Not-So-Daily Link of the Day: Fintecs, a Tokyo-based firm that has been making manuals for other companies since 1987, launched its new manga manual service on September 28. Instead of a traditional manual with text and diagrams, FINTECS offers to draft an "easy-to-understand" manga with its new "Manga de Tsukuru Manual" service. It also offers to turn pamphlets, catalogs, flyers, websites, and sales and promotional materials into either story-telling manga or four-panel manga.
With over 200 contracted manga creators, the company says it can delivery a 24-page monochrome manga in any desired art style in about 30 days. (Color is optional.) The company has a five-step pipeline that begins with hearing the client's goals and creating the story and characters. Then the company takes care of the actual drawing of the manga, coloring or other finishing touches, and delivering the completed work.
On Thursday, a different company called KaBa Net launched its "Manga no Shimbun" website in which it reports on daily news by drawing new pages of manga every day.
2009年10月18日星期日
2009年10月14日星期三
Summer Wars, Life-Size Gundam Statue Win Awards
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-10-14/summer-wars-life-size-gundam-statue-win-awards
Mamoru Hosoda's Summer Wars anime feature has won the highest award within the Anima't section at this year's Sitges film festival, which critics consider to be the most prestigious festival in the world for fantasy cinema. It has been three years since a Japanese work won the Spanish festival's highest animation award; not coincidentally, Hosoda also won the Gertie for The Girl Who Leapt Through Time in 2006. "Le Petit Dragon" by French director Bruno Collet won this year's Gertie in the animated short category, while "Panique au village" by fellow French directors Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar won the children's animation category.
The festival also screened the world premiere of Kazuyoshi Katayama's anime film adaptation of Yuji Iwahara's King of Thorn manga. Mizuho Nishikubo's Musashi: The Dream of the Last Samurai and Takashi Miike's live-action Yatterman film competed in the Sitges Film Festival's Official Fantastic Film Competition. Along with Summer Wars, the Official Fantastic Panorama Section featured Miike's live-action Crows Zero II film. Yukihiko Tsutsumi's second and third live-action 20th Century Boys films joined Kazuaki Kiriya's live-action Goemon in the Orient Express-Casa Asia program.
My Neighbor Totoro, Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror, and Yona Yona Penguin were part of the Anima't Nens section. Besides the King of Thorn film, the festival's Anima't program screened Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (Evangelion Shin Gekijōban: Ha), First Squad - The Moment Of Truth, and Genius Party Beyond. The live-action films Tetsuo: The Bulletman, Samurai Princess, Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl, and Yamagata Scream completed the lineup of films from Japan.
In a separate development, Green Tokyo Gundam Project's 18-meter-tall (59-feet-tall), "life-size" Gundam statue won one of this year's Best 15 Good Design Awards in Tokyo on October 1. The robot statue stood at Tokyo Bay's artificial Odaiba island this past summer. The judges from the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization praised the project for bringing an element from the virtual world of anime into reality and noted that it "moved the hearts of 4.15 million people." Most of the winners are on display at the Good Design Exhibition 2009 in Tokyo — although a 1/30 scale mockup substituted for the already disassembled Gundam statue.
This year's other Good Design Award winners include the Panasonic EP-MS40 massage chair, the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius hybrid cars, Toto's Restroom Item 01 public toilet, and two flat-screen televisions from Samsung and Sony.
Summer Wars and the life-size Gundam statue also won awards this year's Digital Content Awards.
News Corp., Libery Media Show Interest in NBC Universal
www.awn.com
Comcast might have a fight on its hands. News Corp. and Liberty Media are both interested in a deal with NBC Universal even while Comcast tries get its own deal locked down, according to The Hollywood Reporter, citing a report by CNBC.
Comcast is reportedly in talks with General Electric, the parent of NBC Universal, to buy a controlling stake in the broadcast, cable and movie company, but other suitors could stymie those plans.
News Corp. would almost certainly face antitrust concerns since it already owns the Fox TV network and The Wall Street Journal and Liberty Media might be interested in taking a minority stake as it has done with other big media companies of late.
Comcast might have a fight on its hands. News Corp. and Liberty Media are both interested in a deal with NBC Universal even while Comcast tries get its own deal locked down, according to The Hollywood Reporter, citing a report by CNBC.
Comcast is reportedly in talks with General Electric, the parent of NBC Universal, to buy a controlling stake in the broadcast, cable and movie company, but other suitors could stymie those plans.
News Corp. would almost certainly face antitrust concerns since it already owns the Fox TV network and The Wall Street Journal and Liberty Media might be interested in taking a minority stake as it has done with other big media companies of late.
