Organizers have announced that “Creating Worlds” will be the theme of FMX 2018 – Conference on Animation, Effects, Games and Immersive Media (April 24-27, Stuttgart). They’ve also revealed the first raft of program highlights — including confirming speakers Phil Tippett (Tippett Studio) and David Sproxton (Aardman Animations) — and released the official trailer: Behind the Beard, starring Bruno the Beaver.
Creating Worlds will look beyond the production and technological aspects of media & entertainment and explore all facets of the creative process, from the initial creative spark to the building and marketing of an intellectual property. Based on the theme, the FMX 2018 program consists of presentations, workshops, masterclasses, exhibition floors and screenings centered on all aspects of Animation, VFX, Games and Immersive Media.
In addition to tracks on artistic topics such as Concept Art, Sound Design and The Art of Animation, FMX will explore the latest technology developments in Lighting & Rendering, Real-Time, state-of-the-art simulation and visualization technologies. Moreover, innovative VR, AR and 360° projects will be part of the diverse program, as well as the new tracks Characters & Creatures and World Building, business related topics such as Managing Change, and presentations on Social Impact discussing socially critical questions.
FMX track Then & Now (curated by freelance journalist Ian Failes) will gather some of the artistic giants who laid the groundwork for the modern industry to present their pioneering effects and animation techniques, which are still incredibly valid today. Phil Tippett (Tippett Studio) will cover the work he has been doing in the VFX industry for the past 40 years, from stop-motion used in the first Star Wars movies to the revolutionary digital effects in Jurassic Park, Starship Troopers, and current projects such as his epic passion project MAD GOD. David Sproxton (Aardman Animations) will talk about the IP building on Shaun the Sheep and its characteristic claymated world that has been established as a strong international brand.
Foundry is the first company to join FMX 2018 as a Main Partner. Moreover, Golaem, Laubwerk, Mercenaries Engineering, Ranch Computing and RebusFarm will be part of the FMX Marketplace, while the teams of TRIXTER, MPC and The Mill will have a booth at the Recruiting Hub.
FMX 2018 also introduces Bruno the Beaver, who is starring in the official trailer series Behind the Beard; episodes will be successively released during the months before FMX 2018. For the first time in FMX history, the trailer is bundled with an original tablet game: Behind the Beard – Beaver Your Beard. The transmedia project was created by students at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut (directors Noel Winzen, Marc Angele; producer Ela Duca; technical director Tim Lehr) in cooperation with the Trossingen University of Music.
Tickets for FMX 2018 go on sale January 12 at fmx.de.
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