Animation Magazine

Author: Ryan Ball

  • Spidey, Potter, Aviator Lead VES Noms

    As Southern California is uncharacteristically besieged with rain, mudslides and mountain snowstorms, 20th Century Fox’s big-budget climatological disaster flick, The Day After Tomorrow, has been named in contention for one of the top kudos in the Visual Effects Society’s third annual VES Awards. Day will be duking it out with Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Sony’s Spider-Man 2 in the category Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Motion Picture.

    New Line’s second and third Lord of the Rings features dominated the 2003 and 2004 VES Awards, but with no denizens of Middle-earth or Weta Digital lurking about this year, it’s anybody’s game. However, Spider-Man 2 seems to be the frontrunner with six total nominations. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and The Aviator trail closely behind with five nods each.

    Nominees were chosen by a panel of over 60 visual effects professionals (all VES members) who viewed hundreds of entry submissions during an all-day event at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center over the weekend. The process will continue with "The Big Reveal." Scheduled for Jan. 22, the annual event is VES’ answer to the Motion Picture Academy’s visual effects "Bake-Off," where nominees demonstrate the secrets behind their nominated works. The event, to be held at the Skirball Cultural Center, is open and free to all VES members and is also open to the public at $20 per ticket. Tickets are available by calling the VES office at 310-822-9181 or may also be purchased at the door.

    For the first time in the VES Awards’ three-year history, final viewing and voting will take place online via the VES website from Jan. 31 to Feb. 12. This will allow VES members worldwide to view encrypted clips of the nominees’ work and vote in a safe, secure online environment.

    Winners will be announced at the 3rd Annual VES Awards gala on Feb. 16 at the Hollywood Palladium. Academy Award-winning director Robert Zemeckis will receive the VES Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be presented to him by Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks.

    For a complete list of noms, go to visualeffectssociety.com. Highlights of the nominated categories include:

    Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Motion Picture

    The Day After Tomorrow

    Karen Goulekas, Mike Chambers, Greg Strause, Remo Balcells

    Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

    Roger Guyett, Tim Burke, Theresa Corrao, Emma Norton

    Spider-Man 2

    John Dykstra, Lydia Bottegoni, Anthony LaMolinara, Scott Stokdyk

    Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Motion Picture

    The Aviator

    Rob Legato, Ron Ames, Matthew Gratzner, Pete Travers

    Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

    Louis Morin, Mark Dornfeld

    Troy

    Nick Davies, Chas Jarrett, Jon Thum, Gary Brozenich

    Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Miniseries, Movie or a Special

    Dragons

    Sirio Quintavalle, Jo Nodwell, Alec Knox, Neil Glaseby

    Earthsea

    Peter Ware, Eric Grenaudier, Jared Jones, Earl Paraszcynec

    Virtual History – The Secret Plot to Kill Hitler

    Jim Radford, Tom Phillips, Simon Thomas, Loraine Cooper

    Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Series

    Stargate Atlantis

    John Gajdecki, Bruce Woloshyn, Jinnie Pak, Tara Conley

    Stargate SG-1

    James Tichenor, Shannon Gurney, Craig Van Den Biggelaar, Bruce Woloshyn

    Star Trek Enterprise, Storm Front Part 2

    Ronald Moore, Daniel Curry, David Takemura

    Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial

    British Telecom: Network

    David Lombardi, Richard Mann, Eric Durst, Kevin Prendiville

    Citroen ‘Alive With Technology’

    Trevor Cawood, Neill Blomkamp, Simon Van de Lagemaat, Winston Helgason

    Johnnie Walker ‘Tree’

    William Bartlett, Murray Butler, Jake Mengers, Andy Boyd

    Best Single Visual Effect of the Year

    The Aviator, “Hell’s Angels”

