A tribute to the movie "Drive" by tom haugomat & bruno mangyoku

"The Night We were Kings" yet another beautiful short animated by students from Gobelins

"A beautiful example of pure visual storytelling. Gobelins students Chloé Nicolay, Manddy Wyckens, Anthony Lejeune, Gaspard Sumeireand Léa Justum animated this short during their summer internship at Cube Creative in Paris."

Courtesy of Cartoon Brew: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/the-night-we-were-kings.html

DreamWorks Animation is looking to open an studio in Shanghai as early as January.

"California animation studios have had satellite studios in Asia since the 1980s, when Disney operated out of Japan and Hanna-Barbera had Fil-Cartoons in the Philippines. It’s the same today, only the names of the companies have changed, like Lucasfilm with its studio in Singapore and Digital Domain in India. Now, according to this Reuters story, DreamWorks is aggressively pushing forward with its plans to launch a studio in Shanghai, a development that we first reported last September. The new studio, DreamWorks East, could be up and running by January, and its first feature is slated for 2015. DreamWorks and a consortium of Chinese companies will invest up to $2 billion over five years in the joint venture, and the studio will also develop theme park rides and distribute films."


Courtesy of Cartoon Brew: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/business/dreamworks-eyes-shanghai.html

"The Loner" is a sort of Lego people meet The Sims music video directed by FLA from Sticky Monster Lab

The characters in this animation are apparently based on l line of vinyl toys that you can check out here: http://www.stickymonsterlab.com/

A new Photoshop Plugin "nDo2" helps you make picture perfect normal maps straight from your photoshop doodles

You can buy the plugin at the Quixel website: http://www.quixel.se/

Big Fat Naked guy I've been drawing on the subway using my iPad

Ive been working on this guy from time to time on my daily subway commute. I have really started to get into the iPad as a digital sketchbook, and I highly recommend an app. called Procreate. It has quickly become my sketching app. of choice. It has a very user friendly interface and a excellent set of features. 

 Here is a view of the Procreate interface. You can check it out the app at the developer's website: http://savage.si/

MGMT " All We Ever Wanted Was Everything" music video by oneedo

oneedo are the same people who brought us "Apache". They are now back with a new animation for MGMT.



Learn more about oneedo here: http://oneedo.posterous.com/

"Amalgamation" by Micaël Reynaud (really crazy use of displacement map/compound blur)

Also available as an Animated Gif:

Danny Williams AKA Pointpusher is giving away one of his models as a free download.

You can download this free model from Danny Williams here:
http://pointpusher.blogspot.com/2011/11/free-download.html

Red Hot Chili Peppers "Monarchy of Roses" Music Video

Red Hot Chili Peppers collaborate with illustrator Raymond Pettibon and director Marc Klasfeld for their "Monarchy of Roses" Music Video.

"Scrat's Continental Crack-Up" Part 2 from Blue Sky Studios

Another Scrat short from Blue Sky. This horse is feeling pretty dead by now.

Turns out light isn't a particle or a wave. It's actually just a runny mess in this interesting little short by Sunday Paper called "Light"

"Light a short film directed by David Parker, initially began as a project intended to bring awareness to energy waste. Bleeding, crying lights were meant to metaphorically parallel the way in which we invisibly squander our natural resources without much thought. While the original sentiment remains, the film also grew into a poetic statement about a world run amok and the human tendency to exploit that which we hold dear."

View more work by Sunday Paper at: http://www.sunday-paper.com/

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the biggest entertainment launch ever, in any medium

"Activision’s release of the videogame “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3″ last Tuesday ranked as the biggest launch of any videogame in history. Within its first 24 hours of release, the game sold 6.5 million units in North America and the UK, earning $400 million dollars and well on its way to over $1 billion. “We believe the launch of ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3′ is the biggest entertainment launch of all time in any medium, and we achieved this record with sales from only two territories,” claimed Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision. By contrast, the all-time single-day movie gross record belongs to the latest installment of Harry Potter, which took in $91 million earlier this year."

Read more here: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/ideas-commentary/and-the-highest-grossing-animated-project-of-2011-is.html

"My Bloodly Lad" by Dead Walter

See lots of concept art and other goodies here: http://deadwalter.blogspot.com/

A brilliant look at the role of computers with Steve Jobs

My friend at the Library of Congress sent me this. It really gives you an idea of  how brilliant Steve Jobs was and how far ahead of his time his thinking was.

