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Aldric Chang is a self-professed workaholic creative entrepreneur who has written and produced music, video games, animated cartoon series and over a hundred animation projects. He has over the past few years grown a 2-men animation firm into a 30 odd men strong company today. His 3d animation studio Mediafreaks is a unique vehicle combining animation and entertainment supported by the principles of internet marketing and multiple revenue streams. Aldric Chang is currently focused ... [More]

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Michael Jackson's Top 5 Songs
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Michael Jackson will never be the icon that he is without the songs. Beyond all the scandals, the controversies and the scars throughout the years, there is the music. In fact, all those negative stuff will be forgotten in a few decades but the songs will remain.

Michael Jackson's Health Problems
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The problem with being a superstar is that all eyes are focused on you. One small move and it is already documented, talked about and dissected. So you can just imagine what Michael Jackson had to go through when through the years his appearance started to change.

Michael Jackson - The King of Popularity
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The great dame Elizabeth Taylor gave Michael Jackson his all-popular nickname King of Pop. By its essence, this would mean Popular Music. But with the scope of influence of MJ, this has come to mean popularity. And what a King he is, as evidenced by the global depression of all his fans.

Toontown Virtual World Review - A Virtual World and a Multiplayer Game
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Toontown combines elements of a virtual world with a massively multiplayer game, creating a great mix of action and interactivity. In a sea of violent online games, Toontown, with its adorable characters and family friendly content, will appeal to a large audience. This article tells you if this game is worth your time.

There Virtual World Review - Create an Avatar & Life Out a Virtual Existence in a Fantastical World
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] There is a virtual world where you can create your own avatar and roam around in a 3D world populated by other There.com members. You can interact with other members, build your own houses, dress up your characters, buy stuff for them, etc. In other words, There aims to create an online identity for yourself that reflects the real you, or, as There.com itself puts it, be "everything you've imagined and wished for". This article reviews There.com and tells you if it is worth your time.

Teen Second Life Review - Live Out a Virtual Existence in a Fantasy World
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Teen Second Life is the version of Second Life created especially for teenagers. With tons of features and a diverse, interactive world, Teen Second Life is a great place for your teenager to hangout and make new friends. This article reviews this online virtual world and tells you if it is worth shelling out money for.

Runescape Review - Jump Into a World of Fantasy and Adventure
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Runescape is one of the most popular massively multiplayer online games with millions of players around the world. This article reviews Runescape and tells you if playing this game is worth your time.

Panfu Virtual World Review - Learn Spanish While Having Fun With Friends
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Panfu is a online virtual world for kids with a strong focus on language learning through immersive games. This article reviews Panfu and tells you if it is worth your money and your child's time.

Millsberry Virtual World Review - A Cute and Enjoyable Experience For Kids
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Millsberry is an online virtual world game created by General Mills, the food giant. The virtual world is however 2D and not 3D. Millsberry can be played online and is totally free of cost. This article reviews Millsberry and tells you if this game is worthy of your time and attention.

IMVU Review - Social Networking and Virtual World Combined
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] IMVU combines elements of social networking and virtual world into an enjoyable, addictive mix. This article will tell you everything you needed to know about this virtual sim.

Dizzywood Virtual World Review - A Virtual World For Your Kids to Hang Out At
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Dizzywood is an online virtual world targeted at kids aged 8 to 12. It is basically an exploration plus interaction game. Members are encouraged to look around their environment and interact with other members in order to earn points and rewards. This article reviews this virtual world and tells you if it is worth your time.

Whyville Review - Education and Learning Through Online Virtual Worlds
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Whyville was among the first virtual worlds on the internet, founded in 1999 to study the impact of the internet on learning and education. Combining an entertaining virtual world with tons of learning based games, Whyville helps users explore subjects as diverse as geography, history, architecture, and physics.

Gaia Online Review - The Internet's Online Hangout For Teens
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Gaia Online calls itself an "online hangout" for teenagers. Incorporating a social network, various online forums, a virtual world, and a gaming component, Gaia Online is one of the most popular websites among teenagers and young adults. This article reviews this website and tells you if it is worth your kid's time.

Bella Sara Review - An In-Depth Look at the Latest Virtual World For Girls
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] The Bella Sara virtual world is an extension of the Bella Sara trading cards game. The virtual world and trading cards are targeted towards young girls aged 5-9, and are replete with beautiful horses and magical creatures. This article takes an in-depth look at the Bella Sara virtual world, and tells you if it is worth you and your child's time.

Maple Story Review - An Online Virtual World Populated With Adorable Monsters and Interesting Quests
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Maple Story is an online virtual world/game developed by the makers of games like Sugar Rush, Combat Arms, and Audition. Maple Story is a two dimensional side-scrolling online game based in a virtual world called the Maple world. In this article, we take an in depth look at this popular virtual world to see if it is worthy of the hype.

Pandanda Review - Is This Virtual World Safe For Your Child?
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Pandanda is an online virtual world targeted towards children aged 6-14. As members of Pandanda, kids can create a customized avatar, play games and chat with other members, alter their avatar's environment, win awards, earn coins, and use the said coins to unlock features of the game. This article provides an in-depth review of Pandanda.

Ty Girlz Review - Is This Virtual World Appropriate For Your Daughter?
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Ty Girlz was one of the first virtual worlds targeted towards young girls. It was launched in April 2007, as an extension of the Ty Girlz range of dolls. This article reviews the Ty Girlz virtual world, and tells you if this popular online destination is appropriate for your little one.

Pixie Hollow Review - Is This Fairy Themed Virtual World Worth Your Daughter's Time & Attention?
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Pixie Hollow is a fairy theme virtual world designed by Disney Interactive. This virtual world/game gets its name from the home of Tinker Bell, the primary character in the Disney Fairies franchise. While it doesn't offer a lot for boys, the game is a virtual paradise for young girls as it is full of fairies, magic, jewelry, vibrant clothes, etc. This article takes an in depth look at this latest Disney offering.

Affiliate Jump - Look Before You Jump!
[Shopping-and-Product-Reviews:Internet-Marketing] Mike Filsaime's Affiliate Jump has been buzzing on the internet for some time now. It opened its doors amidst much fanfare somewhere in August, then closed after about 2 weeks due to memberships being filled up, only to open again recently. According to Mike Filsaime, they are going to close the doors again real fast. Now before you fork out the money and make the jump, the least you can do for yourself is to read this review and decide if this network membership is right for you.

