Pixar Does Retro 2D Animation Short Film

The release of Disney/Pixar’s Ratatouille is to include the first hand-drawn animated 2-D short film in Pixar history. The studio that innovated computer rendered 3D animation returned to the good old fashioned 2D animation method for it’s 11 minute-film (which is the longest short film in Pixar history).

“Your Friend the Rat” was directed by Jim Capobianco and was inspired by the research the filmmakers did into rat behaviour and history - much of this never made it into the final film.

The short follows Remy the rat (voiced by Patton Oswalt), and his brother Emile (Peter Sohn), who talk about the ‘history and behaviour of rats in an effort to persuade human viewers not to kill the ubiquitous rodents.”

Copobianco claims the end result of the short is reminiscent of 1960’s-era educational film, old UPA shorts and classic Ward Kimball animation from Disney.

The short isn’t solely 2D animation. It features a mix of 3D computer animation, 2D line animation, live-action filmed segments and some stop-motion animation (another Pixar first)

You can get your copy of Ratatouille when it comes to DVD and Blu-Ray on November 6th 2007.

Source: http://www.product-reviews.net

Age of 3D Animation

The art of creating and moving images with the use of computer is generally termed as 3D Animation. The era of 3D animation can be dated back to the early nineties when the first 3D animation film "Toy Story" was created. With the passage of time there was tremendous transformation in 3D animation and many more movies were created. The power and effectiveness of 3D animation became apparent when "Jurassic Park" hit the cinema screen in 1993. It really was wonder created with the help of 3D Animation. The most powerful animal, "the dinosaur" was brought to life. The movie stands as testimony to the powers of 3D Animation.

The Age of 3D animation has certainly brought about a revolution. There is hardly any area where 3D Animation is not playing a pivotal role. The popularity of computer animation has skyrocketed in this age of 3D Animation. The superiority of 3D Animation has several reasons. A few important ones are spelled out in the para to a follow.

In the age of 3D Animation crystal clear images can be revealed in a very short period of time and the impact created is just unimaginable. It is true to say that concepts and ideas which are not easy to be expressed in words or even through illustrations can not only be created easily but also analyzed from different perspectives. The dimensional feature of 3D Animation is where its true power lies and its ability to portray movement is exceptional. A huge amount of scientific data of movements is combined and presented in a simplistic manner. An advantaged tagged to this attribute of 3D animation is that it creates a long lasting impact on the memory and the viewer tends to retain the image for a much longer time and that too with accuracy.

Age of 3D animation brings to light limitless possibilities. It is a fine communicating tool which offers more information at a faster rate, presents complex concepts in a simplified manner and also helps turn an idea or even a hint into reality. Recreation of any event, expensive or dangerous to reproduce, is possible in this age of 3D Animation. Fine examples of this would be an air crash, demolition of buildings and /or creation of colonies. In the age of 3D Animation photo-realistic effects are possible by using virtual light sources from different angles with a fine blend of reflection, transparency and shadowing. One big area where 3D Animation is brining about a huge and fast transformation is Architecture. The 3-dimensional models are more accurate and make it easier to see and study the possible relationship of the buildings with the environment.

In the age of 3D animation there is no limit in so far as the software packages are concerned. You can find several packages in the market but the main and only problem that there are far too many and there re endless companies who have created their own 3D animation packages on the pretext that the ones available don't suit their purpose. However, there are still a few standardized ones. The first and the most familiar one that comes to mind is 'Alias Maya'. It is a software which allows you to create models, texture and animate, tight them and lots more. Another package which stands a rival to 'Alias Maya' is '3DS max', it is a package with almost the same facilities that one would find in 'Alias Maya' its advantage is that it allows you to from 'Maya' to '3DS max' and vice-versa. A few other software packages are Cinema 4D, Bodyshop, Light ware 3D and many more.

The future of 3D Animation is far reaching there are going to be more and more, different areas where 3D Animation is going to bring about a radical change. However, one area of challenge for 3D Animation is a photorealistic animation of humans. As of now animal characters, fantasy characters, robots or cartoon like humans are shown but time is not far off when you will certainly see 3D Animation succeeded in this area.