    Rob Legato, Ron Ames, David Seger, Peter Travers

    The Day After Tomorrow, SL040 – Tidal Wave

    Karen Goulekas, Mike Chambers, Chris Horvath, Matthew Butler

    Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

    Bill George, David Andrews, Sandra Scott, Dorne Huebler

    Spider-Man 2

    John Dykstra, Lydia Bottegoni, Dan Abrams, John Monos

    Outstanding Performance by an Animated Character in a Live-Action Motion Picture

    Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

    Michael Eames, David Lomax, Felix Balbas, Pablo Grillo

    Hellboy Samael Character

    Dovi Anderson, Todd Labonte, Sven Jensen, Paul Thuriot

    Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events

    Rick O’Connor, Martin Murphy, Indira Guerrieri, Sam Breach

    Outstanding Performance by an Animated Character in an Animated Motion Picture

    The Incredibles

    Craig T. Nelson, Bill Wise, Bill Sheffler, Bolhem Bouchiba

    The Polar Express

    Michael Jeter, David Schaub, Renato Dos Anjos, Roger Vizard

    Shark Tale

    Renee Zellweger, Ken Duncan

    Shrek 2

    Antonio Banderas, Raman Hui

    Outstanding Performance by an Animated Character in a Live Action Broadcast Program

    Battlestar Galactica – Episode 101

    Dustin Adiar, Mark Shimer, Jesse Toves, Sean Jackson

    Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital

    William de Bosch Kemper, Brian Harder, Patrick Kalyn, Scott Paquin

    Outstanding Visuals in a Video Game

    007 Everything or Nothing

    David Carson, Jay Riddle, Habib Zargarpour

    Half-Life 2

    Viktor Antonov, Randy Lundeen, Gary McTaggart, Bill Fletcher

    The Lord of the Rings

    Mark Skaggs, Richard Taylor II, Matt Britton, Nate Hubbard

    The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age

    Stephen Gray, Margaret Foley-Mauvais

  • Disney Characters Ring in the New Year

    If you’re going to annoy others with your "cute" cell phone ringtones, at least keep it animated. Disney Mobile, part of the Walt Disney Internet Group, is now offering an extensive array of ringtones featuring the voices of such popular Disney and Disney/Pixar characters as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Stitch, Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Mr. Incredible.

    The ringtones are currently available for download to customers of major carriers nationwide for a fee of $2.50 each. Several ringtones and messages are available from each character and a combination of ringtones featuring more than one character are offered for incoming calls, voicemail alerts and alarm reminders.

    One of Mickey’s rings tells customers to “Answer your phone,” and another informs, “You got a message.” Goofy rings in with “Hello? Is anybody there?” and “Oh boy, you got some mail!” A more timely ringtone offers, “Hello? Yeah, I’m Mr. Incredible.”

    In addition to character ringtones, there are also musical ringtones and mobile screensavers available from Disney and Disney/Pixar films such as Aladdin and Finding Nemo.

  • Thumbworks Brings CellToons to Sprint

    While cell phones are omnipresent at Film festivals like Sundance, one company is bringing the festival to the phone itself. Tustin, Calif.-based Thumbworks has launched CellToons as one of the newest multimedia channels for Sprint. The new outlet will offer animated streaming video and audio clips on Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Services.

    CellToons features one- to three-minute animated shorts from a variety of sources, including Vancouver Film School students, anime distributor ADV Films, Academy Award-nominated animator Bruno Bozzetto (Grasshoppers), Indie filmmaker/commercial director Mike Wellins (The P.J.s) and Blur Studios.

    “We like to call CellToons ‘The nonstop mobile animation festival’ because it introduces people to some of the best animated shorts from around the world,” says Thumbworks president Craig Holland. “By making CellToons available through Sprint, a whole new audience will get a chance to see these artists at work."

    Sprint customers who subscribe to Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Services are able to access hundreds of clips every day, covering the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment and original mobile viewing content. CellToons will be available to Sprint PCS Vision customers on channel 18 for $4.95 a month.

  • Pet Alien Arrival Set on Cartoon Network

    Pet Alien, the new CG comedy series from Mike Young Prods. (MYP), will premiere on Cartoon Network on Sunday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m. (ET, PT). Distributed by MYP’s subsidiary, Taffy Ent., the series will also air this quarter on Cartoon Network Europe, as well as all of the network’s broadcast services in Latin America, Asia/Pacific and Japan.