2009年10月10日星期六
Cartoon Network Asia Announces Partnership with Animasia
according to www.awn.com
Press Release from Cartoon Network Asia
HONG KONG (October 8, 2009) Cartoon Network Asia announced a strategic content partnership with Animasia, one of Malaysia’s leading creative studios, to produce a cricket based property about a group of local Indian kids who aspire to play in the biggest inter-school cricket championships. The film is slated to premiere on Cartoon Network in India in the second half of 2010.
At a special ceremony at MIPCOM, Mark Eyers, Vice President, Content, Cartoon Network, and Edmund Chan, Managing Director, Animasia presented the Guest of Honour, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak with a golden cricket bat to symbolize the partnership with Animasia, as well as Cartoon Network’s commitment to nurturing creative talent in Malaysia.
Mark Eyers said, “Just as in cricket, being number one in the kids’ space requires an understanding of the pitch conditions, regular innovations and getting the big hits out there. In this creative venture we are striving for a six and in Animasia, we have found the right partner to take the score to the next level, by producing popular original content.
We are delighted to be supporting not only the creative talent from this dynamic studio but also the Malaysian animation industry as a whole.”
Edmund Chan, Managing Director, Animasia said, “Being able to partner with Cartoon Network to further develop one of Animasia’s original concepts makes me very proud of our Malaysian talents. This collaboration will bring great benefits and confidence to the Malaysian animation industry. Let us bowl for a good start with Cartoon Network and trust that this animated cricket concept will score great success for both Animasia and Cartoon Network.”
About the property
Sachin is a young boy who eats, sleeps and dreams cricket. The only problem is his school doesn't think so. Sachin decides to do it on his own and picks his team of 11 students. Together they work hard towards making enough time and opportunities to convince the school to send them to the biggest cricket championship in the city. But without hard work, no dream can be achieved. And to teach them just that they have a coach who thinks they have it them to make it big. This is the story of a motley bunch of kids with their own aspirations and problems and how they work together to become winners. It's a story filled with hope and it's a journey of the underdog's dream of making it to the top!
About Cartoon Network
Launched in the Asia Pacific in 1994, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s (TBS) Cartoon Network (www.cartoonnetworkasia.com) offers the best in animated entertainment. Drawing from the world’s largest cartoon library of Warner Bros., MGM and Hanna-Barbera titles, the Network also showcases original series including BEN 10, BEN 10: Alien Force, Chowder, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, The Powerpuff Girls and The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Cartoon Network is the number one channel for kids in Asia Pacific and is currently enjoyed by over 91 million viewers in the region. Online, Cartoon Network reaches close to 3 million unique visitors a month in Asia Pacific.
About Animasia Studio Sdn Bhd (ASSB)
Animasia Studio Sdn Bhd (ASSB) (www.animasia-studio.com) is an award-winning content creation studio specializing in animation and multimedia services. A fully certified multimedia company by the Malaysia Government and a studio awarded with FINAS Licenses and Treasury (Kewangan) Licenses, Animasia Studio provides one-stop solutions for the production of digital content for the government and private sectors, both locally and abroad.
Press Release from Cartoon Network Asia
HONG KONG (October 8, 2009) Cartoon Network Asia announced a strategic content partnership with Animasia, one of Malaysia’s leading creative studios, to produce a cricket based property about a group of local Indian kids who aspire to play in the biggest inter-school cricket championships. The film is slated to premiere on Cartoon Network in India in the second half of 2010.
At a special ceremony at MIPCOM, Mark Eyers, Vice President, Content, Cartoon Network, and Edmund Chan, Managing Director, Animasia presented the Guest of Honour, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak with a golden cricket bat to symbolize the partnership with Animasia, as well as Cartoon Network’s commitment to nurturing creative talent in Malaysia.
Mark Eyers said, “Just as in cricket, being number one in the kids’ space requires an understanding of the pitch conditions, regular innovations and getting the big hits out there. In this creative venture we are striving for a six and in Animasia, we have found the right partner to take the score to the next level, by producing popular original content.
We are delighted to be supporting not only the creative talent from this dynamic studio but also the Malaysian animation industry as a whole.”
Edmund Chan, Managing Director, Animasia said, “Being able to partner with Cartoon Network to further develop one of Animasia’s original concepts makes me very proud of our Malaysian talents. This collaboration will bring great benefits and confidence to the Malaysian animation industry. Let us bowl for a good start with Cartoon Network and trust that this animated cricket concept will score great success for both Animasia and Cartoon Network.”
About the property
Sachin is a young boy who eats, sleeps and dreams cricket. The only problem is his school doesn't think so. Sachin decides to do it on his own and picks his team of 11 students. Together they work hard towards making enough time and opportunities to convince the school to send them to the biggest cricket championship in the city. But without hard work, no dream can be achieved. And to teach them just that they have a coach who thinks they have it them to make it big. This is the story of a motley bunch of kids with their own aspirations and problems and how they work together to become winners. It's a story filled with hope and it's a journey of the underdog's dream of making it to the top!
