AvatarME wants YOU! is the battle cry of London-based AvatarMe Ltd. at this year's Siggraph in Los Angeles. Unveiling its revolutionary AvatarBooth, the company plans to incubate hundreds of 3D avatars from willing public at the exhibition.
Leading the delivery of interoperable Storage Area Networks (SAN) to the marketplace, DataDirect Networks Inc. has introduced SANware, a series of certified SAN application suites that incorporate hardware, software, professional services and support to solve customers' unique storage management needs. The company's SANware Application Suites were developed as a turnkey solution to address end-user requirements of proven and tested SAN solutions that minimize system downtime and ensure smooth implementation.
Viewpoint Digital will be showing its new Premier Catalog and updated Library Program. In addition, Viewpoint will be featuring its new textures library as well as the popular Model Bank, and will also be demonstrating its Interchange 3D file format translator. For more information, contact Viewpoint Digital at www.viewpoint.com or via phone at (800) DATASET.
What changes can we expect to come about in the relationship between humans and large data repositories? How will intelligent environments influence our access to information? Is there really a clear boundary between the artificial and the real? And finally, how will the latest innovations in Information Technology come together to help us turn information into knowledge that is useful and meaningful?
Crater Software, a Spanish-Canadian software development collaboration, announced plans to launch a series of "satellite" versions of CTP, the company's 2D animation software, at this years' Siggraph. The launch of four CTP Satellites - Paint, Scan, Render and the already-released Pencil-test - will coincide with the release of CTP Version 1.3, also being showcased at the show.
The Ottawa School of Art (OSA) has launched an innovative, structured program teaching basic animation skills. The Animation Certificate Program has grown from courses run over several years.
The Ottawa School of Art was founded in 1879 and incorporated in 1976 as a non-profit charitable organization. School focus is high caliber visual art training.
Crater Software, a Spanish-Canadian software development collaboration, announced plans to launch a series of "satellite" versions of CTP, the company's 2D animation software, at this years' Siggraph. The launch of four CTP Satellites - Paint, Scan, Render and the already-released Pencil-test - will coincide with the release of CTP Version 1.3, also being showcased at the show.
Several films produced by RIT students will be screened at this year's SIGGRAPH conference including 'Head Quarters' by Jason Donati, 'Evolution in the First Person' by Elouise Oyzon and 'division' by George Nadeau. RIT will have an alumni, students, faculty and friends reception on Tuesday evening. Marla Schweppe, Duane Palyka and Johnny Robinson, all of the School of Film and Animation will attend the conference. In collaboration with the RIT School of Printing, students in the RIT School of Film and Animation have produced flipbooks again.
It was a rough weekend for Warner Bros.' newly released THE IRON GIANT at the US boxoffice. THE IRON GIANT, directed by Brad Bird, was the first 100% animated film to be released since June's SOUTH PARK, but despite nearly unanimous praise from critics and fans, it finished a lackluster ninth with a gross of just $5.7 million.
Discreet, a division of Autodesk, Inc., announced the worldwide availability of 3D Studio MAX Release 3 software, the latest release of its award-winning, professional, 3D modeling and animation solution designed specifically for Intel architecture and Microsoft Windows NT. Shipping with the 3D Studio MAX R3 software is a free update to Character Studio" Release 2.2. With an enhanced collaborative workflow environment and powerful new renderer, 3D Studio MAX supports hundreds of third-party commercial and free plug-ins, many of which will be available for 3D Studio MAX R3 software today.
Discreet, a division of Autodesk, Inc., announced the worldwide availability of 3D Studio MAX Release 3 software, the latest release of its award-winning, professional, 3D modeling and animation solution designed specifically for Intel architecture and Microsoft Windows NT. Shipping with the 3D Studio MAX R3 software is a free update to Character Studio" Release 2.2. With an enhanced collaborative workflow environment and powerful new renderer, 3D Studio MAX supports hundreds of third-party commercial and free plug-ins, many of which will be available for 3D Studio MAX R3 software today.
The 26th International Conference on Computer Graphics and InteractiveTechniques is starting this Sunday, August 8 in Los Angeles. Visit theSIGGRAPH Schoolhouse and its Electronic Library, a meeting place andresource space, which offers attendees reference material and resourcesfor educators and students. As a leading publication in the animationfield, Animation World Magazine will be offered in the ElectronicSchoolhouse Library for on-line reference. Printouts of individualarticles will be made available to students by request.