    The show follows the adventures of space aliens who visit the seaside town of DeSpray Bay to experience life on Earth firsthand. Dinko, Gumpers, Flip, Swanky and Scruffy take up residence in the lighthouse hideaway of 12-year-old Tommy and attempt to help the boy with his daily challenges. However, their well-intentioned efforts only succeed in turning his life inside out and upside down.

    Sunday’s premiere episode includes the segment “I was a Teenage Bearded Boy,” in which the aliens try to make Tommy more cool at school by giving him a green beard. It will be followed by “Escape from Detention X,” which has the extraterrestrial quintet conspiring to break Tommy out of after-school detention.

    Cartoon Network has acquired 26 episodes of Pet Alien, which is based on a property created by Jeff Muncy of John Doze Studios. The series is co-produced by Antefilms/TF1 France; Crest, India and Telegael, Ireland.

  • Prism, Nick Unleash Bin Weevils on Europe

    In an agreement with Nickelodeon Europe, children’s and youth media company Prism Ent. and Nickelodeon U.K. are rolling out their online kids’ environment, Bin Weevils, in new territories. Kids visiting the websites of Nickelodeon channels in Sweden, Italy and Spain will soon be able to join in the comedy-driven animated fun that is already a hit with Nick fans in the U.K.

    Bin Weevils, a 50/50 joint venture between Prism and Nickelodeon U.K., features trillions of tiny bin-dwelling weevils who argue constantly with each other. Each rubbish-loving microscopic creature is named and distinguished by its singular character trait.

    The Bin Weevils online environment will sit within each Nickelodeon channel site, allowing kids to design and customize their own Weevil character and then journey around the bin to chat with other Weevils and play games such as Flem Darts and Gong Olympics.

    To date, 281,632 children have registered as Bin Weevils at www.nickelodeon.co.uk. The site received 2,671,516 hits in November 2004 alone.

  • Academy Announces Sci-Tech Winners

    In addition to the special Award of Commendation to be bestowed upon blue-screen pioneer Arthur Widmer (www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=3390), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will dish out kudos for achievements in motion-capture and compositing technologies during the Scientific and Technical Academy Awards ceremony in February.

    While the two Oscar statuettes will go to developers of the Technocrane telescoping camera crane and the Louma camera crane, Academy Certificates will be issued to developers of systems that enable digital effects and animation.

    Dr. Julian Morris, Michael Birch, Dr. Paul Smyth and Paul Tate will be recognized for the development of the Vicon motion capture technology, as will Dr. John O.B. Greaves, Ned Phipps, Antonie J. van den Bogert and William Hayes for the development of Motion Analysis Corp.’s Motion Analysis motion capture technology.

    In addition, Dr. Nels Madsen, Vaughn Cato, Matthew Madden and Bill Lorton will pick up certificates for the development of the Giant Studios motion capture technology, a software solution that applies a unique biometric approach.

    Alan Kapler will also receive an Academy Certificate for the design and development of Storm, a software toolkit for artistic control of volumetric effects. Storm employs an efficient method for directly manipulating volumetric data to create effects such as clouds, water and avalanches with familiar operators inspired by image compositing and painting operations.

    The more prestigious Academy Plaque will be given to Lindsay Arnold, Guy Griffiths, David Hodson, Charlie Lawrence and David Mann for the development of the Cineon Digital Film Workstation. Cineon pioneered a commercial node-graph compositing system, establishing a new visual method for direct manipulation of the compositing process, which influenced and defined modern digital compositing workflows.

    The Academy Awards for Scientific and Technical Achievements will be presented at a gala black tie dinner on Saturday, Feb.12, at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, Calif.

  • Houston Gets U.S. Premiere of A Tree of Palme

    ADV Films today announced that the U.S. theatrical debut of the anime feature, A Tree of Palme, will take place at Houston’s Rice Cinema on Jan. 14. The sci-fi/fantasy retelling of the classic Pinocchio story was written and directed by animator Takashi Nakamura, best known for his work as chief animator on the cyberpunk masterpiece, Akira.

    Palme is a wooden puppet built to care for his creator’s dying wife. After her death, Palme looses his sense of purpose and ceases to function, remaining inactive until a mysterious woman arrives at his master’s workshop. Pursued by a group of ruthless men, the woman is desperately seeking help in delivering a precious package to its destination on the other side of the world. Palme agrees to aid the woman in her mission and sets off on an incredible adventure and a journey of self-discovery.

