Animation Theater and Electronic Theater presentations. A prestigious forum for computer graphics research. Panels of industry experts discussing a wide variety of topics in animation and visual arts. This is your career launch pad.

Welcome, animation students, to SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group for Computer Graphics), the annual ‘must-attend’ event celebrating the best in visual arts advancements. A large exhibition floor and elaborate booths entice visitors to absorb the latest technologies in engineering, computer graphics, motion pictures, media interactivity, and video gaming. And you might even see a celeb or two as you wander from display to display.

SIGGRAPH Up Close

Here’s what you can expect should you make the trek:

• Full Menu. SIGGRAPH offers attendees the Computer Animation Festival, Emerging Technologies, Sketches, Access Grids, and Web Programs.
• Submission Ops. Learn from dynamic project submissions that cover topics from physics simulation to advanced picture and video animation processing.
• The Classics. Preview Robert Zemeckis’ upcoming performance-capture feature Beowulf as part of SIGGRAPH 2007’s Electronic Theater.

Animation Career Building

It’s quite easy to become caught up in the animation splendors of SIGGRAPH and forget that this is the perfect atmosphere for career development. Those who want to make an impact in the visual arts field will find support and direction with every exhibition.

Some of the more unique aspects of SIGGRAPH are the full-and half-day courses in state-of-the-art computer graphics topics. Learn from established animation and visual arts professionals as they discuss software, equipment, and techniques in a continuing education format.

No matter how you slice it, the SIGGRAPH symposium offers the best in the visual arts and animation industries—especially for newbies in the field.

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

Source(s)

ACMSIGGRAPH
Animation Magazine

Original video animation, or OVA for short, is a Japanese import art technique that features mind-blowing visual sequences and deep plot lines. In fact, OVA will beat most movie animation titles in several critical artistic categories, hands-down.

Original video animation came onto the scene in the late 1970s as the experiment of a group of Japanese animators. As the anime craze grew over the course of the next decade, thousands of OVA titles were released to meet demand. The video animation in these artistic works rivals that of mainstream movie production companies, which are bound by formatting guidelines and other creative restrictions.

Features of Original Video Animation

Here’s an overview of OVA:

• Release Date. Original video animation works are released straight to video, often not even appearing on television or the big screen.
• Format. OVAs are typically released on DVD or laser disc to account for the enhanced visual and audio effects that give this genre its pizzazz.
• Characteristics. These video animation shorts are usually between 20 minutes to two hours in length and span several episodes to create the story.

Artistic Control

Perhaps the most attractive feature of an original video presentation is its edginess and underground feel. And that’s all due to the immense artistic control that OVA producers employ. OVA animators have full control of their video animation productions. They are able to tell the story in their own timeframe; thus plot lines and characters are complex and engaging.

If you haven’t yet experienced an original video animation, you’re missing out on one of the pure forms of the art. The Internet and especially eBay are the perfect resources for finding this popular Japanese animation art form.

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

Microsoft PowerPoint has upgraded for the upcoming year. Not only does it have the same intuitive processes that have made the program an industry favorite, but it’s also added a generous helping of animation options to keep your audiences spellbound.

Just when you thought that PowerPoint animations couldn’t get any more realistic or versatile, Microsoft introduces the next generation presentation program. PowerPoint 2007 is rich with graphic and animation features that can turn you into a virtual artist overnight. Easy to use and built for a wide range of business needs, your PowerPoint animation projects will reflect the advancements of technology.

PowerPointAnimation Upgrades

Some of the new features in PowerPoint 2007 include:

• SmartArt Graphics. To add color, shape, and emphasis to your text and data, SmartArt graphic animations can be customized with colors, animation, and effects such as shadows, bevels, and glows.
• Slide Layout. A new variety of slide layout options make the most of your animation possibilities. Place graphics in just the right spot to improve your communications
• Style Galleries. Not the creative type? PowerPoint animation style galleries will do most of the design work for you.

PowerPoint Animation Extras Enhanced animations aren’t the only little extras that power the new PowerPoint program. Dozens of other features have been built in to enhance your user experience.