Blog Reviews - How to Make Money Doing Sponsored Reviews
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] Believe it or not, sponsored blog reviews earn you good money. Generally a product/service/website owner wants to generate publicity and word-of-mouth for their product, and they subscribe to the belief that the best way is to get blogs talking about it. So instead of approaching blogs one by one, they subscribe to a Blog Review network where there are hundreds of assignment-hungry blogs waiting to snap up the opportunity and post their opportunity.

Web Traffic Credentials
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Traffic-Building] You might or might not already know, but anything and everything you do on the internet - if you want to make money - you need web traffic. Lots of it. Tons of it. The more the merrier. Let's look at the 4 main methods of Blogging for Money and see how web traffic credentials will affect how a web site can monetize.

Secret Builders Review
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Secret Builders is a free virtual online world for kids which is suitable for children of all ages, will exceed your standards for online safety, and has no fees attached to its use. Secret Builders has such a wide range of educational activities available that teachers as well as parents encourage youngsters to participate. Even the most selective adults agree that Secret Builders is an excellent online world for kids.

Acai Berries Health Benefits
[Health-and-Fitness:Nutrition] Several studies done on acai berry show that aside from it having no negative effects on the body, it has a number of proven health benefits that can bring about positive changes in one's well-being. The better news is that these changes usually contribute to a long term and not just temporary wellness.

Acai Berry Research - Fact Or Fiction?
[Health-and-Fitness:Nutrition] Each time you think about using a new product, there are a couple of considerations that you make aside from the budget. You think about the effectiveness of the product-and the extent of it-and of course, the safety of using it. It is then important to read through researches that have been previously done related to that product as they provide you with information that have been based from actual experiment results.

Acai Berry Power
[Health-and-Fitness:Nutrition] The Acai Berry is quickly creating a buzz among health enthusiasts as an alternative healthy and all natural dietary aid that is said to promote several benefits from anti-aging to natural weight loss. But before you ride with the buzz, it's better to get some basic heads up on this new health craze dubbed as the 'power berry'.

Power Acai Berry Diet
[Health-and-Fitness:Popular-Diets] The word 'diet' is usually attributed to a lot of sacrifice and control in food intake primarily just for weight loss. However, a person can also undergo a certain diet not just to lose the extra weight but to achieve overall healthiness, too. If you are considering the acai berry diet for either of these two reasons, there is no need to worry about possible health risks that might go with it. Acai berries are all natural and studies have proven that they can safely be integrated into a person's everyday diet.

Webkinz Review
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Webkinz is one of the most popular virtual worlds for kids. There are a number of very good reasons for this. First, while a deluxe membership is necessary for many of the site's features, there is plenty for kids to do without paid membership. When you purchase a Webkinz toy for your child, he will have the access code he needs to begin playing on the site. Second, this virtual world is a safe place for kids. Third, it is an educational experience which your children will benefit from and thoroughly enjoy at the same time.

StarDolls Review
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] You may remember paper dolls from your own childhood. If so, you have the briefest view of what Stardolls is all about. Loosely similar to paper dolls of days-gone-by, Stardolls is one site amongst the many virtual worlds for kids that will give your youngster many hours of creative fun.

4 Blogging For Money Methods
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] There are 4 main methods of making money through blogging. Sponsored reviews, advertising, affiliate marketing and selling your own products. I've personally done all the above with varying success. Some of my blogs perform better at some methods while some excel in other methods. All these really boil down to the niche and target market involved.

11 Powerful Tips For Success
[Self-Improvement:Success] Success does not come easy, but it is not only for a selected few. Everyone has the potential to be successful in all aspects of his or her life. By nurturing good habits and sticking to them it is possible to attain success. If you too want to be successful, here are 11 powerful tips for success you should apply to your life.

Poptropica Review
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Poptropica is a relatively new virtual world for kids, having been online for a little less than two years. While the site is suitable for children of all ages and even adults, young children may find it too complicated to fully enjoy. Older kids, especially those who have some experience with online gaming, will gain much more from the Poptropica experience.

Neopets Review
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Neopets is a free online virtual world for kids which has been popular for a long time. Its widespread appeal shows no sign of diminishing. One reason for this is that Neopets is appropriate for both girls and boys of all ages. Toddlers to teens will all be delighted with Neopets. The other reason is that this site is chock-full of many fun things to do. Your child will never lack for interactive entertainment after he or she has been introduced to Neopets.

Moshi Monsters Review
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] From toddlers to teens, the Moshi Monsters virtual world for kids is a site which no one can resist. Your children will be immediately drawn in by the cute characters, and find plenty to do on this site. While your child can gain extra benefits if you decide for him to become a member, Moshi Monsters offers a whole world of fun without purchasing a membership.

10 Parenting Tips to Stop Your Children From Cursing
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Some parents carefully watch every word that comes out of their mouths. Others let a curse word slip from time to time. But no matter which category you fall into, hearing your child curse isn't a pleasant experience.

Parenting Tips - Parental Alienation Syndrome
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] When parents separate, it is important for both the mother and the father to maintain a relationship with the children. Yet in many cases, children side with one parent or the other. Sometimes this is the child's own choice, but all too often it occurs due to the influence of the favored parent.

10 Hand Care Tips
[Health-and-Fitness:Skin-Care] Many of us talk with our hands, and your hands have a lot to say about the state of your health. Your hands do so much that they really need some TLC, and it makes sense to take good care of them. Here are some tips to keep your hands looking young and beautiful.

Parenting Tips - When Children Swear
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] "Kids say the darnedest things" is a saying that we've all heard. And if you're a parent, you know just how true it is. But when they utter expletives, it can be rather shocking. When very young children swear, it's usually a matter of repeating things they've heard. They are just learning to use language to communicate, so they mimic any word they can. They are not trying to hurt or offend anyone, they're just developing verbal skills.

Chobots Virtual World Review
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] As is the case with any virtual worlds for kids, parents have a number of reasonable concerns. The top priorities are the safety of the site, and whether there are any costs attached to using the site. While Chobots offers a few games which your child can play for free, and contains a forum with topics which may be of interest to older kids, they cannot gain the full advantages of Chobots without becoming a paid member. You can purchase Chobots membership on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or yearly basis.

Club Penguin Review
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Club Penguin, developed by Disney, is one of the virtual online worlds for kids which requires membership in order to access all of its features and gain its full benefits. Membership is offered at monthly, semi-annually, and annual rates.

Michael Jackson - Heal the World
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Spiderman promoted the wisdom that with great power comes great responsibility. Makes sense really. To whom much is given, much is required. Michael Jackson is one of the best examples of this selflessness. During the height of his popularity in the 80s and 90s, MJ took advantage of his influence and reach in order to spread the word about different problems and advocacies of the world.