    A Tree of Palme, ADV’s first feature release for 2005, will play for two weekends at the Rice Cinema, located on The Rice University campus. The pic will then roll out in select cities including Boston, San Francisco, Nashville, Hartford, Portland Oregon and Austin. Specific dates and theatres are listed on the ADV Theatrical website at www.ADVFilms.com/theatrical.

  • Digital-Tutors Lends Disaster Relief

    Software training company Digital Tutors is literally giving the shirt off its back to help provide much-needed aid for the areas of Southeast Asia devastated by last month’s earthquake and tsunami. The organization has designed the Relief T-Shirt, which will be sold with all profits earmarked to aid in international disaster relief efforts and help Feed The Children provide support through food, water and basic necessities.

    “We are so grateful to everyone at Digital-Tutors for helping us to reach out to the victims of the tsunami in southern Asia,” says Larry Jones, president and founder of Feed The Children. “It will take all of us working together to really help the children and families whose lives are in shambles because of this terrible disaster.”

    Digital-Tutors’ Sandip Patel says of the company’s efforts, "We have the means and infrastructure to help those effected and urge everyone to help." Patel adds, "Digital-Tutors has several customers in the countries affected by the tsunamis and we feel it is without question our duty to help in any way possible."

    The Relief T-Shirt can be purchased at the Digital-Tutors website (www.digital-tutors.com). In addition, financial donations to Feed The Children can be made by calling 1-800-627-4556 and secure online credit card donations are being received at www.feedthechildren.org.

    Digital-Tutors is a division of PL Studios Inc., a leading innovator of training materials and a provider of related services for both consumer and professional markets.

  • Disney Cements Chairman/CEO Divide

    Following CEO Michael Eisner’s removal from the post of chairman of the board of the Walt Disney Co., the board has voted to officially separate the offices of chairman and CEO, according to The Associated Press. The measure was taken in response to a shareholder proposal demanding the permanent split.

    Eisner was replaced as chairman of the board at Disney by Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell following the March 3 shareholder meeting in which resulted in a 45% no-confidence vote for Eisner’s re-election. Eisner kept his CEO job but later announced plans to step down when his contract expires in 2006. A wide search for his successor is being conducted with hopes of announcing a name by June.

    Under the new governance guideline, the board chairman is to operate as an independent director. An independent lead director would be brought on should the board decided to re-consolidate the roles later down the road.

  • Incredibles Artist Flies to Max the Mutt

    Scott Caple, an environment designer and art director who contributed to the Disney/Pixar megahit, The Incredibles, has joined longtime friend and animation director Tina Seemann on the faculty of Max the Mutt Animation School.

    From 2000 to 2003, Caple was involved in the concept and production design of the Incredibles. During his time at Pixar, he was responsible for both environment/background design and art direction. He will share lessons learned on the film and many others throughout his career as he teaches advanced storyboarding for Max students.

    Caple’s wide-ranging experience in layout and cinematography includes a turn at Walt Disney Feature Animation, where he worked on blockbusters such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Fantasia, Mulan, The Emperor’s New Groove and Atlantis. At ILM, he contributed to Raiders of the Lost Ark, doing hand-drawn special effects and rotoscope animation.

    When he’s not teaching, Caple will continue to work in the industry. His latest project is Disney’s The Wild, a major animated feature being designed and produced in Toronto.

    Located in the heart of Toronto’s art and animation district, Max the Mutt offers students a foundation in fundamental drawing skills, animation (2D, 3D, classical), portfolio development and other skills. The school has added a fourth year to its three-year diploma program in Animation Basics. Students who go on to the advanced diploma program work on a film project with an animation company in a cooperative work/study program. More information on the school can be found at www.maxthemutt.com.

  • Academy to Honor Blue-screen Pioneer Widmer

    Arthur Widmer, who was a significant contributor to the development of the Ultra Violet and bluescreen compositing processes, will receive a special Award of Commendation when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents the Scientific and Technical Awards in February.

