VFX supervisors Mark Edwards and Matt Baer head to Torino to discuss the visual magic behind DWA’s latest animated features at Italy’s premiere animation conference, running October 16-21.
VIEW Conference 2022 has revealed another exciting set of speakers for the upcoming 23rd edition of Italy’s premiere animation, VFX, games, and computer graphics conference. This year, most speakers are returning to attend live and in-person. The conference’s hybrid platform also provides Livestream coverage of every presentation, making the programming accessible to a global audience. The event runs October 16-21 in Torino, Italy.
Coming on the heels of the event’s announcement of director Robert Zemeckis’ participation, DreamWorks Animation VFX supervisors Mark Edwards and Matt Baer are heading to Torino to discuss the visual magic behind the studio’s latest animated features, the soon-to-be-released Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and The Bad Guys.
For a bit of background, read ‘The Bad Guys’: A Messy and Complex Tale of Friendship and Redemption’ a discussion with the film’s creator and writer Aaron Blabey.
VFX Supervisor Mark Edwards presents: “The Visual Style of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish:”
In DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming contemporary fairy tale sequel Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Antonio Banderas reprises his role as the swashbuckling Puss in Boots, who sets out on a quest to discover the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives. The film comes to theaters December 21.
Edwards explores the film’s characters, environments, and effects and discusses how the creative team updated and evolved the world’s style in new and exciting directions. From concept art to asset creation to final lighting, audiences will dive deep into the tools and techniques used to create the film’s unique aesthetic.
VFX Supervisor Matt Baer presents: “Mixing 2D and Illustrative Techniques in The Bad Guys:”
Starring Sam Rockwell as Wolf, DreamWorks Animation’s animated feature The Bad Guys follows the exploits of a gang of animal criminals who, while pretending to turn over a new leaf, discover their leader really does want to be rehabilitated.
Baer explains the film’s unique blend of techniques and strategies used by the creative team to remove many of the details that are often visible in CG imagery. In addition, he discusses the design philosophies and practices that allowed each department to integrate 2D animation and hand-drawn animation into their 3D workflows.
Purchase tickets for VIEW Conference 2022 here.
“I am thrilled to welcome two world-class visual effects supervisors from DreamWorks Animation to VIEW Conference 2022,” shared Conference Director Dr. Maria Elena Gutierrez. “Visual effects bring such an extraordinary magic to animated features, and I know that these sumptuous presentations will be both eye-opening and inspiring.”
A little bit about DreamWorks Animation’s talented VFX supervisors/presenters:
Mark Edwards: Edwards joined PDI/DreamWorks in 1997 as a lighting technical director on the studio’s first CG feature release Antz. He was an FX artist on the Academy Award-winning animated feature, Shrek. In his 18+ year tenure at DWA, Edwards has worked on multiple live-action and CG animated features, including Forces of Nature; Evolution; Over the Hedge; Flushed Away; and Monsters vs Aliens. In addition, Edwards worked as head of lighting on The Croods, CG supervisor on the Academy Award-nominated How to Train Your Dragon, and VFX supervisor on Kung Fu Panda 3 and most recently on Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. In addition to production roles, he served for two years as the studio's first global lead for lighting, surfacing, and matte painting. He has won numerous training awards at DreamWorks, including two 2012 Technical Achievement Awards for innovation.
Edwards holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a minor in Art Studio from the University of California at Davis.
Matt Baer: Baer joined PDI/DreamWorks in 1999 as a clothing artist on the Academy Award-winning animated feature Shrek. His career continued with Shrek 2, contributing to effects, clothing development, and crowds. In addition, he served as effects lead in Madagascar, earning him an Annie Award nomination. After being promoted to head of effects while working on Shrek the Third, he was nominated for a Visual Effects Society Award. He continued in his role on the Oscar-nominated films How to Train Your Dragon and The Croods before being promoted to visual effects supervisor. As a VFX supervisor, Baer helped launch DreamWorks’ short film program, leading teams to adopt new technology for the short films Bilby and To: Gerard.
Baer received his first credit as VFX supervisor on the animated feature Trolls World Tour and most recently served as VFX supervisor on The Bad Guys. Before joining PDI/DreamWorks Animation, Baer was an effects animator at Tippett Studio, Santa Barbara Studios, and Electronic Arts and was a software consultant for Alias/Wavefront in Santa Barbara.
Source: VIEW Conference 2022
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
