Animation studio ILL Clan and 3D objects provider TurboSquid have partnered up to present TRASH TALK, which employs the use of machinima in the production of the latest talk show host to grace computer and iPod screens. This animated 3D game character wannabe named ILL Will, a cross between Jay Leno and Duke Nukem, reports on the latest gaming news and talks trash each week on the Internet with his sidekick, a missile named Mal Content.
TRASH TALK is developed using GarageGames Torque engine (
www.garagegames.com ), the 3D game engine heavily used by independent game developers for its low price and rich features. The ILL Clan modified a version of Torque to produce animated shorts in record time. Although it still takes talent and effort, the combination of the low-priced Torque engine and the vast library of 3D art available on TurboSquid allows this innovative animation studio to quickly and easily produce 3D animation.
Machinima (
www.machinima.org ) is the technique of creating animation using realtime 3D game technology. The ILL Clan has been creating machinima since 1998 as acknowledged pioneers and innovators of the technique.
TurboSquid is a website where game developers, animators and other artists can buy and sell ready-made 3D products, ranging from models and textures to plug-in software and training DVDs.
"We'd been using Turbo Squid's objects for years, so it was an obvious match," said Matt Dominianni, cofounder/artistic director of ILL Clan. " The ILL Clan animators make use of Turbo Squid's vast library of 3D art for props and vehicles in their animated shorts.
"We were pretty pleased to see a few vehicles from our site featured in TRASH TALK," said Alex Forst, TurboSquid director of marketing. "A lot of game developers and animators watch the show, and they comprise a good portion of our customer base."
The ILL Clan's work, featuring Turbo Squid's 3D objects has also appeared elsewhere on the Web, television and in advertising, on MTV2, SpikeTV, and as part of an online ad campaign for the Audi A3.
TRASH TALK, with ILL Will is available for viewing on the ILL Clan's website (
www.trashtalk.illclan.com ), or on iTunes via a free podcast subscription.
Founded in 2000, New Orleans-based Turbo Squid (
www.turbosquid.com ) is dedicated to the management and distribution of digital products and other relevant content for 3D and 2D designers and creative professionals. Turbo Squid provides a global market for digital products by enabling individual and corporate users to list, promote and sell their content to users around the world. In 2003, Turbo Squid was named as the exclusive publisher and worldwide distributor for the Autodesk Certified Animation Plug-in Program. Turbo Squid is a privately held company with financial backing from Advantage Capital Partners, The Eastman Kodak Co. and Intel Capital
ILL Clan Prods. (
www.illclan.com ) is a Brooklyn, New York-based collective of 3D artists, filmmakers and improvisational comedians focused on creating animated episodic shows and works for hire using the machinima process and 3D CGI. Acknowledged pioneers and innovators of machinima, the ILL Clan created its first short in 1998 and has continued with its innovative approach since then. The ILL Clan also performs machinima live at festivals and events, and were acclaimed as "Machinima Masters" in the May 2006 issue of WIRED magazine.
