An Introspect on the Decade of the Indian CG Industry

10 years have gone by and the relationship between India and the AVGC sector has been bittersweet. Much achieved and at phases much lost. It has been a whirlwind journey through the passage of time. The achievements act as the escalator to hopes and the disappointments are considered as the lessons. While we document the aspirations we might just learn few facts with this little introspective.

We can say that we are yet in the preliminary stage, but how many reality checks would be needed? Ten years is a long period of gestation. India thrives on entertainment, why audiences aren't yet ready to digest that an animated movie is telling a story. Is the story good enough? When the story is good enough producers shy away asking where is the audience. Is there a way to break the Catch 22? Read More...

ShapeShifter – A Charlex Film, A Master Piece of Visual Excellence

A chance and a dream sparked Charlex's creation of ShapeShifter. ShapeShifter resonates every line of Fitzgerald Scott's lyrically designed prose poem. Never did we think that design could simultaneously speak words as well as compliment them. The calm music composition by Peter Lauridsen at Stimmung, the sound design by Andres Velasquez and the narration by none other than Gabriel Byrne, puts you in a trance but doesn't let your focus slip. Mostly, it challenges your imagination. Alex Weil's direction coupled with Diana Park's design has made ShapeShifter an allegory for a dream world. Read More...

The WormWorld Saga - The Story of an Online Graphic Novel by illustrator Daniel Lieske

The zeal to tell a story made Daniel Lieske who works for a Gaming studio create the most visually attractive and engaging online graphic novel called Worm World Saga. Worm World Saga will be something really fresh and interesting for all our readers. The idea of a graphic novel that uses brilliance of art definitely blurs the lines between mediums of story-telling. Daniel apart from working at work has put his personal creativity into telling a story to the most number of people. He has succeeded in telling the first phase of the story, and it has clicked with end number of audiences around the globe. And now he shares it with us. Be ready to be completely bowled over by the visual art… Read More...

FMX 2011 - The 16th Conference on Animation, Effects, Games & Interactive Media

On May 3-6, FMX 2011 will take place in Stuttgart, Germany; again in the wonderful ambience of the Haus der Wirtschaft. FMX has been an integral part in building and shaping the industry. Over the years digital imagery has seen tremendous growth, and FMX has complemented and supported the growth. Throughout the past fifteen years of its existence, FMX kept up with the developments and trends and has grown to become an important networking platform for those working with digital imagery. We asked the organisers about the history of FMX and what they are planning for 2011. Read More...

VFX Insights with Michael Fink Senior Creative Director, Prime Focus

Michael has been involved with visual effects since he was a young boy, when he created his first miniature shot - a still of a rocket to the moon - in the hallway of his parents' home. He continued experimenting with photography and effects of all sorts until his college years - building projectors, remote camera systems, and experimenting with pyrotechnics (until his ability was outstripped by the explosive power of his concoctions and he wisely left further research to others).

Michael received a Bachelor's degree in Business from California State University, Northridge, in 1966, and was promptly drafted into the Army. Following the Army, he worked as an investment manager in San Francisco. Michael then took a leave of absence to attend the Art Institute of San Francisco, receiving a B.A. in 1973. In 1975, after moving to Los Angeles, he received an M.F.A. from the California Institute of the Arts. Read More...

Making of Moment before "Extinction" by Damir G Martin

It has been long since we covered a good tutorial. After the popularity of Damir's work on the Giant Octopus and him sharing how he worked it out on CGTantra, we have him tell us about the "Moment Before Extinction"

We asked Damir, what was absorbing up his time currently, and here is what he had to say; there are a lot many challenges he has set for him. Read More...

An Interview with Sean Andrew Murray, Principal Concept Artist

CGTantra got the chance to interview a very creative mind, which belongs to none other than Sean Andrew Murray. Sean's work at first glance awe you and the second expression coming from you would be definitely "wow and how". He is the Creator of "The Party" illustration that he shared with us as the artwork for The Monster's Tea Party in Artt War 5. Sean is currently working as "Principal Concept Artist at Big Huge Games, a division of 38 Studios". It was fun to interview and know about his work and how he works and creates the glorious illustrations; it keeps you thinking. Here you get to see work never seen before, believe us it is work never seen before. You can absorb and learn from the information Sean shares... get inspired people. And over to Sean... Read More..

NSM THE NATIONAL SUDENTS MEET about and for MAAC Students

Even to be a part of this radical animation industry has been a task for many and to remain and rationalize and evolve with this radical animation industry is even more irksome. There are veterans who have sustained and NSM brought their practicality, experience and sense to the beautiful Imperial Palace Classrooms. Animation, VFX and Gaming are one side of a valuable coin, which would be just useless without implementing, trying and practicing, and will still remain unless the knowledge circulates. Read More...

Aditya Infotech & Autodesk: Exclusive look into the “exclusive” software AUTODESK SOFTIMAGE 2011

Autodesk and Aditya Infotech in the 1st very week of 2011 took the "artigeeks" on an exploration cruise of Softimage 2011.

Referring to our first opening statement of a package; Autodesk's Softimage Software is a bundle of joy for any freelancer, to a boutique studio to also the bigger-biggest studios…their life(pipe)lines being pumped by Softimage. Read More...

