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Brace yourself for an extraordinary tale of artistic brilliance that transcends age and defies conventions. At a mere 17 years old, Josip has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the world of 3D art, his recent second-place triumph in Bad Normals's "Worlds Inside Glass" challenge, which is sponsored by Fox Renderfarm, a leading cloud rendering services provider and render farm in the industry, with the spellbinding "Velocity Vista" serving as a resounding affirmation of his immense talent. Josip's foray into the digital realm began in August 2022 when he first downloaded Blender, a seemingly innocuous step that would ignite a fervent passion for 3D artistry. Although initially drawn to the realm of visual effects, Josip's creative vision soon gravitated towards the intricacies of environment creation, where his skills truly blossomed. "Velocity Vista" stands as a testament to his unwavering dedication and remarkable growth, a masterwork that has garnered well-deserved acclaim, reassuring this young visionary that he is treading the path of artistic excellence.Come explore the distinctive features that set Josip apart from the others.Fox Renderfarm: Hi Josip! Thank you so much for accepting our interview! Could you please introduce yourself to our reader?Josip: Hi! Thank you for inviting me! My name is Josip, and I'm a 17-year-old 3D artist. My first experience with 3D software was in August 2022 when I downloaded Blender and began exploring. Initially drawn to VFX, my interest later shifted towards creating environments.Fox Renderfarm: "Velocity Vista" won second place in the Bad Normals's "Worlds Inside Glass" competition. How did it feel to receive recognition for your work in such a prestigious competition, and how do you think this accomplishment has impacted your artistic journey?Velocity Vista © JosipJosip: I was genuinely pleased to see both the audience and later the judges appreciating it. "Velocity Vista" is a piece that came after a lot of experience, and receiving positive feedback on it feels like a significant accomplishment, reassuring me that I am progressing in the right direction!Fox Renderfarm: Could you give me a quick overview of the project you entered into the challenge?Josip: "Velocity Vista" definitely differs from my usual work, which made it quite challenging yet inspiring to create! It features a long racing track for toy cars, just like those many of us had or at least saw as kids. My goal was to capture the atmosphere and playful feeling of such moments within this piece. The challenge itself presented a fascinating concept: we were provided with a file template featuring a glass sphere and a camera, with restrictions on altering its location, rotation, and focal length. Our task was to craft a world both outside and inside the glass sphere within these constraints.Fox Renderfarm: Could you take us through the creative journey of your work, from the initial concepts to the final product? Do you follow a typical workflow or pipeline? © Josip© Josip© JosipJosip: I divided my workflow into two stages. Initially, I brainstormed various concepts, moving simple objects around the scene until inspiration struck. Several concepts emerged, one involving multiple spheres scattered throughout the scene, which I later discarded in favor of the final idea. Once I envisioned what I wanted to create, the fun part of the process followed! I began modeling several pieces of the track, experimenting with connecting them in different directions. Throughout the track's creation, I aimed to shape it in a way a child would do, featuring as many fun stunts and twists! I prioritized creating the foreground before considering the specific location of the toy. Thinking if it should be located indoors or outdoors, I envisioned the track going all around a bedroom. Upon completing the piece, it was further refined using Photoshop.Fox Renderfarm: What inspired you to incorporate elements of both tranquility and excitement into this piece? Were there any particular experiences or themes you wanted to explore?© Josip © JosipJosip: As mentioned earlier, the piece was inspired by a child's toy track for cars. During the brainstorming phase for the challenge, I got excited as I recalled moments spent playing with such toys. Motivated by these memories, I made the decision to revisit and visualize those moments in the form of a picture!Fox Renderfarm: Could you share the duration it took to bring this piece from concept to its final rendered form and highlight which aspect of the process consumed the most time? And in your opinion, what do you think has contributed to this time investment?Josip: When the challenge was announced, it seemed like we had a lot of time, so I approached it with a relaxed mindset. I dedicated a significant amount of time to processing ideas and refining them to align with the challenge's rules. It took me a week or even two to settle on a concept. However, once I decided what I wanted to make, I completed the picture in just a few days! The feedback from the judges was something I wanted to hear, so sacrificing some free time felt like a small price to pay considering its value!Fox Renderfarm: Could you discuss the major hurdles you had to clear to achieve such intricate detailing in your work and explain how you navigated those challenges during the creation process?Josip: Well, I didn't encounter many hurdles during the project, but I can share what enabled me to create efficiently! Considering I had already completed many projects, I had a library of assets saved that could be repurposed for this project. For instance, the books you see supporting the track on the table were simply imported from a previous project I had completed!Fox Renderfarm: The title "Velocity Vista" suggests a sense of movement and perspective. How does the concept of velocity play into your artistic vision, and what do you hope viewers will take away from the visual dynamics of the piece?Josip: Velocity mainly represents the high speed of cars and the change of speed that occurs during the twists and loops! I tried to express the excitement associated with the toy.Fox Renderfarm: Were there specific AI-powered techniques or tools that you used in the creation of your work to achieve such rendering quality? How did these tools contribute to the final visual appeal of the artwork?Josip: Although I have used AI in the past to create textures, this particular piece did not require its use. However, I did utilize Blender's image denoising feature, which could be considered a form of AI, to remove render noise resulting from low sample counts.Fox Renderfarm: Could you share any behind-the-scenes insights, techniques, or experimental processes you employed in creating "Velocity Vista"? What lessons or discoveries did you make during the creation of this work?