers Animated," "X-Men," "G.I. Joe," "Spider-Man," "Dennis the Menace," "Tennessee Tuxedo" and more.
 
"Since our debut more than two years ago, Kabillion's trajectory has continued to go up," said Bill Schultz, CEO of Kabillion.  "Consistently reaching the threshold of 3 million monthly downloads is a great milestone for a start-up venture like ours, which does not have the benefit of being a spinoff from a major linear network.  We've grown this channel in spite of tough economic times and a very cluttered kids' landscape, through creativity and sheer determination."
 
By the end of 2008, Kabillion saw year-to-year growth of 300% in VOD views and a 250% increase in VOD users.  The Kabillion online community also boasted an 800% boost in total visits, a 500% increase in unique visitors and a 340% increase in new member signups over 2007.  They also brought on-board new national advertisers such as Mattel, General Mills, Lego, DreamWorks and more.
 
# # #
 
 
About Kabillion
Kabillion is the multi-platform, kids' entertainment program service launched in January 2007 and available both as a free video on-demand (VOD) channel and a free online broadband site (www.Kabillion.com).  Initially launched on Comcast Cable's Select On Demand across the US, the VOD platform is now also available to digital cable subscribers nationwide on Charter, Bresnan and Blue Ridge cable systems, with more to be added soon.  Part of The MoonScoop Group, a leading worldwide production, distribution, brand management and entertainment company, Kabillion offers high-quality animated and live-action kids' series entertainment on both platforms.  Kabillion is owned in part by Moonscoop, East Coast-based REMIX Entertainment Ventures and Belgium based Studio 100.
 

CHILDREN'S FAVOURITE SALI MALI BOUGHT BY CHANNEL 4

By Editorial on July 27, 2009 1:02 PM
ICONIC Welsh language children's animation Sali Mali has been sold to Channel 4 in the first deal of its kind for Cardiff-based programme makers Calon.
 
The animation company has signed an agreement to allow the English language Public Service Broadcaster to screen all 52 episodes of the series, which is based on the Mary Vaughan Jones' books from the 1960s and 1970s.
 
It is the first deal to be struck with a UK PSB since April when Calon regained the commercial rights to its back catalogue from S4C International. Having promoted studio manager Lynne Stockford to head of international sales, the company has also sold the second series of the Bafta-winning S4C and Five pre-school children's series Hana's Helpline to German public broadcaster ZDF.
 
Calon hopes the latest sale will drive other commercial deals such as DVDs and more overseas sales for its catalogue of award-winning children's animation which includes the Bafta-winning Hana's Helpline (recently screened on Five and S4C),  Eighties favourite Wil Cwac Cwac, Under Milk Wood and the feature film The Princess and the Goblin.
 
It also leads the way for sales of its new pre-school series, based on the adventures of cave girl  Igam Ogam and due to premiere on S4C in November on Five in the spring.
 
Continue reading CHILDREN'S FAVOURITE SALI MALI BOUGHT BY CHANNEL 4.

THE 72 DESPERATE REBELS, FATAL NEEDLES VS. FATAL FISTS, DIRTY KUNG FU AND THE BONE CRUSHING KID FROM TAI SENG ENTERTAINMENT NOW STREAMING ON CRUNCHYROLL

By Editorial on July 27, 2009 1:01 PM
Asian Celebrities Lo Leigh, Wang Tao, Norman, Tsui, Wang Yue Appear on the
Number One Online Destination for Anime and Asian Entertainment

San Francisco, CA (July 27, 2009) -- Crunchyroll and Tai Seng Entertainment
continue to launch more new kung-fu action titles on the number one (1)
online destination for anime and asian content ... Crunchyroll!  More
information can be found at
http://www.crunchyroll.com/publisher/TAI_SENG_ENTERTAINMENT.

Titles that are/will-be-shortly streaming for free on the highly popular and
legal site include:

·      THE 72 DESPERATE REBELS
·      FATAL NEEDLES VS. FATAL FISTS
·     DIRTY KUNG FU
·     THE BONE CRUSHING KID

These titles are available to all Crunchyroll fans and members residing in
the U.S., American Samoa, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam and
Virgin Islands.

Continue reading THE 72 DESPERATE REBELS, FATAL NEEDLES VS. FATAL FISTS, DIRTY KUNG FU AND THE BONE CRUSHING KID FROM TAI SENG ENTERTAINMENT NOW STREAMING ON CRUNCHYROLL.

Quantic Dream CEO and Founder David Cage to Keynote at 2009 Game Developers Conference Europe

By Editorial on July 27, 2009 1:00 PM
Acclaimed French Game Developer of the Highly Anticipated Heavy Rain Title to Discuss Writing Interactive Narrative for a Mature Audience

BERLIN, July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- David Cage, CEO and founder of Paris-based developer Quantic Dream, creators of the renowned adventure games Omikron: The Nomad Soul and Fahrenheit (Indigo Prophecy in North America) and of the highly anticipated 2010 title Heavy Rain, will deliver a keynote at this year's Game Developers Conference® Europe (GDC Europe). Cage's keynote address, titled "Writing Interactive Narrative for a Mature Audience," will focus on why mature games are necessary, what difficulties these developers face, and will expose possible solutions and techniques in interactive storytelling.

"I am excited to participate at GDC Europe and to represent France in such a well-rounded European keynote roster," said Cage. "With the game audience maturing, we feel it's important to share visions and ideas to define how our industry should now evolve. I am convinced more than ever that the most important next gen feature is emotion. How to trigger more complex emotions is our biggest challenge in the coming years."

As writer, director and founder of Quantic Dream, Cage has developed a unique creative vision for the studio based on emotion and innovation. He wrote and directed 2000's Omikron: The Nomad Soul and 2005's Fahrenheit (Indigo Prophecy in North America). Prior to Quantic Dream, he worked as a freelance musician, composing original soundtracks for games published by Sony, Microsoft, Vivendi, Atari and Eidos, among others.

"It is an honour to have a presence from Quantic Dream at GDC Europe," said Frank Sliwka, Vice President European Business Development of Think Services Game Group. "Cage and his team are known for delivering top-quality games that are acclaimed worldwide, and the entire industry is looking forward to next year's Heavy Rain. I think it's safe to say that all GDC Europe attendees can expect an inspiring and thought provoking keynote on a topic not often addressed."

Continue reading Quantic Dream CEO and Founder David Cage to Keynote at 2009 Game Developers Conference Europe.

CRASH+SUES DEBUTS "SENSORI BY BRIZO," AN ELEGANT BRANDING VIDEO UTILIZING PHANTOM HIGH-SPEED CAMERA

By Editorial on July 27, 2009 12:58 PM
Sensori_5.jpgMINNEAPOLIS (July) - Integrated production/post FX house CRASH+SUES teamed with Indianapolis agency Young & Laramore to produce an impressive three-minute branding video, "Sensori by BRIZO."  Showcasing Delta's upscale line of shower fixtures, the project tapped a wealth of in-house design, production and post services and is a tribute to CRASH+SUES comprehensive creative capabilities - from helming the live-action shoot with the Phantom camera to crafting CG elements and performing editorial, color correction and finishing.  Echo Boys, the company's sibling audio house, created the evocative original score and sound design.  The end-result is a visually compelling piece that highlights BRIZO's latest products and features while affirming their role as a leading high-end retailer of shower fixtures.

 CRASH+SUES signed on veteran DP Jeff Stonehouse to shoot all the live-action on the Phantom because of his extensive expertise working with water as subject matter and with the revolutionary high-speed digital camera which raised the bar considerably for the production.  

 "During the pre-viz we had interactive 'powwows' with Jeff and the agency creatives to determine the choice of camera, style of moves and the editorial workflow required by a digital file-based camera like the Phantom," notes CRASH+SUES executive producer Donna Drewick.  "This process proved very helpful especially with our tight shooting schedule and quick turnaround on the deliverable."


Continue reading CRASH+SUES DEBUTS "SENSORI BY BRIZO," AN ELEGANT BRANDING VIDEO UTILIZING PHANTOM HIGH-SPEED CAMERA.

CRASH+SUES DEBUTS "SENSORI BY BRIZO," AN ELEGANT BRANDING VIDEO UTILIZING PHANTOM HIGH-SPEED CAMERA

By Editorial on July 27, 2009 12:58 PM
Sensori_5.jpgMINNEAPOLIS (July) - Integrated production/post FX house CRASH+SUES teamed with Indianapolis agency Young & Laramore to produce an impressive three-minute branding video, "Sensori by BRIZO."  Showcasing Delta's upscale line of shower fixtures, the project tapped a wealth of in-house design, production and post services and is a tribute to CRASH+SUES comprehensive creative capabilities - from helming the live-action shoot with the Phantom camera to crafting CG elements and performing editorial, color correction and finishing.  Echo Boys, the company's sibling audio house, created the evocative original score and sound design.  The end-result is a visually compelling piece that highlights BRIZO's latest products and features while affirming their role as a leading high-end retailer of shower fixtures.

 CRASH+SUES signed on veteran DP Jeff Stonehouse to shoot all the live-action on the Phantom because of his extensive expertise working with water as subject matter and with the revolutionary high-speed digital camera which raised the bar considerably for the production.  

 "During the pre-viz we had interactive 'powwows' with Jeff and the agency creatives to determine the choice of camera, style of moves and the editorial workflow required by a digital file-based camera like the Phantom," notes CRASH+SUES executive producer Donna Drewick.  "This process proved very helpful especially with our tight shooting schedule and quick turnaround on the deliverable."


Continue reading CRASH+SUES DEBUTS "SENSORI BY BRIZO," AN ELEGANT BRANDING VIDEO UTILIZING PHANTOM HIGH-SPEED CAMERA.

Voice-Over Pros Write Comprehensive Book about How to Get into Voice-Over

By Editorial on July 24, 2009 12:56 PM
Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt Offer a Peek Into the World of VO

LOS ANGELES, July 24, 2009 -- Voice-Over superstars Yuri Lowenthal and
Tara Platt will officially announce publication of their book,
"Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It's Like Behind the Mic," this weekend
at the prestigious San Diego Comic-Con, the largest comic book and
popular arts convention in the world.

Have you ever watched a cartoon, played a video game or heard a movie
trailer and wondered just who are those folks behind the mic? Maybe
you've wanted to get into the business and become a voice actor
yourself, but wanted to know where to begin? Coming this November, you
can get answers to those questions and more with husband and wife duo
Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt new 'How To' book.

With insider tips and in-depth discussion about this exciting
profession, the book, "Voice-Over Voice Actor," is also peppered with
anecdotes from stars in the field like Phil Morris (Secret Saturdays),
Wil Wheaton (Batman: The Brave and the Bold), and Dee Bradley Baker
(Spongebob Squarepants), and with a foreword by Eisner Award winning
comic book writer Paul Jenkins (Wolverine: Origin). This book is sure
to open your eyes and entertain.

Continue reading Voice-Over Pros Write Comprehensive Book about How to Get into Voice-Over.

ACTRESS SIGOURNEY WEAVER TO VOICE CHARACTER IN UBISOFT'S JAMES CAMERON'S AVATAR: THE GAME

By Editorial on July 24, 2009 12:53 PM
Other actors from the film to lend voice to the game include Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi and Stephen Lang

July 24, 2009 - Today Ubisoft announced that Hollywood actress Sigourney Weaver will voice the role of Dr. Grace Augustine for Ubisoft's video game, James Cameron's Avatar: The Game. Weaver's character will be featured in the versions of the game released on Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Wii(TM) system from Nintendo and PC. Other actors from the film that will appear in the game include Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi and Stephen Lang. 

Rodriguez's character, Trudy Chacon, functions as the player's chopper pilot throughout the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and PC versions of the game. Ribisi reprises his role as the arrogant Parker Selfridge, appearing exclusively in the Wii version of the game.  The film's antagonist, Col. Quaritch, played and voiced by Lang, will appear in the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and PC versions.

"We are very excited to have actors from the film provide voiceover work for the different versions of the video game," said Patrick Naud, executive producer for James Cameron's Avatar: The Game. "Having the characters from the film voiced by the actors that portrayed them appear in the game adds a level of authenticity you just can't get any other way."

James Cameron's Avatar: The Game will be available this Holiday season 2009 for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system, Wii, PC, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and Nintendo DSi(TM) system.  For more information, please visit http://www.avatarmoviegame.com .



Continue reading ACTRESS SIGOURNEY WEAVER TO VOICE CHARACTER IN UBISOFT'S JAMES CAMERON'S AVATAR: THE GAME.

LightWork Design at Siggraph 2009

By Editorial on July 24, 2009 12:51 PM
SHEFFIELD, UK (24 July 2009) - LightWork Design, the world's leading
supplier of rendering solutions for developers of advanced 3D computer
graphics software, will be exhibiting at this year's SIGGRAPH Computer
Graphics Exhibition in New Orleans, Louisiana.  

David Forrester, Managing Director at LightWork Design, commented;
"Siggraph is the major event for our industry and we're excited to be
exhibiting there again this year.  It is important for us to stay at the
forefront of rendering technology and participating at Siggraph lets us
meet up and communicate with our customers and their users to show them
all the latest LightWorks developments."

Visitors to the Company's booth - 2635 - will be able to find out about
all the latest new product developments:

New Product Preview
LightWorks will be previewing a new market focused solution which is an
easier-to-use product aimed at small to medium sized customers.  This uses
LightWorks pre-set materials and lighting, with a fully developed user
interface and is even simpler and quicker to integrate, enabling customers
to get their product to market even faster.

Continue reading LightWork Design at Siggraph 2009.

GRUPPO ALCUNI LICENSING PRESS RELEASE AUTUMN 2009

By Editorial on July 24, 2009 12:49 PM
illustrazione per orologio film cuccioli_02.pngGruppo Alcuni are very proud to announce that 22nd January 2010 will see the release in Italian cinemas of the feature-length 3D animated film "PET PALS - MARCO POLO'S CODE". The production has already been pre-sold in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, where it will be released in cinemas as from January 2010.

 

"PET PALS - MARCO POLO'S CODE" stars the six Pet Pals, to date the protagonists of four series which have been broadcast in over 40 countries worldwide. Our intrepid heroes are once again up against the evil Crow Witch who is intent on tarmacking the lagoon of Venice, thus turning it into a city like all the others. Will the six Pet Pals be able to put a stop to her plan and to find Marco Polo's Code first? Will they discover in time the legendary Parallel Palace? The film's mix of magic, action, suspense and adventure are sure to appeal to a wide audience and make for ideal family viewing.

 

The build-up to the release of this latest Gruppo Alcuni production has generated numerous exciting new licensed products with the PET PALS brand. These include: a collection of umbrellas and raincoats for children, for the home a set of cotton modular containers used for storing toys, shoes and clothes, a range of plates, bowls, mugs and breakfast sets, a collection of cosmetic products including shower gel, bubble bath, shampoo, liquid soap, soap and toothpaste and a colourful series of sand buckets, spades, rakes, watering cans, Frisbees, rackets and sand moulds. Of course, this is as well as the over 20 already existing licenses which have been renewed for 2010.

Negotiations are also currently underway for a range of dolls, toy pushchairs, cots, pop-up tents, soft toys for newborns, toy make-up and kitchen accessories, sun tents and rockers, bicycles and inflatable beach accessories.

 

Gruppo Alcuni is also currently busy with the production of the new series SLASH://, 26 fun-filled episodes about the adventures of a group of five teenagers who use the power of a magic stone to travel through the Internet. The series deals with interesting themes such as nature conservation, art, history and music and has already created quite a buzz in the licensing domain. SLASH:// looks set to be the next big Italian licensing success story!

DECODE ENTERPRISES HITS TG4 FOR SIX

By Editorial on July 24, 2009 12:45 PM
DECODE Enterprises ANIMAL MECHANICALS.jpg

Animated and live action series sold to broadcaster in Ireland

 

Toronto, 24 July 2009. Leading kids and family entertainment specialist DECODE Enterprises, the distribution subsidiary of DHX Media Ltd., has scored a major package deal with TG4, selling six of its animated series to the Irish channel.

 

Live action My Spy Family, preschool animated shows Franny's Feet, Animal Mechanicals and Bo on the GO! (season two) have sold alongside older-skewing Chop Socky Chooks and Canadian/Hong Kong/Singapore co-production Clang Invasion in a deal that totals over 120 half hours of programming from the DECODE library.

 

Josh Scherba, VP Distribution at DECODE Enterprises said: "We're signing a number of these package deals which highlights that we have a solid library across the board. While our new shows are going from strength to strength, we're also seeing continued demand for our more established series, across both live action and animation, and for all age groups."

 

Turner Broadcasting's live action My Spy Family (26x22') centres on the Bannons, a family of ex-spies who live in an ordinary looking house, in an ordinary looking street, in an ordinary looking part of a very ordinary town. But as a family they are completely, desperately, utterly...EXTRAordinary. Trained to foil supercriminals, overthrow dictators and leap from planes without parachutes, they're now squashed together in a cramped semi and facing their toughest mission to date: retirement! My Spy Family is produced by Kindle Entertainment and aimed at kids aged 6-14 years.


Continue reading DECODE ENTERPRISES HITS TG4 FOR SIX.

