The Rookie Awards Launches 2022 Competition
One of the world’s most important digital skills contests is now open to aspiring artists in VFX, Animation, Games, VR, Motion Graphics, Concept Art and Design; entries will be accepted in all categories now through June 1.
Podcast EP 152: How Hero4Hire Head of Development Jordan Beck Produced and Distributed ‘Sgt. Stubby’
The development exec shares how he went from working at an infantry museum to raising $25M to fully produce and distribute an award-winning indie film; discussion includes a look at North American distribution and what one skill is needed to get a developer role.
Brazilian Singer-Songwriter Anitta Joins ‘Hitpig’ Cast
The ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ singer joins Peter Dinklage, Lilly Singh, Rainn Wilson, and RuPaul in Aniventure and Cinesite’s animated feature, based on Berkeley Breathed’s New York Times bestseller, ‘Pete & Pickles,’ slated for delivery later this year.
‘Odo’ Helps Preschoolers Navigate a Difficult World and Believe in Themselves
The acclaimed 2.5D animated series, seen in 151 countries, has been nominated for an Annie Award for Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children.
MozFest Premieres ‘Alfro Algorithms’ Animated Short
Set in an Afro-futurist dystopia, the film explores topics of AI and bias through the story of Aero; produced by Mozilla’s Creative Media Awards recipient Anatola Araba, the film aims to entertain, enlighten, inspire, and educate.
Jetpack Nabs Global Rights to ‘Alice’s Diary’ and ‘Wussywat the Clumsy Cat’
2D animated preschool series follow an imaginative young girl whose beautifully illustrated diary comes to life through animation, and the slapstick antics of a curious, clumsy kitty.
‘Open Source in Entertainment: How the Academy Software Foundation Creates Shared Value’ Research Paper Released
Written by noted journalist Barbara Robertson, the paper visits the origins of today’s open source technology in modern filmmaking beginning with cutting edge digital visual effects and animation in the 1990s followed in the early 2000s with the release of ILM’s OpenEXR and Sony Pictures Imageworks’ OpenColorIO.
Exclusive Sneak Peek: ‘Curious George’ Season 15 Trailer
In the new season, the curious little monkey makes new friends, has great fun, and gets into all sorts of sticky situations; all 15 fun-filled episodes of the Peacock Original hit the streamer March 17.
‘Dune’ and ‘Encanto’ Lead All Winners at 20th Annual VES Awards
Both films each take home four awards; two MC cancelations notwithstanding, the visual effects community came together in force, packing the Beverly Hilton to celebrate winners in 25 categories and to honor Lynwen Brennan and Guillermo del Toro.
‘Add More Blood’: How to Create a Diabolical Animated Anthology Series
Supervising Director Giancarlo Volpe talks about the fun and challenges of wrangling a multiplicity of styles in ‘The Boys’ animated spinoff series 'The Boys Presents: Diabolical,' now streaming on Amazon Prime.
‘Flee’ Leads Anima 2022 Winners
Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s Oscar-nominated documentary takes home both the Award for Best Animated Feature and Audience Award for Best Animated Feature; Award for Best Animated Feature for Children goes to ‘Princess Dragon’ by Anthony Roux and Jean-Jacques Denis, with audience award in the same category going to ‘PIL’ by Julien Fournet.
‘Korokoro’ Invites Players into a Free-to-Play Metaverse Anime Drama
Bang Zoom! Entertainment launches an audio-anime story via a 10-episode mini-podcast; players ultimately enter Sumomo City website where the adventure begins.
In ‘Dicktown,’ Solving Mysteries is Overgrown Child’s Play
Creators John Hodgman and David Rees spill the beans about their adult animated sitcom, whose second season is now streaming on FX and Hulu.
Disney+ Greenlights ‘Muppet Mayhem’
The Electric Mayhem Band goes on an epic musical journey to finally record their first studio album; Lilly Singh to star with world-famous Muppets’ band.
Lenovo Launches Next-Gen ThinkStation P620 Workstation
Powered by the latest AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO processor, the high-performance machines offer 25% performance gains and 24 core CPU option for increased speed, greater expandability and configurability for professional users.
Wild Capture Launches ‘Digital Human Platform’ Production Pipeline
New integrated platform translates human essence into volumetric video with high-quality performance capture, creating digital humans, immersive crowds, and digital fashion for media produciton, software, and web-based delivery.
Movella Announces Xsens MVN and MotionCloud Update
Major update provides users with 50% decrease in processing time; updated pricing model allows for greater flexibility and scalability of workflows.
An Open Letter from WIA President Marge Dean
Women in Animation’s president addresses the crisis in Ukraine and the need to support its victims, and the animators who are using their art to create and share powerful anti-war messages.
‘Dune’ and ‘Encanto’ Take Top Honors at 12th Annual Lumiere Awards
At this past Friday’s The Advanced Imaging Society ceremony, 21 movie, TV, and emerging media projects were recognized; Denis Villeneuve, Adam McKay, Guillermo del Toro and Unreal Engine all received special honors.
Latoya Raveneau Inks Overall Deal at Disney Branded Television
Under the agreement, ‘The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder’ director will develop animation and live-action content for Disney Television Animation and 20th Television Animation.
Virtual ‘F*ck Up Night’ Celebrates International Women’s Day
Hosted online March 8 by Animated Women UK, speakers will share the upside to f*cking stuff up, including lessons learned and gleaning positives from failures; the panel, featuring professionals from across VFX and animation.
Richard Linklater’s ‘Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood’ Hits Netflix April 1
Watch the trailer from the Oscar-nominated director’s new animated feature that tells the story of the first moon landing in 1969, from the astronauts and mission control’s viewpoint, and through the eyes of a kid growing up in Texas with his own dreams of the stars.
‘Encanto,’ ‘Dune,’ and ‘No Time to Die’ Top Art Directors Guild Awards
‘Loki’ and ‘WandaVision’ also snag honors in the TV categories at the guild’s 26th annual celebration.
National Film Board of Canada’s Julie Roy Talks Women in Animation and the NFB’s 76th Oscar Nomination
With director Joanna Quinn’s ‘Affairs of the Art’ up for an Oscar in the Best Animated Short Film category, the DG of Creation and Innovation at the National Film Board of Canada reflects on the long history of female filmmakers at the NFB and its history of success. The NFB has garnered more Academy Award nominations than any other film organization based outside of Hollywood.