Star for Stuttgart | Retro article
Review: In DP 06 : 2014, we went into conversation with performance capturing pioneer Andy Serkis - chatting about Planet of the Apes. An encounter at FMX 2014.
More locations, more VFX!
Looking back: In DP 03 : 2015, we found out that Rise Visual Effects Studios has been around since 2007 - eight years later, in 2015, it even had four locations. Founder Florian Gellinger explained to us how the expansion of the VFX business was achieved.
A memorable VFX project
Review: In DP 06 : 2013, we spoke to VFX supervisors Thilo Ewers (Pixomondo) and Paul Lambert (Digital Domain) about the science fiction film Oblivion - and about Tom Cruise's 3D model.
Back to the 70s – Cloud Atlas
Review: In DP 02 : 2013, we tracked down the mega-production Cloud Atlas - with export director Tom Tykwer and the Wachowski siblings in the director's chair. How did Rise manage the massive visual effects of the three-hour epic - and how did the VFX artists transform today's Glasgow into the San Francisco of the 1970s?
Interview zu Cloud Atlas
Review: In DP 02 : 2013, we spoke to Florian Gellinger, founder of VFX studio Rise, about the David Mitchell film Cloud Atlas. The sci-fi epic was realised by: the Wachowski siblings.
Medieval murderer
Ubisoft built on the success of Assassin's Creed with a second installment in the series. The content mix for the sequel: Renaissance Italy, modern 3ds Max technology and a pompous trailer debut. The reward: an animago AWARD in the "Best Postproduction" category!
After the social collapse: Making-of Tom Clancy’s The Division
the "Best Motion Design" category was added to the animago AWARD in 2016. At the time, it was important to the animago team to introduce a separate category for this, as motion design work differs from the other submissions in terms of a different storytelling approach and a special look. Last year, the motion design trailer for the second part of the game "Tom Clancy's The Division" won the coveted prize in this special category. The design studio Antibody, which created the trailer for Ubisoft, tells us what was important for the design.
Many of us first learnt about Martin Luther's story and the associated reformation of the church at school. Usually recited by a history or religion teacher mumbling to himself, which meant that the monk's revolutionary actions lost all excitement. So it was time to produce an entertaining yet accurate version of the events to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Tumblehead Animation Studio took up the challenge and won the animago category "Best Visualisation" with the film "The Story of Martin Luther".
Finns Fleckengang: The Stained Club
People in a club have something in common. In the case of "Stained Club", these are stains on the children's bodies that harbour a deeper meaning. The animated graduation film from the Supinfocom Rubika college in France is in the tradition of youth film classics from the 1980s such as "The Goonies" or "E.T.". With its challenging theme and touching message, it won over the animago jury last year, who awarded it the prize for best newcomer production.
A haven of peace in the zombie storm – Making-of “Grant” cinematic trailer
Goodbye Kansas Studios created a series of cinematic trailers for the game "Overkill's The Walking Dead" in which the four main game characters are introduced in various scenes. With "Grant", the team won the animago AWARD in the "Best Game Cinematic" category last year.
Portrait of a genius – 3D portrait still
Portraits of very well-known personalities are always a great challenge because everyone knows the face of the person portrayed and mistakes quickly become apparent. Alexander Beim impressed with his 3D portrait still of Albert Einstein and won the public vote in the "Best Still" category and thus an animago AWARD. Here, the 3D artist explains how the image was created.
Lovecraft in Köln – Making-of „The Colour“
The ifs internationale filmschule köln is an artistically and academically orientated training and further education institution for media professionals. On the initiative of the NRW state government and the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, it was founded in 2000 as a non-profit limited company whose sole shareholder is the Film- und Medienstiftung. Its reputation as one of the best film schools in Germany is based in particular on the support it provides to students, its teaching and project work and not least on numerous awards, including a student Oscar. One project we found great is "The Colour", based on a Lovecraftian short story - and we ask the students how they came up with it and what it's like to study at the ifs.