3D Animation

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Deep_Raj

Warner Bros. to Distribute 'Peanuts' Animation

An entertainment brand that spans a seemingly infinite variety of media and an entertainment brand that has braved numerous eras of emotional, political and social thought, the Peanuts work of Charles M. Schulz often represents the most memorable moments a growing child can experience. Between a near-bald young boy and his ace pilot beagle, a blanket carrying philosopher, a master pianist, a girl who will wear sandals in any season of the year and much more, Peanuts has provided readers with a spectrum of humor over the past fifty plus years. Now, it appears that much of the media based on Schulz's imaginative stories will see its most collective and organized distribution yet.

In an announcement made recently, Warner home Video--in an agreement with United Media (or, United Feature Syndicate, Inc.), Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates and Lee Mendelson Film Productions--has entered an agreement that will see the Peanuts brand successfully distributed. The agreement is an exclusive, multi-year, worldwide home video distribution deal. The many memorable television specials, video releases and new media that further brought to life Charlie Brown and his many friends will see their most promising availability yet. Digitally remastered releases of classic holiday specials, the potential for newly produced Peanuts projects for a digital media platform and much more are on tap.

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Animation And Game Design Programs Create Exciting Careers

The animation and game design world is a multi-billion dollar industry. And it continues to grow. Experts predict that this trend will continue for a great number of years as people of all ages become more and more interested in this exciting field.

Since the demand for these types of services is continuously growing, there are a number of job opportunities for those individuals who possess the creativity and the drive that is needed to succeed.

This world is ever-changing, so there are a variety of different industries that a degree in animation and game design can be of use. It is nearly impossible to count all of the video game providers on the market these days. And new ones seem to be popping up all of the time.

Since this industry is so incredibly competitive, it is important for young, creative minds to come up with something different. Simply having experience in graphic design is no longer enough to compete in the animation and game design industry. You need the skills to create great characters, stories and graphics and above all, make it different than what is already on the market.

If you choose to enroll in a program such as animation and game design, you will be given all of the tools that are necessary to succeed. You will be taught everything you need to know to bring your creation from a simple idea to an outstanding success.

You will learn the ropes of 3D modeling, animation, character development and design among many other exciting aspects. As you complete the various courses, you will be able to construct an outstanding portfolio that will showcase all of your skills. In this industry, an innovative and imaginative portfolio is the only way that you will be able to get prospective employers to notice you.

Since the industry is booming at such an incredible rate, you will need to prove to employers that you have what it takes to succeed. And above all, you need to be able to stand out from the crowd.

Every year, video games get more and more complex; therefore it is important to always stay on the top of your game. So even if you have completed your animation and game design degree, you should always keep an eye open on other courses that can further your skill level.

However, people with a creative mind might be able to fare well with just the basic skills. Success in this market depends on creativity and coming up with a product that hasn't yet been seen on the market. And if you come up with the right idea or concept, you could end up quite wealthy.

With this program, you will also learn about the gaming industry itself. You will analyze trends and figure out where this industry is headed. With this knowledge, you will be ahead of the field when it comes time to design your own video game.

This can be an incredibly exciting and rewarding career if you have what it takes. Original concepts, creative story lines, interesting characters and innovative graphics are all a part of a successful video game. And with an animation and game design degree, you will learn all of these skills plus many more.

So if you want to be a part of this developing and exciting industry, start planning today for an exciting tomorrow by pursuing an animation and game design degree program.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/

About the Author:
Andy West is a writer for Virginia College. Learn more about Animation and Game Design at Virginia College. Higher search engine rankings by Vertical Measures.

Art students learn animation lessons

One hundred Zionsville Community High School art students learned a unique animation technique through Project Identity.

James Barany, associate professor of Foundations and Time-Based Media at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, is traveling to high schools around the country seeking help from students for an animated video project.

He chose Zionsville as the only Indiana school to participate in Project Identity. The short film, according to Barany's blog, asks students "what have they experienced, who have they become and who do they wish to be?"