WARNER PREMIERE CONTINUES TO LEAD THE MOTION COMICS CATEGORY WITH THE DEBUT OF "SUPERMAN: RED SON," "BATGIRL: YEAR ONE" AND "BATMAN: BLACK AND WHITE" COLLECTION 2

By Editorial on July 23, 2009 12:44 PM
·       First Episode of Superman: Red Son Available for Free via iTunes for Limited Time
·       Three All-New Motion Comic Series Announced Today During Comic-Con Panel
·       Complete Motion Comics Series for "Batgirl: Year One" and "Batman: Black and White" Collection 2 Debuts
 
SAN DIEGO, COMIC-CON, July 23, 2009 - Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution today announced three new additions to the best-selling Warner Premiere Motion Comics slate.  Classic graphic novels Superman: Red Son and Batgirl: Year One, as well as graphic album Batman: Black and White Collection 2 entered the digital age as Warner Premiere Motion Comics on the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com).  Also announced today comrades everywhere, for a limited time, can download the first glorious episode of Superman: Red Son for free and see how Stalin's most powerful weapon swayed the balance of power during the Cold War (http://tinyurl.com/SmanRedSonPR).
 
Continuing to lead the motion comics experience, Warner Premiere's Motion Comics connect comic fans to authentic DC characters through short-form content.  The Motion Comics slate draws on a deep reservoir of source material to bring a visually engaging experience to life through the use of subtle movements, voice-overs, sweeping music scores and stunning comic book artwork.

 

"Last year we debuted our Motion Comics slate and saw the voracious appetite graphic novel fans had for this digital content," said Diane Nelson, president, Warner Premiere.  "One of the reasons for our success is Warner Premiere working closely with DC Comics to determine if a story naturally lends itself to becoming a motion comic.   Another key is the process we use to select the studios that ultimately create these motion comics.  They are very passionate comic book fans so creating these motion comics really are a labor of love.  We're very proud of our success and look forward to bringing more titles to comic fans in the future."
 
Continue reading WARNER PREMIERE CONTINUES TO LEAD THE MOTION COMICS CATEGORY WITH THE DEBUT OF "SUPERMAN: RED SON," "BATGIRL: YEAR ONE" AND "BATMAN: BLACK AND WHITE" COLLECTION 2.

SPIN MASTER LTD. HAS SIGNED MAJOR DEAL WITH NICKELODEON AND VIACOM CONSUMER PRODUCTS AS MASTER GLOBAL TOY LICENSE FOR THE 2010 THEATRICAL RELEASE OF THE LAST AIRBENDER

By Editorial on July 23, 2009 12:42 PM
July 23, 2009 - Toronto, ON - Spin Master Ltd. has signed a major deal with Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) to be the master global toy licensor for Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures' forthcoming theatrical release of the The Last Airbender.  Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, and based on Nickelodeon's award-winning animated hit TV series "Avatar: The Last Airbender," the feature film is slated to hit theaters in the U.S. July 2, 2010. The licensing deal between Spin Master Ltd. and NVCP will produce a comprehensive line of products including: action figures, vehicles, playsets and more, featuring their favorite heroes and villains using innovative technology that will enable fans to live out their most memorable moments from this epic film.

"M. Night Shyamalan and Paramount have done an incredible job of adapting the mythology of 'Avatar' the Nick TV show into an imaginative and visually stunning live-action big-screen fantasy adventure film," says Adam Beder, VP Licensing, Spin Master.  "As the world's most fun and most imaginative toy company, it's a natural fit for us to re-create the magic of the film into an original and creative new toy line that children will love."

"There is tremendous anticipation for The Last Airbender, and we are thrilled to bring a hugely innovative hit TV property to life through our partnership with Spin Master," said Leigh Anne Brodsky, President, NVCP. "Our co-branded product line will dive in to The Last Airbender's rich storyline and promises timeless play experiences for the original series' super-fans, as well as for new fans of the film."

Continue reading SPIN MASTER LTD. HAS SIGNED MAJOR DEAL WITH NICKELODEON AND VIACOM CONSUMER PRODUCTS AS MASTER GLOBAL TOY LICENSE FOR THE 2010 THEATRICAL RELEASE OF THE LAST AIRBENDER.

WETA Digital Integrates Tweak Software's RV

By Editorial on July 23, 2009 12:41 PM
Open Architecture, Customizability and Stereo Playback Encourages
Facility-Wide Adoption of RV Playback Software

San Francisco, CA (July 23, 2009)-Tweak Software, developers of RV, the
image and sequence viewer for animation and visual effects, adds WETA
Digital, the New Zealand-based Academy Award-winning visual effects house,
to its long list of leading VFX industry clientele. WETA has been
championing Tweak's RV software since its pre-beta release, and recently
began to integrate it throughout the entire facility.

"WETA has really exploited the flexibility and openness of RV to weave
playback capability seamlessly into the artist workflow. They've managed to
make playback permeate the environment so that artists hardly have to think
about finding and viewing the right images or edits. It's remarkable what
they have done with RV to refine their pipeline." Said Seth Rosenthal,
Tweak Co-Founder.

Johan Aberg, Senior Compositor at WETA was initially drawn to RV for its
customizability. "That's definitely one of the things that sets RV apart,
the ability for the end user to customize. It's apparent that Tweak is
listening to its customers' needs because with each new release the company
keeps adding in new hooks that make it even more fun to work with."

Continue reading WETA Digital Integrates Tweak Software's RV.

LEGACY INTERACTIVE® AND CBS CONSUMER PRODUCTS TO DEVELOP VIDEO GAME BASED ON POPULAR 'GHOST WHISPERER' TV SERIES

By Editorial on July 23, 2009 12:40 PM
LOS ANGELES - July 23, 2009 - Casual games developer and publisher Legacy Interactive® today announced a licensing agreement with CBS Consumer Products that will expand their growing roster of TV-licensed games.   Legacy will develop a video game based on the popular CBS drama series Ghost Whisperer.

Available in early 2010, Ghost Whisperer: Shadowlands will debut on the PC and include characters and themes from the hit television series.  Players will take on the role of Melinda Gordon, a young woman living in Grandview, who has inherited the gift of being able to see and communicate with the dead.  These earthbound spirits have unfinished business in our world preventing them from "crossing over" into the light. While trying to live as normal a life as possible with her paramedic husband, Jim, and as an owner of the antiques shop, Same As it Never Was, Melinda helps ghosts find resolution and pass over to the other side.  

With its stories penned by Emmy award-winning television writer Lance Gentile, Ghost Whisperer: Shadowlands combines light adventure and hidden object-style game play where players need to help the recently departed move on to the afterlife and provide closure to loved ones left behind. Gamers must collect objects for their inventory to solve challenging puzzles while unraveling the mysteries of five enthralling stories with more than 30 hauntingly beautiful environments.  
 
 "Legacy Interactive is pleased to work with CBS Consumer Products to bring Ghost Whisperer to the gaming world," said Ariella Lehrer, President and CEO of Legacy Interactive. "Ghost Whisperer has an incredible and enthusiastic fan base and we will strive mightily to exceed their expectations."
 
About CBS Consumer Products                                                                    

CBS Consumer Products, a unit of CBS Entertainment, manages worldwide licensing and merchandising for a diverse slate of television brands and series from CBS, CBS Television Studios and CBS Television Distribution, as well as from the company's extensive library of titles.  Additionally, the group oversees the CBS Retail Store and online sales of programming merchandise.  For more information, visit www.CBS.com .

About Legacy Interactive

Legacy Interactive® is a leading developer and publisher of casual games. Entertaining customers since 1998, the company has built a reputation for developing intelligent, realistic, and engaging games for a broad audience.  Located in Los Angeles, Legacy has introduced new interactive genres, including its Hollywood Hits™ series of games based on popular TV dramas such as Law & Order®, Murder She Wrote, and House M.D. Legacy is also known for its RealLife GAMES ® medical simulations that include such titles as Pet Pals®, Emergency Room® and Zoo Vet. Through Legacy's casual game network at www.legacygames.com and on Facebook, http://apps.facebook.com/gamesharecompare/, customers can learn about and play thousands of casual games and share with their friends. Legacy's games are distributed worldwide, in more than 15 languages, through its publishing partners Ubisoft, Mindscape, Majesco, 505 Games, and JoWood.

Resources:
Twitter: http://www.legacygames.com/twitter
Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/gamesharecompare
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/legacygames
Blog: http://www.legacygamesblog.com

 
 

Python and the Pigs go Worldwide

By Editorial on July 23, 2009 12:36 PM

International representation deals signed for Monty Python and Pinky and Perky

 

PPC Enterprises has announced major international sub-agency representation deals for two of its hottest brands: Monty Python and Pinky and Perky.

 

P&P.jpg

The new deals will see both brands taken into new territories by two hugely respected agencies: Alicom will be representing them in Scandinavia, whilst Grahame Grassby will be taking the reins in Australia and New Zealand.

 

Pinky and Perky are the stars of a new CGI series that has proved a massive hit since debuting last year on the BBC - ratings have been huge in the UK and the show is set to air on France 3 and ABC in Australia later this year, with sales also confirmed in the Nordics. A flurry of licensing activity has surrounded the pigs and PPCE has already signed deals for toys, console and CD Rom games, and a stage show.

 

Evergreen favourite Monty Python is celebrating its 40th birthday this year and currently riding a wave of popularity - interest in the original sketch shows has been so high that an official Python channel has been created on YouTube, whilst DVDs of classic Python movies such as 'The Life of Brian' are selling like hot cakes. PPCE has been busy signing deals and licenses are now in place for voice key chains, dress-up, branded T-shirts, SWP machines and greeting cards.

 

Mark Hurry, PPCE Legal and Commercial Director, is excited about the prospects for both brands: "Both these brands are absolutely red hot in the UK at present and we have chosen two very capable agencies to take them forward in Scandinavia and Australia/NZ, where I'm sure they will do equally well." 

ANIMATION SUPERCON 2009 announced for Oct. 2-4, 2009

By Editorial on July 23, 2009 12:35 PM
Featuring cast reunions from Futurama and Pinky & The Brain
 

Miami, FL - Anime Supercon (ASC) is now Animation Supercon, as it returns for a 4th year to an all new, bigger & better location; the Doubletree Miami Airport Hotel and Convention Center. Animation Supercon will replace Anime Supercon as the shows focus shifts to encompass the entire animation world, and not just Japanese anime. Set for October 2-4, Animation Supercon is a three day festival and convention dedicated to Animation, Cartoons, Anime, Comic Books and Video Games.

Animation Supercon will feature celebrity guests, artists, animators, writers, vendors, Q&A's, parties, costume contests, anime programming, cosplay, panels, photo shoots, live music, video games and more as it takes over 100,000+ square feet of the Doubletree Miami Airport Hotel and Convention Center. This years event will also host the inaugural Supercon International Animation Film Festival (SIAFF) which will feature animated films and shorts from across the globe. The event kicks off at 3:30PM, Friday, October 2 and the fun continues almost around the clock until 6:00PM, Sunday, October 4.

 
Continue reading ANIMATION SUPERCON 2009 announced for Oct. 2-4, 2009.

Test your aim with 'Space Ace Lite' Now available on the AppStore

By Editorial on July 23, 2009 12:33 PM
GORMLEY, Ontario, Canada - July 23, 2009 - Now's your chance to see what all the excitement has been about! This "Lite" release of Don Bluth's legendary animated arcade game features the first level of Space Ace to try out!

In the full version of Space Ace, you play the heroic Ace who must stop the evil Commander Borf from taking over the Earth! Borf plans to reduce all of humankind to infants and take over the planet.  Only two people have the courage and strength to stop Borf and save Earth: the beautiful Kimberly and the heroic Ace.  But as they approach Borf's stronghold, Ace is hit by the Infanto Ray, changing him into a child, and Kimberly is kidnapped by the evil madman! Armed with only a laser gun, Ace must find and destroy the Infanto Ray, rescue Kimberly and save the Earth!

The fate of Earth is in your hands!

Simply press on the direction pad to guide Ace in the right direction or fire your laser gun and blast those aliens away! It's that simple!

Don Bluth and his production teams are the creative genius behind such beloved classics as The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail and Anastasia to name but a few.

Dragon's Lair LLC and Digital Leisure look forward to bringing many of the classic arcade games you've come to enjoy to the palm of your hands. Use your iPhone or iPod Touch to visit our website at www.digitalleisure.com for exciting updates and exclusive upcoming releases.

We hope you enjoy Space Ace Lite!

Click Here to Check out Space Ace Lite!

Luxology and Pixologic Collaborate on Innovative New Workflow for modo and ZBrush Users

By Editorial on July 22, 2009 12:31 PM
New GoZ Feature Enables a Powerful Yet Simple Workflow Between modo® and ZBrush®

SAN MATEO, Calif. - July 22, 2009 - 3D artists everywhere are applauding the just-announced GoZ for modo® feature from Pixologic, which improves the workflow between ZBrush, Pixologic's premiere organic sculpting and texture tool, and modo, the 3D modeling, painting and rendering software from Luxology®. Luxology and Pixologic worked closely together to optimize the mesh geometry transfer between these two computer graphics applications to give users a more seamless and combined workflow.

"GoZ for modo opens new opportunities and maximizes workflows for artists and designers from all backgrounds," said Brad Peebler, president and co-founder of Luxology. "By bringing these two modern 3D applications together through GoZ, modo and ZBrush users will experience a significant increase in time savings and efficiency."

GoZ is a feature within ZBrush that automatically transfers mesh geometry and normal, displacement, and texture maps into modo and back again. This ability to easily move between two complementary applications offers tremendous freedom to artists, who use each product at different phases of the creative process. With GoZ, modo can be used to create a base model, such as a human head, to provide the basic anatomy. This model can then be instantly transferred to ZBrush via GoZ for brush-based addition of scars, warts and wrinkles. The enhanced model can then be passed back to modo to create the final rendered output files.

Continue reading Luxology and Pixologic Collaborate on Innovative New Workflow for modo and ZBrush Users.

STAN LEE APPEARS IN ACTIVISION'S MARVEL: ULTIMATE ALLIANCE 2

By Editorial on July 22, 2009 12:29 PM
COMIC BOOK LEGEND STAN LEE MAKES HIS FIRST EVER ONSCREEN VIDEOGAME APPEARANCE IN
ACTIVISION'S MARVEL™: ULTIMATE ALLIANCE 2
Santa Monica, CA - July 22, 2009 - Activision Publishing, Inc. announced today that beloved comic book legend Stan Lee will make his first onscreen videogame cameo in the highly anticipated Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, slated for release this September. Lee lends his likeness and voice to a character whose role is significant to the game's storyline, which incorporates elements of the acclaimed Marvel Civil War comic book series.

"I am thrilled to be making my first onscreen videogame cameo in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2," said Stan Lee, Publisher Emeritus, Marvel Comics. "It's such a kick to see characters that I've helped create come to life in the game and now I'm a part of the Marvel videogame universe!"

"With Activision's long-standing history of bringing so many of Stan Lee's co-creations to life, it's great to be able to incorporate him into Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2," said Rob Kostich, head of marketing for licensed properties, Activision Publishing, Inc. "Stan is a legend in the comic world and his appearance is yet another special treat that fans can look forward to when we bring back the largest army of playable Super Heroes and Super Villains this Fall."

Continue reading STAN LEE APPEARS IN ACTIVISION'S MARVEL: ULTIMATE ALLIANCE 2.

EDEN FX TEAM EARNS 2009 EMMY AWARD NOMINATIONS FOR VFX WORK ON "GHOST WHISPERER" EPISOD

By Editorial on July 21, 2009 12:28 PM
Hollywood, CA, July 21 , 2009 - Seven members of Eden FX, a Hollywood-based creator of visual effects for feature films, television programs and commercials, have earned 2009 Emmy Award nominations for their work on the hit CBS drama series "Ghost Whisperer."
 
Nominated in the category of "Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series," specifically for the "Ghost in the Machine" episode of "Ghost Whisperer," the Eden FX nominees are:

Matt Scharf, Visual Effects Producer
David Morton, Lead CG Matte Artist
Stefan Bredereck, CGI Supervisor
Rick Ramirez, CGI Artist
Ben Campanero, Visual Effects Compositor
Eric Haas, CGI Artist
Ed Ruiz, CGI Artist
 
          For the "Ghost in the Machine" episode, Eden FX created an entire CGI virtual world, comprised of a major urban exterior environment, which included street scenes, and a live arcade. This work was composited with live action which had been shot against an enormous green screen (30 feet high by 150 feet long, which can shoot up to 260-degrees) on Stage 20 at Universal Studios.
 
          In the episode, series star Jennifer Love Hewitt became a digital "avatar" character, who enters into an entirely virtual "social networking" type environment inside a computer. Hewitt's character must hunt down a predator who is targeting young girls on the web.
 
ABOUT "GHOST WHISPERER:"
 
            "Ghost Whisperer" is produced by Sander/Moses Productions in association with ABC Studios and CBS Paramount Network Television and airs on Fridays at 8:00 PM, ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.

ABOUT EDEN FX:
 
Formed in 2000 by visual effects and post-production notables John Gross and Mark Miller, Eden FX specializes in 3D animation, compositing, 3D matte painting, character animation and on-set supervision. Eden FX, a Point.360 company, is located at 1438 N. Gower St., Building # 50, Hollywood, CA 90028. The telephone is 323/993-7050. Please visit www.edenfx.com for more information.
 

Movies and Science on Collision Course at the Academy

By Editorial on July 21, 2009 12:27 PM
Beverly Hills, CA --The "real" physics behind some of Hollywood's most famous action, science fiction and superhero scenes will be revealed when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents "When Worlds Collide: The Science of Movies," on Thursday, August 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

Presented by the Academy's Science and Technology Council, the program will be hosted by author Adam Weiner (Don't Try This at Home! The Physics of Hollywood Movies) and will feature film clips and in-depth conversation with Oscar®-winning visual effects artists Robert Legato ("Titanic") and Scott Stokdyk ("Spider-Man 2"), Oscar-nominated visual effects artists Shane Mahan ("Iron Man") and Matt Sweeney ("Apollo 13"), and stunt coordinator and second unit director Dan Bradley ("The Bourne Ultimatum").