“Richard the Stork” Making-of
Are you already looking for a suitable Christmas present for your children? "Überflieger - Kleine Vögel, großes Geklapper" - a beautiful animated film for little film fans - was released on DVD and Blu-Ray in October. In this article by DP author Rayk Schroeder, you can find out how the film was made at Rise.
Making-of videos from the Film Academy: “Shine”
At the animago CONFERENCE, the team explained how the animated film "Shine" was created. Anyone who couldn't be there can now catch up on the knowledge via 5 making-of videos.
animago Exhibition 2017: Highlights at Gasteig Munich
Parallel to the animago trophy award ceremony and the two-day CONFERENCE programme, the exhibition can be visited free of charge on 7 and 8 September. There will be lots of photo, scribbling and sculpting fun and hardware prizes!
HFF-Filmkunst: Debut film and freeze-scenes making-of
Helena Hufnagel explained in DP 02:16 how an elaborate freeze VFX shot was created for her short film "Willa" at the HFF Munich. Now the director's first feature film, "Einmal bitte alles", will be released in cinemas on 20 July. We are giving away two tickets to see the film in the cinema of your choice (also open air).
The DP team flew all the way out to Stuttgart last week. For the first time in the 22-year history of FMX, the event organised by the Filmakademie was sold out, with visitors coming from ever more distant countries to attend FMX.
So much cattle stuff!
Review: In DP 03 : 2017, Warner Brothers reached for "Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them", because J.K. Rowling was finished with Harry Potter after volume seven. Off we went to the beasts (wherever they are to be found)!
Meet the Graphorns
Image Engine worked on 88 VFX shots for "Fantastic Beasts and where to find them", with the Canadian studio responsible for the three-headed Graphorn family and Swooping Evil as well as several other sequences. Due to the high complexity of the tasks, Image Engine worked on the project for around a year with a team of 1OO people, despite the relatively small number of shots.
“Batman V Superman”: Breakdowns
What's the best way to prepare for the 2017 cinema release of "Justice League"? It doesn't have to be the extended version of "Dawn of Justice", the almost 12-minute long breakdown reel is an ideal alternative.
VR-Sound: Pro Tools G’Audio Works
Sound is an essential component for an immersive experience in VR worlds. With G'Audio Works, a plug-in for Pro Tools is now available that supports the creation of VR sound.
VES Nominees 2017
The VES Awards will be presented for the 15th time on 7 February. Here is an overview of this year's nominees.
“American Horror Story”-Teaser
OneSize from Amsterdam helped realise the new promo trailer for the sixth season of "American Horror Story". Not for the faint-hearted!
watch “Alike” in full length
Cover motif of the animago special issue and animago AWARD winner in the "Best Character" category - "Alike" really cleaned up at this year's DP event. The delightful father-son film is now online in full length.
Free “Star Wars” 3D model pack!
Andrew Kramer is deeply connected to "Star Wars" - both professionally and as a fan of the film series. To celebrate "Star Wars" Day on 4 May, Video Copilot has therefore published a 3D model collection in HD quality with 4K textures, which can be downloaded free of charge.
The Foundry has announced the release of Nuke 10 for the entire product line, focussing primarily on stability, improved performance and new functions in the painting, rendering and export areas.
Cosmos Laundromat
Review: In DP 01:2016, the Blender Institute produced the comedic short film "Kosmos Waschsalon". Did the film win the animago AWARD 2015?
Houdini Engine Indie for free
Previously not expensive, now completely free: The Houdini Engine Indie from SideFX can be downloaded!
Houdini 15 ist da!
In version 15, Side Effects Software has optimised the modelling, rendering and animation functions of Houdini.
Auto Clean Plate Tool for Nuke
Keller.io has released Superpose for Nuke, which can be used to automatically remove elements such as snow, rain or crowds from recordings.
These are the animago Nominees 2015!
Smoking heads and square eyes after many hours of viewing entries in Berlin - the animago jury has found this year's nominees. Here they are!