Joe Jackson - Michael Jackson's Mystery Man
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Movies-TV] "He's still a mystery man to me and he may always be one," Michael Jackson said of his father in his 1988 autobiography. So here we have Joe Jackson, MJ's father who has been in the limelight as well during the height of his son's popularity because of his questionable parenting when Michael was just a child. It was comparable to a roller coaster ride because throughout the years, Michael's relationship with his father has been one which is very enigmatic.

Acai Berry Supplement Benefits
[Health-and-Fitness:Supplements] If you are thinking about adding acai berry supplements to your everyday health regimen, there are a number of reasons why they are an excellent choice. The more you know about acai berry supplements, the easier it will be for you to decide if they are right for you.

Build a Bear Ville Review
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Enchanting and delightful are the first words which come to mind when checking into Build a Bear Ville virtual world for kids. Upon entering the site, you will see that there are no membership fees. This means that your children can play in Build a Bear Ville as often as they wish.

Barbie Girls Virtual World Review
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] There are two very positive points about Barbie Girls which will interest most parents. First, while a premium membership known as the Barbie Girls V.I.P. membership does exist, there is plenty for girls to do on this site which does not cost anything. Premium membership is not required for hours and hours of fun.

Important Acai Berry Juice Benefits
[Health-and-Fitness:Supplements] When you are planning to try a new product, it is only natural to want to know what it can do for you. You want to be sure that it is worth your money and your time. There are important acai berry juice benefits which can have a wonderful impact on your health.

Habbo Hotel Review
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] If you or your child is not familiar with Habbo Hotel, it is one of the few free virtual online worlds for kids which is primarily geared toward teenagers. The Habbo Hotel site is designed to capture the interest of teens, and provide them with safe, fun entertainment appropriate for their age level.

Frank Town Rocks Review
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] If making music and making new friends summarizes your child's interests, Frank Town Rocks is an online virtual world for kids where he can do both. To address the parent's main concern, Frank Town Rocks is a safe place where your youngster can interact with other children and have loads of fun.

Forex Trading Software - Is it Right For You?
[Finance:Currency-Trading] You may be considering investing in Forex or are already in the market. If so, you may find a Forex trading software system very helpful. For a reasonable price, they will take some of the grind work out of the process. Some Forex trading software will signal traders with tips and trends, while others can trade on your behalf on autopilot.

Minyan Land Review
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] Two of the most important facts about Minyan Land are that the site is one hundred percent free, and that it is one of the most educational virtual worlds for kids currently available. Parents are sure to appreciate both of these points, while youngsters will be more concerned with all the fun they are having in Minyan Land.

Parenting Tips - Divorce and Teenagers
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Divorce is a difficult thing for a couple to go through. When there are children involved, it is much more difficult. Young children may have a hard time understanding what's going on. Teenagers are more aware of the logistics of the situation, but that doesn't mean that it's not hard on them, too.

Acai Berry - The Powerful Berry
[Health-and-Fitness:Supplements] You may have heard of the acai berry, but do not have much information about it. You might want to hear a little about this interesting discovery, as well as why you might like to incorporate it into your health regimen.

Why an Acai Berry Diet is Good For You
[Health-and-Fitness:Popular-Diets] When you hear the word "diet," it probably brings to mind all kinds of negative thoughts. However, whether you are considering an acai berry diet for weight loss, or for its many health benefits, there is nothing negative about it. In fact, it is a very positive health choice because it is actually good for you.

What Are the Health Benefits of Acai Berry?
[Health-and-Fitness:Nutrition] If you are like most people, you want the facts before you try a new product. You want to know that it lives up to its claim, and that it is truly beneficial to your health. You also want to know whether there are any risks or side effects associated with the product. It is sensible to know all of this in advance.

Acai Berry Research Facts
[Health-and-Fitness:Nutrition] When you are considering any new type of product, there is certain information that you want to know before you actually purchase the product. When you learn some of the most important facts made from acai berry research, it will help you to decide if this is the right product for your particular needs.

Crayon Wax Melting Art
[Home-and-Family:Crafts-Hobbies] What mother of preschoolers or other children hasn't found broken crayons in the couch, under the couch, and all over the floor? You may even have been frustrated to find a crayon in the laundry, way after it's too late to salvage the clothes in that load.

5 Tips to Get on YouTube's Front Page
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Video-Marketing] Do you know that Facebook gets as many page views per month as Google? And do you know that YouTube gets twice as many page views as any one of them? These are astonishing statistics - and it is no wonder why YouTube is now responsible for driving huge traffic numbers to some sites whose webmasters are masterful enough to fully harness the power of YouTube. These webmasters are the same people whose videos on YouTube receive millions of views and dozens, even hundreds of favorite ratings and comments - the very fuel that drives their videos onto the front page of YouTube. How did they do it? This article provides 5 simple tips from them.

What's the Difference Between 2D and 3D Anyway?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Visual-Graphic-Arts] The first concept you must grasp is that 3D means 3 dimensional and 2D means 2 dimensional. Now before you think I'm stating the obvious, let me go on to say that the 3D and 2D in animation refer to the dimension in which the animation was created. Ahhhh. The plot thickens eh?

8 Steps to Producing a Cartoon Series
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Animation] This article describes the process of getting the green light to produce a cartoon animated series from scratch. I am leaving out the details of raising funds for the project as that is an entire book by itself, but nevertheless this should give you a good idea of what it takes for a cartoon series to get produced.

Top 20 Animation Movies - What Makes Them Tick?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Movies-TV] Being in the animation industry, it is in my interest to keep abreast of which animated feature films are taking the most box office profits. Today I run by this list of the top 20 highest grossing animation movies of all time and I would like to share my views on why I think these movies did as well as they did. They will make up my recommended recipe for an animated feature box office hit.

Twitter's Role in NBA Free Agency
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Social-Media] When the Los Angeles Lakers were crowned the NBA champions of the 2008-2009 basketball season, it only means all the other 29 teams of the popular basketball league are primed to make roster changes in the offseason. Contracts expire in June 30 and this means free agency is once again active. This season is different however. Virtual communities are more involved thanks to the social media network Twitter.

A Real Life Wall-E
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Movies-TV] When Pixar and Disney released the full length feature Wall-E, it touched many people's hearts. After all, what's not to love with a robot which was designed to clean a waste-filled Earth but ultimately decides to follow his own heart to pursue his loved robot EVE? Apparently, it didn't only touched people; it moved some brilliant minds to think that such a robot is possible.

