VFXWorld Magazine
Pixotope Adds to Global Staff
Mixed reality software company taps industry veterans Juan Rubio, Brad Rochon, and David Dowling as new project specialist, VP of sales and marketing, and chief revenue officer, respectively.
Teen Animators Get an Online Club with YAY UK
AccessVFX and ScreenSkills launch Young Animator of the Year club and award program for aspiring young animators ages 13-18; teens will complete hands-on challenges set by UK animation studios with chance to compete for prizes.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson Rejoins Marvel in ‘Kraven the Hunter’
The ‘Bullet Train’ actor, who previously appeared in the MCU as Pietro Maximoff / Quicksilver, will return in Sony’s upcoming ‘Spider-Man’ spinoff.
Cast Revealed for Neil Gaiman’s ‘The Sandman’
Patton Oswalt, voicing Matthew the Raven, joins David Thewlis, Jenna Coleman, and Stephen Fry in Netflix’s dark fantasy series based on the popular DC comic books; show follows people and places affected by Morpheus, the Dream King, as he mends his cosmic and human mistakes.
Adobe Debuts its First Premiere Pro Commercial
Produced with 72andSunny Los Angeles, ‘Fantastic Voyage | Premiere Pro’ follows a creator’s escapist adventures spotlighting endless possibilities in storytelling.
Academy Announces Date Change for 94th Oscars
Ceremony moves to March 27, 2022; film eligibility window returns to standard December 31 deadline, though requirements remain unchanged from 2021 awards.
Next PreVIEW Set: A Conversation with ‘Luca’ Director Enrico Casarosa
Join a conversation with the director and creative team behind Disney and Pixar’s upcoming animated feature; the free June 21 event is offered in partnership with OGR and Pixar Animation Studios.
Academy Cuts 2021 New Member Expansion in Half
Noting the need to ensure proper staffing and infrastructure to support ongoing growth, the Academy announces invitee limits while reaffirming goals to cultivate membership that reflects the diverse film community.
Maxon Launches ‘VFX and Chill’ Web Series
New weekly 90-minute live show, starring Seth Worley and Daniel ‘Hashi’ Hashimoto, pulls back the curtain on the VFX creation process; program debuts May 28.
Amazon Buys MGM for $8.45 Billion
Deal gets e-commerce and streaming giant extensive library of more than 4,000 films and 17,000 TV shows, including ‘Rocky,’ ‘The Pink Panther,’ ‘Tomb Raider,’ and a part of ‘James Bond.’
Epic Announces Unreal Engine 5 Early Access
Now available for game developers, latest major release, expected to ship in early 2022, includes numerous new groundbreaking features including Nanite virtualized micropolygon and Lumen global illumination systems.
Milk VFX Goes ‘Intergalactic’ for Sky
Visual effects studio delivers 850 shots across eight episodes of the sci-fi prison break drama, spanning complex planet and city environments, a spaceship crash, hyperspace travel, creatures, and character enhancements.
Framestore Uses Deep Fake Tech for Kiyan Prince Anti-Knife Campaign
Leading VFX studio provides cutting-edge AI and art support that brings back to life a young football prodigy tragically killed in a 2006 stabbing, showing him 15 years later at age 30.
Freefolk Reveals New Division Name, Hires, and Promotions
Soho VFX studio renames longform team Freefolk Film & Episodic, promoting Steve Murgatroyd and Meg Guidon to lead the new group.
‘Migrants,’ ‘Meerkat,’ and ‘I am a Pebble’ Take SIGGRAPH 2021 Computer Animation Festival Honors
Short films from Pôle 3D, Weta Digital, and ESMA are the big winners among 37 works, including two world premieres, selected for this year’s virtual Electronic Theater, coming August 9.
MPC Episodic Adds to VFX Team
Company’s dedicated visual effects division for television and streaming hires MPC alumni Sheila Wickens as VFX supervisor and Rory Knight-Jones as VFX producer.
Netflix’s ‘Geeked Week’ Celebrates Fandom and Their Favs
Five-day free virtual event running June7-11 treats fans to exclusive news, trailers, art, and drop-ins from stars of popular shows including ‘Stranger Things,’ ‘Castlevania,’ and ‘The Old Guard.’
‘Wolfwalkers,’ ‘Boy, Girl, Dog, Cat, Mouse, Cheese’ Win Big at Irish Animation Awards
Virtual ceremony held this past Friday evening celebrated outstanding creative talent in Irish animation, VFX, and gaming.
Marvel Drops ‘Eternals’ Teaser and Poster
The third MCU Phase Four film promises a brand-new set of immortal superheroes who must come out from the shadows after thousands of years to battles mankind’s oldest enemy; written and helmed by Oscar-winning ‘Nomadland’ director Chloé Zhao, the film opens November 5, 2021.
DNEG Adds Erika Burton as EVP, VFX - Global Head of Studios
Former Method Studios senior executive will be based in company’s Los Angeles office, working closely with Merzin Tavaria, President, Global Production and Operations.
MPC Episodic Expands Senior Team
Company’s dedicated VFX division for television and streaming adds to its senior London team with hires from Framestore, DNEG, and MPC Film.
Sony Trolls ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Fans with Official ‘Trailer’
The film’s official social-media team cheekily teased fans by releasing a photo of a large semi-tractor-trailer with the film’s title emblazoned on the side, instead of an actual promotional video.
Technicolor and Oxfam India Partner on COVID-19 Relief Fundraiser
Leading creative tech company and global charitable group team up to raise money to support grass roots relief work throughout communities in India; Technicolor will match up to €100,000 in donations received through this effort.
‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’ Unmasks the Mysterious Ninja Hero
The origin film, premiering July 23, features Henry Golding as Snake Eyes in his time before the mask, when he could still speak; watch the action-packed trailer.