Over the Mountain comics on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.494289563962018.111602.131130086944636&type=1

I don't know if I'll ever get around to printing a real run of comics, so here is the first issue on my facebook page. Please let me know if you enjoy it. I should set up a separate site just for this comic.

Rhythm & Hues gets loan

But that doesn't help the employees much...

Thomas Capizzi, a modeler at Rhythm & Hues for 16 years is leading the fight for fellow employees, at least as far as getting the wages and benefits of a 60 day notice required by federal law.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118066262/

http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/life-line.html

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-rhythm-hues-20130215,0,4131089.story

http://www.deadline.com/2013/02/rhythm-hues-bankruptcy-hearing-today/

Flamingo Waitress Samba dance mocap

Here is my Flamingo Waitress character dancing. The rig and mocap animation are copyright http://www.mixamo.com/motions The paint weights are messed up, but that's my fault, especially on her skate wheels. The human rig doesn't quite fit well, but I couldn't resist trying this in Maximo. The way she dances is a bit disturbing, yet charming in a way. And it's a break from all the unemployment news.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo0cFcvIzKk&feature=youtu.be

Rhythm and Hues vs Warner Bros.

Jeez, when they smell blood, WB pulls the plug on work sent out to Rhythm & Hues:

(From "Uncle Tom's Bungalow" copyright Looney Tunes 1937)

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/studios-have-differing-responses-to-visual-effects-companys-financial-woes/

http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/kick-them-while-theyre-horizontal.html

Full disclosure: I used to work at Warner Classics. Those were happier days. But by no means do I condone the stereotypes shown in "Uncle Tom's Bungalow". I'm only using the creepy white guy to portray the villain.

Screengrabs courtesy of:
http://classiccartoons.blogspot.com/2006/02/uncle-toms-bungalow.html

http://powervoyeur.blogspot.com/2006/11/banned-looney-toons-6-uncle-toms.html

"My body may belong to you, but my soul belongs to Warner Brothers". Huh?!

More Visual Effects News

I've been shooting from the hip too much, just posting links on impulse. But does this mean this is the end of another "Golden Age?" Will there be a "Dream on Silly Dreamer" for digital artists?

http://www.dreamonsillydreamer.com/

With outsourcing and the undercutting of narrow profits, sounds like the same old story hand drawn animation went through. With the high expectations, especially of profits, we keep going through these cycles of boom and bust. Technology should be our servant, not our master. But a few folks with connections can pull up stakes and head to other countries with tax incentives, and a lower paid, but talented work force.

Grouchy, ain't I? (Image from Le Voyage dans la lune (1902), copyright Georges Méliès)

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/las-visual-effects-community-fears-421201

http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-storm-has-hit.html

http://provideocoalition.com/mchristiansen/story/why-is-the-vfx-business-failing-at-its-moment-of-greatest-success?utm_source=WeeklyNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=020713

Rhythm & Hues to file for Bankruptcy

(Life of Pi washed up?)

I am sorry to hear this. I know someone who has worked at Rhythm & Hues for a long time. It's still amazing that a studio like R&H can be connected to so many popular films, and then end up like this. But that's how it goes when you are just a "hired gun"?

Maybe R&H needed to develop its own properties. The lack of creating their own characters and films may have helped to leave it at the mercy of the studios who do.

I can see that creative people aren't necessarily good at business, in other words, turning a profit. The ability of technology to leap overseas, and the outsourcing jobs sure don't help.

http://vfxlaw2012.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/rh-fallout/

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/business/breaking-rhythm-hues-will-file-for-bankruptcy-today-77816.html

http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/chaos-and-creative-destruction.html

Rhythm & Hues, Dreamworks layoff rumors?

Over heated, over used, studios cranking out the same old stuff, and the public is tired of it.
"Labor is just something that comes in a box, you can just pour it out, and expect miracles and money to blossom". Wrong! The grass won't grow if you keep stomping on it!

Europe, Canada and Japan still have broader, and healthier animation markets. But our current system won't let the public at large cultivate more sophisticated tastes.

