Jesus Fernandez

Oh wow, you do not hear that often.... The entire staff of Annapurna Interactive, the video-game publishing division of Annapurna studio, resigned this month following a dispute with its owner. Annapurna Interactive President Nathan Gary and his team had been negotiating with Megan Ellison to spin off the video-game division as an independent entity. When Ellison pulled out of the negotiations, Gary and other executives resigned and were followed by around two dozen other staffers. “All 25 members of the Annapurna Interactive team collectively resigned,’’ Gary and the group said in a joint statement. “This was one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make and we did not take this action lightly.” (source: https://lnkd.in/ehvi33Wg) To those who have resigned, if you are looking for new opportunities, please check them out here: 🥇First, reach out to us at People Can Fly Studio, we have many roles open right now in Canada, the UK, Ireland and Europe, please check them out here: https://lnkd.in/eWpV5PbA 🥈Next, Discipline Games Jobs Resources: Over the past months I have created 9 (at time of writing) Games Jobs Resources to find jobs in a wide range of disciplines, and I would urge you to check them out, if anything just to see what would be available to you: https://lnkd.in/ePywd2kq You can find over 6,000 jobs there. 🥉 Third, the Ultimate list of Video Games Career Resources: This should be your one-stop shop for all information. My dear friend Amir Satvat maintains these documents, he is a legend for doing this - please check them out: https://amirsatvat.com/ I urge you to check out the areas in particular about CV support and mentoring, as these will help you no matter what industry you are hailing from or are looking into going next. 🎖 Finally, do not give up. Ever. No matter how dark things may look right now, I KNOW you will get through this, you have got this! 👊 Remember you are not alone. If you need help, advice, or even an ear to listen, we're here for you. Always! ➡ A request to my community, please can I ask you to repost this post to your colleagues and friends, so that we can get as many into jobs as possible! And please comment if you or your studio are currently hiring - let's help each other! Much love ❤️ #annapurnainteractive #resignations

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In preparation for a talk I'm going to give, in which I condense 15 years of career into around 30 mins, I have had the joy to look back at some of the work I have done over the years, animation or not! It has been great to look over some of my old blog posts, and remembering the joy I had in making some of these pieces! Always looking to turn this one into an animated series, so if you're a commissioner or work in development, give me a shout! 😉 https://lnkd.in/eFeRMhg #Animation #CharacterDesign #OldWork

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10 May 2024 Topics covered: CODING 1. Solved 3 leet code problems to strengthen python 2. Understood how Big O notation works 3. Sorting and comparing lists FILM MAKING (ANIMATION) 1. Studied different types of transitions and saw how they are used in movies 2. Saw a shortfilm 'Chutney' , brilliantly directed , creative story line , leading to the climax. Link to the film : https://lnkd.in/dycgJSTb

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The latest instalment of my newsletter is out, you can read and sub here - https://lnkd.in/em_tFiWr

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When Scanline Rendering took 4 hours to render a 640x480 image...

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Apologies in advance, this isn't a 'become an animator, everything will be awesome' post... Is this it? For the first time I'm wondering if my career is coming to an end. I know that sounds overly dramatic. I've considered career changes in the past but this is new, this feels like it's not my decision, that I've lost control. In recent years I'd started thinking of my career endgame (I'm 55 years old) but it feels like everything may happen sooner than I'd planned. I only know things from my own perspective and right now the outlook isn't looking to great. Every animator job post gets hundreds of applicants, remote work appears to be disappearing fast and there's talented people I know that have had no work for months. There are amazing studios I know that are scrabbling around for new projects to keep them going. Things are tough right now! Don't get me wrong I'm not giving up, nor am I sulking saying it's not fair. I'm still on the hunt for work like so many others. Animation is what I love doing! But on this dull Monday morning I'm feeling a little reflective and maybe I'm just being melodramatic. Or maybe this is it, maybe this is the endgame? Apologies again for the negativity. Feel free to comment if you're finding it tough too or that you think I'm talking crap. #vfx #games #animation #freelancer #opentowork

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Does anyone know a good place to find great looking fx for Unreal? 3D vdb fx for pulse blasts, explosions, impact destruction of cement or rubble? The ones we are finding in marketplace look too basic. Tips? help? #animation

