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Digital
Media FX News Archives
Thursday
- August 9, 2001
- President of Pixar to be
Honored
- Disney Expands
Use of Houdini
- Betty Boop's New Vegas Gig
- News Link of the Day
- Cartoon Network Slashes Up Another Winner with `Samurai
Jack'
 President
of Pixar to be Honored
(by digitalmediafx.com) On August 12, Dr. Edwin Catmull, president
of Pixar Animation Studios, will be honored by the New York Institute
of Technology for the innovative work accomplished by Pixar.
"The
New York Institute of Technology recognizes leaders who broaden
the potential of art and technology through innovation, curiosity
and learning," said Dr. Edward Guiliano, president and CEO
of New York Institute of Technology. "Dr. Catmull's numerous
contributions in these areas, which span more than a decade, have
been widely recognized by his colleagues. We hope that this medal
communicates how honored we are that he is part of the proud history
of computer graphics at our institution."
The medal
will be presented to Catmull at a champagne reception held at
the Wilshire Grand Hotel on August 12 in coordination with the
SIGGRAPH 2001 trade show in Los Angeles.
"I am
honored that New York Institute of Technology has decided to recognize
my work in an environment that boasts so many gifted minds,"
said Catmull. "NYIT created much of the foundation work for
the field of computer animation, and I thank them for bestowing
me with this special award."
Dr. Catmull
is also a co-founder of Pixar.
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Disney
Expands Use of Houdini
(by digitalmediafx.com) Walt Disney Feature Animation has extended
and expanded its working relationship with animation software
maker Side Effects. Under the agreement, Walt Disney Feature Animation
will make a significant purchase of software licenses while further
integrating Houdini (3D animation software) into its production
pipeline.
Houdini has
been used in several projects at Disney, including Fantasia
2000, Tarzan, and visual effects in Gone in 60 Seconds.
Houdini will be fully integrated into the Disney production pipeline
to assist artists and animators in the production of visual effects
for Disney and Disney's Secret Lab.
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Betty Boop's
New Vegas Gig
(by digitalmediafx.com) New Betty Boop casino games are almost
ready for Vegas, complete with several animated scenes produced
by DMA Animation.
A core group
of six DMA animators under the direction of Tony Caio and Bryan
Cox completed the Betty Boop project for King Features in less
than six months. Two Animo
Systems were used to create new character animation for Betty
and the game’s ancillary characters. Backgrounds were designed
in Adobe Painter 6.0 and imported into AfterEffects 4.1.
The new Betty
Boop game starts off with images of Betty in her dressing room,
asking players to help her pick her next movie role. She points
to three posters on the wall that illustrate her choices Circus
Extravaganza, Daredevil Betty or Game Show Sweetheart.
After the
player makes a selection, Betty is transported to the movie set.
In the daredevil sequence, for example, Betty is loaded into a
cannon as her pal Bimbo begins his duties as master of ceremonies.
Betty nervously reminds Koko the Clown not to use too much gunpowder.
Koko lights the fuse and the crowd watches as Betty sails through
the sky, flying over her intended target.
“We worked
very closely with King Features to make sure Betty looked beautiful,”
says Caio. “King Features Syndicate has very high standards
for its licensed properties. Animo allowed us to portray Betty
in her traditional look and style, which is very important on
a project of this scope.”
DMA is using
Cambridge Animation Systems’ Animo software to create the
high-end graphics and animation.
The new casino
slot games will be unveiled in Vegas later this year. Click
here to see a clip from the game.
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News Link
of the Day - Cartoon Network Slashes Up Another Winner with
`Samurai Jack'
According
to the Kansas City Star:
"I'm
not what you'd call a cartoon devotee. Oh, I get giggly over Scooby
Doo, have a crush on Bugs Bunny and want to be one of the Powerpuff
Girls. There are several preschool shows that put animation to
admirable use, and there's no show to touch SpongeBob SquarePants.
But much serious
cartoon work leaves me as cold as all those anime heroines with
their absent eyes. Frankly, I just don't get it..."
Click
here for the full story.
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