Archive notice: This article was originally published on October 28, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
DP: What does sponsoring the animago AWARD 2008 mean to Autodesk?
Thomas Müller: The animago AWARD is probably one of the most important competitions in Europe’s DCC industry. For years, it has provided a stage for the artists behind breathtaking videos, images, characters and animations of the kind seen in local and international productions. We co-founded the award in 1997 and have supported it continuously ever since. We are once again on board as the main sponsor this year, and it is a matter very close to our hearts. As a pioneer in the animation industry, we support Europe’s most important event in this field, one that also has global reach.
DP: How important is the animago AWARD in the DCC industry?
Thomas Müller: The animago AWARD has always seen itself as a platform for the computer graphics community. Everyone involved in the field meets here: young talent and professionals, creatives and potential clients, industry and art. Its significance has fundamentally changed, however. In the late 1990s, the main aim was to bring 3D animation and digital content creation out of its niche and into wider public awareness. Today, the industry has established itself and become professionalized. The focus is much more on encouraging the next generation of 3D artists and on networking. What makes the animago AWARD special is that it respects every facet of the industry: still images, film and interactive work. This also gives the event the potential to keep developing.
DP: The animago AWARD winners do not always work with Autodesk software. Is that a problem for you?
Thomas Müller: Not at all. The animago AWARD gives us a comprehensive overview of just how much creativity currently exists in the industry. At the same time, it presents the current state of technology impressively. Although not all of the more than 1,000 entries were created using Autodesk solutions, it is clear that only a handful of tools have established themselves as serious solutions for producing the work. Every year, Autodesk solutions still account for the largest share of competition entries, both in the total number submitted and among the winners—not only in the professional sector, but also in education and home use. Naturally, that makes us proud, and it reinforces our commitment to driving the development of award-winning, state-of-the-art products such as 3ds Max and Maya.
DP: Autodesk has long sponsored the animago AWARD ceremony. How have the prize winners changed in recent years?
Thomas Müller: Every year, I am amazed anew by how much creativity there is in the 3D community and by everything that is possible. Today, artists address subjects and create characters in their projects that would have been inconceivable ten years ago. Of course, this is also because today’s technical conditions are completely different from those of the past. That makes it much easier to visualize creative ideas, while also opening up new possibilities for artists.
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