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The evolution of a multi-screen animation destination

At 10, Teletoon is focused on growing from its original incarnation as a linear toon destination for a school-age TV audience to a multi-channel, multi-screen animation incubator for viewers of all ages.

The specialty channel received its licence in 1996, but president Len Cochrane says the idea for the channel was conceived back in 1995 by the board at Family Channel (which at the time was owned 50% by WIC Western International Communications and 50% Astral Media). At the same time, however, YTV, Cinar (now Cookie Jar Entertainment) and Nelvana had joined forces to pitch the CRTC for a licence to launch another all-toon channel.

After the CRTC rejected two applications, Cochrane called upon former Nelvana CEO Michael Hirsh (now CEO of Cookie Jar Group) to combine forces with his partners to make Teletoon a reality. They came on board, the pitch was successful, and the commission greenlit an October 1997 English-language launch date.

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Bad animation and casting make Moses movie a zero, not a 'Ten'

This new version of the story of Moses is a huge step backward for theatrical CG animation, or any animation for that matter.

Each character looks less like a person than an animated marionette, and in one sense that's not a bad thing. With all the violence inherent in this Old Testament story, the fact that everybody looks like a puppet helps lessen the impact of the death and destruction. After all, this is a family film.

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Koreans say India has great Animated Assets

Animation today is one of the most powerful media of entertainment and perhaps one of the most underrated too. But these animators foresee a big leap for animation. After it has the power to amuse all, beyond age groups or nationalities.

Meet Hyeosnu Kim, CEO of an animation production company, Durufix, in Seoul, and Jun-ho Chung, an animation director with 2D Animation Productions, Seoul, right now in India for a 3-D project (there is a Buddhist ceremonial centre to come up in Korea) on which they are working.

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Animated films make the grade

After 10 years and 5,000 pen-and-ink drawings, Steve Gentile's "Never Live Above a Psychic" will find a prestigious venue next weekend.

The animated film, which recounts the mischief imposed on a person who lives upstairs from a psychic and her apprenticing children, is based on a true-life experience when Gentile lived in North Cambridge in 1992 above a noisy psychic.

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'Spectacular Spider-Man' Animation Licensing News

Spectacular Spidey Licensing

Announced in recent months as the next adaptation of one of the most popular comic book characters ever put to print, film or animation, The Spectacular Spider-Man despite being months away from actually hitting Saturday mornings, is earning its stripes through a variety of licensing efforts and marketing initiatives. Featuring a streamlined set of character designs and a new version of the central story, The Spectacular Spider-Man will premiere early next year with a bang, or so MARVEL hopes. The Spider-Man Merchandising, LP (limited partnership) that comprises of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc., continues to oversee the licensing and merchandising activities for Columbia Pictures' Spider-Man feature films and animated series based on the Marvel character.

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Entry Open For British Animation Awards

Entries have opened for the 2008 British Animation Awards (BAAs).

The prestigious awards are held every two years and cover all aspects of the UK animation scene from student work to commercials, children's entertainment, short and experimental art films, music videos, script-writing and craftsmanship.

BAA is introducing a new category in 2008 to celebrate talented artists lending their voice to animated work. The Best Character Voice Performance award will be sponsored by The Sound Company.

Interested entrants should visitwww.britishanimationawards.com for details on entering and can download the appropriate forms from 1 October.

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To be or not to be Flash

Should your website be in Flash or in HTML? The answer can make a difference to your business.

Flash Pros:

There are many compelling reasons for getting your website designed in Adobe/Macromedia Flash. Flash presentations are cool, have pizzazz and are great multimedia experiences.

• Animations:
  Flash websites are ideal for such businesses as real estate that need to show moving panoramic views, virtual tours of a property, or stages of development from the plans morphing to a finished apartment building. Real estate presentations are often for a short period, the time it's expected to take to sell the property. The real estate agent sends the visitors to the website and doesn't depend on casual searchers finding it on Google.

Flash animations are good for demonstrations of moving parts, or of tutorials. In fact anything requiring animation is often best produced using Flash.

• Multimedia:
  Videos display on websites better if converted to Flash. Visitors are not asked to download a pluggin for thier browser.

