In Passing

In Memory Of Darris Dobbs. Darris Dobbs, a well known and respected 3D/CGI writer and artist, died peacefully at home on November 24, 1999, never having recovered from a respiratory virus. He was 37. Darris contributed to Visual Magic Magazine on a number of occasions, as well as writing a number of books for Charles River Media Publishing (including Animating Facial Features And Expressions, and the recently published Truespace 3 & 4 Creature Creations). He also founded his own business -- HieroglyFX Design -- a graphics company that grew through Darris' overwhelming knowledge of technology and the animal world, his artistic talent, and his passion for the computer graphics world. As he was to so many computer graphics artists and enthusiasts, Darris was also an inspiration to his 11-year-old daughter Amanda, to whom he devoted much of his time. Darris' family have set up a trust fund for Amanda's education -- anyone wishing to do so can make donations at www.darrisdobbs.com. Below is a selection of articles Darris wrote for Visual Magic Magazine. His commentary and coverage of the computer graphics and film industry will be greatly missed.

* Squeaky Clean Digital Effects
An interview with Mary Lynn Machado, CG Supervisor for Rhythm & Hues, about her work on Mousehunt.

* A Conversation with Eric Merritt from Zygote, the small 3D modeling company with the big reputation.

* A Conversation with Peter Ryce, Alias|Wavefront's Maya product manager, discussing the development of Maya.

* Size Does Matter -- But So Does Teamwork
An interview with Volker Engel, Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor of Independence Day and Godzilla.

* Viewpoint Tackles a Monster of a Modeling Challenge
An interview with Walter Noot, who is Vice President of Production at Viewpoint, concentrating on the models built for Godzilla.

* The Armageddon Story
An interview with more than 8 visual effects houses and personnel that worked on Armageddon.

* PDI: Antz in Their Pantz
PDI tell us about their experiences creating Antz.

* The Computer Games Developers Conference
Darris Dobbs reflects on the happenings of the Computer Games Developers Conference.

MAD Mag's Martin Dies. For over thirty years, Don Martin's crazy comics filled the pages of MAD magazine. On Sunday, January 9, 2000, Marin died in a Miami hospital at the age of 68. A representative of Baptist Hospital said the cartoonist died of cancer. No further details were disclosed. Martin's weirdo humor disgusted mothers and delighted young rebels for nearly three decades. No person or tale was free from Martin's eye for twisted satire. For example, his strips would feature a woman in a French bistro nibbling on her frog legs only to see them become the disembodied legs of a prince. "Is it funny? That's the only test I know when it comes to cartooning," Martin once said. "Not whether it's sick, or whether it's going to ruin people's values or morals. You only have to ask a simple question: Is it funny?" During the 1950s and '60s, Martin had become a staple at MAD magazine until 1987 when he jumped ship over a reprint rights and profits dispute with the late publisher William Gaines. Martin then joined the staff of rival mag, Cracked. Even with a degenerative eye condition that required him to undergo cornea transplants, wear painful contact lenses and use a magnifying glass to draw, Martin produced then sold more than 7 million copies of his books. When asked by the Miami Herald about his influences, Gary Larson, creator of The Far Side, said, "Don Martin was the one who really stood out. I really always loved his work. He was such a great artist."

Disney's Legendary Marc Davis Dies. On Wednesday, January 12, 2000, Walt Disney's legendary animator Marc Davis passed away at Glendale Memorial Hospital shortly following a stroke. He was 86 years old. Davis was a member of Disney's inner circle known as the "nine old men." During his 43-year tenure at the studio, Davis brought to life such classic characters as Bambi, Cinderella, Alice, Briar Rose, Maleficent and Cruella DeVil. In addition to creating many of Disney's female characters, he served as a key player in the development of many of the famous original Disneyland attractions like "It's a Small World" and "Pirates of the Caribbean." "We have lost one of the great giants of our industry," commented Roy Disney, vice-chairman of The Walt Disney Co. "Marc was a true renaissance man and an amazing talent who helped to define the art of animation and raise it to incredible new heights. Marc's high standards and incredible achievements serve as great inspirations to today's artists and animators and he will be sorely missed by his Disney family and the legions of fans the world over." Davis joined Disney in 1935 as an apprentice animator and was promoted to assistant animator when Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs started production. Davis' animation directing credits include Song Of South, Cinderella, Alice In Wonderland, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty and 101 Dalmatians. Besides his phenomenal work as an animator, Davis taught advanced drawing for seventeen years at Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A. Currently his paintings and drawing are on display at the Larry Smith Fine Arts Gallery in Los Angeles. His paintings of New Guinea have been collected for an upcoming book titled The Bite Of The Crocodile. Tom Sito, president of the Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists Union Local 839, said of his friend: "Beyond his skill as an artist and teacher, he was a man who regardless of his fame always had time to make new friends and spend time with the young. I shall miss him." Davis is survived by his wife of 44 years, Alice. There will be no funeral service, but plans for a memorial service will be announced soon. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the California Institute of the Arts.