Animation Magazine

Author: Ryan Ball

  • Cameras Roll on Superman

    Warner Bros. today announced the start of principal photography on Superman Returns, the latest big-screen incarnation of the DC Comics franchise. Under the direction of Bryan Singer (X2: X-Men United, X-Men, The Usual Suspects), cameras began rolling in Sydney, Australia, where filming is scheduled to continue through mid-August.

    Filling in the big shoes left by Christopher Reeve, newcomer Brandon Routh is taking on the dual role of Clark Kent and his super-powered alter-ego. A 25-year-old Iowa native, Routh previously appeared in episodes of the TV series Cold Case and Gilmore Girls. Kate Bosworth (Beyond the Sea, Blue Crush) plays love interest Lois Lane and Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey (Beyond the Sea, American Beauty) takes a turn as the villainous Lex Luthor. Also on board are James Marsden (X-Men) as Richard White, Eva Marie Saint (North By Northwest) as Martha Kent, Parker Posey (Blade: Trinity) as Kitty Kowalski, Kal Penn (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) as Stanford and Sam Huntington (Detroit Rock City) as Jimmy Olsen.

    Singer comments, “Rather than being a remake of the original movie, this film explores Superman’s influence on our global culture and the impact of his return to Earth after an absence of several years. It’s my great pleasure to bring this new chapter of the Superman legacy to the screen with this incredible cast.”

    Superman Returns is slated for release on June 30, 2006. Jon Peters is producing through his Peters Ent., in association with Singer’s Bad Hat Harry Prods. Singer and Gilbert Adler are also listed as producers, and Chris Lee is exec producer. The screenplay was written by Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris.

  • Neal Named VP of Programming, Disney Channel U.K.

    Walt Disney Branded Television has promoted James Neal to VP of programming for Disney Channel U.K. The former programming and commissioning director will be responsible for leading the programming teams for Disney Channel, Playhouse Disney and Toon Disney, and will oversee the program planning of general entertainment channel abc1.

    Neal previously held a variety of programming positions at Disney Channel and played a key part in the outlet’s U.K. launch in October of 2004. He was also instrumental in the September 2000 U.K. launches of Playhouse Disney and Toon Disney.

    In his new role, effective immediately, Neal reports directly to John Hardie, exec VP and managing director of Walt Disney Branded Television EMEA.

    Since 1995, Disney Channel, Playhouse Disney and Toon Disney have expanded to more than 38 countries throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. There are also 40 Disney-branded blocks airing in more 30 countries worldwide.

  • 4Kids Ent. Gets G.I. Joe Sigma Six Exclusive

    In an agreement signed with toy giant Hasbro Inc., 4Kids Ent. Inc. has acquired exclusive broadcast rights to the new G.I. Joe Sigma Six animated series. Starting this September, the show will air on 4Kids TV, the four-hour children’s programming block featured in FOX’s Saturday morning lineup.

    G.I. Joe Sigma Six is based on a new line of 8-inch action figures introduced by Hasbro at the American Int’l Toy Fair in New York last month. The toys represent the latest incarnation of the legendary brand created by Hasbro more than 40 years ago.

    The 4KIDS TV block starts at 8 a.m. (ET) on Saturdays and features such hit animated series as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, One Piece, Winx Club, Mew Mew Power, Shaman King, Sonic X and The Incredible Crash Dummies.

  • Steamboy Rockets to North American Theaters

    Acclaimed anime director Katsuhro ‘tomo is back with a new animated adventure which makes its eagerly awaited North American theatrical debut today. For Steamboy, his first feature-length effort since 1988’s Akira, Ôtomo trades in post-Apocalyptic ultra-violence and adult sensibilities for family entertainment that proves just as engrossing and visually stunning.

    Set in 19th-Century London, Steamboy tells the story of an inventor named Rei, who receives a mysterious invention from his grandfather in America on the eve of the first World Expo. A metal ball containing a new form of energy capable of powering an entire nation promises to change the age of steam, but it can also help Rei fight evil, redeem his family and save London from destruction. Ôtomo co-wrote the script with Sadayuki Murai, who previously scripted Perfect Blue and Millennium Actress with director Satoshi Kon.

    In crafting Steamboy’s visuals, Ôtomo and crew blended traditional animation with digital technology, combining more than 180,000 drawings with approximately 400 CG cuts. Budgeted at $20 million, the film is one of the most expensive anime features ever made. Nearly 10 years in the making, the production was plagued by financial problems but finally premiered in Japan on July 17 of 2004.

