In response to the new Omicron variant, the Japanese government announced on Nov. 29 that the country will bar all international business and leisure travelers for one month. However, SIGGRAPH Asia 2021 was already preparing for the event to continue with very few international speakers and attendees physically present due to the stringent processes in place to obtain travel visas into Japan. Event organizers have confirmed that the computer graphics confab will go on as planned from Dec. 14-17 live at the Tokyo International Forum and online.
“Although we are currently facing the challenge of the spread of a new variant of COVID-19, we have decided to hold SIGGRAPH Asia 2021 as scheduled while making utmost efforts to ensure the safety and security of all visitors, presenters and management staff,” said Shuzo John Shiota, SIGGRAPH Asia 2021 Conference Chair
and President of Polygon Pictures. “This is the first hybrid event where you can physically communicate with and experience the presentations of many of the world’s leading professionals in computer graphics and interactive technologies, as well as academic researchers and practitioners. Please join us with the conference theme ‘LIVE’!”
The conference has also just announced its line-up of invited speakers, which include leading figures of animation, visual effects and CG technology from around the world:
- Sean Walker, Visual Effects Supervisor, Weta Digital
- Kazuya Hayashi, Technical Director – Film / Animation, Unity Technologies Japan
- Yoichi Ochiai, Director of R&D – Center for Digital Nature, University of Tsukuba
- Robyn Luckham, Global Head of Animation, DNEG Animation
- Lindsey Olivares, Production Designer / Lead Character Designer, Sony Pictures Animation
- Rory Cheyne, Production Designer, Foundation
- Taylor Moll, VFX Supervisor, DNEG Animation
- Daniel Holden, R&D Scientist, Ubisoft Divertissements
- Mike Lasker, VFX Supervisor, Sony Pictures Imageworks
- And many more!
These talented creatives and brilliant innovators will share their insights in a variety of panels, talks, technical presentations and demos. Some highlights of the conference program include Featured Sessions diving into the visuals of top film and series projects of the year, including Sony Pictures Animation’s The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Vivo and Wish Dragon, Locksmith Animation’s Ron’s Gone Wrong, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, Marvel’s Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Adult Swim/Crunchyroll’s Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Isaac Asimov’s Foundation (Apple TV+), Toei Animation’s Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac, DNEG Animation’s short Mr. Spam Gets a New Hat. Attendees can also get the scoop on the Unity Anime Toolbox, getting started with virtual production and R&D for Anime Production.
In addition to the main conference program, SIGGRAPH Asia 2021 have put together a fine line-up of Exhibitor Talk sessions by leading companies such as Amazon Web Services, Carpe Diem Solutions, ELSA Japan, Huawei CBG/OS LAB 3D team, IMAGICA Group, NHK Art, SideFX, Toyota Motor Corporation and more! Register to hear from them on their latest innovative products and developments! View the Exhibitor Talks’ schedule here.
And of course, there will be the can’t-miss Computer Animation Festival, which recently announced the award-winning films as Twenty Something (Best in Show), Le Retour des Vagues (Best Student Project), Les larmes de la Seine (Best Student Project) and Only a Child (Jury Special).
SIGGRAPH Asia 2021 will be held in compliance with any COVID-19 regulations from the government, local authorities and the MICE industry to ensure the safety and well-being of all attendees, and take into consideration the government’s ‘Basic Policy on Countermeasures for Infectious Diseases Caused by Novel Coronaviruses.’ TIF has also partnered with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and related organizations to further prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the venue. Onsite safety and hygiene measures such as temperature screening, mandatory masks to be worn at all times, hand sanitizers to be placed at entrances, social distancing and more, will be implemented.
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