Michael Jackson - Virtual Communities Unite For King of Pop
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The headline from CNN looked a bit of a joke at first but it is true "Michael Jackson Dies, Almost Takes Internet with Him." No, there is nothing funny about the first part because the entire world is mourning with the loss of the King of Pop, rather, the dangling phrase which followed about the World Wide Web.

Five Senses in a Helmet - The Virtual Cocoon
[Gaming] Last March, British scientists from York and Warwick universities introduced the concept of the Virtual Concept. At first glance, it looks like an exaggerated headset that can pose as a huge black fishbowl in one's face. But there's more to it than meets the eye - in fact, more than meets the five senses.

Gifts For SpongeBob's 10th Birthday
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Animation] Like any other beloved child, Nickelodeon is throwing a huge birthday party for the tenth year anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants. It was in July 1999 when the popular sea sponge/kitchen sponge overzealous and dense cartoon character started winning the hearts of many children and adults. If you have been following this show for a long time already, then you could be so kind as to give SpongeBob a gift.

Michael Jackson's Affair With Animation
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Animation] We've seen the moonwalk, the one-handed glove, the anti-gravity lean, and that's just to mention a few of the innovations introduced by the late Michael Jackson. Sometimes people even forget how MJ reinvented himself from a child prodigy into a global pop sensation. But he has this sense of creativity and showmanship that is hard to match which leads him to try many things - one of which is cartoon animation for his music videos.

Transformers - The Integration of Robots Into Our Society
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Movies-TV] It is only a few days before the release of the upcoming sequel Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and the theaters are now being filled with trailers trying to hype us with a lot of computer-generated imagery from the best 3D animation studios of Hollywood. With director Michael Bay in the helm and a bigger budget there will be more robots for the viewers to see.

MTV Virtual Worlds - A Precedent to Further Interactivity
[Arts-and-Entertainment] When MTV first launched in the 1970s, it blazed a trail of exploring the possibilities of multimedia. A channel dedicated to music videos such as Video Killed the Radio Star was such a novel idea that it immediately caught the fancy of the up-and-coming generation of its time. Now will that same foresight be beneficial for MTV now that they are exploring the realm of commercial and free virtual worlds?

Lara Croft - A Case Study For Character Designs
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Visual-Graphic-Arts] How does one create a cartoon character for a video game which will be able to stand the test of time? Well, there is no definite formula really. If there is, then how can one describe the similarities between Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog as they become the respective mascots of the game companies Nintendo and SEGA?

Medical Animation - Following the Lead
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Animation] Medical animation has been able to carve a solid and sustainable niche in the realm of 3D animation through the years. By tapping the field of medicine, it opened up a lucrative and fulfilling side of animation. Medical animation is used by doctors to render parts of the human anatomy for research purposes and for preparations for a complicated surgery. This is why 3D animation is very useful; it enables the showing of sequences which we may never experience with our own bare eyes. With this in mind, are there other possible fields wherein this aspect of animation can be harnessed?

Cartoon Characters Worthy of Being Put in Museums
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Animation] When a museum in Belgium honoring the iconic animation icon Herge and his world-renowned cartoon character Tintin on the second day of June this year, it was a fitting tribute to the accomplishments of Herge's distinct animation style. Imagine if one's cartoon character is able to survive from a simple comic strip in 1929 to a television, theater and video game powerhouse today, then it certainly deserves to be acknowledged and honored in a museum.

Twitter - The Magic Behind It
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Social-Networking] The technology has been around for very long but it wasn't until the arrival of Twitter that the entire phenomenon of social networking really boomed. Because of the extensive reach of Twitter as a social networking phenomenon, it was able to cultivate an online community akin to the networks of commercial and free online virtual worlds. What is the magic behind Twitter?

Betty Boop - Queen of the Animated Screen
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Movies-TV] It is often said that in movies and television, sex sells. But never is this claim more true when tracing the history of Western animation which is supposedly for children. Let's turn back the clock a bit and do a retrospective on the Queen of the Animated Screen: Betty Boop.

Virtual Worlds to Bloom by 55% in Five Years
[Gaming:Online-Gaming] The commercial and free virtual world research firm eMarketer have made a bold prediction that within five years, virtual worlds may see an exponential growth of up to 55%. That's an encouraging sign for virtual worlds in general because they are slowly gaining the acceptance of even adults nowadays.

Business Presence in Virtual Worlds
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online] In an interview with ZDNet Asia, Mary Ellen Gordon of the US-based virtual worlds research firm Market Truths observed that companies interested in commercial and free virtual worlds have to take into consideration the consumer habits of the new generation in order to fully make their mark in these online communities. This expert opinion only strengthens the stature of VWs as full-fledged communities with its own nuances and sensibilities.

Terminator Salvation Movie Review
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Movies-TV] Twenty five years since the first film of the Terminator franchise scintillated science fiction fans all over the world, the future is upon us now with Terminator: Salvation. Starring Christian Bale as John Connor and Sam Worthington as the enigmatic cyborg Marcus Wright, Terminator: Salvation offers fans a glimpse of the future foretold in the first three movies.

Science Fiction - The Engine Behind Summer Blockbusters
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Movies-TV] The tradition of anticipating (Western) summertime full-length feature films with the best special effects spectacle from the top 3D animation studios of Hollywood will never establish a deep following if not for the invention of the literature genre science fiction. Sci-fi, as it is more fondly called by movie and literature fans, encompasses a broad spectrum of topics and situations which explores the wonders of science.

The Success of SpongeBob SquarePants
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Animation] With the recent victory of the franchise SpongeBob SquarePants during the recently concluded 2009 Elan Awards for the category Best Voice-Over in an Animated Production (as won by Tom Kenny), it is only fitting to explore the success of the titular character with the impeccable charm and absurd decision-making. SpongeBob SquarePants first took the global stage when it was premiered in the child-oriented global network Nickelodeon in May 1999. The official series kicked off in July 2009 and it brought us to the world...

Top Pre-School Cartoons and Their X Factors
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Animation] Cartoons have always been about children and one of the most dedicated niches of animation to target this substantial demographic are pre-school cartoons. By niche, it means these cartoons are really catered to young minds' sensibilities. So don't go blurting out that a pre-school cartoon sucks if it does not measure up to your standards as a knowing individual. Of course, they are created for children.