• XML. Utilize this open, industry-standard language for organizing and storing data.
• PDF. For hard copies, transform your PowerPoint animation presentations into Adobe files for printing and sharing.

If you’re a long time PowerPoint animation user, then the latest additions and enhancements will have you standing and cheering. Check out formal training resources to maximize your skills.

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

Source(s)

Microsoft

Disciples of stick figure drawing, your software title is here. Pivot Stickfigure Animator is a free, downloadable software program that will help you turn your paper characters into living animations using your Windows-based PC.

Unless you’re a full-fledged professional designer with your own software and equipment, there hasn’t been a cost-effective animation program for stick figure animation on the market — until now. Pivot Stickfigure Animator, created by designer Peter Bones, is a free — that’s right — free animation software title that you can download to your PC. You’ll be the DaVinci of stick figure animation in no time.

The Features of Pivot

Some features of Stickfigure Animator include:

• Simple Download. The 837KB zipped file downloads in seconds and won’t take up a lot of your hard drive space once unzipped.
• Intuitive Processes. 2D features allow you to create multiple stick figure animations and even import other graphics files onto the canvas.
• Portable Files. Once you’re finished creating, save your editable PIV file, animated GIF, and BMP formats onto a disc for portability.

What to Do Now

Stick figure animation is still a viable media outlet in popular culture. Movies, commercials, and web sites use stick figures to relay information and sell products. Get good at what you do, and you can design stick figure animation sequences for all of these media.

Download pivot and play around with its features. If you don’t think it’s the best stick figure animation title you’ve ever owned, it comes with a full money back guarantee. Which will be nothing, because the program is free — remember?

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

A computer animation career that serves and protects? It’s not as much of a stretch as you might think. Many technical professionals in federal, state, and local law enforcement use animation class lessons to keep the world safe for democracy.

Much of the legal process requires reconstructing a crime scene for investigators and jury members; a trick that is much easier said than done. Until recently, that is. Law enforcement organizations are seeing the value of having animation class graduates on their teams to make the process of reconstruction easier and more accurate. For a select few, what started as a computer animation career has taken on an exciting new twist.

Homicide Case-in-point

In 1992, the California Superior Court made history by being the first trial to feature a computer animation reconstruction of the crime scene. Prosecutors in the People vs. Mitchell in Marin County used ballistics evidence and animation software to show how shots fired from the gun of Jim Mitchell killed his brother. The animation clip was played for the jury during testimony and closing statements.

Despite the fact that the Mitchell camp appealed due to the new technology, he was eventually convicted and spent three years in prison. Computer animation then took a permanent place in trail processes.

What is a Reconstructionist?

Armed with a digital camera, an Electronic Distance Measuring Instrument, and Auto CAD software, reconstructionists create potential scenarios of auto accidents for investigative purposes. One part technician and one part prognosticator, these professionals typically have animation classes in their creative backgrounds.

As technologies continue to diversify, computer animation should play a larger role in homeland security, local and national law enforcement, and legal processes.

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

Source(s)

Michigan.gov

Guinness, Rush Hour 3, and the Hungarian government recently received a jolt from a group of talented technical artists. These projects underscore the dynamic applications of digital design courses in every aspect of global culture.

Every digital designer aspires to create a work that has a lasting impact on the industry. And while that million-dollar project may seem a stretch at first, the skills and creativity nurtured in digital design classes serve as the first big step. Here are a few contemporary projects that have transformed the careers of the designers involved.

Digital Design Leads To…

• Futuristic Commercial. A combination of hand animation and visual effects separate the latest Guinness beer commercial from the rest. Digital designers used choreographed sequences and computer editing to complete the spot.
• The Big Screen. Rush Hour 3, with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, features several digitally designed sequences created in Los Angeles and Vancouver.
• Government Suite. Digital designers used architectural software to put a new face on Hungarian government buildings for an international design competition.

Digital Design Courses

Of course, these projects represent thousands of hours of work by gifted artists with experience and training. But the designers all began by completing a digital design course and building on that formal education.