    Steamboy screened as a special presentation at the 2004 Toronto Int’l Film Festival and closed the 61st Venice Int’l Film Festival. Sony Pictures is giving the film a limited opening in 39 theaters. Check your local listings.

    To learn more about the making of Steamboy, be sure to read our cover story in the April issue of Animation Magazine, now available by subscription and at Barnes & Noble locations.

  • NASA, Pok’mon Launch Partnership

    For the first time, NASA has teamed with an animated property to introduce an entertaining educational initiative. The government agency’s Center for Distance Learning has joined forces with the Pokémon trading card game to develop an in-school program that incorporates science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) themes into activity units for students in grades K-6.

    Since 1996, more than 13 billion Pokémon trading cards have sold worldwide. The latest collectable set, Pokémon EX Deoxys, centers on a mysterious space virus that mutated into a Pokémon when exposed to a laser beam. Deoxys’ name is derived from deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA, the genetic material of most living organisms, including viruses. The STEM learning units have been developed to exploit kids’ interest in the new trading card game and their fascination with space exploration.

    Five interactive activities have been posted on NASA’s Kids Science News Network website and are accessible to students and teachers in the classroom. Subjects include extraterrestrials, viruses, meteorites, DNA and the ozone layer. In addition, Nintendo of America Inc. also produced awareness bracelets and postcards that were distributed to educators nationwide.

    NASA Langley’s Center for Distance Learning produces a suite of award-winning television and web series, including NASA’s KSNN, (grades K-5), NASA SCIence Files (grades 3-5), NASA CONNECT (grades 6-8) and NASA’s Destination Tomorrow (adult).

    Now in its seventh season, the Pokémon animated series airs on Kids WB! in the U.S. and consistently ranks among the top three shows for boys 6-11.

    For more information on the NASA/Pokémon collaboration, visit the Kids Science News Network at http://ksnn.larc.nasa.gov/pokemon. More details on NASA Langley Center for Distance Learning programs can be found at
    http://dlcenter.larc.nasa.gov.

    March 18, 2005

  • Ring Two After Robots Spot

    Scary digital effects by Rhythm & Hues and humorous CG animation by Fox’s Blue Sky Studios collide at the box office this weekend. DreamWorks’ horror sequel, The Ring Two, creeps into theaters to take a shot at dethroning 20th Century Fox’s animated hit, Robots, as the top movie in North America.

    Directed by Hideo Nakata, who helmed Ringu (the original Japanese version of The Ring) and its sequel, Ringu 2, the Americanized Ring Two has Naomi Watts reprising the role of a mother out to solve a supernatural mystery and protect her son from a murdered girl who uses electronic devices to reach out from beyond the grave.

    The Ring Two is rated PG-13 to broaden its audience beyond the usual horror crowd, but it’s not exactly competing for the same audience as Robots, which has the family film competition locked up despite the debut of Disney’s tween comedy, Ice Princess.

    Robots debuted last week to more than $36 million and should enjoy another profitable weekend. However, the CG comedy will struggle to maintain its place at the top of the charts if The Ring Two performs like its predecessor, which earned nearly $130 million with its release in October of 2002.

  • Shark, Shrek Drive DreamWorks Animation Profits

    Citing the box office success of Shark Tale and the incredible home video sales of Shrek 2, DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. yesterday reported a net income of $192 million for its fourth quarter. The strong frame helped the now publicly traded toon studio post year-end earnings of $333 million.

    The financial results reflect the impact of a distribution agreement with DreamWorks Studios, which went into effect on Oct. 1, 2004. The numbers are good news for the animation arm, considering it posted a net loss of $36.6 million for the same period in 2003.

    “Our first quarter as a public company was a great success by any measure,” comments DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. The studio topper notes that Shrek 2 contributed more than $360 million to the fourth quarter results and raked in more than $900 million worldwide in 2004. Shark Tale, released domestically in October of 2004, generated $62 million in revenue during the fourth quarter and took a healthy $316 million bite out of the worldwide box office during the year.

    The next entry to come out of DreamWorks’ CG pipeline is Madagascar, which is scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 27. The fish-out-of-water tale stars Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith and David Schwimmer as the voices of pampered New York City zoo animals who are faced with the realities of life in the wild when they inadvertently end up on an island off the coast of Africa. The film is directed by Eric Darnell (Antz) and first-timer Tom McGrath.

