This is it! Toy Story 3 is out today! It’s a definite must go see. Rumor has it that we will go watch it as a studio next week Friday so I’m not going to spoil my appetite. In other animation related news I got my shot’s blocking approved, the stereo guy setup his camera and I got the go ahead for the next part which is adding in-betweens and splining. Plan on going in to work tomorrow to catch up a bit for I’m a bit behind with my struggles with getting the scene set up for the first time. And also what controls to animate for the camera.
We’ve also been briefed about the next scene, the one we would have originally done. Lots of action scenes, not much acting. Nice!

Tags: 3D, Animation, Triggerfish, Pixar, Disney, Toy Story

I got the great news today that I’ll be starting at Triggerfish Animation Studios in Cape Town within the next week. It’s only a 7 month contract but I am super excited about it. This means I will have to animate 4 legged animals and possibly birds too. I will also have to learn to use SoftImage XSI. Looking forward to these new challenges.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Triggerfish

A new trailer for the movie MegaMind, created by DreamWorks Animation is out. As always, try to see it in HD full screen.

Tags: 3D, Animation, DreamWorks, Movie, Trailer

The trailer for the next movie from Blue Sky Studios have also been released today. It’s looking good and I’m looking forward to go see this one.

Tags: 3D, Blue Sky Studio, Movie, Trailer

Well the day is finally here. Shrek Forever After is now showing! Well.... what are you waiting for? Go and see it, now... go go go!!!

Tags: 3D, DreamWorks, Movie

This short film by Bernard Derriman made me almost pee my pants from laughing. Press play, you know you want to.

Tags: 2D, Animation

This is one very impressive short film produced by a guy named David Weinstein and a group of talented artists. Would love to see this one expanded. Oh, and watch it in full screen at the HD setting if you can.

Tags: 3D, Animation

Got to love this new trailer from DreamWorks for Shrek Forever After. Enjoy.

Tags: 3D, Animation, DreamWorks, Movie, Trailer

A new poster for Toy Story 3 is out.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Pixar, Movie

Wow, I stumbled upon this news article over at Wired.com about a 99 year old lady... using the Apple iPad to read books again! She suffers from glaucoma and with the iPad’s ability to enlarge text, she can read books again. Plus the VoiceOver facility which lets the iPad speak the word(s) you select, she can thoroughly enjoy her reading again.

This granny rocks!



Original article here.

Tags: Apple, iPad

Wow, the guys from 2 Unlimited are back with this new song “In Da name of Love”. They are not allowed to use the name “2 Unlimited” anymore due to it being owned by somebody else. So they now go by the name “Ray & Anita”. Just have a look at this video, I quite like it.

Tags: 2 Unlimited, Music

Just saw this short film by Patrick Jean and it’s amazing.


PIXELS by PATRICK JEAN.
Uploaded by onemoreprod. - Watch original web videos.

Tags: 3D, Animation

And it is official. Maya 2011 is available! I just finished downloading a 30-day trial version of Maya 2011 for OS X last night. The System Requirements on the Autodesk website states that you need OS X 10.6.2 but for the hell of it I tried installing it and it’s starting up on OS X 10.5.6. Don’t believe me, here’s my screenshot:


Time to take this bad boy for a test drive. The interface feels so much better already.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Autodesk, Maya

The last of the new Toy Story 3 characters have been revealed:





That also means that the poster with all the new characters are also completely lit up.

I think I covered all the new characters now. They all seem familiar to me at least.

Now June 18th better come along swiftly.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Pixar, Disney, Toy Story

Ok, I apologize for the delay. I’ve been having some internet connection issues. Hopefully it will be sorted out soon. So here’s 4 more characters for Toy Story 3 that got revealed:









I’m really looking forward to seeing this. Have a great week.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Toy Story, Disney, Pixar

Wow, here’s a sneak peek at the new content aware fill in Photoshop CS5.

Tags: Photoshop, Adobe, CS5

Yup, this is the latest new character revealed for Toy Story 3. His name is Spark, and ultra cool robot toy with flashing lights and everything.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Disney, Pixar, Toy Story

Woop woop!! Here it is, the official trailer from DreamWorks themselves.

