Celebrating the Art, Craft and Business of Animation https://www.awn.com/ en-US 15 Tue, 16 Dec 2025 07:24:14 -0800 Tue, 16 Dec 2025 07:25:17 -0800 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 Technology 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 Technology https://www.awn.com/animationworld/shorts-focus-jordan-michael-blakes-paradise-man-ii Made in 2 months on a laptop using repurposed stock animated GIFS, the uniquely designed, compellingly abstract film tells the story of how Paradise Man’s obsession with golf is waylaid when his mother has an accident, causing him to look deeply within himself. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/animationworld/shorts-focus-jordan-michael-blakes-paradise-man-ii Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:21:34 PST Technology https://www.awn.com/animationworld/chris-lavis-talks-girl-who-cried-pearls The Oscar-nominated filmmaker discusses his and Maciek Szczerbowski’s latest stop-motion tour de force, how the tough decision to cut 3 minutes was the right call, and how a ‘beautiful film’ is easily forgotten if the story doesn’t move the audience. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/chris-lavis-talks-girl-who-cried-pearls Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:56:59 PST Technology https://www.awn.com/animationworld/shorts-focus-andr-s-palmas-shimmer The 3D animated film, produced at Mexico’s Escena Animation Studio, tells the story of shipwrecked family whose father’s efforts to secure their rescue blinds him to his neglect and the mistrust he fostered in his eldest daughter, who forces him to choose between his dreams and his children. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/animationworld/shorts-focus-andr-s-palmas-shimmer Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:01:20 PST Technology https://www.awn.com/news/quentin-tarantino-and-unreal-engine-bring-kill-bills-lost-chapter-life-fortnite The Oscar-winning director’s long-rumored sequence, ‘The Lost Chapter: Yuki’s Revenge,’ comes alive as Epic Games and The Third Floor use UE’s virtual production and MetaHuman tools to merge live-action, animation, and interactivity in real-time for a ground-breaking cinematic experience. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/quentin-tarantino-and-unreal-engine-bring-kill-bills-lost-chapter-life-fortnite Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:24:47 PST Technology 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 Technology https://www.awn.com/news/visual-effects-society-announces-ves-handbook-fourth-edition The newest VES Handbook of Visual Effects edition includes contributions from 30 new VFX experts and covers new topics like AI; releases December 18 from Routledge. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/visual-effects-society-announces-ves-handbook-fourth-edition Mon, 08 Dec 2025 5:34:15 PST Technology 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 Technology https://www.awn.com/news/maxon-announces-maxon-one-update The new release, shaped directly by creator feedback, includes upgrades to Cinema 4D, Redshift, ZBrush, and Red Giant; available now to all subscribers. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/maxon-announces-maxon-one-update Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:05:31 PST Technology https://www.awn.com/news/xilam-animation-launches-toon-box-streaming-platform The new kid-safe app features 1,000+ episodes from the Xilam library alongside exclusive music, games, and storybooks. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/xilam-animation-launches-toon-box-streaming-platform Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:57:34 PST Technology https://www.awn.com/animationworld/breaking-rig-bat-fam-and-blood-and-bamboo For director Mike Roth and animation director Garrett Ray, getting the most from your 2D animation means you can’t limit yourself to what the rigs are capable of – you have to force them to get the result you’re after. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/breaking-rig-bat-fam-and-blood-and-bamboo Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:05:46 PST Technology 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 Technology https://www.awn.com/news/world-vfx-day-2025-announces-speaker-line The first set of presenters is confirmed for the annual free event that shines a spotlight on the VFX and animation industries; YouTube livestream set for December 8. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/world-vfx-day-2025-announces-speaker-line Mon, 24 Nov 2025 15:48:11 PST Technology https://www.awn.com/news/epic-games-bring-unity-games-fortnite Partnership between gaming giants means Unity developers will be able to bring their games to Fortnite, while Unity’s enhanced commerce platform will come to Unreal Engine. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/epic-games-bring-unity-games-fortnite Fri, 21 Nov 2025 12:09:23 PST Technology https://www.awn.com/news/xsens-unveils-next-generation-xsens-link Developed with production teams in mind, the new system is re-engineered to deliver a more efficient workflow with accurate and consistent motion data. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/xsens-unveils-next-generation-xsens-link Fri, 21 Nov 2025 9:02:02 PST Technology https://www.awn.com/news/jason-chen-and-ted-gagliano-launch-desert-eclipse The veteran filmmakers’ new tech-driven production company, located on the Fox lot, is leveraging its proprietary Unreal Engine-based real-time cross-platform pipeline to concurrently develop transmedia properties across animated series, features, and immersive games. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/jason-chen-and-ted-gagliano-launch-desert-eclipse Mon, 17 Nov 2025 14:26:55 PST Technology https://www.awn.com/news/avatar-fire-and-ash-igniting-next-chapter-featurette-released Go behind-the scenes with James Cameron and stars Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, and Sam Worthington as they share some of the tech wizardry used to create the visual wonders in the latest 'Avatar' film. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/avatar-fire-and-ash-igniting-next-chapter-featurette-released Mon, 17 Nov 2025 11:06:34 PST Technology https://www.awn.com/news/pixar-releases-renderman-27 The most significant version release in a decade introduces RenderMan XPU final-frame renderer, replacing the current RIS architecture; the complete program rewrite takes full advantage of modern hardware platforms. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/pixar-releases-renderman-27 Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:16:41 PST Technology https://www.awn.com/news/free-moho-144-side-quest-update-released The new glTF/GLB export capabilities allow users to bring their rigs and animation from Moho directly into video game engines, such as Unreal, Unity, or Godot, as well as 3D applications like Blender. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/free-moho-144-side-quest-update-released Wed, 12 Nov 2025 9:09:47 PST Technology https://www.awn.com/news/unreal-engine-57-now-available Latest update includes the new Nanite Foliage geometry rendering system, production-ready Procedural Content Generation and Substrate frameworks, extended MetaHuman integration, and an enhanced in-editor animation toolset. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/unreal-engine-57-now-available Wed, 12 Nov 2025 8:21:37 PST Technology https://www.awn.com/news/disney-and-snap-launch-zootopia-2-activations-and-snapchat-ar-lenses New campaign includes in-person immersive experiences at Los Angeles locations like The Grove and The Americana as well as 7 new lenses based on characters from the film. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/disney-and-snap-launch-zootopia-2-activations-and-snapchat-ar-lenses Mon, 10 Nov 2025 13:18:32 PST Technology https://www.awn.com/news/previs-pro-releases-update-user-requested-refinements Software introduces Pose Mode, Hand Pose presets, and a series of community-suggested workflow mods to make storyboarding and scene creation more expressive and precise. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/previs-pro-releases-update-user-requested-refinements Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:23:44 PST Technology 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 Technology https://www.awn.com/event/world-vfx-day-2025 Framestore’s free livestream event December 8 showcases the art, craft, and innovation of visual effects in filmmaking. AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/event/world-vfx-day-2025 Tue, 28 Oct 2025 9:50:50 PDT Technology https://www.awn.com/animationworld/how-i-made-new-specimen-unreal-engine-5 Dimitri Vallein, a real-time 3D director and technologist, shares with AWN a comprehensive breakdown of his short film project and how it was created, animated, simulated, and rendered using UE5. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/animationworld/how-i-made-new-specimen-unreal-engine-5 Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:48:31 PDT Technology https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/how-vertical-content-and-vfx-are-transforming-way-audiences-engage Producers for mobile-native, vertical formats are including VFX as a core creative tool, not just a post-production step, as they build cross-platform entertainment that surprises and captivates viewers. Ruijia Wang https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/how-vertical-content-and-vfx-are-transforming-way-audiences-engage Mon, 27 Oct 2025 13:57:23 PDT Technology https://www.awn.com/animationworld/paul-hollingsworth-talks-weirdos-and-one-final-day-stop-motion-shorts The Digital Wizards Studios founder originally chose sculpting because he couldn’t draw; 2 decades later, the veteran of LEGO stopmo projects for ‘Jurassic Park,’ ‘Happy Potter,’ ‘The Avengers’ and ‘Star Wars’ has 2 completely different but equally rewarding films on the festival circuit. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/paul-hollingsworth-talks-weirdos-and-one-final-day-stop-motion-shorts Fri, 24 Oct 2025 16:26:08 PDT Technology https://www.awn.com/event/animateka-international-animated-film-festival-runs-december-1-7 Slovenia’s weeklong animation festival promises to deliver the best and latest productions from the Eastern and Central European film scene AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/event/animateka-international-animated-film-festival-runs-december-1-7 Fri, 24 Oct 2025 11:38:37 PDT Technology https://www.awn.com/event/kidscreen-summit-2026 The annual global media conference, dedicated exclusively to the kids’ entertainment sector, takes place February 22-25, 2026 in San Diego. AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/event/kidscreen-summit-2026 Fri, 24 Oct 2025 10:58:35 PDT Technology