  • Bing and Bong Blast off for MIPTV

    Bing and Bong, the animated extra-terrestrial stars of the hit, short-form preschool series, Tiny Planets, have a new series coming to the marketplace. Tiny Planets producer Pepper’s Ghost will be shopping Bing & Bong at this year’s MipTV, taking place in Cannes April 11-15. The show will combine Flash and CG animation with live-action to create a new world where the title characters acquire the ability to talk and change colors.

    The new series will build on the educational themes of Tiny Planets, extending the viewing experience from five-minute installments to a half-hour format. The show will also introduce new characters like robot Spark and Socket.

    The pilot episode, "Blown Away," is focused on the subject of wind. The animated characters help young viewers learn about the movement of air on various planets while live-action sequences taking place on Earth teach children how to make practical and creative use of the wind.

    Bing & Bong is a collaboration between Pepper’s Ghost, 2Sides TV and exec producing entities Cake Ent. and the Creative Garden. The companies are aiming to bring 26 episodes to the screen by 2006.

    Tiny Planets airs on Nickelodeon’s NOGGIN outlet in the U.S. and is carried around the world by such broadcasters as CiTV in the U.K., Super RTL in Germany, Mediatrade in Italy, tbc in France, NRK in Norway, IBC in Iceland, HRT in Croatia, NHK in Japan, SBS in South Korea, Channel 9 in the Philippines, Astro-Ria in Malaysia, UBC in Thailand, Discovery in Latin America, Televisa in Mexico and CBC in Canada. The property is distributed on home video by StudioWorks Ent.

  • Pororo Goes Nordic with Kidz Ent.

    Pororo, the curious CG penguin animated by OCON in Seoul, Korea, is bundling up to head to the land of ice and snow. Kidz Ent. has acquired all rights to the preschool property for the Nordic region in a deal covers TV, home video and merchandising.

    Kidz says that while the show is funny and appeals to both kids and adults, the title character’s visual appeal is what sold them on the show. Kidz director Morten Geschwendtner believes Pororo’s European, non-anime look ensure success in the Nordic territories.

    To date, 52 episodes of Pororo have been produced, along with a feature-length movie. Kidz hopes to use these productions as a launch pad for a strong merchandising program like the one the property has spawned in Korea.

    Pororo is expected to air in Nordic territories late in 2005 or early in 2006. The series has also been picked up by Yoyo in Taiwan, which will begin airing episodes in April of this year, and TF1 in France. Broadcasters in India, China, Hong Kong, Italy and Singapore are also expected to license the property.

    The first Pororo story book will be published by Hachette this fall.

  • Two Nights of Tartakovsky in Hollywood

    The American Cinematheque of Hollywood will present a two-night special event showcasing the works of Samurai Jack and Dexter’s Laboratory creator Genndy Tartakovsky on Friday, Mar. 18, and Saturday, Mar. 19. Part of the Cinematheque’s Animation A-Go-Go series, the event will take place at the Egyptian Theatre and will feature a sneak preview of the entire second volume of the micro-series, Star Wars: Clone Wars, which debuts on Cartoon Network on Mar. 21.

    Moscow-born creator/writer/director Tartakovsky graduated from Cal Arts. In addition to creating Cartoon Network’s Samurai Jack and Dexter’s Laboratory, he has directed and produced episodes of The Powerpuff Girls and other network staples. His work got the attention of George Lucas, who entrusted him with using his signature style of animation and art design to bridge the gap between the second and third episodes of the Star Wars film saga.

    Tartakovsky, who is reportedly working on a few pet projects as he makes a shift to feature films, will be present both nights of the tribute to offer attendees a peek at upcoming events and some films he made as a student. In addition, the program will include screenings of classic cartoons by animators and filmmakers who have influenced Tartakovsky’s career.

    The Friday screenings (7:30 p.m.) will chronicle Tartakovsky’s evolution as a filmmaker, offering rarely seen early shorts, samplings of the first season of Star Wars: Clone Wars, the two-part Samurai Jack episode “Birth of Evil” and a few of Tartakovsky’s favorite classic cartoons from legends like Tex Avery.

    On Saturday, (5 p.m.) ticket holders will be treated to the world premiere of the entire second season of Star Wars: Clone Wars, which Tartakovsky will have completed just days before its debut. He will also uncover some side-projects, including interstitial clips he created for Cartoon Network based on vintage Hanna Barbara characters, as well as more inspirational offerings from the masters of animation.  

