As if you didn't already know it, the automotive cast of "Cars" are actually quite real. Don't believe me? Check this out:
If you need further proof, swing on over to Animated News for even more exclusive shots of Sally and the gang at the Food Lion Auto Fair.
It's only a matter of time before "Maximum Overdrive" becomes a reality...
Animated News' Exclusive Cars Article
Animation World Network has posted the first of nine exclusive artist diaries for "Open Season" over at their site.
I'll be taking in the film either this weekend, or at the very latest, next weekend for sure. Once I've done that, I'll feel confident in keeping a bear in my garage with only a TV to keep him from pulling my face off with his giant bear paws.
Animation World Network's Open Season Diaries
You need to go watch it now.
Right now.
The water is absolutely amazing.
Surf's Up Trailer
EDIT: Here's a few more screen grabs from the trailer, but believe me when I say you have to see it in motion. That above the water shot from the sky where you can see the coral below the green water looks 100% real.
Animator, Justin Barrett, has posted a really neat little series of videos on his blog, showing what went into animating one of the characters from "Everyone's Hero," from the blocking right through to the final rendering.
It's great to see just how much work goes into making one very quick shot like this one.
Justin's Hero Breakdown
From the folks at Ultimate Disney (in no way affiliated with the Ultimate Warrior), come a bunch of new screen grabs from the upcoming "Cars" DVD.
Follow the link below to see more grabs, including storyboard shots and concept art.
The Link Below
I had seen little to no info regarding the upcoming film, "The Ugly Duckling and Me" up until today when The Re-Animation Blog posted a link to the Official Site
Lots of clips and trailers from the film by following the link.
The film actually looks like it's going to be decent, which is a surprise, as it's coming from a relatively unknown company. Or at least it's unknown to me. Which is sort of like your grandma telling you that Paris Hilton is relatively unknown to her.
Take that as you will.
The Ugly Duckling and Me Official Site
The Re-Animation Blog
Lots of clips and music vids of Open Season over on Yahoo Movies today.
I'm really excited to see this film, even though it stars Martin Lawrence and Ashton Moore. As much as I find wrong with their live acting attempts, I think their voices should lend themselves pretty well to animation.
I'm also going to go out on a limb and say that Open Season will have the biggest opening weekend for an animated film since Cars, and will wind up grossing $100 million domestically.
Of course, if I'm wrong, then I'll blame it on my dog, since he's the one who tells me what to write on my blog.
Yahoo Movies' Open Season Page
IMP Awards has posted the snazzy new poster for Shrek the Third:
I would think after two extremely successful films, Donkey could get some nice new teeth, but from what I understand, most of his money goes to paying for fire damage on his home.
Get it? See... he's in a relationship with a dragon. That's comedy gold.
According to the Laemmle Theaters website, Pixar's next short film is going to be called "Lifted."
To celebrate, here is the info on the short that I lifted from Laemmle's Site:
A bumbling young alien student from a distant world tests the patience of an increasingly weary instructor as he attempts a first-time abduction of a innocently slumbering farmer in Lifted, the comical latest short film from Pixar Animation Studios.
From the sounds of things, it will begin screening sometime next month!
Laemmle Theaters Lifted! Info
DVD Active has brand new details on the upcoming Barnyard DVD release.
Extras will include an all-new "Barnyard Bob" music video, a "Mud" music video, a feature on Kevin James' hilarious method acting techniques, seven deleted scenes, three DVD-ROM games and a THQ Barnyard demo game, and much, much more.
For more details, swing on over to DVD Active.
DVD Active's Barnyard DVD Details
IMP Awards now has a total of 5 posters for Arthur and the Invisibles, including the one below:
I think the little white flower kid is the one that makes my eyes swell shut in the Spring.
I'm going to keep my Animation Mentor posting separate from this blog from now on, so after today, if you'd like to check my progress at the animation school, please head over to 3Dave's Animation Mentor Blog. If you ever forget the link, you can always find it in the right hand column of this blog, down towards the bottom, under my avatar.
That being said, I just found out this morning that my Mentor for my very first quarter at Animation Mentor will be Mr. Ray Chase!
Ray's credits include Jimmy Neutron and The Ant Bully, and I couldn't be more excited to be working with him.
Ray's Site
Animation Mentor
I must say I was surprised by the following news from The Hollywood Reporter:
Buena Vista Home Entertainment snagged the top two spots on the national DVD sales chart for the week ending Sept. 17 with the theatrical underachiever "The Wild" and a season two DVD set of television's hot "Grey's Anatomy," both new arrivals in stores last week.
