Archive for the ‘News’ Category
HP – Mr. Z Designer Challenge
Posted by Administrator | Filed under Animation, News, Sliced Bread
Sliced Bread Animation are pleased to announce their involvement in the HP Mr. Z Designer Challenge. Our ‘week’ comes in a couple of weeks and we are busy thinking through ideas. We will blog regular updates on both the machine’s performance and the animation developments. More info here
HP has given the UK’s leading digital content creation (DCC) agencies a tough, yet exciting task: capturing ‘a day in the life’ of Mr. Z, a superhero designer with SFX superpowers.
Using HP’s recently–launched Z–800 workstation and Adobe’s Creative Suite software, each DCC agency selected by HP accepted the challenge to develop a 30–second animation or film clip about Mr. Z and his powers. Once all the clips are produced, they will all be joined together, to create a ‘A day in the life’ of Mr. Z.
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G-Force trailer with a 3D secret!
Posted by Administrator | Filed under Anaglyph, Feature Film, Games, News, Personal, Sliced Bread, Video
I wrote a draft post about this some months ago (see below) but held back until the release was confirmed. Now an official release has been sent via Kotaku, its now Ok to reveal that Disney are now releasing 3D games titles (with glasses) and we helped them. Back in the Summer of last year I was ask in to consult (for free!) on how to get the 3D (anaglyph) looking right, and in early March of this year I was shown the complete G-Force game with the 3D capablity. The strength of the 3D came into question against health and safety concerns, watching a minute piece is OK but for hours of playing time, this can be an issue (Disney ran a couple of focus groups to deal with this). When I was there to see the final piece I really thought the developers had done a superb job, the 3D was at the right level against the concentration of gameplay, where the cuts scenes also made full use of the 3D effect.
From Kotaku:
Guinea Pig sporting action title G-Force and Wii mini-game collection Toy Story Mania will both ship with 3D support, the developers announced tonight.
G-Force, a game based on the upcoming 3D movie, did have the 3D display on show this evening. Both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game will support 3D graphics, which can be switched on and off on the fly.
The 3D graphics used in the game requires gamers to sport a pair of cardboard blue and red lensed glasses and uses a type 3D known as off-axis, the developers said. The effects seen in motion were surprisingly good, The guinea pig lead stood out on the screen, enemy shots seemed to blow out of the television and the world felt more realistic, though with slightly muddled colors because of the graphics.
Though not the first game, by a long shot, to sport 3D graphics the game certainly seems to put a shine on the red/blue technology.
Draft post not sent [Jan 5, 2009]>>
Not a particularly ‘animation’ post this one, nor am I entirely sold by the trailer. However, I do have a little insider knowledge on the G-Force Wii game that is due to be part of this, where I know they are definitely doing an anaglyph (with glasses) version of it. How do I know this? Well back in the early summer of last year I was invited to Disney HQ in London to consult for a couple of hours as they were having an issue getting the 3D working. There are so many permutations to getting it right, and of the few projects we have done, we have always come across various issues – but the end result is always rewarding.
Its interesting that the anaglyph approach has become fashionable once again (remember Jaws in 3D?), I think it has something to do with the upcoming Monster vs Aliens by Dreamworks which will be the first ‘proper’ 3D release on their new-fangled screens (no need for glasses here). Apparently its based on the same technology as our ’special’ 3D monitor.
There are no hard and fast rules on getting the 3D right for use with glasses (although you should ensure you have the right type of glasses), but having some knowledge on distancing and targeting objects does help (there are a number of Maya and After Effects tutorials online that can assist). That’s was mainly the problem at Disney, and thankfully the game developers had given them some tools so that we could adjust aspects in situ. Its a thoroughly satisfying experience to be able to pass on the (little) knowledge that we have and I’m sure the end result will look amazing. Although, I am slightly concerned about people playing an anaglyph game for hours on end – but we’ll leave that for another day!
UPisodes
Posted by Administrator | Filed under Animation, Events, Feature Film, Games, News, Video
Here at Sliced Bread we are really enjoying these UPisodes from the forthcoming Pixar feature movie ‘UP’. I’ve said before this movie looks like it could be a ‘hit’ or a ‘miss’, but these little snippets are a great way for potential audiences to start to ‘bond’ with the characters. Click image to view.
