files/pictures/picture-35.jpgPress Release from SIGGRAPH Asia
SIGGRAPH Asia continues its tradition to present the best in computer graphics and interactive techniques to a worldwide audience, this year from the Coex Convention and Exhibition Center in Seoul, Korea where its third edition will be held. Set to inspire computer graphics and interactive media professionals and enthusiasts, SIGGRAPH Asia 2010 promises to showcase a line-up of never-before-revealed works that will raise the benchmarks in digital creativity. SIGGRAPH Asia 2010 will feature four exciting programs, namely, Computer Animation Festival, Courses, Technical Papers, Technical Sketches & Posters as well as a Trade Exhibition. A line-up of renowned experts will also be speaking at the Special Sessions and Featured Speakers segment.
Pushing the boundaries of Animation and Electronic Theater
The Computer Animation Festival program, a traditional favorite at SIGGRAPH Asia, seeks to uncover the possibilities in animation development. With a showcase of 108 pieces in the Animation Theater and Electronic Theatre screenings, the Computer Animation Festival will include the latest works from renowned production houses, such as Industrial Light and Magic (I.L.M) and Pixar Animation Studios as well as new pieces from highly acclaimed institutions such as Chung-Ang University, Korea, and Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany.
“The works selected for this year’s Festival represent the best creative sparks and freshest ideas from around the world that are set to inspire the artists, designers, researchers and scientists attending the Festival,” said Jinny HyeJin Choo, SIGGRAPH Asia 2010 Computer Animation Festival Chair.
“The Computer Animation Festival has received more entries this year, allowing us to broaden the scope of programs and include stronger content. In addition, more local computer graphics companies and individual creators have been involved in the submission process. I am positive attendees will be pleased with the abundance and variety of excellent pieces at both the Electronic Theater and the Animation Theater screenings,” added Choo.
Honoring the Best Creations
This year, the world-renowned jury of the Computer Animation Festival has selected three very special pieces as the “Best of Show”, “Best Technical” and “Best Student” award recipients.
The “Best of Show” award goes to “Poppy”, directed by James Cunningham from New Zealand production house Supercollider. Based on true events, “Poppy” is a short story about two soldiers who found a baby in a muddy ditch, under his dead parents. Working with partner Leslie Chan in a spare bedroom for a year, Cunningham explored the emotional potential of computer-generated imagery (CGI), often used in animation for children, to produce this heart-wrenching film.
“SIGGRAPH Asia is a renowned platform for showcasing the best in animation and digital media. Winning the Best of Show award for SIGGRAPH Asia is indeed an honor for me. This award demonstrates how computer animation can still convey emotions and reach out to the hearts and souls of people, just as well as a live performance,” said James Cunningham, director of the winning animated film.
The “Best Technical Piece” award goes out to “Civilization V.” from Digic Pictures, winner of the same award last year. Produced by Istvan Zorkoczy, this clip reiterates Digic Pictures’ mastery and expertise in 3D as well as computer graphics production. The world-class rendering of a beautifully detailed and realistic living world, clear cinematography and amazing surfacing made this clip stand out prominently in terms of computer graphics technology applied to storytelling.
A new award, the “Best Student” prize goes out to “Loom” by Ilija Brunck, Jan Bitzer and Csaba Letay of Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. This exceptional piece by students of the reputable film academy tells the story of a moth getting caught in a spider’s web. Viewers are taken through the moth’s struggle to face its predator bravely only to be digested into an integral part of its own trap, that is, the spider’s web. The creative ideas behind this piece outshone its competitors’ and proved to the international computer graphics community there are brilliant emerging talents that are set to take the industry to new heights.
Inspiring Tomorrow’s Talents
SIGGRAPH Asia has long been recognized as a unique industry platform that not only showcases the latest developments but also seeks to advance the community through knowledge-sharing and thought-provoking discussions.
SIGGRAPH Asia 2010 will underline this objective through its carefully selected Featured Speakers, each a master in their unique medium of creative expression.
Frank Stephenson, Design Director, McLaren Automotive, will offer participants a unique glimpse into the glitz and grind behind designing one of the world’s most fascinating speed machines. Having worked on perfecting the super car for McLaren, Stephenson will be sharing how his world-class design team constantly challenges the future by imagining what the world has yet to witness either through new technologies, new materials, or new concepts. Stephenson will also take the audience into how these breakthrough ideas are transferred to the real world with the aid of top-of-the-line computer graphics solutions.