Of course the shocking part would be that "The Wild," which was seen as both a commercial and critical flop took the #1 spot in DVD sales, and not the fact that season two of "Grey's Anatomy" took second. I've never seen GA, but I think the lead character (also in Old School) is a very attractive woman.
That being said, who would have thought that The Wild would come out on top? On one hand, it's good to see that a 3D film is sitting on top of the sales chart, but on the other hand it worries me that executives will look at it and say that quality doesn't matter and anything in 3D will sell...
Of course the article makes no mention of numbers sold, and the film really had no competition, short of some new TV to DVD releases (go buy season two of The Office right now), and the original Star Wars re-re-re-re-releases, so it could simply be a matter of it ranked #1 by default.
Frankly, I have yet to see the film, and may enjoy it. It's sitting next to my TV at home right now, so maybe I'll take a run through the jungle tonight.
How many got the CCR reference?
According to The L.A. Times:
Animator honored: John Lasseter ("Toy Story," "Cars") will receive the 2006 lifetime achievement award from the Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television during the school's Outside the Frame Festival on Oct. 9. Lasseter oversees animated films at Pixar and Disney Animation Studios.
Now I'm not sure if John went to the school or not, but I would have to assume that he did. If that is the case, then the Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television should do two things:
1) Apologize to John for taking so damn long to honor him. I know it's a lifetime thing, but if the graduated from my school, I'd be giving him an award ever 5 minutes. Then, if I ran out of awards to give him, I'd give him an award for taking all of my school's awards.
2) They should shorten their name.
Congratulations to John on a well-deserved award.
Updates have been a bit sporadic as of late, but that really isn't due to lack of effort on my part. I continue to scan all of the major 3D news sites and magazines each day, as well as YouTube, hoping to find a neat little short or two to share with you. Frankly, there just hasn't been much. Keep checking back, because while the posts may have slowed down, as long as there are things to post, I'll try to get them on here in a timely fashion.
I'm always looking for submissions, so if you have something you think belongs on this blog, email me at davesj [at] gmail [dot] com, or add a comment and I'll get it posted!
On a much more personal note, my first quarter with Animation Mentor begins this Monday!
I couldn't be more excited if I tried. While I have mixed emotions over the fact that I'll have little to no social life for the next 2+ years, I couldn't be more thrilled for the opportunities that could arise from this training.
I signed in last night and set up my profile. Upon doing so, the first thing that I noticed is that, while the school is still very much in it's infant stages, the site is very well-designed. There are places to chat, post your work for critiques, get help, view and comment on the work of others, and connect in just about any way you can imagine.
Should be a lot of fun!
I forgot to mention that I'm out on a short vacation. I'll be back at the computer tomorrow (9/20/06) and updates will resume at that time.
Sorry to all those who checked in yesterday and were greeted with nothing but an utter lack of updates. If you will send me a postage paid box and $300 to cover shipping and handling, I'll get you a nice gift to make up for it.
See you tomorrow.
Everyone's Hero hits theaters today, hoping to knock one out of the park.
Now while the combo of Whoopi and the Yankees would normally be enough to make me burn down every theater showing the film, I must say that I'm actually looking forward to seeing "Hero" this weekend. The models really appeal to me and the animation looks to be pretty good. I can't speak much on the story, but I'm sure I'll at least enjoy the film somewhat.
Of course, it's only pulling in a 50% currently on Rotten Tomatoes, so who knows... maybe only half of me will like it.
Official Everyone's Hero Site
Rotten Tomatoe's Collection of Reviews for Everyone's Hero
Also from the fine folks over at Coming Soon today is the report that the Lion King's Rob Minkoff is developing a 3D version of Mr. Peabody and Sherman.
The bespectacled dog Mr. Peabody and his adopted pet boy Sherman were introduced in 1959 in a series of short segments as part of "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show." Together, they had more than 90 adventures, jumping into Peabody's "WABAC Machine" to travel back in time.
Coming Soon's Mr. Peabody Article
Coming Soon has another shot from the upcoming Carrey/Carell "Horton Hears a Who" film.
This is a really stunning shot, because it feels like it's in 2D, straight out of the book, yet is a fully rendered 3D still taken from the film.
I can almost smell the elephant poop.
Scrath that... I have something on my shoe...
Coming Soon's Horton Article
While I normally don't post CG from videogames, Matt over at Pile of Shame sold me on this one.