Flash files usually take some time to load, but this is not a problem if a visitor has been directed to look at the Flash website for a reason. Maybe the visitor has already expressed an interest in the subject of the presentation, e.g. a real estate property, and wants more detail. Maybe the visitor wants to see a tutorial, or a demonstration. Such visitors are captive audiences so they do anticipate the wait.

Flash Cons:

• Slow loading:
  Visitors who are not captive audiences, are often not prepared to wait for Flash files to load, or are frustrated by the wait. Some websites are totally in Flash, even moving from one web page to another taking much time. Some visitors may make the choice to not wait and are then lost to the website.
• Search engine listing:
  Search engines index websites on the words in the website's text. If the words are in graphic format (such as a Flash SWF file) instead of text format, then search engines cannot see them. If you can't copy and paste the words from the browser into Notepad or Word, then the text can't be read by search engines either.
• Search engine ranking:
  Search engines rank websites on their order of relevance to a visitor's search query. If a website has little or no text then it is not as relevant as websites with a lot of text. Such websites need a great number of other websites linking to them, often hundreds, in order to be ranked as relevant to a search.

We know of a business owner who insisted, against his designer's advice, on his website being totally in Flash. He was jubilant when it did appear on Google as a new site for three weeks. His jubilance turned to despair when the website then disappeared out of sight.

Javascript can display movement, fade in photos and slide shows. CSS and javascript provide good navigation systems. We use Flash in websites, but only to animate something which needs animation and which won't delay loading the home page. We never replace text with Flash.

Conclusions:

• If the website needs animation, but is aimed at visitors who are directed there by specific marketing, a real estate display, a technical demonstration, or tutorial, then there are good technical reasons for the website to be built in Flash.
• If the website needs animation, but is aimed at visitors searching the web, then only the animation should be in Flash. The home page especially should not be in Flash, but should have all the text required for a search engine's indexing.
• Who are the targets of the website? Captive audiences don't mind waiting. Casual searchers may quit waiting and go look for other 'user friendly' websites.

About the Author
Ken McKay is an Australian website designer for small businesses. More information on web design is available at platypus websites - www.platywebs.com.au

Interview with Animation Expert Jerry Beck

Jerry Beck (bio) has been researching cartoons for more than 30 years, authoring such books as Looney Toons and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons and The 50 Greatest Cartoons. He's also produced successful cartoon compilations for MGM/UA, worked as VP of Animation at Nickelodeon Movies, and been an animation consultant to Walt Disney Home Video, Warner Home Video, Rhino Records, and many others.

Jerry was gracious enough to take time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions for Animation School Review.

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Play a Macromedia Flash animation in PowerPoint

If you have an animated graphic that was created with Macromedia Flash and saved as a Shockwave® file (.swf file extension), you should be able to play it in a PowerPoint presentation using a specific ActiveX control and the Macromedia Flash Player. To run the Flash file, you add an ActiveX control to the PowerPoint slide and create a link from it to the Flash file. You also have the option of embedding the file in the presentation.

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World Class Animation and Visual Effects Studio in The Offing

A MOU was signed today between Pink Slip Productions, a company based in California run by a former Disney artist and executive, KuKri Ventures Inc, a USA based investment company, Mercantile, the largest IT company in Nepal and Transcube International Pvt. Ltd., a computer graphics and animation company, to set up a world class animation and visual effects (VFX) studio in Kathmandu to service the international market. The new company, which will be called Incessant Rain Animation Studios Pvt. Ltd., will start recruiting immediately and plans to come into production by the first quarter next year.

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Disney, Yashraj to tie up for animation films

One of the largest media and entertainment corporations in the world, Walt Disney, is tying up with India’s biggest movie production house, Yashraj Films. to co-produce ‘animated films’ in Bollywood. Though the films will largely cater to the domestic market, there will be overseas releases as well.

The alliance, to be announced shortly, will increase Disney’s presence in the Indian market. While the deal is not a joint venture with equity participation, the industry perceives it as the beginning of a relationship that may later culminate in a strategic equity partnership.

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Selling eye care with animation

Ten years ago, Dr. Steven Sopher was an optometrist with a vision.

