The Art of Motion Capture

This vid provides a general look at the basics of mocap.

'Supper' by Bird Box Studios

Bird Box rocks! This short is so great :) Love the energy and character! Check out more awesome shorts by Bird Box here:

// Bird Box Studios

The Future of Gaming [DICE 2012]

This is a really informative lecture by Tim Sweeney (co-founder of Epic Games) about the future of gaming during DICE 2012.

Animation Supermodel Mannequin?

*Update from a previous post from last July

Interesting article over on c|net about a hands-on input device that could be useful for illustrators and animators. It's scheduled to hit the market in a few months (only $850).

Thought this quote was a bit to presumptuous though  'the foot-tall Qumarion mannequin could radically simplify the process of creating realistic movement in 3D computer-generated models.'

// Meet Qumarion, an animation supermodel via c|net

//Qumarion mannequin input device for intuitive 3D manipulation via diginfo








Last years post about this new tech:

// Pose Your 3D Characters With Your Hands

The Development of the Digital Animator (hightlights)

For those of you (me included) who missed this lecture here are some of the highlights.

//  The Development of the Digital Animator

Panelists Jeff Kleiser (Visual Effects Supervisor: X2, X-Men: The Last Stand), David Em (Digital Artist), Rebecca Allen (Media Artist/Designer/Director) and Diana Walczak (GC Animator: X-Men, Fantastic Four) share how they got started with digital animation at The Academy's Development of the Digital Animator at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on May 21, 2012. Panel moderated by animator and historian Tom Sito (Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Little Mermaid).

The Avengers | Jane Wu Animatic Storyboard

These are great!

Check out Jane Wu's website as well // Jane Wu

'Leap Motion' Future Animation Tool?

Can you image posing your 3D character with your hands?! Or sculpting a model in zBrush with this thing? How awesome would that be eh?! 

More info over on Engadget // Leap Motion 3D

TRON Uprising Season 1 Episode 1 - Beck's Beginning

Looks amazing!!!

animation by // POLYGON PICTURES (Japan)

Motion Reference for Animators and Artists

Stumbled on this motion library today. Might be handy for some basic tests and cycles. But as you know it's always best to shoot your own reference! Ca-ching!

// Endless Reference's channel

 

Diablo III All Cinematics

Just had to post this!

Walt: The Man Behind the Myth (2001)

Interview With Henry Selick

This is an older interview with Henry Selick. He talks in depth about the making of Coraline. 

Also check out // Henry Selik's 'Demo Reel'

Making of 'The Shins : The Rifle's Spiral'

This music video is gorgeous! Great visual storytelling! Love it!





Credits:
Direction: Jamie Caliri
Production Designer / Co-Director: Alexander Juhasz
Editor: Steve Beebe
Lead Animator: Anthony Scott
Animators: Matt Manning, Mike Johnson, Rachel Larsen, Kent Burton, Rich Zimmerman
Post Production Supervisor: Damien Christian D’Amico
Puppet Fabrication: Pablo Grande Weiss, Yoriko Murakami, Robyn Yannoukos
Scenic Artist: Vera Long
Prop Artist: Kristen Droney
Set Designer: Neva Williams
Production Manager: Elyse Kelly, Susan Bell
Stage Manager: Matthew Manning

Wolfenstein 3D Director's Commentary with John Carmack

Wow, has it really been 20 years since Wolfenstein?! I'm old :/

Play the game here //  Wolfenstein

The Develpment Of The Digital Animator

To my friends in LA! Check out this upcoming lecture on the development of computer animation! There are some big names on the panel.

Monday, May 21, 7:30 p.m.

Samuel Goldwyn Theater

8949 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Ticketed seating is unreserved.