Cel-Shaded Animation in a Nutshell
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Animation] Drawing by hand will always be regarded as the beginning of animation. This is why even with advanced technologies now in the art of making things move from static images, computer graphics can still return to the look of hand-drawn animation. One key animation style to get that look is cel-shaded animation.

How to Have Fun With Home-Made Sock Monkeys
[Home-and-Family:Crafts-Hobbies] It wasn't that long ago that parents spent much less on Christmas presents than they do now. In fact, until the middle of the 1900s children received fewer gifts, and some of the gifts they received for Christmas were home-made. Some parents think it's time to stop spending so much and get back to a simpler time. At one time children used to ask for a home-made sock monkey, and some still ask for them.

Flying With Your Children Over the Holidays
[Home-and-Family:Holidays] The old song goes, "Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go." These days it's not a horse and sleigh that gets us there but an airplane. You have to admit, if you're flying with your children over the holidays, you'll be much warmer in the airplane than on a sleigh. You'll also get there quicker.

Pet Rock - Mom's Best Friend
[Pets] Children often beg their parents for a puppy or a kitten. Or, they may ask for something smaller like a hamster or goldfish. Why not offer to get them a pet rock, Mom's best friend?

7 Fun Things Your Family Can Do in the Snow
[Home-and-Family] Children love snow; there's no escaping that fact. And while some adults may also enjoy outdoor activities during the winter, it seems this time of year is perfect for children. This year, why not try some fun things the whole family can do in the snow?

Make Dad a Tie Snake For Christmas
[Home-and-Family:Crafts-Hobbies] It's not easy buying a present for Dad sometimes. Children may not have any ideas and sometimes Moms aren't much help. They may give Dad ties for Father's Day but after he has worn it once, they may never see it again. Well, here's a way to give Dad a tie he'll use more than once. Make Dad a tie snake for Christmas.

Child Safety - Fun in the Sun on the Inside
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] As the beginning of winter nears, children are excited about the prospects of snow and getting out of school for the Christmas holidays. They can't wait to play outside building snowmen and having snowball fights. Unfortunately, as winter wears on, they start looking forward to spring and warmer weather. Here are some ideas for having fun in the sun on the inside, even in the dead of winter.

Digital Cameras For All Ages
[Shopping-and-Product-Reviews:Electronics] It's a rare thing to see people lugging around film cameras these days due to the popularity and quality of digital cameras. Much like traditional film cameras, you can find digital cameras of every size. There are literally digital cameras for all ages.

Sock Puppets on the Road
[Travel-and-Leisure] Traveling with children, especially small children, can be difficult. You know they're going to get cranky and you're really not looking forward to it. Make and take some sock puppets on the road to help keep your child happy on the trip.

Baby Food Jar Snow Globe Gifts Keep the Holidays in Mind Year Round
[Home-and-Family:Holidays] It used to be that when you traveled, you could find snow globes in almost every gift shop at major tourist attractions and museums. In fact, many people used to collect snow globes. Not only were they a way to remember your visit to these locations, it also reminded people of winter even in the hotter months of the year.

Babies Love Boxes!
[Home-and-Family:Babies-Toddler] Parents often go overboard when buying Christmas presents for their children, especially when that child is their first. What parents find out, after their babies are old enough to sit up and play, is that babies usually love boxes more than the toys that were originally in them.

Age-Appropriate Chores For the Winter Months
[Kids-and-Teens] Everyone in the family has the responsibility to help keep the home running smoothly. Obviously there are some chores very young children can't do like shoveling snow. What are the age-appropriate chores for the winter months?

Homeschool Teachers
[Reference-and-Education:Home-Schooling] Parents naturally make good teachers. After all, the first lessons that a young child learns is usually what he has observed and imitated from his parents as young children look up to their parents as people who never go wrong. That is why in homeschooling, the participation of parents is highly recommended. However, this does not realistically happen all the time as some parents may be too busy with work to be the homeschool teacher. In any case, the success of homeschooling depends greatly on a good teacher- parents, being natural candidates.

Is 3D 'Born' From 2D?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Visual-Graphic-Arts] Many people have the idea that 3D animation stemmed as a progression from 2D animation. While not entirely untrue, this is definitely not the whole truth as well. If we have to make some form of link, then I would say that 3D animation has more of its roots in stop motion animation than in traditional hand drawn 2d animation. The stop motion film techniques were used very well in the 1963 film Jason and the Argonauts by Ray Harryhausen, although they have actually been around since the very early days of film in the late 19th century. But it was Ray Harryhausen who really brought the technique to life.

What is 3D Animation?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Animation] So what is 3d animation? Do not be fooled by the seemingly simplicity of this question. I was actually quite tempted not to write this article because it's such a difficult topic to write on. It can be answered as complicated as you want it to be or as short as you desire. The thing is, I need to let clients know how complicated the process is, but not to let them walk away confused. Saying that, I will try my best to answer this question in the most concise but uncomplicated way possible.

Divorce - Coping With It
[Relationships:Divorce] Divorce is not just an issue between an unhappy couple who couldn't stand the sight of each other. It could mean the whole family about to fall apart. It can rattle a family emotionally and financially. Usually, divorce isn't the first option. The couple tries to 'save' the marriage with alternative options until either they run out of solutions or they both get exhausted saving something they don't want to keep anymore. Thus, divorce: a permanent separation of the family and the money.

DIY Tips For Remodeling Your Kitchen and Saving Money
[Home-Improvement:Remodeling] The kitchen is one of the busiest parts of the house. That's why there are various factors to consider in its design. Alongside the aesthetic appeal, functionality and space must be well planned and utilized. Thus, it is of no surprise that remodeling one's kitchen can be costly. However, if you'll be putting as much of the expenses under your control, you can save quite a lot, as well. One way is by doing the remodeling yourself. Hopefully, the following can serve as your guideline especially if you'll be doing it for the first time:

The Disadvantages of Public Schooling
[Reference-and-Education:Home-Schooling] As soon as we enroll our children in a public school, somehow, we give out this sigh of relief, thinking that our children are getting quality education. But there is always more than one possibility in any situation.

Picking the Right 3D Animation Studio to Work With
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Animation] Picking the right animation company for your project will determine the success and failure of your marketing effort! So...how do you ensure you are picking the right one? The following is my honest advice regarding this subject matter.

Is Homeschooling Legal?
[Reference-and-Education:Home-Schooling] Although regulation and laws about homeschooling vary from one state to another, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states of the U.S. There are varying interpretations of these laws in different school districts. Homeschooling policies may also change every year.