Satirical caricaturist Professor Jae-Dong Park, a well-known personality in Korea, will be sharing his passion for art, and how drawing and sketching have evolved from pencil and paper to the computer screen. In his featured talk, Park will discuss how developments in computer graphics over the past decade have changed the way caricatures and cartoons are produced. In a session set to excite aspiring talents and industry professionals alike, Park will speak about his vision of how non-photorealistic rendering, an active research subject in computer graphics, can enrich human lives. This will complement his sharing session covering his unique and distinctive approach to caricature production.
Hyung-Tae Kim, Art Director at NC Soft wraps up SIGGRAPH Asia 2010’s Featured Speakers list. Sharing his experience in the production of the highly anticipated massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), Blade & Soul, Kim will reveal some first visual elements, such as concept art or trailers in the journey to give life to one of the most popular games today. Focusing on the creation of new characters in the game, Kim’s session will also discuss how art direction and game design can influence the way a game is played. Kim will also touch on how Blade & Soul is marketed to a worldwide audience, having first been launched to local audiences in Korea.
A gathering of top minds and future talents
More than 8,000 participants from all over the world are expected to gather in Seoul this year for yet another thought-provoking and highly stimulating interaction centered on computer graphics and interactive techniques. Once again SIGGRAPH Asia will bring together experts from the industry and academic landscape to share their insights and knowledge through the Courses, Special Sessions and Featured Speakers talk. With more than 100 animations to be screened, and close to 170 research papers and Technical Sketches & Posters to be discussed, SIGGRAPH Asia 2010 is set to blaze a trail in Seoul’s and Asia’s digital media landscape.
About Frank Stephenson
Stephenson joined McLaren in 2008 from Fiat Auto where he was Design Director for Fiat/Lancia and then Alfa Romeo. While there, he led the design of cars such as the Fiat 500, Alfa Mito and Fiat Bravo. Previously he was Design Director at Ferrari and Maserati where he was responsible for the Ferrari 612, Ferrari 430, Maserati Quattroporte and Maserati MC12. Stephenson began his career at BMW where he designed the X5 and the Mini, eventually becoming Design Director for the Mini. Having just finalized the design of the McLaren MP4-12C, Stephenson and his team continue to challenge themselves to make designs timeless and McLaren’s products premium.
About Professor Jae-Dong Park
Originally a high school art teacher, Professor Park started his career as a comics artist in the newly founded Hangyeore Sinmun daily newspaper in 1988. From the first issue, Park made humorous illustrations and comics in the illustrations section. Park drew for Hangyeore Sinmun until 1996, when he turned to animation with the film 'Odoltoki'. In 2009, the 10th Korean National Assembly honored Park with the Caricaturist of the Year award. His accomplishments also include directing two animations and publishing three essay books.
About Hyung Tae-Kim
Hyung-tae Kim is a Korean artist who is well known for his outstanding contributions to the video game industry. He gained his reputation for art creation in games such as the Magna Carta series and the later installments of the War of Genesis series. Kim began his career in the video games industry working in the field of background music, before moving to art and design. He has branched out into the comic book industry, serving as a guest cover artist and contributing to the Udon street fighter series. Kim is currently an Art Director at NC Soft. Apart from video game design, Kim’s illustrations have also been featured in numerous books. An artist in the manhwa style, he draws inspiration from Asian martial arts fantasy with cultural influences mainly from the Korean culture.
About SIGGRAPH Asia
The 3rd ACM SIGGRAPH Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques in Asia will take place in Coex Convention and Exhibition Center Seoul, Korea. Featuring an international conference from 15-18 December 2010, SIGGRAPH Asia 2010 offers works that provoke thought, explore ideas in innovative ways, address contemporary issues, interactively engage viewers in discovery, and stimulate their intellect and creativity through art, computer animation, courses, education, new technologies, technical papers as well as technical sketches and posters.
SIGGRAPH Asia 2010 also features a trade exhibition of products and services from the computer graphics and interactive marketplace and will be held from 16-18 December 2010. Sponsored by ACM, SIGGRAPH Asia 2010 is expected to bring together over 8,000 computer graphics and interactive technology professionals and enthusiasts from Asia and beyond. For more information, please visit
www.siggraph.org/asia2010 .
SIGGRAPH Asia 2009 was a resounding success. Artists, researchers, developers, gaming experts, filmmakers, as well as academics from over 50 countries gathered in Yokohama over four exciting days to discover new products, talents, technology and techniques in the digital media industry. For more information, please visit
www.siggraph.org/asia2009 About ACM
The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) SIGGRAPH sponsors SIGGRAPH Asia 2010. ACM is an educational and scientific society uniting the world's computing educators, researchers, and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources and address the field's challenges. ACM strengthens the profession's collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and recognition of technical excellence. ACM supports the professional growth of its members by providing opportunities for life-long learning, career development and professional networking.
