I'm curious what animation software they used to create that movie. I was watching it a few weeks ago on one of the Samsung flat panel monitors they had in CompUSA. Looks pretty amazing. I'm also kinda interested in doing something like that......
Square used Maya as well as some proprietary software. Supposedly some scenes used Softimage. But I know they mostly used Maya/Renderman and other in-house tools. The DVD actually has extra footage on the making of the movie.
there are plenty of 3d software that run on the Mac, contrary to popular belief. You have a wide range of software to choose from:
Maya, Lightwave, Cinema4D, Electric Image, Pixels3D
If you are just starting out in 3D. I highly recommend you look at DVGarage's 3D Toolkit. Basically it is a tutorial bundle for beginner's, using a light version of Electric Image. It will teach you how to model, animate, render, as well as create shaders, bump maps, etc. It is priced pretty cheaply for what you get. the url is:
From there you can move unto other programs, or keep learning Electric Image. The best thing to do is get your hands dirty with the software and choose one that you feel most comfortable with. Most of those programs have demo versions available to download and try out first.
That explains a lot of the special effects you'll probably ask about. Basically, everything in the movie is rendered in (hundreds) of layers (backgrounds, foreground objects, lighting effects, fog effects, etc.) and then later composited together.
[quote]How about the Alchemist's acrobatics? How was it done?<hr></blockquote>What about it? Most human movements were recorded from live actors with those little white balls taped all over their body, IIRC.
Comments
there are plenty of 3d software that run on the Mac, contrary to popular belief. You have a wide range of software to choose from:
Maya, Lightwave, Cinema4D, Electric Image, Pixels3D
If you are just starting out in 3D. I highly recommend you look at DVGarage's 3D Toolkit. Basically it is a tutorial bundle for beginner's, using a light version of Electric Image. It will teach you how to model, animate, render, as well as create shaders, bump maps, etc. It is priced pretty cheaply for what you get. the url is:
<a href="http://www.dvgarage.com"; target="_blank">http://www.dvgarage.com</a>;
From there you can move unto other programs, or keep learning Electric Image. The best thing to do is get your hands dirty with the software and choose one that you feel most comfortable with. Most of those programs have demo versions available to download and try out first.
here are some url's for the company's
Alias|Wavefront (Maya)
<a href="http://www.aw.sgi.com"; target="_blank">http://www.aw.sgi.com</a>;
Newtek (Lightwave)
<a href="http://www.newtek.com"; target="_blank">http://www.newtek.com</a>;
Electric Image Inc (Electric Image)
<a href="http://www.elecrticimage.com"; target="_blank">http://www.elecrticimage.com</a>;
Maxon (Cinema 4D)
<a href="http://www.maxon.de/usa/index.html"; target="_blank">http://www.maxon.de/usa/index.html</a>;
Postforum (message board discussing these programs and other animation software)
<a href="http://www.postforum.com"; target="_blank">http://www.postforum.com</a>;
CG Channel (website for 3D news as well as message board)
<a href="http://www.cgchannel.com"; target="_blank">http://www.cgchannel.com</a>;
Highend3D (website for 3D news as well as message board)
<a href="http://www.highend3d.com"; target="_blank">http://www.highend3d.com</a>;
It will be hard at first, but if you keep at it, you will start seeing some results. Hope this leads you in the right direction.
Good luck!
- trowa
compositing
That explains a lot of the special effects you'll probably ask about. Basically, everything in the movie is rendered in (hundreds) of layers (backgrounds, foreground objects, lighting effects, fog effects, etc.) and then later composited together.
[quote]How about the Alchemist's acrobatics? How was it done?<hr></blockquote>What about it? Most human movements were recorded from live actors with those little white balls taped all over their body, IIRC.