New "Puss In Boots" Teaser from DreamWorks

The next animated feature from DreamWorks is just around the corner as "Puss In Boots" gets ready for release this coming November 4, 2011. A new teaser from the studio went online recently that shows who really wears the pants when it comes to this movie. There's more video to watch and a photo I took earlier in the Spring when I visited the DreamWorks campus and saw the Puss In Boots display set up in studio's the main lobby. You can find it through this link to the AN Forums.

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"Tunnel Riders" from Higgledy Animation Studios

Greenwich Village, New York, is the home of  Higgledy Animation Studios, a next-generation transmedia studio producing children's branded entertainment.

With the help of their full service 3D animation studio in Pune, India, they use cutting edge 3D/CG stereoscopic communication technologies to create 3D content, taking exceptional care in nurturing their brands from inception to fruition and beyond. Their team consists of sharp and quirky writers, artists and animators who've set out to generate fun and revolutionary children's 3-D television, gaming and feature film content for audiences around the world.

This link will take you to the topic on the AN Forums. Here's the trailer for their latest project "Tunnel Riders"...

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Max the Mutt Animation School - Toronto Pedigree

If you're looking for a good animation school in the Toronto area, check out Max the Mutt. It's a degree granting institution that's had a lot of success with their students.

At Max the Mutt, you get a full education in art and animation through a variety of disciplines, from traditional hand drawn to computer animation. Located in a creatively vibrant district in Toronto, Max the Mutt helps to meet the demand for production artists within the Canadian animation industry and North America by virtue of their well rounded and balanced educational curriculum. In fact, earlier today I posted a topic on the forums concerning how the industry is growing in Hamilton, Ontario, a town within the greater Toronto area. What a great resource the city has in this animation school.

A curriculum basd upon strong fundamentals, small class sizes, personal attention from instructors who are working professionals, help to make the Max the Mutt animation experience a valuable one for up and coming animation talent. Contact the school for more information and when you do, mention that you heard of them through AnimationNation.   

Don Bluth's Website

Don Bluth Animation

One of our closest associates and strongest supporters is none other than Don Bluth himself.

I've had the opportunity of meeting this wonderful man on two occasions. The first time was at a dinner in November, 2009 at the CTN eXpo in Burbank.  The next time was at AN Night on May 25, 2010 when Don was our specail guest. We had in more than 225 people in attendance that evening. It was by far our best turnout in all the time we've been sponsoring these events. Check out some of the Don Bluth topics we have on the forums. Watch Don draw Kimberly from Space Ace. Here's another drawing tutorial from Don in the Education Forum. This is Don Bluth lecturing on the importance of knowing traditional animation.

Don maintains a great website of his own. Follow the link to DonBluthAnimation.com and see for yourself. It's a dynamic, educational site with a dedicated animation community centered upon one of the greatest animation artists and independent filmmakers our industry has ever known.

"Soul Man" coming from Blacklight Movies

The animation scene in Europe continues to be an ever intriguing one as more and more sophisticated films are being produced there.

The latest that has come our way is news about an animated feature in progress from Blacklight Movies.  It's called 'Soul Man' and by the description provided by the producers... "It's a blacksploitation road movie about an extraordinary girl. Her unlikely companions, the closest thing she has to a proper family, are an ex detective ala Dirty Harry of Polish origins and a bodasious woman with an abundant afro haircut who makes her living of larceny." 

A topic on the AN Forums has been started that provides more information. Here's the very impressive teaser for Soul Man...

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"Allon" by Shawn Lamb - An Literary Epic in the Making

Long time AN member and animation industry veteran Rob Lamb has been keeping us up to date as to the progress of his wife, Shawn Lamb's string of novels. The Allon series has so far reached four books and is reportedly on its way to as many as nine before the continuing legacy is wrapped.

I'm happy to say that I was among the very first to purchase a copy of the introductory novel. Allon is becoming very popular with readers of all ages and is getting excellent reviws. It's an emerging classic. To learn more about the Allon series and to purchase copies, head on over to the official website at AllonBooks.com.   There's also an interview with author Shawn lamb that you can listen to. The link is posted by Rob Lamb in his topic on the AN Forums

Next AN Night - August 30 2011 - Sherm Cohen

AN Night - Sherm Cohen

On the last Tuesday of every month, we sponsor a live event in the heart of Burbank. AnimationNation Night is a great opportunity to creatively socialize as we always have something new and different happening.

This month, we're very pleased to be hosting our special guest Sherm Cohen, one of the industry's leading  storyboard artists. Sherm has the distinction of being a member of the original SpongeBob Squarepants crew where he worked as a Writer, Storyboard Artist, Storyboard Supervisor and Director for the next three seasons of the TV series. Sherm was also Character Designer and Lead Storyboard Artist on The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. 

A veteran of Cartoon Network, Sherm is currently working as Storyboard Supervisor on Disney's Fish Hooks TV series, where he also appears on-screen every episode as Bud the pet-shop owner. 

For details about this coming AN Night, follow this link to the topic on the AN Forums where you'll also find more lnks to Sherm Cohen's DVD storyboard course website and his tutorials blog. The AN Night event is free and everyone is welcome. You can also find more information about AN Night in general by following the link. 

HoBSoft - Intergrated Production System for Feature Animated Films

Hobsoft

If you're in the market for a high end animation production system that can handle the most challenging of projects in the feature film arena, then HoBSoft may be the solution you're looking for. HoBSoft is an international system that coordinates your production from beginning to end, and delivers superb production quality. They have several very impressive films to their credit including the Academy Award nominated The Secret of Kells,  Chico and Rita, and the upcoming A Monster In Paris. To find out more click on this link to HoBSoft and explore their website. They've been a member of the AN Forums for quite some time now and we're happy to refer you to them.

Aniboom - a 21st Century Model for Animation

Aniboom

If you haven't heard of Aniboom by now, take a moment to learn more about this interesting online animation resource. It's a contemporary model for location independent animation production. The first virtual animation studio, bridging the gap between the global community of independent animators and the professional animation industry in all its forms: cinema, television, web, mobile, music videos, digital gaming, and advertising. Aniboom brings together thousands of highly skilled animation artists from dozens of countries around the world.

Their website is full of great animated content. I've been developing a topic focusing on animated films that Aniboom has been featuring through their YouTube channel. Take a look at some of these animated shorts by following the link to the AN Forums.

Wagner's "Seigfried" - Animated Trailer

Check out this video and prepare to be blown away by the quality of the production. Traditional, hand drawn animation no less.

I don't know much about it except that it's a trailer for a film based upon Wagner's opera "Seigfreid". A musician who tours with Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' live theatrical ensemble showed it to me today. It was animated by Pendragon Imageworks. It's astoundingly good. Watch it and you'll see what I'm talking about. You can access the topic on the AN Forums as well. 

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