Call For Entries: Triggerfish and Netflix Launch Pan-African Story Artist Lab
One of several recent initiatives to help develop the African animation industry, the program is open to African citizens; shortlisted applicants will have three months of paid skills development – submission deadline is July 23.
Visualizing a New Mother’s Eerie Sleeplessness in ‘Six to Six’
For Israeli artist Neta Cohen, childhood memories that her home had a life of its own fueled her 2D/3D animated short about the long, sometimes sinister hours between wakefulness and sleep, reality and imagination.
DDEG and Lex+Otis Launch KRAKN Animation
New production studio joint venture will specialize in pre-production and animation services for real-time 2D and 3D series and features.
CG Spectrum College Becomes Official Unreal Academic Partner
The online school offers courses in game design, game programming, game art, and animation; with new Epic Games academic partnership, school plans increased game development training offerings to better prepare students for a competitive and changing job market.
Illumination Drops ‘Sing 2’ Trailer and First Look Character Posters
An all-star cast led by Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, and Scarlett Johansson joins Buster Moon in his next, and most dazzling stage extravaganza yet; the animated musical comedy sequel to 2016’s ‘Sing’ hits theaters Christmas 2021.
All-Star Cast Boards Netflix’s ‘Q-Force’ Adult Animated Comedy
Sean Hayes, Gary Cole, David Harbour, Patti Harrison, Laurie Metcalf, Matt Rogers, Wanda Sykes, and Gabe Liedman join the upcoming series about a misfit squad of LGBTQ+ geniuses who solve cases on their own terms for the American Intelligence Agency.
Next PreVIEW Set: A Conversation with Director Brenda Chapman
Join the director of ‘The Prince of Egypt’ and ‘Brave’ in a free July 2 online discussion with ASIFA-Hollywood executive director Frank Gladstone.
Maxon Releases Universe 4.0
Now available, the latest version includes new stylize tools Electrify, Texturize Motion, and Analog, Support for Metal, and 200+ new presets for Array Gun and Typographic; other Maxon updates include Redshift with support for OpenColorO, streamlined new Maxon App, and fixes and optimization of FX Suite and Cinema 4D S24.
Chaos Releases V-Ray 5 for Cinema 4D Update
New support for node-based material editing helps achieve photorealism without sacrificing creative choices; other new features include V-Ray Material improvements that make it easier to create translucent materials, Progressive Caustics, V-Ray Fur, and V-Ray Clipper.
New ‘How Life Is: Queer Youth Animated’ Shorts Released
As they continue their Pride Month 2021 celebration, The Future Perfect Project shares the next two films in their series of 10 personal stories from LGBTQIA+ youth, aged 13-22, about the challenges they routinely face.
‘Luca’s Innovative Back and Forth Transformations from Sea Monster to Human
Character supervisors Laura Beth Albright and Sajan Skaria discuss how they fully embraced, rather than hid or obscured, the potentially scary metamorphosis of their lead characters moving in and out of the water, in Pixar’s new animated feature now streaming on Disney+.
Apple TV+ Orders Animated ‘Strange Planet’ from Dan Harmon and Nathan Pyle
Apple Studios’ series, based on Pyle’s popular webcomic and #1 New York Times Bestselling graphic novel, will feature profound and heartfelt stories about beings on a distant planet not unlike our own.
Jordan Young Boards Dan Harmon’s ‘Krapopolis’
The ‘Drawn Together’ creator has been named executive producer and showrunner of Fox’s new animated comedy about a flawed family of humans, gods, and monsters trying not to kill each other while running a mythical ancient Greek city.
SIGGRAPH 2021 Reveals Emerging Technologies Line-Up
The program includes 14 projects, each providing a glimpse into the future; the premier conference and exhibition in computer graphics & interactive techniques runs live online August 9-13, with on-demand content available August 2 – October 29.
Feeling Young Again in New ‘The Boss Baby: Family Business’ Trailer
You can’t turn back time, or can you? Find out in DreamWorks Animation’s sequel to their 2017 animated hit comedy, ‘The Boss Baby,’ premiering on Peacock and in U.S. theaters, as well as in select international markets, on July 2.
Critical Role Drops ‘The Legend of Vox Machina’ Character Art First Look
New installment of behind-the-scenes ‘The Legend of the Legend of Vox Machina’ reveals a slew of Phil Bourassa’s character designs on the studio’s upcoming Amazon Original animated series about a group of second-rate adventurers on a quest to save the realm.
Cartoon Network India Launching ‘Ekans – Ek Se Badhkar Snake’
The WarnerMedia channel’s first local superhero and CGI series, about a 13-year-old ‘chosen one’ with serpent-like powers and heart of gold, debuts June 27.
Adobe Releases New Adobe Substance 3D Tool Collection
AI-based set of interoperable tools and services streamlines the 3D design process, eliminating much of the complexity; collection employs cutting-edge technology required by veteran artists but still easily accessible to beginners.
Imaginary Forces Names Anthony Gibbs Creative Director
New hire brings extensive design and VFX experience to the role, having spent 14+ years working as both creative and design directors.
Sony Imageworks Names Mike Ford CTO
Studio veteran and former VFX supervisor will continue to oversee software development and systems engineering teams, as well as SPI's technical infrastructure, as he moves forward on major initiatives to modernize the VFX and animated feature film pipeline.
Soundscape VR Launches Magic Mirror ‘Digital Drive-in’ Platform
Launching with special performances including The Desert Dwellers, Desert Hearts Mikey Lion, Porky, Lee Reynolds, Marbs, RYBO, and Carlo, the new, scalable VR technology brings 2D content into virtual reality with no limit to the number of music lovers who can share the experience.
New Chitose 2021 Issues Final Call for Entries
Short film submissions are due by June 30, features by July 31, for the famed Japanese ‘Airport Festival’ coming November 5-8, 2021.
Fred Rogers Productions Promotes Matthew Shiels
In addition to his legal responsibilities as director, the newly named VP of Business and Legal Affairs will also oversee licensing for the company and its brands.
3 New Animated Kids’ Comedies Coming to Netflix
‘A Tale Dark & Grimm,’ ‘Dogs in Space,’ and ‘Super Giant Robot Brothers’ will soon join the streamer’s growing lineup of children’s and family programming.