//The Develpment Of The Digital Animator

'Panel moderated by animator and historian Tom Sito

When "Toy Story" burst onto the scene in 1995, its computer-generated imagery was, for many, a bold new technique in animation. However, the development of computer-generated motion picture animation was a lengthy and meticulous process that had its first public exposure with the mesmerizing swirls of the opening titles for "Vertigo" (1958). Of equal importance to the technical developments were the influential animators and designers who devised artistic uses for engineering advances. Join our panel of some of the pioneers of digital animation as they revisit the long path from laboratory to cineplex.'

Scheduled panelists:

Rebecca Allen is a media artist, designer and director whose groundbreaking animated work ranges from landmark music videos to dance films, interactive art installations and Emmy Award-winning opening titles. Her collaborators include Kraftwerk, Mark Mothersbaugh, Carter Burwell, Peter Gabriel and Twyla Tharp. She is currently professor of Design|Media Arts at UCLA.

Philippe Bergeron is a CG animator and president of PaintScaping.com, a 3D projection mapping company. He co-directed and animated one of the first CG characters in the short "Tony de Peltrie," the closing film of SIGGRAPH '85. He also worked at Digital Productions and Whitney/Demos Productions.

David Em began producing digital art in the 1970s and has worked as an independent artist in research laboratories such as the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Apple Computer's Advanced Technology Group. He is the first digital artist to have his papers collected and preserved by the Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Art.

Tim Johnson is a director and animator who began his career at Chicago's Post Effects. At Pacific Data Images in the 1980s, he animated the first digital Pillsbury Doughboy. His feature directing credits include "Antz," "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas" and "Over the Hedge."

Jeff Kleiser is the co-founder of Digital Effects, New York's first CG house. He later co-founded both Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company and Synthespian Studios. His credits include "Tron," "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid," "Stargate" and "X-Men: The Last Stand."

Bill Kroyer is an animator and director whose credits include "Tron," "FernGully: The Last Rainforest" and "Scooby-Doo." He received an Academy Award nomination for his 1988 short film "Technological Threat." He is currently Director of Digital Arts at the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University.

John Lasseter is Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Feature Animation and Pixar Studios. His directing credits include Pixar's first short, the Academy Award-winning "Luxo Jr.," and the feature films "Toy Story," "A Bug's Life," "Toy Story 2," "Cars" and "Cars 2."

Tom Sito is a veteran Hollywood animator and historian. His screen credits include "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," "The Lion King," "Shrek" and "Hop."

Phil Tippett is an Academy Award-winning visual effects animation director whose creditsinclude “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” “Jurassic Park,” “The Spiderwick Chronicles” and several of the films in the “Twilight Saga.”

Diana Walczak is a CG animator and director who co-founded Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company and Synthespian Studios. With Jeff Kleiser, she created the first female Synthespian performer, Dozo, for the 1989 music video "Don't Touch Me." Her credits include the digital opera "Monsters of Grace" and the feature films "X-Men" and "Surrogates."

SHORTS IN BRIEF Featuring all Pixar Animation shorts

For my friends in the Bay Area!

SHORTS IN BRIEF

Featuring all Pixar Animation Studio shorts
Sunday, May 20, 2:00 pm 

All Tickets $5

more info here //  Rafael Film Center

Portrait of Mauric Sendak (2009)

Maurice Sendak, the US author of the best-selling children's book Where the Wild Things Are, has died aged 83. via BBC

Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Mauric Sendak

[LISTEN]

NPR Interview // Maurice Sendak: On Life, Death And Children's Lit

Diablo 3 - Making of The Black Soulstone Cinematic Panel

 
Great production panel on the making of Diablo 3. I have fond memories of Diablo 2 co-op marathons in the 90's with my best friend. Good times!

The animation sections start at 0:30:05 and 0:36:57

Interview With Animation Supervisor Lino DiSalvo

Interview with Lino di Salvo, Animation Supervisor, Walt Disney Animation Studios

 

 

 

The Art of the Steal (2009)

'Documentary that follows the struggle for control of Dr. Albert C. Barnes' 25 billion dollar collection of modern and post-impressionist art.