Vilppu Drawing Online: The Box
Renowned drawing instructor Glenn Vilppu offers the third installment in his bi-monthly Animation World Magazine online drawing course.
All AWN Content
Computer Animation: A Whole New World
Want to make professional-looking banners for the Web that are complete with animations? Ged Bauer puts this new banner-creating software, MicroSites, to the test.
Dirdy Birdy
September 1998's Dirdy Birdy by John Dilworth.
A Reader in Animation Studies, Edited by Jayne Pilling
Pat Raine Webb reviews Jayne Pilling's new book, A Reader in Animation Studies, which publishes 21 scholarly Society for Animation Studies essays, for the first time.
Lanterna Magica: The Story of a Seagull and a Studio Who Learnt To Fly
Helming the Italian animation Renaissance, Lanterna Magica and director Enzo D'Alare putting the finishing touches on their next feature film, Lucky and Zorba. Chiara Magri takes us there.
Computer Animation: A Whole New World
Frank Foster reviews Rita Street's new book, Computer Animation: A Whole New World, a photo-filled look at the many achievements and innovations of computer animation.
Ottawa `98 Scrapbook
Features pictures sent in by Animation World Magazine readers of themselves, animators and others enjoying the 1998 Ottawa International Animation Festival.
Editor's Notebook
The inventiveness of independents...
In ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Editor
Frieden: The Tree of Peace
Moved by the plight of children in war torn countries, student film maker Alina Chau, Hiu Fan made this remarkable film as a gift for the United Nations.
The 7th Hiroshima International Animation Festival (August 20-24, 1998)
Gigi Hu reviews Asia's premiere animation festival, the 7th Hiroshima International Animation Festival, held August 20-24, 1998.
Italian Independent Animators
Andrea Martignoni relates the current situation of independent animation in Italy and profiles three independents: Ursula Ferrara, Alberto D'Amico and Saul Saguatti.
Eating and Animating: Balancing the Basics for U.K. Independents
Marie Beardmore details ways for U.K. animators, seeking to make their own works, can obtain funding in order to eat and animate!
Animatori Indipendenti Italiani
La situazione in cui si trova il cinema di animazione in Italia, come forse anche in altri paesi, difficile e complicata per gli autori indipendenti che relizzano cortometraggi
Antz: The First Biggie from DreamWorks
DreamWorks Pictures and PDI bring this much-awaited CG wonder to screens this month. Jerry Beck reviews what is hoped to be another animated blockbuster.
William Kentridge: Quite the Opposite of Cartoons
The amazing animation films of South African William Kentridge are discussed by Philippe Moins.
Radium animates MTV logo
San Francisco-based RADIUM produced a 30-second animation of the MTV logo for the network's annual MTV Movie Awards show. The sequence is being used as a lead-in to clips of nominees introduced in the show. Artist Alaina Goetz used Maya and Flame to create the piece, which was produced in just three days.
Passionate about groceries?
London-based PASSION PICTURES produced ten seconds of computer animation in two different spots for food supplier, The Co-op. Depicting realistic chickens and a pig, the 3D CG sequences were directed by Chris Knott, using software such as Morph Gizmo for facial animation and the Lightwave plug-in, Steamer for atmospheric haze.
J.J. Sedelmaier shows cool tools
New York-based J.J. SEDELMAIER PRODUCTIONS created the animation in a two-spot package for Griffin Bacal's client Tonka and their new product, Cool Tools toys. The spots combine live-action with animation of drawings by designer Doug Fraser, animated by Vinnie Bell. J.J. Sedelmaier Productions also created animation in an ad for Hasbro/Parker Brothers' ad for "Family Game Night." The animation is done in a childlike style, directed by Sedelmaier and animated by Tony Eastman.
ILM animates First Union
Los Angeles-based Industrial Light & Magic Commercial Productions (a division of ILM parent, Lucas Digital) used animated visual effects in a commercial for First Union. Live actors were composited with a 3D CG environment featuring a floating piggy bank, animated money and other exaggerated elements of the finance world. The production team included director Steve Beck, visual effects supervisor George Murphy and CG lead Tim Stevenson.
Viewpoint Studios And Heck Yes! Productions get modern
Boston-based VIEWPOINT STUDIOS and HECK YES! PRODUCTIONS have redesigned the main title animation package for the History Channel's show, "Modern Marvels." The 20-second open was created with Flame, compositing motion control photography with animation by Mike Leone of ViewPoint.
NY Kids Fest seeks animation
The New York International Children's Film Festival (NYICFF) will take place February 4-19, 1999 in New York City. The festival will showcase 50-60 new works of all types, including animation. Festival organizers are seeking "creative, intelligent, passionate work that does not speak down to children," and "will consider difficult subject matter, controversial themes." There are no juried prizes, rather, audience members complete ballots to select audience awards in different age categories.
Cal State looks at women in CG
* Sunday, October 4. Long Beach, California, U.S.A.
California State University, Long Beach hosts an event launching the second annual "Women in the Realm of Computer Visual Arts, Effects, and Animation" web site (www.animation.org/animation/women/). Site creator Kellie-Bea Rainey will speak on the subject. The event is sponsored by Advanced Media Production and will be held from 4 - 7 p.m. The location is building UTC, room 127. The event is free, but RSVP is essential for admittance. For information and directions call (818) 980-5853 or e-mail kellie-bea@kellie-bea.com.
MOMI looks at J. Walter Thompson's animated ads
* Tuesday, October 6. London, England, U.K.
The Museum of the Moving Image's lunch time lecture series, "First Tuesdays" showcases 70 years of animated advertising from J. Walter Thompson. From 1 to 2 p.m., Chris Bardsley, creative director for the agency will lecture on the company's history of animated commercials, from George Pal's puppet works to the latest CGI spots for Smarties and stop-motion spots for Dairylea. Tickets are £2.50 each. For information call (44) 171 815 1339.
Animated events at MIPCOM
Listed below is a sampling of some of the top animation-related events taking place during MIPCOM Junior and MIPCOM this week in Cannes. Please note that some of these events are "invitation-only." Check MIPCOM catalogs for details and complete listings. Attention MIPCOM attendees! Don't forget to pick up AWN's first print edition of The Animation Flash, available free in MIPCOM showroom magazine stands.
* Saturday, October 3. 1:00 p.m. Lunch with Neptuno (Hotel Martinez Beach).
* Sunday, October 4.
In Event, Flash, Event, Flash | Headline News | Special Events: MIPCOM | Geographic Region: All, North America
AMPAS reveals sci-tech Oscar noms
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (A.M.P.A.S.) has selected 34 achievements to be considered for 1998 Academy Awards. The selected achievements are announced in advance, "to enable those with claims of prior invention or with devices similar to those under consideration to advise the Academy," said category committee chair Edmund M. DiGiulio.
