Category: Films

Technology ANIMATIONWorld

Autodesk Reveals New Artist Tools and Workflows at AU 2024

At this year's Autodesk Univerisity, with the help of Mikros Animation, Digital Fish, and Wonder Studio, the tech giant demonstrated a slew of program feature updates and improvements across its product lineup, all designed to increase creative productivity and lower barriers for great storytelling.

Traveling the World of Animation Headline News

Animation Journalist Nancy Denney-Phelps Releases ‘On the Animation Trail’

The book, which features covers by Joanna Quinn, charts the last 20 years of animation festivals, from Annecy, the oldest animation festival in the world, to Beirut and the founding of the festival in Peja, Kosovo; pre-order is available now.

The Annies are Coming! Headline News

52nd Annual Annie Award Nominations Announced

By Dan Sarto | Friday, December 20, 2024 at 8:31am

Best Animated Feature nominees ‘Inside Out 2,’ ‘Kung Fu Panda 4,’ ‘That Christmas,’ ‘The Wild Robot,’ ‘Ultraman: Rising,’ and ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ top the expansive list of category nominations; animation’s biggest awards ceremony is scheduled to return live on Saturday, February 8 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

No Screaming in Space Please VFXWorld

From Miniatures to Machine Learning: Crafting the VFX of ‘Alien: Romulus’

Focusing on seamless integration of cutting-edge VFX with analog craftsmanship that included stop-motion, animatronics, and models, Oscar-winning VFX supervisor Eric Barba helped director Fede Alvarez ramp up the terror and suspense in his haunting deep space saga.

A Panda Out of Water Story! Headline News

Shout! Studios Reveals ‘Panda Bear in Africa’ Digital Release

The animated feature from Shout! Studios and Shout! Kids in collaboration with Cinema Management Group will be available for rent or purchase on all major digital platforms on January 28, 2025.

The Proof is in the Great Work Headline News

Proof Shares ‘Something in the Water’ Previs Reel

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 2:12pm

The leading visualization studio’s work involved animating and editing a number of sequences, including a boat crash and shark chase, for the StudioCanal film about a group of friends who meet up for a wedding in the Caribbean and become stranded at sea after their boat sinks.

The Man of Steel Returns! Headline News

DC Studios Drops ‘Superman’ Official Trailer

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 9:09am

He’s finally here! After all the rumors, conjecture, peeks, teases and furtive glances, we finally get to see the new man of steel, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor… and superpup Krypto! Hitting theaters next summer.

Business Headline News

Rob Edwards to Adapt ‘Brown Sugar Fairies: Saroja’s Quest’ Children’s Book

The ‘Princess and the Frog’ screenwriter will write, direct, and produce the animated film; author Aiysha Sinclair produces alongside Stranger Comics president Sebastian A. Jones.

Ho Ho Ho! ANIMATIONWorld

Re-VIEW: ‘That Christmas’ – A Seasonal Film for Life

Set in a charming coastal town during Christmas, Simon Otto and Locksmith Animation’s new film explores themes of empathy, compassion, and human connection, weaving stories of love, resilience, and community through the perspectives of children and adults; now streaming on Netflix.

Oh Wilbur! VFXWorld

It’s Much More Than Horseplay for DNEG on ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ VFX

By Trevor Hogg | Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 1:51pm

The leading creative studio delivers 500 shots across 11 sequences on the final film of the Marvel and Sony ‘Venom’ trilogy, including a Symbiote dance sequence, a battle atop an airplane, and the first non-human takeover… of a horse.

Feature Film VFX Headline News

JAMM Brings ‘Brothers’ Samuel the Orangutan to Life

Watch the breakdown reel; VFX Supervisor Andy Boyd and his team produced 202 final shots, from set supervision to delivery, via Houdini, Maya, Nuke Hiero, Shotgrid, and V-Ray.

An Important Message From the Central Committee Headline News

Miyu Distribution Acquires ‘The Great History of Western Philosophy’

See the trailer and images; inspired by Lacanian theory, the animated feature from Aria Covamonas utilizes a Dadaist-style collage of public domain footage and audio to emphasize its play on reality and perception.

On the Road to the Oscars Headline News

Academy Announces Shortlists in 10 Categories for 97th Oscars

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 11:38am

VFX category narrowed down to 10 films, animated shorts to 15; voting for nominations runs next month, January 8-12, with nomination announcements set for January 17, 2025.

Wallace & Gromit Return ANIMATIONWorld

‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl:’ The Power of Stillness in Stop-Motion

Directors Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham bring back the enigmatic villain Feathers McGraw in Aardman and Netflix’s new comedy, combining animation mastery with nuanced, non-speaking characters that never work as hard as when they’re not moving.

Clayface Shifts into Theaters Headline News

DC Studios Greenlights ‘Clayface’ Feature

Mike Flanagan is penning the script while the hunt for a director is underway; plot details have not been revealed for the film which features the shapeshifting Batman villain last seen in Max’s animated ‘Harley Quinn’ series.

Festivals Headline News

L’Alliance New York Announces Animation First 2025 Program

Returning for its 8th edition, the festival runs January 21-26 2025, and will present 7 feature-length films and 5 short film programs, with a special focus on Swiss animation.

Ultraman Returns ANIMATIONWorld

‘Ultraman: Rising’: Achieving the Perfect Lens Flare and Ken Sato Hairdo

ILM VFX supervisor Hayden Jones reveals how his team merged anime styling with cutting-edge visuals including hand-drawn transitions and ‘Akira’-inspired lens flares to create a love letter to classic manga.

Awards Headline News

75th Annual ACE Eddie Awards Nominees Revealed

By Dan Sarto | Friday, December 13, 2024 at 11:02am

‘Flow,’ ‘Inside Out 2,’ ‘Moana 2,’ ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl,’ and ‘The Wild Robot’ are nominated in the best edited animated features category; winners for outstanding editing will be announced at the January 18 awards ceremony.

Honoring Excellence in Visual Effects Headline News

Hiroyuki Sanada, Takashi Yamazaki Receive Special VES Awards

Actor/producer Sanada is honored with the VES Award for Creative Excellence, while FX supervisor/filmmaker Yamazaki receives the VES Visionary Award; both will be presented at the 23rd Annual VES Awards on February 11, 2025.

The Increasing Need for Entertainment Content ANIMATIONWorld

Helping Artists and Studios Deliver in an Increasingly Competitive M&E Landscape

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 4:26pm

For Rob Hoffman, Lenovo’s Senior Worldwide Manager for Media & Entertainment Vertical, insatiable consumer appetite for new experiences across film, TV, games and interactive experiences, in greater quantity with increasing fidelity, means, the future of entertainment content development continues to look strong.  

Yes My Precious! ANIMATIONWorld

‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’: Middle Earth Meets Modern Anime

Kenji Kamiyama’s prequel to J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic saga travels 183 years before the original trilogy to bring Héra, a forgotten, unsung character, into the spotlight with a tale of courage and resilience; in theaters December 13.

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