Reviews

Blogs

A cartoon shows in Brooklyn…

If you take the J train over the Williamsburg Bridge, get off at Kosciusko Street and walk a few blocks west, you’ll come to a storefront that looks like it’s home to a going out of business sale. Inside is a bar and club called “Goodbye Blue Monday”: the place is decorated not unlike Pee-wee’s playhouse or the home of some mad collector of antique TV sets, mountains of action figures and bizarro furniture. I’m there because way in the back Tom Stathes is holding his first Cartoon Carnival.

In Cartoons, Event, Short Films | Blogs: The Miscweant

Blogs

Miyazaki tops himself again…

You know the tingles, that feeling running up and down your spine when you experience something awesome. Last month the Disney folks were kind enough to invite me to a preview of Ponyo – and I swear a day and half later the tingles were still with me.

In Films, 2D | Blogs: The Miscweant

Blogs

E3 - Tekken 6 HANDS ON

Alright Let’s get this party started. I got to sit down and take some time with the new Tekken at E3. Right off the bat, Tekken 6 is gorgeous.

In Games | Blogs: Press Start

Read More about E3 - Tekken 6 HANDS ON»

Story ANIMATIONWorld

Pixar Goes 3-D

Pixar's stereoscopic gurus discuss the studio's embrace of Up and the Toy Story franchise in Disney Digital 3-D.

In AWN Profiles, Reviews, Technology | ANIMATIONWorld

'Night' Turns to 'Battle of the Smithsonian'

Three years ago, the first Night at the Museum turned to Rhythm & Hues to create its fantastical CG characters. From a playful T. Rex skeleton to talking Easter Island heads, the crew was charged with the responsibility of bringing the exhibits of New York's American Museum of Natural History to life after hours. Now, with the sequel, Battle of the Smithsonian, the plot expands to include the entire Smithsonian in Washington D.C. and Rhythm & Hues has returned to significantly up the stakes.

In Production, AWN Profiles | VFXWorld

Blogs

fmx 09: One Awesome Conference

Renata and Thomas Haegele topped the event from last year and again the numbers of attendees increased. Again more and internationally renowned speakers came to Stuttgart, again for four days the sunny town became animator’s land And that in those dark and gloomy times of worldwide economic crisis. And I did not discover one unhappy face during all those days.

In CG, Event, Films, Games, People, Places, Technology, Visual Effects | Blogs: FMX Conference Spotlight

Blogs

fmx 09: You Know What's Interesting?

You know what´s interesting about the fmx?. You stay there in the foyer, in the halls, you have this big accessibility to each and everyone. So I found myself talking to one of the big visual effects designers of this planet.

In CG, Event, Films, People, Technology, Visual Effects, 3D | Blogs: FMX Conference Spotlight

Blogs

fmx 09: Information Overload

The fmx may not be as big as SIGGRAPH, but like an American professional stated, it is superbly organized, which makes it a truly wonderful event throughout the world of Visual Effects, Animation, Games and Digital Media.

In CG, Event, Films, People, Places, Technology, Visual Effects | Blogs: FMX Conference Spotlight

Blogs

fmx 09: Rainy with Excellent Animation!

Cloudy, sometimes rainy. Stuttgart, the capital of the German federal state of Baden Wüerrttemberg is once again for the next four days the global center of animation. The fmx conference opened its gates to the huge crowds of professionals, students, journalists and all enthusiasts.

In CG, Event, Films, People, Places, Short Films, Technology, Visual Effects | Blogs: FMX Conference Spotlight

Film ANIMATIONWorld

Fresh from the Festivals: April 2009's Reviews

This month, Andrew Farago reviews Keith Reynolds Can't Make It Tonight, Shaman, Sweet Dreams and Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death.

In Reviews | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Festivals

Tools VFXWorld

3ds Max 2010 Review: New Modeling Tools, New UI

This week I received the new 3ds Max 2010. I will be putting it through the paces, paying specific attention to the new additions. As you may have seen in Autodesk's press notes for the product, there are more than 100 new additions to the modeling toolset alone, so I will have lots to cover. 3ds Max 2010 is available as of this week for $3,495 or as an upgrade from 3ds Max 2009 for $895.