About Cartoon Network
Launched in the Asia Pacific in 1994, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s (TBS) Cartoon Network (www.cartoonnetworkasia.com) offers the best in animated entertainment. Drawing from the world’s largest cartoon library of Warner Bros., MGM and Hanna-Barbera titles, the Network also showcases original series including BEN 10, BEN 10: Alien Force, Chowder, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, The Powerpuff Girls and The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Cartoon Network is the number one channel for kids in Asia Pacific and is currently enjoyed by over 91 million viewers in the region. Online, Cartoon Network reaches close to 3 million unique visitors a month in Asia Pacific.
About Animasia Studio Sdn Bhd (ASSB)
Animasia Studio Sdn Bhd (ASSB) (www.animasia-studio.com) is an award-winning content creation studio specializing in animation and multimedia services. A fully certified multimedia company by the Malaysia Government and a studio awarded with FINAS Licenses and Treasury (Kewangan) Licenses, Animasia Studio provides one-stop solutions for the production of digital content for the government and private sectors, both locally and abroad.
VIZ Media Announces The Captivating Epilogue to Boys Over Flowers
According to www.awn.com
Press Release from VIZ Media
San Francisco, CA, October 8, 2009– VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, delights fans of shojo manga (graphic novels for girls) with the announcement of the upcoming release of BOYS OVER FLOWERS: JEWELRY BOX on October 13th. The new volume is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.
BOYS OVER FLOWERS: JEWELRY BOX is a collection of two new short stories by Yoko Kamio, the creator of the acclaimed BOYS OVER FLOWERS series. The new epilogue takes place one year after the end of the original BOYS OVER FLOWERS story, which concluded with Volume 36. It also contains a section with some of the important events in the series that show the characters maturing, plus a special bonus strip!
“Yoko Kamio, one of the most beloved shojo manga creators of all time, just couldn't stay away from some of her favorite characters and we’re proud to announce the publication of BOYS OVER FLOWERS: JEWELRY BOX,” says Candice Uyloan, Product Marketing Director, VIZ Media “This volume serves as a fitting conclusion to a series that helped to establish the shojo manga genre in the U.S. and fans won’t want to miss this chance to get reacquainted with main character Tsukushi.”
Creator Yoko Kamio made her manga debut in 1986 with WAITING UNTIL 20 and her other notable manga series includes I REALLY REALLY LIKE YOU and MARY’S LAMB. Her seminal title BOYS OVER FLOWERS (published in the US by VIZ Media), followed the romantic and social dramas of a girl in high school, broke sales records selling over 35 million copies and went on to become the best-selling shojo manga in Japan. The series went on to win the 1996 Shogakukan Comic Award in the shojo category. BOYS OVER FLOWERS was also adapted into a successful animated series and live action film.
For more information on this title as well as other shojo titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.viz.com.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including the popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages.
Press Release from VIZ Media
San Francisco, CA, October 8, 2009– VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, delights fans of shojo manga (graphic novels for girls) with the announcement of the upcoming release of BOYS OVER FLOWERS: JEWELRY BOX on October 13th. The new volume is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.
BOYS OVER FLOWERS: JEWELRY BOX is a collection of two new short stories by Yoko Kamio, the creator of the acclaimed BOYS OVER FLOWERS series. The new epilogue takes place one year after the end of the original BOYS OVER FLOWERS story, which concluded with Volume 36. It also contains a section with some of the important events in the series that show the characters maturing, plus a special bonus strip!
“Yoko Kamio, one of the most beloved shojo manga creators of all time, just couldn't stay away from some of her favorite characters and we’re proud to announce the publication of BOYS OVER FLOWERS: JEWELRY BOX,” says Candice Uyloan, Product Marketing Director, VIZ Media “This volume serves as a fitting conclusion to a series that helped to establish the shojo manga genre in the U.S. and fans won’t want to miss this chance to get reacquainted with main character Tsukushi.”
Creator Yoko Kamio made her manga debut in 1986 with WAITING UNTIL 20 and her other notable manga series includes I REALLY REALLY LIKE YOU and MARY’S LAMB. Her seminal title BOYS OVER FLOWERS (published in the US by VIZ Media), followed the romantic and social dramas of a girl in high school, broke sales records selling over 35 million copies and went on to become the best-selling shojo manga in Japan. The series went on to win the 1996 Shogakukan Comic Award in the shojo category. BOYS OVER FLOWERS was also adapted into a successful animated series and live action film.
For more information on this title as well as other shojo titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.viz.com.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including the popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages.
2009年10月7日星期三
The Simpsons Sequel Will Have to Wait
According to http://www.awn.com/
THE SIMPSONS creators have ruled out making a sequel for the big screen, at least until the TV series ends, Variety reports.
