FLASH ANIMATORS – DrinkBox Studios is a small independant game developer based in Toronto, Ontario. Our focus is the creation of humourous and uniquely fun downloadable games for console and PC. The company is currently seeking a talented senior Flash animator for immediate assistance on their upcoming titles.

Position: 2D Animator
Contract: Full-time, on site
Start Date: Immediate

Job Description: The applicant will work primarily in Flash to help rig characters and create animations for future DrinkBox Studios projects. Some required animations may include the main player character(s), enemies and bosses, animated background elements, and animated cutscenes / animatics.

Qualifications:

- 4+ years experience in a 2D animation production pipeline, including character rigging and animation
- Production experience working in Flash CS4+
- Adaptability to different styles of character design
- Good attitude and work ethic. Ability to be self-motivated and work well in a team environment
- Canadian Citizen with the ability to work on-site at the Toronto studio (near Queen & Bathurst)
- A passion for video games and insights into game design concepts are a big plus

See samples of our games and learn more about DrinkBox here:

http://www.drinkboxstudios.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emtBP3DEFHw
http://vimeo.com/36568256
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGEFRd3-gWQ

If interested, please submit your online demo reel and portfolio to DrinkBox Studios at jobs@drinkboxstudios.com

Here’s the word:

Submissions came in from across the globe for the inaugural event and the competition was thick, making the selection process a hard one.  This exciting line up of shorts will guarantee an incredible weekend of fun and enjoyment, bringing you some of the best in original storytelling and animation the world has to offer. BUT THAT’S NOT ALL!  Stay tuned as we will be announcing our full festival line up including:

   - VIP guest speakers,
   - Retrospectives,
   - Partner screenings,
   - Panels, worshops & masterclasses

…and even a party or two!

Congratulations to the selected film makers and we are appreciative to all submitters for 2012.

Tickets go on Sale June 1st, visit taafi.com for details.

You can see the full list of films here!

I recognize a lot of the names on the list, should be a good show.

This little delight is by Rachel Jin.  You can see more of her work here.

A few years back, John Kricfalusi got a second shot at Ren and Stimpy.  The cartoon world got real excited.  John set up shop in his hometown of Ottawa, and put together a kick ass crew. At some point in production, they embarked on an episode entitled “Life Sucks”.  John wrote about it on his blog, right here.  According to John, “Many of the folks who worked on it figured it was the best R and S story we had ever written. Unfortunately it was never produced“.

I’m just going to go ahead and paste John’s description of the episode:

“Life Sucks explores the difference between Ren and Stimpy’s outlook on life. They each look at the world and see the same evidence yet judge it in opposite ways. Stimpy is an optimist and Ren is a pessimist. In Life Sucks, Ren realizes it’s his duty to cure Stimpy of his naivety and he takes him on a journey through biology, religion, history and evolution in an attempt to make him wake up and smell the coffee.”

“This is the story of the Children’s Crusade, which many history books say actually happened.”

LS2 by chuckchillout8

“I asked the great Nick Cross to draw the sequence and he did an amazing thing. He drew Ren and Stimpy in one style and the Children’s Crusade in the style of Mary Blair’s Golden Books.”

According to Nick(in an interview on fullecirclestuff), the episode’s downfall was that it was just too good: “It had the potential to be really amazing because of it’s scope, which was also it’s downfall. It just took too long to get finished, and we didn’t have the time or money. It got pushed to the sidelines so that we could concentrate on getting other shows done, and the budget and schedule ran out before we got a chance to complete it. It’s a shame, because that was my favorite episode too.”

John has talked about this episode being produced as a direct-to-dvd endeavor, and those rumours continue to abound online, but so far, there’s no hard evidence to indicate it’s ever going to happen.

I’ve got a few others I’m going to share with you guys, but in the meantime, I’m hoping some of you readers will chime in as well.  Any suggestions?

In keeping with that tradition, just a few short days ago, I missed our birthday.  Completely slipped my mind.

But it happened.  We’re 3(depending on what birthday we’re observing).  I’ve been doing this thing for 3 years.  But I haven’t been doing it alone.  Recently, we’ve had Rebecca David helping out, both on the social media front, and as a contributor.  Beccy brings all kinds of energy to the team, she’s our resident firecracker and I’m hoping she’ll stick around for a long time to come.  Big thanks go her way for helping me keep this going.  Thanks also have to go out to Cameron Archer, Warren Leonhardt, Robbie Anderson, Mark Cappello, Ron Doucet, Nick Cross and everyone who’s ever subjected themselves to an interview or taken the time to comment.  Thank you to our readers and thank you to our sponsors, the latter keep our lights on so the former can read by them.

I love doing this.  I wish I could do it more.  I’m going to try to keep doing it better.  I never thought of myself as particularly patriotic, but I’ve come to recognize that I take a great deal of pride in our community.  I’m a cartoon fan in general, sure, but it’s the people that make them that I really dig.  We are Canadian, and we make more cartoons than anyone else on the planet.  I love being a part of that.

Cheers.