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Elevating Your Digital Presence with Animated Videos: As we venture into the area of animation, let's explore how animated videos can enhance your digital presence. Beyond just 2D animation, let's consider the full range of animated content that can transform the way we share ideas and stories. Animated videos excel at simplifying complex topics and presenting them in an engaging manner. They act as a bridge between intricate information and the audience, ensuring understanding with a touch of entertainment. This blend of education and engagement makes animated videos a valuable tool in today's content-rich digital world. Animation's flexibility allows for tailored content creation. Each video can be uniquely crafted to reflect your brand, which is what I always do, to cater to your audience's preferences, and seamlessly integrate into your marketing strategy. The storytelling can be light-hearted or serious, matched with a visual style that suits your message. I advice the client to provide the script for the animation, while I come up with a custom visual style. 🎨 Furthermore, animation's strength lies in its ability to evoke emotions and connect with viewers on a personal level. By leveraging storytelling, animated videos can create a narrative that resonates with viewers, making your message not just seen but felt. In the marketing landscape, animated videos are more than just content; they are a strategic asset. They can enhance your online visibility, boost engagement rates, and help your message stand out in a crowded digital arena. With their shareable nature, animated videos have the potential to reach a broad audience, amplifying your brand's voice across various platforms. Looking ahead, the role of animated videos in digital communication is poised to expand. They are not merely a passing trend but a transformative medium that can adapt to the evolving digital marketing environment. Let's embrace the power of animation and create content that informs, inspires, and connects with our audience on a deeper level. https://lnkd.in/e-7kWzua #animatedvideo #digitalanimation #2danimation Sundstedt Animation----- Anders Sundstedt®aka Sundstedt Animation is an independent animation studio near Glasgow, specializing in handcrafted 2D animations, captivating educational videos, compelling explainer videos, and award-winning music videos. Got an animation project in mind? Let’s bring it to life! Email me at📧 [email protected] www.sundstedt.co.uk

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▶️🎦 New Project ⇨ 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗦 : 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗢𝗘𝗦 - 𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗗𝗘 𝗜𝗜𝗜 | https://lnkd.in/eiK558qF Star Wars: Heroes - Episode III is a humorous project set during the events of Return of the Jedi, created using SketchUp 24 and Lumion 24. In Star Wars: Heroes - Episode III, the misadventures of TK-215 and TK-588 continue. This time, the two Stormtroopers, following their past experiences, are sent to Endor to monitor a secluded forest path. Though they hope for a chance at thrilling action, they once again find themselves questioning the trivial nature of their assignment and their place in the Empire. Why are they always given such insignificant tasks, despite their repeated failures? However, what seems like a routine guard duty may quickly take an unexpected turn, with surprising encounters that could shift their perspective on the mission. This episode humorously and ironically delves into the dull day-to-day life of the Stormtroopers, highlighting the contrast between the mundane nature of their existence and the grand galactic events happening around them. More information about the project ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/edrbfdR5 Lumion SketchUp Quixel #SketchUp #Lumion2024 #3DAnimation #3DRendering #Quixel #Megascans #Blender3D #StarWars

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I posted this as a reply earlier to a discussion about AI on Facebook and I thought it was worth posting this extended version here as well. AI image generation (or filmmaking) is NOT a tool to help artists. That is nothing but gaslighting and is an attempt to confuse people is trying to compare apples and oranges. Generative AI is a program designed to REPLACE artists and not to assist them. EVEN if you could find a way to stop the scraping and theft of real artists. A lot of proponents of Generative AI make the claim the same thing happened when CG animation came around. Gaslighting. It is nothing at all like CG animation or programs. CG animation programs still need essentially the same artists to do the work (along with man, many more) with essentially the same talents and learning that 2D Animation and 2D illustration needed but instead of needing a pencil and paper (brush and canvas, etc) it needs a stylus, a touch screen and a computer. Those are actual tools. But the skills you learned as an animator or an artist are essentially the same other than needing to learn a new program and method of working. Anyone making that claim about comparing AI to CG Animation is - wait for it - gaslighting you. With Generative AI the intent is to do away with artists and not to make them better. All that learning that an artist acquires is unnecessary and will not help when you type in prompts for the AI program. That gleam in the studio's eye is because they see a future where they can eliminate jobs - just like Lionsgate has announced. The ONLY reason why studios are interested in this is to save money - not to improve their product/art. They may tell themselves it's to improve things but the only believing that are the proponents of AI and those that don't understand the jobs they want to eliminate. With CG there was no money savings and actually costs more in many cases, but the audiences responded so positively to CG animation that the studios saw this as a way to increase their audiences. If the audience had not helped CG films to have huge BO the studios would have quickly gone back to cheaper 2D animation. On the other hand NO ONE is reacting positively to AI and there is no audience pushing for it. It is all about GREED. The latest twist to make AI sound desirable has been "you can get a big star like Tom Hanks with all his acting skills to star in multiple films at once" and "you can get Glen Keane's animation skills to work on more films at once then he was ever capable of before" and other similar pie-in-the-sky arguments for AI being used in filmmaking. 1/4