Tags: 3D, Animation, DreamWorks, Movie, Trailer, Shrek

Well, Maya 2011 is coming. Some of the new things it will support that is of personal interest to me are:

• Support for Mac OS X 64-bit
• Backburner
• More file formats for creating custom icons for the shelf
• The Camera Sequencer for doing layouts and managing camera shots
• Few improvements to the Graph Editor
• Point on Poly constraint
• Viewport 2.0 which will allow for navigating complex scenes with ease

There’s a few video clips here to watch, and here’s the full post listing everything.

Found this screenshot on the web. It shows the new Camera Sequencer in action. You can see multiple audio tracks are now supported too!

Tags: 3D, Animation, Autodesk, Maya

Meet Stretch, and 8-legged purple octopus. Voiced by Whoopi Goldberg.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Toy Story, Disney, Pixar

And here it is!! The final Toy Story 3 poster!

Tags: 3D, Animation, Disney, Pixar, Toy Story

The latest character announced to be in Toy Story 3... Twitch. Half man, half insect.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Disney, Pixar, Movie, Toy Story

Dragon Training Lesson 1: The Deadly Nadder


Dragon Training Lesson 2: The Gronckle


Dragon Training Lesson 3: The Monstrous Nightmare


Dragon Training Lesson 4: The Hideous Zippleback


Dragon Training Lesson 5: The Night Fury


Dragon Training Lesson 6: The Terrible Terror

Tags: 3D, Animation, DreamWorks

Hehe, so DreamWorks brought out a few super cool clips with How To Train Your Dragon. Here they are:

Snowboarding. Vikings on snowboards?


Ski Jump. Being the best means having speed, agility, timing and a helmet!


Speed Skating. Before they trained Dragons, Vikings trained Olympians.


Bob-sledding requires 3 things: Strength, courage and a guy named Bob.


Medal Ceremony. The awarding of Gold, Silver & Bronze medals is a relatively recent development. 1000 years ago, athletes were awarded slightly different prizes.

Say hello to Buttercup. He... yes HE... is one of the new characters in Toy Story 3 that just got unveiled. Now, I’m still trying to get over the fact that a HE... got heart-shaped nostrils.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Movie, Pixar, Toy Story

There’s been a flurry of activity on the Toy Story 3 front. A new trailer got released and a few of the new characters got revealed.




Lotso


Oh Mr. Potato Head

Tags: 3D, Animation, Movie, Pixar, Trailer

I think quite a few of us feels like this about the iPad:

Tags: iPad

So Apple today announced the iPad. In a way I’m kinda disappointed. I was hoping it would run OS X so it can be used as a real tablet computer. For now, I will just sit on the sideline and watch how this evolves. I already have an iPhone so it doesn’t do anything magically better than my phone.

Tags: Apple

Tags: 3D, Animation, Apple, Movie, Trailer

Yup here it is. The second still from Toy Story 3 released to the public.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Pixar

Well well well, it seems like the first publicly released render from Toy Story 3 is here!

_{Image courtesy of The Pixar Blog}

Tags: 3D, Animation, Pixar

Oooh I like the sound of this:

Google is launching their own public DNS. Read the article here.

Tags: Google

The official version of the Toy Story 3 trailer is out now! Get it while it’s hot.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Disney, Movie, Pixar, Trailer

Wow, if I didn’t know any better I would say Microsoft is trying hard to mess things up for a LOT of people. It seems like Sidekick users in the USA are losing a LOT of their personal data. All I can say is that there should be heads rolling at Microsoft. Shame, I will give them an A for effort but that’s as far as it will go. And I feel sorry for Sidekick users. When Microsoft gets into the cloud computing business, I will make triple sure I don’t go with them. They are just dodgy. Where’s hyperactive Steve Balmer now? Oh wait, he could be screaming at people to not let his Sidekick lose power or he will lose all his stuff.

And to show yet again some really crappy Microsoft ads, here’s another one. Trying to rebrand Windows Mobile as Windows Phone. And using HTC Pure hardware instead of using the Windows Phone they are working on? Seriously, somebody should let the people that come up with the ads go back to mopping the floors.

Tags: Funnies, Microsoft

Yes, the man is back on stage. Welcome back Steve!

Today I would say the big announcements was the iTunes 9, iPhone OS 3.1 and the new iPod nanos with video capabilities.

Tags: Apple, iPhone

Our AnimationMentor Student Showcase for Summer 2009 have just been released. There’s some really cool kickass animation on there. I am so excited when I see the quality of animation my fellow students puts out. Hopefully soon I will have something good enough to have on the next one.