Physics concepts will be used to analyze scenes from several films, including "2001: A Space Odyssey," "Speed," "Apollo 13," "Titanic," "The Bourne Ultimatum," "Spider-Man 3" and "The Dark Knight."

Weiner currently writes about science and popular culture for Popular Science magazine online and teaches physics at The Bishop's School, a private high school in La Jolla, California.

Established in 2003 by the Academy's Board of Governors, the Science and Technology Council provides a forum for the exchange of information, promotes cooperation among diverse technological interests within the industry, sponsors publications, fosters educational activities and preserves the history of science and technology of motion pictures.

Tickets to "When Worlds Collide: The Science of Movies" are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Tickets are available for purchase by mail, at the Academy box office (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or online at www.oscars.org. Doors open one hour prior to the event. All seating is unreserved.

The Samuel Goldwyn Theater is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information call (310) 247-3600 or visit www.oscars.org.

# # #

About the Academy

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world"s preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards - in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners - the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

Blizzard Entertainment's Frank Pearce and J. Allen Brack to Keynote the Game Developers Conference Austin 2009

By Editorial on July 21, 2009 12:26 PM
Developers of the Critically-Acclaimed World of Warcraft(R) to Discuss 'The Universe of World of Warcraft,' and Creating Engaging Online Worlds


SAN FRANCISCO, July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Game Developers Conference® Austin (GDC Austin) will host a keynote by Frank Pearce, executive vice president of product development and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment, and J. Allen Brack, the production director on Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft®. In their joint keynote, entitled "The Universe of World of Warcraft," Pearce and Brack will talk about the ongoing challenges involved with operating one of the world's most popular subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing games. Presented by Think Services, GDC Austin returns with three days of main conference content focused on connected games; online games, virtual worlds, and social networking game play and four two-day summits including the Game Writers, Game Audio, iPhone Games and Independent Games Summits. The event takes place at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas September 15-18, 2009.


After more than four years in development, World of Warcraft was released in 2004 and since that time has grown into a global phenomenon, in addition to garnering critical praise from reviewers and gamers worldwide. Pearce and Brack's joint keynote address, "The Universe of World of Warcraft," will specifically discuss the steps taken to create this online world, and the hard work and team coordination necessary to keep that world engaging and rewarding over its lifetime.

Continue reading Blizzard Entertainment's Frank Pearce and J. Allen Brack to Keynote the Game Developers Conference Austin 2009.

MAXON SOFTWARE CUSTOMER PROJECTS TO SCREEN AT PRESTIGIOUS SIGGRAPH COMPUTER ANIMATION FESTIVAL

By Editorial on July 21, 2009 12:22 PM
Internationally Renowned Animated Film Forum to Include Nucleus Medical Art's "Atherosclerosis" and Betsy Kopmar's "Night Fishing with Cormorants"; Pieces Highlight MAXON CINEMA 4D's Power, Versatility and Ease-of-Use in Creating Complex 3D Animations

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Newbury Park, CA - July 21, 2009, MAXON Computer, a leading developer of professional 3D modeling, painting, animation and rendering solutions, today announced that two of its customers, Nucleus Medical Art, and artist Betsy Kopmar, have created projects using MAXON software that have been selected for inclusion in SIGGRAPH's prestigious 'Computer Animation Festival', taking place during the SIGGRAPH 2009 Conference, August 3 - 7, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The festival, which is celebrating its 36th year, is an internationally renowned forum for presentation of the world's most innovative and stimulating computer-generated animated films. Nucleus Medical Art's film, Atherosclerosis, is part of the festival's Juried Films category. Juried Films include visual effects, animated shorts, student animations, scientific and musical visualizations, experimental subjects and more. The Best in Show Award qualifies the winner to be considered for nomination in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Animated Short Film category. Betsy Kopmar's work, Night Fishing with Cormorants, is a curated entry in the Visual Music category, which features films marrying music and imagery.

"The SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival is legendary for showcasing some of the world's most stunning 3D animation and we're honored that two of our customers are represented in this year's program," said Paul Babb, president/CEO, MAXON USA. "These diverse pieces clearly demonstrate the universal appeal of CINEMA 4D and the broad range its capabilities enable creative professionals to attain even their most complex 3D animation goals. We're confident that if it can be imagined, CINEMA 4D can help bring it to life."

Continue reading MAXON SOFTWARE CUSTOMER PROJECTS TO SCREEN AT PRESTIGIOUS SIGGRAPH COMPUTER ANIMATION FESTIVAL.

2010 Game Developers Conference Opens Call for Submissions Now Through August 14

By Editorial on July 20, 2009 12:24 PM
New Advisory Board Members Clint Hocking and Michael Capps Round Out GDC 2010 Roster of Industry Veterans Reviewing Submissions and Helping to Program the Conference Content

SAN FRANCISCO, July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The call for submissions to present lectures, roundtables, panels and poster sessions at the 2010 Game Developers Conference® (GDC) is now open through Friday, August 14th. GDC, the annual conference dedicated to the art, science and business of games returns to San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center March 9 - 13, 2009. Session proposals can be submitted via the official GDC website at http://www.gdconf.com.


The GDC submission process is divided into a three-phase system, beginning with this initial call for submissions and continuing with the first review and resubmit phase and then final review. Session formats this year include 25- and-60-minute lectures, as well as panels, roundtables, one or two day tutorials and poster sessions. The GDC advisory board will review and determine submissions based on the criteria of concept, depth, organization, credentials and takeaway.


To read more regarding the submission phases, visit http://www.gdconf.com/conference/callforpapers/index10.html. Guidelines for submissions can be found at http://www.gdconf.com/conference/callforpapers/faq10.html.

Continue reading 2010 Game Developers Conference Opens Call for Submissions Now Through August 14.

KANAMEMO IS LATEST SIMULCAST ADDITION ON CRUNCHYROLL

By Editorial on July 20, 2009 12:20 PM
Magic and Mayhem Arrive to Lead Weekend at the Number One Online Destination
for Anime and Asian Entertainment

San Francisco, CA (July 20, 2009) -- Crunchyroll, the number one online
destination for anime and Asian entertainment, announced today that
KANAMEMO, the poignant tale of a young girl who lives through tragedy, is
the latest simulcast addition (henceforth on Sundays at 10:00 am PDT) for
the Crunchyroll summer season. More information can be found at
http://www.crunchyroll.com/library/Kanamemo.

KANAMEMO is available in the United States, America Samoa, United States
Minor Outlying Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, Canada, Great
Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand. As part of a free preview to
promote new subscriptions, the first episode of the title was made available
to subscribers and non-subscribers one hour after Japanese broadcast.
Subsequent episodes will be exclusively available to Anime Members one hour
after Japanese broadcast, and to the general public one week after its
Japanese broadcast.

Continue reading KANAMEMO IS LATEST SIMULCAST ADDITION ON CRUNCHYROLL.

CRUNCHYROLL CONTINUES STREAMING ADDITIONAL EPISODES OF THE DEMI-GODS & SEMI-DEVILS AND C.I.B. FILES WHILE ALSO ADDING NEW TITLES THE LOST KUNG FU SECRETS, EAGLE'S CLAW AND 99 CYCLING SWORDS FROM TAI SENG ENTERTAINMENT

By Editorial on July 20, 2009 12:19 PM
Asian Celebrities David Cheung, Lo Leih, Chan Yuk Lin, Yang Pan Pan, Kwan
Hoi Shan, Shek Sau, Wong Hang Sau, Wong Wat Wa, Leung Ka Yan, Tse Yin, Tong
Chun Yip Appear on the Number One Online Destination for Anime and Asian
Entertainment

San Francisco, CA (July 20, 2009) -- Crunchyroll and Tai Seng Entertainment
continue to launch more new dramas and kung-fu action titles on the number
one (1) online destination for anime and asian content ... Crunchyroll!  More
information can be found at
http://www.crunchyroll.com/publisher/TAI_SENG_ENTERTAINMENT.

Titles that are/will-be-shortly streaming for free on the highly popular and
legal site include:

·      THE DEMI-GODS & SEMI-DEVILS (episodes 16-30)
·      C.I.B. FILES (episodes 11-20)
·     THE LOST KUNG FU SECRETS
·     EAGLE'S CLAW
·     99 CYCLING SWORDS

These titles are available to all Crunchyroll fans and members residing in
the U.S., American Samoa, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam and
Virgin Islands.

Continue reading CRUNCHYROLL CONTINUES STREAMING ADDITIONAL EPISODES OF THE DEMI-GODS & SEMI-DEVILS AND C.I.B. FILES WHILE ALSO ADDING NEW TITLES THE LOST KUNG FU SECRETS, EAGLE'S CLAW AND 99 CYCLING SWORDS FROM TAI SENG ENTERTAINMENT.

HUNTIK: SECRETS & SEEKERS ON CITV

By Editorial on July 20, 2009 12:15 PM
GH_018.jpgWeesp, The Netherlands (17 July, 2009) - BIG BOCCA Productions is proud to announce the TV broadcast of its action-adventure property, Huntik: Secrets & Seekers on CITV in the UK.

 

The series Huntik: Secrets & Seekers (52X1/2hr), is an original action adventure property, created by Iginio Straffi, the author of the Winx Club, and developed through a partnership between Big Bocca Productions, leading animation studio Rainbow S.p.A., and production company m4e AG.

 

CITV will launch the series as of July 20th every day Monday to Friday at 9:25AM. A Huntik mini online game will also extend the brand experience and is now available on CITV website as of this week. (please visit www.citv.co.uk).

 

A teasing campaign with original TV spots will be announcing the series release throughout the month of July on the channel.

 

Huntik will then come back on CITV in the Fall for a re-run.

 

Besides, Upper Deck has launched the Huntik trading cards game in March in the UK. A new collection "Huntik Legendary Saga" has been released in June and is sold to more than 2500 stores.

 

Huntik toy line developed by Upper Deck will be launched in the Fall in the UK.


Continue reading HUNTIK: SECRETS & SEEKERS ON CITV.

MANIC SIGNS CREATIVE DIRECTOR FRAN ROBERTS

By Editorial on July 20, 2009 12:13 PM

NYC based visual effects/conceptual design company, Manic has signed Creative Director Fran Roberts as part of its continued growth as a leading creative brand. Fran's reputation and extensive capabilities in graphic design, computer-generated animation, photography and visual effects will provide Manic's clients with a creative visionary disciplined in a concept through production approach to all projects.

Roberts spearheaded design + visual effects work for Apple, Nike, Acura, Pontiac, L'Oreal, Dentyne, Toyota, AT&T, Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield, LensCrafters, the SciFi Channel, HotJobs.com, Chase Bank and the Financial Times among others. He has directed and produced content for Nickelodeon, VH1, and MTV - where he supervised production of the first in-house CGI-animated material Viacom had ever produced - and helped develop the look and lighting for the hit film Ice Age.

"We are thrilled to have Fran join Manic as creative director," noted Manic Managing Director Bob Cagliero. "Fran brings impressive, award-winning heritage from a line of brands known for ground breaking work. His comprehensive skill set further enables us to approach all degrees of high-end visual design and effects work and immediately emboldens Manic's presence in the industry. Fran's passion and concept-first mindset brings strong creative leadership to an already highly talented group of artists and designers."

Prior to joining Manic, Roberts co-founded the 3D and visual effects house Special Branch with partner Ed Manning in 2005, which eventually turned into an exclusive relationship with Manic entitled Special Branch@Manic. After a period devoted to collaborating on independent projects as a Creative Director as well as a commercial photographer, Roberts now assumes the comprehensive lead role as Creative Director of Manic.

"I've always enjoyed working with Manic, and teaming up with Bob (Cagliero) and leading a talented group of artists and designers was a special opportunity," stated Roberts. "In this environment, Manic has a valuable advantage of unique, extensive capabilities and a seasoned staff already in place. The new additions to the group will further catalyze the creation of breathtaking, game-changing work, both for current and new clients."

About Manic:

New York-based Manic delivers cutting-edge motion graphics, 2D and 3D VFX, design, animation, and high-end finishing services for clients working in commercials, feature films, television, music videos and broadcast. The company's artists and principals have led campaigns for notable brands such as Nike, Virgin Mobile, Acura, Reebok, Verizon, Maybelline, and Apple from major agencies TBWA/Chiat/Day, Merkley+Partners, McCann Erickson, and JWT to name a few.

NTROPIC GETS ITS SMOKEY ON WITH NEW "BONFIRE" PSA

By Editorial on July 20, 2009 12:08 PM
Ntropic SmokeytheBear3.jpgLos Angeles & San Francisco -- (July 20th, 2009) -- Summer is camping season and a high-risk time for fires, nine out of 10 of which are caused by human carelessness. With fire prevention in mind, DraftFCB tapped Director Jason Zada of Tool of North America and visual effects company Ntropic to create a new Ad Council-sponsored PSA called "Bonfire".

For "Bonfire," Ntropic was presented with the challenge of redesigning Smokey The Bear to add greater CG realism to the classic icon of fire prevention in an intensive 4-week production cycle. Ntropic's animation acumen produced a full cinematic treatment for Smokey including lifelike hair and movement and physical proportions appropriate for the ultimate protector of the woods. Ntropic worked hand in hand with both the agency and Jason Zada who directed the charming cautionary tale of the potential pitfalls - from annoyed girlfriend to destroyed communities - of having a casual attitude towards fire and fire prevention.

To view: http://www.interdubs.com/s/ntropic/smokey_the_bear

"It was amazing to work with the agency team and Jason on the rollout of the newly designed bear on Smokey's 65th birthday," says Ntropic's Andrew Singara. "We were honored to help bring such a classic character to full 3d life."

"Working closely with Jason Zada, our director from Tool of North America, and Andrew Sinagra, our VFX guru from Ntropic, reminded me just how lucky we are when given the chance to truly craft and shape and mold an idea into something special," concludes DraftFCB Group CD Scott Murray. "These guys and their teams were the heart and soul of bringing this idea to life in a way that was fitting of an iconic figure like Smokey Bear."


Continue reading NTROPIC GETS ITS SMOKEY ON WITH NEW "BONFIRE" PSA.

MTV Games and Harmonix Empower Artists and Labels to Get Their Music in the Game with the Rock Band Network

By Editorial on July 17, 2009 1:55 PM
The Rock Band Network Gives Artists and Record Labels Tools to Author, Promote and Sell Music for Download via the Rock Band Platform

CAMBRIDGE, MA and NEW YORK, NY - July 17, 2009 - Harmonix Music Systems and MTV Games, a part of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced the Rock Band Network, a ground-breaking initiative that gives musicians and record labels the ability to author their own original recordings into gameplay files and sell their music as playable Rock Band tracks through the newly-created Rock Band Network Music Store. The introduction of the Rock Band Network marks a fundamental shift in the exposure music games can give emerging and established artists through innovative technologies that will open new revenue streams and promotional avenues.

"Our goal with Rock Band has always been to go beyond making music games and create a true music platform," said Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder of Harmonix. "With the Rock Band Network, we've evolved the platform to its next logical step, giving players access to an incredible amount of new music by putting the professional tools we use in the hands of the artists themselves."
 
"The Rock Band Network enables songwriters and musicians - at any stage of their careers - to create their own paths through the interactive music realm," said Paul DeGooyer, Senior Vice President, Electronic Games and Music, MTV Networks Music Group. "Our download store has been an extraordinary success, and it's exciting for us to provide access to our platform through this uniquely elegant solution."
 
Continue reading MTV Games and Harmonix Empower Artists and Labels to Get Their Music in the Game with the Rock Band Network.

Vicon to showcase boujou 5 at Siggraph 2009

By Editorial on July 17, 2009 1:52 PM
New Version Features Faster Solves and New Manual Tools

16th July 2009, Oxford, UK: Vicon, developer of motion capture and image
understanding systems, for the entertainment, life science and defense
industries, has today announced that it will be showcasing a pre-release
version of its eagerly awaited boujou 5 at the Siggraph conference this
August in New Orleans, LA. boujou is the industry leading camera
matchmoving software allowing 3D professionals to automatically derive
complex camera motion and calibration data from image sequences.

Building on its established ease of use and automation, boujou 5 is
enhanced with a unique new way of solving 3D camera positioning and motion
paths from image sequences. This new approach radically accelerates the
solve and allows users more manual interaction within complex shots.

The upgrade includes exciting new features that many existing boujou users
will have been eagerly anticipating, such as:
o    New Automatic Sequential Solver-Previous versions of boujou took the
entire shot into account before delivering a solve. Now, the application
looks at a single frame at a time, which not only enables the user to
intervene, it can make the entire process a lot faster
o    Fully functional Graph Editor-Lets the user manually tweak the camera
data and, if necessary, reprocess a shot. boujou 5  also provides the
ability to lock valid sections of solved data or sections which are known
to be correct, which animators can then use to improve other segments of an
image sequence.
o    Reference Frames- Allows users to import still images taken with any
camera and use them to assist in a solve

For a complete list of new product features, please visit
www.vicon.com/company/releases/071609.htm

Continue reading Vicon to showcase boujou 5 at Siggraph 2009.

Pokémon Video Game World Championships Announcement

By Editorial on July 16, 2009 1:53 PM
On August 14th and 15th hundreds of the worlds best Pokémon Video Game and Trading Card Game (TCG) players will descend upon San Diego for the Pokémon World Championships after almost a year of regional gameplay qualifying tournaments around the globe!  