"ROSA" by Jesus Orellana

ROSA is an epic sci-fi short film that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where all natural life has disappeared. From the destruction awakes Rosa, a cyborg deployed from the Kernel project, mankind’s last attempt to restore the earth’s ecosystem. Rosa will soon learn that she is not the only entity that has awakened and must fight for her survival.
The short-film was created entirely by young comic-artist Jesús Orellana with no budget during a single year. Since it's world premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival, ROSA has been an official selection at film festivals around the world such as Screamfest, Toronto After Dark, Anima Mundi or Los Angeles Shorts Film Festival. In October ROSA was screened at the opening night of the Sitges International Film Festival, considered the world's best festival specialized in genre films. Following the succesful festival run, the short film has attracted the attention of the major talent-agencies and Hollywood producers. Currently ROSA is in development to be a live-action motion picture.

Learn more here: http://www.rosamovie.blogspot.com/

New Trailer for Pixar's "Brave" due out this summer

New Images from Pixar's up coming film "Brave"

You can view the pictures in Hi Definition here: http://www.itsartmag.com/features/brave-hd-pictures/

Music Video for Kalle Mattson's "Thick As Thieves" directed by Kevin Parry

Beautiful little spot for the 2011 MTV European Music Awards by Polynoid

"Pythagasaurus" from director Peter Peake and Aardman Animation Studios

"While we await their CG Arthur Christmas and their clay-mated Pirates feature, Aardman tempts us with this superbly crafted short from director Peter Peake. Produced by Aardman’s commercials division during downtime between jobs; here’s sneak peek of the designs and a brief interview with Peake at 3D Artist Online."

Courtesy of Cartoon Brew: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/pythagasaurus-by-peter-peake.html

Clever repurposing of old cartoon clips by Erasure for their "Be With You" music video

"Steve Stanchfield’s entry in the Erasure Video Competition featuring synched clips from Van Beuren cartoons (and a few others) to the new song from Erasure titled Be With You.

The most ‘like’ votes on Steve’s YouTube page wins the piece a place on the official Erasure DVD… apparently this bunch of Van Beuren clips are getting the second-most votes so far! The contest ends mid-day tomorrow, so place your vote for classic cartoons.

Steve also says that the first person who can name all the cartoons featured in the video will win a free Thunderbean DVD (There’s clips from 29 or 30 cartoons!)"

Courtesy of Cartoon Brew: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/music-videos/be-with-you-by-steve-stanchfield.html

Clip from Steffen Schaeffler's "The Emperor's New Clothes"

Hand-drawn goodness by Rob Stevenhagen created for by Steffen Schaeffler’s The Emperor’s New Clothes. Where can we see the rest of the animation? Montreal-basedPascal Blais Studio produced the film.

Courtesy of Cartoon Brew: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/the-emperors-new-clothes-by-steffen-schaeffler.html

18 Films are eligible to be nominated for Best Animated Film 2011

As reported yesterday on CB Biz, 18 films have qualified as eligible to be nominated for Best Animated Film at the 2011 Academy Awards. Here’s a run down of the titles – linked to their trailers on Cartoon Brew and to reader talkback posts (for those that opened in wide in the US). Which do you think will be nominated? Which one has the best chance of winning?

Rango – (talkback)
Kung Fu Panda 2 – (talkback)
Puss in Boots – (talkback)
Rio – (talkback)
Cars 2 – (talkback)
Hoodwinked Too! Hood Vs. Evil – (talkback)
Gnomeo & Juliet – (talkback)
Mars Needs Moms – (talkback)
Winnie the Pooh – (talkback)
The Smurfs – (talkback)
The Adventures of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Happy Feet Two
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
Alois Nebel
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Wrinkles

The Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at 8:30am Eastern/5:30am Pacific. The Academy Awards will be presented on ABC, Sunday February 26, 2012.
Courtesy of Cartoon Brew: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/

"The Dark Knight" and Christopher Nolan get a makeover 1966 Batman style

Time Twister - LEGO Mindstorms Digital Clock

"The clock was built by Hans Andersson and uses two separate Lego Mindstorms sets, the controllers of which are slyly hidden behind the two inner numbers, and a few extra Technic pieces. Each number has five layers and each layer is controlled by the one above it so it starts from the bottom and builds the number from the ground up."

