Spider-Man is getting the 3D treatment on the page as well as the big screen. A series of comic books from Marvel Comics entitled SPIDER-MAN: QUALITY OF LIFE, with artwork created in 3D CGI, have recently hit the shelves. For Spidey's transformation from 2D to 3D character, animators at Blue Dream Studios used 3D Studio Max on a 3DBOXX S3 dual 2.2GHz Intel Xeon workstation with an NVIDIA 900 XGL graphics card.

Side Effects Software has announced the upcoming version 5.5 release of their Houdini 3D software. Currently in beta testing, Houdini 5.5 includes a host of new features including VOPs, a powerful, interactive node-based shader and effects builder. Houdini 5.5 also features an expanded Shader Gallery, a new compositor, a drag-and-drop interface, simplified installation and keying, and enhanced character and animation tools.

TELETUBBIES producer Ragdoll has entered into a strategic partnership with Toys "R" Us, in which the two will work together to introduce a new line of TELETUBBIES merchandise. Under the terms of the agreement, Toys "R" Us will be the exclusive retailer for all new TELETUBBIES plush items sold in the U.S. and Canada for 2002-2003. The new line of TELETUBBIES plush product will make its exclusive debut at Toys "R" Us stores and on-line at Toysrus.com this fall. Ragdoll has a broadcast arrangement for TELETUBBIES with PBS through 2008.

San Francisco-based Pulse Entertainment has released Pulse Veepers, a virtual character creation software. Pulse Veepers was designed to allow e-learning systems designers and corporate training departments, among others, to build, deploy and update interactive characters without requiring programming, animation, 3D modeling or authoring expertise. Beginning with a single 2D image, Veepers users then select data points with their mouse to designate key areas of the Veepers subject's face.

Toon Boom Technologies has launched Toon Boom Studio version 1.2 optimized for Mac OS X version 10.1. For this release, Toon Boom Studio was re-tooled so that it can be localized for an international audience following the release of Toon Boom Studio v1.2j for the Japanese market in March 2002. This release also includes some improvements to the workflow. Toon Boom Studio's cinematic camera capabilities are part of a complete suite of drawing, coloring, sound editing and compositing tools, aimed at enabling animators to produce 2D animation for the Web and for broadcast.

DigiCel, Inc. has released the latest version of its 2D animation software, FlipBook version 3.1. This newest version adds curved path, multi-plane camera moves and xsheet printing to the features that are part of version 3.0, released in February 2002. Version 3 features include more speed, master color palettes, color models and copy and paste between scenes. Version 3.1 is available as a free upgrade to all customers currently using version 3. For more information visit the DigiCel Website at www.digicelinc.com.

Bionatics is now offering its 3D plant simulation and animation natFX1.1 plug-in for Maya at 30 percent off its retail market price. Bionatics with Alias|Wavefront is running this limited time offer until June 30, 2002 for new and existing customers. natFX tightly integrates into Maya enabling users to animate every aspect of the plant, while the plug-in's level of detail reduce polygon count while maintaining a richly textured plant.

dvGarage, Electric Image and TheForce.net are bringing free 3D to the masses by offering a new trial version of the 3D Toolkit including the Electric Image Universe: 3D Toolkit Version, which saves and renders, without watermarks, for 30 days. In order to train users quickly, the trial version also includes 11 of dvGarage's tutorials, designed to get users familiar with the important aspects of using 3D software.

Motion capture systems developer Vicon has shipped their latest, most powerful mo-cap camera MCam2. With 1.3 million pixels and frame rates of up to 1000 frames per second, MCam2 builds on the success of MCam, the motion-capture industry's first million-pixel camera. More than 1500 MCams have been installed by Vicon users such as ILM, Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) and House of Moves.

Graphics studio and publisher Marlin Studios released PEOPLE N MOTION, two new libraries in its series of texture libraries created for use by 2D and 3D graphics artists. The texture maps can be used in any 3D program that makes use of animated textures, and can be composited onto backgrounds in 2D programs. No special software is required beyond the user's particular 2D or 3D program. Each PEOPLE N MOTION library has a set of sequential animation files that allows the graphics user to create the illusion of moving or standing people.