Tags: 3D, AM, Animation

Looking pretty cool! I enjoy the cartoon version of it a lot so I’m sure this one will be able to push the bar.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Movie, Trailer

So the Seacom fiber optic cable running up the east coast of Africa went live. Now we will just have to wait and see how it improves our internet here in South Africa.

Tags: Web

I saw this post over at Engadget today. Things have been busy here with my AnimationMentor assignments and the family that is here, so I haven’t been able to blog in a while. Anyways, so the clever marketing guys from Toyota have 5 of these flowers out in the USA. They have solar panels at the top behind the petals, and allow you to charge your portable devices there as well as having free Wi-Fi internet. I think it’s a damn cool idea.

All I can say is “WOW!!”. As a way for Apple to show to the developers that was at the WWDC (Developer’s Conference) how popular the top 20,000 apps in the App Store is, they setup a hyperwall. This hyperwall consists of twenty 30-inch Apple Cinema Display monitors. Every time an app is downloaded it pulses on the display. And to top it all, the icons were sorted by their color making a rainbow spectrum. Read the full article here.

Apple gives Microsoft a kick up the arse with an even lower price for Snow Leopard over here.

And last but not least, TomTom and Navigon will be bringing us turn-by-turn GPS navigation to the iPhones using iPhone OS 3.0!!! It’s about time! Woop woop!!!

Tags: Apple

I accidentally stumbled upon this thing over at Autodesk Labs. It’s called Project Dragonfly. The description on their site says it best:

Streamline your next home improvement project by using Dragonfly's intuitive design tools to rapidly create and furnish your floor plan, experimenting in real time with your ideas in 2D and 3D before making it real!

I gave it a quick try and I must admit it’s not that bad. You can choose your measurements between imperial and metric. Creating rooms are super easy. If you accidentally drag the corner of a room thinking it will keep the walls 90 degrees, the walls will snap back to 90 degrees as you bring the corner closer to where it was. The selection of stuff to add into the room (doors, windows, furniture) might not be uber but it’s not crappy either. This is a great tool for you to try out a new living room couch arrangement without having to strain a back muscle, or to give the master bedroom a new coat of paint without picking up a paintbrush.

Give it a try, you might just find it handy.

Tags: 3D, Autodesk, Web

Yup, here it is. The first teaser trailer for Toy Story 3. You can go watch a full HD version on the Apple Trailers website.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Disney, Movie, Pixar, Trailer

Woohoo! Pixar announced that they will be opening a studio in Vancouver, Canada, for producing their short films. Short films being those short movies of a couple of minutes that gets to play before one of their feature animation films. Short films are also what they tend to test new technologies on so it’s a great way to get a sneak-peek at what they’ve been working on.

Tags: Animation, Pixar

I totally agree with that statement made by Apple spokesman Bill Evans. It seems like Apple just gave Microsoft another sucker punch. Click here to read the article.

Tags: Apple, Funnies, Microsoft

So it seems like Microsoft is desperately trying to fix it’s self-esteem by getting average people on the street to say that they cannot find in a MacBook what they’re looking for. Here is the first ad and also the scam that has been revealed about it, and this is the so-called self-confessed technically savvy guy. Shame, poor bastard probably only read up on MHz and GB before he left for the shops on the Wikipedia. Shame Microsoft, you’re making an ass of yourself. Stop trying so hard, it comes naturally.

Tags: Apple, Funnies

This is something I feel we should all try and do. Just one hour out of your night without the lights on. And please sign the petition if you can.

When I read articles like this one over at Apple Insider, I just have this big lump in my throat and I feel proud. Not just because I’m an Apple fanboy, but because for the people over at Apple the business they are in is not just about making as much money as they can out of the average Joe. No, these guys also empower people to do so much more with their Apple hardware (the iPhone/iPod Touch in particular in this case) to help other people who have a tough life (diabetes sufferers in this case).

Good job guys!

