Anzovin Studio has shipped Animation:Master QuickStart (A:M QuickStart), a complete CD-ROM training course for Hash Inc.'s popular Animation:Master 3D character animation software. Designed for the beginning user, A:M QuickStart is a 4 hour tutorial that takes users through the operations and techniques required to build, texture, rig, animate and render an A:M character. The tutorial is based on the character animation curriculum developed by J.P. Wilson and Raf Anzovin for the Department of Computer Sciences at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Just in time for the start of the school year, Alias|Wavefront has released eight new learning tools -- two books and six DVDs -- that target all levels of Maya user. Beginners will benefit from the Learning Maya / Beginner's Guide DVD, a one-hour guided tour of Maya aimed at the novice user, while intermediate and advanced users can further develop their skills with tools such as the Learning Maya / Dynamics book and the Maya Techniques / Rigid Body Simulations for Visual Effects DVD.

In keeping with the ever-growing popularity of video games, and the increasing technology behind them, the Illinois Institute of Art -- Chicago recently announced it is offering a new bachelor’s degree program in Game Art & Design for students who want to prepare for entry-level positions in the game development field. Students will learn character animation techniques, complex modeling, computer mapping, game level design and how to script within a game.

The Oregon3D Center for Visualization Technologies has added instruction of Alias|Wavefront Maya software to its core curriculum. Starting August 26, 2002, Portland-based Oregon3D will offer its first Maya class, a five-day Maya Basics course. Taught by 3D guru Jason Busby of the tutorial Website 3D Buzz, this course is designed to provide a solid foundation to those new to Maya, and allows beginners to explore more challenging concepts such as modeling, animating, texturing, lighting and rendering.

The Art Institute Online, a division of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, will offer a bachelor of science in Game Art & Design beginning in fall 2002. The Art Institute Online currently offers programs in graphic design and multimedia and Web design in an interactive, faculty-facilitated, asynchronous format that allows students to log in to complete their classes 24 hours a day, seven days a week at their convenience, making it ideal for students with irregular schedules or those who live in areas far from a brick-and-mortar school.

dvGarage has released THE COMPOSITE TOOLKIT, a disk dedicated to teaching production level keying and compositing techniques using Adobe After Effects. The package includes 14 tutorials that cover nearly every aspect of keying and compositing live-action actors into computer graphics scenes. Using a pseudo light saber scene to serve as the basis of the tutorials, three behind-the-scenes movies take viewers through the entire process of shooting a blue-screen scene, while the step-by-step tutorials explain how to composite effectively the entire scene, light sabers and all.

Alberta, Canada's
Lost Pencil Animation Studios Inc. is now offering a training DVD
focusing on character animation. THE ANIMATOR'S GYM contains nearly 4
hours of training video that teaches the fundamental principles of
character animation. Using Maya 4.0 Complete, THE ANIMATOR'S GYM
provides viewers with examples of completed short animations to
discuss how and why it was animated, where there are still problems
and room for improvement. The DVD also includes sections where the

Anzovin Studio has released a new title in its training video series for Hash Inc.'s Animation:Master 3D animation software. SECRETS OF A:M 2002 provides more than 100 minutes of instruction for the newest version of Animation:Master. The training video covers topics including: getting familiar with the new interface; applying nonlinear animation tools to characters; creating and working with relationships; constraint tricks using delay and lag; animating with deformation cages; and building an explosion with spriticles.

Representatives from Sony, Black Ops Entertainment and face2face animation will be at E3 this Wednesday, demonstrating new methods of character animation for game platforms. The American Film Institute (AFI) Enhanced Television (eTV) Workshop's "Anatomy of Animation" will highlight the latest developments in face and body animation for game developers.

Magnet Media's latest training title in its Digital Media Training Series (DMTS), INSIDE FLASH MX PRODUCTION ESSENTIALS, is now available in both its Limited and Complete Versions on CD-ROM format. The 40-minute Limited Version CD-ROM is available free through the company's Website. The 3-hour Complete Version, also available from the Website, instructs viewers on the essential topics that need to be mastered in order to get up and running quickly with Macromedia Flash.