Celebrating the Art, Craft and Business of Animation https://www.awn.com/ en-US 15 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:30:53 -0800 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:35:37 -0800 https://www.awn.com/animationworld/ugly-mugs-and-ai-gone-wrong-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-chrome-alone-2-lost-new In Paramount Picture’s animated short, a mysterious company run by an AI Robot, Chrome Dome, seeks to profit off the boy’s new hero status… with cheap, twisted, and lame looking toys that barely resemble the team. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/ugly-mugs-and-ai-gone-wrong-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-chrome-alone-2-lost-new Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:30:53 PST AI https://www.awn.com/news/adobe-firefly-introduces-new-ai-video-tools-partner-models New Prompt to Edit controls allow users to make precise edits and remove details from generated content using text; video upscaling with Topaz Astra added; the full beta of Firefly video editor has also launched. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/adobe-firefly-introduces-new-ai-video-tools-partner-models Tue, 16 Dec 2025 7:24:14 PST AI https://www.awn.com/news/chaos-delivers-maya-houdini-real-time-rendering-and-ai-tools-blender New V-Ray updates include a host of new features and functionality that aim to accelerate playblasts, previs, and lookdev for professional VFX and animation teams. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/chaos-delivers-maya-houdini-real-time-rendering-and-ai-tools-blender Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:35:11 PST AI https://www.awn.com/news/w-t-fx-amd-partner-develop-next-generation-vfx-tools The 2 giants have signed an MOU to explore the development of new rendering and AI tools aimed at optimizing visual effects production workflows. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/w-t-fx-amd-partner-develop-next-generation-vfx-tools Tue, 09 Dec 2025 14:05:31 PST AI https://www.awn.com/news/world-vfx-day-2025-releases-full-program The final lineup for the free event, which each year spotlights the VFX and animation industries, features over 65 speakers across 15 hours of talks; will live stream via YouTube on December 8. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/world-vfx-day-2025-releases-full-program Thu, 04 Dec 2025 17:19:45 PST AI https://www.awn.com/animationworld/shorts-focus-john-gardners-whats-locked-behind-door Combining rotoscoped public domain footage from the 1962 cult classic ‘The Brain That Wouldn’t Die’ with original 2D/3D animation, the music video presents a surreal meditation on psychological concealment. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/animationworld/shorts-focus-john-gardners-whats-locked-behind-door Mon, 01 Dec 2025 11:02:09 PST AI https://www.awn.com/news/w-t-fx-and-aws-develop-ai-tools-vfx-artists Deal calls for the companies to explore 3 specific areas where AI can meaningfully improve visual effects workflow efficiency and creative iteration. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/w-t-fx-and-aws-develop-ai-tools-vfx-artists Fri, 28 Nov 2025 7:32:05 PST AI https://www.awn.com/news/modern-uprising-studios-screenvision-media-announce-frame-forward-animated-ai-festival Submissions are now open for the first international festival for AI-enabled, director-driven animation, which celebrates the future of storytelling. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/modern-uprising-studios-screenvision-media-announce-frame-forward-animated-ai-festival Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:58:09 PST AI https://www.awn.com/news/nvidia-studio-presents-hologram-crowdsourced-music-video Adobe MAX attendees were invited to use AI features in Adobe Premiere or Photoshop to remix and reimagine frames of the original music video by Jordan Sommerlad. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/nvidia-studio-presents-hologram-crowdsourced-music-video Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:21:43 PST AI https://www.awn.com/blog/studio-one How artist-driven AI is rewriting the economics of animation. Kevin Geiger https://www.awn.com/blog/studio-one Mon, 27 Oct 2025 10:47:05 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/news/deemos-launches-groundbreaking-rodin-gen-2-genai-intuitive-3d-creation The pioneering AI 3D research company unveils its most advanced model to date, a 10B-parameter 3D generative AI built on the BANG architecture, geared for professional uses across film, TV and games. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/deemos-launches-groundbreaking-rodin-gen-2-genai-intuitive-3d-creation Thu, 23 Oct 2025 9:39:39 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/news/jeremy-renner-boards-stardust-future-stars-and-scars-ai-animated-feature The actor will lend his voice to the ‘Oracle of Time’ narrator on the film, which blends 2D and 3D animation; set for a November theatrical release. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/jeremy-renner-boards-stardust-future-stars-and-scars-ai-animated-feature Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:55:04 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/news/jibjab-storybots-creators-launch-spiridellis-bros-studios Investors in Evan and Gregg Spiridellis’ AI-powered animation studio include Polaris Founders Capital, Caruso Ventures, Google’s AI Futures Fund, Ashton Kutcher, Guy Oseary, Tim Ferriss, and Katie Stanton. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/jibjab-storybots-creators-launch-spiridellis-bros-studios Mon, 20 Oct 2025 9:04:42 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/event/european-conference-visual-media-production-2025 The forum brings together production and post-production specialists to discuss the latest in research, advances, and industry practices; the conference takes place in London December 3-4 AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/event/european-conference-visual-media-production-2025 Tue, 14 Oct 2025 9:20:41 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/news/fox-entertainment-invests-holywater The equity stake investment in the Ukrainian AI-powered vertical video technology platform signals the studio’s focus on digital storytelling and next-gen creatives; commits to producing over 200 titles in the next 2 years. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/fox-entertainment-invests-holywater Tue, 14 Oct 2025 8:12:54 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/news/frankenstein-cinematographer-dan-laustsen-set-view-2025 It’s less than one week away… the person behind the camera on Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated film joins more than 150 award-winning speakers from the world of animation, VFX, games and AI who will take part in a packed schedule of keynotes, talks, panels, workshops and masterclasses; event runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/frankenstein-cinematographer-dan-laustsen-set-view-2025 Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:32:07 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/news/nvidia-open-sources-audio2face-animation-model Audio2Face accelerates the creation of realistic digital characters by providing real-time facial animation and lip-sync driven by generative AI. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/nvidia-open-sources-audio2face-animation-model Wed, 08 Oct 2025 15:53:55 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/news/calabash-agency-scc-reimagine-tootsie-rolls-how-many-licks-ad The animation studio kicked AI to the curb and refined line work, refreshed the background art, and updated the product packaging while preserving the spot’s original spirit. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/calabash-agency-scc-reimagine-tootsie-rolls-how-many-licks-ad Mon, 06 Oct 2025 17:18:13 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/news/view-2025-reveals-expansive-full-conference-lineup It’s just 2 weeks away… more than 150 award-winning speakers from the world of animation, VFX, games and AI will take part in a packed schedule of keynotes, talks, panels, workshops and masterclasses; event runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/view-2025-reveals-expansive-full-conference-lineup Thu, 02 Oct 2025 9:53:50 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/event/infinity-festival-2025 The eighth annual festival returns to Los Angeles this October 9-10 to celebrate the convergence of art, technology, and entertainment; the Monolith Awards, hosted by Paul Debevec, Chief Research Officer of Eyeline Studios, will take place October 10. AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/event/infinity-festival-2025 Mon, 29 Sep 2025 9:31:29 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/event/fredrikstad-animation-festival-2025 FAF 2025 returns to Fredrikstad, Norway with a full program celebrating the dynamic storytelling of global animation October 23-26. AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/event/fredrikstad-animation-festival-2025 Mon, 29 Sep 2025 9:21:22 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/blog/creators-manifesto The call to arms in the age of AI. Kevin Geiger https://www.awn.com/blog/creators-manifesto Mon, 29 Sep 2025 7:26:22 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/news/disney-drops-4-tron-ares-clips Humanity’s first encounter with sophisticated, super strong and intelligent AI-generated soldiers that can simply be replaced if struck down stars Jared Leto and Jeff Bridges; featuring even deadlier light cycles and a fantastic color scheme, film hits theaters October 10. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/disney-drops-4-tron-ares-clips Fri, 26 Sep 2025 13:26:26 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/news/infinity-festival-announces-2025-speaker-line Event to showcase the intersection of technology and entertainment with speakers from HP, NVIDIA, AMD, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Dolby, and The Belgium Economic Mission; event runs October 9–10. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/infinity-festival-announces-2025-speaker-line Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:40:42 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/news/previs-pro-gets-major-update-free-access-tier Previs Pro 3 adds new Animatics feature that incorporates motion, timing, and pacing directly into the visual planning process; Light Grade exits beta; new free pricing level allows users to generate unlimited watermarked storyboards, use up to three AI-generated props, and create one animatic sequence. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/previs-pro-gets-major-update-free-access-tier Wed, 17 Sep 2025 10:06:26 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/news/asteria-c-craig-patterson-unveil-chikaboom-animated-short Starring Yara Shahidi, Natasha Lyonne, Daveed Diggs, Roy Wood Jr., and Tika Sumpter, the film follows an aspiring young magician whose curiosity accidentally unleashes Kaboom, a chaotic magical creature, into the heart of New York City; debuts this Fall. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/asteria-c-craig-patterson-unveil-chikaboom-animated-short Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:29:57 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/blog/can-chatgpt-write-animation-scripts-you You’ve probably heard the expression "Good-Fast-Cheap: You can only have two but never all three". Well, I believe you can get all three. Jeffrey Scott https://www.awn.com/blog/can-chatgpt-write-animation-scripts-you Wed, 10 Sep 2025 15:22:19 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/news/jali-research-iel-team-multilingual-real-time-facial-animation-showcase The companies demonstrated high-fidelity character performances using state-of-the-art automated lip-sync within a non-linear animation workflow at last week’s Unreal Fest Seoul. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/jali-research-iel-team-multilingual-real-time-facial-animation-showcase Wed, 03 Sep 2025 11:37:30 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/news/opsis-partners-utopai-studios-pioneer-ai-supported-content-creation Leading visualization studio launches new division to harness video-to-video AI tools for creator driven, cost-effective feature and episodic projects; shows in pre-production with the AI-tech company include ‘Cortés’ and ‘Space.’ Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/opsis-partners-utopai-studios-pioneer-ai-supported-content-creation Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:25:18 PDT AI https://www.awn.com/news/outsyders-reveals-ai-powered-immersive-projects-disney-imax-samsunggoogle-xr The creative-tech collective’s latest finished projects include a ‘Blue Angels’ IMAX 3D conversion, a ‘Lilo & Stitch’ 3D reimagining, and the ‘Asteroid’ 8K HFR VFX experience. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/outsyders-reveals-ai-powered-immersive-projects-disney-imax-samsunggoogle-xr Tue, 02 Sep 2025 12:32:18 PDT AI