Computer Graphics World

June 2009 1 O N TH E C OVE R S E E IT I N Pixar set the bar high for CG animated feature fi lms when it released Toy Story in 1995. Fourteen years and nine fi lms later, the studio, in conjunction with Disney, once again has carried computer animation to new heights with the spec- tacular fi lm Up, this time releasing it in stereo 3D, pg. 12. • What makes the Hannah Montana show work? • Red shoots on the rise. • Trends in broadcast design. • J.J. Abrams on Star Trek. Features The Shape of Animation 12 Geometric shapes refl ect the artistic direction and story line for Disney/ Pixar's Up, the fi rst stereoscopic 3D fi lm from Pixar. By Barbara Robertson Living Art 22 Rhythm & Hues creates some lively effects for Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, bringing art and artifacts to animated life. By Barbara Robertson It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, MadWorld 26 A group of distinguished game developers form a new company and create MadWorld, a title with an unusual black-and-white, graphic-novel style. By Martin McEachern A Bit of Difference 32 When it comes to imaging, is 10-bit that much better than 8-bit? A growing number of users think so, and are willing to pay the price to have it. By Alex Herrera Elemental Effects 38 VFX studios create some devilishly diffi cult scenes, including soaring virtual sets and large crowds, for the live-action fi lm Angels & Demons. By Barbara Robertson Adding POW! to Prime Time 42 Working on a tight television production schedule, Mechnology gives a new team of superheroes their powers in the now-defunct TV series The Middleman. By Debra Kaufman COVER STORY What's on your mind? Have a question about a product? Curious about how an effect was done? Want to get peer opinion about something you are working on? Or, do you just want to voice your opinion about something, anything, pertaining to the digital content creation industry? If so, start a string in the new Forum section on cgw.com. June 2009 • Volume 32 • Number 6 I n n o v a t i o n s i n v i s u a l c o m p u t i n g f o r t h e g l o b a l D C C c o m m u n i t y Departments Editor's Note Courting Controversy 2 Is artistic freedom at risk in the gaming industry, particularly with recent government and special-interest group involvement? Spotlight 4 Products Nvidia's Quadro FX 5800, 4800, and 3800, and NVS 295, and SLI Multi-OS technology. The Foundry's Nuke 5.2. Eyeon's SWAT certifi cation program. Blackmagic's routers, converters, and other offerings. Havok's Havok AI. Caustic Graphic's CausticRT. Autodesk's Flare and other offerings. Allegorithmic's Substance Air. News Outsourcing in the gaming industry is on the rise. Viewpoint 10 Gimbal lock in the CG industry. Careers 45 How animators can grow their skills. Back Products 47 Recent software and hardware releases. 12 26 22 32

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