Sopher thought that eye doctors could use computer animation to educate their patients and to help explain - and sell - options for treatment. He began talking about it with his three sons, one a recent college graduate doing technology consulting, the others twins studying at University of Maryland, College Park.

The family discussions were mostly conducted over breakfast at the Bel-Loc Diner in Carney or the Denny's near Sopher's Parkville office. They were trying to figure out how the idea could turn into a business.

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Special Effects Animation - Digital Computer Animation

Movies would not be movies today without special effects animation. Special effects animators and multimedia artists are the ones that make the magic of the movies. They are responsible for the special effects that make movies so different from stage dramas.

Special effects animators must create whatever the director and the script call for. They can make a superhero man fly, sink ships into the sea or a make a monster bigger than a skyscraper. Now, digital computer animation is taking on a huge role in motion pictures and other media.
Getting Started in Special Effects Animation
In earlier times, people broke into the film industry by working as errand-runners or stagehands and working their way up into the job they wanted.

But today, because of the specialized computer skills necessary in special effects animation, you cannot just work your way up into the job you want. You must have training in special effects animation.

A university degree in animation is probably the best way to get into the field. Many universities offer degrees in animation, or they offer animation as a subcategory of illustration, design or even film technology.

However, if you have training in animation and would like to move into special effects animation, the best way to do that is to brush up on your computer skills and apprentice for someone working in the position you are interested in. There are courses available which can help you accelerate your career in special effects animation.

Your Future in Special Effects Animation

Special effects animation is a competitive area, and you must be at the top of your field to get the best jobs. If you have adequate education and skills, however, you will be at a great advantage as you search for a job in special effects animation.

Source: http://www.educationcenteronline.org/

Why Is Animation In Movies So Important?

The movie producers have wowed us with their creativity and imagination for years. The viewing public has craved the new and demanded that the movies they watch take them to new levels of thrills and the unimaginable. This is the exact reason why animation in movies is so important.

In the early days animation was sketchy at best. The most we could have hoped for was less than realistic images of giant lizards and insects that terrorized the country side. That all changed when computers came into being. The computer age helped to blur the line between fantasy and reality to give us the movies that we love so much. Using the newest technology allowed film makers to bring to the screen that which was deemed impossible in the early days of movies.

The forerunner of the animation movement was George Lucas. When he envisioned Star Wars he planned to make a movie like no one had before. This would require him to break new ground when it came to animation and special effects and he was able to come through in fine style. The animation of his characters in the first film gave people their first glimpse of the future and was an overnight sensation.

George Lucas laid the ground work for new movies with his advancements in movie animation technology that allowed other movies to move into the future. This was seen in many of the science fiction films of the early and middle eighties as they used the Star Wars model to bring new concepts to the screen. This also spawned many companies based on the new technology that are still sought out to make dreams and imagination come true.

The movie animation business is now a billion dollar a year industry that employs some of the best animators and computer specialists in the entire world. This is how the world was brought the hit movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit? This film was the first of its kind where animated characters or cartoon characters interacted with the human characters in the entire story line. This was a new concept that was a smash hit in its time. The world had never seen anything like it and the trickery of the camera made everyone believe that they could touch and see a cartoon character like they did in the movie.

Today the animation in movies is far more advanced. Where film makers were once limited to making only two dimensional animated characters the norm now is three dimensional, fully interactive animated characters that dominate the screen. The first real advancement in this technology was the movie Toy Story. This film was created on a computer and featured no human presence in the film itself besides the voice over. The world was treated to the future of animation and movies with this film and it became an over night success.

About the Author:
Read more from this author at: arts-mag.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com/

7 STEPS IN ANIMATING A SCENE

Tips On Getting Started: there are a number of ways to start the process of learning animation. One is to buy books and teach yourself. The Bible of the industry is the ³Illusion of Life² by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. The information and drawings in this book make it worth the fifty dollars or more that you will pay for it. My advice is to buy this book and start your library of Animation Books to refer to and use as you start your journey of understanding ³The Fascinating World Of Animation.²

The following 7 steps became the gospel according to the nine old men of animation that worked with Walt Disney in founding the industry that you see today. Don¹t just read itŠmemorize it, learn it and use it every time you draw. There is no short cut for skills and knowledge. It all starts will heart and desireŠdo you have it? Next, it takes time and dedication, can you give it?