We invite your media coverage and your attendance of the first-ever Pokémon Video Game World Championships in which 32 of the top American players (ages 7-44 - divided in two age brackets) will take on the best video game players from Japan, France, Germany and the UK to battle for a chance to compete for the title of world champion.   The winners from the TCG and Video Game Tournaments will receive a variety of prizes, trips and customized merchandise including scholarship awards totaling over $100,000.   

This is a great free, family spectator event with beloved costumed Pokémon characters Pikachu, Chimchar, Piplup, and Turtwig in attendance along with family and friends to lend their support to the hundreds of competitors from six continents out to prove they are the best.  Details are below.  

What:       Pokémon  World Championships
Who:         32 American players (ages 7 to 44) will battle it out with Japanese and European competitors in the Video Game Championships while more than 350 players (divided into three age brackets) from nearly 30 countries will vie for a chance to be named the ultimate World Champions of the Pokémon Trading Card Game
When:     Friday August 14- Saturday August 15th, Beginning at 9 AM!
Where:    Hilton San Diego Bayfront
                  1 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101

 
 For more info. go to PokemonVGC.com 
 

SHUEISHA'S YOKUWAKARU GENDAI MAHOU IS TOP NEW SIMULCAST CRUNCHYROLL

By Editorial on July 16, 2009 1:45 PM
Magic and Mayhem Arrive to Lead Weekend at the Number One Online Destination
for Anime and Asian Entertainment

San Francisco, CA (July 16, 2009) -- Crunchyroll, the number one online
destination for anime and Asian entertainment, announced today that
YOKUWAKARU GENDAI MAHOU, the Shueisha-produced anime adaptation of its own
hit light novel series of the same name, debuted as the top new simulcast
(Saturdays starting on 7/11 at 10:00 am PDT) for the summer season. More
information can be found at <http://www.crunchyroll.com/gendaimahou>.

"This is an amazing title," states Rob Pereyda Crunchyroll Vice President of
Licensing. "For over eight decades, Shueisha has been at the forefront of
global publishing and original IP development, and now as a producer it
continues its storied tradition of success. The extraordinary response to
YOKUWAKARU GENDAI MAHOU is no surprise"

Shueisha General Manager of Rights & Merchandising Division Naoki Watanabe
states, "We are ecstatic about the initial response to YOKUWAKARU GENDAI
MAHOU. We are particularly proud of this title as both a publisher and
producer and are thrilled that it has found an audience through
Crunchyroll."

YOKUWAKARU GENDAI MAHOU is available in the world outside of Asia. As part
of a free preview to promote new subscriptions, the first episode of the
title was made available to subscribers and non-subscribers one hour after
Japanese broadcast. Subsequent episodes will be exclusively available to
Anime Members one hour after Japanese broadcast, and to the general public
one week after its Japanese broadcast.

Continue reading SHUEISHA'S YOKUWAKARU GENDAI MAHOU IS TOP NEW SIMULCAST CRUNCHYROLL.

SUE LAKSO OF CRASH+SUES HEADS FOR THE BEACH TO COLOR CORRECT BURGER KING SPOT FEATURING SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS TOYS

By Editorial on July 16, 2009 1:45 PM
MINNEAPOLIS (July 15,2009) -- Life is a beach and youngsters are enjoying their customizable SpongeBob SquarePants toys free with Burger King Kids' Meals, despite their clumsy dad, in "Look Out/SpongeBob."  The new campaign from Campbell Mithun/Minneapolis, called upon the talents of award-winning colorist Sue Lakso of CRASH+SUES, the full-service postproduction company.

The spot opens with Nickelodeon's animation of SpongeBob and his friend Patrick on a beach. Director Mike Bigelow of Gartner, Inc. shot the live-action beach sequence, which opens with the dad wreaking havoc with the surfboard that he has hoisted on his shoulder despite the 'NO SURFING' sign posted. As he makes his way through the crowd, the hapless fellow swings around, knocking over a man who then falls into an elaborate sandcastle.  Mayhem ensues as the would-be surfer takes out a lifeguard whose fall tips over a beach umbrella that ultimately gets tangled in a young boy's kite. While his son and daughter cringe at their dad's behavior, it doesn't effect their good time, as they relish Burger King Kids' Meals and play with the SpongeBob toys that were included with their purchase.
 Sue Lakso transferred Bigelow's film on the C-Reality telecine and color corrected with the da Vinci 2K+ system.  She pushed the spot's bright primary colors and used secondaries extensively to make the man's bright yellow surfboard pop while toning down the kids' apple fries so they didn't look like golden French fries.  She also balanced the lighting in some scenes to finesse hot and dark exposures on the beach. Matthew Jensen assisted Lakso, and Kathy Yanko produced the project for CRASH+SUES. The spot ends with a VFX shot of a giant wave washing a Burger King restaurant ashore, which was provided by Nickelodeon.
CRASH+SUES is an award-winning post production company specializing in the seamless integration of cg, visual fx, animation, motion graphics + design, color correction, creative editing, finishing, audio and multimedia services. For additional information, contact executive producer Donna Drewick at 612.338.7947 or visit our website at: www.crashandsues.com.                   
                                                                                                     #

ArtVPS to reward early adopters of Shaderlight

By Editorial on July 16, 2009 1:41 PM
Those who download interim version 0.1 of Shaderlight, the interactive rendering plug-in for 3ds Max, will receive 50 percent off price of final shipping release

ArtVPS, the specialist developer of photorealistic rendering solutions, has announced a generous discount programme designed to reward early adopters of Shaderlight, its physically based raytrace renderer plug-in for 3ds Max. Anyone who downloads the free pre-release version, Shaderlight 0.1, available now from www.artvps.com, will be entitled to free upgrades to interim versions, and will qualify for 50 percent off the cost of Shaderlight 1.0. Shaderlight 1.0 will cost $895, but those who download version 0.1 (available for free until 3 August 2009) will only pay $445 for the first full release.

Shaderlight enables CG professionals and visualisation specialists to make interactive changes to materials, environments, lights and textures (the MELT elements) on full quality 3D images, without having to re-render, improving efficiency and project turnaround. MELT changes can be made even while the image progressively refines, giving users the flexibility to edit their scene without having to wait for a render to finsh.  An innovative new approach to global illumination (GI) enables light, colour and intensity to be updated on screen also without the need to re-render.

A pre-release version of the software was launched in June 2009 and achieved over 800 unique downloads in the first two weeks of release. Early adopters of the technology are helping shape the development of the software by providing feedback and sharing experiences in the Shaderlight forum (www.artvps.com/content/discuss) and on Twitter (http://twitter.com/shaderlight).

"These early adopters are crucial to the success of Shaderlight," says Kate Marshall, Marketing Director at ArtVPS. "Feedback from real-world users is being fed right back to our development team, enabling us to develop a solution based on what users need to do their job more effectively. We want to thank and reward them for their innovative spirit and ongoing support. The free version of Shaderlight is still available we would encourage as many people as possible to download it and get involved."

Shaderlight 0.1 will be available as a free download until 3 August 2009, when ArtVPS will introduce a nominal introductory pricing scheme. New customers will pay $75 for version 0.2 but will be able to upgrade to interim versions for free as well as receiving a significant discount on the purchase of Shaderlight 1.0 to be released at the end of the year.

Shaderlight 0.1 is still available as a free download from www.artvps.com. To help new users get to grips with this early release of Shaderlight, a number of scenes that demo its capabilities are now available from: http://www.artvps.com/content/resources#sample-scenes

Continue reading ArtVPS to reward early adopters of Shaderlight.

Come & Meet LightWorks at Siggraph 2009

By Editorial on July 16, 2009 1:38 PM
LightWorks will be participating in this year's Siggraph Computer Graphics
Exhibition in New Orleans in August and we invite you to visit us on booth
2635 to find out all the latest developments.

New Product Previewed
LightWorks will be previewing a new market focused solution which is an
easier-to-use product aimed at 'SME style' customers.  This will be even
simpler and quicker to integrate enabling customers to get their product
to market even faster.

Latest Features in LightWorks
We will be demonstrating our latest release - LightWorks 8.1 - on our
booth and highlighting some of the exciting new features which have just
been introduced.

Special Show Announcement
Siggraph 2009 will also see the announcement of a new strategic
partnership, together with a demonstration on the LightWorks booth of the
new technology behind this.

LightWorks New 'Look & Feel'
Now in our 20th anniversary year, LightWorks has been given a new
corporate 'look & feel' for the future.  The new look will be unveiled at
Siggraph as part of the worldwide launch.

We invite you to register today for SIGGRAPH 2009, with our compliments:  


1. Follow this special link to register:
https://www.xpressreg.net/register/sigg089/start.asp?p1=LIGHTWD
2. Click on the purple "exhibits only" field
3. Your special PRIORITY CODE will automatically appear with your
registration, giving you a FREE exhibition only pass.

If you have any questions about LightWorks, please do not hesitate to
contact us.  We look forward to welcoming you on our booth in New Orleans!

THE FOUNDRY DELIVERS THE 'X' FACTOR AT IBC 2009

By Editorial on July 16, 2009 1:36 PM
- Stand 7.F28 -

London, UK. July 16th 2009 - This year has proven exciting at The Foundry. New products were announced at NAB in April, and the management buyout deal in June, led by Dr Bill Collis and the original company founders, returned the company to British ownership. This news was well received around the world, and was quickly followed by Nuke site license deals with ILM and Weta Digital.
 
At IBC 2009, The Foundry will continue its tradition of letting customers do the talking at its Stand 7.F28 in the RAI Centre, Amsterdam, 11th -15th September. A strong line up of VFX artists from across Europe will provide practical insights in to how they use The Foundry's compositing and plug-in products.
 
New Nuke 6.0 and NukeX products
The Foundry team will showcase Nuke 6.0, a major release of its acclaimed compositing software, which delivers a totally re-written Paint and Roto toolset resulting in significant performance improvements and shape flexibility. Nuke 6.0 also includes Keylight - The Foundry's industry renowned keyer that is particularly good at tackling reflections and hair.
 
The release of Nuke 6.0 coincides with the launch of NukeX, a brand new compositing application. Building on Nuke's award-winning toolset, NukeX gives digital artists integrated access to sophisticated lens tools, 3D camera tracking as well as image and motion analysis.
 
Building a family of Nuke products enables The Foundry to offer a Nuke workflow to facilities of all sizes - a pipeline that not only fits their requirements now, but can also accommodate whatever the future brings. Nuke will continue to evolve and be a flexible VFX tool ideal for a multitude of tasks, whilst NukeX brings previously inaccessible tools and workflow options to compositing artists, saving time and increasing the quality of their work.
 
Nuke and NukeX are fully script-compatible, with Nuke capable of viewing and rendering nodes created using the extended NukeX toolset.
 
Continue reading THE FOUNDRY DELIVERS THE 'X' FACTOR AT IBC 2009.

NEW STAFF AND A NEW STRUCTURE FOR ABC3 LAUNCH

By Editorial on July 15, 2009 1:34 PM
In preparation for a major expansion of ABC TV's services for children, the Executive Head of Children's Content, Tim Brooke-Hunt, today announced the appointment of new staff and the introduction of a new organisational structure for ABC TV's Children's Department.

"The ABC is entering a most exciting period in its long history of broadcasting to Australian kids. In a few months we will launch ABC3, a channel dedicated to school-aged children, whilst expanding our offering to pre-schoolers with ABC For Kids on 2, enhancing our on-line services and maintaining our current programming on ABC1. In order to enable us to achieve these aims, I am delighted to announce the appointment of a highly-qualified group of executives to enable us to realise this goal."

A number of new positions will report to Head of Programming & Acquisitions, Barbara Uecker:

·         EMMA DOBINSON has been promoted to the position of Manager of Scheduling & Acquisitions (Pre-school). Emma has worked within the children's television department since 2004, most recently in the position of Assistant Programmer.
 
·         EMMA MUNGAVIN has been appointed to the position of Manager of Scheduling and Acquisitions (School-aged). Emma currently holds the position of Programming and Scheduling Manager at Nickelodeon Australia, and will start her new role with ABC TV on 20 July.
 
·         KERRY O'DOWD has been appointed to the position of Key Brands Manager, responsible for supervising the off-air activities of ABC Children's key in-house brands (Playschool and Bananas in Pyjamas) as well as looking after key characters and brands not owned by ABC.
 
The other changes in the department will report to the Head of Commissioning and Development, Carla de Jong:

·         SIMON HOPKINSON has been appointed to the position of Development & Commissioning Editor, responsible for supervising the development and production of shows to be commissioned from independent producers. Simon is one of Australia's most experienced script writers and editors, and was President of the Australian Writers Guild from 2003 to 2007. He starts his new role on 29 July.
 
·         JAN STRADLING has been appointed to the position of Executive Producer - Children's Production, responsible for the internal production of Play School, Roller Coaster and new hosted-blocks soon to be announced. Jan has long specialised in children's television and previously worked for Disney Channel, Australia in a similar role. Initially a primary school teacher, Jan is also a published author of both adult and children's books. Jan started her new role on 10 July.
 
·         AARON MULHERON has been promoted to the position of Development & Commissioning Co-ordinator, responsible for the co-ordination of all areas of production for Children's TV. Aaron is currently Assistant to the Executive Head of Children's TV, and starts his new role on 29 July.
 
Alison Weston, Manager of Educational Programs for ABC TV will continue to report to the Executive Head of Children's TV.
 

FUNIMATION® ENTERTAINMENT AND NAMCO CYBERTAINMENT INC. BRING ANIME'S GREATEST HERO TO GAME CENTERS ACROSS THE U.S.

By Editorial on July 15, 2009 1:32 PM
Anime Leader and Major Amusement Game Operator Introduce Game Featuring Dragon Ball Z Figures

Flower Mound, Texas (July 15, 2009) - FUNimation Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, Toei Animation, Ltd., and Namco Cybertainment Inc., one of the largest amusement game operators in the U.S. and Caribbean, are bringing the Z-fighters to more than 780 amusement centers around the country.

Already available, these centers house a new crane game containing figures of Goku, his friends and foes.  The Dragon Ball Z figure crane game will offer an entirely new experience for those who are familiar with the old crane concept. Instead of directing a crane claw to a random and, hopefully, substantial grip on a desired prize, crane players are able to utilize their skills to line up the claw fingers with one or more of the eight holes in the custom figure packaging for a precise hook on their favorite Dragon Ball Z figures. These collector edition figure prizes are designed and manufactured by Banpresto Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan and cannot be found in retail stores.

Created by Akira Toriyama and produced by Toei Animation, the anime series "Dragon Ball Z" has taken millions of fans around the globe in search of adventure and the chance to put Goku's skills to the test. A valiant warrior, he has saved the Earth as he faced powerful villains. Now, Dragon Ball Z fans can then test their own agility and hand-eye coordination in playing the crane game.

Fans can visit this online store locator to find the nearest game at an amusement center near them.

NATION'S FIRST DEDICATED JAPANESE MOVIE AND ANIME THEATRE - VIZ CINEMA - OPENS IN AUGUST AT NEW PEOPLE IN SAN FRANCISCO

By Editorial on July 15, 2009 1:31 PM
CINEMA KICKS OFF WITH THE PREMIERE EVENT OF 20th CENTURY BOYS AND BEGINS DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING LINEUP; NEW PEOPLE TO CULTIVATE THE LATEST JAPANESE POP CULTURE, FILM, ANIME, FASHION AND ART;
OPENING CELEBRATIONS COMMENCE AUGUST 15th 2009
 
San Francisco, CA, July 14, 2009 - VIZ Pictures, a Japanese live-action film distributor and producer of the J-Pop Center Project, will launch the nation's first movie theatre, VIZ Cinema, devoted exclusively to Japanese films and anime, which will open its doors on August 15th at NEW PEOPLE, located in the heart of San Francisco's Japantown. The 143-seat subterranean theatre features plush seating, digital as well as 35mm projection, and a THX®-certified sound system.
 
NEW PEOPLE, a dynamic entertainment destination, brings the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores expressed through film, art, fashion, a variety of specialty boutiques from Japan and ongoing monthly events. As a grand feature of the building, VIZ Cinema is designed to give audiences a theatrical experience not available at any other venue in the country.
 
On August 15th, VIZ Cinema will celebrate its grand opening with a very special regional premiere screening of the first chapter of the 20th Century Boys live-action trilogy, directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi, and presented in partnership with Nippon Television. Advance tickets go on-sale on Friday, July 31st, and more information is available at www.vizcinema.com.
 
The first 20th Century Boys film will continue playing at the theatre for the next week, followed by a week-long showing of the second chapter of the trilogy. As an unprecedented event in the Japanese film world, VIZ Cinema will host the world premiere of the third and final chapter of 20th Century Boys on August 28th, presented simultaneously with the national release in Japan.
 
The 20th Century Boys trilogy is based on the critically-acclaimed manga series created by Naoki Urasawa and was a national phenomenon in Japan, selling over 24 million copies.
 
Continue reading NATION'S FIRST DEDICATED JAPANESE MOVIE AND ANIME THEATRE - VIZ CINEMA - OPENS IN AUGUST AT NEW PEOPLE IN SAN FRANCISCO.

Royale Turns Two, Celebrates Studio Defining Culture

By Editorial on July 15, 2009 1:29 PM
Los Angeles, CA - (July 15, 2009) -- July 2009 marks the 2nd anniversary of LA-based motion design and production studio Royale. Drawing on 20+ years collective experience, Partners Jayson Whitmore, Brien Holman and Jennifer Lucero launched Royale with the mission of pioneering a studio whose culture would be its defining thread, from nurturing innovative creative and its intrinsic process, to delivering clients tailored solutions in a welcoming, collaborative atmosphere.

