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Home Blog Page 2004

Maya Users Get mental For Free

Ryan Ball
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0

Alias|Wavefront is now offering mental images’ mental ray for Maya plug-in at no extra charge to all Maya Complete and Maya Unlimited customers. Previously priced at $3,995, mental ray for Maya 1.5 public beta is now available to Maya 4.5 customers for free download at http://www.aliaswavefront.com/maya/getmental.

The offer is a response to customer demand for integration of mental ray’s rendering capabilities into Maya 3D software and represents a commitment to partnership between the two companies.

Cinesite Conjures Houdini Magic For X-Men 2

Ryan Ball
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0

For its work on the upcoming sci-fi/action sequel X-Men 2, visual effects house Cinesite has worked Side Effects’ Houdini 3D software into its CG production pipeline. The facility is recruiting Houdini talent for the film, slated for release in May of 2003.

Cinesite production manager Ralph Denson says the decision was based on the flexibility Houdini affords as the company deals with increased shot volume and artist staffing generated by a growing slate of projects.

Side Effects Software recently shipped the new Houdini 5.5. A full-featured free trial version of the application, along with an extensive array of video and print-based training materials, is available at http://www.sidefx.com/products/apprentice/index.html.

Eden FX Recruits From Emmy-Winning Crew

Ryan Ball
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0

Eden FX has added three former Foundation Imaging CG specialists to its in-house staff. Stephen Pugh, Robert Bonchune and John Teska all contributed to the effects work on the Enterprise pilot episode, which recently won an Emmy for Outstanding Special Visual Effects.

Pugh will serve the company as VFX producer, with Bonchune and Teska acting as supervising CG artists. The recruitment announcement was made by Eden FX co-presidents Mark Miller and John Gross.

Deluxe Roger Rabbit DVD Coming; 15th Anniversary, Extras-Loaded Edition Available March 25

Ryan Ball
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0

Winner of four Academy Awards, the groundbreaking live-action/animated classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is getting the full treatment this time around with a deluxe VISTA Series 2-disc DVD set and an exclusive VHS bonus edition. The release will be available from Touchstone Home Ent. for the suggested retail price of $29.99 DVD and $19.99 VHS.

Robert Zemeckis (Cast Away, Forrest Gump) directed this comedic romp about a gumshoe detective, played by Bob Hoskins, who teams up with a mischievous cartoon rabbit to solve a who dunnit involving players in Hollywood and Toontown.

The cast features Christopher Lloyd (Hey Arnold! The Movie, Back To The Future), Joanna Cassidy (Six Feet Under) and the legendary vocal talents of Mel Blanc and June Foray. Many classic characters from the Walt Disney and Warner Bros. catalogs also make appearances.

DISC ONE: FAMILY FRIENDLY

• Full-frame version of the film

• Three Roger Rabbit Shorts: Tummy Trouble, Roller Coaster Rabbit, Trail Mix-Up

• Who Made Roger Rabbit — feature on the making of the film • Set-top game: Trouble In Toontown

DISC TWO: FOR THE ENTHUSIAST

• Widescreen version of the film

• Audio commentary with director Robert Zemeckis and fellow filmmakers

• Deleted scene — “The Pig Head Sequence”

• Behind The Ears — in-depth look at the making of the film

• Toontown Confidential – pop-up style trivia

• Set top gallery — “The Valiant Files”

• On Set! – cinema verité look at the making of a scene from the film

• Before and After — featurette look at a scene with and without animation

• Toon stand-ins – how to rehearse a scene for toons

Other Details:

Widescreen 1.85:1 formatted for 16×9 screens

Fullscreen 1.33:1

DTS Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

THX certified

French language track

Spanish language track

Run time: approximately 104 minutes

Rated: PG

The exclusive video bonus edition VHS of Who Framed Roger Rabbit will include the Roger Rabbit short Tummy Trouble.

Infogrames Brings Nick Jr. Fare To CD-ROM

Ryan Ball
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0

Infogrames Inc. and Nickelodeon have announced the availability of four new PC/MAC CD-ROM games based on top-rated preschool programs. Dora the Explorer: Backpack Adventure, Dora the Explorer: Lost City Adventure, Blue’s Clues Preschool and Blue’s Clues Kindergarten offer kids opportunity to interact with their favorite characters and learn by taking part in the stories.

While the new Blue’s Clues games are only the latest installments to an award-winning line from Infogrames, Dora the Explorer made her CD-ROM debut with Backpack Adventure only few weeks ago. The title has been one of the top two best-selling educational titles each week since its launch, according to market information provider NPD Techworld.

