Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1489831
2 cgw o c t o b e r • n o v e m b e r • d e c e m b e r 2 0 2 2 CELEBRATING 45 YEARS OF INNOVATION n 2022, CGW celebrated 45 years of covering the vastly innovative world of com- puter graphics. From media and entertainment to industrial design, medical im- aging, and beyond, CG technology has progressed tremendously with each pass- ing year. In January of 1977, CGW — then known as Computer Graphics Newsletter — featured Charles Wil- liams' "Metamorphosis of a Flower," our publication's ear- liest example of computer graphics-driven art. Originally drawn by hand, the piece was digitized and modulated by a beaded mosaic pattern. According to Williams, this system was valuable for graphic artists because it allowed them "to use a computer to generate complex variations of drawings which would be exceedingly difficult to pre- pare by hand." It's fitting that this issue's cover feature, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, is a wonderful example of creative synergy between handcraed artistry and computer graphics. Created in a richly detailed stop-motion style, this stunning reimagining of a classic tale seamlessly merges handmade animation with cutting-edge visual effects. The film's art department and puppet animation teams worked closely with the VFX department to maintain a con- sistent aesthetic across all practical and digital elements. "Every department head was really on top of their game, understood the process, and was a pleasure to deal with," VFX producer Jeffrey Schaper recalls. "The collaboration was very special on this one, and the look is something very unique that we may never see again." Computer-generated visuals have allowed storytellers to transcend the boundaries of possibility again and again. Many creative endeavors require close collaboration between teams based in different locations across the globe, each delivering assets that will be combined to bring the final vision to life. In this issue, Marc Lous, Editor-in-Chief of CGW's sister publication, Post, explores the groundbreaking production workflow utilized by Prime Video's epic fantasy series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The project harnessed the power of the cloud to unite a global VFX talent pool, with eight industry-leading ven- dors each bringing their expertise to the project. This issue also dives into the rendering workflow for "Bad Travelling," an eerie nautical tale in Netflix's animated anthology series Love, Death + Robots. Director David Fincher collaborated with Blur Studio to translate his distinctive live-action lighting style into an animated environment. In addition, we go behind the scenes of Scanline VFX's work on Season 4 of Netflix's horror adventure series Stranger Things. "The visual effects work in previous seasons was stellar, but this season was more like nine blockbuster movies," re- calls VFX supervisor Justin Mitchell. Rounding out the issue are insights from industry ex- perts on the opportunities the metaverse offers for live music performances, why motion capture technology will always be in the service of storytelling, and the future of motion control robotics in the VFX industry. Over the past four and a half decades, CGW is thrilled to have showcased the ways in which computer graphics have continued to advance and enrich so many facets of our lives. As CG technology continues to progress at an astonishing rate, we can't wait to ex- plore the possibilities the future holds. I R E C E N T A W A R D S E D I T O R I A L CGW MANAGING EDITOR Kendra Ruczak kruczak@cgw.com t: 818.291.1168 POST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Marc Loftus mloftus@postmagazine.com t: 516.376.1087 PUBLISHER/PRESIDENT/CEO William R. 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Computer Graphics World cannot be held responsible for the safe- keeping or return of unsolicited articles, manuscripts, photographs, illustrations or other materials. Address all subscription correspon- dence to: Computer Graphics World, 620 West Elk Ave, Glendale, CA 91204. Subscriptions are available free to qualified individuals within the United States. Non-qualified subscription rates: USA—$68 for 1 year, $98 for 2 years; Canadian subscriptions —$98 for 1 year and $136 for 2 years; all other countries—$150 for 1 year and $208 for 2 years. Digital subscriptions are available for $27 per year. Subscribers can also contact customer service by calling 818-291-1158, or sending an email to csr@cgw.com. Postmaster: Send Address Changes to Computer Graphics World, 620 W. Elk Ave., Glendale, CA 91204 Please send customer service inquiries to 620 W. Elk Ave., Glendale, CA 91204 Kendra Ruczak Managing Editor, CGW "Metamorphosis of a Flower" by Charles Williams (January 1977)