Technology
Technology
Tilde, a motion-capture animated
character created by Medialab Studio
L.A. for ZDTV.
Image courtesy of Medialab.
Tools of The Trade. Medialab Studio L.A.
created two 3-D performance animation characters for ZDTV, a new cable
network about computers launched last month. Medialab provided their CLOVIS
technology and performer/technician training for San Francisco-based ZDTV,
which will use the characters ("Dash" and "Tilde")
as spokespersons and segment hosts for both live and taped programming.
. . . San Francisco-based studio Protozoa used its motion-capture
system, Alive!, to help create the Virtual Ed Sullivan Show which
aired on UPN on May 18. Protozoa used the same technology to create "Virtual
Bill Clinton" for MTV in January . . . . Animation Toolworks
has sold 26 of its Video Lunchbox units to Portland-based Will Vinton Studios.
The product will be used to record reference tests for stop-motion animation,
much like a line-testing system for 2-D animation. The current issue of
Animation World Magazine features <an article about the Video
Lunchbox>. . . . Alias/Wavefront recently demonstrated the NT
version of its next-generation 3-D animation software Maya, and its modeling
component, Artisan, to artists in Hollywood. It will be available to the
public in time for SIGGRAPH in July. . . Cambridge Animation will
also release a Windows NT version of its Animo Ax-Cel 2-D animation software
in time for SIGGRAPH. . . . Experimental dancer and choreographer Merce
Cunningham is following in the footsteps of the phenomenal "dancing
baby" by using Kinetix's 3D Studio MAX and Character Studio
software to create a multimedia performance called "Hand-Drawn Spaces,"
which will be shown at SIGGRAPH and subsequently in museums, on film and
on the web. . . . Digimation will distribute a new 3D Studio MAX
modeling plug-in called daVinci3D, developed by New Technologies, Inc.
A demo of the product is currently available on the web site, www.davinci3d.com.
The final version will be available as of June 1, for $595.00. . . . Silicon
Graphics has created an in-house consulting division called Entertainment
Professional Services. The division will work on the development of creative
and technical solutions for the TV and film industries. . . .
Note: Readers may contact any Animation World Magazine contributor by sending an e-mail to editor@awn.com.
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