Since Dora’s TV world exists inside a computer, CD-ROM games are a natural extension. The interactive experience allows kids to direct the on-screen actions of Dora and her friends Boots, Backpack, Map, Tico and others as they sing along to songs, solve problems, figure out puzzles and learn words and phrases in Spanish.

Backpack Adventure is aimed at helping players enhance core age-appropriate skills like color and shape recognition, pattern completion and problem solving skills all while discovering and learning basic mouse skills. Lost City Adventure features color matching and math-related activities.

In addition to reinforcing core preschool concepts like colors, shapes, listening and memory skills, both Blue’s Clues games include a “Parents Area” which contains information about the educational curriculum goals associated with each activity. There are also “Beyond the Computer” activities that parents can play with their child in their own home.

Dora the Explorer: Backpack Adventure and Dora the Explorer: Lost City Adventure for Win/Mac are appropriate for kids 3-5 and were developed by Stunt Puppy Entertainment. Each game retails for approximately $19.95.

Developed by ImagineEngine, Blue’s Clues Preschool (3-5) and Blue’s Clues Kindergarten (4-6) for Win/Mac retail for approximately $19.95 each.

Golf, Goofy Style

Ryan Ball
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0

Electronic Arts and Disney Interactive hope to hit a hole in one with Disney Golf, now available for PlayStation2.

Developed by T&E Soft, Disney Golf features six 3D courses including landscapes as diverse as the American West, a plush island paradise and a resort in the clouds. In addition to beloved Disney characters the game features hidden capabilities, including 60 power-ups to boost characters’ golf skills and foul up the competition.

Designed for all skill levels, Disney Golf includes four traditional modes of golf play: Match Play, Stroke Play, Skins Play and Best-Ball Play, as well as two bonus modes, Long-Drive and Near-Pin Challenge.

Disney Golf, rated “E” for Everyone, is priced at MSRP $39.99. For more information, visit www.disneygolf.ea.com.

Eden Fx Takes Trek, Gets Haunted

Ryan Ball
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0

Two-year old visual effects shop Eden FX has landed CG work for the second season of the Paramount Television series Enterprise and the next installment in the Star Trek feature film franchise. The company has also been signed as the 3D CG house for the new UPN series, Haunted.

Eden FX, which recently moved into Hollywood’s historic Sunset-Gower Studios, shared CG duties with Foundation Imaging on the first season of Enterprise. In addition to taking on full responsibility for the show’s digital effects, the team will work with supervising producer Peter Lauritson on three effects shots for Star Trek: Nemesis, coming to theaters Dec. 13.

Blade 2.0 Cuts Loose From in-sync

Ryan Ball
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0

Software developer in-sync corp. has released Blade 2.0 with new features supporting 24p and advanced 24p production. Based on new technology in-sync has dubbed "Automated Reverse Telecine" (ART), these features allow users to ingest at 24p, edit at 24p and output to 24p native MPEG. The company claims that the end result is a higher quality production resulting in the highest quality DVD possible.

With resolution independence and increased variable frame rate support in a software only solution, Blade 2.0 also allows product to be viewed on higher quality monitors not limited to interlaced NTSC formats.

Blade 2.0 offers the flexibility to edit either 30 fps or 24p video. In 24p mode, the six frames that were added by the camcorder for recording onto DV tape are removed using the aforementioned ART process.

Blade comes equipped with standard and enhanced professional editing features, as well a variety of transitions and effects for color and compositing. It also allows output to a 24p file or stills.

Blade 2.0 retails for $499. For more information, visit http://www.in-sync.com.

Former Fox Family, Fox Kids Pres. Smith Joins TLC Ent.

Ryan Ball
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2

Maureen Smith, former Fox Family Channel and Fox Kids Network president has assumed a partnership at TLC Ent., producers of live action, animation, and film projects for television and home video, including series and specials such as Captain Kangaroo, McGee and Me!, and The Christmas Lamb.

Joining TLC Ent. co-founders and partners George Taweel and Rob Loos, Smith will work to increase the company’s library of intellectual properties. She will also oversee marketing and brand management for each of those properties and fully exploit the company’s media assets across all applicable platforms including television, home video, video on demand, publishing and feature films.

Named one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment by The Hollywood Reporter in Dec. 2001, Smith is recognized as a key architect in building the Fox Family Channel (now ABC Family), where she served as exec. vp before taking over the reins.