    At 8 p.m. on Saturday, the American Cinematheque will be screening Universal’s 1982 Arnold Schwarzenegger flick, Conan The Barbarian, which has greatly influenced Tartakovsky’s work. He describes the first 20 minutes of the John Milius film as "flawless filmmaking." The film will be followed by hand-picked Samurai Jack episodes that Tartakovsky feels were influenced most heavily by the Oliver Stone-penned tale of a boy born to slavery to emerge a muscle-bound avenger. Tartakovsky will appear for a discussion after the program, moderated by animation writer Jon M. Gibson.

    All screenings will be held at the Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the historic Egyptian Theatre, located at 6712 Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Las Palmas in Hollywood. The program has been made possible by Cartoon Network and LucasFilm.

  • Whedon to Write/Direct Wonder Woman

    Joss Whedon, who scripted the 1992 Buffy the Vampire Slayer feature and turned it into a hit TV series, is taking on another butt-kicking femme, this time for the big screen. The wunderkind has been tapped by Joel Silver’s Silver Pictures to write and direct an adaptation of DC Comics’ Wonder Woman for Warner Bros.

    “Wonder Woman is the most iconic female heroine of our time, but in a way, no one has met her yet,” Whedon comments. “What I love most about icons is finding out what’s behind them, exploring the price of their power." He says he’s looking forward to exploring the vulnerable side of the Amazonian warrior with bullet-proof bracelets and the Lasso of Truth. "She’s someone who doesn’t belong in this world, and since everyone I know feels that way about themselves, the character clicked for me.”

    Buffy the Vampire Slayer lasted seven seasons on The WB and UPN, and spawned the successful spin-off, Angel, which Whedon created and exec produced. He also scripted Alien: Resurrection and Don Bluth’s animated sci-fi epic, Titan A.E., and co-wrote the Disney/Pixar modern classic, Toy Story.

    Whedon is now completing post-production on Serenity, a feature film based on his short-lived Fox television series, Firefly. Serenity is slated for theatrical release on Sept. 30.

    Based on the comic-book character created by William Moulton Mars, Wonder Woman will be produced by Joel Silver and Leonard Goldberg, and is ton. Silver and his production shingle produced the blockbuster Matrix trilogy.

    A number of actresses have been rumored to be under consideration for the roll Wonder Woman, including Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Charisma Carpenter.

  • Super Home Vid Debut for Incredibles

    As expected, the Disney/Pixar toon blockbuster, The Incredibles, is dominating home video sales. According to Pixar and distributor Buena Vista Home Entertainment, the CG family action/comedy sold five million units on DVD and VHS in North America during its first day of availability. The superhuman feat was it was aided by the lure of a new animated short and tons of other extra-features.

    Having earned more than $260 million domestically and nearly $630 million at the worldwide boxoffice, The Incredibles went on to sweep the Annie Awards and win Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Achievement in Sound Editing. Now the beloved pic is on track to be the best-selling home video release of 2005.

    Fans were no doubt eager to see Jack-Jack Attack, a new CG short which uncovers some unknown superpowers of the youngest member of the Parr family while he’s home alone with the babysitter. There’s also a never-before-seen “lost” retro cartoon featuring Mr. Incredible, Frozone and their rabbit sidekick, Mr. Skipperdoo. Other DVD extras include an alternate opening and other deleted scenes; feature commentary with director Bird, producer John Walker and several key Pixar animators; bloopers and outtakes; character dossiers and interviews; making-of featurettes; an essay by Sarah Vowell; Pixar’s Academy-Award nominated short, Boundin’, and a brief biographical piece on Boundin’ creator, Bud Luckey.

    The Incredibles lists for $29.99 on DVD and VHS.

  • Scannell, Roedy Upped at MTV Networks

    Herb Scannell, president of Nickelodeon Networks, and Bill Roedy, president of MTV Networks International, were today tapped to serve as vice chairmen of Viacom-owned MTV Networks. Working with MTV Networks chairman and CEO Tom Freston, both will continue to report to MTV Networks Group head Judy McGrath.

    Scannell will continue to manage the overall businesses of Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, TV Land, Noggin/The N, and Spike TV while taking on the additional responsibility of overseeing the development of several new channels and multimedia offerings for MTV Networks in the U.S. Working out of the company’s New York offices, Scannell also oversees Paramount Parks and Viacom Consumer Products.