Matt Groening and showrunner Al Jean were being interviewed at MIPCOM when they said a sequel would be unlikely since it was so exhausting making the series while producing the first film.
"It took 18 years to get around to doing the movie," Groening said. "We got very frustrated. We thought it would take two years but it ended up taking four. Some day maybe we'll do another one -- but don't hold your breath."
The pair made no prediction as to when the cartoon, which is now in its 21st season, might come to an end.
"We cannot predict the end because we can't believe we are still here today," Groening said.
Jean added, "We are contracted to do two more seasons following this one. I gave up predicting the end a long time ago."
THE SIMPSONS creators have ruled out making a sequel for the big screen, at least until the TV series ends, Variety reports.
Matt Groening and showrunner Al Jean were being interviewed at MIPCOM when they said a sequel would be unlikely since it was so exhausting making the series while producing the first film.
"It took 18 years to get around to doing the movie," Groening said. "We got very frustrated. We thought it would take two years but it ended up taking four. Some day maybe we'll do another one -- but don't hold your breath."
The pair made no prediction as to when the cartoon, which is now in its 21st season, might come to an end.
"We cannot predict the end because we can't believe we are still here today," Groening said.
Jean added, "We are contracted to do two more seasons following this one. I gave up predicting the end a long time ago."
Revolving Door For Many Studio Executives in Hollywood
According to http://www.awn.com/
The Los Angeles Times has a long feature about the recent trend of studio executives getting sacked wherein it compares the turmoil in Hollywood to that of a slasher flick.
"Hollywood is in a state of panic-producing turmoil," the LA Times writes, adding that studio executive turnover has reached an "epidemic level."
Dick Cook was recently fired as studio chief at Disney and Universal Pictures dismissed chairmen Marc Shmuger and David Linde on Monday.
Popular opinion blames plummeting DVD sales for the dry spell that's making most media companies crack under the pressure. DVD sales have dropped by as much as 25 percent at some studios, which wouldn't be so bad if outside financing was more readily available.
The article's three writers make strong predictions as to where the new studio executives will look for solutions: "Expect an even greater emphasis on so-called "branded entertainment": sequels and movies based on toys, old television shows and other familiar themes. Movies already in development include one based on the View-Master children's toy and an adaptation of the board game BATTLESHIP, scheduled for release July 2011, the same month as a third TRANSFORMERS film. There also will likely be far fewer adult dramas and less reliance on movie stars -- many of whom can no longer draw ticket buyers, and are seeing their guaranteed salaries slashed."
The LA Times also notes that just half of Hollywood's major studios -- Warner Bros., Sony and 20th Century Fox -- have not suffered any significant leadership shake-ups this year.
"There's been more change in the last 18 months than in the preceding 18 years," Mark Gill, CEO of the Film Department, an independent film finance company, told the LA Times.
The Los Angeles Times has a long feature about the recent trend of studio executives getting sacked wherein it compares the turmoil in Hollywood to that of a slasher flick.
"Hollywood is in a state of panic-producing turmoil," the LA Times writes, adding that studio executive turnover has reached an "epidemic level."
Dick Cook was recently fired as studio chief at Disney and Universal Pictures dismissed chairmen Marc Shmuger and David Linde on Monday.
Popular opinion blames plummeting DVD sales for the dry spell that's making most media companies crack under the pressure. DVD sales have dropped by as much as 25 percent at some studios, which wouldn't be so bad if outside financing was more readily available.
The article's three writers make strong predictions as to where the new studio executives will look for solutions: "Expect an even greater emphasis on so-called "branded entertainment": sequels and movies based on toys, old television shows and other familiar themes. Movies already in development include one based on the View-Master children's toy and an adaptation of the board game BATTLESHIP, scheduled for release July 2011, the same month as a third TRANSFORMERS film. There also will likely be far fewer adult dramas and less reliance on movie stars -- many of whom can no longer draw ticket buyers, and are seeing their guaranteed salaries slashed."
The LA Times also notes that just half of Hollywood's major studios -- Warner Bros., Sony and 20th Century Fox -- have not suffered any significant leadership shake-ups this year.
"There's been more change in the last 18 months than in the preceding 18 years," Mark Gill, CEO of the Film Department, an independent film finance company, told the LA Times.
2009年10月6日星期二
Rich Ross Named Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios
Press Release from Walt Disney Studios
BURBANK, Calif., October 5, 2009 -- Rich Ross, President of Disney Channels Worldwide, has been named Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, it was announced today by Disney President and CEO Robert A. Iger.
Ross will oversee worldwide production, distribution and marketing for the company’s range of live-action and feature animated film labels, including Walt Disney, Touchstone, Miramax and Disney/Pixar. In his new role, which he assumes immediately, he will also head Disney’s theatrical and music groups.
