Digital Media FX News Archives

Monday - March 26, 2001
- And the Winner Is...
- Release Charts: Animated, FX, and Anime DVDs
- Voice of Casper and Gumby Passes Away
- News Link of the Day - Norma Macmillan, Voice of Casper and Gumby, Dead

And the Winner Is...
(by digitalmediafx.com) Here are the winners in the animation and visual effects related categories from last night's Academy Awards:

Best Animated Short Film
"Father and Daughter"

"Father and Daughter" beat out "The Periwig-Maker" and "Rejected" for the Oscar. "Father and Daughter" was created by Michael Dudok de Wit. It is an 8 minute presentation using the technique of pencil and charcoal with digital coloring.

"Father and Daughter" Credits
Direction, Design, Story, & Backgrounds: Michael Dudok de Wit
Producers: Claire Jennings and Willem Thijssen
Animation: Michael Dudok de Wit and Arjan Wilschut
Music: Normand Roger in collaboration with Denis Chartrand
Sound: Jean-Baptiste Roger
Description: "A father says goodbye to his young daughter and leaves. As the wide Dutch landscapes live through their seasons so the girl lives through hers. She becomes a young woman, has a family and in time she becomes old, yet within her there is always a deep longing for her father."

Best Visual Effects
Gladiator

Gladiator walked away with an Oscar for Best Visual Effects, beating out The Perfect Storm and Hollow Man. The four visual effects members honored with the award were John Nelson, Neil Corbould, Tim Burke, and Rob Harvey

"Things Have Changed" from Wonder Boys by Bob Dylan took the "Best Original Song" Academy Award, beating out "My Funny Friend and Me" from The Emperor's New Groove.

Next year's Academy Awards will be of particular interest to animation fans because of the addition of a "Best Animated Feature" award.

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Release Charts: Animated, FX, and Anime DVDs
(by digitalmediafx.com) It's a huge day for anime fans tomorrow as over a dozen anime titles are being released to DVD.

Charlie's Angles (containing many visual effects shots)
Flint the Time Detective - Can't We All (anime)
Flint the Time Detective - The Sands of Time (anime)
Gasaraki - Vol. 4: From the Ashes (1998 - anime)
Generator Gawl Vol. 3 - Secrets and Lies (1999 - anime)
Gunsmith Cats - Bulletproof (manga)
I Dream of Mimi (anime)
Pokemon - The Johto Journeys: A Brand New World (anime)
Pokemon - The Johto Journeys: Midnight Guardian (anime)
Red Planet (2000 - several visual effects shots)
Rugrats in Paris - The Movie (2000 - animated)
Samurai X - The Motion Picture (1997 - anime)
Shadowraiders Vol. 2: A Dangerous Enemy (1998 - anime)
Sorcerer Hunters - Magical Encounters (anime)
Street Fighter II V Series Volume 3 (anime)
Street Fighter II V Series Volume 4 (anime)
The Tenchi Universe Collection VIII - The Last Battle (1995 - anime)
Trigun - Puppet Master - Vol. 7 (1999 - anime)
Twin Signal DVD - Subtitled and Dubbed (1996 - anime)

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Voice of Casper and Gumby Passes Away
(by digitalmediafx.com) Last week's passing of William Hanna wasn't the only death in the animation world. Norma Macmillan, the voice of Casper, Gumby, and dozens of other animated characters died from a heart attack at the age of 79.

According to CNN, "Macmillan entertained a generation of children by giving a voice to popular cartoon characters such as Casper, the mild-mannered ghost who refused to frighten children, and Sweet Polly Purebread of the Underdog series."

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News Link of the Day - Norma Macmillan, Voice of Casper and Gumby, Dead

According to CNN:

"Norma Macmillan, an actress who performed the voice of Casper the Friendly Ghost and other animated characters, has died of a heart attack at age 79, her husband said Wednesday.

Thor Arngrim said his wife of 47 years had a healthy heart until it suddenly gave out Friday..."

Click here for the full story.

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