    As he continues to manage MTV Networks’ international operations from his London office, Roedy will oversee the division’s investments and expansions into multi-media platforms. In addition, he will continue to lead global public affairs initiatives for the company.

    Restructuring at MTV Networks has been a continual process as the company forges ahead with expansion initiatives. In May of 2003, McGrath moved from MTV Networks Music Group president to MTV Networks Group president responsible for MTV, MTV2, VH1, CMT and Comedy Central. At the same time, Scannell was appointed to the post of MTV Networks Group president and was instrumental in TNN’s transformation to Spike TV, which is hoping to revitalize its adult animation efforts with Howard Stern: The High School Years, now in development.

  • BOXX Offers March Madness Deals

    If you’ve been holding off on purchasing your next desktop workstation, you might want to head over to the Boxx Technologies web site (www.boxxtech.com) to check out their “March Madness” discounts, promotional giveaways and college basketball-themed freebees.

    BOXX is offering discounted prices to everyone who signs up at the site and places an online order from now until April 6, 2005. Those who sign up are also eligible to win prizes from technology partners Discreet, PNY Technologies, 12-Inch Design and Cakewalk. In addition, 50 lucky winners will get a full-size BOXX basketball.

    One grand prize winner will be drawn at random to receive a prize pack including Discreet 3ds max 7 software ($3495 value), 12-Inch Design ProductionBlox and PowerBlox royalty-free video libraries ($1099 value), Cakewalk Home Studio v.2 recording studio software ($356 value) and the NVIDIA Quadro FX 540 graphics pipeline by PNY Graphics ($255 value). Also included are a PNY flash drive, a BOXX branded leather varsity jacket, a BOXX backpack and basketball and more.

    BOXX March Madness winners will be announced April 6, 2005. For more information, go to www.boxxtech.com or call BOXX toll free in the U.S. at 1-877-877-BOXX or outside the US at 512-835-0400.

  • e-on Software Ships Vue 5 Infinite

    Natural environment-creation software maker e-on software has released Vue 5 Infinite, the latest version of its flagship solution for creating, animating and rendering natural 3D environments. Available for Mac OSX and Windows, the release boasts more than 110 new features and product enhancements, including EcoSystem technology designed for easy integration with existing production pipelines that employ Discreet’s 3ds max, Alias Maya, NewTek LightWave, Maxon Cinema4D and Avid Softimage XSI.

    “Because it excels both as a final rendering engine and as a cooperative tool for high-end 3D and post-production applications, Vue 5 Infinite is the perfect solution for professional CG designers wanting to include natural 3D environments in their production pipeline,” says e-on software president Nicholas Phelps.

    Labeled "revolutionary’ by e-on, the new EcoSystem technology allows graphic designers and animators to populate scenes with millions of animated plants, rocks or other objects.

    Other features include:

    • Camera and light synchronization with 3DS Max, Cinema 4D, LightWave, Maya and Softimage XSI for perfectly matching renders.

    • G-Buffer and Multi-Pass rendering with fully anti-aliased masks for advanced compositing.

    • Multi-layer PSD, RLA and RPF file format support for use with Discreet Combustion, Adobe After Effects, etc.

    • Procedural Terrains with sub-pixel detail, whatever the viewing distance.

    • Plant editing technology with full export capabilities and animation support for simulating the effects of wind through trees.

    • Global Illumination and Radiosity.

    • High Dynamic Range Image (HDRI) and Image Based Lighting (IBL).

    • Baking of indirect lighting and advanced illumination controls.

    • SmartGraph advanced function and material editor with full shader customization, advanced time-dependent effects and non photo-realistic rendering.

    • Fast, OpenGL-based pre-rendering engine

    • Hybrid network rendering of single pictures or animations using RenderCow? technology on Windows and MacOS X.

    • AccuShadows advanced shadow mapping technologies.

    • Fast Hybrid 2.5D? motion-blur rendering engine.

    • Python-based application and scene scripting with full access to hundreds of internal functions and structures for customization and creation of new rendering effects.

    • 3D Text, Metablobs, pre-animated meshes, integrated post-processing, camera switching and numerous other productivity and feature enhancements.

    A complete product description, a 5′ video presentation and a detailed list of features are available online at www.e-onsoftware.com/products/vue5infinite. Vue 5 Infinite retails at $599, but Vue 4 Professional users can upgrade for $149 until March 31. Educational versions of are available at $299 for single user licenses, with site licensing also available.