Original primetime programming and events developed under Smith’s leadership include the critically acclaimed series State of Grace and the original movies Three Days, starring Kristin Davis, and Moms on Strike, starring Faith Ford.

During her tenure at Fox Kids, Smith oversaw the 4.2 million member Fox Kids Club, served as Editor-In-Chief of Fox Kids Magazine and served as general manager. She joined the network in 1996 as sr. vp of planning, scheduling and station relations.

Beginning her media career in 1986 as one of the original Fox Broadcasting employees, Smith’s 15 years with the organization included positions in research, marketing, station affiliations and primetime program scheduling.

Smith and her husband reside in Southern California and are the proud parents of two children.

Warner Bros. To Distribute Liberty’s Pinocchio

Ryan Ball
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0

Liberty Int’l Ent. Inc., producer of the animated feature Adventures of Pinocchio, has signed an agreement which will see the film distributed on home video by Warner Bros. The studio’s home entertainment arm will release the title in the U.S., the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The approximate street date of Dec. 3, 2002 will coincide with the new major feature film Pinocchio, starring Roberto Begnini.

The Chubb Chubbs Go Glam At L.A. Short Fest

Ryan Ball
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0

It isn’t every film festival that boasts a batch of furry Cuisinarts as its opener, but last night The Los Angeles International Short Film Festival did so in style. Launching into its sixth year, this premiere event selected the wacky all-CG cartoon The Chubb Chubbs as the lead off to its first night of programming at the glamorous Arclight Theater on Sunset.

The six-minute short about a little alien named Meeper and his unexpected friendship with some really tough little aliens easily earned its share of cackles and applause. No newbie to first-act stardom, The Chubb Chubbs garnered national fame last summer as the lead-in to Men In Black II. Directed by Eric Armstrong and produced by Jacquie Barnbrook, the short was created by Sony Pictures Imageworks as a ramp-up test to an all CG feature. (Obviously, this test turned out to be gold.)

After the Chubb Chubbs sang (or growled) their way off-screen, the audience was particularly pumped for a special tribute presentation of Harold Lloyd silent films accompanied by a live band.

The Los Angeles International Short Film Fest continues through the weekend at the Arclight and the Los Angeles Film School. Programs of particular interest to animators are “Distribution: Who’s Buying Short Films Today and What is the Short Film Marketplace Looking Like in 2002?” (Thursday, 7:00 p.m.); “Producing with No Money Down” (Saturday, 4:00pm); “Animation Technology” (Saturday, 6:00 p.m.); “Digital Filmmaking” (Sunday, 4:00 p.m.). For more info check out www.lashortfest.com.

Dr. Jekyll Transforms In Major Co-Pro Pic: Deal Unites Stardust & TEVA

Rita Street
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0

When animation director Dino Athanassiou read Robert Louis Stevenson’s dark classic The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 10 years ago, he was haunted by turn-of-the-century, film noir images of Edinburgh and London and the surrealistic head-trips of a young doctor gone astray. Like Stevenson himself – who reportedly dreamed the tale during a fever and admonished his wife for waking him from such a "fine bogey-tale" – Athanassiou has been consumed by possible character designs, backgrounds and layouts for his interpretation of this psycho-horror tale.

Fortunately for this acclaimed sequence director (El Dorado, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron) and president of London-based Stardust Pictures, his visions of an "animated horror film that truly goes for the jugular" are about to become reality. During a private meeting with Animation Magazine at MIPCOM last week, Athanassiou, along with writer Alastair Swinnerton of London’s BA20 Entertainment; producer Christopher Panzner, and director of marketing and development Valerie Seban of Paris-based TEVA announced a deal to collectively fund the movie currently titled Jekyll and Hyde. Although the triad of houses would not reveal their budget, they confirmed that Athanassiou will direct and produce the animation through Stardust Pictures, Swinnerton with serve as scribe, and TEVA will take over the bulk of animation post production.

"This was a time when psychology was so new it was considered a black art," explained Swinnerton. "A time when religion and medicine were kept totally apart and experimentation of any kind was not accepted." With his script, Swinnerton hopes to explore the dark side of personality and the human conflicts that evolved from those social boundaries. Said Athanassiou, "This film is also about taking visuals to the edge, about exploring the surreal world of imagination." Panzner added that TEVA’s interest in the project came from the spectacular look and feel of Athanassiou’s concept art: the monochrome colors of the city juxtaposed with the psychedelic depictions of Jekyll’s mind.