Tags: Apple, iPhone

So it’s official, the new iPhone OS 3.0 sounds like it would be good. The things that gotten my attention was:

• Turn-by-turn directions are now available to devs. So soon we should see some proper satnav apps for the iPhone
• The 3.0 software upgrade will be free to current iPhone 3G owners
• When asked why they don’t support background processes, their explanation was as follow, and it makes totally sense to me: "We were asked, why don't you do background processing? It's bad for the customer. It drains battery. We've been testing this, and running some background processes on some phones. We took a popular AIM client, and we just let go in the background -- then we measured the standby time. And it dropped by 80% or more." So, they will implement Push technology to help resolve some of the current issues.
• Cut, copy & paste
• Landscape keyboard in Mail and SMS
• MMS
• Spotlight is now going to be included for all the key applications!

Cool, cannot wait to get my hands on it.

Tags: Apple, 3G, iPhone

It's been a while since I blogged, I know. Things have been hectic here. Anyways, a new Up trailer was released yesterday. Be sure to check the HD version if possible.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Apple, Disney, Funnies, Movie, Pixar, Trailer

So Pixar is 23 years old today. Happy birthday guys!

Tags: 3D, Animation, Pixar

Yup, that's right. It's the second Transformers movie, Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen. This is the ad that will air during the Superbowl. And this looks like it would be good, really good. Coming to a theater near you on the 26th of June 2009.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Movie, Trailer, ILM

Barrack Obama has just been sworn in as the 44th president of the USA and I got to say, I'm pretty excited about it. There is quite a buzz at the inauguration and the "Obama! Obama!" chanting coming from the crowd is quite positive. I got to say, he is entering presidency with tough times ahead. Lots of things that needs to be fixed. I wish him good luck.

Tags: USA

Another sneak peek at the upcoming animated movie, Up.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Disney, Movie, Pixar, Trailer

Microsoft has done it again! They made yet another crap ad for their new app called Songsmith. Well done MS, you've managed to outdone yourselves yet again. Is this the best you guys can do at taking a stab at Magic Garageband Jam from Apple? Pathetic!

Ok people, you know the drill, go grab your barf bags. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Tags: Apple, Funnies, Microsoft

In a open letter to the Apple community, Steve Jobs have put the rumors about his deteriorating health to rest. It's a mere hormone imbalance for which there is a simple treatment. Can I ask that the plonkers that like to start and/or spread bad rumors stop acting like asshats and get on with your lives. Thanks.

Tags: Apple

Seems like the guys over at Pixar are working extra hard. Rumour has it that for the first time ever, they have 2 movies scheduled for release in 2011 (Newt and The Bear and the Bow). But if Cars 2 is scheduled for 2011 they would probably move the other 2 movies to 2012. Either way I cannot wait.

Tags: 3D, Animation, Pixar

The iPhone 3G has finally arrived in South Africa today. Looking at the pricing structure from VodaCom you need to go pawn in your granny to be able to afford it though.

Tags: iPhone, Apple, 3G, VodaCom

Google Chrome is here. The new web browser from that search engine company most people love. Well let's see how it goes. If it works as easy and smooth as it's other products then I think we might have the guys at Redmond getting a bit worried.

Tags: Google, Web, Browser

Seems like some ex-employees of Google is gunning for them. The team of 4 people created this search engine boasting that it indexed 120 billion web pages, allegedly more than that of Google. If you ask me they will become just another Yahoo and Microsoft.

Read more at CNN.com

Tags: Web, Browser

The guys over at Mozilla is trying to set a new world record for the most downloads of their brand spanking new Firefox 3 browser. All I can say is that I'm still a loyal Firefox user and version 3 feels a bit faster with regards to web browsing.

Tags: Firefox, Mozilla, Web, Browser

_{Image courtesy of Apple.}
So it's finally been introduced. The new 3G iPhone from Apple. Coming to South Africa somewhere this year... the date we have for now. And it will be selling much cheaper than the first iPhone. $199 for the 8Gb in the US. I think we can get ready for approximately R 3000. Not bad considering it's features.

Some more links
Official 3G iPhone website
EnGadget Reports

Tags: Apple, 3G, iPhone, VodaCom

_{Image courtesy of Wikipedia.org}

It's a sad day today for me to hear that Ollie Johnston passed away.

Who is he you may ask? He is one of the 9 Old Men as they were famously dubbed that worked at Walt Disney Studios. The last remaining one as a matter of fact. I am actually currently busy reading him and Frank Thomas's book by the title of "The Illusion of Life - Disney Animation". Also known as the animation bible.

Rest In Peace Mr. Johnston

Some more links
Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston's Official site
CNN Report