In his thirteen years at Disney, Ross has consistently created hit original programming, effectively expanded a worldwide creative and distribution organization, skillfully built the Disney brand with global franchises that work across borders and technology platforms and put in place a strong management team.
“Rich has an outstanding record of creating high-quality family entertainment that delights audiences around the world,” said Iger. “With his success in building the Disney brand across many of our businesses, his astute marketing sensibility, his proven ability in working effectively with talent and his skill at navigating complex global markets, I’m confident he’s the perfect leader for our studio group.”
“I am very excited to play a key role in continuing the storytelling legacy of The Walt Disney Studios. There has never been a better time to entertain our global audiences with high- quality and compelling content and introduce new characters that will become family favorites. I look forward to working with Bob, the team at the studios and all of our Disney family towards that goal,” said Ross.
Under Ross’s leadership, the performance of Disney Channels Worldwide has been consistently strong in both creative and competitive terms, in the U.S. and globally. The group now includes a total of 94 channels and channel feeds available in 163 countries in 32 languages and features such brands as the flagship Disney Channel, the boy-focused Disney XD and Playhouse Disney for younger kids.
Ross has also overseen the growth of Radio Disney and of the group’s multiplatform offerings, which includes subscription video-on-demand and content-rich broadband websites DisneyXD.com and DisneyChannel.com, the number one kid’s entertainment website among Kids 6-14.
In the U.S., Disney Channel has been the #1 TV network among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14 for the last seven and nine years respectively, buoyed by such breakout series as Lizzie McGuire, That’s So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place and Sonny With A Chance. Stars of Disney Channel programs, including Raven-Symone, Selena Gomez, Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus, have become household names.
Disney Channel’s record with original movies is equally impressive. With recent blockbusters like High School Musical 2, Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie and Camp Rock, Disney Channel can claim cable’s top two movies of all time and three of the top five.
Disney Channel programming has also helped build other Disney businesses, including the quadruple-Platinum-selling Hannah Montana soundtrack and the number one US album in 2006, High School Musical soundtrack. Books, stage shows, feature films, video games and merchandise featuring original Disney Channel characters have become a critical part of The Walt Disney Company’s success in recent years.
Ross joined Disney in 1996 as Disney Channel’s Senior Vice President, Programming and Production and was promoted to positions of increasing responsibility before being named Disney Channel president in April 2004. Prior to his tenure at Disney, he was a member of the executive team that launched FX Networks. Ross also held several senior positions at Nickelodeon from 1986 to 1993 where he oversaw talent booking, casting and program development and was involved in the launch of the channel’s first successful syndicated show and its first international network.
Ross is a member of the Board of Directors for Hollywood Radio Television Society and Cable in the Classroom – an organization that represents the cable telecommunication industry’s commitment to education. A native of New York and a 1983 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International and English, Ross received his J.D. degree from New York’s Fordham University in 1986.
BURBANK, Calif., October 5, 2009 -- Rich Ross, President of Disney Channels Worldwide, has been named Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, it was announced today by Disney President and CEO Robert A. Iger.
Ross will oversee worldwide production, distribution and marketing for the company’s range of live-action and feature animated film labels, including Walt Disney, Touchstone, Miramax and Disney/Pixar. In his new role, which he assumes immediately, he will also head Disney’s theatrical and music groups.
In his thirteen years at Disney, Ross has consistently created hit original programming, effectively expanded a worldwide creative and distribution organization, skillfully built the Disney brand with global franchises that work across borders and technology platforms and put in place a strong management team.
“Rich has an outstanding record of creating high-quality family entertainment that delights audiences around the world,” said Iger. “With his success in building the Disney brand across many of our businesses, his astute marketing sensibility, his proven ability in working effectively with talent and his skill at navigating complex global markets, I’m confident he’s the perfect leader for our studio group.”
“I am very excited to play a key role in continuing the storytelling legacy of The Walt Disney Studios. There has never been a better time to entertain our global audiences with high- quality and compelling content and introduce new characters that will become family favorites. I look forward to working with Bob, the team at the studios and all of our Disney family towards that goal,” said Ross.
Under Ross’s leadership, the performance of Disney Channels Worldwide has been consistently strong in both creative and competitive terms, in the U.S. and globally. The group now includes a total of 94 channels and channel feeds available in 163 countries in 32 languages and features such brands as the flagship Disney Channel, the boy-focused Disney XD and Playhouse Disney for younger kids.
Ross has also overseen the growth of Radio Disney and of the group’s multiplatform offerings, which includes subscription video-on-demand and content-rich broadband websites DisneyXD.com and DisneyChannel.com, the number one kid’s entertainment website among Kids 6-14.