    “Art’s pioneering work has had a profound impact on the film industry,” says Richard Edlund, chair of the Scientific and Technical Awards Committee. “In fact, many of the films we hold dear would not have been possible without his contributions to image compositing technology.”

    Widmer began his work with the Ultra Violet Traveling Matte process while at Warner Bros., where he also developed and refined technologies for other motion picture processes including 3D and wide screen. He was later hired by Universal Studios to design and build an optical department, where he researched many developments in blue-screen technology and optical printing.

    In addition to pioneering compositing technology that would later make films like Star Wars and the Lord of the Rings trilogy possible, Widmer continuously explored new techniques to further enhance the quality of images on film. During his tenure at Eastman Kodak, he researched a variety of new methods of color photography, including Kodachrome. In the late 1940s, he was involved in introducing Eastman Color Negative and Color Positive to the motion picture industry.

    The Academy Awards for Scientific and Technical Achievements will be presented at a gala black tie dinner on Saturday, Feb.12, at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, Calif.

  • Incredibles Snags PGA Nom

    In a surprise move, the Producers Guild of America has nominated the Disney/Pixar CG hit, The Incredibles, as one of the top five films of 2004. The film is the only animated entry invited to the 2005 PGA Awards, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 22, at Culver Studios in Culver City, Calif. The kudo fest will also honor DreamWorks Animation topper Jeffrey Katzenberg.

    The Incredibles, produced by John Walker and exec produced by John Lasseter, is up against some heavy live-action competition for the Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award. The other theatrical contenders are The Aviator and Finding Neverland from Miramax Films, Million Dollar Baby from Warner Bros. and critical favorite Sideways from Fox Searchlight Pictures.

    The inclusion of The Incredibles in this year’s short list is a sign that animation is finally getting some long overdue respect in the industry. Last year, the PGA chose the CG-laden The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King as the top film. In addition, the 2005 ceremony will see Jeffrey Katzenberg receive the Milestone Award for his work in shepherding such animated blockbusters as Shrek, Shrek 2 and Shark Tale.

    The 2005 PGA Awards will also fete long-form, episodic drama, episodic comedy, non-fiction and variety television productions. To see the full list of nomnees, go to www.producersguild.org/pg/awards_a/.

  • Telly Awards Accepting Entries

    The Telly Awards has issued a worldwide call for entries in its 26th annual quest to single out the world’s finest local, regional and cable television advertising and non-broadcast film and video productions. Submissions are being accepted for television commercials in categories including Local TV, Local Cable, Regional TV and Multi-Market Cable, as well as for film/video productions in categories such as Non-Broadcast Productions, TV Programs, Segments and Promotional Pieces. The deadline for submissions is March 4.

    With a history spanning over a quarter of a century, the coveted Tellys are one of the most respected and prestigious awards in the industry. Last year’s winners ranged from local agencies and smaller production companies to multinational corporations, and included J. Walter Thompson, Delta Airlines, Soapbox Studios, Fry Hammond Barr, McCann-Erickson, MSNBC, Comcast Spotlight, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sesame Workshop and Y&R.

    This year’s finalists and winners will be unveiled in the spring. For a complete list of categories, submission requirements, rules and an official online entry form, go to www.tellyawards.com.

  • Croc Vs. Shark on Animal Planet

    Digital animation has so many amazing applications, like answering the age-old question, "What would win in a fight, a saltwater crocodile or a Great White shark?" Okay, so maybe the sages haven’t been pondering this one for centuries, but thank God we have the technology to put these top predators in the ring for a little smackdown action. The Discovery Channel’s Animal Face-Off returns on sister cable network Animal Planet with Saltwater Croc vs. Great White Shark tonight, Jan. 5, at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., with replays on Jan. 6 at 3 a.m. and Jan. 8 at 3 p.m.

    The saltwater crocodile is the largest reptile on the planet and the great white is the world’s largest predatory shark. Though these toothy mammoths don’t usually cross paths, the northern Australian crocs are known to go offshore and into open water where such a showdown could occur.

