Escape Studios and Side Effects Software will partner to provide training in the U.K. animation and visual effects market for the Houdini line of products. Houdini has long been recognized as a key contributor to feature film production pipelines and is a popular choice for technical directors working on high-end visual effects (CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, ANT BULLY, STEALTH, the SPIDER-MAN franchise, THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy).
"Houdini has a great reputation as a solution for high-end visual effects work," said Mark Cass, Business Development director, Escape Studios. "At Escape, our goal is to provide students with access to tools such as Houdini that play a key role in the industry."
Escape Studios is launching the partnership in late November with the Houdini Kick-Start class, which will provide a comprehensive look at Houdini and its award-winning approach to 3D animation and visual effects. This course will include an introduction to Houdini's new dynamics architecture and will help people learn the best approach to developing Houdini skills. This course is also a pre-requisite for anyone interested in becoming a certified Houdini instructor.
After this initial class, Side Effects Software and Escape will work together to bring a series of training programs to market for both new and existing Houdini users. This includes a Houdini boot camp and the development of courses that show how Houdini offers a complete pipeline solution that goes well beyond visual effects work.
"Escape Studios has a fantastic reputation and provides top-notch training for the UK and European markets," added Aliza Sorotzkin, Training and School Accounts manager. "There is a demand for Houdini skills in the industry and this kind of quality training will help provide the right talent for our customers."
Escape Studios (www.escapestudios.co.uk) is a hub for 3D animation and visual effects expertise. It has built its reputation delivering software, training and new talent to the CGI industries. Professional clients include Aardman Animations, the BBC, Sony Computer Ent. Europe, Electronic Arts, Rockstar and Nissan.
Established in 1987, Side Effects Software (www.sidefx.com) is a world leader in the development of advanced 3D animation and special effects software for use in film. Side Effects Software leads the field of procedural animation with its unique, award-winning, Houdini technology. Houdini is used by numerous digital content creation leaders, including C.O.R.E., Digital Domain, Disney Feature Animation, DNA Prods., Framestore-CFC, The Orphanage, Rhythm + Hues and Sony Pictures Imageworks, among others.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