During the announcement meeting – hosted by Magelis/Pole Image (the animation consortium of Angouleme, France) – Athanassiou and his co-producers showed us two stunning bust maquettes of Jekyll and Hyde, as well as their pitch book. If these unusually sensual and emotional designs offer even the slightest hint at the quality of production to follow, let’s just say… "We’re definitely excited."

In other news from the triumvirate, TEVA’s short masterwork The Tale of the Floating World, brought home best of show at Imagina. At MIPCOM BA20 introduced Terranoids, a theatrical movie, game, toy range and eventual television series developed by Swinnerton, John Wagner (creator of Judge Dredd), Alan Grant (long-time writer of Dredd and DC’s Batman) and Cam Kennedy (Dredd and Star Wars comics artist).

Scooby-Doo Bow-wows On Video, Sequels In The Works

Ryan Ball
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0

Last summer’s live-action/CG blockbuster based on the classic cartoon about a talking Great Dane and a roving band of meddling kids hit video shelves over the weekend.

Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard and Linda Cardellini star as the Mystery Inc. gang, summoned to investigate a series of paranormal incidents at a hot spring break resort owned by Rowan Atkinson.

With a sequel in production, producers have already tapped scribes Dan Forman and Paul Foley to write a script for the tentatively titled Scooby-Doo 3, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The duo was got the job based on the rewrite they submitted for another classic cartoon adaptation for Warner Bros., The Jetsons.

DVD Special Features:

• Two commentaries by cast and filmmakers

• More than 7 interactive ROM challenges

• Deleted scenes — more than 10 minutes of never-before-seen footage

• Behind-the-scenes documentary

• Music Video: Pop music video “Land of a Million Drums”

• Two-player Spooky Island Arcade Challenge

• Hidden Easter eggs containing bonus footage and more

Video format: anamorphic widescreen

Retail Price: $26.98

ChubbChubbs Open L.A. Int’l Short Film Fest

Ryan Ball
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0

Sony Pictures Imageworks’ first CG short, The ChubbChubbs, which made a splash in theaters over the summer as a warm-up act for Men In Black II, will open the gala first night of the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival tonight, Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Hollywood’s ArcLight theater at 6360 W. Sunset Blvd.

The evening will also feature a tribute to Harold Lloyd, beginning at 8 p.m. Newly restored prints of Lloyd’s famous shorts Never Weaken, An Easterner Weakerner and Why Pick On Me? will be screened, accompanied by world-renowned composer Robert Israel performing live with an eight-piece orchestra.

In addition, the first ever Harold Lloyd Film Achievement Award will be presented to director Robert Wise (Sound of Music, West Side Story, Star Trek).

For more information, visit www.lashortsfest.com.

Cosgrove Hall Mixes It Up For Mr Scruff

Ryan Ball
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0

Dangermouse creator Cosgrove Hall has teamed up with film production company Four23Films to produce a surreal animated video for "Sweet Smoke," the latest single from chart topping U.K. DJ Mr Scruff, a.k.a Andy Carthy.

Carthy supplied Cosgrove Hall Digital’s creative director, Ben Turner, with original designs, from which the team created animation with a simple line-drawn style. Turner notes that the studio is getting more and more work in music videos and commercials.

The single, from the album Trouser Jazz (Ninjatune), is to be released on Monday Nov. 25. The video has already made its way to MTV’s playlist.

Santa vs. The Snowman Offers 3D Fun, CG Fluff

Ryan Ball
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0

The first ever animated holiday film to hit IMAX screens, Santa vs. The Snowman tells the story of a lonely snowman whose envy of Santa Claus leads him to challenge the jolly one for control of the North Pole and the title of Father Christmas.

From exec. producer Steve Oedekerk (Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Kung Pow: Enter The Fist), director John A. Davis and the rest of the team behind the Academy Award-nominated Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, this latest "Christmas that almost didn’t happen" story is told through CG animation and 3D visuals that require special glasses.

The 3D effect is a lot of fun and the producers do a great job of making the viewer feel immersed in the environment. Children in particular will be wide-eyed at the colorful scenes that seemingly play out just an arm’s reach away.

The story, unfortunately, is less engaging. While the pacing is fast and lively, the film gets bogged down in tired Star Wars spoofs and a disturbingly Orwellian vision of Santa’s village.

There are some nice comic touches and Jonathan Winters is lovely as the voice of Santa. Ben Stein and Victoria Jackson also lend their distinctive vocals to odd-looking elf characters.