Betatest: Houdini Engine in C4D
Side Effects Software and Maxon have launched a public beta programme to integrate the Houdini Engine into Cinema 4D.
Free Nuke version available
The non-commercial version of the Nuke product family is free and available immediately from The Foundry - with some functional limitations.
Improved Nuke Studio version
The Foundry will present its revised version of Nuke Studio at NAB tomorrow and will also showcase it in a live stream.
Get to know new Maya and 3ds Max features after work; all based on great, current projects created with Autodesk tools? Click here to register!
Cloudy with a view of Houdini
Review: In DP 03 : 2014, we climbed into the opening scene of the bestselling film adaptation of The Book Thief. Rise Visual Effects Studios realised a long cloud sequence including a 3D tracking shot with Houdini. How do artists create the perfect cumulus cloud?
The Nuke 9 versions are here!
Following The Foundry's announcement a few weeks ago, Nuke, NukeX version 9 and Nuke Studio are now available. Here is an overview of the new features.
MaxToNuke-Script
This script should make it easy to send geometry and cameras from 3ds Max to Nuke. It is available free of charge.
Love in times of global warming
Review: In DP 03 : 2014, we found out what happens when arctic pink creatures get involved with tropical fruit - and design students from HBK Braunschweig make 3D animation.
The CG monkeys are loose
Review: In DP 06 : 2014, Weta Digital set to work on the second instalment of Planet of the Apes. A conversation with VFX supervisor Dan Lemmon about primates, performance capturing and premium VFX.
Free Nuke versions
At the beginning of 2015, The Foundry will make Nuke, NukeX and Nuke Studio available free of charge with limited functions - but only for non-commercial projects.
The Foundry presented: Nuke 9
Yesterday evening, half past eight German time, the time had come: The Foundry presented Nuke 9 and announced many other news.
Spider webs vs. electric flashes
Review: In DP 07 : 2014, the most popular spider-man in film history was electrostatically charged. "The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro" was one of the most elaborate projects for Sony Pictures Imageworks in 2014. We caught up with digital effects supervisor David A. Smith.
The Foundry has released version 9 of Nuke, NukeX and the new software variant Nuke Studio. Nuke customers should have access to the beta version from today.
NukePluginManager
With the free NukePluginManager from artist Simon Jokuschies, scripts can be added to or removed from Nuke.
Sci-fi weapons video from Video Copilot
Mr Video Copilot, Andrew Kramer, has released a sci-fi weapon video. He used plug-ins in AE, design elements from ShockWave and the new Sound FX Library.
Making-of video for “The Medicus”
Pixomondo has published a detailed making-of video about their work on "The Medicus". Click here to download the article and the video for free.
Nuke Studio
The Foundry announced a new product at NAB: Nuke Studio is designed to combine the VFX, editorial and finishing processes in one application.
Gravity, Spider-Man 2 and The LEGO Movie
Everyone is eagerly awaiting the final programme for FMX 2014 - here are some more heavyweight appetisers that will make a trip to Stuttgart worthwhile.
Put in the right light
Review: In DP 04 : 2014, Depeche Mode went on a major tour - and Cologne-based post-production house the editors cgn was responsible for the high-quality post-production of the concert events. How do post-pros make the performers look as good as possible? Head editor Tobias Berbuer explains in an interview!
Nuke 8 Release
Hotly anticipated, yesterday was the day: The Foundry released Nuke version 8. Here are sneak peek videos of some of the new features.
Korda database
Looking back: In DP 01 : 2013, we threw ourselves into the arms of film funding - and with that we went into the Korda database, which promises to clear up the film funding jungle.
Review: In DP 06 : 2013, the VFX cracker Pacific Rim grilled the cinema summer. Compositing artist Michael Ralla tells us how Industrial Light & Magic tamed the Kaiju giants.
Preview-Video ThinkingParticles 6
The Canadian development studio Cebas has announced the release of the sixth version of the ThinkingParticles particle system and shows the new technology in a preview video.