Computer Graphics World 2006 October

Contents Zoom In Zoom Out For navigation instructions please click here Search Issue Next Page ComputerINNOVATIONS IN VISUAL COMPUTING FOR THE GLOBAL DCC COMMUNITY October 2006 www.cgw.com WORLD Rat’s Nest DreamWorks uses digital clay to sculpt the diverse worlds in Flushed Away Past Tense CG helps bring ancient history to life Playing in the Big Leagues An indie CG filmmaker hits a home run Shadow Play Artists shine light on Hollywood’s dark side $4.95 USA $6.50 Canada Contents Zoom In Zoom Out For navigation instructions please click here Search Issue Next Page A CW Previous Page Contents Zoom In Zoom Out Front Cover Search Issue Next Page BEF MaGS Mail to [email protected] for any further request. Karen Moltenbrey Chief Editor note KAREN MOLTENBREY: Chief Editor [email protected]_______ 36 East Nashua Road A Taste of Independence Windham, NH 03087 (603) 432-7568 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: It’s been just over a decade now since Pixar introduced us to the colorful world Courtney Howard, Jenny Donelan, of CG features, giving us Toy Story, and with it, a taste for the visually compel- Audrey Doyle, Evan Marc Hirsch, George Maestri, Martin McEachern, ling medium of CGI. Before we could ooh and ah over the technological leaps Stephen Porter, Barbara Robertson editor’s that refi ned the look of the lovable toys in Toy Story 2, we welcomed invasions of KATH CUNNINGHAM: Production Director digital insects in Disney/Pixar’s A Bug’s Life and PDI/DreamWorks’ Antz. [email protected]__________ (818) 291-1113 In 2001, these animation/technology powerhouses continued to hone their craft in Monsters, Inc., and Shrek. That same year, two newcomers to the fi eld of CG animated fea- CHRIS SALCIDO: Account Representative [email protected]_________ tures left their mark, as well: Square Pictures, with Final Fantasy, and DNA Productions, (818) 291-1144 with Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Considered independent studios, both were backed by a COMPUTER GRAPHICS WORLD big name: Square, with its hugely popular computer game group, and DNA, with produc- Editorial Offi ce: 620 West Elk Avenue er Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies. Still, these two fi lms showed there was Glendale, CA 91204 room for smaller teams to play alongside the “big hitters.” In March 2002, Blue Sky Studios (800) 280-6446, x1105 (subsequently bought by 20th Century Fox) entered the fray with Ice Age. And last year, SALES Vanguard Animations released Valiant, though the movie failed to take off in the US—a TIM MATTESON: Publisher/West Coast Sales rare occurrence for a 3D animated feature—despite its Disney distribution connection. [email protected]________ Until this year, semi-independent studios making their mark in the CG animated feature (310) 836-4064 realm were the exception, not the rule. But in 2006, a revolution of sorts occurred. Indeed, JEFF VICTOR: Midwest/East Coast Sales [email protected] audiences were entertained by the woodland creatures in PDI/DreamWorks’ Over the Hedge, (847) 367-4073 the vehicles with character in Disney/Pixar’s Cars, the unwel- LA Sales Offi ce: Can an independent coming home in Sony Pictures Imageworks’ Monster House, 620 West Elk Avenue the animal “hunters” in Imageworks’ Open Season, and the Glendale, CA 91204 CG animated feature (800) 280-6446 elaborate underground world of Aardman/DreamWorks’ compete for a slice of Flushed Away. Yet, the year began with an independent spirit, the box-offi ce pie? starting with the fractured fairy tale Hoodwinked from The And will the slice Weinstein Company, and will end similarly, with the enter- taining penguins of Happy Feet, from Warner Bros., Village be as good as those Roadshow Pictures, and Animal Logic. Between those two from the leaders? titles were other independent releases—some more indepen- WILLIAM R. RITTWAGE dent than others—including Ice Age 2 (Fox/Blue Sky), The President and Chief Executive Offi cer Wild (Disney and CORE), The Magic Roundabout (The Weinstein Company), Barnyard Computer Graphics World Magazine is published by Computer Graphics World, a (Nickelodeon and Paramount), The Ant Bully (DNA Productions, Legendary Pictures, and COP Communications company. Playtone), and Everyone’s Hero (IDT Entertainment, now part of Starz). Computer Graphics World does not verify any claims or other information appearing in any of the advertisements This poses the following question: Can a so-called independent CG animated fea- contained in the publication, and cannot take any responsibility for any losses or other damages incurred ture compete for a slice of the box-offi ce pie? And, does that pie taste just as good, or, in by readers in reliance on such content. some instances, better, than what is offered by the animation studio giants? I believe Computer Graphics World cannot be held responsible for the safekeeping or return of unsolicited articles, the answer is yes—if the fi lms are done well. Although Everyone’s Hero (see “Painting a manuscripts, photographs, illustrations or other materials. Address