High school seniors interested in education to enter the animation or videogame development industries are invited to apply for scholarships from The Art institute of California - San Francisco (www.aicasf.aii.edu). The scholarships, ranging between $5,000 and $25,000, may be applied toward tuition in the schools bachelors degree programs in Media Arts & Animation, Game Art & Design, Visual & Game Programming.
Bing Gordon, cco/evp and early employee of Electronic Arts the worlds leading videogame publisher, was named the first holder of the Electronic Arts endowed faculty chair at the USC School of Cinema-Television, a rotating position that will be held for one to two years by leading figures in interactive entertainment that will join the Schools faculty as visiting professors.
Digital-Tutors offers the worldwide availability of FUNDAMENTALS OF MAYA: POLYGON AND SUB-D MODELING training kit, the latest release in a library of industry leading training resources for digital artists. In more than 3.5 hours and two discs of leading edge training methods, FUNDAMENTALS OF MAYA: POLYGON AND SUB-D MODELING, guides users though the fundamentals of modeling an original concept monster in Maya.
Pixar animator John Kahrs, who worked on THE INCREDIBLES from model testing through completion, will discuss his work at Gnomon School of Visual Effects Feb. 24 at 7:00 pm.
Kahrs refined facial articulation for Mirage and Violet, and animated Bob and Syndrome, while working on Helen, Dash and Violet as well. He reveals the thought process he undertakes when trying to give each character life from the inside out...and the ways he brings detail and subtlety (or not) to each action.
The Gnomon Workshop has released seven new leading edge DVDs covering photogrammetry, digital set design and ZBrush techniques.
Wao Corp., an Osaka-based cram school managing company, has announced that in 2006 it will launch a school to teach students how to produce animated films and operate animation production companies, reports YOMIURI newspaper. The school will be the first of its kind in Japan and is being established in the Suginami Ward, Tokyo ward where nearly 70 animation production companies are located.
The Art Institute of Atlanta is introducing a new bachelor of arts degree in visual & game programming. The visual & game programming program teaches students the essential skills to effectively solve technical problems while playing the indispensable role of bridging the gap between the creative artist and technical programmer.
"Visual & game programming is part art and part computer science, with plenty of room for creative individuals who want to delve deeper into the technical principles of games," says Janet S. Day, president of The Art Institute of Atlanta.
Avid Technology Inc. announced that the Los Angeles Film School has equipped its media labs with 21 Avid Xpress Studio systems. The school is the latest in a growing number of education institutions to install the all-in-one production system, which seamlessly integrates video editing, audio production, 3D animation, compositing and titling and DVD authoring software with professional video and audio production hardware -- all on a single computer.
Digital-Tutors is now offering Modified Street Racer, the latest release in a collection of modifications and add-ons for existing training kits for digital artists. MODIFIED STREET RACER, the first high performance add-on for MAYA INTERMEDIATE: PHOTOREALISTIC CAR MODELING, takes car modification to another level. In more than 2.5 hours of comprehensive training, users can take existing car models from ordinary to extraordinary.
Writers Store Llc. announced its first slate of courses from WritersUniversity.com, a new online learning center featuring a select team of established film and writing industry experts. The Writers University faculty is comprised of entertainment industry educators and authors from various fields of creative writing who provide specialized Web-based courses developed from years of real-world experience. Instructors include authors and educators Karl Iglesias, Michael Halperin, Noah Lukeman (also a literary agent) and Kathie Fong Yoneda (a popular story analyst).
Fueled by strong growth of the states economy and the need for trained workers in many industries, Westwood College has opened two new campuses in the Atlanta area, adding to its system of campuses across the nation. To celebrate the opening, the community is invited to a grand opening event Jan. 26 at the Midtown Campus.
Digital-Tutors has released PRINCIPLES OF PHOTOSHOP CS, the latest in a series of training resources for digital artists. In more than three hours of comprehensive training methods, PRINCIPLES OF PHOTOSHOP CS gives new users a wide understanding of the program and the technical and artistic direction to get started with Photoshop CS.
Gnomon School of Visual Effects has been approved by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) to enroll non-immigrant M-1 students and to issue I-20s. Eligible foreign students may now receive visas to attend Gnomons High-End Computer Graphics Certificate Program or Maya Fast Track Program.
This is such an important step for us, said Kristin Bierschbach, Gnomons director of administration. Because of the quality of our programs and instructors, students from all over the world want to come to Gnomon. Now they can.
