Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1530710
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 4 ENVISIONING THE FUTURE s we wrap up another extraordinary year of innovation in the realm of computer graphics, we find ourselves eagerly envisioning the future. A year from now, how different will our day-to-day routines and workflows be? Will AI-generated im- agery become even more ubiquitous across our personal and professional lives? Will new safeguards be implemented to protect the work of artists and develop- ers? Which innovations will become indispensable, and which will be rendered obsolete? In the midst of this endless speculation, one thing is for sure. New technology is allowing us to communicate and collaborate more efficiently than ever before. Animation and visual effects artistry continues to elevate storytelling to breathtaking new heights, captivating our senses and emotions every step of the way. As always, we are celebrating the momen- tous achievements in computer graphics that have touched our lives throughout the past year. In our cover feature, we explore the brilliantly animated visuals of The Wild Robot and highlight the team that brought the story from the page to the screen. Animated entirely in- house by DreamWorks, a new color space and expanded palette allowed the film's artists to bring its characters and environments to life with incredible nuance and detail. "I want- ed to overhaul our entire color space because I thought that would enhance the painter- ly aspect of the film—offering more hues to the 3D artists," explains VFX supervisor Jeff Budsberg. "If you can give someone more pigments, I think that gives you a more visceral experience and it allows us to push into areas that are more saturated and more vivid." Post editor-in-chief Marc Lous shares a behind-the-scenes look at Netflix's Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, a highly anticipated new stop-motion adventure from Aard- man. Due to the high level of detail in each frame, it would take a team of 30 animators one week to produce just a little over two minutes of footage for the film. Thanks to a seamless blend of both traditional stop-motion mastery and in-house visual effects augmentation, a new chapter in the beloved series is now reaching theaters this winter. This issue also dives into the National Geographic docuseries Shark Attack 360, which melds hybrid virtual production techniques with ultra-realistic digital doubles. "The tech- nology behind our virtual sharks went beyond basic animation. Our custom rigging system allowed for intricate shark movements: from the ripple of skin to the flex of a jaw," shares VFX director Simon Percy. We also celebrate 25 wonderful years of the VIEW Conference, reveal the groundbreak- ing workflow behind Mexico's first virtual production game show, discuss the many bene- fits of accelerated file transfers, share the future-proofed soware updates for every VFX artist's toolkit, and much more. CGW is always honored to share technical and creative insights from top profession- als working across the diverse and expansive field of computer graphics. We would like to thank everyone who took the time out of their busy schedules in the past year to share their knowledge and experiences with our audience. A 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. Rittwage COP Communications A D V E R T I S I N G DIRECTOR OF SALES: PRINT, DIGITAL, AND AWARDS Mari Kohn mkohn@postmagazine.com t: 818.291.1153 c: 818.472.1491 EDITORIAL OFFICE / LA SALES OFFICE 620 West Elk Ave., Glendale, CA 91204 t: 818-291-1168 D E S I G N SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Michelle Villas michelle@moontidemedia.com ISSUE DESIGNER Kendra Ruczak kruczak@cgw.com C U S T O M E R S E R V I C E / C I R C U L A T I O N Junior Lopez jlopez@copcomm.com t: 818.291.1117 D I G I T A L M A R K E T I N G / S O C I A L M E D I A Tommy Rittwage tommy@copcomm.com t: 818.291.1166 COMPUTER GRAPHICS WORLD MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY COMPUTER GRAPHICS WORLD, A COP COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY. Computer Graphics World does not verify any claims or other information appearing in any of the advertisements contained in the publication, and cannot take any responsibility for any losses or other damages incurred by readers in reliance on such content. 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