Seven Steps in Animating A Scene Taken from the ³Illusion Of Life² by Frank Thomas & Ollie Johnson (pp.236-241) *Look these up and read the original version for a complete understanding.

1. Think About The Scene: Plan out how the scene should be animated. Don¹t start animation until you have the action planned out in your mind. Also, keep in mind the character¹s personality and how the scent fits the overall picture. Time spent here will save you time later.
2. Thumbnails: These are small sketches that work out the staging of the characters in the scene and the key poses in the scene. Each pose should tell something about the character. Also, be aware of how your scenes fit into the visual continuity of the sequence. Your thumbnails will guide you and give inspiration for changes. Work out your ideas before you start to save you a lot of time later. These small drawings can be changed easier than the enlarged drawings and solve problems before you get to the storyboard.
3. Mechanics Of Presentation: Make sure your character fits the perspective and scale of the layout. Solve your basic problems of camera angles and camera placement to avoid redoing your work and this will also giving greater interest to the overall film. Recheck the size relationship of all characters before you commit to the animation.
4. Solve Special Drawing Problems: If there are unusual angles or staging angles that are complex, work them out in the thumbnail stage or when you enlarge to full size but have them solved before you start animating. Remember that it takes 12-24 drawing to create one second of animation. Don¹t waste your time on animation if you have problems with the thumbnails or enlargements.
5. Double Check Your Ideas: Make sure you haven¹t forgotten something in the planning of your ideas for the scene. Double check your layout, staging, perspective and key poses. Also, check your animation to make sure it is drawn within the field limits. Use your base sheet to guide your drawings. Trucks and pans can be adjusted to fit the animation, but you need to be sure they are correct before shooting the pencil test.
6. Enlarge Thumbnails To Full Size: Redraw or enlarge your thumbnails with the lucyagraph to fit the layout for the scene and adjust them to work as your key rough poses for animating your scene.
7. Animation And Timing: Now that the animator has his key poses and staging planned, he can concentrate on animating the additional extremes that will control the acting, expressions, dialogue and timing. Timing charts are put on the extremes or key frames so the assistant can put in the additional drawings that are needed to have the character moving at the correct speed and timing the animator has in mind for the scene. The numbers correspond to the key frames and the hash marks are visual guides as to the spacing of the drawing in relationship to the extremes or keys.

Hopefully these tips will help you understand more about the process of animation and spark your interest in the field of "The Fine Art of Animation"

Source : http://www.animationtoolworks.com/

Animators with diplomas to contribute to tourism sector

Education Ministry has opened animation departments in vocational high schools due to rising demand for the art in the tourism sector

Rising demand for animation and animators in the tourism sector has resulted in the opening of animation departments in schools, attracting a great deal of interest from students.

Nowadays hotels are trying to attract more and more tourists via various creative methods. Among them animation activities are an almost indispensable part of hotel facilities especially in the all inclusive system as well as an effective way to keep the tourists in the hotel premises and more involved in the hotel services.

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Cross Browser Animation

The fundamental idea behind animation has been around for a long time: when a group of images are presented quickly, the series of images seems to form a single moving picture. One of the first examples of this effect was the thaumatrope, a gizmo created by Paul Roget in 1828. A thaumatrope is a disk with a pole or string attached so the disk can be twirled. Each side of the disk contains an illustration, and twirling the disk merges the two illustrations, making it seem that there’s only one image. If the disk has a bird on one side and a cage on the other, twirling the disk gives the illusion that there’s just one image: a bird in a cage.

Animation on the web works in a similar way. In the Web’s early days animators could only use proprietary systems, like Shockwave, or animated GIF files. JavaScript expanded the animator’s repertoire to include rapid GIF swapping. Swapping GIFs with JavaScript makes for quicker downloads than proprietary systems and provides more flexibility than animated GIFs.