Making of CGTantra Digital Matte Painting Challenge 3rd Winner by Jan Šarbort

I am a 23 years old graphic designer and digital artist from Czech Republic. Around the end of 2009, I discovered the field of matte painting, and gradually I began to study it and learn it. Third place win in this competition is like a confirmation for me that I took the right direction. I am grateful for it. I think that this competition was very interesting. Read More...

What Made him Win CGTantra Matte Painting Contest “Across the Rooftop”

This month's challenge was to make a night time matte painting using day time elements. My first approach to this challenge was to find a suitable daytime plate. I decided to make use of a vacation photo I taken in Oxford, England. Working resolution was set to 5k so that I could resize the final painting and get a more satisfying result. It is always a good idea to work in a higher resolution because sometimes you don't know how much of the image you will have to crop. Read More...

Making of Band Baaja Baaraat the Brightest Entertainer with TATA Elxsi

The creative lead for ‘Band Baaja Baarat’ Ms. Scheherazade Bharda, Creative Supervisor, VCL (Visual Computing Labs), Tata Elxsi shares a few insights on giving more life to this already vibrant and full of spunk movie with the use of VFX. Read More...

The Making of The Mystic Evolution by IACG Students

International Academy of Computer Graphics (IACG) is the esteemed Discipline that has found a winner in "The Mystic Evolution" as it won at Asifa India under the category of Best VFX short Film. IACG with its courses in BMM and M.Sc is dedicated towards procuring creativity from students with its bachelor degree and post graduation. The Winners of the best VFX short film are students who took up The Mystic Evolution to understand and get hands on experience in the field of animation, CG and VFX. They aspire to attain and set examples and out do their own expectations…in the process winning the Best VFX short film.

We chat with them and get to know how they were inspired and how did this evolution happened as the camera rolled in Hyderabad. Read More...

SIGGRAPH Asia 2010 – Inspiring Greater Digital Creations

Not very far away from India...The art of animation;Han-guk Manhwa Aenimeisyeon bloomed in South Korea-Seoul. As you flip through the flip-books or television channels, you will be the spectator to popular series The Simpsons, Family Guy and many more that happened to be made in South Korea Seoul.

In December 2010 Siggraph Asia covered everything in animation that shone under the 2010 Sun. Siggraph Asia at Seoul Korea was a culmination of the highlights of the year, as they celebrated and covered emerging technologies, social networking and 3D graphics and technologies that support tomorrow's life-styles. The world of animation (45 countries participated) was seen at Seoul as they celebrated their own new year, awakening creativity and Inspiring Greater Digital Creations. Read More...

Frameboxx paved the path to Toonpur …Animation Revealed of Toonpur Ka Superrhero

The First Full Fledged Animated and Live Action combined movie in the history of Indian Animation. Director Kireet Khurana of Toonpur Ka Superrhero presented a comprehensive Making Of at Rang Sharda with Frameboxx supporting the event at full throttle.

Director Kireet Khurana overwhelmed by the presence of a huge crowd, the moment a major event in his life. On the day before the release of the movie he proudly shared with one and all the efforts they put in to create Toonpur Ka Superrhero. Read More...

Vodafone Behraam Antichaarwala: The Best Critique ever

Having a good old cup of tea, nothing short of having tea at Buckingham Palace we sipped through the evening, chatting. Vaibhav Studios' Vaibhav did not give us a sneak peak but a full view into the Making of Vodafone Anti4 Parrot TVC.

Vaibhav Kumaresh with his usual whacky sense of humor told the story of Behram Antichaarwala the villainous parrot of Vodafone to CGTantra. Read More...

Kireet Khurana, Director of TOONPUR KA SUPERRHERO as he prepares for the Curtain Raiser

The Indian audiences are now eager to watch innovative movies. As the viewer gears up to take on this fresh ride, here are directors like Mr. Kireet Khurana who offer something vibrant and entertaining.

Toonpur Ka Superrhero is a live-action, animated movie. It is LIVE, bigger than life just like the Star-cast with Ajay and Kajol (the very significant couple) and its lively. Why animated? Animated because this is the very first time in the Indian animation world that an actor will interact with cartoon characters!
Read More..

VFX War 1 (Revisiting District 9) Winning Entry by Slyfox8900

First of all, thank you CGTantra for allowing the 'VFX War: Revisiting District 9' to take place!

What's up everybody my name is Brandon Clements, and on behalf of Team Slyfox8900, Andrew Farris and I would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding, as we have been very busy with school this semester. I am now on Thanksgiving Break from Purdue of New Albany, Indiana so I thought that it would be a great time to write this "making of" article. Read More...

An Interview with Winner for Best Cinematography in 48hours film competition

Blades of Grass is a brilliant product of 48 hours of film-making. The cinematography, a winner, the story heart-warming and the poetic fluidity a master-piece!

We Suggest You Watch It!

We ask Ankur Kapoor, how he and his team "Q", about what they did in those 48 hours, here is their story: Read More...

12th TBS DIGICON 6 - Awards Announced

Tokyo Broadcating System Television established in the year of 1951 organized TBS DigiCon 6 Awards in 2000. TBS is one of the major television stations.

Asian talent has been well recognized on this immense platform and in their 12th Edition it has brought forth the best creative minds in Asia.

They received 2,000 entries from across the continent, the countries being China, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand.

東京の愛 The love for Tokyo, the love for TBS, the Love for Creativity

The warmth spread through in the winter of Japan as creative geniuses exchanged shared and communicated their movies. Read More...