Read more here: http://www.pcworld.com/article/243261/digital_lego_clock_goes_ticktock.html#tk.rss_news

Check out Hans Andersson's website here: http://tiltedtwister.com/

ANOMALIA ANIMATION PARTY 2011 in Prague (teaser)

ANOMALIA ANIMATION PARTY 2011 in Prague from David T on Vimeo.

onedotzero_adventures in motion 2011 teaser (get a glimpse of some of the best work from 2011)

Here it is - the first taste of the onedotzero_adventures in motion 2011 to whet your appetite!

2011 sees onedotzero celebrate 15 years of championing the progression of global digital culture and innovation in motion. Programmed in partnership with regular host venue BFI Southbank, this special anniversary will present short films and animation, music videos, interactivity, digital art and everything in between.

Confirmed artists so far include Michel Gondry, Edouard Salier, Daniels, Yoann Lemoine and Takahiro Yasuda to name just a few...

onedotzero_adventures in motion 2011
BFI Southbank, London - 23-27 November + international tour
To find out more please visit:
onedotzero.com/​onedotzero-adventures-in-motion-festival-2011/​event

Get the dates in your diary and book your train / plane tickets now!

Michael Bay directs a trailer for a new "Need for Speed" game

"The Last Train" by The Animation Hub

'The Last Train' is an animated short movie that was made as part of The Animation Hub, a collaboration between staff and students of the Irish School of Animation (ISA) at Ballyfermot College of Further Education (BCFE), staff and students of Trinity College’s Graphics, Vision and Visualisation Group (GV2) and the recently established animation studio Giant Creative (giant.ie), set up by BCFE graduates.

The Animation Hub, which received support from the Irish Film Board and Science Foundation Ireland, ran for 3 months over the summer in 2011 and involved Giant Creative working with animation and computer science students to create a one minute animated short fusing motion capture techniques with naturalistic 3D character animation.

Directed by Giant Creative (giant.ie)

Trinity College Project Manager Carol O Sullivan (tcd.ie/​)

Ballyfermot College Project Manager Gareth Lee (isa-bcfe.ie/​)

Technical Consultant Shane Whelan

Music by Epic Soul Factory

BCFE Students Mark Fisher Owen Maloney

TCD Students Kenneth Ryall Amy Davidson

Photosculpt Textures v2 Software (available free for non-profit)

Create photorealistic 3D models and hi-res seamless tileable 3D textures easily from two photosFind out more here: http://www.photosculpt.net/

The Black Keys - Lonely Boy Music Video

Awesome in its simplicity.

TV on the Radio - Second Song Music Video

Some nice work by BUCK for V8 V-Fusion

"Grand Theft Auto V" trailer

Microsoft "HoloDesk" lets you interact directly with computer generated objects in realtime.

AICP Southwest 2011 Sponsor Reel

AICP Southwest 2011 Sponsor Reel from Element X Creative on Vimeo.

Dallas-based Element X Creative garners a trainload of nostalgia for the AICPSouthwest Awards Show with their 2011 Sponsor Reel.

Through a mixture of blood, sweat, miniatures and CG, the Element X team “came together to write, storyboard, model, texture, shoot, rig, animate, composite and edit the final [5-minute] product” in short order. Four weeks, to be exact.

Of course, the storyline echoes several other time-rigging plots in popular science fiction media (e.g., two Back to the Future Easter eggs), but in this rendition, hitching a ride through Element X’s innocent world of special relativity makes sitting through a usually long drawn-out list of sponsor logos feel like the speed of light.

You can read more and check out behind the scenes images here: http://motionographer.com/2011/11/01/aicp-southwest-2011-sponsor-reel/#more-42147

"Drown To Life"

Drown To Life from Mauro Affronti on Vimeo.

Learn more about this short here: http://www.wix.com/blackmaui/drowntolife#!

"Don't Swim After Lunch"

Learn more about "Don't Swim After Lunch" here: http://animateme.me.uk/blog/?page_id=624

Meshmixer is a Free program that lets you easily make new models by mixing and matching pieces from older ones.

"meshmixer is an experimental 3D modeling tool developed by Ryan Schmidt, who otherwise does computer graphics research. meshmixer is now part of Autodesk, a global leader in innovative design software and services."

"The goal of meshmixer is to make it easy to compose new 3D models from existing meshes. Give it a try and tell me what you think, either in theforum on twitter @meshmixer, or via email."

Learn more about Meshmixer and download it for free here:

http://meshmixer.com/index.html