Pets - What to Do When Your Child Loses Their Best Friend
[Pets] Children and pets seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly. Sometimes they grow up together, but normally there's a special bond between them that's similar to what a child feels for their parent or grandparents. When a pet dies, it's important to realize that your child is in pain. Here are some things you can do when your child loses their best friend.

What Makes a Character Brand Licensable?
[Legal:Copyright] It is very easy to think that character design alone determines the success and failure of a character brand and how many licensing and merchandising deals it can garner. In actuality, the very first criteria for merchandising opportunities is mass exposure before anything else.

Saying No to Stray Animals Your Child Brings Home
[Pets] If your child loves animals you may have more than one pet in your home. If your child REALLY loves animals, you've probably had your share of stray animals making their way into your home. It could be that you've had one too many strays become pets, so how do you say "No" to the stray animals your child brings home?

How to Maintain Discipline in Homeschooling
[Reference-and-Education:Home-Schooling] One of the major concerns in homeschooling is maintaining the discipline of the child in studying even if his classes are held probably just a few feet away from the remote control or the video game console. It's easy for a child to misinterpret homeschooling as a very long vacation especially if Mom or Dad has not explained to him properly what homeschooling is.

Record Keeping For Homeschooling
[Reference-and-Education:Home-Schooling] Record-keeping is almost always brought up in homeschooling meetings. No matter how fluid the system of homeschooling is, record-keeping should still be done to keep track of your child's development. In some states, it's even required. Interest-driven homeschooling operators will most-likely put genuine effort in preparing topics and conducting classes. With the usually unformatted nature of homeschooling, it can prove to be challenging to prepare quarterly reports for the school district's evaluation.

Montessori Homeschooling
[Reference-and-Education:Home-Schooling] Dr. Maria Montessori's Montessori Method has been applied in various private and public school teaching curriculums. Her philosophy, most commonly referred to as the "Discovery of a Child" aims at providing a reflection of lessons that children learn in actual life. Now, this method is not only used in normal school systems but also considered as a type of homeschooling. In this technique, the teacher, instead of controlling the child, tries to control the environment wherein the child picks his first set (and usually lasting) perceptions from. Studies show that children, who are left to freely interact with their environment, grow up to be self-disciplined, with a love for order and a natural curiosity.

Blocks Are More Than Just Blocks
[Home-and-Family:Babies-Toddler] Blocks are one of the most basic toys you can find. It may seem they don't really do anything and in their simplest form they're just little wooden cubes. But to a child, they represent a world of possibilities. Blocks are great toys for children of all ages. Infants love soft blocks to look at, squeeze, chew on and drop.

Educational Toys - Computer Learning Games
[Kids-and-Teens] Kids love video games, but most such games have little or no educational value and many even glorify violence. So it's no surprise that parents often put severe limits on the types of games their kids can play and how often and long they can play them. That's not to say that all video games are bad. Many educational toy makers and children's book publishers have used the popularity of video games to their advantage and created educational computer games. Kids find these fun and entertaining and adults like them because they teach kids new things and reinforce what they are learning in school.

Child Safety With Trampolines
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Watch out! If your child sees a trampoline they will most likely head straight for it and beg to give it a try. Children love the idea of bouncing up and down because it is so much fun. They may also think that it's as close to flying that they'll ever get. Moms, on the other hand, are worried about trampoline safety. It may be surprising to know that jumping on a trampoline is safer than you might think. In fact, reports show that fewer children are hurt jumping on a trampoline than playing baseball, basketball, football, soccer, or riding a bicycle. A report also stated that as long as children follow the safety rules for trampolines, the numbers of injuries is quite low.

Toys Great For Encouraging Creativity to Blossom
[Kids-and-Teens] Most children have little trouble expressing their creativity. Just ask any mother who has had to clean crayons and markers off of a freshly painted wall. Providing toys that allow your child to get creative encourage imagination and allow her to learn by doing. Creativity isn't just about artwork. It can be expressed in a number of ways.

Options in the Animation Business
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Animation] Recently a gentleman from the States wrote me an email asking some questions pertaining financing for cartoon animated series production. This is an all-time favorite topic on this blog ever since I wrote an article titled "8 Steps to Producing a Cartoon Series". One of his questions is a most unusual question as it dealt with the topic of 'options'. Options is a common term in the financial factor but used in the animation industry context is only common amongst the industry players.

The Benefits of Non-Electronic Toys
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Walking through the toy department of your favorite store can give you sensory overload. There are bright colors, all sorts of shapes and textures and lots of toys that light up and make noise. If you have a child or children with you, they might find every toy that makes noise and turn them all on at the same time.

Homeschooling - Social Concerns Associated With It
[Reference-and-Education:Home-Schooling] Homeschooling is just as the name suggests. It's studying at home. For most people who are more exposed to the format of public education, wherein everyday, there is an inevitable interaction with other children, homeschooling seems to suggest alienation.

Book Review of How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With
[Book-Reviews:Pets] Looking at a litter of cute little puppies makes it easy to look over the hard task of raising a good well-mannered dog. Choosing the puppy you take home is much simpler than actually managing and teaching the puppy and many people only come to realize that too late. How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With is a well revised and expanded book that will help you do this with ease.

Book Review of Our Family History
[Book-Reviews] Ever wanted to record your family as the times go by but have no idea where to start? Do you want to make a family tree to hand down to your children but have no idea how to do it? Our Family History is a beautiful scrapbook to help you preserve your family history with ease. You are able to keep your family photos in the delightfully adorned pages along with writing an explanation of the photo on the given lines that this scrapbook offers.

Homeschooling - Structuring the School Year
[Reference-and-Education:Home-Schooling] A lot of questions will start troubling you as you begin your homeschooling schedule. Should the study period be continuous? Or should it have short breaks rather than long vacations? Should public holidays be taken in consideration, as well? Or when do you actually take a break?

Book Review of the Good Cookie - Over 250 Delicious Recipes From Simple to Sublime
[Book-Reviews:Cookery-Cookbook] Looking for some new cookie recipes that will knock the socks off anyone that takes a bite? With over 250 recipes to choose from, Tish Boyle makes the task much easier with mouth-watering introductions that describe in detail the appearance, texture, and taste of every cookie.

Homeschooling - What is It?
[Reference-and-Education:Home-Schooling] Most children already have an idea of the basic things they'll be expecting once they start formal schooling. Basically, it starts with one patient member of the family taking the initiative to prepare the child for formal school. Homeschooling is then a natural part of a child's educational progression. So it's not surprising why more and more parents settle for this alternative platform. They opt to teach their children, prepare their curriculum and let their kids enjoy a more personalized approach to learning.

