The new trailer for Astro Boy came out.  It shows a little more of the story for the movie.  In my opinion they really got the feel for the character.  He also seems to be a little  older than in the cartoons or comics. Anyways, IMAGI is doing the animation for this.  IMAGI is a Hong Kong based animation studio.  They are best known for doing the CG animated TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).  From the looks of it, the company has picked up some new techniques.  As you can very well see, the image quality has improved siginifcantly from their previous projects.  I never thought they were going to finish this movie, as there has been some rumors a while back that money was an issue and IMAGI had to shutdown for a while.  I'm just glad this were able to complete it.  Now can someone please make a Mega Man movie.  Come on Capcom, you know you want to.

Astro Boy Official Movie Site : HERE

IMAGI website : HERE

Video courtesy of Youtube

While taking a look at Motionographer,  I saw something pretty cool.   What you're about to see is real.  This video hasn't had any CG post production done to it.  What you are seeing is a video projected on the building in realtime.  I must say this is one of the best I've ever seen.  If it looks as convincing in person as it does on the video, my jaws would drop to floor. This piece ( called 555 Kubik) is a collaboration with Urbanscreen and art director Daniel Rossa.  As they shortly explained "How It Would Be If A House Was Dreaming".  Check out the video below.

Here is an extender version of the video HERE.

The Blender Institute’s third open movie, DURIAN, is about to go into production. For those unfamiliar, "Open Movies" are films made with open source applications, which in this case is Blender.  These movies are available for free when they are complete, but anyone can purchase a DVD if they choose to.  You can help support the artists and developers who make these wonderful films by pre-ordering your Durian DVD today at the Blender Store.  If you participate in the pre-sale campaign, you'll get your name in Durian's ending credits and you will be part of history!  50 years from now when you're possibly fat and watching young Steven Spielberg III debut his first Open Movie, you'll look into your grandson's eyes and tell him how you helped support one of the early Open Movies to be made: Durian! Pre-Order Durian at the Blender Store: http://www.blender3d.org/e-shop/product_info_n.php?products_id=120

Once in a while a short gets your attention.  This is one of them.  Called Alarm, this short has everything.  It's got an interesting idea, beautiful environment, cool character design, good music/ ambient sound.  Need I say more. The short was developed by a group in South Korea called Mesai.   The creators are Moo-hyun Jang and Jung-woo Choo.  They are now showing it on the festival circuits.  Check out the short below.  You won't be disappointed.  Also visit their site too.

Mesai Website

Thanks to CGTalk and Pixel

Ever wonder what happens when an album cover comes alive.  This is what happens.  If you don't know the band, you probably should.  They've been compared to Weezer.  They're famous around the world for doing Intro/outro songs for anime including Naruto.  They're called Asian Kung Fu Generation and they're from Japan.

Now if you do know the band, the one  thing that always tells its an AKG album is the artwork.  The artwork is very clean.  It looks to be done in all vectors.  Colorful, story like, and distinctive.  In their music video  Atarashii Sekai (New World), the artist (Yusuke Nakamura also a musician) for their albums created the video.  It told the history of the album artworks.   It kind of cool cause there is a connection within each art.  It kind of ties it all together.  Check out some of the album covers.

You can visit Asian Kung Fu Generation's official site HERE.  I don't think that Yusuke Nakmura has his own site, but I could be wrong.

Here is something cool all done in After Effects.  Taking text and giving them life.  Created by Sebastian Lange.  Music score  created by FORSS.