What Might Have Been: Orphanage Animation Studios

Orphanage Animation Studios was created in 2005 by San Francisco based visual effects studio The Orphanage (closed in 2009). One of OAS's first projects was The Power Of The Dark Crystal (sequel to Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal) to be directed and produced by Genndy Tartakovsky. The production suffered considerable delays and setbacks and in 2010 the Jim Henson Company pulled the project. It's been shelved in some dark room ever since. Below is a short studio tour of OAS given by Genndy.





// Tartakovsky Adopts New Orphanage Animation Studios via AWN

// Animation Backgrounds by Scott Wills

Industrial Light & Magic: Realtime Facial Animation (TALK SLIDES from SIGGRAPH 2013)

Faculty Interview: Geometric Capture of Human Performances - Hao Li
(Department of Computer Science, Columbia University, New York)

FACEWARE: Free Face Rig Library

FACEWARE is a markerless face capture software for previs, live performance and video games. Check out some of their free face rigs.





// FACEWARE: Free Face Rig Library

// FACEWARE YouTube Channel

SIGGRAPH 2013 - Keynote Presentation : Marc Davis Lecture Series, "Giants' First Steps"

This year’s directors include Pete Docter (Toy Story, Monsters, Inc.), Eric Goldberg (Raggedy Ann & Andy, Fantasia/2000), Kevin Lima (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast), Mike Mitchell (Antz, Shrek 2), Chris Sanders (Aladdin, The Lion King), Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline), David Silverman (Monsters, Inc., Ice Age) and Kirk Wise (The Brave Little Toaster, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs).

Kickstarter Project: Digitize EVERY issue of Cinefex!

Now here is a Kickstarter project worth supporting!


// Kickstarter: Cinefex Classic Collection

The History Channel : Secrets of Body Language

DreamWorks Animation Filmmaker Focus Panel at Comic-Con 2013

Thanks for the heads up Bryn Richards

'A Wary Distance' new graphic novel by Michael Brunet

Check out Michael Brunet's new graphic novel 'A Wary Distance'! Michael is a friend of mine and a rock star animator currently at Framestore London. He's put together an action packed book here!

You can view some sample pages here:
// A Wary Distance - Sample Pages

Get your copy here:
// A Wary Distance for Nook iBook, Kindle, Graphicly, and Goodtrends

'Five complete stories of highbrow tactics, military minutiae, battlefield dissonance and  (thankfully) unrelenting action! Following a heedless cast of commonplace soldiers, A Wary Distance brings an irreverent modern sensibility to warfare, raging from dusty plain to open trench, ruined city to the farthest reaches of outer space.'

GRAVITY: Alfonso Cuaron Sandra Bullock Comic Con 2013

I'm pumped that Gravity was received well at Comic Con over the weekend! And for the record there's no motion capture in the film. The production didn't use the 'Vomit Comet' and it's completely animated except for the facial performances. It's the most complex film I've worked on yet.












Framestore VFX crew for GRAVITY

WETA Animation/VFX 'Tuesday Classic Podcast'

// Tuesday Classic Podcast


Tuesday Classic is an hour long weekly podcast featuring filmmakers based in Wellington, New Zealand who work on both large scale Hollywood productions and independently funded projects. 

Guests from other creatives industries will be featured in future programs. 

Hosted by: Randy Link and Victor Huang with Christian Rivers, Chris Moss & Greg Lewis

Have you lost your Raptor?

Had an animation crew lunch today and on the way back to the studio I noticed this interesting flyer taped to a telephone pole! Loved the 'Very bitey' description! And if you know anyone who's looking for their lost raptor then them it can be found in Montreal! (not sure how it got here from San Francisco/Bay Area)

CTN: One on One Career Interview with Tadahiro Uesugi

Tadahiro Uesugi talks about his career, inspirations and his work on Coraline.

How World War Z Used AI to Build Smarter Zombies

Here's a great behind the scenes vid from WIRED about the vfx of WWZ. Also, check out the recent vfxguide article below for more details about the making of the film.

// Zombie Warfare: World War Z via vfxguide

TEDtalk: Reach into the computer and grab a pixel

This is fantastic TEDtalk by Jinha Lee!

Check out more of Jinha Lee's research here:

// Jinha Lee

What Your Walk Says About You

Found this today over on Aol. I think it's the first time I've been on their site since 1997 but hey I found some fun material! Also check out this great reference channel on YouTube called Endless Reference.