Digital design is a unique fusion of technology and artistry. This course can be taken as an elective to augment a graphic design degree, or as a concentration in itself. Students appreciate the opportunity to work with cutting-edge software in the context of advertising, entertainment, and architecture.

You can take a digital design course at colleges and universities, at local technical or business schools, or online through various distance-learning institutions.

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

Source(s)

Cut & Run’s
Zoic Vancouver

Flash Web Animation

Flash and Shockwave are perhaps the most well known web animation software tools on the market. They both provide designers with an intuitive desktop that offers one-button functioning and several production methods. But when you examine them closely, you’ll find that each has its own nuances.

• Download. Flash files download much faster than Shockwave, making this the ideal format for basic web sites looking to add just a little bit of flair.
• Universality. More than 90% of web users access Flash animation applications at some point. The plug-in is one of the most downloaded on the Web.
• Price. Flash animation is cheaper to use. Shockwave Director runs around $1,000 on the market, while Flash Creator starts at around $400.

Shockwave Web Animation

Shockwave is an entirely different ball game. Built for detail and resolution, web animators find that Shockwave is indispensable for the next generation projects that Flash just can’t handle.

• Capability. Shockwave is the natural choice for intricate graphics, hard-core gaming systems, and a deeper level of interactivity for the user.
• Functionality. With Shockwave, you have a greater selection of files that can be loaded into the system. Flash works in Shockwave, but not vice versa.

Both of these web animation programs provide you with a rich environment to create web pages and gaming platforms. Which one you choose comes down to purpose and preference.

About the author Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

When TV viewers start discussing computer animation, The Simpsons invariably come up. But as you’ll soon discover, one of the brains behind the show’s success began with almost no animation knowledge whatsoever. Here’s his story.

With sitcom writing credits such as Everybody Loves Raymond, The Pitts, and Complete Savages, Mike Scully earned the reputation as a comedic artist. But after joining the creative team for The Simpsons, Mike was forced through a crash course in computer animation. Scully arrived on the scene in 1993 during the height of the show’s success. His goal? Not to screw things up.

Animation Professional Mike Scully

Recently Scully sat down with Animation Views and revealed some interesting tidbits about his computer animation career.

• Humble Beginnings. Mike got his start in entertainment writing jokes for international comedian Yakov Smirnov.
• SimpsonsContributions. Scully is credited with writing twelve episodes of The Simpsons during his tenure, sometimes to widely mixed reviews.
• Awards. Scully has received 6 Emmy Awards for his work as well as 3 other nominations.

One thing Mike seems to appreciate most about writing for the computer animation niche is the teamwork involved. Writers, animators, producers, and editors work together to create the most entertaining show possible for the viewer.

Varied Positions in Animation

The moral of the story is that there are a variety of creative positions within the computer animation genre, and many don’t require masterful drawing skills or expertise with animation software. If you’re looking to get into the industry, use the talents you have to segue into more technical positions.

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

Source(s)

IMDb
MSN Encarta

Many students earn an animation degree and then stumble wide-eyed into the industry. They want to create and they want their projects to be seen. Here are the three best ways to get your animation work out to the masses, and maybe land yourself a job.

An animation degree represents years of hard work, studying, and stress. But unfortunately, earning the credential doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll start out as a full-fledged animator. Most entertainment sources are looking for a mix of formal training and creative experience that must be built up over time. Can’t wait that long? Roll the dice and use these media to get your work seen by the masses. If you’re good, they’ll let you know it. And if you’re not, you’ll know that, too.

Animation Career Segues

• The Internet. YouTube is just one of several Internet portals that allow newbie animation professionals to show off their skills.
• Animation Festivals. The Sundance Film Festival is an excellent example of the starting point for many famous animation careers.
• TV Networks. Create an animation sequence and pitch it to TV program directors. They’re always looking for the next big phenomenon.

Keep in mind that for every ‘no’ you hear, you’re just one step closer to your goal. Trust what you learned from your animation degree and don’t be afraid to be rejected. Most of the great animators in the business were rejected at some point.