Animated BAFTA winners
Posted by Administrator | Filed under Animation, News, Video
So Wallace And Gromit: A Matter Of Loaf And Death (Short Animation) and WALL.E (Best Animated Film) are this years 2009 BAFTA winners. Not so sure either of those would have got my vote. W&G was the same formula we have seen over and over, and not nearly as original/ stunning as Marc Craste/ StudioAKA’s Varmints. If WALL.E was up against Kung Fu Panda (as it for the Oscars) I think it would be a close call, as they are both commercial features – but lets see.
finally, the we’ve moved animation
Posted by Administrator | Filed under Animation, News, Sliced Bread
It taken us a while, but we are all nice and settled now, so to celebrate we thought do a little animation sequence.
Oscar nominations announced..
Posted by Administrator | Filed under Animation, News
News from the Animation World Network website:
Nominations for the 81st Academy Awards were announced today (Thursday, January 22) by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Sid Ganis and Oscar winner Forest Whitaker.
BOLT, KUNG FU PANDA and WALL-E are the nominees for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
WALL-E also got nods for Original score, Original song (“Down to Earth”), Sound editing, Sound mixing and Original Screenplay. WALTZ WITH BASHIR got a Best Foreign Language nod. WALTZ WITH BASHIR is the first animated feature nominated for a foreign language Oscar, although 12 prior films have been submitted for consideration.
LA MAISON EN PETITS CUBES, LAVATORY LOVESTORY, OKTAPODI, PRESTO and THIS WAY UP received Best Animated Short nominations.
Wall-E is a sure to win Best Animated Feature, although my own opinion is it shouldn’t, for reasons published in a previous post (which has mysteriously gone missing!). I have to admit that I am surprised that The Tale of Despereaux didn’t get a look in – maybe it wasn’t eligible?
There’s a great line up of shorts in there too and again I am surprise that the recent Wallace and Gromit’s ‘A Matter of Loaf and Death’ didn’t make it in there (again maybe it wasn’t eligible?) – as its usually an Oscar favourite. Not that I think it should, it was mediocre piece using the same formula we have seen over and over (‘handbag’). This way Up by Smith & Foulkes (of the Nexus crowd) seems to be running as favourite in this category anyway. Its already notched up a fair amount of awards already on the circuit (including Sundance).
It’ll be interesting to see who walks away with them, with hopefully a few surprises.
New 9 trailer up…
Posted by Administrator | Filed under Animation, Feature Film, News, Video
It looks dark and interesting, but has it got the..err.. hmmm.. I’m not sure. Very keen to hear others thoughts. Click on the image to view the trailer.
IMDB extract:
9 takes place in a world parallel to our own, in which the very legacy of humanity is threatened. A group of sapient rag dolls, living a post-apocalyptic existence find one of their own, 9 (Elijah Wood), who displays leadership qualities that may help them to survive.
The conflicted, but resilient group includes 1 (Christopher Plummer), a domineering war veteran; 2 (Martin Landau), an aged inventor; 5 (John C. Reilly), a stalwart mechanic; 6 (Crispin Glover), a visionary and artist; and 7 (Jennifer Connelly), a brave warrior.
There are at least several malevolent creatures up against this group; namely, the cat-skulled creature from the short film, a split-headed flying being that resembles both a bat and a manta ray in wing shape, and an insectoid creature with jointed legs and a pod-like body.
Dreamworks and PepsiCo are handing out more than 125m pairs of 3D glasses in the US!
Posted by Administrator | Filed under Anaglyph, Animation, Events, Jobs, News, Sliced Bread
Further to my post yesterday, Brand Republic has the scoop here:
DreamWorks and PepsiCo unite to launch 3D Superbowl ad
LOS ANGELES – Dreamworks and PepsiCo are handing out more than 125m pairs of 3D glasses in the US, with which people can see a special trailer of new film, ‘Monsters vs Aliens’, which will air during the Superbowl.
A 90-second 3D trailer for the film ‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ will air during the half-time show of the Superbowl on February 1.
There will also be a 60-second 3D ad for SoBe Life Water, a drink owned by PepsiCo. 3D glasses will be distributed through the drink’s in-store displays around the country.
Dreamworks CEO Jeff Katzenberg said the cost of the stunt is in the “tens of millions of dollars.”
The glasses use Intel technology and not the traditional red and blue system. Viewers without glasses will be able to see an ordinary image on the screen.
‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ gets released March 27 in the US and features the voices of Kiefer Sutherland, Reese Witherspoon and Seth Rogan.
The promotion was unveiled during NBC’s broadcast of the playoff game between the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers last Saturday.
After the Superbowl ad, NBC plans to use the same technology to air a 3D episode of its series ‘Chuck’, with the reminder to fans “Don’t Chuck away your glasses.”
Last year the Superbowl was seen by 97.5m viewers, making it the second-most watched broadcast in US TV history.
