Delgo Takes On Hollywood Animation
Atlanta-based Fathom Studios is taking on Pixar and Disney with their first full-length animated feature called Delgo, due out in Spring 2005. CNN.com has a lengthy writeup on Fathom's challenge to the animation establishment:
"There's no longer a need for movie-makers to be physically based in Hollywood. And the artists and animators who once did the sketches and animation art cells have completely new tools. The 3-D modeling, animation and special effects software 'Maya,' from the veteran software company Alias, is now the tool of choice at Fathom.
Fathom may be a newcomer to feature film animation (they've done educational, web, and TV projects previously), but they've lined up an impressive list of voice talent for their film. And it sounds like their animators definitely know what they're doing -- check the article for some good insights into what it takes to create believable animation:
"'Every animator is a ham at heart,' says Fathom animator Thomas Judd. While working on a particular scene, he often uses a webcam to tape himself performing an exaggerated rendition of the dialogue. He then uses the camera again for a close-up of his own lips to help sync the words to the characters' mouths."
I'm mostly curious about the storyline and characters (something that the CNN article doesn't talk about at all; it focuses primarily on the technology). I feel like that's what's really set the Pixar films apart from other animated films -- not the technology, but the attention and focus on good old-fashioned storytelling. It'll be interesting to see if Fathom can follow in those footsteps.