In the U.S., Disney Channel has been the #1 TV network among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14 for the last seven and nine years respectively, buoyed by such breakout series as Lizzie McGuire, That’s So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place and Sonny With A Chance. Stars of Disney Channel programs, including Raven-Symone, Selena Gomez, Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus, have become household names.
Disney Channel’s record with original movies is equally impressive. With recent blockbusters like High School Musical 2, Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie and Camp Rock, Disney Channel can claim cable’s top two movies of all time and three of the top five.
Disney Channel programming has also helped build other Disney businesses, including the quadruple-Platinum-selling Hannah Montana soundtrack and the number one US album in 2006, High School Musical soundtrack. Books, stage shows, feature films, video games and merchandise featuring original Disney Channel characters have become a critical part of The Walt Disney Company’s success in recent years.
Ross joined Disney in 1996 as Disney Channel’s Senior Vice President, Programming and Production and was promoted to positions of increasing responsibility before being named Disney Channel president in April 2004. Prior to his tenure at Disney, he was a member of the executive team that launched FX Networks. Ross also held several senior positions at Nickelodeon from 1986 to 1993 where he oversaw talent booking, casting and program development and was involved in the launch of the channel’s first successful syndicated show and its first international network.
Ross is a member of the Board of Directors for Hollywood Radio Television Society and Cable in the Classroom – an organization that represents the cable telecommunication industry’s commitment to education. A native of New York and a 1983 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International and English, Ross received his J.D. degree from New York’s Fordham University in 1986.
Pixar Releases RenderMan Pro Server 15.0
Press Release from Pixar Animation Studios
EMERYVILLE, CA – (September 30th, 2009) Pixar Animation Studios today released version 15.0 of its Academy Award® winning RenderMan Pro Server software. This landmark release introduces many powerful innovations, including unlimited threading per machine, volume primitives, important additions to the RenderMan Shading Language (RSL), support for Disney's forthcoming open-source Ptex per-face painted textures, imager shaders, an API for subdivision surfaces, and more. RenderMan Pro Server 15.0 also delivers major performance increases for production scene rendering in the areas of ray tracing, ambient occlusion, improved thread scalability, and optimized memory management.
The introduction of unlimited threading enables studios and artists to maximize the full power of their rendering hardware, allowing each license of RenderMan to utilize any number of threads on the latest multi-core platforms. RenderMan Pro Server 15.0 is the first product to introduce unlimited threading, and will be followed by the next versions of RenderMan Studio and RenderMan for Maya.
"RenderMan Pro Server 15.0 packs an impressive number of great new features that we were able to deploy extremely quickly in our pipeline," said Philippe Leprince, CG Pipeline Supervisor at Double Negative, London. "Refinements to the RenderMan Shading Language, texture mapping and threading, allowed us to make our shading pipeline more efficient while increasing overall quality. Ptex by itself is a revolution and we are reeling from the consequences as we integrate it into our upcoming shows."
"With RenderMan Pro Server 15.0's impressive new features and handsome performance improvements, Pixar shows once again that it is not content to rest on its laurels. The perpetual cycle of improvements makes the tools a joy to use and a sound investment too," said Chris Bone, Head of Research and Development at Animal Logic, Sydney.
Availability
RenderMan Pro Server 15.0 is compatible with Mac OS X, Linux 32-bit and 64-bit, Windows XP 32-bit, Windows Vista 32-bit and 64-bit, and Windows Vista 64-bit HPC Server. Separate upgrade pricing from RenderMan Pro Server 14.0 to 15.0 is also available. Evaluation copies of RenderMan Pro Server 15.0 are available upon request. In addition, Pixar's maintenance program benefits customers with access to ongoing support and free upgrades for an annual price. For more information please visit www.pixar.com or contact rendermansales@pixar.com.
About Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is an Academy Award®-winning film studio with world-renowned technical, creative and production capabilities in the art of computer animation. Creator of some of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time, including Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille, WALL•E and most recently, Up. The Northern California studio has won 21 Academy Awards® and its ten films have grossed more than $5 billion at the worldwide box office to date. The next film release from DisneyoPixar is Toy Story 3 (June 18, 2010).
EMERYVILLE, CA – (September 30th, 2009) Pixar Animation Studios today released version 15.0 of its Academy Award® winning RenderMan Pro Server software. This landmark release introduces many powerful innovations, including unlimited threading per machine, volume primitives, important additions to the RenderMan Shading Language (RSL), support for Disney's forthcoming open-source Ptex per-face painted textures, imager shaders, an API for subdivision surfaces, and more. RenderMan Pro Server 15.0 also delivers major performance increases for production scene rendering in the areas of ray tracing, ambient occlusion, improved thread scalability, and optimized memory management.