Unschooling - Another Form of Homeschooling
[Reference-and-Education:Home-Schooling] The term "unschooling", by itself, sounds very unappealing especially to most parents. It usually sounds like a total deviation from learning. In some ways, it could be deviating but not to learning itself but to the conventional way of learning and teaching. Unschooling is actually a type of homeschooling wherein practically no curriculum or boundaries are applied. Of course, even with its technical definition, parents are still very apprehensive, mostly concerned how education can happen in such fluidity of process or the lack of it.

Spielberg and Tintin Gets Shelved
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Movies-TV] You would think that there is nothing in the film industry somebody in the likes of Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson can't get nowadays. After all, they are the men who made some of the biggest blockbusters in Hollywood history. Steven Spielberg's movie credits include E.T, A.I, War of the Worlds, Jaws, Indiana Jones, Schindler's List, Jurassic Park and many other superb movies while Peter Jackson is best known for his Lord of the Rings trilogy and remake of King Kong. However it seems that the economic crisis has spread its negative waves to Hollywood, judging by the fact that Spielbeg and Jackson got turned down after they submitted a budget of US$130 million for their 3D animated movie based on the famous Belgian comic Tintin to Universal Pictures. What it means now is that they have only Paramount to fall back on, who agreed to invest half the money for the film. Whether Spielberg would get his money from Paramount or not is skeptical as they are about to end their long term association to each other.

Felon Movie Review
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Movies-TV] These are the words that kept spinning through my head as I watched 'Felon'. The story stars Stephen Dorff who plays a family-orientated hardworking man with a bright future who killed an intruder into his home by accident and gets incarcerated as a result. While his fiancee who is with a struggle to make ends meet outside as a result of losing his income, Stephen fights his own battle within the prison walls struggling to please the gangs and pander to the whims of twisted tyrannic prison officers.

Virtual Worlds For Kids - Safe Or Not?
[Gaming:Communities] Virtual worlds for kids have been popping up all over the place since the announcement of Club Penguin being acquired by Disney for 350 million dollars, each one hoping to be the next Club Penguin. Some research will uncover that Club Penguin is perceived as a very safe virtual world for kids to visit. It is safe in the sense that they have features to prevent children from being harassed and accosted by pedophiles. It has won lots of awards for being 'Kids Safe' and this may be one of the main reasons why parents trust Club Penguin. But is Club Penguin really that safe for kids?

The Next Club Penguin - Where is It?
[Gaming:Communities] Last year, Club Penguin hit pay dirt when it was procured for 350 million dollars by Disney. One year later, there is still speculation whether there would ever be another Club Penguin, or whether there is already the next Club Penguin waiting to be procured. In the wake of the economy downturn, is it even possible for any company to fork out extravagant amounts of cash to procure a piece of virtual real estate these days?

China's Animation Industry Landscape As of 2008
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Animation] According to statistics collected until early 2008, China boasts over 30 animation industrial bases, 5400 animation companies, 450 high schools teaching certified animation courses, 460,000 students studying animation related subjects and 15,000 websites discussing animation. This was an increase of over 36% in comparison to 2006. The growth of the China animation industry is simply astounding. But two grim facts of China's animation landscape remain still.

Wall-E Robots Visit Homes
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Movies-TV] Disney is launching a series of programmable robotic toy products! In conjunction with the launch of WALL-E - the new animated feature from Disney and Pixar starring an adorably dorky robot - in summer this year, Disney will be releasing an innovative line of robotic toys. Amongst them are the iDance Wall-E dancing boombox, the Ultimate WALL-E robotic toy and the remote controlled Tinker Bell flying toy.

Character Licensing For Your Product? Forget Mickey and Bob!
[Business:Marketing] If you manufacture toys and apparel for kids and young adults, then you may have at some point in time thought of licensing a cartoon character to use on your products. Such a licensing deal involves you licensing the rights from the owner of the cartoon character to place images of the character on your products. In return, the licensor (character owner) receives a royalty off every product you sell.

How to Produce For Cartoons If You Only Write and Not Animate Or Draw
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Movies-TV] Recently somebody asked me a question. The question was short but simple and straight to the point. 'Please I need help in producing a cartoon. I can write but cant draw. How do I start'?

Animation Business in China - An Uncertain Outlook
[Business:Outsourcing] Since the late 80s, China has been a choice location for outsourcing 2D cartoon series to due to its low cost. But since a couple of years back, the number of outsourced projects to China has decreased, and the future for China's animation industry is uncertain as homegrown animation products are also not bringing in the cash.

Yoga Retreat FAQ
[Health-and-Fitness:Yoga] Going to a Yoga retreat may appear straight-forward, but there's more to that than meets the eye. A Yoga retreat can offer a Yoga practitioner a relaxed environment, focus-driven learning and a social setting. If you have some cash and time to spare, a holiday at a Yoga retreat can do wonders for your well-being. But don't go rushing off just yet. You will need to plan ahead. Below are some FAQs about Yoga retreats that will help you out in your planning...

What's A Yoga Retreat?
[Health-and-Fitness:Yoga] Yoga is increasingly becoming a popular activity for modern day folks who appreciate the value of good health and well-being. Yoga provides an excellent outlet for releasing stress and increasing one's resistance to negative elements, therefore improving mental and physical health. In the best case scenario, Yoga should be a stress-free activity - away from your occupational obligations and mundane burdens.

Yoga Retreat - The Right Instructor
[Health-and-Fitness:Yoga] Is getting an instructor absolutely necessary when you go on a Yoga retreat? The short answer to this is - it is a must that you get one - especially for beginners. Most Yoga retreat packages should come attached with instructors. As a matter of fact, besides the location of the retreat, the next most important thing to consider would be the identity of the Yoga instructor. Whoever is guiding you through what should be some of the most spiritually-fulfilling days of your lives is very important.

Best Yoga Retreat Location
[Health-and-Fitness:Yoga] Yoga retreats are offered in many locations all over the world - anywhere from the Maldives to Brazil to India to exotic South East Asian countries. So where is the best Yoga retreat location really? The truth is - there is no such thing as a 'best retreat location' as this is really a matter of personal preference. One man's meat can be another man's poison. The only factors that should be affecting your choice would be your budget and which location would be most appealing to you.

Creating Character Brands on the Internet
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] Several years ago, the trend of creating viral animation clips for distribution on the internet took off. Since then, several character brands have become wildly popular and successful thanks to the power of the internet. Some examples are Pucca, Mashimaro and Happy Tree Friends.