Mike Valiquette

Continuing to put their best cartoon foot forward, the Ottawa International Animation Festival, has announced Butch Hartman as a keynote speaker for TAC 2012.  I’ve never seen so focused an attempt to please the cartoon crowd form the normally indie-oriented event.  Granted, TAC is an industry event, but this is still pretty hardcore cartoonery.

Here’s the press release:

TAC, the Ottawa International Animation Festival’s (OIAF) industry event, is pleased to welcome Butch Hartman as one of this year’s keynote speaker for the 2012 Conference.

The American-born Hartman is an accomplished animator, producer, director and voice actor. He is best known as the creator and executive producer of three successful animated series featured on Nickelodeon.

In 1998, Hartman developed The Fairly OddParents, which tells the story of Timmy Turner, a boy who is granted fairy godparents. The show immediately drew huge ratings for Nickelodeon. In 2004, OddParents was followed up with Danny Phantom, the adventures of a 14 year-old boy “going ghost.” 2011 saw the debut of a new series, T.U.F.F. Puppy, all about the life of a secret agent dog, Dudley Puppy.

Outside of animation, Hartman is also a dedicated philanthropist. In 2005, Hartman and his wife Julieann launched Hartman House, a non-profit organization that provides aid and support programs in communities around the world.

“This year we’re focusing on what really matters: creativity and innovation,” says TAC director, Azarin Sohrabkhani. “ Butch Hartman’s career embodies this celebration perfectly and we’re thrilled to be bringing him to Ottawa.”

Running September 19th and 20th, the first two days of the OIAF, the Conference is a specialized industry forum designed for professionals in animation content creation, development, production, distribution and marketing.

Held at the prestigious Chateau Laurier Hotel in downtown Ottawa, TAC brings together over 300 key professionals who take part in panels, seminars and deliver keynote addresses.

Networking events are also a strong component of TAC, offering many opportunities for delegates to relax, share ideas, get to know each other and speak more intimately about potential projects and developments.

Today I’ve got Garlic Sauce, by Maria Yeoshen.  I’m familiar with Maria’s work, and you’ll see some of her real strength in the character animation for the little “Garlic Vampire”.  She has a terrific grasp of old school cartoon acting, and it doesn’t quite come through here, but you get glimpses.  A solid first film.  Maria mentions on her blog that she’d like to make another short, and I’m really hoping she does.  I think she has real talent, and this little film barely scratches the surface of it.

Enjoy.

Join us for the following beloved animated films:
The Sweater (10 min 21 s)
Snow Cat (14 min 37 s)
I Want a Dog (10 min 9 s)
Pies(12 min 14 s)
Dreams Come True: A Sheldon Cohen Retrospective (13 min)

May 10  at 7PM
FREE

Presented in partnership with ECW Press

NFB Mediatheque
150 John Street
Toronto (Ontario)
416-973-3012
nfb.ca/mediatheque

Arc Productions, a Canadian based CG animation and visual effects facility located in downtown Toronto has an immediate opening for a Senior Modeler/Rigger.  With over 250 artists and technical directors and the most up to date resources available, we bring the vision to both major Hollywood studios and independent producers to life in a wide array of formats: theatrical features, television, DVDs, shorts and game cinematics.

The Senior Modeler/Rigger utilizes Maya to create CG models and rigs for an assigned show.  This role must anticipate, communicate, and troubleshoot any model or rigging performance issues, provide support to more junior team members, ensure overall adherence to all Arc Productions pipeline protocols.

Duties & Responsibilities:

*         Utilize Maya to create CG models and rigs for an assigned show that meet all technical and creative requirements and are compatible within the production pipeline

*         Build and execute complex CG models, obtaining direction from character designers on the look and feel of assets

*         Create flexible and efficient rigs (including facial shapes)

*         Maintain a convention of naming structures for all models and rigs and ensure that Maya files are clean and optimized

*         Anticipate, communicate, and troubleshoot any modeling or rigging performance issues with assistance from key stakeholders

*         Provide support to more junior team members by providing artistic direction and assisting with technical difficulties

*         Ensure overall adherence to all Arc Productions pipeline protocols

*         Keep up to speed with current industry trends

Required Skills & Experience:

*         5+ years CG modeling and rigging experience in a Maya production environment, with proven knowledge of and skills in each

*         Completed post-secondary education in 3D animation or other relevant area of study

*         Full working knowledge of Maya’s modeling and rigging techniques

*         Strong background in traditional art with an excellent sense of perspective, form, proportion, and scale

*         Strong understanding of character anatomy (including facial expressions), and an artistic understanding of motion and behavior

*         General understanding of animation styles and techniques as well as an excellent comprehension of animation production for film and/or television

*         Great comprehension of the animation production pipeline as a whole with an understanding of adjacent department workflows as well as how modeling and rigging interacts with the overall production process

*         Strong creative and technical problem solving skills with the ability to check own work

*         Ability to learn quickly and comprehend custom in-house production tools

*         Strong communication skills with the ability to work productively and willingness to take initiative in a team environment

*         Ability to prioritize tasks, meet tight deadlines, and perform to standard in a fast-paced environment

*         High level of independence and strong sense of reliability

*         Scripting and programming skills an asset

Qualified applicants can apply online at www.arcproductions.com