Scott Caple has joined longtime friend and animation director Tina Seemann on the faculty of Max the Mutt Animation School. As a teacher in the animation field, Caple acquired experience in other schools in the U.S. He combines his academic qualifications readily with firsthand knowledge of the animation industry. He will be teaching Advanced Storyboarding.
From 2000 to 2003, Caple was involved in the concept and production design of THE INCREDIBLES. During his time at Pixar, he was responsible for both environment/background design and art direction.
Advanced Brain Technologies (ABT) announced today the release of SHELLY'S MY FIRST COMPUTER GAME, a first-of-its-kind, award-winning software program developed specifically to teach children, 3-6, the basics in using a personal computer as well as promoting memory and reading skills. The game was made by ABT, a leading developer of neurosensory training products to maximize the human brain's potential through its division, ABT Interactive, and in partnership with Vector Magic, a premier educational software animation producer.
Digital-Tutors announced the worldwide availability of its highly anticipated "Maya Intermediate: Female Android Modeling" training kit -- the latest release in a series of industry leading training resources for digital artists. In more than seven hours and four discs of comprehensive training methods, "Maya Intermediate: Female Android Modeling" guides users through the technical and artistic process of modeling a female android.
Animation and creative solutions company, Synergy Images, has announced that it would be partnering with Australia's Edith Cowan University, to offer its employees a masters degree in interactive multimedia technologies, reports CYBERMEDIA NEWS.
Synergy president/ceo, Malini Subrahmaniam said, "This master's degree would enable us to have a world class animation team in our company."
Mt. Sierra College, a leading media arts and design, business and technology college in the San Gabriel Valley, California has been selected to participate in the Howard Schaefer Pasadena Angels BTC Business Competition along with nine other Southern California colleges and universities. The competition, co-sponsored by the Business Technology Center of Los Angeles (BTC) and the Pasadena Angels, challenges teams of Southland students to develop a business plan, feasibility study or marketing plan to raise funds for an early-stage technology company.
Gnomon School of Visual Effects has revamped its lineup of teachers for the Maya Fast Track Program. Eric Hanson (THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW), award-winning digital artist Meats Meier, Sean Mills (SMALLVILLE) and Joshua Reiss (HOLLOW MAN) have joined long-time instructors Alex Alvarez (Gnomon founder) and Darrin Krumweide on the Fast Track roster. The Maya Fast Track Program is a nine-week immersion in Alias Maya and how it is used in a 3D production pipeline. The winter term program runs from Jan. 17 through March 18, 2005.
Friedman 3D starts its new semester of high-end, low-cost CG training on Jan. 10, 2005. The semester runs until June 24, 2005. The Maya CG course runs from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Friday for 20 weeks. The course is taught by David Gottlieb, a Maya animator formerly with Walt Disney Co. Subjects covered will be: modeling, texturing, rigging, character animation, lighting and effects. Morning lectures will cover intro to basic subjects and occur daily from 9:00 to 11:00 am and labs from 12:00 to 2:40 pm.
The Gnomon Workshop released three DVD titles on Dec. 15, 2004, dedicated to understanding the complexity and power of Pixologic's ZBrush. Accomplished artists Meats Meier and Zack Petroc take the artist through the basics and intricacies of this remarkable digital sculpting tool.
Digital-Tutors announced the Season's Savings Sale and companion gifts at Digital-Tutors. In celebration of the holiday season, Digital-Tutors is offering 20% off all training titles and free USB Flash Drives on select products purchased now and through Dec. 29, 2004. To receive the discount, enter dtseason as the discount code for all purchases.
To meet the growing requirements of the animation industry, Arena Multimedia, a division of Aptech, has introduced a diploma in Animation Engineering. The course is designed to teach students animation techniques, keeping in mind the requirements and standards of the industry.
Softimage Co. and the National Animation and Design Centre (NAD Centre) launched NAD Centre Internet Academy (NADIA), the first realtime, interactive learning program for SOFTIMAGE|XSI digital content creation software. NADIA allows 3D artists to access professional instruction for SOFTIMAGE|XSI software directly from a desktop PC connected to the Internet. Participants can choose from a series of 18 modular courses supplemented by an extensive library of material and scenes.
Just in time for the holidays, The Gnomon Workshop has produced 14 more instructive DVDs for release on Dec. 15. These new Digital Library titles, from artists Kevin Hudson, Matt Hartle, Ethan Summers and Sean Mills, give you a multi-layered look at modeling, Paint Effects and mental ray.
In addition, The Gnomon Workshop introduces the industry's first ZBrush titles. Artists Meats Meier and Zack Petroc take you from the fundamentals of this powerful application, through pipeline, sculpting and workflow Maya.