    The show uses robotic replicas of the animals to conduct experiments and applies data collected to computer-generated models for the virtual battle. If you missed the original airing of Saltwater Croc vs. Great White Shark back in March and you’re wagering on this commotion in the ocean, you might want to check out each competitor’s stats at http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/animalfaceoff/

    challenge/challenge1.html.

  • Cal Grants Offer Money for School

    If you’re a high school senior looking for money for animation or art school (or any college, for that matter), you might want to look into California’s Cal Grant program. The latest campaign has just launched to offer qualified students as much as $8,300 for college. Interested parties should apply now to meet the March 2 deadline.

    The Cal Grant money does not have to be repaid, but applicants must meet certain financial requirements and have a minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA). “If you work hard in school and get good grades, the state will help pay your way through college or vocational school,” says Diana Fuentes-Michel, exec director of the California Student Aid Commission. “If you thought you couldn’t afford to go to college before, you may now with a Cal Grant.”

    There are two forms students must complete to apply for a Cal Grant. The first is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can be obtained online at www.fafsa.ed.gov, or from high school counselors. This form can be submitted either online or by mail. The second form is the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form, also available from high school counselors. Students must fill out Section B of the verification form and then take it to a counselor for signature before mailing it in.

    Help is available in completing each form. Many schools and community organizations provide evening or weekend financial aid workshops for students and their parents. To find out more about these workshops, go to www.californiacashforcollege.com or call toll-free 1-866-476-8787 for locations and dates.

    Last year, nearly a quarter of a million California students were served by Cal Grants and the state of California wants to award grants to even more students in 2005. For more information on Cal Grants, visit www.calgrants.org or call toll-free 1-888-CA-GRANT (888-224-7268). For information on applying to colleges in California, go to www.californiacolleges.edu.

  • Age of Empires III Dawns at Microsoft

    Microsoft Game Studios has announced that the real-time strategy sequel, Age of Empires III, is slated to ship in the second half of 2005. Developed by Dallas, Texas-based Ensemble Studios, this latest release will bring new gameplay elements, new civilizations and new technologies to the award-winning franchise that has sold 16 million units worldwide.

    Age of Empires III promises to offer advanced battle physics and visual detail never before seen in an RTS. The game picks up where Age of Empires II: Age of Kings left off, casting gamers in the role of a European power determined to explore, colonize and conquer the New World.

    Detailed environments will range from towering European cathedrals to Native American villages and combat elements will include Industrial Age rifled infantry, cavalry and tall warships bristling with cannons. Also new to the franchise is an immersive single-player campaign that will span three generations.

    In addition to Age of Empires, Microsoft Game Studios is home to such hit PC properties as Flight Simulator and Zoo Tycoon, as well as Xbox favorites such as Fable, Halo, Project Gotham Racing and MechAssault. More information on Age of Empires III can be found at www.ensemblestudios.com.

  • UCLA Screens In the Realms of the Unreal

    Documentary and fantasy intermingle with a combination of animation and live action in the innovative film, In the Realms of the Unreal, by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Jessica Yu (The Living Museum, Breathing Lessons). The Sundance 2004 hit is screening tonight, Jan. 5, at 7 p.m. in the UCLA Hammer Museum, located at 10899 Wilshire Blvd. Admission is $5.

    When reclusive janitor Henry Darger died at the age of 81, his landlords cleaned out his cluttered apartment to discover hundreds of paintings and a 15,000-page novel. The unsettling and striking imagery of his work–warrior girls with penises, hybrid human-butterfly children, demons, dragons and exploding bombs–garnered Darger posthumous international acclaim.

    Yu’s documentary borrows its title from In the Realms of the Unreal, Darger’s unpublished epic fantasy novel about a group of young girls known as Angelinia, who fight the savage, dark forces of Glandelinia on an unnamed planet. Yu mixes traditional animation based on Darger’s drawings with live action footage to contrast the artistic hermit’s real life with the one he constructed, asking whether one’s imagination can be fulfilling enough to counteract a dismal reality.

    "We needed to bring the sense of his imagination alive," Yu told Animation Magazine in March of 2004. "We needed animation to extend the limits of documentary filmmaking."

