Anyone involved in puppetry in any way knows that the first question you get asked is ‘So, have you seen that movie Being John Malkovich?” Here’s a system where you can control the face of someone else – even John Malcovich – using facial recognition in realtime via a webcam.
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
The newly released Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet video game has a shadow puppet aesthetic and beautifully realised alien creatures and environments. Gaming Irresponsibly’s video review and the first 15 minutes of gameplay gives a longer introduction to the fluid, multi-layered, highly detailed imagery and the gorgeous mix of organic and industrial.
Developed by Michael Gange (who previously created Insanely Twisted Shadow Puppets) and Joe Olson, it is described as ‘a side-scrolling adventure that is a fusion of art, classical animation, and captivating gameplay’ and is developed by Shadow Planet Productions (Fuelcell Games and Gagne International).
(Hope it comes to iPad someday!)
How to Train Your Dragon Live
Melbourne’s Creature Technology Company, which had worldwide success with their live arena show Walking with Dinosaurs Live, have just launched their new venture How to Train Your Dragon Live at a Dreamworks and Global Creatures media event showing off an awesome 4 metre tall fire-breathing animatronic dragon, the Deadly Nadder. Apparently it’s one of 24 dragons!
I’m happy to see that this new production has an emphasis on story and emotional engagement in addition to the sheer spectacle, since my one reservation about Walking with Dinosaurs Live was the lack of emotional content.
This video from The Age has some footage of the making process, as does this one:
Some additional links:
The Creature Technology Company’s videos at their website
Daily Telegraph: gallery of 15 images
The Age: Here be Dragons
The Australian: Monster epic producer’s dragons fly high
774 ABC Melbourne: How to Train your Dragon hits Melbourne: radio interview with Dreamworks’ Tim Johnson, who co-produced the movie and directs the new exhibition.
Sky News: Melbourne to host Dragon arena show
(via Philip Millar, Kari Klein and PuppetVision)
Twitter digest 2011-08-08
- Love this – Planet of the iPad : Steve Gillmor http://t.co/IrOwkjF #
Twitter digest 2011-08-07
- A long & very interesting article by Phillip Torrone on what the Autodesk acquisition of Instructables means for makers http://t.co/gL5jIwf #
Snuff Puppets – Human Body Parts puppets
Snuff Puppets recently entertained crowds at Federation Square in Melbourne with their amazing Human Body Parts puppets.
Twitter digest 2011-08-06
- Great video of Snuff Puppets new Human Body Parts puppets in action http://t.co/NEDur3u #
- .@i_am_anna you could code it too, eg have all the old British empire countries pink like they used to be in old atlases in reply to i_am_anna #
- It could – would be fabulous! “@i_am_anna: @Hil121 probably wouldn't work, but the idea of this in colour is nice! http://t.co/A7msTkR” #
- This is wild: Ant's abdomens colour matched with their food http://t.co/RPDre3Z #
Twitter digest 2011-08-05
- Lovely images from the Natural History Museum http://t.co/ytet5aW #
- Looks like the financial market has crashed while I was busy… #
- Entered 2 sculptures in the @WoollahraSSP small sculpture prize today. Have no idea where that will go, but I'm pleased to have done it. #
- Yes: "Real names" policies are an abuse of power http://t.co/M8cZYYD #
- Cool sculptures made with haptic (touch) technology & 3D printing http://t.co/yxGwMRd (via @ponoko) #
Twitter digest 2011-08-04
- Cool ceramic Mask and Marionette by @ShadowDelgado http://t.co/CjXFTZM #