Dynamic HTML (DHTML) provides a new range of ways to animate a page. DHTML can animate both text and images and animations can move throughout the browser window, instead of being anchored in one spot. Unfortunately, DHTML can be tricky because of differences between browsers.

This article will cover the basics of cross-browser animation. You’ll learn how to animate text and images. Plus you’ll see how to move HTML elements around the screen. After you’ve finished reading this article, you should be able to add cross-browser compatible DHTML animations to your web pages.

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Animation, gaming to join BPO boom

Animation and gaming are seen as the next wave in India’s successful outsourcing story. However, there is a major change: this is a sector which has moved up from outsourcing to co-production, a move up the value chain from low-end, less creative work to higher creativity and advanced technologies, says Krayon Pictures director Namrata Sharma.

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Animation And Game Design Going To The Movies

Animation and game design have, for the most part, fallen into two categories in the past. You either worked on animation for children's movies or you focused on animation for video games. Today, however, many young animators are realizing that their opportunities are becoming much more diverse as the movie graphic novel and video gaming industries have begun to overlap.

Merging of Media
Today more and more video games are becoming movies. Successes in the last decade include Doom, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat and Tomb Raider. All of these movies were based on popular video games that had been created by animation and gaming professionals. The movie directors discovered that, in order to maintain the look and feel of the games, they had to get to know these games inside and out. They often called on game design experts as consultants to help them achieve this. There are few people as loyal as gaming enthusiasts, so capturing the proper look and feel was essential to the success of these films.

Graphic novels, a writing genre known for its highly graphic illustrative style, have also spawned movies recently. The two most notable are Sin City and 300, both based on violent, action-packed graphic novels. In both instances, the movies were directed with actors but relied heavily on computer graphics, computer design and, in some instances, animation, to enhance particular scenes and enrich the details. The success of these two movies in turn created video games based on the movies (which were based on graphic novels)...are you seeing the pattern now? Anyone with animation and game design credentials these days can go into a wide range of fields, not just game design. When the genres overlap, so do job opportunities.

Where the Talent Lies - Animation and Game Design
Hollywood is also producing more animated movies that ever before for family consumption. Cars, A Bug's Life, Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Happy Feet, and the list goes on. Disney Studios continue to produce the traditional "princess" movies, but a dozen other studios also produce quality animation.

While a generation ago animation was done using thousands of artist's sketches put together to create action, today's animated movies are created with computer animation, and individuals with Animation and Game Design degrees are hot properties. Studios know that those with game design experience have an understanding of the complexities of movement, from the way the wind ruffles your hair to how someone lands when they fall, that no one else can match. Gamers are tough customers. They expect realism and accuracy and they get it. This has translated into increasing attention to detail in animated films. The more sophisticated the audience becomes, the more these industries have to work at giving the public what it wants.

The Future of Animation and Game Design
With the growing overlap of so many genres of entertainment, graphic novels, movies and video games, it is obvious that the need for professionals with both animation and game design skills will only increase. Whether you want to work in Silicon Valley or Hollywood, a degree in some kind of animation and game design area will get your foot in the door.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/

About the Author:
Andy West is a freelance writer for Virginia College. Virginia College offers a professional Animation and Game Design program. Please visit Virginia College at http://www.vc.edu/site/program.cfm?programID=63 .

Disney opens the vaults

Disney opens the vaults to go behind-the-scenes of the brand new Jungle Book DVD.

To Celebrate the 40th Anniversary Special Edition of The Jungle Book on DVD, Disney offered a rare opportunity to tour its hollowed vaults in Glendale, California.

Walt Disney gave birth to the modern animated feature as we know it with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937. Naysayers said no one would want to watch a feature-length cartoon, but then again, there had never before seen a cartoon quite like Snow White. Walt would go on to supervise an almost endless string of classics over the next 30 years that would include Pinocchio, Fantasia, Bambi, Alice in Wonderland and a host of others that would live on as timeless classics of the genre. Walt Disney’s final animated feature work as producer came with 1967’s The Jungle Book, a fitting swan song for one of the greatest figures in the history of animation.

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