Both SPIDER-MAN 2 and RYAN, Oscar winners for Best Visual Effects and Best Animated Short Film, utilized Maya 3D software from Alias. In fact, RYAN director Chris Landreth is an Alias alum.
Sony Pictures Imageworks employed Maya as the core 3D special effects software to create close to 600 computer-generated shots for SPIDER-MAN 2. The movie set a new standard for computer-generated human characters with Spider-Man and the movies villain, Doc Ock. In addition to helping create and animate these characters, Maya was also used to generate much of the devastation left in the wake of Doc Ock as well as to model the faux-Manhattan through which Spider-Man swings in the films climax scene.
Landreth used Alias Maya software extensively for modeling, rigging, animation, lighting and rendering in RYAN, the highly imaginative 3D-animated film tribute to Canadian animator Ryan Larkin. This is Landreths first Oscar win and second nomination his animated short THE END (released in 1995) was nominated during his tenure at Alias.
"We wish to congratulate our friends Sony Pictures Imageworks and Chris Landreth on their Oscar wins, commented Doug Walker, president of Alias. Sony Pictures Imageworks continues to innovate and expand the borders of computer graphics in film they are a company full of imagination with promise of more exciting projects to come. Chris Academy Award is a tremendous achievement for the 3D graphics industry in Canada and were confident this will help shape the future of 3D animation filmmaking in Canada and tomorrows Oscar hopefuls.
Maya software has been used in virtually every Academy Award nominated film in the category of Best Visual Effects since the inception of the award.
As a leading innovator of 3D graphics technology, Alias (www.alias.com) develops award-winning software, custom development and training solutions for the film and video, games, Web, interactive media, automotive, industrial design, education and visualization markets. Alias is headquartered in Toronto with a Custom Development Center in Santa Barbara and offices worldwide.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