© JosipJosip: Given that I typically create work for Instagram, I'm used to adjusting the aspect ratio to fit mobile screens. Although it's not my first time making a horizontal image, the orientation of "Velocity Vista" was a challenge for me, as composition works differently in this format. As mentioned earlier, AI wasn't utilized in the creation of the picture, but it did play a role in visualizing concepts for the image.Fox Renderfarm: Could you tell us about some of your favorite creative endeavors from previous projects, and explain what aspects made them especially rewarding or satisfying experiences?Natural Flow © JosipJosip: I have completed a lot of projects in the past, many of which revolved around themes such as traditional Japan, general nature, and rural cities. The house model featured in the sphere of "Velocity Vista" was also a model that I reused from one of my previous projects. I share all of my personal projects on my Instagram, and it's incredibly rewarding when people appreciate the work that I create based on my interests!Fox Renderfarm: What are your typical sources of inspiration - do you draw from other artists, artistic movements, natural elements, or everyday surroundings? How do these influences manifest in your creations?Josip: I often find inspiration from my personal interests and experiences, as well as from other artists! I follow a lot of people who make art similar to mine, which not only motivates me but also brings a sense of community!Fox Renderfarm: Have you had any experience with Fox Renderfarm's cloud rendering services in the past? If you have, what is your opinion of our cloud rendering offerings? Josip: I haven't had any experience whatsoever with any render farm so far, so Fox Renderfarm will be my first experience with such a service!Fox Renderfarm: Finally, as an innovative artist, where do you see future trends in the art world heading, in terms of themes, mediums, or approaches being influenced by emerging technologies or cultural shifts?Josip: It's challenging to predict the future of art, but AI is certainly a hot topic among 3D artists and the general public! While some utilize this technology in their workflow, others prefer to avoid it entirely, and some rely exclusively on it. Undoubtedly, AI is a revolutionary technology that cannot be ignored, but I view it primarily as a tool. Those who create for the sake of creation will eventually adapt or find ways to incorporate it into their work, therefore it should not be feared!Thanks again to Josip for accepting our interview! Wishing new heights in your professional career and keep up with your great work!Josip’s social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josipcgiArtStation: https://josipcgi.artstation.com/

Are you ready to have your mind twisted into a cosmic knot? Apple TV+ is about to launch its latest sci-fi series, "Dark Matter", and it promises to be a thrilling ride through the multiverse. Based on the best-selling novel by Blake Crouch, this series is not just a show; it’s an existential journey that will leave you questioning the very fabric of reality.Image from Apple TV+Imagine waking up in a different existence, with memories that don't belong to you and a strange yet familiar family. Physicist Jason Dessen, played by Joel Edgerton, is taken into another version of his life, which puts him in a perplexing situation. The show centers on his frantic journey to find his real family by following him as he makes his way through a maze of startlingly identical and disconcertingly different worlds.Image from Apple TV+With Jennifer Connelly's arrival, this already brilliant series has even more star power. They investigate the unsettling query, "What if?" together. What if you had chosen differently? Imagine being able to glimpse the untraveled paths. With a story as intricate as a quantum equation and as captivating as the stars themselves, "Dark Matter" explores these alternate existences.Image from Apple TV+This series is a cinematic experience encased in a mental experiment. It's an analysis of destiny, free will, and the countless directions one's life might go. It's about the darkness that exists both inside of ourselves and in the uncharted regions of the universe. As the show goes on, viewers will be glued to their seats—not just because of the tension, but also because "Dark Matter" poses important philosophical issues.Image from Apple TV+"Dark Matter" is a must-watch if you enjoy science fiction that pushes the boundaries of vision while being entertaining. This series is destined to be the next great thing in sci-fi television because of its spooky atmosphere, intriguing characters, and a plot that is as unexpected as a quantum fluctuation.So mark your calendars for May 8, 2024, and prepare to embark on a journey through the cosmos with "Dark Matter". It’s more than just a show; it’s a gateway to the unknown, and it’s coming to Apple TV+.Prepare to have all you believe about reality called into question, and get ready for a play that is both eerie and thought-provoking. Not merely a TV show, "Dark Matter" is a phenomenon that will completely transform the science fiction genre. Are you prepared to take the leap?Source: Apple TV+If you're interested in animation and visual effects, you might want to check out Fox Renderfarm - the leading cloud rendering services provider and render farm in the CG industry. Fox Renderfarm has provided cloud rendering services to countless visual effects and animation studios, allowing them to get the best quality results in the shortest time. A $25 free trial is available to let you speed up the rendering of your 3D projects.