In Reviews, Technology | VFXWorld

Animation VFXWorld

Meet the SIGGRAPH 2009 Chair: Ronen Barzel

As a graduate of Caltech (specializing in physically-based modeling) and former Pixar animation scientist (building the Slinky Dog model for Toy Story, developing lighting technology and working on other software R&D), Ronen Barzel is tailor-made for chairing this year's SIGGRAPH. The 36th annual show will take place in New Orleans (conference: Aug. 3-7; exhibition: Aug. 4-6) at The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Barzel spoke to VFXWorld about what's new this year (including more emphasis on music and audio), the challenges of coping with the economic downturn and what technological advancements are of particular interest.

In People, Reviews | VFXWorld

Series ANIMATIONWorld

Anime Reviews: Desperate Death and Melancholy Love: It's an Anime Spring

OK, so you've seen The Seven Samurai, Ran, The Hidden Blade, or one of the many samurai movies out there. Well, forget them! Shigurui redefines the samurai flick.

In Reviews | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Anime

VFXWorld

The HP Z800 Workstation Review: A First Look

Bryan Hoff tests the new HP Z800 to see if it offers enough of an increase in efficiency and productivity to justify the expense in this economic downturn.

In Reviews, Technology, CG, Technology | VFXWorld

Film ANIMATIONWorld

Fresh from the Festivals: March 2009's Reviews

In the first part of our in-depth Watchmen coverage, we get an overview from Alex McDowell, the production designer, and John DJ DesJardin, the overall visual effects supervisor.

In Reviews | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Festivals

Color VFXWorld

HP EliteBook 8730w Review: Not Your Grandmother's Laptop

Andrew Farago interviews the directors of the five animated shorts nominees for the 2008 Academy Awards.

In Reviews, Technology | VFXWorld

Film ANIMATIONWorld

Fresh from the Festivals: February 2009's Reviews

In this sixth and final excerpt from The Official Luxology modo 301 Guide, author Daniel Ablan shows how to sculpt landscapes.

In Reviews | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Festivals

Series ANIMATIONWorld

Anime Reviews: Gossip Girl in Hell, the Return of Samuel L. 'Mother F'n' Jackson and More

Dr. Toon looks over a period of American animation history when racism and hatred toward the Japanese was prevalent.

In Reviews | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Anime

Cartoons ANIMATIONWorld

Dr. Toon: When Toons Hate

Andrew Farago reviews three of the Oscar nominees for Best Animated Short along with two others: The Heart of Amos Klein by Michal and Uri Kranot, Lavatory Lovestory by Konstantin Bronzit, La maison en petits cubes by Kunio Kato, Sweet & Sour by Eddie White and This Way Up by Smith & Foulkes.

In Reviews | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Dr. Toon

Animation ANIMATIONWorld

Book Review: 'British Animation: The Channel 4 Factor'

Irene Kotlarz reviews Clare Kitson's book on U.K. Channel 4, charting a golden age of British animation.

In Reviews | ANIMATIONWorld

Animation ANIMATIONWorld

Toon Boom Animate Review: 2D Plays 2nd Fiddle

In his 2009 kickoff column, Mark Simon tells us all about his holiday vacation and rebooting his creativity.

In Reviews, Technology | ANIMATIONWorld

Animation VFXWorld

Maxon Cinema 4D R11 Review: 3D Applications Made Easy

Peter "The Rizk" Rizkalla starts off the New Year by getting behind Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Fallout 3, Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff and Sonic Unleashed.

In Reviews, Technology | VFXWorld

Animation ANIMATIONWorld

Getting Animated About Williams' Masterclass

This month anime reviewer James Brusuelas checks out Bleach the Movie, Darker Than Black, Coyote Ragtime Show, Ah! My Goddess, When They Cry, My Santa and Hunter x Hunter.

In People, Reviews | ANIMATIONWorld

Game ANIMATIONWorld