Category: Education and Training

Studio Arts has announced it will be offering a full suite of training classes using Toon Boom Animation's Digital Pro and Storyboard Pro software. The intent of the beginning-to-advanced training courses is to provide 2D animators and other artists a thorough grounding in Toon Boom's "paperless" animation system. Toon Boom courses are due to start Oct. 6, 2007 and, along with CSATTF and ETP funding, there will be "scholarship seats" for each class that are fully-funded by Studio Arts.

Digital-Tutors introduced the CREATING DIGITAL HUMANS SERIES, a four-part collection of training and the latest release in a growing library of interactive training for emerging digital artists using Autodesk Maya. The series provides more than 20 hours of project-based training and guides artists through the technical and artistic processes of creating digital humans for use in film and games.

Caligari Corp., the producer of award-winning 3D modeling, rendering and animation software, announced Thursday Night Live!, a weekly online discussion hosted by Caligari. These informal meetings are open to all members of the 3D community worldwide to encourage an atmosphere of camaraderie, foster collaboration and spark discussion on any 3D topic. In addition, Caligari CEO Roman Ormandy will join these sessions to provide his insights on the future of 3D technology. The next Thursday Night Live! session will take place on Aug. 16, 2007 at 5:00 pm PT.

Sphere VFX has released its new training DVD, EYEON FUSION 5.1: IN-DEPTH 3D.

The four-hour-and-12-minute DVD covers:* Introduction to 3D* Using primitives* Importing geometry* Adding baked animation data to imported geometry* Deforming geometry* Adding textures to 3D geometry* Working with Camera in Fusion* Adding baked animation data to Camera's* Understanding and working with Projectors in Fusion* Working with Lights* Miscellaneous Nodes

Studio Arts will start its latest round of classes for summer 2007 quarter commencing Monday, July 9. 2007.

Of special interest are several specially-designed 2D "tradigital" animation classes in Flash for TV, Bauhaus Mirage and Adobe AfterEffects. Beginning in fall, Studio Arts will round its 2D computer animation curriculum with its new series of Toon Boom 2D courses.

Emmy award-winning Toon Boom Animation Inc. announced its partnership with FableVision, the award-winning educational media and interactive developer and publisher, to jointly develop educational solutions for K-12 and consumer markets.

"Toon Boom is fully committed to the educational market and our close collaboration with FableVision reinforces our intention to develop easy-to-use, educative and fun applications for students and schools," stated Joan Vogelesang, president/ceo at Toon Boom.

A two-year Purdue University study has created a 3D simulation of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, supporting the U.S. government's findings into why the towers fell, reports THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. According to the study, the planes "stripped away crucial fireproofing material," which led to the towers crumbling due to its own weight. The study was funded partly by the National Science Foundation.