360 Google Spotlight Story: On Ice

Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Shannon Tindle (Go Goo Go) and Google ATAP’s Spotlight Stories have released ON ICE to YouTube TODAY. “On Ice,” is viewable in the Google Spotlight Stories YouTube channel app on many Android devices, and also with Google Cardboard. We’ll also bring “On Ice” to the Google Spotlight Stories apps (on iOS and Android) soon.

ON ICE is about an over-the-top, sci-fi themed ice show and its star (a la Flash Gordon), who suddenly finds he has competition for the spotlight from an unlikely rival…a bear.

ON ICE was directed by Shannon Tindle, and created in collaboration with Evil Eye Pictures. There are hidden surprises, both audio and visual, that occur on stage and off, including one musical surprise that pays homage to Queen! Ice skating techniques are drawn from both accuracy and creative liberties – and you can also catch the highlights you missed on the MainStage on the Jumbotron, just look up!

Google Spotlight Stories is a new form of storytelling made specifically for mobile and VR. In these 360-degree, interactive stories, your phone becomes a window to a world all around you. The sensors on your phone allow the story to be interactive; when you move your phone to various scenes, you are able to unlock mini-stories within the story.

In addition to ON ICE, we’re bringing Justin Lin’s HELP to YouTube later this week as well. HELP was released last year on our Android and iOS app, is our first live action piece, and received a nomination for a Visual Media Experience Award at this year’s SXSW.

Chrissy Fellmeth

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Chrissy Fellmeth, and I’m currently a freelance animator, layout artist, and designer.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I was a lifeguard, though I never had to save anybody. After that I worked in a pharmacy selling lotto tickets.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
My favorite gig was working on the Klok Opera and season 4 for Metalocalypse. It was so much fun to be a part of a show I actually watched and enjoyed before getting hired! But of course, my own films are my passion and my favorites to work on. While its really tough to motivate yourself, when all is said and done and you see your finished product, you just couldn’t be any more proud of yourself.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m from Flemington, a small town in central New Jersey. When I was little my mom signed me up for art classes and it took off from there. I started getting into cartooning when I was young and my mom had found a small animation school in Cherry Hill, NJ that I attended for a few years every Saturday. I loved it! After high school I went to SVA to get my BFA in animation. During my junior year, I got an internship at Animation Collective. While working on Continue reading

Cassandra Poulson

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What is your name and your current occupation?

My name is Cassandra Poulson and I am a visual development artist for animation.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I worked my way through art college in Savannah Georgia by bartending. I bartended at a fine dining restaurant and on a cruise boat. I was also able to make a little bit of money by doing fashion modeling for photographers and students.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
“The Girl and The Fox” was the first film I ever worked on. I met Tyler Kupferer, a now friend and writer/director of the film, at “The Animation Show of Shows” at SCAD. It was the beginning of my sophomore year. I think I was 19- I did concept paintings, worked on color and environment design, designed the “Fox” character, and served as lead background painter. It was such a personal project for me, and has a lot of heart in it from everyone who contributed. It’s been a shock to all of us that it’s made it so far in the industry. It is now a proud nominee for an Annie award! And has been a true joy and honor for me.
How did you become interested in animation?
I used to watch “The Jungle Book” over and over again as a toddler. And I’ve always loved to Continue reading

Ed Bell

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Ed Bell. I’m an animation artist and currently an affiliate director with Special Agent Animation, in the Bay Area. I’m building a short film at the moment. I also teach character design and mentor aspiring animation artists at CCA. Recently, I’ve started painting, and developing a gallery show.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
None. My first real job was in animation.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
“ Bring Me The Head Of Charlie Brown” was a short my classmate Jim Reardon made, that we took around to festivals with Spike & Mike. Awesome experience. Then there was the “Ed” trilogy by Richard Moore, also made at Cal Arts. I think of “Roger Rabbit” and “The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse” from the 80’s. But at Collosal Pictures, “The Big City” for Liquid Television because it was my first short as a director, and “King Tut,” with the great John Stevenson and Jerry Juehl with Quincy Jones helping us pitch, those are cherished memories, (even if Tut never made it to the screen). As a Warner Cartoons fan I’m amazed I got to contribute to some Warner Brothers cartoon shorts with animators I learned a great from.

How did you become interested in animation?
I’m a child of the “golden age” of T.V. or whatever, and grew up glued to the TV set, or glued to movie screens whenever and wherever I could. Every aspect of entertainment seemed to mesmerize me, nearly as much as it entertained me! Animation’s hand-crafted nature, and animation’s rich sense of Continue reading

Pixar and Khan Academy Release Free Online Course for Aspiring Animators

Pixar in a Box

Makezine.com is reporting that Pixar and Khan Academy Release Free Online Course for Aspiring Animators!

From the site:

Up there with being an astronaut, comic book artist, or the President, there’s one job that your average kid would probably love to snag: Working at Pixar. Animation and Pixar enthusiasts of all ages, take note! Pixar in A Box (or PIAB) is a collaboration between Khan Academy and Pixar Animation Studios that focuses on real-Pixar-world applications of concepts you might usually encounter in the classroom. The latest batch of Pixar in a Box, released today, gives Makers a rare peek under the hood so that you can get a whiff of the warm engine that keeps those Pixar pistons pumping. There’s no need to register for the course, nor a requirement to watch the lessons in order — just head to their site and start exploring!

 

You can read the entire article here.

Darko Tomicic

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Darko Tomicic. I am 2D and 3D animator and animation director on clips for Croatian National Television.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?

I worked as accountant in meat factory, and occasionally as security officer between two animation projects.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?

I enjoyed working on animated series Mr. Bean in Varga Studio Budapest, but I was even happier to work on Tom Jones musical video Give a Little Love. I animated several scenes, designed some characters and almost all old model cars that appear in the clip. Since I am a huge fan of 40’s and 50’s music and lifestyle I enjoyed a lot designing and animating cars from that period.
Regarding „proud to have been a part of“ I am proud every time people whom I worked for previously and were satisfied with my work call me again for their next project.

How did you become interested in animation? 

As a kid I loved comics and cartoons (don’t remember what was first) and spent most of my free time Continue reading