    March 16, 2005

  • More Disney Missions for Kim Possible Duo

    Inspired by the success of creator-centric shows such as Steve Hillenburg’s SpongeBob SquarePants (Nickelodoen), Craig McCracken’s Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends (Cartoon Network) and Butch Hartman’s The FairlyOdd Parents,(Cartoon Network), Disney is apparently taking aggressive steps to keep creative minds in its stable. According to Daily Variety, Walt Disney Television Animation (WDTA) has inked new deals with Kim Possible creators Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle, and Foster’s Home producer Mike Moon.

    The two-year, first-look deals are intended to foster the creation of new hit properties as WDTA looks to expand content offerings on Disney Channel and the Playhouse Disney and Jetix programming blocks.

    Disney has been home to Schooley and McCorkle for the past 15 years. Before launching Kim Possible, which was nominated for a Daytime Emmy this month, they helmed the Emmy Award-winning TV series Disney/Pixar’s Buzz Lightyear of Star Command and Disney’s Hercules. Their new original movie, Kim Possible: So the Drama, will debut on Disney Channel on April 8. They also co-wrote to the script of Sky High, an upcoming live-action superhero family flick starring Kurt Russel, Kelly Peston and Bruce Campbell.

    According to the trade, Moon, art director on The Powerpuff Girls Movie, is attractive to Disney for his signature design sense, which he will bring to his own creations as well as other Mouse House TV productions. The studio, which recently added Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go! and Get Ed to its Jetix action block for boys, plans to launch up to five new shows in 2006.

  • Lucas, Cameron in 3D at ShoWest

    If you thought George Lucas was done tweaking the first film in the Star Wars series, think again. The movie mogul will screen clips of Star Wars: Episode IV–A New Hope converted to 3D as he joins Oscar-winning Titanic director James Cameron in discussing the future of 3D cinema on Thursday, Mar. 17, at ShoWest. The annual motion picture industry convention started Monday and continues through Thursday in Las Vegas.

    Lucas and Cameron will help Texas Instruments showcase its DLP Cinema technology. A Christie CP2000 DLP Cinema projector will be employed to show the audience 3D scenes from Star Wars and Cameron’s documentary, Aliens of the Deep, as well as other live-action and animated features.

    Cameron says that digital 3D projection is ushering in "a new age of cinema." "The biggest action, visual effects and fantasy movies will soon be shot in 3D, and all CG-animated films can easily be converted to 3D, without additional cost, if it is done as they are made," he comments. "Soon audiences will associate 3D with the highest level of visual content in the market, and seek out that premium experience.”

    According to Texas Instruments, more than 310 theaters worldwide have installed projection systems that employ its DLP Cinema technology. The latest Hollywood pic to get the 3D treatment was Warner Bros.’ animated holiday feature, The Polar Express.

    The seminar, “3D: New Dimensions In Digital Cinema,” will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 17. For more information on ShoWest, go to www.showest.com.

  • EA to Unleash More Marvel Mayhem

    Electronic Arts announced today that it has tapped some of the top artists form the comic book industry to produce Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects, a new video game to be released this fall for PlayStation 2, Xbox Nintendo GameCube and the new PSP handheld. The game will feature well-known superheroes from the Marvel Universe will introduce a new set of characters.

    Contributing to the game’s production are renowned comic book illustrator Jae Lee and conceptual artist Paul Catling. Lee has put his mark on high-profile comic book titles in the Spider-Man, Uncanny X-men, X-Factor, Captain America and Transformers Versus G.I. Joe franchises, as well as his own creation, Hellshock. Catling is best known for his concept artwork and character design on Hollywood blockbuster films including Spider-Man 2, Alien Vs. Predator, The Punisher, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

    EA is hyping Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects as "the definitive superhero video game." The title puts players in control of more than a dozen fighters, representing both sides of good and evil, with their own unique super powers.

    The game has spawned a new six-issue comic book mini-series titled Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects, which will begin rolling out this May. The series will see such Marvel heroes as Spider-Man, Wolverine, The Thing and Elektra clash with EA’s Niles Van Roekel, an evil alien scientist out to create a super army of vicious warriors. New EA characters will be unveiled each month leading up to the launch of the game.