Tips on Selling Character Designs
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Visual-Graphic-Arts] Have you ever wondered how some cartoon characters became so famous - with hundreds or thousands of merchandise bearing their names and images? Take the ones with animated series out of the equation, and you still have a handful of characters out there who became famous through the merit of their designs. This article discusses some tips for creating and selling cartoon characters.

Animation Character Bible - What Goes Into It
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Animation] A character bible is the heart and soul of a cartoon series. Without a proper character bible you cannot even get started on talking to anyone about your concept. I have seen many character bibles from producers around the world in the past few years asking for co-production collaborations. I've seen really good ones and absolutely dreadful ones. Having received several questions asked regarding what goes into a character bible, I've written this entry to give some insight on this topic.

Multiple Streams of Income With Your Cartoon Characters
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Visual-Graphic-Arts] Record labels do not make their money solely on album sales. Albums are primarily marketing mediums to make the artiste known to the world and propel him/her to fame. Once famous, multiple avenues of income become available - such as product endorsements, advertisements, concerts, movie deals, etc. If you are in the business of character licensing, you should consider looking upon the management of your stable of digital characters just like the management of real-life artistes as described above in the case of the record labels.

The Importance of Great Character Designs in Games
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Visual-Graphic-Arts] Good character designs can help to make a game look that much more interesting and propel sales. But great character designs can actually help to create huge franchises out of games, build up companies and even shape the landscape of the gaming industry.

Tips for Creating a Great Character Design III
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Visual-Graphic-Arts] Whether be it for games, comics, animation or merchandise, we cannot ignore the fact that good character designs play an active role in driving the sales of the product in question. While good character designs help to drive sales, great character designs grow companies and even shape the landscape of the creative industry. This is the last of 3 articles dedicated to the topic of creating great character designs and some tips to bear in mind when designing your characters.

Tips for Creating a Great Character Design II
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Visual-Graphic-Arts] Whether be it for games, comics, animation or merchandise, we cannot ignore the fact that good character designs play an active role in driving the sales of the product in question. While good character designs help to drive sales, great character designs grow companies and even shape the landscape of the creative industry. This is the second of 3 articles dedicated to the topic of creating great character designs and some tips to bear in mind when designing your characters.

Tips for Creating a Great Character Design I
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Visual-Graphic-Arts] Whether be it for games, comics, animation or merchandise, we cannot ignore the fact that good character designs play an active role in driving the sales of the product in question. While good character designs help to drive sales, great character designs grow companies and even shape the landscape of the creative industry. This is the first of 3 articles dedicated to the topic of creating great character designs and some tips to bear in mind when designing your characters.

3 Steps to Getting Employed as an Animator
[Business:Careers-Employment] Getting employed as an animator can be broken down into 3 broad steps. Sending the cover letter, preparing and sending the demo reel and going for the interview. Get them right and you may be on your way to getting your first animation job!

Get Animated with Gizmo
[Computers-and-Technology] Ever dreamt of being an animation star yourself? Apparently a company called Gizmoz has made this possible in a simple way through a proprietary technology that is able to manipulate your photos to form a series of animated expressions.

The Next Club Penguin - The Race is On!
[Gaming:Communities] Not so long ago, Disney procured Club Penguin - a virtual world for kids between 6 to 14 - for a cool $350 million and the deal also allowed the founders an opportunity to make another $350 million from now till 2009. Soon after news of this phenomenal acquisition break out, many around the world would attempt to follow after the footsteps of the entrepreneurial trio who created Club Penguin and pocketed $100 million each.

Step Aside Tamagotchi, Here Comes Machicara!
[Computers-and-Technology] You might remember that many years ago in 1996 there was something called Tamagotchi which took the world by storm. It was the first cyber pet to be introduced to the world and came in the form of an electronic device with a simple LCD screen and a few buttons to manipulate with.

Why Animated Commercials Rock and 'Live' Adverts Don't
[Business:Advertising] There is actually an increasing trend for businesses to gravitate towards using animation for their commercials, and for good reason too. This article discusses some of the more popular reasons why business marketers are doing that and will hopefully give you an insight.

Landing an Animation Job
[Business:Careers-Employment] I have heard many people describe the animation industry as 'cool', 'interesting', 'glamourous' and many such similar terms. Well, no wonder 3D animation jobs are so highly sought after these days. Depending on which part of the world you are in, there is either a shortage of job vacancies for animators or an even bigger shortage of job vacancies for animators. In short, there are more people applying to become animators than studios offering positions.

Sell Products and Services Using Animation
[Business:Marketing] In my work I have many clients ask me what 3D animation can do for them. I always tell them - loads. 3D animation is really one of the most versatile sales presentation medium available to a business and if harnessed well, can mean an increase in sales for any product and business. If animation is used effectively, it can help demonstrate a product's or engineered system's full potential, far beyond what a powerpoint or hand-outs can achieve. I've listed some of the benefits and applications in this article.

What Clients Need to Know About Animation Companies
[Business:Marketing] You might hate me for writing this article. I might even lose some clients. Because the very first thing I am going to tell you is that most animation companies dislike their clients. Yup, you did not read me wrong. I said - most animation companies dislike their clients!

3D Animation Is Not Just About Animation
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Animation] The first time most people are exposed to 3D animation they are usually exposed to animated cartoon features like Toy Story, Shrek, Finding Nemo, Incredibles and the like. Inevitably many people are drawn to the industry with the aspiration to work on such grand productions. And inevitably animating characters becomes the main reason why most people join the animation industry. Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that most CG artists end up doing something other than character animation.

Online Animation Schools
[Reference-and-Education:Online-Education] Nowadays animators are springing up like mushrooms, and animation companies receive thousands of applications from highly qualified individuals every year. As somebody in the position to hire such animators, before I pop the in the reel, I will usually scan through the resume to see where the graduate is from. If it's a reputable academy, I am more identified to look at the reel. But not everybody can afford the time or money to attend a major animation school. A good alternative to consider might be a reputable online animation course.

Products and Services That Can Benefit Through Cartoon Character Licensing
[Business:Marketing] There are many products and services that can benefit through cartoon characters licensing. In this article I would like to discuss some examples and hopefully give entrepreneurs a spark of inspiration. In all the examples listed I would like to stress that I support the licensing of lesser-known characters as opposed to the more famous characters. I share my views regarding this in another article. If you visit my website or search on the internet for 'Character Licensing for Your Product? Forget Mickey and Bob!' you would be able to find the article.