all subscription correspondence to: Computer Picture,” pg. 34) did not require a complex technical achievement on par with the simu- Graphics World, P.O., Box 3296 Northbrook, IL 60065-3296. Subscriptions are available free to qualifi ed individuals lated water interactions in Aardman/DreamWorks’ Flushed Away (see “Flushed with within the United States. Non-qualifi ed subscription rates: USA—$55 for 1 year, $90 for 2 years; Canadian Success,” pg. 22), the fi lm makes up for that in its heartwarming story and unique nos- subscriptions —$75 for 1 year and $104 for 2 years; all other countries—$115 for 1 year and $160 for 2 years. talgic look. But, is that enough to fi ll theater seats? After all, Flushed Away also gets style Digital subscriptions are available for $27 per year. All Airmail Delivery is available for an additional $75 points for maintaining the charming Aardman claymation look within CG. Eventually, annually. Subscribers can also contact customer service by we’ll know how profi table each was in their endeavor. I, for one, am hoping that these calling 847-559-7310 or sending an email to cgw@omeda._____ com.__ Change of address can be made online at http://www. independents will continue creating CG animated fi lms, and that others follow in their omeda.com/cgw/ click on customer service assistance. footsteps. And in between those efforts, we can still be entertained by the animation Postmaster: Send Address Changes to Computer Graphics World, P.O. Box 3296, giants who continue to innovate. Northbrook, IL 60065-3296 www.cgw.com___________ OCTOBER 2006 Computer Graphics World | 1 A CW Previous Page Contents Zoom In Zoom Out Front Cover Search Issue Next Page BEF MaGS A CW Previous Page Contents Zoom In Zoom Out Front Cover Search Issue Next Page BEF MaGS Mail to [email protected] for any further request. October 2006 • Volume 29 • Number 10 INNOVATIONS IN VISUAL COMPUTING FOR THE GLOBAL DCC COMMUNITY Also see www.cgw.com for computer graphics news, Computer special surveys and reports, and the online gallery. WORLD Features Departments Cover story Editor’s Note 1 Flushed with Success 22 A Taste of Independence MODELING/ANIMATION | DreamWorks A number of independent CG feature 22 helps Aardman bring its stop-frame fi lms are trying to make their mark in world into CG in the 3D watery theaters. Can they compete as industry adventure Flushed Away. veterans also step up production? By Barbara Robertson Spotlight 4 Products Digi-Documentary 28 RealViz’s Movimento VIRTUAL SET | A fi lmmaker uses state-of-the-art computer graphics to Craft Animation’s motion plug-ins bring the ancient past into the present Darwin Dimension’s Evolver family for a television documentary. NaturalMotion’s Morpheme 28 NewTek’s LightWave 9 By Karen Moltenbrey Autodesk’s Maya 8 and 3ds Max 9 Painting a Picture 34 User Focus INDIE FILM | An independent studio Artists create and animate digital uses commercial software to craft an white pencil lines in live-action scenes for a TV commercial. endearing nostalgic look for the feature Everyone’s Hero. Viewpoint: Effects 16 By Jenny Donelan Character Splash System DreamWorks develops a system for Hollywood’s Dark Side 38 automating the process of generating POSTPRODUCTION | DI gives the splashes resulting from a character’s 34 period fi lm The Black Dahlia a interaction with a water surface. consistent fi lm-noir style and allows Portfolio 46 the fi lmmaker to achieve his SIGGRAPH Jury Art original vision. By Karen Moltenbrey Products 48 A look at product offerings from IBC, Sensual CG 44 as well as non-IBC rollouts. MODELING/ANIMATION | Fluid motion Backdrop 52 and detailed modeling transform Compositing 101 digital models. An industry veteran offers a glimpse at By Karen Moltenbrey this sometimes complicated process. 38 On the cover: Pampered uptown rat Roddy fi nds that life is not so cushy in the seedy underground sewers featured in the uniquely styled CG fi lm Flushed Away. Pg. 22. 2 | Computer Graphics World OCTOBER 2006 www.cgw.com___________ 44 A CW Previous Page Contents Zoom In Zoom Out Front Cover Search Issue Next Page BEF MaGS A CW Previous Page Contents Zoom In Zoom Out Front Cover Search Issue Next Page BEF MaGS Mail to [email protected] for any further request. &''&$54108&3)064& &OFSHJ[FZPVSTUVEJPXJUIUIF%#0995.4FSJFT XPSLTUBUJPOTQPXFSFECZ*OUFMT¡OFX%VBM$PSF9FPO¡ 1SPDFTTPST &OKPZFYDFMMFOUQFSGPSNBODF BOEIFBESPPNGPSUPEBZTCJU BQQMJDBUJPOT"OEQSPUFDUZPVS JOWFTUNFOUTBTZPVUSBOTJUJPO UPCJUDPNQVUJOH %VBM%VBM$PSF*OUFM¥9FPO¥ 4FSJFTQSPDFTTPST *OUFM¥94FSJFTDIJQTFU 6QUP(#PG'#%*.. GVMMZCVGGFSFE &$$NFNPSZ 5XP1$*&YQSFTTHSBQIJDTYTMPUT #099 888#0995&$)$0._________________ 4"-&4!#0995&$)$0.__________________ *OUFM UIF*OUFMMPHP 9FPO BOEUIF9FPOMPHPBSFUSBEFNBSLTPSSFHJTUFSFEUSBEFNBSLT PG*OUFM$PSQPSBUJPOPSJUTTVCTJEJBSJFTJOUIF6OJUFE4UBUFTBOEPUIFSDPVOUSJFT A CW Previous Page Contents Zoom In Zoom Out Front Cover Search Issue Next Page BEF MaGS A CW Previous Page Contents Zoom In Zoom Out Front Cover Search Issue Next Page BEF MaGS Mail to [email protected] for any further request.

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