Animation Insider News http://www.animationinsider.net/ en-us Copyright 2009 Animation Insider http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2370 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2370 Japan auction and shipping service Rinkya, Inc. has helped U.S. consumers with purchase and payment of Japanese products and cultural memorabilia for years. Now, the Tempe, AZ-based small business is expanding to include buyers in France as well. The online bidding service helps with translation, payment, and shipping of items purchased from Japan shopping sites. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:13:06 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2369 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2369 A few licensing highlights touching on children's entertainment and animation. Among others, Cartoon Network prepares a new line of t-shirts for it's now classic, original programming, such as 'Samurai Jack' and 'Dexter's Laboratory'; and Classic Media is hard at work securing apparel licensing for preschool animation 'Tinga Tinga Tales.' Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:13:16 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2368 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2368 Review of the premiere of the new animated series 'Adventure Time with Finn & Jake.' The story of an excitable kid and his magical dog, this cartoon is all sorts of strange. Finn's journeys are delightful if extraordinarily weird and pointless, punctuated by incredible background art and goofy character animation. 'Adventure Time' is best suited for viewers with small attention spans. Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:18:32 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2367 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2367 Comedy Central is ready to premiere the new animated series 'Ugly Americans,' produced by Augenblick Studios and Cuppa Coffee Studios. The sci-fi horror mix follows an NYC immigration counselor, Mark, as he helps naturalize the various beasts and demons who populate the city. Working at the Department of Integration is a lot easier said than done. 'Ugly Americans' airs after the season fourteen premiere of 'South Park.' Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:18:03 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2358 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2358 Review of the animation collection 'Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic.' In a retelling of Alighieri's 14th Century Epic Poem, 'Dante's inferno: An Animated Epic' is unintentionally hilarious romp through the nine levels of the Inferno. The six different visions of the underworld provided by Film Roman, Manglobe, Production I.G, and others, with excellent voice acting, give an otherwise shoddy production some credence. Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:18:37 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2366 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2366 Nickelodeon's early-education television animation 'Dora the Explorer' enters its tenth year on-air in summer 2010. Throughout the year, Nick will be partner with various parent and education groups to promote academic readiness. Although Dora and her friends will be at the center of various promotional programming, Nickelodeon will be at work on their new "Beyond the Backpack" initiative. Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:21:52 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2365 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2365 Highlights of Disney Channel and Disney XD programming for the 2010-2011 seasons. The upfront presentation sported a few animation acknowledgments, from 'Phineas and Ferb' to 'Kick Buttowski,' noting what additional new, original properties ('Fish Hooks,' 'Jake and the Never Land Pirates') will take to the air for teen and preschool audiences in the coming months. Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:21:47 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2352 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2352 Review for the anime series, 'El Cazador de la Bruja.' When bounty huntress Nadie was given the task of protecting a mysterious girl named Ellis, she had no idea what she was getting into. Being chased themselves by enigmatic agencies and money-hungry bounty hunters, the unlikely pair similarly chase after Ellis' past. It's an action-adventure with girls, guns, and mystery. Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:20:02 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2363 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2363 The nominations are in for Cartoons on the Bay's 2010 Pulcinella Awards. Categories ranging from preschool television to multimedia programming chronicle the current and future success of animated programming across international waters. This is Italy's The Cartoons on the Bay International Television and Multimedia Animation Festival. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:14:18 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2362 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2362 Animation and Licensing firm PixTrend (Seoul, South Korea) has earned local and international co-production partners for its new animated television series 'The Adventures of ChiChi.' The cartoon follows a little witch-in-training as she embarks on a journey to discover herself, and locate her long lost parents. Partners on the animation include Millimages (France), XIIIN (South Korea), and Neon Pumpkin (South Korea). Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:14:56 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2364 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2364 Highlight of a animation video that made its way around the 'net in February 2010. Five items are noted here: a compelling music video produced by Oslo-based TOXIC; an amusing TV spot about a ski resort for swingers by Wexley School for Girls; video trailers for Shyamalan's 'The Last Airbender' and more. A sampling of local, international, and commercial animation and visual effects in the news. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:14:16 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2361 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2361 Highlights and summaries of appointments and promotions for businesses producing, and distribution animation and kid's entertainment; for the month of February 2010. News ranges from Nickelodeon Animation to HIT Entertainment; and from Spin Master Entertainment to Chorion. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:18:55 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2360 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2360 The Disney Animation Research Library is partnering with the Getty Conservation Institute, whom has joined a consortium of facilities knee-deep in researching and analyzing the degradation of plastics (and use of plastics in art). The three-year project will find scientists employing various methods to determine the physical properties of cel plastics and various chemical-specifics key to the deterioration of animation art over the years. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:18:50 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2359 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2359 Illustrators Andy Rash and Dan Yaccarino are teaming to co-develop an animated series based on Rash's children's book 'Agent A to Agent Z.' Both are accomplished artists and accomplished children's book authors. Yaccarino in particular is noted for his character design ('The Backyardigans') and recent animated series creation ('Willa's Wild Life'). Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:18:40 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2357 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2357 Review of the season one 'Superjail!' animation release. Produced by Augenblick Studios for late night cable channel Adult Swim, 'Superjail!' is a delightful contortion of Flash animation, but in its novelty threatens to fall prey to more elementary constructions. In the series, a wily and demented warden operates a gigantic prison wrought with preposterous levels of violence. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:14:22 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2356 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2356 The second season of the martial arts anime 'Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple' enters the home video market in the coming weeks. Following previously feeble high schooler, Kenichi Shirahama, the anime now tracks the student as he steps it up a notch. Kenichi is tough, but viewers have yet to see him take the brunt of his masters' advanced teaching. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:14:21 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2355 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2355 Capsule look ahead at the March 2010 Blu-ray Disc release schedule for anime. From Bandai, the 'Eureka Seven' movie finally arrives, and the online-only-release of 'Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn' enters the fray. From FUNimation, both seasons of the action series 'Gunslinger Girl' and tearjerker/comedy 'Ouran High School Host Club' find their way to Blu-ray Disc; among others. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:13:39 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2354 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2354 The New York International Children's Film Festival returns this year with a swath of Stateside premiers for prominent Japanese and French feature animation: 'Kerity: La Maison des Contes' (France), 'Summer Wars' (Japan), 'Mai Mai Miracle' (Japan), and others. The New York Int'l Children's Film Fest will also include a 50-year retrospective of France animation, in addition to the usual array of short film screenings. Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:13:36 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2353 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2353 Pop Life: Art in a Material World, curated in three cities around the world, brings pop art to center stage. Notable artists in this exhibition include Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, multimedia artist Ashley Bickerton, and several others. The long-since merged worlds of advertising, commercial interests, and art are on display from classic and contemporary artists alike. Curated in London, Hamburg, and Ottawa. Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:13:24 EST http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2350 http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2350 A dash of the supernatural in the everyday, 'Yozakura Quartet' tracks four teens with unique abilities -- unnatural strength, telekinesis, conjuring -- serving as an authority in a town where humans and demons coexist. The Hiizumi Life Counseling Office is run by a young man named Akina, who himself has a rather substantial power as well. 'Yozakura Quartet' is available early March 2010. Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:17:06 EST