A Conversation with Joe Grant

This is a great interview with Disney Storyman Joe Grant. The audio sync is a few frames off but it's worth a listen!

 Part 1 and Part 2

'Two Guys Named Joe' by John Canemaker

StarCraft II - Trailer

Pretty impressive!

'Virtual human' Milo

Microsoft has shown off its "virtual human" that reacts to a person's emotions, body movements and voice. 
 full article here: BBC News 'Virtual Human'

SHOCK: Pixar isn't making 'Planes'?

No shocker here -- Disney will be outsourcing animation on their new project 'Planes' to India?

more here via Bleeding Cool: It Isn’t Pixar Making The Cars Spin-Off

A History of Aardman

Aardman

These featurettes are just awesome! They have some great archival footage from the early days of Aardman and excellent commentary on the studio's history!


A History of Aardman: Episode 1 - The Early Days 




A History of Aardman: Episode 2 - The Birth of Morph




A History of Aardman: Episode 3 - Early Lip-Synching Work




A History of Aardman: Episode 4 - Pete and Dave Meet Nick Park!




A History of Aardman: Episode 5 - The Move into Commercials




A History of Aardman Episode 6: Making feature Films! 

 

Pascal Campion on Illustration & Storytelling

This is a great interview with story artist and illustrator Pascal Campion. 

Pascal Campion: blog, website, storybird gallery





thanks Oz for the ref!

Of Muppets and Men: The Making of 'The Muppet Show' (1981)

I've been trying to scrounge up some good material on Jim Henson and Frank Oz. Mostly to glean some incite into how they puppeteered their characters. Found this 'Making of The Muppet Show' from 1981! It's pretty amazing!

Of Muppets and Men: The Making of 'The Muppet Show'

Annecy 2010 Gobelins

Some inspiring work here! Love the abstract angle in these!

FLIP ANIM: studios requiring tests for jobs

This months article on the 'FLIP animation' site talks about how studios are requiring more industry veterans to do tests for jobs. It's an interesting read!

The Test Pattern

New Oscar Rules 'Mocap Isn't Animation'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oscars open visual-effects prize to 5 nominees

(AP) – 21 hours ago

LOS ANGELES — The visual-effects category has gotten an upgrade at the next Academy Awards ceremony.
The board of governors for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences increased the number of nominees to five, up from three, at the 83rd awards show next Feb. 27.
The switch brings more awards attention to visual effects, which play a bigger role in Hollywood blockbusters as digital-animation technology continues to advance.
Since 1996, the visual-effects category has featured only three nominees, including last year's winner, the science-fiction blockbuster "Avatar."
The academy also announced Thursday some changes to the feature-animation category, including shortening the minimum running-time for animated contenders to greater than 40 minutes. That's down from the previous minimum of 70 minutes.
The change brings the animation rules in line with the minimum running times in other feature-film categories.
The new rules include language to clarify what constitutes an animated film, stating that "motion capture by itself is not an animation technique."
Motion-capture records performances by live actors wearing special suits covered with sensor dots that are read by digital cameras. The technology was used as the foundation for alien characters in "Avatar," the great ape in "King Kong" and the Gollum character in "The Lord of the Rings" films.

The making of Disney's 'The Rescuers Down Under' (1990)

The making of 'The Rescuers Down Under' over on the Behind The Scenes Blog:

Making of 'The Rescuers Down Under'

BIG BANG BIG BOOM -by BLU

I saw some of his work during a visit to London last year! I think it was near a gas station in Camden Town. Cool stuff!

BIG BANG BIG BOOM - the new wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

Hanna-Barbera Studio Tour (1961)

A tour of Hanna-Barbera Studios from 1961 during the making of 'The Flintstones'.

Making Of Disney's Snow White (1937)

Making Of Disney's Snow White (How Disney Cartoons are made 1937)