The introduction of unlimited threading enables studios and artists to maximize the full power of their rendering hardware, allowing each license of RenderMan to utilize any number of threads on the latest multi-core platforms. RenderMan Pro Server 15.0 is the first product to introduce unlimited threading, and will be followed by the next versions of RenderMan Studio and RenderMan for Maya.
"RenderMan Pro Server 15.0 packs an impressive number of great new features that we were able to deploy extremely quickly in our pipeline," said Philippe Leprince, CG Pipeline Supervisor at Double Negative, London. "Refinements to the RenderMan Shading Language, texture mapping and threading, allowed us to make our shading pipeline more efficient while increasing overall quality. Ptex by itself is a revolution and we are reeling from the consequences as we integrate it into our upcoming shows."
"With RenderMan Pro Server 15.0's impressive new features and handsome performance improvements, Pixar shows once again that it is not content to rest on its laurels. The perpetual cycle of improvements makes the tools a joy to use and a sound investment too," said Chris Bone, Head of Research and Development at Animal Logic, Sydney.
Availability
RenderMan Pro Server 15.0 is compatible with Mac OS X, Linux 32-bit and 64-bit, Windows XP 32-bit, Windows Vista 32-bit and 64-bit, and Windows Vista 64-bit HPC Server. Separate upgrade pricing from RenderMan Pro Server 14.0 to 15.0 is also available. Evaluation copies of RenderMan Pro Server 15.0 are available upon request. In addition, Pixar's maintenance program benefits customers with access to ongoing support and free upgrades for an annual price. For more information please visit www.pixar.com or contact rendermansales@pixar.com.
About Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is an Academy Award®-winning film studio with world-renowned technical, creative and production capabilities in the art of computer animation. Creator of some of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time, including Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille, WALL•E and most recently, Up. The Northern California studio has won 21 Academy Awards® and its ten films have grossed more than $5 billion at the worldwide box office to date. The next film release from DisneyoPixar is Toy Story 3 (June 18, 2010).
2009年10月1日星期四
Chinese 3D animation production - King of Elaphurus davidianus will be finished in 6 year 国产三维动画巨制《麋鹿王》6年内将成就“麋鹿三步曲”
www.hltm.net
29日晚，国产三维动画巨制《麋鹿王》在此间首映。制作方称，作为新中国60华诞献礼影片之一，该片将于国庆间登映全国各大院线，并将在未来6年内再推两部系列片成就“麋鹿三步曲”。
据了解，《麋鹿王》耗资3500万元人民币，是一部集动作、喜剧、冒险于一体的动画影片。该片取材自中国古代神话传说，讲述了人类、怪兽、麋鹿三大族群，围绕“麋王宝图”展开的一段奇妙的历险。影片在本土化的剧情中，融入了老庄思想中“阴阳协调”、“天人合一”的世界观。
2009年，《麋鹿王》在第62届戛纳国际电影节中，以短短一分钟的片花而俘获欧洲市场并顺利签下其版权合同，还荣获中国华表奖优秀动画片奖及第27届金鸡奖最佳美术片评委会提名。
第27届金鸡奖评委、全国政协委员、原中国文联副主席仲呈祥评价说，该片的开发者自觉地从中华民族的文化中吸取资源，没有“闭关锁国”，而是充分借鉴了其他国家有益的经验，是一部扎根在扎实土壤中又富有强烈时代感的作品。
影片出品人、保定中科帷幄数码科技有限公司总裁汪帆称，该片在创作间曾六易剧本，始终强调“原创”、“内容为王”。作为业务重点，公司在未来6年内将再推出两部“麋鹿系列”，与目前的《麋鹿王》组成三部曲。
据悉，河北保定是中国文化体制改革综合试点市，动漫业的产、学、研企业和相关单位已发展到100多家，涵盖漫画、插图、动画制作、网络游戏等生产流通的各个领域。
29日晚，国产三维动画巨制《麋鹿王》在此间首映。制作方称，作为新中国60华诞献礼影片之一，该片将于国庆间登映全国各大院线，并将在未来6年内再推两部系列片成就“麋鹿三步曲”。
据了解，《麋鹿王》耗资3500万元人民币，是一部集动作、喜剧、冒险于一体的动画影片。该片取材自中国古代神话传说，讲述了人类、怪兽、麋鹿三大族群，围绕“麋王宝图”展开的一段奇妙的历险。影片在本土化的剧情中，融入了老庄思想中“阴阳协调”、“天人合一”的世界观。
2009年，《麋鹿王》在第62届戛纳国际电影节中，以短短一分钟的片花而俘获欧洲市场并顺利签下其版权合同，还荣获中国华表奖优秀动画片奖及第27届金鸡奖最佳美术片评委会提名。
第27届金鸡奖评委、全国政协委员、原中国文联副主席仲呈祥评价说，该片的开发者自觉地从中华民族的文化中吸取资源，没有“闭关锁国”，而是充分借鉴了其他国家有益的经验，是一部扎根在扎实土壤中又富有强烈时代感的作品。
影片出品人、保定中科帷幄数码科技有限公司总裁汪帆称，该片在创作间曾六易剧本，始终强调“原创”、“内容为王”。作为业务重点，公司在未来6年内将再推出两部“麋鹿系列”，与目前的《麋鹿王》组成三部曲。
据悉，河北保定是中国文化体制改革综合试点市，动漫业的产、学、研企业和相关单位已发展到100多家，涵盖漫画、插图、动画制作、网络游戏等生产流通的各个领域。
Classic Cartoon Character Astro Boy enter Hongkong Madame Tussaudg 经典动画形象阿童木登陆香港杜莎夫人蜡像馆
according to www.hltm.net
This is the first time that a cartoon character moves into Madame Tussaudg.