Make Your Entry Count

If you’re going to go to the trouble of submitting your work, give yourself the best possible chance. Be focused in your submission by presenting a clearly planned project. Present your idea in conjunction with a recent trend or news item and you have a much greater chance of success.

About the author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

Nothing brings more life and character to a great animation feature than a celebrity voiceover. Animation voiceovers not only entertain audiences, but also sell products and services. Here’s the scoop on celebrity voice actors in the studio.

The influence a voice has over the message is absolutely immeasurable—not just on the animation front, but in advertising as well. Commercial and animated voiceovers differ in some important ways, however. UW News reports that in advertisements, unfamiliar voices are much more effective than those recognized. In animation, by contrast, familiar voices matched with computer-generated faces are all the rage.

Voiceovers in Animation

A recent Animation World Magazine report took up the issue of celebrity voice actors in the animation studio. Here’s what it found.

• Competition. The trend of casting well-known actors in newly released animations is reducing demand for career voiceover actors.
• Qualifications? Career voice actors maintain that their specific training in mike techniques and vocal acting make them more qualified than their immensely famous counterparts.
• Commitment. Many animation fans criticize big name actors for not putting the same effort into their performance as they would in a ‘real life’ movie.

Blockbuster in Point

The Transformers movie release has animation fans holding their breath for the insane action sequences and celebrity voice actors. Pop culture news network EMI reports that Peter Cullen, Hugo Weaving, and Mark Ryan are just some of the acclaimed actors adding their voice talents to the jaw-dropping animation sequences.

No matter how good the animation is, voice actors play a critical role. The quality of the voiceover is as critical to the final product as storyboarding and image effects.

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

Source(s)

Animation World Magazine
ENI

There are a variety of animation programs on the Web and in the stores with rich features and hefty price tags. But what you might not know is that you can download many of these software titles and try them on a trial basis, or even for free!

Free Animation Programs

The worst mistake a beginning animator can make is to spend a bunch of money on the latest and greatest animation program, only to find that the program doesn’t suit his or her needs. Don’t let this happen to you. Here’s a partial list of some popular animation programs that you can download for free, use on a trial basis, or test drive with limited functionality.

1. Adobe AfterEffects. This animation program, created by tech powerhouse Adobe, features rich motion graphics and visual effects for film and media. Adobe offers a free trial for this title.
2. Animator-9 3.6. This free download from Key Technologies allows you to make animated GIFs from your digital camera. This is the perfect program to bring your still action shots to life.
3. AniS 1.0. Creator Tom Whitaker offers this free animation program for simple image manipulations for the web. It’s the perfect partner for those animators testing the web design waters.
4. Jumpwel. Another free animation program from Phildes, Jumpwel is a basic object manipulator for use in HTML that uses Java applets. A great introduction to the Java programming language.

These animation program downloads are available on the publishers’ web sites and come with certificates of authenticity.

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

The key to success in the animation business is staying on top of the latest trends in the industry. Moving animation has grown up since its inception. Here’s what some of the flagship companies are bringing to the table.

The roots of moving animation date back to the days of 2D images and clicking frames, and while the concept has been refined very little, the ways in which moving animation is being utilized continues to diversify. From cell phones to video games, animation pros never cease to amaze us with their newest and biggest creations.

MovingAnimation: Here and Now

Moving animation is appearing in the most unexpected places…

• Mobile Devices. Including such must-have business and entertainment devices as the PDA and cell phone, moving animation enriches applications.
• On the Big Screen. Animation giants Disney and Pixar have consistently shown the world how far the cartoon envelope can be pushed.
• Highways & Bi-ways. Motion animation has also found its way onto the billboards of our highway system in a collection of futuristic advertisements.

The Future of Moving Animation As we look out towards the horizon, moving animation applications will only continue to expand. Here are some of the newest trends to be on the lookout for.

• Healthcare. Moving animation images can illustrate body processes.
• Science. Animation sequences can display flight and migration patterns.
• Education. Students will utilize moving animation in every subject area.