    Now under development at Marin County, Calif,-based indie studio Nihilistic Software, Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects is produced at EA Canada and will be released under the EA GAMES brand. For more information, go to www.marvelnemesis.ea.com.

  • What the Bleep, First Contact Voyage Home

    In addition to today’s release of The Incredibles, there’s animation and digital effects to be found in two other home video debuts–What the Bleep Do We Know? and Star Trek: First Contact–Special Collector’s Edition.

    Made by William Arntz, Betsy Chasse and Mark Vicente, The experimental documentary What the Bleep Do We Know? strives to make basic theories of quantum physics accessible and entertaining for the average person. Hosted by Marlee Matlin (Children of a Lesser God, TV’s The West Wing), the film employs digital effects and amusing character animation in illustrating talking head interviews with leading physicists, neurologists, anesthesiologists, physicians molecular biologists, spiritual teachers, mystics and scholars. The highly engrossing film ultimately raises more questions than it answers, but given the title, that seems to be the aim. If pondering the concepts behind The Matrix blew your mind, this is right up your alley.

    What the Bleep’s vfx and 3D animation were handled by Atomic of Capetown, South Africa, Lost Boys Studio in Vancouver and Mr. X in Toronto. DVD extra features include a Q&A with the directors, a music video and a featurette titled The Top 5 Bleeps. The Fox Home Entertainment release carries a suggested retail price of $29.98. More information can be found at www.whatthebleep.com.

    The 1996 feature voyage of the Starship Enterprise is back on shelves with a special collector’s edition. Directed by cast member Jonathan Frakes, Star Trek: First Contact reunites Star Trek: The Next Generation stars Patrick Stewart, Marina Siritis, Alfre Woodard, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, LeVar Burton and Gates McFadden. The story has the Enterprise crew following the Borg back in time to prevent them from impeding Earth’s first contact with alien life.

    This deluxe, two-disc edition is packed with extra features, including commentary by Frakes and screenwriters Brannon Braga and Ronald Moore; and text commentary by Michael Okuda and Denise Okuda. Featurettes include a tribute to Jerry Goldsmith, The Star Trek Universe and The Legacy of Zefram Cochrane, First Contact: The Possibilities, The Borg Collective, Unimatrix One and The Queen. There are also several behind-the-scenes production featurettes, storyboards, a photo gallery, trailers and more. The Paramount Home Entertainment release lists for $19.99 on DVD.

  • Vinton Studios, Selick Mount Wall and the Wing

    Bouncing back from the disappointing reception his 2001 effort, Monkeybone, received from critics and the ticket buying public, director Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach) is ready to take the animation world by storm again. The cool stop-motion animation creature effects in Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou were just a warm-up for the slate of projects on his plate since joining Portland-based Vinton Studios in May of 2004. The latest is an adaptation of Laura Ruby’s second novel, The Wall and the Wing, a fantasy yarn to be published by HarperCollins in 2006.

    In its aggressive move into animated feature film production, Vinton Studios preemptively paid a high six-figure sum for rights to The Wall and the Wing. Selick will direct the film after completing his CG short, Moongirl, and his feature-length adaptation of best-selling author Neil Gaiman’s children’s novel, Coraline, both for Vinton Studios. While Coraline will be animated with stop-motion, Vinton hasn’t released any details of the animation style to be used for The Wall and the Wing.

    The Wall and the Wing is described as a magical adventure set in a bizarre Dahl-esque Manhattan, where a group of orphans have had their memories stolen in a plot to re-write the history of the world. In Ruby’s vision of New York City, everyone can fly and two feisty orphans have very special, supernatural gifts, which they must use to protect themselves from unscrupulous adults. Selick says the tale has a Dickensian feel, but he was drawn to the humor. "Not every story has an orphanage matron with a plastic surgery obsession or a bad guy who was a former child model for No Pee Pull-up Pants. Laura Ruby has an amazing sense of humor which informs each and every character."

    Most famous for commercial work such as the California Raisins spots and animated TV shows such as the short-lived The PJs and Gary and Mike, Vinton Studios made its first foray into features as the co-producer of the eagerly awaited Tim Burton/Warner Bros. stop-motion Corpse Bride.

    Lily’s Ghosts, the first novel from Chicago-based Ruby, was a Parent’s Choice Silver Honor Award winner and a nominee for the 2004 Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery. She also writes fiction for adults. Her short story collection, I Am Julia Roberts, will be published by Warner Books in early 2007.