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Articles: Animateclay.com Upgrade/Testing/The Unknown

We're going to be playing around with the server today, as well as trying to test an upgrade to the core software that runs the entire web site. It runs on what is called PostNuke currently, but it's an older technology. The new update upgrades us from PostNuke to Zikula. I can't say much more then that, but if you notice the site acting strange it's due to the updating and testing we are doing behind the scenes.

Take a look at an in-progress theme I am going to try emulating after the update is done here.

I've recently set up a comment system for news posts. If you login and click the headline link of the news story, you can comment and rate on that story. If there isn't any major abuse of the comments - I'll keep them up. For now everyones first comment is moderated - but after that your comments will show up immediately.

Another thing I set up is a nicer private messaging system so that anyone can send messages to other users on the site. So if someone makes a comment and you want to chat privately, every member has up to 50 messages in their inbox and outbox. Plus you have the option to get an e-mail every time someone messages you.

It seems now anyone can submit news articles using the Submit Article link at the top left side of the page. It is yet to be tested, so I don't know what to expect. But anyone who logs in and wants to write for the site can. If it goes as planned all I need to do is check your news post or article and add it with the click of a button.

Published: Jun 30, 2009 - 11:56 AM

Articles: Secrets of Clay Animation Revealed 3 Completed!

It's been a long time since I wrote about the updated "Secrets of Clay Animation Revealed 3" book. We planned to release it some time ago, but ran into a small problem. The main reason for its delay was that one of our interviewees needed to get an image verified and given the "OK" by Laika Entertainment. Was the delay worth it? I thought it would be and so I gave Jeremy as long as he needed. The images he sent in are really inspirational, but unfortunately we could only use one in the end. However anyone who sees it will have a LOT to inspect, as it's an image of his workbench with all the little gadgets and armature parts laid out as he works.

If you bought a copy of our previous version of Secrets Revealed, please e-mail me at Marc at animateclay.com and I send you a download link for free. This means anyone who bought a copy since it's original release in 2001.

Published: Jun 25, 2009 - 12:14 AM

Articles: Pirates!: New Stop Motion Feature by Aardman

Aardman Animations in the UK plans to create a new feature film through a contract with the Sony Corperation. Richard Bazley will be creating the puppet designs, however he's taken the images off his blog. You can still see three designs and read more about Aardmans new contract on Slashfilm here. You can read even more fresh details about the film on Aardmans official thread where it was recently announced here. It looks to be a very fun stop motion film and will be released somewhere around 2012.

Published: Jun 20, 2009 - 05:33 PM

Articles: Random Animation on YouTube

Randy Boyum who has been working on making short ads and commercials for various companies out of his garage now has a YouTube page. Randy tells me he recently upgraded his gear so he can produce HD videos. A transition that I also have made, and it isn't easy.

Randy had this to day about his new move to the new technology in a recent e-mail to me:

"I've actually been kept pretty busy animating since I got my HD system up and running last December. I just finished my fourth project since then. Unfortunately, I can't post any of my new HD animations online yet due to contractual reasons. But I will say that shooting clay animation in HD is an interesting and tricky thing. It reveals to the world in sickening detail how truly bad my sculpting is. hehehe"

If you have been following the recent Zombie Pirates blog updates, there are many issues when deciding to go HD. There's obviously the HD camera equipment, HD capture cards if you want a live feed, HD editing programs and HD camera lenses - and each component has to work with the other. Sometimes you find it doesn't, but that's another story all together.

We've posted updates on Randys progress in the past so some of his films might seem familiar. There are a couple of ads we haven't posted before and there's also a nice experimental film where Randy animated his camera through an office building. Check out all the clips he posted already over here.

Published: Jun 15, 2009 - 08:07 PM

Articles: Stop Motion Feature in Production: Monster Safari

Have you heard about Monster Safari? You might be surprised to hear that it will be produced into a full length stop motion feature film. Screen Novelties which is run by Mark Caballero, Seamus Walsh, and Chris Finnegan in Los Angeles California were given the task to help Ray Harryhausen complete his fairy tale called Tortoise and the Hare several years back.

They were also a big part of getting the ever popular Robot Chicken TV show started. Their past short film successes, past associations and determination to stick with the craft might be why they were able to succeed in getting a new feature funded. This is almost unheard of when it comes to what is essentially three down to earth guys chugging along without a big studio name to boast their funding chances.

Learn more about Monster Safari and watch a video on their blog by clicking here.

Published: Jun 11, 2009 - 08:30 AM