Reflecting on the company's prolific start: "The culture we set out to create has been the key to our successful and amazing first two years. It's based on a collective philosophy here at Royale: creativity comes in unexpected ways, inspired by real-life experiences. If workflow, technology and communication are efficient in the workplace, it allows us to enjoy and experience life outside the workplace. It all comes full circle, really, as we can harness those collective experiences and apply them to our creative process."

Royale adds, "it's a challenge to 'have a life' and do what you love, so the chemistry of what we've created is something special. The Royale culture is a unique asset to not only our artists and staff, but also our clients - everyone is a part of our team, hence the tagline: We Are Royale."

Having recently celebrated the fruition of Royale's inaugural year, with Gold and Silver Promax|BDA awards for Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" & "Indecision 2008," year two has been met with even greater success. Royale has produced striking work for brands including Comedy Central, McDonald's UK, Discovery Channel, Madonna, MTV Asia, Diesel, and JetBlue, to name a few, while collaborating with notable agencies like Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, The Martin Agency, JWT NY, and Leo Burnett UK.

"In just two years, we've already had the pleasure of working with some of the best in the industry and are deeply humbled for the opportunity to collaborate with wonderful clients on global brands we love and believe in."

Behind the philosophy that the power of moving image is the most effective means of communication in the advertising and branding landscape, Royale's first two years are a testament to its design and animation prowess. For Royale, creating for brands and networks is just the tip of the iceberg. Ever expanding and evolving, Royale's prolific entity is yielding more live-action, with the hybrid production company excited about what's on the horizon: multi-media, environmental and experiential design.

Moving fervently into year three, Royale recently completed a string of new work and is eager to unveil its latest, cutting-edge material, which are slated to break summer '09. A hot-off-the-press reel will follow this Fall. http://www.weareroyale.com">www.weareroyale.com

Axiotron and Toon Boom Team Up for Modbook/Storyboard Pro Bundle

By Editorial on July 15, 2009 1:26 PM
Nomad Storyboarding System Combines Award-Winning Modbook Tablet Mac Computer with Industry-Leading Storyboard Pro Digital Storyboarding Application -- Bundle Now Available Exclusively through Complete Tablet Solutions with Limited-Time Offer of $2,449

EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA and MONTREAL (July 15, 2009) -- Axiotron® and Toon Boom Animation today announced the introduction of the Nomad Storyboarding System, combining the speed and portability of Axiotron's award-winning Modbook® tablet Mac® computer with the creativity and ease-of-use of Toon Boom's industry-leading Storyboard Pro digital storyboarding application. The Nomad Storyboarding System is available beginning immediately in North America exclusively through Complete Tablet Solutions by calling toll-free (866) 780-7480, ext. 101.

A one-of-a-kind hardware/software bundle, the Nomad Storyboarding System unites the Modbook and Storyboard Pro to create an integrated pre-production system, unrivaled in power, mobility and user-friendliness.
The Axiotron Modbook is the innovative tablet Mac computer that seamlessly merges Axiotron's tablet hardware and software technology with a Wacom® Penabled® digitizer and an Apple® MacBook® computer. The result: a portable Mac OS® X-based solution that offers powerful graphics processing and highly sensitive pen tablet features.

Storyboard Pro is Emmy® award-winning Toon Boom's full-featured digital storyboarding application developed in conjunction with expert storyboard artists and studios. With its intuitive interface and rich drawing toolset, Storyboard Pro is the application of choice to create entirely digital storyboards and animatics.

By uniting the Modbook and Storyboard Pro, the Nomad Storyboarding System gives storyboard artists a portable, integrated system for preparing boards for any media project, while enabling production managers, producers and directors to benefit from improved collaboration, project management and production workflow.

"Toon Boom's storyboarding software is incredibly intuitive and useful. We're thrilled to partner with them to offer this unique integrated solution for our customers," said Axiotron CEO Andreas E. Haas.

"Axiotron has created a dynamic product with the Modbook. We think pre-production teams will respond favorably to the compelling value this bundle provides," said Toon Boom President and CEO Joan Vogelesang.

Continue reading Axiotron and Toon Boom Team Up for Modbook/Storyboard Pro Bundle.

VIZ MEDIA PARTNERS WITH JAPAN'S IKKI MAGAZINE TO LAUNCH SIGIKKI.COM, AN ONLINE MANGA WEBSITE TO PRESENT A DIVERSE COLLECTION OF TITLES ACCLAIMED FOR CREATIVE QUALITYInnovative Online Destination Pushes Boundaries Of Manga With New Content Available Each M

By Editorial on July 15, 2009 1:25 PM
Innovative Online Destination Pushes Boundaries Of Manga With New Content Available Each Month For Free
 
San Francisco, CA, JULY 15, 2009 - VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the full launch of its new SIGIKKI website, which represents a bold new partnership between the company's VIZ SIGNATURE imprint and IKKI, a monthly magazine published in Japan since 2003 that has established itself as the home of some of the most innovative, bold, and compelling titles in the world of contemporary manga.
 
Located at www.sigikki.com, this groundbreaking online manga destination will present a broad range of seinen manga to audiences in North America. From action to comedy to drama, slice-of-life stories to surrealist fantasies, the uniting themes these works share are an uncommon emphasis on creative quality and on pushing the boundaries of the manga norm.
 
Earlier in May, the SIGIKKI site posted the first chapter of CHILDREN OF THE SEA by Daisuke Igarashi, with Volume 2 currently being serialized on the site. Starting this month, new chapters from half a dozen manga series will be offered for viewing online in their entirety - FOR FREE. After a particular volume completes its online serialization, that edition will be published as a VIZ Signature graphic novel (subject to reader demand). Additional content such as creator interviews, feature articles, news, and free downloads will also be posted on the website each month.
 
"We are very excited to formally launch our new SIGIKKI website in partnership with IKKI magazine," says Shie Lundberg, Sr. Director, Strategy & Business Development, VIZ Media. "The convenience of web accessibility combined with some of the most compelling and diverse content manga will allow fans to sample a range of acclaimed new titles each month, for free. As these series begin to develop their own domestic following, audiences can then look forward to the eventual publication of these titles with the high quality VIZ SIGNATURE presentation befitting manga of this caliber."
 
Continue reading VIZ MEDIA PARTNERS WITH JAPAN'S IKKI MAGAZINE TO LAUNCH SIGIKKI.COM, AN ONLINE MANGA WEBSITE TO PRESENT A DIVERSE COLLECTION OF TITLES ACCLAIMED FOR CREATIVE QUALITYInnovative Online Destination Pushes Boundaries Of Manga With New Content Available Each M.

COMING OF AGE YURI DRAMA AOIHANA EPISODE THREE LAUNCHES ON CRUNCHYROLL

By Editorial on July 15, 2009 1:16 PM
The Number One Online Destination for Anime and Asian Entertainment Brings
Takako Shimura's Manga Based Television Series to a World Wide Audience

San Francisco, CA (July 15, 2009) -- Best friends reunite and deal with
issues with teen romance and love as Takako Shimura's "coming of age" yuri
manga AOIHANA arrives  via simulcast on the number one online destination
for Anime and Asian Entertainment-Crunchyroll,   More information can be
found at http://www.crunchyroll.com/library/Aoihana

The first debut episode (7/1/09) of AOIHANA is available to all users and
members and future episodes will be available to premium Crunchyroll Anime
Members via simulcast every Wednesday at noon PDT and will be available to
all members one week thereafter.

This title will is available in the United States, America Samoa, United
States Minor Outlying Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, Canada,
Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand.

Continue reading COMING OF AGE YURI DRAMA AOIHANA EPISODE THREE LAUNCHES ON CRUNCHYROLL.

Have You Ever Been (To Electric Lemon Land?)

By Editorial on July 15, 2009 1:13 PM
03.jpghttp://www.freestylecollective.com/#/project/?category=view%20featured&id=94&pageStartNum=0

NEW YORK - July 15th, 2009: Freestyle Collective recently completed an in-house animation project entitled "Lemon Drop Kiss".

The one and a half minute, adventure short was the collaborative brainchild of Art Director Brian Drucker and animators, Christina Sidoti, Damien Cho, and Entae Kim - under the Creative Direction of Freestyle Collective co-founder, Victor Newman.
 
The sheer amount of detail that went into creating the world of "Lemon Drop Kiss" is staggering. Drucker, who worked previously at Digital Domain and Sony, and served as the 3D Technical Director on Dreamwork's Shrek said, "It was an amazing opportunity to create a magical adventure - to follow a character through an imagined world, full of hidden details. I wanted the viewer to have to watch the animation multiple times in order to fully grasp everything that was going on."
 
The brief, animated piece documents the journey of a tiny traveler who flies, drives, and swims his way through a surreal world of unparallel complexity. Beginning in a serene, pastel garden, where flowers sway gently in the breeze and pollen floats idly by, a pod shoots up from inside one of the flowers, sprouts wings and begins fluttering towards a vast robotic metropolis, pulsating with activity. Landing gear descends, as the tiny capsule touches down and begins racing around the chaotic cityscape, zipping down a giant rocking-robot mountain, nearly careening out of control.

 

Continue reading Have You Ever Been (To Electric Lemon Land?).

FREE teleseminar/webinar Fresh TV Pitch Ideas from LATV Fest

By Editorial on July 15, 2009 1:11 PM
Hosted by Mark & Jeanne Simon
Founders of SellYourTvConceptNow.com
and director of A&S Animation, Inc.
Tuesday, July 21, 9:00 p.m. EST, 6:00 p..m. PST

We all want to up our game when it comes to our TV show pitches.. Mark & Jeanne go to TV conferences like NATPE, LATV Fest,
and MIPCOM to stay current with TV industry trends and Mark can't wait to share what he heard about at the recent LATV Fest:
* Write-ups: What are they and why do you need them?
* Pitch-ups: What are they and how can they help you sell your show?
* Follow-ups: How long should you wait?

Mark will also detail how he got a contract offer for his animated shorts in less than 10 minutes at the LATV Fest.

Plus, you'll find out how Mark turned a "No" into a "YES!" in less than three minutes in a pitch to Outdoor Channel for an animated series.
 
 
Go to www.PitchTvLikeaPro.com to register for free.
 
PLUS, they'll give away a two year subscription to our hugely popular TV Pitch Tips Audio Postcards - a $230 value - to one lucky winner.
 

CANAL ONCE ORDERS DELIVERY

By Editorial on July 15, 2009 1:09 PM
New York, NY - July 15, 2009 - Animation Collective, a leading U.S. provider of content to the children's entertainment market, announces today a new broadcast sale of the modern-day superhero tale, "Three Delivery".  The 26 x 22 minute animated action-comedy series has been acquired by Canal Once in Mexico and is slated to begin airing in September of 2009.


"Three Delivery" was created by Larry Schwarz, Animation Collective's founder and C.E.O.  The series, about a group of teenage delivery kids/super heroes, set in a Chinatown and is animated in a highly graphic comic-book style, was co-produced with Fatkat Studios as a U.S./Canadian co-venture.

Animation Collective and Fatkat Studios produced "Three Delivery" in association with Nicktoons Network, YTV and the BBC.  Canal Once now joins the ranks of international broadcasters including Nicktoons Network in the U.S., YTV in Canada, the BBC in the UK, Nickelodeon in Australia and CANAL+family in France.

"We are excited to close this deal with Canal Once and add Mexico to the global mix of countries watching Three Delivery," said Debbie Back of Animation Collective.

Continue reading CANAL ONCE ORDERS DELIVERY.

Tricia Helfer eschews trademark red for exciting new hue in Green Lantern: First Flight

By Editorial on July 15, 2009 1:07 PM
bood 7.jpgBattlestar Galactica's Favorite Number Discusses Voicing Boodikka for DC Universe film


If you liked her in red, you're going to love Tricia Helfer in green.

Battlestar Galactica's visually stunning centerpiece shifts to another space-based destination as the voice of Boodikka in Green Lantern: First Flight, the next DC Universe animated original PG-13 movie coming to DVD on July 28, 2009.

Since taking the Sci-Fi world by storm as Number Six in Battlestar Galactica, Helfer has seen her star rise on the entertainment front, scoring a key role throughout the second season of USA Network's hit series Burn Notice, being featured in NBC's Chuck and the upcoming Human Target, and dipping into the super hero realm as the voice of Black Cat in The Spectacular Spider-Man.

Helfer expands her voiceover career with her first feature-length film role as Boodikka, the most prominent female member of the Green Lantern Corps. Helfer joins Christopher Meloni, Victor Garber and Michael Madsen as the core quartet of voices in the film, supported by fine performances from Juliet Landau, John Larroquette, Kurtwood Smith and a host of others.

Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation are set to release the all-new Green Lantern: First Flight in a Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def edition, a special edition 2-disc DVD, and a single disc DVD. Warner Home Video will distribute the action-packed movie, which will also be available OnDemand and Pay-Per-View as well as available for download day and date, July 28, 2009.

Green Lantern: First Flight will also have its world premiere at Comic-Con International in San Diego on Thursday, July 23.

Helfer is as genuine as she is beautiful, and she shared her thoughts on a variety of subjects in a Q&A following her final recording session for Green Lantern: First Flight. The topics of conversation included psychology, rod weeding, an unfulfilled mastering of Frogger, a Star Trek-based fear of earwigs, and ... well ... read it for yourself.


Continue reading Tricia Helfer eschews trademark red for exciting new hue in Green Lantern: First Flight.

ALFRED HABER DISTRIBUTION, INC. CRASHES THRU AND ACQUIRES EXCLUSIVE INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS FOR "MOMENTS OF IMPACT" FROM DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS AND NASH ENTERTAINMENT

By Editorial on July 14, 2009 1:05 PM
NEW JERSEY -July 14, 2009 - With some of the most astonishing moments ever
caught on tape, Alfred Haber, founder of Alfred Haber Distribution, Inc.
announced today that the company has acquired exclusive international
distribution rights from Discovery Communications and Nash Entertainment for
the highly-touted first season of MOMENTS OF IMPACT, the 13 x 60 minute
primetime reality series that premiered on July 2, 2009, on the Discovery
Channel in the U.S.  AHDI will be offering international rights starting
immediately.

Every week, MOMENTS OF IMPACT utilizes incredible clip segments to tell 15
to 20 true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, from
the frightening and dangerous to the ridiculous and absurd. The action never
lets up as the program segments range from collisions to crashes, avalanches
to derailments, animal attacks to stupid stunts, and much more.

"MOMENTS OF IMPACT highlights some of the most unforgettable experiences
imaginable," commented Haber. "Each episode is filled with mind-blowing
footage of remarkable events and this kind of action is television viewing
at its best no matter where you are in the world."

MOMENTS OF IMPACT is produced by NASH Entertainment, whose series and
specials include such highly-rated shows as "Most Shocking," "Breaking the
Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed," "World's Most
Amazing Videos," "Meet My Folks," and the Emmy Award-nominated "Amazing
Sports Stories."

ABOUT ALFRED HABER DISTRIBUTION, INC.
ALFRED HABER DISTRIBUTION, INC. and ALFRED HABER, INC., now celebrating 42
years of business, together form the world's largest distributor of U.S.
network music, variety and annual event programs, and are major independent
distributors of reality, film and sports series and specials. For more
information about AHDI, please visit www.alfredhaber.com
<http://www.alfredhaber.com> .

CRUNCHYROLL ADDS NEW TITLES - THE DEMI-GODS & SEMI-DEVILS, C.I.B. FILES, THE HOT, THE COOL, AND THE VICIOUS, THE SIX DIRECTIONS OF BOXING AND THE SHAOLIN BROTHERS - FROM TAI SENG ENTERTAINMENT

By Editorial on July 13, 2009 1:03 PM
Asian Celebrities David Chung, Chan Yuk Lin, Yang Pan Pan, Shek Sau, Wong
Hang Sau, Wong Wat Wa, Leung Ka Yan, Yuen Hsiao-Tien, Tse Yin, Tong Chun Yip
Appear on the Number One Online Destination for Anime and Asian
Entertainment

San Francisco, CA (July 13, 2009) -- Crunchyroll and Tai Seng Entertainment
continue to launch more new dramas and kung-fu action titles on the number
one (1) online destination for anime and asian content ... Crunchyroll!  More
information can be found at
http://www.crunchyroll.com/publisher/TAI_SENG_ENTERTAINMENT.

Titles that are/will-be-shortly streaming for free on the highly popular and
legal site include:

·      THE DEMI-GODS & SEMI-DEVILS (episodes 1-15)
·      C.I.B. FILES (episodes 1-10)
·      THE HOT, THE COOL, AND THE VICIOUS
·     THE SIX DIRECTIONS OF BOXING
·      THE SHAOLIN BROTHERS

These titles are available to all Crunchyroll fans and members residing in
the U.S., American Samoa, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam and
Virgin Islands.

Continue reading CRUNCHYROLL ADDS NEW TITLES - THE DEMI-GODS & SEMI-DEVILS, C.I.B. FILES, THE HOT, THE COOL, AND THE VICIOUS, THE SIX DIRECTIONS OF BOXING AND THE SHAOLIN BROTHERS - FROM TAI SENG ENTERTAINMENT.