The moving animation industry has the potential to lead the way to a more educated, healthier, and better society.

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

The Microsoft PowerPoint application has become the standard for public speaking and education. Here’s a style guide for using the animation tools included in the program without turning off your audience.

PowerPointAnimation Guide

For the better part of seventeen years, the PowerPoint display program has been included in the Microsoft Office Suite. Despite an inauspicious beginning, PowerPoint has fast become an industry standard. PowerPoint offers a wide variety of animations to help add pizzazz and focus to your presentation.

These guidelines will help you to make the most judicious use of PowerPoint animation tools:

• Less is More. Always be sparing with your inclusion of animation. A well placed image here or there will provide a rich visual for your audience.
• Stay Static. Try to avoid moving animations. Stick to static images, including photos, charts, graphs, and other imagery that distills information.
• Pertinence. If you must entertain, you should also enlighten. Make sure each PowerPoint animation has a reason for being included in your slides.

PowerPointAnimation Resources

If your PowerPoint abilities aren’t as sharp as you’d like, a wealth of training resources are available to help you meet your particular learning needs.

• Online Class. Online Microsoft certification classes meet complex scheduling needs.
• Classroom Training. If you prefer the human touch of an actual professor, there are a variety of in-class training options.

Selective use of PowerPoint animations will accomplish two crucial goals. First, it can help keep you audience engaged, and second, it can convey your thoughts clearly and succinctly.

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

You know you want to attend a computer animation school. But do you need to personal attention of the classroom setting? Or would you prefer the freedom of a distance learning format? With some programs, you can experience both styles.

Computer Animation School Options

Since the introduction of online classes in the computer animation field, colleges and business schools have taken great strides in addressing a variety of student needs. Students who prefer the classroom setting can complete their degree on campus. For those who prefer self-directed study, online options exist. And colleges are also recognizing the remaining student population who prefer a combination of the two via hybrid instruction.

Here’s an overview of the three delivery formats:

• On Campus. Animation classes are delivered by an instructor in a physical classroom setting. Onsite computers offer the latest in animation technology.
• Online. Classes are delivered via virtual classroom. You’ll log in when it’s convenient for you and submit your projects via email for critique.
• Hybrid. Combines both on campus and online delivery. Projects are completed at home. You’ll go to campus on pre-selected dates for classroom instruction.

The cost of computer animation school programs will vary by type of delivery. For example, online classes exclude a number of campus fees that you might otherwise be forced to pay (parking, housing, etc).

Decide What’s Important to You

Examine your academic history to determine what type of training is best for you. The way you performed in high school, which is campus-based, should give you some idea of how you respond to a more structured program.

If you feel confident enough to go it alone, online and hybrid computer animation schools might suit your needs.

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

GIF, or graphics interchange format, offers a palette of up to 256 distinct colors from the 24-bit RGB color space. Its convenient portability and support capabilities make it the ‘go-to’ animation process for World Wide Web builders.

Created by CompuServe in 1987, GIF animation has become an industry standard for those animators looking to produce sharp-edged line art. This animation process supports a ‘frames’ approach to design, making it ideal for sequences light on image detail.

GIFAnimation Usage

While it has its limitations, GIF animation is still one of the preferred formats for web pages and streaming media.

• Best Applications. GIF animation is perfect for small animations, low resolution clips, and limited color designs such as business logos.
• Downloading. Because the compressed GIF file requires a lengthier download time, uncompressed bitmap images are frequently used instead.
• Digital Photos. JPEG images are used over GIF files for digital photography, due to the limitations of color distinction with GIF animation.

Benefits of GIF

There are two major reasons why GIF animations are still a favorite of web design professionals for certain projects.

• Repeating. GIFs are repeatable and reusable. They download only once and can be placed in multiple locations on your page.
• Available. Anyone can create GIF files and put them on a web page, as all Windows operating systems support this function.

Try your hand at GIF animation today. You’ll be surprised at how fast you can pick it up, as well as the functionality of this web design standard.

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.