The latest articles from VFXWorld Magazine on Animation World Network. https://www.awn.com/ en-US 15 Thu, 18 Dec 2025 07:39:31 -0800 Thu, 18 Dec 2025 07:40:13 -0800 https://www.awn.com/news/academy-youtube-partner-exclusive-global-rights-oscars From 2029 through 2033, the annual awards, including red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content, and Governors Ball access, will be available live and for free on YouTube, and for YouTube TV subscribers in the United States. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/academy-youtube-partner-exclusive-global-rights-oscars Thu, 18 Dec 2025 7:39:31 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/jon-m-chu-receive-inaugural-judy-garland-award-2026-lumiere-awards The Advanced Imaging Society has partnered with the famed performer’s daughter, Lorna Luft, to establish the new award that honors individuals whose ‘artistry, imagination, and cultural influence embody the highest ideals in entertainment.’ Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/jon-m-chu-receive-inaugural-judy-garland-award-2026-lumiere-awards Wed, 17 Dec 2025 18:05:54 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/bluebolt-adds-vfx-supervisor-ben-white Boasting nearly 30 years’ experience, the visual effects vet joins from the Cinesite group, where he served as VFX Supervisor on projects including ‘Black Widow,’ ‘Loki,’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.’ L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/bluebolt-adds-vfx-supervisor-ben-white Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:18:08 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/xilam-ugc-team-empire-ants-series-adaptation The project, based on the popular Bernard Werber novel, will be produced using live-action for the human narrative and VFX for the ant world. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/xilam-ugc-team-empire-ants-series-adaptation Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:55:42 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/visual-effects-practically-speaking-gen-v-season-2 VFX Supervisor Karen Heston talks gender-changing and shrinking/growing characters, moveable silicone blood mats, and capturing as much as possible in-camera on the second season of the Prime Video ‘The Boys’ spinoff about students at Godolkin University whose lives are complicated by injections of Compound V. Trevor Hogg https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/visual-effects-practically-speaking-gen-v-season-2 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:47:39 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/one-us-brings-swamp-witcher-season-4 Watch the VFX breakdown reel featuring the studio’s work crafting 210 visual effects shots across 4 episodes; highlights include the parasite-ridden Greylock, reimagined Roach Hounds, and the unsettling Mother and Little Rusalka swamp duo. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/one-us-brings-swamp-witcher-season-4 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 10:36:56 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/netflix-drops-stranger-things-5-volume-2-trailer Head back to the Upside Down; the next episode set of the fight to find and kill Vecna premieres December 25, followed by The Finale on December 31; Volume 1 is now streaming. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/netflix-drops-stranger-things-5-volume-2-trailer Wed, 17 Dec 2025 9:13:52 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/re-view-frankenstein-acts-love-and-forgiveness Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s most complete work to date transforms Mary Shelley’s iconic 1818 novel from a cautionary tale of the perils of hubris into a redemptive fable about the ability to forgive. Dr. Maria Elena Gutierrez https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/re-view-frankenstein-acts-love-and-forgiveness Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:11:48 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/academy-announces-shortlists-10-categories-98th-oscars VFX category narrowed down to 10 films, animated shorts to 15; voting for nominations runs next month, January 12-16, with nomination announcements set for January 22, 2026. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/academy-announces-shortlists-10-categories-98th-oscars Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:56:43 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/prime-video-moves-fallout-season-2-release The announcement was made with a Wasteland transformation on the Exosphere of Sphere in Las Vegas; premiere set for today, December 16. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/prime-video-moves-fallout-season-2-release Tue, 16 Dec 2025 2:33:47 PST VFXWorld Magazine 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 VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/milk-shares-witcher-season-4-vfx-breakdown-reel The studio contributed visual effects across multiple episodes of the Netflix fantasy series, including two technically complex fight sequences in Episode 6; work includes choreographed battles, magic, blood, and CG swords. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/milk-shares-witcher-season-4-vfx-breakdown-reel Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:39:45 PST VFXWorld Magazine 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 VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/heat-paramount-makes-hostile-takeover-bid-warner-bros-discovery David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance has extended an all-cash offer at $30 per outstanding share (approximately $108.4 billion) for WBD after Netflix’s initial offer was accepted; shareholders have 10 business days to accept or reject the new offer. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/heat-paramount-makes-hostile-takeover-bid-warner-bros-discovery Tue, 09 Dec 2025 9:51:22 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/hbo-drops-knight-seven-kingdoms-trailer The six-episode season, set a century before the events of ‘Game of Thrones,’ debuts January 18; will also stream on HBO Max. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/hbo-drops-knight-seven-kingdoms-trailer Mon, 08 Dec 2025 14:16:05 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/83rd-golden-globe-awards-nominations-announced ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ scores nods for best animated feature, best cinematic and box office achievement, and best original song, while ‘Arco,’ ‘Demon Slayer,’ ‘Elio,’ ‘Little Amélie or the Character of Rain’ and ‘Zootopia 2’ are all nominated for best animated motion picture; awards ceremony set for January 11. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/83rd-golden-globe-awards-nominations-announced Mon, 08 Dec 2025 12:35:52 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/netflix-warner-bros-discovery-agree-827-billion-acquisition The cash and stock transaction, valued at $27.75 per share of WBD and approximately $82.7 billion overall, is expected to close in the next 12-18 months. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/netflix-warner-bros-discovery-agree-827-billion-acquisition Mon, 08 Dec 2025 6:09:38 PST VFXWorld Magazine 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 VFXWorld Magazine 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 VFXWorld Magazine 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 VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/trixter-undergoing-layoffs-and-restructuring The German VFX studio, part of the Cinesite Group, shares that it unfortunately has had to downsize but remains operational and in production on feature film projects. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/trixter-undergoing-layoffs-and-restructuring Fri, 28 Nov 2025 10:38:36 PST VFXWorld Magazine 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 VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/netflixs-one-piece-season-3-begins-production Season 2 premieres March 10, 2026; cast members Charithra Chandran, Mikaela Hoover, Joe Manganiello, Lera Abova, and Sendhil Ramamurthy will return as series regulars in Season 3. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/netflixs-one-piece-season-3-begins-production Wed, 26 Nov 2025 9:09:13 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/fx-orders-far-cry-anthology-series-noah-hawley-and-rob-mac The ‘Alien: Earth’ and ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ creators will executive produce the limited series, based on Ubisoft’s video game franchise. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/fx-orders-far-cry-anthology-series-noah-hawley-and-rob-mac Wed, 26 Nov 2025 7:52:00 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/netflix-debuts-stranger-things-5-volume-1-trailer The first of 3 separate episode drops of the hit show’s final season debuts November 26; Volume 2 will premiere December 25, followed by The Finale on December 31. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/netflix-debuts-stranger-things-5-volume-1-trailer Tue, 25 Nov 2025 14:39:12 PST VFXWorld Magazine 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 VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/hbo-announces-game-thrones-spinoff-series-renewals ‘A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms’ will return for Season 2 in 2027 - Season 1 debuts this coming January 18; ‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 4 will premiere in 2028 – Season 3 returns summer 2026. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/hbo-announces-game-thrones-spinoff-series-renewals Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:23:58 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/creating-worlds-disney-and-20th-century-studios-cinematic-art-dylan-cole-released The Oscar-nominated co-production designer of ‘Avatar: The Way of Water,’ who oversees design on the ‘Avatar’ franchise, shares his incredible artwork, including concept sketches, posters, and matte paintings, from a 20-year career. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/creating-worlds-disney-and-20th-century-studios-cinematic-art-dylan-cole-released Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:30:54 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/lord-and-millers-project-hail-mary-trailer-2-drops Ryan Gosling puts the ‘not’ in ‘astronaut’ as a 6th grade teacher who wakes up on a spaceship with no idea how he got there… until he remembers he’s Earth’s only hope to avoid extinction; in theaters March 20, 2026. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/lord-and-millers-project-hail-mary-trailer-2-drops Tue, 18 Nov 2025 8:29:11 PST VFXWorld Magazine https://www.awn.com/news/prime-video-drops-fallout-season-2-trailer The show’s sophomore outing will take audiences along on a journey from the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas; premieres December 17. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/prime-video-drops-fallout-season-2-trailer Tue, 18 Nov 2025 7:26:59 PST VFXWorld Magazine