// What Your Walk Says About You

// Endless Reference Channel: Walk Reference 

Type of Trot: Speedy Gonzales

What Your Walk Says: If you're a fast walker, you may also be a fast worker which is prized in some setting but also may be problematic if you're so fast that you forget to pay attention to certain details or if you overlook something important.
Work for Your Walk: A career in data entry is super for your speed.
Quick Fix: Take time to smell the roses – or at least speak to your co-worker or interviewer-when walking. Avoid any pace that could elicit comments like "Where's the fire, buddy!"

Type of Trot: Strutting Your Stuff

What Your Walk Says: If you're someone who struts, you're certainly projecting confidence and capability, but you could also be sending out signals to others that you've got a big ego, which could be a turnoff.
Work for Your Walk: Climbing the ladder to be an executive will allow you to strut your stuff without fear of consequences.
Quick Fix: Feel free to strut your stuff in the workplace but make sure that your strut is followed up with a humble smile and pleasant conversation to ward off any concerns of egocentrism.

Type of Trot: Clack-Clack-Clacker

What Your Walk Says: You certainly aren't afraid to be noticed if you're such a heavy walker that your heels announce that you're coming way before you actually arrive, but if you work in an environment where quiet and calm is key to productivity, you could be sticking out like a sore thumb.
Work for Your Walk: Getting noticed is half of the battle as a pharmaceutical sales representative so give that career a shot if you're a clacker.
Quick Fix: Shoe repair stores can replace your soles and heels with rubber ones for a small fee that could lead to a large promotion once the disruption ceases.

Type of Trot: Always Behind the Group

What Your Walk Says: Lagging behind in a group sends the signal that you can't keep up or are not interested in the others, which is a problem in workplaces where team players are most valued.
Work for Your Walk: A career path like being a driver, where you can work solo instead of depending upon the group, is best.
Quick Fix: Opt for more comfortable shoes so that you can easily stay ahead of the pack instead of trailing behind.

Type of Trot: Silent Sneaker

What Your Walk Says: If no one knows you're coming until you've arrived, you and your hard work may go unnoticed.
Work for Your Walk: A career as a programming analyst or a similar field where you don't have to rely on in-person meetings to make a statement is best.
Quick Fix: Make sure that the appreciation for your abilities isn't as muted as your walk by setting appointments with your bosses for reviews and by specifically pointing out your qualifications in interviews.

Type of Trot: Slumped Over Shoulders

What Your Walk Says: Walking into a room with your shoulders hunched over evokes a lack of confidence in oneself and one's abilities. Potential employers or current bosses might question their confidence in you if your walk suggests that you aren't confident in yourself.
Work for Your Walk: Hunching over the computer in an information technology job or in other technology-related jobs naturally fits your style of walk.
Quick Fix: Look in the mirror and try positioning your shoulders so that your shoulder blades are trying to touch. Your chest will open up and create a more confident walk.

Type of Trot: Eyes Straight Ahead

What Your Walk Says: If you're known for walking with your eyes straight ahead, you're probably known as a confident and focused worker with your eyes on the future.
Work for Your Walk: Any career like sales, where your eye contact can help seal a deal.
Quick Fix: You've got your eyes open so just make sure that the quality of your work matches your confidence.

Type of Trot: Slow Walker

What Your Walk Says: Some may be annoyed by a slow walker, assuming that they are ineffective, but certain types of jobs may appreciate it as a sign that you are thoughtful and detail oriented.
Work for Your Walk: A career where being careful counts, like in healthcare.
Quick Fix: If you're a slow walker, don't feel the need to speed up for the sake of appearances. Instead, provide your boss or potential employer with a list of projects that you've completed in the recent past to prove your effectiveness.

Type of Trot: The Zig-Zagger

What Your Walk Says: If you find it hard to walk in a straight line, fellow and future workmates may see you as someone who is all over the map and not especially efficient.
Work for Your Walk: Careers like those in the retail industry where multi-tasking is a part of the job description will welcome your walk.
Quick Fix: If you love to weave as you walk, try making your movements make sense by zigging to speak to someone or zagging to pick up copies, instead of just aimlessly bobbing around.

Type of Trot: Eyes Down

What Your Walk Says: People who walk with their eyes focused on the floor are not only deemed unconfident but also appear to only be focused on the here and now and not interested in what's in front of them or upcoming events.
Work for Your Walk: A job in manufacturing, where your attention needs to be on what's right under your nose, is a great fit.
Quick Fix: Practice having better eye contact with others or at least focusing on something other than your shoes – your paycheck will probably thank you!

LESSONS LEARNED: A Practical Puppet Short Film

An Evening with Tim Burton