PMcD Design Creates Original Show Branding/Promo Campaign For Fox Reality Channel

By Editorial on July 13, 2009 1:01 PM


Design House Incorporates 'Pixelation' Concept To Network's First Major Branding Campaign For Original Programming

NEW YORK, NY - If you're a fan of reality television, then you've no-doubt seen pixelation -- the technique networks often use to hide questionable content. Award-winning design house PMcD Design, part of the transmedia branding and design group LORI PATE+, has referenced that technique to create a comprehensive branding and promotional tool for Fox Reality Channel's original programming.

"Since their programming is extremely varied -- everything from American Idol Extra to Solitary, an endurance-based reality show," McDonough says. "Creatively it was crucial that we address the RFP to find a way to connect all of these shows and brand them as Fox Reality Channel Originals, as well as provide a visual toolkit."

Brilliant in its simplicity, the pixelation concept represents one of Fox Reality Channel's largest strategic branding efforts to date, giving them a truly identifiable look for their original content that, according to Lorey Zlotnick, Senior VP of Marketing and On-Air Promotion for Fox Reality, will serve as the visual core for network originals.

"In order to create a sense of environment and link all these shows together, we needed to create a branding campaign with an umbrella look to pull the wide depth and breadth of our original programming together," Zlotnick said. "With so many challenges including a wide range of viewing options, program repurposing where viewers can see the same show on a variety of networks and new ways to consume media; it was essential to create a graphic package that truly interacts with our content and we can own. The pixel package does just that and more and if viewers watch closely, they will get some additional visual surprises."

Continue reading PMcD Design Creates Original Show Branding/Promo Campaign For Fox Reality Channel.

Bent Signs Stop-Motion Heavy Hitter Ken Lidster

By Editorial on July 13, 2009 12:53 PM
bent-klidster-press09.jpg

The Portland, Oregon-based production company and creative laboratory Bent Image Lab is further expanding its roster with the recent signing of veteran animator and director Ken Lidster. Known for brilliant, award-winning commercials, such as those for Brisk iced tea that feature the voices and animated likeness of such stars as Bruce Willis and Danny DeVito, Lidster has directed noteworthy spots for Energizer, Chips Ahoy!, Kellogg's, Oscar Mayer, Quaker Oats, and Target.

"Ken has a history of spot-on work, whether he's directing a series of commercials around a common theme or doing a one-time gig," notes BENT Executive Producer Ray Di Carlo. "He has the exact combination of qualities that we look for in all of our directors - a creative bent, a tireless work ethic, and, maybe most important of all, a great sense of humor."

"BENT has been making a lot of moves lately, and I'm really thrilled for this opportunity to join their crew," stated Lidster. "Their work is imaginative and brilliant, and never fails to impress with its high quality and entertainment value."

Prior to joining BENT in 2009, the Canadian native spent two decades in London, where in the early 1990's he founded the animation company Loose Moose. While there, Lidster and his cohorts created more than one hundred international, award-winning commercials. Before starting Loose Moose, Lidster worked at Aardmann Animation Studio in Bristol.


Continue reading Bent Signs Stop-Motion Heavy Hitter Ken Lidster.

MediaCorp and NHK Renew Partnership on The Asian Pitch and announce winners for 2009

By Editorial on July 13, 2009 12:50 PM
Singapore, 13 July 2009: MediaCorp, Singapore's leading media company, and NHK, Japan's
public broadcaster, announced on Friday 10 July that they are extending their partnership on The Asian Pitch competition for a further three years.
 
The relationship between MediaCorp and NHK was started in 2007 to provide independent
filmmakers across Asia funding to turn their ideas into world-class high-definition documentaries.
 
In the wake of this year's pitching event and signing ceremony, Mr Fumio Narashima, Head of
NHK's International Program Development, said: "The past two years have proven that there are fascinating untold stories and skilful new talent out there in Asia waiting to be discovered. We are very happy to be able to work with MediaCorp to offer the local filmmakers a chance to tell their stories to the world."
 
MediaCorp's Caldecott Productions International managing director, Ms Ong Hee Yah, said: "This has been a most fruitful and meaningful co-production relationship with NHK as it has created a much-needed space in the documentary market for Asian film-makers to emerge. We are glad that The Asian Pitch has benefitted the winners and given them the exposure to a global audience. We are most happy to extend the partnership so that more documentary film-makers can come on board."
 
Previous winners of The Asian Pitch have gained a slew of international awards, including the
recent US International Film and Video Festival's Grand Prix for Documentary Productions. This distinction belongs to Supermen of Malegaon (India), from the first batch of The Asian Pitch films.
 
Mediacorp and NHK today also awarded fresh funding to produce two new documentaries. 

The Asian Pitch 2009 selected directors and projects are:  
 
1. Transmission: Listening to the Mountain's Message, Shohei Shibata, Japan
2. Red Box, Yang Li-chou, Taiwan
Continue reading MediaCorp and NHK Renew Partnership on The Asian Pitch and announce winners for 2009.

Trinigy and Havok Forge New Technological Partnership

By Editorial on July 13, 2009 12:49 PM
Trinigy and Havok join forces to bring more creative freedom and technological power to game developers across the globe

ENINGEN, GERMANY / SAN FRANCISCO, CA - July 13, 2009 - Trinigy, an industry leading 3D game engine provider with over 100 licensees and offices in Germany and Austin, TX, and Havok™, the premier provider of interactive software and services to digital creators in the games and movie industries, announced today that they will form a technological partnership focusing on the integration of their products in order to advance workflow efficiencies. This union marks the first partnership Havok has created with a game engine developer for its current suite of middleware.

Trinigy has deliberately designed the Vision Engine to improve workflow across the pipeline with better interoperability. The company has developed an array of integrations with many other world-class game technologies, and its software ships with all the code developers need to easily write their own in-house integrations. This flexibility eases the Vision Engine's overall implementation into a variety of game pipelines.

After preliminary talks at this year's Game Developer's Conference, and an extensive evaluation of the Vision Engine, Havok agreed to enter into a middleware partnership with Trinigy. The Havok partnership will further expand creative and technical possibilities for game developers by coupling Trinigy's innovative game engine with Havok Physics™, Havok's leading solution for real-time collision detection and physical simulation.
Continue reading Trinigy and Havok Forge New Technological Partnership.

Deadline Feb. 8 for International Relations of Video Festival Imperia

By Editorial on July 13, 2009 11:56 AM
The International Relations of Video Festival Imperia is now in its 5th edition and will take place in Imperia, Italy, from April 20 to April 24, 2010. Deadline for foreign works is February 8, 2010. Registration is free. The subject is free.

So far the Festival has been a great and increasing success. This year we received 551 works from 45 different countries. 100 films have been screened. The competition is divided in many categories. Foreign authors (professionals or amateurs) may take part in the:INTERNATIONAL CATEGORY: Reserved to foreign authors.

The sections are: Short films, Documentary films, Animation & Graphics films with unlimited running time. Works must be subtitled in one of the following languages: Italian, French, English. To the first selected work of every section will be awarded a prize. EXPLORER CATEGORY:Open to national and international authors. The sections are: Travel Documentary (running time max. 30 min.) and Nature Documentary (unlimited running time).

To the first selected work of every section will be awarded a prize. Please visit our site www.videofestivalimperia.org for further details.

Website: http://www.videofestivalimperia.org

RISING SUN PICTURES BACK FOR MORE POTTER

By Editorial on July 10, 2009 12:45 PM
10th July 2009, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Rising Sun Pictures, Australia's leading visual effects company, is
excited to announce the continuation of its long standing relationship
with the makers of Harry Potter.

Whilst the team at Rising Sun eagerly await the theatrical release of
their work on Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince, they are busy
preparing for another two years at Hogwarts, with the confirmation of
contracts on Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 & 2.

Rising Sun Executive Producer James Whitlam cites the award as strong
show of trust in the company's ability to deliver large-scale work.
"We're thrilled to be back on the team for the fourth (and fifth!) time.
Whilst the nature of our package remains tightly under wraps, I can
assure you it is a great win for this region and will cement Australia's
reputation for delivering high quality, large volume visual effects
packages to international clients".

Once again Rising Sun has attracted a large body of footloose work to
Australia, both through its creative and technical reputation and by way
of the 15% Post, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) offset program
provided by the Australian Federal Government.

Continue reading RISING SUN PICTURES BACK FOR MORE POTTER.

"Transformers," "Star Trek," "Terminator" and "Harry Potter": ILM Delivers Visual Effects Magic with Autodesk Software

By Editorial on July 9, 2009 12:39 PM
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., July 9, 2009 - Academy Award-winning visual effects
house Industrial, Light & Magic (ILM) relied on Autodesk, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:
ADSK) digital entertainment software to create thousands of visual effects
shots for this summer's hottest movies, including "Transformers: Revenge of
the Fallen," "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," "Terminator
Salvation" and "Star Trek." ILM created stunning visual effects using
Autodesk visual effects software, including Autodesk Maya and the Autodesk
Inferno software that is part of ILM's proprietary SABRE high-speed
compositing system.

"Every year the quantity and quality of visual effectsdriven movies rises.
ILM continues to push the technological and creative envelope by creating
stunning visual effects that thrill audiences worldwide," said Stig Gruman,
VP of digital entertainment, Autodesk Media & Entertainment. "Autodesk is
proud to be associated with ILM and its hundreds of visual effects pioneers
who contributed some of the most memorable and stunning effects of this
summer."

Continue reading "Transformers," "Star Trek," "Terminator" and "Harry Potter": ILM Delivers Visual Effects Magic with Autodesk Software.

Cassie Hulen Joins Brickyard VFX as Executive Producer

By Editorial on July 9, 2009 12:37 PM
Santa Monica, CA (July 9, 2009)--Artist owned-and-operated bi-coastal
effects boutique Brickyard VFX announced today that Cassie Hulen has been
hired as Executive Producer at the company's Santa Monica shop, teaming up
with Head of Production Diana Young Gomez.

"Cassie has an extensive background as an executive producer working with
some of the top directors and agencies in the industry," said Steve
Michaels, Managing Partner, Brickyard VFX. "We welcome her experience and
know she'll make a great addition to the Brickyard team."

Hulen joins Brickyard VFX from Anonymous Content, where she worked for the
last nine years. Originally hired as Head of Production at the company's
launch, Hulen signed directorial team Carter & Blitz and was quickly
promoted to executive producer. While at Anonymous Content, Hulen worked on
ads for brands such as Levis and Converse, as well as Monster.com's
celebrated commercial "Slots," which was honored for visual effects by the
AICP in 2008. In addition, Hulen developed strong relationships with
directors on the Gorgeous Enterprises roster, including Daniel Benmayor,
Jeff Blitz, Mac Carter, Patrick Sherman and PES, as well as such top
agencies as McCann-Erickson, BBDO, BBH, and The Martin Agency.

Continue reading Cassie Hulen Joins Brickyard VFX as Executive Producer.

CHARGER GIRL, JU-DEN CHAN ELECTRIFIES CRUNCHYROLL

By Editorial on July 9, 2009 12:36 PM
Action-Packed Title Comes to the Number One Online Destination for Anime and
Asian Entertainment

San Francisco, CA (July 9, 2009) -- Crunchyroll and Avex Entertainment, Inc.,
a leading Japanese music and entertainment company, have announced today a
partnership to bring CHARGER GIRL, JU-DEN CHAN, the anime series based on
the hit manga by Bow Ditama, to fans around the world through Crunchyroll.
More information can be found at: <http://www.crunchyroll.com/ChargerGirl>.

CHARGER GIRL, JU-DEN CHAN, known as Fight Ippatsu! Juuden-chan in Japanese,
follows Juden-chan on her adventures to make the world a better place. In
preparing the title for a broader audience, Avex Entertainment, Inc. and
Crunchyroll have worked closely together to make slight alterations to the
original Japanese version of the show, which will later be used for its
Japanese rebroadcast on UHF stations.

Vince Shortino of Crunchyroll states, "We are ecstatic about working with
Avex. What better way to kick-off our relationship than with a
lightning-charged action show like CHARGER GIRL, JU-DEN CHAN!"

CHARGER GIRL, JU-DEN CHAN will be available on Crunchyroll to viewers in the
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
Crunchyroll's Anime Members will be able to see weekly episodes the show in
480P quality one week before the general public on Crunchyroll, featuring
English subtitles.

Continue reading CHARGER GIRL, JU-DEN CHAN ELECTRIFIES CRUNCHYROLL.

Submissions Now Open for the 2010 Independent Games Festival

By Editorial on July 9, 2009 12:34 PM
12th Annual Showcase for Independent Games Returns to the GDC With Close to $50,000 in Prizes; New Judging Format More Than Doubles the Amount of Judges, Constructive Input for Each Game
 
SAN FRANCISCO, July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Think Services, organizer of the industry-leading Game Developers Conference (GDC) events, is pleased to announce that submissions are now open for the 2010 Independent Games Festival (IGF). Entries to the 12th annual festival are due in both Main and Student Showcase categories by November 2009, with Main Competition finalists to be announced January 4, 2010.
 
Games selected as finalists will be available in playable form on the GDC show floor and will compete for nearly $50,000 in prizes, including awards for Excellence in Design, Art, the Audience Award and the coveted $20,000 Seumas McNally Grand Prize. Winners will be announced on stage at the prestigious Independent Games Festival Awards on Thursday, March 11, 2010, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
 
The Independent Games Festival Awards are held alongside the Game Developers Choice Awards and both award shows are part of the 2010 Game Developers Conference. GDC 2010 also includes the 2010 Independent Games Summit, which is entering its fourth year and offers two days of inspiration and practical lectures and rants from the top minds in the independent games world.
 
Continue reading Submissions Now Open for the 2010 Independent Games Festival.

U2 and BlackBerry Come Together with Help from Union's Adam Jenkins

By Editorial on July 8, 2009 12:28 PM

As U2's new tour gets underway, there's a lot of excitement in the air about their new album, "No Line on the Horizon," and their revolutionary new stage design. Both are on display in "Light," a new "event" spot touting the band's partnership with BlackBerry.

In the ad, we see the band performing a cut from the new LP, as tiny specks of light reflect off their instruments (and Bono's shades, of course). The specks multiply, and become more prominent, culminating in a visual crescendo. Bono is enveloped in brightness, as he sings of "sparks of light." The camera pulls back over a sea of screaming fans, and we see the entire band onstage. The visual is complemented by the line "BlackBerry Loves U2," and the url, www.blackberry.com/u2.

Directed by longtime U2 collaborator Alex Courtes and created via ARC/Chicago, the spot was cut by Adam Jenkins of bicoastal Union, who was handed the challenge of bringing two distinct brands together in the perfect edit.

"This project is the coming together of a lot of different elements," Jenkins explains. "We had the band, crowd and stage shot on green screen in Dublin, and everything else (including the 3D model of U2's concert backdrop) was added in post. It helped that Alex knew exactly what he wanted this to look like. The finished product very closely resembles his storyboards." 

When it came to shots of the band, Jenkins viewed this more as a music video than a commercial. "Bands of this magnitude and image have a certain look that's part of their mystique," he says. "Both Alex and I have worked with U2 before, and while they were shot with two cameras at all times, they're such professionals and work with a solid blueprint that makes the edit a lot more manageable."

Transporting, organizing, and prepping the footage - shot both on the Phantom and on 35mm film - involved what Union's East Coast Executive Producer Caryn MacLean calls "a lot of logistical intensity. " "I'm grateful to Nicky and her team at ARC for assembling this group," concludes Union Partner/Executive Producer Michael Raimondi. "We all really enjoyed collaborating on 'Light,' and making it a reality."

Continue reading U2 and BlackBerry Come Together with Help from Union's Adam Jenkins.

DistributorX announce distribution of FFEI product range including RealVue3D Desktop and RealVue3D Server

By Editorial on July 8, 2009 12:26 PM
DistributorX, the worldwide technology channel source are pleased to
announce the availability of the FFEI product line, which includes the
powerful new RealVue3D Desktop and RealVue3D Server versions. FFEI's
RealVue3D combines a high level of simulation with unique 3D technology to
enable printers and creative professionals to convert any multi-page PDF
into a stunning and interactive three dimensional visualisation. RealVue3D
dramatically improves the communication, time and sales effectiveness of job
pitching and print expectation.

"DistributorX are constantly on the look out for solutions that will be
valuable to customers in the design, print and publishing industries,"
states Rachel Keenan, DistributorX Channel Manager. "We are excited to add
RealVue3D to our range of solutions because we feel this product is a
tremendous asset for anyone involved in any type of publishing production."

RealVue3D's advanced interactive technology means users and their client(s)
can turn pages, test folds, rotate viewing angles and zoom in and out of
detail to feel and sense how products will look when printed. The print
simulations can then be emailed directly to the client or uploaded straight
to the web for viewing and interaction online, without the need for
specialist software or skills. Whether viewed from a Macintosh or a PC,
RealVue3D print simulations will add the competitive edge to design concept
presentations.

Continue reading DistributorX announce distribution of FFEI product range including RealVue3D Desktop and RealVue3D Server.

"SPARKS PART 2", the first-ever iPhone/ iTouch motion comic book with lip-synch----released by Catastrophic Comics

By Editorial on July 8, 2009 12:24 PM
Voiced by Hollywood actors Michael Paré, William Katt, and Michael Bell

(July 8, 2009) Los Angeles--"Sparks Part 2," the first motion comic book with lip-synch, created specifically for the iPhone and iTouch, is proudly presented by Catastrophic Comics. The SPARKS PART 2 Application, which includes original artwork, in addition to the original motion comic, can be downloaded for 99 cents at the iTunes Store (keywords: " Sparks Part 2" or  "Catastrophic Comics").  A superhero noir-thriller that was published as a comic book series in 2008, " Sparks" bridges the gap between the printed page and full-fledged animation.
"Part 2" is voiced by actors Michael Paré ("Eddie and the Cruisers"), Michael Bell ("Transformers"),  Charlie Brill ("Star Trek"),  Kevin Sherwood ("Gamers"),  Courtenay Taylor ("Justice League Heroes"),  and Ashley Bell ("United States of Tara").

