Celebrating the Art, Craft and Business of Animation https://www.awn.com/ en-US 15 Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:24:47 -0800 Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:26:19 -0800 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 Virtual Production 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 Virtual Production 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 Virtual Production 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 Virtual Production 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 Virtual Production 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 Virtual Production 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 Virtual Production 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 Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/event/pixelvienna-conference-0 The immersive computer graphics and animation conference brings together professionals, enthusiasts, and students to explore trends in digital art, animation, visual effects, and game development; November 13-15 in Vienna, Austria. AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/event/pixelvienna-conference-0 Mon, 06 Oct 2025 10:48:47 PDT Virtual Production 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 Virtual Production 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 Virtual Production 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 Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/news/maxon-releases-maxon-one-design-update Company unifies Cinema 4D, ZBrush, Redshift, and Red Giant in an ecosystem redesign, with new feature capabilities across VFX, 3D modeling, and motion graphics solutions. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/maxon-releases-maxon-one-design-update Tue, 16 Sep 2025 11:28:10 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/news/submissions-24th-annual-ves-awards-now-open Entries will be accepted through October 31, 2025 for projects released between January 1 and December 31, 2025; the awards gala is set for February 26, 2026. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/submissions-24th-annual-ves-awards-now-open Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:30:25 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/news/talks-kpop-demon-hunters-f1-and-fantastic-four-set-view-2025 Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, directors of the biggest Netflix film ever, plus VFX supervisors Ryan Tudhope and Daniele Bigi, will present their films in-person at the upcoming conference that runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/talks-kpop-demon-hunters-f1-and-fantastic-four-set-view-2025 Thu, 28 Aug 2025 14:45:21 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/news/unreal-engine-56-brings-exciting-new-features-animators Epic Games’ UE 5.6 update delivers major animation upgrades, including a cleaner Curve Editor, improved Sequencer navigation, experimental morph sculpting, and dynamic rig physics that empower artists at studios of all sizes to animate faster with fewer roundtrips to DCC tools. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/unreal-engine-56-brings-exciting-new-features-animators Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:17:16 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/news/ian-hunter-talk-fantastic-four-first-steps-practical-fx-view-2025 The Oscar-winning VFX supervisor and a team from Pro Machina will discuss their miniature work on the Excelsior retro rocketship; Emmy winner Alex Woo will present his upcoming 3DCG feature, ‘In Your Dreams,’ that hits Netflix November 14; conference runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/ian-hunter-talk-fantastic-four-first-steps-practical-fx-view-2025 Thu, 14 Aug 2025 10:02:43 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/news/puget-systems-debut-rtx-pro-6000-blackwell-max-q-workstation-siggraph-2025 The high-performance workstation provider will also be demonstrating a ‘Virtual Rage Room’ immersive, interactive experience that leverages markerless mocap tech and a 10-foot LED volume. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/puget-systems-debut-rtx-pro-6000-blackwell-max-q-workstation-siggraph-2025 Fri, 08 Aug 2025 10:25:19 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/news/pierre-perifel-and-matt-baer-present-bad-guys-2-view-2025 The hilarious new DreamWorks Animation comedy’s director and VFX supervisor will share an in-depth look at the creative process behind the production of their film, now showing in theaters; conference runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/pierre-perifel-and-matt-baer-present-bad-guys-2-view-2025 Wed, 06 Aug 2025 10:30:26 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/blog/hitting-one-home-team The Cleveland Institute of Art’s new Interactive Media Lab has Disney DNA. Kevin Geiger https://www.awn.com/blog/hitting-one-home-team Mon, 04 Aug 2025 15:20:14 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/news/siggraph-2025-announces-powerful-production-session-lineup One of the conference’s most anticipated programs includes behind-the-scenes looks at groundbreaking work from DreamWorks Animation, DNEG, NASA, Nickelodeon Animation, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Wētā FX, offering a rare glimpse at the full arc of visual storytelling, from emerging artists to industry leaders. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/siggraph-2025-announces-powerful-production-session-lineup Thu, 31 Jul 2025 9:59:50 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/news/alessandro-carloni-present-cat-hat-view-2025 The writer/director will share a behind-the-scenes look in-person at Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s upcoming animated feature, which hits theaters next February; conference runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/alessandro-carloni-present-cat-hat-view-2025 Thu, 31 Jul 2025 9:18:33 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/ilm-joins-rebellion-andor-season-2-visual-effects VFX supervisor Scott Pritchard talks Tie fighter protypes, Sienar and Coruscant environments, the epic Palmo Plaza massacre, and Alan Tudyk’s K-2SO droid, on the second and final season of Lucasfilm’s critically acclaimed ‘Rogue One’ prequel series, now streaming on Disney+. Trevor Hogg https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/ilm-joins-rebellion-andor-season-2-visual-effects Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:08:35 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/news/vicon-launches-active-crown-camera-tracking-solution The virtual production solution provides users with flexible tracking for cameras positioned anywhere on In-Camera Visual Effects stages.  L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/vicon-launches-active-crown-camera-tracking-solution Tue, 03 Jun 2025 15:13:17 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/behind-virtual-scenes-minecraft-movie Disguise Creative Services spent 52 weeks on Jared Hess’ hit action comedy, working as a virtual art department to create 20 digital environments in Unreal Engine that were used in pre-production, production and post. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/behind-virtual-scenes-minecraft-movie Mon, 02 Jun 2025 13:36:44 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/minecraft-movie-w-t-fx-helps-adapt-iconic-game-one-block-time VFX Supervisor Sheldon Stopsack and Animation Supervisor Kevin Estey discuss the studio’s extensive world building and character design / animation work on Jared Hess’ hit comedy adventure, delivering 450 visual effects shots that wove together the game’s block-based aesthetic with live-action photography; work included villain Malgosha, The Overworld, The Nether, 12 different Piglin variants, zombies, skeletons, and loveable wolf Dennis. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/minecraft-movie-w-t-fx-helps-adapt-iconic-game-one-block-time Thu, 29 May 2025 12:18:33 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/news/phil-tippett-bringing-star-wars-view-conference-2025 The legendary director, animator and VFX supervisor will host ‘Stop Motion: Bring the Goods,’ presenting with Tom Gibbons, Mark Dubeau and Gary Mundell their work on ‘Star Wars’ projects; Marc Morissette will then join to give sneak peek at Tippett’s upcoming ‘Sentinel.’ L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/phil-tippett-bringing-star-wars-view-conference-2025 Thu, 29 May 2025 7:33:09 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/inside-vfx-netflixs-black-mirror-uss-callister-infinity-season-7-finale Overall VFX supervisor James MacLachlan helped deliver 600 shots that included teleportation, fragging and defragging, spaceships, space battles, and a gyroscopic Heart of Infinity immersive simulation, on the sci-fi anthology’s season-ending episode, a sequel to the fan favorite Season 4 opener, ‘USS Callister.’    Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/inside-vfx-netflixs-black-mirror-uss-callister-infinity-season-7-finale Wed, 21 May 2025 16:53:15 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/news/whats-store-me-industry-2025 While the use of AI in M&E continues to grow, so does virtual production powered by real-time technology, which reduces costs and time to delivery as well as allow artists in film, TV, games and immersive experiences greater flexibility to iterate and deliver higher fidelity work. Rob Hoffmann, Worldwide Head of Industry Strategy, Lenovo https://www.awn.com/news/whats-store-me-industry-2025 Wed, 07 May 2025 12:40:06 PDT Virtual Production https://www.awn.com/news/fmx-2025-releases-final-program-update-teaser-shorts-series Ahead of tomorrow’s Day 1, the conference teases ‘Mufasa’ technical innovations, new VFX talks, Dave Gouge’s studio insights panel, targeted career sessions, and a short film YouTube series diving into topics such as taking cinematic images from Unreal Engine. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/fmx-2025-releases-final-program-update-teaser-shorts-series Mon, 05 May 2025 12:22:48 PDT Virtual Production