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Exciting News for the Quixel Community! Epic has our feedback loud and clear! Many of us expressed frustration about the replacement of Bridge, and they understand how important it is to have tools that meet our needs. That’s why epic thrilled to announce the return of Megascans content via Bridge and Quixel.com! Starting today, Now you can once again build your Megascans library using the Bridge workflows you know and love. This option will be available until December 31, 2024. Here’s what this means for you: You can claim the legacy Megascans library for free under the Epic Content License. Everything you claim by the end of the year will remain accessible for use even after January 1, 2025. A convenient one-click solution to claim all assets at once will be available next week! We’re committed to providing the tools and resources you need to bring your projects to life. For more details, check out the full forum post. #Quixel #Megascans #UnrealEngine #3DAssets #GameDevelopment #BridgeWorkflow #EpicGames #3DArt #EnvironmentDesign #LevelDesign #VirtualProduction

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I enjoy trying to push myself in terms of creating art or shots quickly and efficiently like a one-man VFX house, but as I worked on this I actually got a bit depressed. Considering what's going on in the world, blowing stuff up feels gross. I need to find some more wholesome use of pyro sims, animation and compositing #blender3d #vfx #cgi

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I’m getting a bit tired of VFX people who are expressing anti-labour rights/anti-union views. Whether you think unions are a helpful idea when it comes to VFX or not, unions are a foundational aspect of the film/tv business, and should be respected as such. I understand strike fatigue, of course. The strikes of 2023 have had a tremendous impact on VFX. I myself have lost 7+ months of work so far, and the benefits won have little to no positive impact on VFX workers. VFX artists, technicians, etc. have been shut out of the unions that represent nearly 100% of production crew members until very recently, when DNEG voted to unionize in Montreal and Vancouver (production VFX staff have been represented a bit longer in a growing number of locals, including my own in Toronto). Do VFX artists deserve to have better benefits and compensation for overtime? Yes. Would unionizing eliminate outsourcing? Would it move more post-production jobs overseas? Nobody really knows, but some people I see posting seem afraid unionizing would eliminate their one precious job, and they don’t care about improving the working conditions of the entire industry. I don’t want my job to be eliminated either, but it is a choice. Unionizing VFX would shrink the VFX industry, probably significantly, and it would come out the other side with improved working conditions. If VFX were unionized across the board, the main differences would be franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the CG remakes of Disney classics perhaps could not exist; and The Mandalorian would’ve just been a movie. Disney would be fine, it would just make different choices than it has recently. Every MCU movie has over 1000 VFX people listed in the credits, with another 1000+ uncredited. If VFX was unionized, the budget of a typical MCU movie could increase so drastically that it would not be greenlit. I’ve taken a pretty roundabout way to get here, but I suppose what I’m wondering is: Is that actually a bad thing? #vfx #vfxindustry #filmindustry

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Man I am so excited for the new tools coming in Houdini 20.5. It is mind boggling how good Sidefx is at creating new tools to achieve new effects. Also, for the first time in my career, I really am feeling more and more confident staying in just one package rather than being purely agnostic and using many packages to produce projects. What tool are you most excited for?! #vfx #sidefxhoudini #houdinifx

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I've done a lot of isometric art this week for Studio Goblin (animation unrelated, this one will be under wraps for a while). Producing environments like this has a fun construction quality to it. When you don't have to worry about that pesky perspective, every asset you draw can be placed anywhere. Quite quickly you have have this whole series of characters and objects that you can tweak and duplicate to populate a whole scene. The more you do, the more if feels like messing around with lego or papercraft. What I do take for granted though is my isometric ruler. It's one of a bunch of features you can find using Lazy Nezumi Pro. I picked up the app I don't even know how many years ago (maybe over 10 now... jeez) as a way of stabilising lines in Photoshop. Of course since then Adobe has actually built that in- but it does a thousand other things too. Rulers (such as isometric), radial lines, circles, etc. I've never needed to use half of them, but they're there. The developer also takes feedback, and we've had discussions about ongoing support for other programs such as Animate. So no, this is not an ad, just a lucid moment where I realised that there might be a lot of people who don't know about this cool tool that I take for granted every week. If you get a lot of drawing hours in, it might be worth checking out. https://lazynezumi.com/ Oh, the animation is from a project we produced in collaboration with NUA and ASMRplanet. You can find out more on our site.