经典动画形象阿童木登陆香港杜莎夫人蜡像馆，它是杜莎夫人馆中的首位“动漫角色”。
This is the first time that a cartoon character moves into Madame Tussaudg.
经典动画形象阿童木登陆香港杜莎夫人蜡像馆，它是杜莎夫人馆中的首位“动漫角色”。
Janpanese BreadSuperman join in Guinnese Record 面包超人入围吉尼斯
According to www.hltm.net
日本人气动画《面包超人》是以童话作家YANASETAKASHI 在1968年发表的作品为原型，于1973年推出豆沙包脸型的玩偶小人儿书。1988年电视动画片播出后，深受日本孩子们的欢迎。从2002年到2006年，连续五年蝉联“最喜欢的卡通人物”综合第一位。今年9月，动画片因登场卡通人物已达到1700多个而入围了吉尼斯纪录。
趁《面包超人》即将播至一千集，原作者柳濑嵩接受访问时感慨：“当初只是想画个1年的，没想到不知不觉间，就画了20年了。本来现在这个时候我应该已经隐退了，在海外旅游呢。虽然这20年来，即将90岁样子变了不小，但我对面包超人的热爱是一点没变。能够创造出面包超人这个角色，对我来说，真的是上天给我的一份宝贵的礼物。”
去年，在日本横滨港未来21地区“面包超人儿童博物馆”也正式开业了。该博物馆，面积为约6800平方米，内设有剧场的3层的博物馆，还有饮食、售货等22店铺的大型购物中心。在那里可以购买到“面包超人”“咖喱面包人”和“菠萝面包人”脸型面包，可以购买到《面包超人》里登场人物布娃娃，还能购到所有与《面包超人》相关的杂货、书籍、DVD、服装、包包，妇女装饰品以及手工艺用品等。当然，最最吸引孩子们的，是一楼的“淘气街”、二楼的“邂逅街”和三楼的“好友街”所构成的“博物馆”。一楼有可以享受动画片和舞台表演的剧场；二楼准备了乳幼儿用的画画儿和唱歌的空间，孩子们在这里准会快乐得忘记了时间。据统计今年，接待了将近20万人。
日本人气动画《面包超人》是以童话作家YANASETAKASHI 在1968年发表的作品为原型，于1973年推出豆沙包脸型的玩偶小人儿书。1988年电视动画片播出后，深受日本孩子们的欢迎。从2002年到2006年，连续五年蝉联“最喜欢的卡通人物”综合第一位。今年9月，动画片因登场卡通人物已达到1700多个而入围了吉尼斯纪录。
趁《面包超人》即将播至一千集，原作者柳濑嵩接受访问时感慨：“当初只是想画个1年的，没想到不知不觉间，就画了20年了。本来现在这个时候我应该已经隐退了，在海外旅游呢。虽然这20年来，即将90岁样子变了不小，但我对面包超人的热爱是一点没变。能够创造出面包超人这个角色，对我来说，真的是上天给我的一份宝贵的礼物。”
去年，在日本横滨港未来21地区“面包超人儿童博物馆”也正式开业了。该博物馆，面积为约6800平方米，内设有剧场的3层的博物馆，还有饮食、售货等22店铺的大型购物中心。在那里可以购买到“面包超人”“咖喱面包人”和“菠萝面包人”脸型面包，可以购买到《面包超人》里登场人物布娃娃，还能购到所有与《面包超人》相关的杂货、书籍、DVD、服装、包包，妇女装饰品以及手工艺用品等。当然，最最吸引孩子们的，是一楼的“淘气街”、二楼的“邂逅街”和三楼的“好友街”所构成的“博物馆”。一楼有可以享受动画片和舞台表演的剧场；二楼准备了乳幼儿用的画画儿和唱歌的空间，孩子们在这里准会快乐得忘记了时间。据统计今年，接待了将近20万人。
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