The animation, by DNA Productions with additional work by OMATION, is fairly rudimentary and lacks a certain warmth. But considering they’re held up — and out — to the scrutiny of the biggest screens in existence, the LightWave-created visuals are quite passable.

While its less than satisfying narrative arc and uninspired animation will leave you longing for the good old days of Rankin and Bass, Santa vs. The Snowman is still worth seeing for the 3D IMAX experience. Though it’s being promoted as a feature film, it actually falls somewhere between a short and a featurette at around 30 minutes, making it a fun little holiday excursion for the whole family. It opens nationally and internationally only in IMAX theaters on Nov. 1.

Simpsons Serve Up Burgers And Frights

Ryan Ball
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0

Just in time for Halloween and Fox’s annual spooky Simpsons special, Treehouse of Horror XII (Nov. 3), participating Burger King restaurants are unleashing Simpsons Creepy Classics. The scary movie-inspired toys will be available in Big Kids Meals and Kids Meals for four weeks beginning Oct. 14.

The Simpsons Creepy Classics toys each come with a movable figure and a transforming Spooky Screen that plays a Simpsons spoof of a popular horror film.

To push the promotion, ad agency Campbell-Mithun, working with The Simpsons creative team, have produced an animated TV commercial featuring Homer, Bart, Marge, Lisa, Maggie and the green, tentacled alien, Kang.

Brian Lemay Moves to Seneca

Ryan Ball
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0

Writer/artist Brian Lemay (Animated Cartoon Factory) has left Sheridan College and is currently working at Seneca College as an instructor of 2D animation, storyboarding and character design.

"It’s quite a bit different," says Lemay. "At Sheridan there were four to five classes with about 30 students each, and at Seneca there are two classes of about 16 each. There’s lots of one-on-one."

In addition to teaching, Lemay will continue to author books on animation like Animation: The Basic Principles, available now for $45. Seneca College is also located in Toronto, Canada.

New Wallace & Gromit Series Hits AtomFilms

Ryan Ball
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0

Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions, Aardman Animations’ new series of 10 short films will debut online at AtomFilms tomorrow, Oct. 15. Fans of the fumbling English inventor and his precocious dog can download the first episode, Soccamatic, free of charge at noon PST at http://wallace.atomfilms.com. One week later, AtomFilms will present the world premiere of the entire Cracking Contraptions series exclusively to online subscribers. Episodes will range from one to three minutes in length.

The clay animated Wallace and Gromit made their debut in Nick Park’s Oscar-nominated 1989 short A Grand Day Out (1989) and went on to star in the Oscar-winning outings A Close Shave (1995) and The Wrong Trousers (1993). Cracking Contraptions marks their first new appearances in seven years. A feature film deal between Aardman and DreamWorks was recently announced.

Park is producing Cracking Contraptions with past collaborators Chris Sadler and Loyd Price directing. “Wallace and Gromit are like family to me,” says Park. “I couldn’t be prouder of Cracking Contraptions, which provides new insights into the unique relationship of my characters. And considering their love of advanced technology, the Internet is the perfect place for these guys.”

After paying a one time fee of $9.95, subscribers will gain instant access to all 10 episodes and a special “making of” feature. The series will be delivered exclusively in the Windows Media video format, with digital-rights-management services provided by SyncCast.

For more information on Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions, visit http://wallace.atomfilms.com.

Triggerfish Animates South African Sesame Street

Ryan Ball
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0

Stop motion company Triggerfish Animation will helm the largest animation project in South Africa. The company will be producing all disciplines of animation for the South African version of Sesame Street, titled Takalani Sesame.

Takalani Sesame is a multi-lingual, educational children’s program made up of 104 26-minute episodes. It will air on SABC and will be seen in 19 different countries.

Triggerfish first became involved in the project two years ago as part of a joint venture. The company produced half of the animation for the first season, and will be responsible for all animation on seasons two and three. Triggerfish was also commissioned by its New York-based clients to create and produce animation directly for international and U.S. domestic programming.

In order to handle the scope of the project and to branch out into 2D and computer animation, Triggerfish has requested the aid of other South African animation studios, including The House Next Door, Anamazing Workshop, Nine Degrees East, Depth Animation, The Refinery, Nitecap, Quay Animation and Art Attak. The collaborative endeavor will be lead by Triggerfish creative director Jacquie Trowell. Triggerfish co-owner, Emma Kaye, serves as executive producer.

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