Get ready to go to a distant galaxy in the latest Star Wars story, "Tales of the Empire." This animated anthology series is the newest gem in the beloved franchise's crown, with a Disney+ premiere scheduled for May 4, 2024. This series is set to rewrite the history of Star Wars with a plot that promises to explore the darkest reaches of the Galactic Empire. Prepare to meet brand-new heroes and return to familiar foes in a tale that takes place across a great deal of time and space.Embark on a Galactic Journey with "Star Wars: Tales of the Empire"Image from Lucasfilm AnimationThe Star Wars universe is growing once more, and this time it will include an animated anthology series that is sure to delight both new and returning fans. There is already a great deal of excitement surrounding the May 4, 2024, Disney+ premiere of "Star Wars: Tales of the Empire".The series boasts a stellar voice cast including Jason Isaacs as the Grand Inquisitor, Meredith Salenger as Barriss Offee, Lars Mikkelsen as Thrawn, Rya Kihlstedt as Lyn aka Fourth Sister, Diana Lee Inosanto as Morgan Elsbeth, and Matthew Wood as General Grievous. The creative force behind this series is none other than Dave Filoni, renowned for his previous work on other Star Wars animated series.A Tale of Two WarriorsImage from Lucasfilm Animation"Tales of the Empire" follows the intertwining fates of two warriors navigating the ruthless Galactic Empire during different eras. A vengeful young woman, Morgan Elsbeth, seeks a path of vengeance after losing everything, while former Jedi Barriss Offee must adapt to survive in a galaxy that’s changing faster than the speed of light. Their choices will shape not only their destinies but also the future of the Empire itself.Image from Lucasfilm AnimationSo mark your calendars for May 4th, and prepare to dive into a story that explores the depth of the dark side and the resilience of the human spirit. "Star Wars: Tales of the Empire" is not just a series; it’s a journey through the heart of the Star Wars saga, and it’s one you won’t want to miss.Source: Disney+ & Lucasfilm AnimationIf you're interested in animation and visual effects, you might want to check out Fox Renderfarm - the leading cloud rendering services provider and render farm in the CG industry. Fox Renderfarm has provided cloud rendering services to countless visual effects and animation studios, allowing them to get the best quality results in the shortest time. A $25 free trial is available to let you speed up the rendering of your 3D projects.

Prepare to elevate your rendering game with the highly anticipated release of Arnold 7.3.1, which hit the scene on March 28, 2024. This feature-packed update introduces a wealth of enhancements and groundbreaking new capabilities, poised to revolutionize your rendering workflow. Let's dive into the exciting details and explore how this cutting-edge version can supercharge your creative pursuits.New Features and EnhancementsDithered SamplingImage from AutodeskIn progressive and adaptive rendering, Arnold 7.3.1 introduces support for dithered sampling, which improves noise distribution at low sample counts.Extended MaterialX SupportRendering node graphs that combine Arnold nodes with MaterialX standard library nodes is now feasible as a result of expanded support for the MaterialX format for rich material and look dev data.Improved DenoisingImage from AutodeskWith the OptiX and OIDN denoisers, Arnold 7.3.1 enhances denoising. Now that the NVIDIA OptiX denoiser can operate on low-resolution progressive render passes, early scene previews with significantly less noise are produced. With its "10% better performance" on CPU, the Intel Open Image Denoise (OIDN) denoiser now offers customers the option to run it on CPU, GPU, or automatically.GPU RenderingImage from AutodeskOptiX 8, the latest iteration of NVIDIA's GPU ray tracing architecture, has been utilized to rewrite a significant portion of the GPU renderer. Numerous improvements in rendering performance and startup times are brought about by this update, including much faster render times overall, reduced GPU memory utilization, better scaling on multiple GPUs, and shorter startup times.Overlay ImagerImage from AutodeskAn Overlay imager for text layering onto rendered images is one of the new features.Global Light Sampling in VolumesImage from AutodeskSupport for global light sampling in volumes.Toon Light-Group AOVsImage from AutodeskSupport for toon light-group AOVs.ConclusionA lot of changes have been made to the user experience in Arnold 7.3.1, including a significantly better GPU renderer, quicker volume rendering, high-quality curves, light AOVs in the toon shader, a text overlay imager, and many more. Regardless of your experience level, Arnold 7.3.1 is made to assist you in producing beautiful, high-caliber renderings.As a leading cloud rendering service provider and render farm, Fox Renderfarm also supports Arnold rendering. Fox Renderfarm is now offering a free $25 trial to all new registrants, so let's start rendering!Source: Autodesk Inc.