    In the Realms of the Unreal was made for $410,000 with funding provided by public television’s Independent Television Service (ITVS). A team of animators led by Los Angeles-based producer Kara Vallow used Adobe Photoshop and After Effects to bring Darger’s artworks to life. "We move back and forth between episodes of his life and the Unreal worlds," Yu continues. "Each time the animation becomes a little more complex. In the beginning, we only have simple cut-outs, but as you get to know him better, we have this sense of a gradual immersion into his world."

    Yu will be on hand for a Q&A session following the screening. For theater directions and other details, call 310-443-7000. More information on the film can be found at www.realmsoftheunreal.com.

  • GDC Awards Accepting Noms

    Nominations are open for the 5th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards, to be presented on March 9 at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) at the Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco, Calif. All those directly involved in the development and design of video games are eligible to nominate peers at www.igda.org/awards through Friday, Jan. 14.

    The Game Developers Choice Awards categories focus on rewarding and recognizing innovation and excellence in the art of making games, regardless of genre, platform or delivery medium. Awards will be given in the following categories:

    Game of the Year

    Rookie Studio Award

    Original Game Character of the Year

    Excellence in Audio

    Excellence in Game Design

    Excellence in Programming

    Excellence in Visual Arts

    Excellence in Writing

    Game Innovation Spotlights

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    First Penguin Award

    Maverick Award

    IGDA Award for Community Contribution

    The International Game Developers Association is a non-profit association established by game developers to foster the creation of a worldwide game development community. The IGDA’s mission is to build a community of game developers which leverages the expertise of its members for the betterment of the industry and the development of the art form. For more information on the IGDA, visit www.igda.org or e-mail info@igda.org.

  • Popeye Makes National Film Registry

    Everyone’s favorite spinach-swilling sailor man got some due respect when Librarian of Congress James H. Billington recently announced his annual selection of 25 motion pictures to be added to the National Film Registry. Bringing the total number of films on the Registry to 400, this year’s crop includes such classics as the Elvis Presley fave Jailhouse Rock (1957), the sword-and-sandal epic Ben-Hur (1959), David Lynch’s Eraserhead (1978), Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven (1992), and Steven Speilberg’s Shindler’s List (1993).

    Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, each year the Librarian of Congress makes a list of “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant motion pictures to add to the Registry. Each title inducted is assured preservation for all time, either through the Library’s massive motion picture preservation program or through collaborative ventures with other archives, motion picture studios and independent filmmakers.

    At No.19 on this year’s list is the 1936 Technicolor short Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor by renowned animators Max and Dave Fleischer. Aside from good writing an animation, the film stands out for its detailed, three-dimensional sets and the fact that it was twice the length of most cartoons of its day, which generally came in around eight minutes. The Paramount release was animated by Willard Bowsky, George Germanetti and Edward Nolan, with music and lyrics by Sammy Timburg, Bob Rothberg and Sammy Lerner.

    The Librarian chose this year’s selections after evaluating nearly 1,000 titles nominated by the public and conducting intensive discussions with the Library’s Motion Picture division staff and the distinguished members and alternates of his advisory group, the National Film Preservation Board. The board also advises the Librarian on national film preservation policy.

  • Comic Book Trailblazer Eisner Dead at 87

    The comic book community is mourning the loss of another legend. The Associated Press reports that Will Eisner, creator of the innovative and popular 1940s adult-aimed crime comic, The Spirit, has died at the age of 87. The artist suffered complications from last month’s quadruple bypass heart surgery and passed away Monday at Florida Medical Center in Lauderdale Lakes.

    The Spirit, about a coroner who was buried alive and returns from the grave to protect the fictional metropolis of Central City, was part of a weekly newspaper supplement published by 20 Sunday newspapers and distributed to roughly 5 million households.

    Eisner is credited with being the first to use "silent" panels to depict characters’ emotions with detailed facial expressions rather than using thought or dialog balloons. His comics were also revolutionary in their subject matter, which included spousal abuse, tax audits and urban blight.

    Drafted during World War II, Eisner was commissioned by the Army to create the Joe Dope comic strip, which employed a bumbling misfit to teach Jeep maintenance to soldiers. After the war, he continued publishing The Spirit until 1952. In 1978, he published his first graphic novel, A Contract with God.