Here the direct link to Sparks Part 2 for sale on iTUNES:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=313631847&mt=8

Here is a direct link to a video featuring William Katt introducing a sneak peak of Sparks Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6ORHEZRWfs

Tweak Software Launches Major Upgrade for RV Playback Software

By Editorial on July 8, 2009 12:23 PM
RV 3.6 features 2K Uncompressed Playback from Disk, Remote Sync, HDR LUTs,
Stereo 3D and More

San Francisco, CA (July 8, 2009)-Tweak Software, developers of RV, the
image and sequence viewer for animation and visual effects, announced today
the release of a significant new version. New features introduced with RV
3.6 include: 2K uncompressed playback from disk, remote sync, HDR LUTs, and
a Package System for RV scripts and other extensions.

Tweak Software released RV one year ago, and it has already been adopted by
leading VFX and CG animation studios such as Industrial Light & Magic, Weta
Digital, Tippett Studio, and LAIKA. The key to its success is that RV is a
professional, high-performance product built on an open, extensible
architecture allowing users to adapt the software to their own pipelines
and styles of working.

Continue reading Tweak Software Launches Major Upgrade for RV Playback Software.

MAXON Software to Shine Spotlight on Innovative Customer Projects, Progressive Techniques and Advanced 3D Content Creation at SIGGRAPH 2009 in New Orleans

By Editorial on July 8, 2009 12:21 PM
Booth Demonstrations to Showcase Leading 3D Developer's Award-winning CINEMA 4D and BodyPaint 3D Technology; Welcomes CINEMA 4D Expert Dr. Sassi to Preview Highly Anticipated Short Animated Feature, JET (Junior Extraterrestrial)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Newbury Park, CA - July 8, 2009, MAXON Computer, a leading developer of professional 3D modeling, painting, animation and rendering solutions, today announced details of its presence at the SIGGRAPH 2009 convention--the leading international conference and exhibition on computer graphics and interactive techniques taking place August 3rd through August 7th at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

MAXON at SIGGRAPH 2009

MAXON's 13th year at SIGGRAPH stands to be its most memorable with scheduled demonstrations and how-to's that reveal the power, flexibility and ease-of-use of its leading CINEMA 4D and BodyPaint 3D software applications in the production of award-winning 3D motion graphics, broadcast graphics and promos, feature films, film/game/television pre-visualization, interactive gaming and video production.

MAXON Booth Highlights - #3219

Press and show attendees can expect to see guest artists from several MAXON customer sites and educational institutions who will present a wide range of techniques and creative solutions that inspire them to push the boundaries of 3D technology and help them maximize their software investment. Tom Quach, senior texture/matte painter at Sony Pictures Imageworks, will show the compelling visual effects look in Watchmen. The creative team at Innovative Show Design (ISD) will demo the making-of several broadcast set design projects--most recently for the Super Bowl XLIII and Poker After Dark, both for NBC, and the 2009 Speed Week at Daytona 500. MAXON also welcomes Dr. Volker Sassmannshausen, a.k.a. Dr. Sassi, a noted CINEMA 4D power user and prolific contributor to MAXON's online education and training resource, Cineversity, to preview, JET (Junior Extraterrestrial); a short animated feature piece he is creating in-full as a solo endeavor that concurrently documents each step in the animation process for a new series of comprehensive tutorials for the Cineversity site. In its ongoing emphasis to inspire the next generation of 3D artists, MAXON will host Alan Williams, an MFA broadcast design & motion graphics student at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and winner of this year's prestigious Inspire09 symposium's '9 x 90 Competition', who will present his winning motion-media design project, Meditations in a Toolshed. A complete schedule of guest appearances will be available daily at the MAXON show booth, # 3219.

MAXON is also pleased to announce that two of its customers have created computer-generated animated films that will be screening at the SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival including: Nucleus Medical Art, for its medical animation entitled "Atherosclerosis", which features a graphic depiction of atherosclerosis and the process at the cellular level when arteries become blocked, causing a heart attack; and Betsy Kopmar, a painter, artist, animator and instructor at Ex'pression College for Digital Arts, who used MAXON CINEMA 4D in a 'free-form' style in "Night Fishing with Cormorants", a meditative piece inspired in part by the 17th Century Japanese screen painting by Kano Tanyu of the same title and the novel "Shipwrecks" by Akira Yoshimura that will be showcased in the Visual Music category.

Continue reading MAXON Software to Shine Spotlight on Innovative Customer Projects, Progressive Techniques and Advanced 3D Content Creation at SIGGRAPH 2009 in New Orleans.

CRUNCHYROLL CONTINUES STREAMS OF TAI SENG ENTERTAINMENT DRAMAS TWIN OF BROTHERS AND THE NEW HEAVEN SWORD AND THE MARTIAL ARTS THEATER COLLECTION TITLES

By Editorial on July 7, 2009 12:19 PM
Asian Celebrities Li Qi An, Yeung Tak Cheong, Cheng Dodo, Ng Cheuk Hai, Mao
Huafeng, Shiu Mei Ki, Raymond Lam, Hwang Jang Lee, Loh Lieh, Tang Chui Man,
Leila Tong, Yam Tat Wah, Leung Chiu Wai, Lai Mei Han, Wu Ting Yan, Yeung Yi
Appear on the Number One Online Destination for Anime and Asian
Entertainment

San Francisco, CA (July 7, 2009) -- Crunchyroll and Tai Seng Entertainment
streams  more new dramas and kung-fu action titles on the number one (1)
online destination for anime and asian content ... Crunchyroll!  More
information can be found at
http://www.crunchyroll.com/publisher/TAI_SENG_ENTERTAINMENT.

Titles that are/will-be-shortly streaming for free on the highly popular and
legal site include:

·      TWIN OF BROTHERS (episodes 22-42)
·      THE NEW HEAVEN SWORD AND THE DRAGON SABRE (episodes 20-40)
·      NINJA WOLVES
·     THE EIGHTEEN JADE ARHATS
·     HIT MAN IN THE HAND OF BUDDHA

These titles are available to all Crunchyroll fans and members residing in
the U.S., American Samoa, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam and
Virgin Islands.

Continue reading CRUNCHYROLL CONTINUES STREAMS OF TAI SENG ENTERTAINMENT DRAMAS TWIN OF BROTHERS AND THE NEW HEAVEN SWORD AND THE MARTIAL ARTS THEATER COLLECTION TITLES.

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE U.S. PREMIERE OF BLEACH THE MOVIE 2: THE DIAMONDDUST REBELLION AT VIZ CINEMA IN SAN FRANCISCO FOR TWO NIGHTS ONLY

By Editorial on July 7, 2009 12:17 PM
BleachMovie2-sm.jpgNewly Launched VIZ Cinema To Debut Feature Film Based On Smash Hit Anime Series
 
San Francisco, CA, JULY 7, 2009 - As announced this past weekend at the Anime Expo® 2009, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will celebrate the theatrical engagement and U.S. premiere of BLEACH THE MOVIE 2: The DiamondDust Rebellion, for two nights only. Two showings each day, on August 18th and 19th 2009. The special screenings will be held at the brand new VIZ Cinema, located inside NEW PEOPLE - San Francisco's newest entertainment destination.
 
Tickets for BLEACH THE MOVIE 2: The DiamondDust Rebellion (rated 'T' for teens) go on sale Friday, July 31, 2009 at www.vizcinema.com. NEW PEOPLE and the VIZ Cinema are located at 1746 Post Street in San Francisco's Japantown and will open officially on August 15th.
 
Adapted from the wildly popular animated series and best-selling BLEACH manga series by acclaimed Japanese creator Tite Kubo (both distributed and published in North America by VIZ Media), BLEACH THE MOVIE 2 continues the action-packed adventures of Soul Reaper, Ichigo Kurosaki. In the newest feature film, after the treasured Ouin is stolen, Toshiro Hitsugaya disappears and becomes suspected of treason. When the Soul Society calls for his capture and execution, Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki vows to prove Hitsugaya's innocence. Will the secret of the Ouin and Captain Hitsugaya's motives be revealed before his honor, his life, and the Soul Society are destroyed?
 
VIZ Media is scheduled to release the DVD of BLEACH THE MOVIE 2: The DiamondDust Rebellion (rated 'T' for teens) on September 8th.
 

Continue reading VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE U.S. PREMIERE OF BLEACH THE MOVIE 2: THE DIAMONDDUST REBELLION AT VIZ CINEMA IN SAN FRANCISCO FOR TWO NIGHTS ONLY.

TOEI ANIMATION INKS NEW MERCHANDISE LICENSING DEALS IN LATIN AMERICA FOR DRAGON BALL Z, ONE PIECE AND SAINT SEIYA

By Editorial on July 7, 2009 12:16 PM
LOS ANGELES - July 7, 2009 - Toei Animation has secured a number of Latin America-based licensees for Dragon Ball Z, One Piece and Saint Seiya, it was announced today by Eduardo Lucio, sales manager, Latin America.
 
Included among the company's prestigious roster of Latin American-based licensees are Panini for Dragonball Z magnets in Mexico; Chenson for Dragon Ball Z and Saint Seiya bags and backpacks in Mexico; Cordez for Dragonball Z bags and backpacks in Brazil; Cardebras for One Piece Notebooks in Brazil; Corp. Industrias Plasticas for Dragon Ball Z balls and folders in Peru; Global Partners for Dragon Ball Z binders and pencil cases in Argentina; Creative Hats for Dragon Ball Z sunglasses in Argentina; Distribuidora Latapy for Dragon Ball Z tricycles and skateboards in Argentina.
Now boasting 508 episodes, the Dragon Ball phenomena follows Goku's quest (main character in the series) to become the strongest martial artist in the universe and his search for the seven magic Dragon Balls in a saga that encompasses three parts - Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT. Dragon Ball adapts Japanese big success comics of the same title by Akira Toriyama. Since this animated series produced in 1986, this has continued broadcasted in major European countries. In France, the series currently airs on MCM, NT1, AB1 and Mangas.

 
Continue reading TOEI ANIMATION INKS NEW MERCHANDISE LICENSING DEALS IN LATIN AMERICA FOR DRAGON BALL Z, ONE PIECE AND SAINT SEIYA.

BREAKTHROUGH ENTERTAINMENT AND DISNEY CHANNEL IN JAPAN FINALIZE BROADCAST DEAL FOR JIMMY TWO-SHOES

By Editorial on July 7, 2009 12:15 PM
TORONTO (July 7, 2009) -- Breakthrough Entertainment has licensed television broadcast rights for Jimmy Two-Shoes to Walt Disney Television International Japan. Twenty-six half-hour episodes are scheduled to premiere Fall 2009.
 
"The international response to Jimmy Two-Shoes has been very gratifying," said Nat Abraham, Head of Distribution. "The fun and humor in the series continue to spread across all regions.  We are delighted to have Disney Channel in Japan as part of the Jimmy family."
 
Jimmy Two-Shoes
What happens when you take an irrepressible, thrill-seeking optimist and plunk him down in Miseryville, the most miserable place on Earth? You get the brand new animated series Jimmy Two-Shoes! Along with his best friends, Heloise -- part-time genius, full-time soul-crusher -- and Beezy  -- lover of adventure, once you get him off the couch -- Jimmy is determined to surf past all obstacles and bring his infectious enthusiasm to the whole town ... including its megalomaniacal chief executive, Lucius Heinous the Seventh. Jimmy's making misery fun again!
Produced by Breakthrough Animation in association with Teletoon (Canada) and Jetix Europe, Jimmy Two-Shoes has already been licensed to Cartoon Network in Asia and Australia, Jetix US, and Nickelodeon Latin America.

About Breakthrough Entertainment:
Toronto-based Breakthrough Entertainment Inc. (BEI) is the distribution arm for Breakthrough Films & Television, Breakthrough Animation and Partners in Motion, as well as third party independent producers. As one of Canada's largest television distribution companies BEI has licensed programs to major broadcasters in over 200 territories. With a catalogue of over 2100 half-hours of programming, BEI handles distribution as well as worldwide pre-sales, co-productions and third-party acquisitions. On the Web, the company is located at www.breakthroughfilms.com.
 

VES to Present an Entertainment Production Summit on October 24th

By Editorial on July 7, 2009 12:13 PM
Los Angeles, July 7, 2009 -- The Visual Effects Society (VES), the world's premiere visual effects organization, announced today that it will present a Production Summit for the greater entertainment industry on October 24th. The Production Summit 09 will convene a unique consortium of leading creatives, executives and visionaries to offer a rare opportunity to examine innovative approaches to producer challenges, technology developments and the globalization of the production industry. The one-day event will bring together the entertainment community for a day of inspiration, conversation and collaboration. Practitioners from all crafts will join together to look at the present in order to start defining the future. The event will be held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Marina del Rey.

Eric Roth, VES Executive Director, states, "Because the entertainment industry is changing so rapidly - on the creative, technological and business fronts - we're bringing together all industry stakeholders to discuss the challenges we all face in looking at our entertainment future. The Production Summit will be a central meeting place of common concerns and challenges that will create new dialogue and solutions across all guilds and studios."

The innovative summit will bring together an international group of directors, producers, cinematographers, editors, technologists and visual effects leaders responsible for moving the industry into the next decade.  As leaders in their fields, attendees will be encouraged to not only think outside the box, but also, to reinvent the box in the process of creating an entirely new production paradigm.

Continue reading VES to Present an Entertainment Production Summit on October 24th.

VICON House of Moves Adds Motion to Commercial Characters

By Editorial on July 7, 2009 12:12 PM
Los Angeles, CA (July 7, 2009)-VICON House of Moves recently provided
motion capture services to Motion Picture Company (MPC) and Zoic for high
profile commercial projects. The new Playstation 3 commercial for the game
"inFAMOUS" directed by Luis Nieto includes VFX work by MPC Los Angeles, and
Mountain Dew's Code Red "Level Up or Die" spot directed by Tarsem Singh
features effects work by Zoic Studios.   Both MPC and Zoic completed motion
capture sessions for these spots at VICON House of Moves in Los Angeles.

MPC's work on a spot for the release of the new Playstation 3 game,
"inFAMOUS", features the game's main character Cole, leaping to life from
the pages of a comic book into action packed 3D environments.

"We recently had the pleasure of working with House of Moves on the Sony
Playstation 3 commercial for 'inFAMOUS.' Working with Scott and his team is
always a fantastic experience. In the commercial world where one is always
fighting the clock, House of Moves was pivotal in maximizing the quality of
work on such a tight schedule. This was quite a challenge but thanks to
their professional, eager, and creative team that can only be compared to
an army of MacGyvers, we got everything we needed. This on set experience
was then complimented by the quality of the cleaned data, and the speed in
which it was delivered," said Nick Losq, VFX Supervisor, MPC Los Angeles.

Continue reading VICON House of Moves Adds Motion to Commercial Characters.

Watchmen: The End is Nigh Pricing and Release Date Information

By Editorial on July 7, 2009 12:11 PM
Developed by Deadline Games A/S and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Watchmen: The End is Nigh is a hardcore mature action brawler featuring bloody visceral combat in settings reminiscent of the film.  Watchmen: The End is Nigh Part 1 takes place more than a decade before the film's main story, delving into the partnership of urban vigilantes Rorschach and Nite Owl before the hero-banning Keene Act.  In Part 2, the duo team up again as Rorschach contacts Nite Owl to help solve the case of a missing girl, Violet Greene.
 
Providing Watchmen fans with a variety of purchase options, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is proud to announce that Watchmen: The End is Nigh will be offered in the following formats:
 
·         Watchmen: The End is Nigh The Complete Experience is an innovative, retail Blu-ray Hi-Def game and film hybrid which will include Watchmen: The End is Nigh Parts 1 and 2 and the Watchmen: Director's Cut on Blu-ray. This new cut of the action-packed blockbuster includes an additional 25 minutes of footage not seen in theaters, available only on Blu-ray and DVD.  The two-disc collectible set will also feature exclusive artwork in a premium package. The game will be playable on the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system which can also play the Blu-ray disc of Watchmen:  Director's Cut.  The Watchmen: The End is Nigh The Complete Experience will be available on July 21 for a suggested retail price of $49.99.
 
·         Watchmen: The End is Nigh Parts 1 and 2 will be released as a single game available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft on July 21 for a suggested retail price of $29.99.
 
·         Watchmen: The End is Nigh Part 2 will be available for download on PC on July 29 and PlayStation®Network on July 30 for a suggested retail price of $14.99 and on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft on August 26 for 1200 Microsoft Points.
 

LEAD BALLOON RISES WITH ORIGINAL CONTENT PRODUCTION

By Editorial on July 7, 2009 12:09 PM
PsychicBunny LeadBalloon.jpgPsychic Bunny Launches Sister Studio With Web Series & Indie Feature

Los Angeles, CA - (July 7, 2009) - Next Gen content produced by those who consume it: hybrid production studio Psychic Bunny is excited to unveil its original content banner Lead Balloon (www.madeoflead.com). Launched to produce feature films, web series, games, mobile and interactive projects, Lead Balloon is currently wrapping two projects, an exclusive web series "Coma, Period" with a distribution deal soon to be announced and an independent feature film "The Echo Game."