The fish rots from the head down, and a broke public can't afford to keep dragging itself to watch the same old thing. Things are going to break down before we can break out of this cycle of multi-million dollar blockbuster disappointments.

Grouch grouch grouch. Maybe my coffee was no good this morning...
 
http://vfxsoldier.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/film-works-la-interviews-rhythm-hues/

http://news.yahoo.com/troubled-visual-effects-company-rhythm-hues-gets-20m-235424091.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324906004578290592577813994.html

http://www.labusinessjournal.com/news/2013/feb/06/report-suggests-dreamworks-layoffs-imminent/

3D printing

http://www.makerbot.com/

and

http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/02/home-3d-printing-is-killing-the-manufacturing-industry/

The 40th Annual Annie Awards!

http://annieawards.org/watch-it-live/

Got to sit and watch. Didn't have to dress up. Oh well.

Early graphic user interface

Courtesy of Tom Sito via Facebook. This is how people functioned before Cintiqs.

The officer looks like he's drawing with a small power drill, or a soldering iron. You can find what he drew on this link:

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/01/the-never-before-told-story-of-the-worlds-first-computer-art-its-a-sexy-dame/267439/#.UQKoKHF5gtA.email

Eric Hoffer - learners will inherit the earth

'Nuff said.

Basic City - Basic Mental Ray render

Just some basic polys; simple Physical Sun and Sky in Mental Ray. Gives a fairly dramatic layout, imho.

Aaron Swartz cyber activist

More on Aaron Swartz, I'm just learning about this.
http://www.democracynow.org/2013/1/14/an_incredible_soul_lawrence_lessig_remembers

James Baxter - Notes on Acting for Animation

Link courtesy of http://floobynooby.blogspot.fr/

http://floobynooby.blogspot.fr/2012/04/james-baxter-notes-on-acting-for.html

Rage against the Machinima

 Happy New Year blog

Artists, protect your rights!

http://www.laweekly.com/2013-01-10/news/machinima-maker-studios-YouTube/

Machinima

Edinboro University Animation at CTN Expo 2012

Edinboro was at the CTN Expo this year. I had been feeling nostalgic for the old campus last year, but could never find the time or the wheels to get out there when I visited NE Ohio.

Instructor Michael Genz was there; he had moved to Edinboro back in the '90's I believe; had a nice chat with him about the program, and the snow:) Doucette Hall is still the heart of the animation and graphics departments. It even looks like the old cafeteria is still there too.

Anyway, my department chair Dori from Woodbury let me know Edinboro was there. I saw my name on their banner of Distinguished Alumni quite a few times. It gave me a nice boost after feeling worn out from CTN. For modesty's sake, I only posted one close up shot of my name with Warner Bros. and Woodbury; two of my best achievements. Nice to be listed with Bill Waldman from Warner Bros. and Dave Filoni from King of the Hill. (I only did some freelance for Tom T Productions.) Some people say my head was swelled up enough after that;)

Argyle type pattern made in Maya, w/ Photoshop

Needed a pattern for a character's scarf, got stuck trying to create the pattern in Photoshop alone; and Illustrator is not my best thing.

Started in Maya, took a polygon plane, and rotated it 45 degrees, RMB to select faces, assigned a new Lambert to every other face. Took a screen shot and opened it in Photoshop. Had to use Edit-Transform-Scale and stretched it vertically to get the diamond shape. Duplicated the layer and reduced the opacity, moving it over to get the diagonal patterns. Had to experiment with Image-Adjustments-Hue/Saturation and Brightness/Contrast. Try it, you'll like it!

Diffusion of Innovation

Found this interesting, on how quickly, or how slowly people accept new technology. I've been guilty of being on the slow end, but I'm trying to stay ahead. Just like everyone else right?

Copyright http://www.learnmarketing.net/diffusion.htm

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Blog views down Again!

Well, views of this blog have taken another nose dive. Who evaluates these things?
Is the information on this blog not worth anything?
Should it be organized in a better way?
Someone please let me know!