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🌟 New Client Testimonial: Martin Hickey from SEAN International on Collaborating with Wonderstory® Christian Animation Studio 🌟 "My feelings towards the end product were one of complete satisfaction, I really feel that what we produced was something which fully met the brief. I would have no hesitation about working with Wonderstory again, I would be in touch with them like a shot if I needed to do a similar project in future. In terms of administration of the process, super efficient and always friendly. It was really a pleasure. To work with Wonderstory on the, on the films that we made. "The video has enabled us have a very brief visual way of communicating what the organisation is all about. It's also very colorful. It's got a light touch, it's really been very successful. 🌟 Ready to elevate your mission with engaging animation? 🎨 Check out our pricing and learn more at www.wonderstory.net "Wonderstory was recommended to me by a trusted colleague who was working for Tearfund, which is a very well respected Christian organisation, and that was quite compelling. When I took a look at Wonderstory's work, I was very impressed straight away. "I would recommend Wonderstory because they're a talented team. In terms of the price if we get down to the nitty gritty price was very good. "I think it's also important to take a look at the range of clients that Wonderstory have already worked with. There are a lot of really good and well respected organisations that they've worked with, and that's no coincidence. "And really from my point of view, as someone who's worked for 30 years pretty much in this line of work, I'd have no hesitation about recommending Wonderstory as not only a safe pair of hands for an animation project." SEAN (Study by Extension for All Nations) is an organisation which develops Bible courses which currently are used by about 200,000 people in around a hundred countries and 70 languages. https://lnkd.in/e9rnqHna Watch the final explainer video for SEAN: https://lnkd.in/eiP73Kk9 #Animation #ClientTestimonial #VideoProduction #Wonderstory #SEAN #CreativeProcess #SuccessStory #Communication #Marketing #PromotionalVideo #ClientSatisfaction  Wonderstory® Christian Animation Studio 

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Asking for help in finding a Maya tutorial... So for quite some time, I've been making facial rigs in Motionbuilder, and now looking at transitioning some of this to Maya (where I'm a total noob) as my good facial mocap tools that did support mobu are about to expire, sigh... So what I do in mobu, is create dummy objects with custom properties that match the blendshapes of whatever character I'm going to use (in this case, Daz characters..) I then build complex relational constraints with macros and whatnot to connect the movement of the rig objects to the blendshape dummies.. The end result is a rig that I can drop in on any character and the only thing I need to do is make connections between the dummy objects custom properties and the object mesh blendshapes. Never having done this in Maya, I don't even know where to start, so I'm asking any of my Maya animator friends out there if they know of specific tutorials I can look at to replicate this. Eventually, I want to take the next step and create a similar rig in UE, so I can go back and forth like with metahumans. Thanks for your help

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The audio is an excerpt from the original series - cold opening scene. My pipeline to creating EXR files to 4K UHD HDR PQ animation - render animation in Daz 3d Studio and exported as EXR files via LPE canvases, then the EXR(s) are imported into FCPX (remove all exposure from the EXR files), followed by sharing/exporting out an Uncompressed 10-bit mp4 file, which is then converted into an HDR PQ with metadata via ffmpeg on the command line. As you know, YouTube can take up to 24-48 hours to convert to a proper HDR viewing file, following the 11.26.24 posting of this video. Remember to like and subscribe on YT https://lnkd.in/gnkySgbs As usual, thanks in advance and Peace, Love, Happiness and Prosperity to you all. Love you like a brother

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LINK TO THE FULL VIDEO IN THE COMMENTS BELOW I can say I’ve gone over this video over 11 times now as Id obviously do in the process of posting excerpts from the main video. I can appreciate how this repetition is positively influencing my thoughts towards projects I engage in the course of the day as well as my engagement with others. ☀️ #mawuli #warrior #meditativelearning #reflection #contenttips #applebrand #Apple #Applemarketing #contenttipsandtricks #contentstrategy #batman2021 #contentcreation #creativeliberty #creativefreedom #creativeflexibility #creativedecision #strategicthinking #creativestrategy #batmananalysis #thebatman #mattreeves #mattreevesbatman #mattreevesthebatman #robertpattinson #thebatmanreview #thebatmanreviews #creativedesign #characterdevelopment

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