Sister studio Psychic Bunny will continue to produce motion graphics, animation, production services, and interactive design for commercial, feature film and gaming clients. Psychic Bunny is known for its contributions to such innovative projects as the theatrical gaming experiences The Real Deal and CineBingo, as well as the US Army-commissioned "BiLAT", a bilateral negotiation game title currently being used in military training.

Original content development is a natural evolution for Psychic Bunny's founders who grew up with entertainment on multiple screens and have diverse backgrounds in writing, film production, design and programming. With a flair for the ironic, the team branded and launched Lead Balloon to serve a growing demand for content in all entertainment streams.

Lead Balloon Producer/Director Doug Spice elaborates, "The name Lead Balloon suggests something grand and improbable, something that defies the odds, something that's both mysterious and fascinating. We hope to evoke that same spirit in our projects."


KUNIO KATO'S AWARD-WINNING WORKS NOW AVAILABLE TO THE WORLD THROUGH CRUNCHYROLL

By Editorial on July 3, 2009 12:04 PM
Maison en Petits Cubes" to Stream on the Number-One Online Destination for
Anime and Asian Entertainment

San Francisco, CA (July 3, 2009) -- Kunio Kato's 2009 Academy Award-winning
animated short film, LA MAISON EN PETITS CUBES, as well as his earlier work,
THE DIARY OF TORTOV RODDLE are streaming today on Crunchyroll.  More
information can be found at:
http://www.crunchyroll.com/library/La_Maison_en_Petits_Cubes   and
http://www.crunchyroll.com/library/The_Diary_of_Tortov_Roddle .

LA MAISON EN PETITS CUBES marks the first Oscar® nomination and win for Mr.
Kato, who created and directed the piece. At the awards ceremony, of the
award, he stated, "It's so heavy." He went on to say, "Thank you very much.
Thank you, my supporters.  Thank you, all my staff.  Thank you, my pencil.
Thank you, Academy ... Thank you, my company ROBOT.  Domo arigato, Mr.
Roboto."

Vince Shortino, president of Crunchyroll's Japan office states, "We, at
Crunchyroll, are very proud to host such a masterpiece. Mr. Kato is only the
second individual from Japan to ever win the award in an animation category,
with the only other being reknowned Mr. Hayao Miyazaki.  To be able to bring
this visionary artist's work to the world is truly a great honor."

VIDEO GAMES LIVE PREPARES FOR 12 BIG SHOWS IN JULY

By Editorial on July 3, 2009 11:58 AM
Special Performances and Special Guests to Compliment Record Breaking Tour

Highlights Include Performances with the National Symphony Orchestra at WolfTrap, 3 Day Gaming Event in Winnipeg a Special Blizzard Performance with the Houston Symphony and the Return to Comic Con with the San Diego Symphony

 

LOS ANGELES, CA - July 3, 2009 -  The worldwide phenomenon Video Games Live (recently enshrined in the Guinness Book of World Records) is proud to announce 12 performances throughout the month of July.  Each show will be unique and many will be highlighted by special performances, conventions and/or special guests.  Video Games Live has grown tremendously over the past 5 years of touring and currently has over 60 shows planned around the world for 2009.

Some July tour highlights include a special 3 day gaming event in Winnipeg with the Winnipeg Symphony (July 6 - 8).  The 3 day event includes 2 unique show performances and a half day festival event with Future Shop including a major Guitar Hero competition, special industry Q&A panel, video game cover bands, prize give-a-ways and more.

On July 10th Video Games Live is honored to once again be performing with the National Symphony Orchestra.  After 2 very successful sold out shows at the Kennedy Center in 2007, this time around they are headed to the 6,500+ seat WolfTrap Filene Center for a day of family fun and entertainment.  The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) will be on hand supporting Video Games Live and passing out important industry facts and information to attendees.  Very special guests will include Civilization creator Sid Meier and the original Civilization IV vocalist Ron Ragin.  Also joining the show is legendary game composer Grant Kirkhope who is best known for his scores for Donkey Kong Country, GoldenEye, Banjo & Kazooie, Perfect Dark & Viva Pinata.
 
Continue reading VIDEO GAMES LIVE PREPARES FOR 12 BIG SHOWS IN JULY.

BIG MACHINE DESIGN RELIES ON MAXON CINEMA 4D TO CREATE FUTURISTIC CGI VIDEO TRAILER FOR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED UPCOMING GAME TITLE, FRONT MISSION EVOLVED

By Editorial on July 2, 2009 11:57 AM
Artists Leverage CINEMA 4D's Power, Performance and Ease-of-Use and Tap its Advanced Render, Thinking Particles, MoGraph and MOCCA Modules to Create Complex, Awe-inspiring Game Cinematic

Newbury Park, CA - July 2, 2009 - MAXON Computer, a leading developer of professional 3D modeling, painting, animation and rendering solutions, today announced that Big Machine Design (BMD), an award winning visual production company specializing in visuals for film titles, advertising, TV shows, games, and more, relied heavily on MAXON CINEMA 4D to create the stunning, fully CGI trailer for Square Enix's highly-anticipated game title, Front Mission Evolved. The teaser trailer premiered at E3 2009 and is currently experiencing broad pick-up on popular Internet game trailer and video sharing websites worldwide. Viewers are taken on a fly-through around a massive factory and futuristic cityscape being ravaged by warfare. The advanced functionality in CINEMA 4D is demonstrated by dramatic explosions and enormous marauding robots, while periodically cutting away to focus on assembly line machinery being built within the factory walls. The action culminates in a close-up street scene of robotic warriors rushing through the decimated city with high-tech weapons raised and ready to strike.

Front Mission Evolved is poised to become the newest game in the wildly popular Front Mission video game franchise. Created by world-class game developer Double Helix, on behalf of Square Enix, a leading video game producer, the games main interactive elements are giant armored humanoid battle vehicles known as "Wanzers," which are controlled by the player within an overall context of military conflict and political tension that takes place in a future society. Front Mission Evolved advances the Front Mission series by extending gameplay to a third-person shooter perspective.

"CINEMA 4D has been our go-to 3D software package for almost every visual campaign since we first opened our doors in 2003 but for this particular project we knew we'd have to take advantage of its powerful Studio Bundle to successfully create the level of excitement required for the first reveal of such a highly anticipated game during E3," said Ken Carlson, creative director, Big Machine Design. "Our goal was to deliver a piece that would capture the intensity and raw power of the immensely popular Front Mission series while conveying a sense of what a player can expect from both the characters and the game environment. CINEMA 4D provided us with the most comprehensive suite of 3D tools for modelling, texturing, lighting, rigging and animation - enabling us to get the project done quickly and with great results."


Continue reading BIG MACHINE DESIGN RELIES ON MAXON CINEMA 4D TO CREATE FUTURISTIC CGI VIDEO TRAILER FOR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED UPCOMING GAME TITLE, FRONT MISSION EVOLVED.

Target Entertainment Group sells pre-school animation Fluffy Gardens to GMTV/CiTV

By Editorial on July 1, 2009 11:54 AM
Terrestrial platform and second series in production will boost licensing potential
 
 
London:  Target Entertainment Group, the international production and rights management company, has sold series one and two of the pre-school animation series Fluffy Gardens to GMTV/CiTV in the UK.
 
The broadcaster will air the series within its Fluffy Club block, which broadcasts at weekends on GMTV 6am to 7.25am. The Fluffy Club also broadcasts on The CiTV Channel and ITV4 during term time weekdays from 8.40am to 9.25am.
 
Turner Broadcasting's pre-school channel Cartoonito, which currently has the rights to air Fluffy Gardens in the UK, will share a window with GMTV/CiTV.
 

Continue reading Target Entertainment Group sells pre-school animation Fluffy Gardens to GMTV/CiTV.

MTV NETWORKS INTERNATIONAL CLOSES FIRST-EVER KIDS' FORMAT SERIES WITH CCTV IN CHINA

By Editorial on July 1, 2009 11:53 AM
Nickelodeon GUTS format, Tiao Zhan Xiao Yong Shi, debuts Summer 2009
 
LONDON/NEW YORK, 2 July 2008 - MTV Networks International (MTVNI), owned by Viacom Inc (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), announced today that Tiao Zhan Xiao Yong Shi, the Chinese format adaptation of Nickelodeon's GUTS, will premiere on China Central Television (CCTV) during Summer 2009.  The format deal builds upon the success of a long standing relationship between the two broadcasters and is the first time a kids' format will air in the Chinese market.
 
The new prime-time series will follow Nickelodeon's groundbreaking original hit formula with an hour-long action-sports game show. Each episode will allow kid contestants to live out some of their greatest sports fantasies in a competitive arena.  Several different types of sporting events and obstacles will feature throughout the series, including basketball, high jumping, wave pool, racing track, and the "Aggro-Crag" - the show's famous mountain-climbing challenge complete with falling boulders and trap doors.
 
"Our unique collaboration with China's public broadcaster, CCTV, has been a long and mutually beneficial syndication relationship which we've been building for more than a decade and has seen some of Nickelodeon's best-loved kids' shows such as SpongeBob SquarePants and CatDog, deliver consistent ratings and viewership for CCTV," commented Caroline Beaton, Senior Vice President, International Programme Sales, MTVNI.  "This next evolution of our partnership, with CCTV picking up its first-ever kids' format series, will continue to help us further strengthen our business in China."
 
Over the past 14 years, MTVNI has significantly grown its multiplatform presence in China, launching a 24-hour MTV channel in March 2003 in the Guandong province reaching 13.8mm households across the region.  More recently MTVNI has established a burgeoning consumer products division in China along with several strategic syndication deals for Nickelodeon hit properties including Clarissa Knows It All, CatDog and SpongeBob SquarePants.  The iconic animation's recent return to China on CCTV Kids Channel, on 25 December 2008, was a phenomenon, topping TV ratings in 15 key cities as the number one show among kids aged 4-15 yrs for the period 25 Dec 08 - 4 Feb 09, bowling out all other cartoon programmes and reaching 20.5 million home viewers.
 
A multi-genre, multiplatform, multi-brand one-stop shop for broadcast clients, MTVNI is a long time producer of formats such as Pimp My Ride and Blue's Clues and digital rights are available via the MTVN Web Catch-Up+ service.
 

TOEI ANIMATION EUROPE TO LAUNCH POPULAR ANIMATED SERIES CAPTAIN HARLOCK AND KEN THE GREAT BEAR FIST IN VOD ON FRENCH TERRITORIES THOUGHT TF1 VISION

By Editorial on July 1, 2009 11:52 AM
PARIS (July 2nd 2009) - Toei Animation Europe S.A.S and TF1 VISION will launch the popular animated properties, Captain Harlock and Ken the Great Bear Fist in VOD, on July 2nd 2009  in France.
 
These two series will be available on PC thought www.tf1vision.fr and in IPTV platforms through TF1 VISION stores (1.49€ each episode)
 
"The key titles of Captain Harlock and Ken the Great Bear Fist are very popular in France.
With these new VOD products, our anime fans will have the opportunity to rediscover their favorite series on TV as well as on their PC.
This is our first VOD exploitation in France, but we plan to develop our VOD business, not only in France but also in other European countries" said Mr. Kazahaya, Chief Operating Officer of Toei Animation Europe.
 
 
About Toei Animation Co. Ltd.
 
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, as well as 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.
 

Digital Domain Collaborates with Michael Bay on 'Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen' Movie Tie-Ins

By Editorial on July 1, 2009 11:50 AM
--Digital Production Company Lends Character Creation Talents to Bay's
Movie and Promotional Spots for LG and Burger King --

Venice, CA-July 1, 2009-Digital Domain is bringing a supporting cast of
robot characters from the hugely anticipated summer action flick
"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" to life, but that's not all they're
helping to realize for filmmaker Michael Bay. The digital production studio
is also contributing visual effects and character animation work on a
series of movie tie-in promotions for LG Mobile Phones and Burger King,
directed by Bay and Rob Cohen respectively through Bay's commercial
production company, The Institute for the Development of Enhanced
Perceptual Awareness. The spots are airing in cinemas and on television
while "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," from DreamWorks Pictures and
Paramount Pictures, hit theaters June 24, 2009.

The Transformers marketing tie-in campaigns capture the same action-packed
cinematic quality as the movie franchise, due in large part to the sharing
of production talent, and, in the case of LG, digital assets across the
feature film and commercial production pipelines.

Said Ed Ulbrich, President, Commercials and Executive VP of Production,
Digital Domain, "Our relationship with Michael Bay extends beyond the
'Transformers' films, and these spots build on a collaboration that dates
back more than a decade. Even before Michael became co-chairman of Digital
Domain, we worked on a number of feature and commercial projects he
directed and Michael has always pushed us to achieve the impossible."  

Continue reading Digital Domain Collaborates with Michael Bay on 'Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen' Movie Tie-Ins.

No Sex Please We're Gamers

By Editorial on July 1, 2009 11:49 AM
- Company releases international gaming survey showing gamer trends against activities including sex, watching television and playing sport   -

SYDNEY, Australia - 1 July, 2009 - 3RD Sense, Australia's leading independent casual games developer today celebrates its second birthday and announces the results of its 'Fizzy Global Gaming Survey'.

When 3RD Sense set out two years ago to create the world's most vibrant online games community for anyone who is passionate about play, little did they realise how quickly Fizzy.com would take off. Now an 'online toddler', the site holds over 535 casual games and attracts a monthly global audience of over 1 million visitors.

Colin Cardwell, CEO of 3RD Sense comments, "To better understand the audience and celebrate Fizzy's birthday we surveyed over 1,200 of our members to determine trends amongst the Fizzy faithful.

"We thought it would be fun to explore the favourite past times of our international gaming community. There were some surprising findings to say the least."

Key Findings:

A Game With Appeal

The findings revealed that participants in the survey seemed more excited about stroking their key board and spending some intimate time with their PC rather than indulging in any hanky panky, with 75 per cent of respondents deciding to spend more time playing games than having sex.

The Move Away From TV And Sport Towards Online Entertainment

As you might expect, the idiot box is losing ground to new forms of interactive entertainment with 84 per cent of respondents deciding to spend more time playing games than watching TV.

Playing games also proved more appealing than participating in sport with 72 per cent of people deciding to spend more time playing games than sport.

Casual Gaming Becoming Key Leisure Time Activity For Young Women

Women under 24 proved to be big fans of casual game entertainment with 64 per cent of the female audience falling into the 9 - 24 age bracket. Interestingly, this contradicted the usual trend that casual gaming is more popular with women over 35.

Scoring A High Priority

In a real turn for the books, the survey revealed that the 'most satisfying activity' for males under 16 was going on a date (49%) followed by 'Getting the high score on your favourite computer game'. While women under 16 would rather achieve a high score with their PC (51%), turning the stereotype of boys being the ones obsessed with games upside-down.

Cardwell, says, "There is clearly a demographic shift occurring when it comes to online behaviour. Many people are spending more time online discovering they are passionate about play and really enjoying themselves. The under 16's in particular prefer games to traditional activities such as watching television as they can challenge their brains, their friends and their coordination skills. There is even recent evidence to show that casual games provide good stress relief."

To share these benefits and celebrate its second birthday Fizzy will be offering members the chance to download any game at 20 percent off. The offer will be available from today until July 31.

ENDS

LightWork Design releases LightWorks 8.1

By Editorial on July 1, 2009 11:47 AM
SHEFFIELD, UK (1 July 2009) - LightWork Design, the world's leading
supplier of rendering solutions for developers of advanced 3D computer
graphics software, today announced the release of LightWorks 8.1 which
provides LightWorks customers with yet more enhanced rendering
functionalities.

The main focus of this release is the development of the LightWorks Real-
time rendering product, alongside some improvements to EPix output.  These
include:

* Soft shadows and Shadow catching are now both supported by Real-time
rendering, using programmable shading;
* Programmable shading is now supported for several more LightWorks
material shaders, for example multilayer paints and leathers, and this
gives real-time support which is closer to the software implementation;
* EPix output can now be anti-aliased giving users more defined and
accurate rendering.

Continue reading LightWork Design releases LightWorks 8.1.

2009 Game Developers Conference Austin to Host Inaugural iPhone Games Summit and Independent Games Summit

By Editorial on July 1, 2009 11:46 AM
Advisory Board of Esteemed Industry Experts Announced for Both Summits
 
SAN FRANCISCO, July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, the Game Developers Conference® Austin (GDC Austin) hosts the Independent Games Summit and the all-new iPhone Games Summit.  The iPhone Games Summit will bring together top game developers from around the world to share ideas, best practices and discuss the future of the bourgeoning iPhone and iPod touch mobile platform.  Making its Austin debut, the Independent Games Summit features lectures and postmortems from some of the most notable indie game creators in the country.  Presented by Think Services, GDC Austin returns with two day Game Writers, Game Audio, iPhone Games and Independent Games Summits proceeded by three days of main conference content focused on connected games; online games, virtual worlds, and social networking game play.  The event takes place at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas September 15-18, 2009.
 
The iPhone Games Summit highlights the best of iPhone development covering business, marketing and key design tenets behind successful iPhone games. The two day summit will provide overviews and deep-dive technical sessions with expert advice on topics ranging from app optimization and touch interface lessons through iPhone OS 3.0 features, Objective-C tips and more.  Sessions will be announced early July.  The Advisory Board for the Summit include local Austin-area iPhone developer Brian Greenstone, founder and president of Enigmo creator Pangea Software, Snappy Touch's Noel Llopis, creator of notable iPhone app Flower Garden as well as Simon Carless, Editorial Director of Gamasutra.com and Game Developer Magazine.
 
Continue reading 2009 Game Developers Conference Austin to Host Inaugural iPhone Games Summit and Independent Games Summit.
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