Among the events at this year's ComicCon International, the US's largestcomic book convention, will be a celebration of the AnimationRenaissance. Chris Prynoski, creator of the new series MTV DOWNTOWN,will host a panel discussion with three of the show's writers, andpresent an episode from the series. The convention takes place Thursday,August 12 - Sunday, August 15 in San Diego, California, USA. For moreinformation visit www.comic-con.org.
Retired Disney veterans Bill Matthews and Ken Southworth will be thespecial guest instructors at VanArts (Vancouver Institute of Media Arts)in August...
This week's updates to the Calendar of Events include CartoombriaInternational Animation Festival in Italy, and the San FranciscoIndependent Film Festival. The Calendar of Upcoming Events is aconstantly changing reference source for what's happening around theWorld of Animation. Use it to stay abreast of animation relatedactivities across the globe. If you know of animation related eventsthat we don't have listed, send an email with the pertinent facts toannick@awn.com. We'd love to publish your event information for free!
AWN recently launched the "Career Coach," a new monthly column by PamelaThompson, a noted authority on jobs and recruiting within the animationand visual effects industries.
AWN recently launched the "Career Coach," a new monthly column by PamelaThompson, a noted authority on jobs and recruiting within the animationand visual effects industries. Pamela's new column is writtenexclusively for AWN's Student Corner, and offers practical advice on keyissues related to jobs, recruitment, education and training, as well as
This week's comic is about X-ray baggage inspection in a US airport...
This week's quiz features questions about the lore of animationspast...How much do you really know about animation? Test your skills and challenge your brain. Each week, we'll see just how "smart" you really are! Take up the challenge by answering five multiple choice questions on a specific theme. For our second edition, we're asking questions about stop-motion and puppet animated films. Good luck...you'll need it!
You can find AWN's weekly Animation Trivia Quiz at:
New York City-based Cyclotron@Post Perfect has signed Alex Seiden asCreative Director. Seiden will direct commercial projects. Seiden comesfrom ILM where he was a Director & Visual Effects Supervisor on such filmsas JURASSIC PARK, DRAGONHEART, and STAR WARS: THE SPECIAL EDITION. He alsodirected a PSA for the American Psychiatric Association, and numerouslive-action second unit and special effects shoots.
Mark Lasoff has joined Stan Lee Media Inc. as executive vice president tooversee production of the Web-based company's upcoming super hero projects.Prior to this, Lasoff created visuals for Disney's upcoming CGI featureDINOSAURS, which will mix live-action backgrounds with animated characters,and was part of the visual effects team for TITANIC.
Gold Coast, Australia-based EA Australia, a subsidiary of Redwood City,California-based Electronic Arts, has hired Steve Dauterman to head a newdevelopment studio located in Australia. Dauterman, formerly Director ofDevelopment for LucasArts, had been with the Lucas group for ten years,initially as Financial Analyst for Lucasfilm before moving across toLucasArts in 1992. Since working at LucasArts he has overseen thedevelopment of such worldwide interactive titles as "Rebel Assault," "Dark
Sherman Oaks, California-based Warner Bros. TV Animation Studio hascompleted a spot featuring the classic cartoon characters, Tom and Jerry,in Promise Buttery Light "Butter Trouble," a :30 for New York-based agencyMcCann Erickson. In the cel-animated spot, Tom attempts to trick Jerry byswitching Promise Buttery Light for plain butter.
Stockholm, Sweden-based Filmtecknarna F. Animation has completed theanimation for "Chilled Cream," a three-spot campaign for British beercompany Boddington. The three ads combine 2D animation with 3D backgroundand CGI effects. The design of the characters and the overall look of thefilms were created at Filmtecknarna under the creative direction of StigBergqvist and Jonas Dahlbeck. The sound editing and overall productionmanagement was handled by London-based Nexus Films with producer ChrisO´Reilly in charge.
White Plains, New York-based J.J. Sedelmaier has completed two :30 spotsfor Old Navy. "Girls Zip Pocket Flares" features a young magician whoconjures up and controls Old Navy's new zip pocket jeans for her friends.In "Boys Boarder Jeans," boys show off their large style jeans whilewalking the dog, sawing a log, talking to a frog, and paying the rent whileskateboarding. The spots feature a '60s retro-style designed by DavidSheldon.
Newly launched Atlanta,Georgia-based Giant Studios is a performance animation studio. Theirproprietary Motion Reality? system utilizes the latest advancements inmicroprocessor technology and interfaces with the best animation software.A state-of-the-art motion capture studio is available with a 50' x 50' x24' open floor space. The system can capture and process multiple,subject-object interactions in real-time, as well as the intricate detailof hand and facial captures. The studio offers fully integrated