Welcome to the future of 3D animation with Autodesk Maya 2025! This latest release is packed with new features and enhancements that will revolutionize your workflow. Let’s dive into what’s new and improved.New Features and EnhancementsModeling UpdatesImage from AutodeskNew modeling updates brought in by Maya 2025 include the use of Boolean intersections as a bevel input, Smart Extrude, and Bevel Filtering Attributes. With the help of these tools, you can expedite the modeling process and have greater control over your 3D models.Rigging and Character AnimationImage from AutodeskUpdates and enhancements for riggers and animators have been created in response to numerous client requests. Character rigging and animation will become more user-friendly and productive with these improvements.Motion Trail UpdatesImage from AutodeskIn order to improve its effectiveness and flexibility, Maya redesigned its Motion Trails system for the 2025 version. As a result, animation paths will be more precisely controlled.Updated Dope Sheet EditorImage from AutodeskTo provide a quick and easy method for comprehending, adjusting, and manipulating animation time, the Dope Sheet has been redesigned.Graph Editor Hotkey ChangesImage from AutodeskThe Graph Editor Curve Sculpting tools now feature two new keyboard shortcuts. This will make using the Graph Editor more efficient for you.Plug-ins and Software UpdatesArnold for Maya 5.4.0Maya 2025 includes Arnold version 5.4.0. This update will enhance rendering capabilities within Maya.USD for Maya 0.27 Plug-inImage from AutodeskArtists can bulk load and unload many prims using the revised Universal Scene Description (USD) plug-in. Workflow and scene management will both benefit from this.LookdevX for Maya 1.3.0 Plug-inImage from AutodeskThe latest update to LookdevX introduces support for the MaterialX data format. Artists can now assign MaterialX materials directly to Maya geometry.Bifrost 2.9.0.0Numerous new and enhanced capabilities, such as additional nodes for creating foam ocean wave simulations, are included in Bifrost 2.9.0.0. Spectral waves can be generated for wind-driven water surfaces over time and distance, and combined with dynamic waves for collision-induced wakes and ripples.Substance 2.5.0Version 2.5.0 of Substance is included in Maya 2025. Your ability to texturize in Maya will improve as a result of this.Bonus Tools Now IncludedImage from AutodeskBonus Tools are now included in the Maya installer. This will provide additional functionality right out of the box.ConclusionAutodesk Maya 2025 is a noteworthy advancement in 3D animation software. It gives artists the tools they need to produce beautiful, high-quality 3D animations with its new features and updates. Maya 2025 is made to support you in realizing your artistic goals, regardless of your level of experience.As a leading cloud rendering service provider and render farm, Fox Renderfarm also supports Maya rendering. Fox Renderfarm is now offering a free $25 trial to all new registrants, so let's start rendering!Source: Autodesk Inc.

After intense competition, the 3D challenge organized by Bad Normals, themed 'Worlds Inside Glass', ended smoothly and the top five winners were selected from various outstanding works. Fox Renderfarm, the leading cloud rendering service provider and render farm in the CG industry, is honored to sponsor this challenge by offering our render coupons. Now, let's take a look at the winners and their beautiful works.Top 5 Winners: The 1st Place: Haider AliLast Blossom © Haider AliHaider Ali's social media: https://www.instagram.com/h3d_studio/The 2nd Place: Josip CGIVelocity Vista © Josip CGIJosip CGI's social media: https://www.instagram.com/josipcgi/The 3rd Place: LiadMEMORBY © LiadLiad's social media: https://www.instagram.com/bulletproof_eggs/The 4th Place: UnderSphere-World 223 © UnderUnder's social media: https://www.instagram.com/under.cg/The 5th Place: PixelmarLife in Space © PixelmarPixelmar's social media: https://www.instagram.com/pixelmar_3dCongratulations to all the winners! Join Bad Normals’s Discord to connect with other artists.

At just 18 years old, Luca is already making waves in the world of 3D art. Hailing from the vibrant city of Berlin, Germany, Luca's passion for creating immersive 3D scenes has allowed him to express his creativity in ways beyond imagination.With several years of experience under his belt, his dedication and talent recently earned him 1st place in the CGandWE monthly 3D challenge "Cyber Security".In this interview with Fox Renderfarm, a leading cloud rendering services provider and render farm in the industry, Luca shares his journey, inspirations, and aspirations as a young 3D artist. Join us as we step into Luca's world and explore the boundless possibilities of 3D art through his visionary lens.Fox Renderfarm: Hi Luca! We are honored to have you here! Please introduce yourself first to our readers.Luca: Hey, my name is Luca, I am an 18-year-old 3D artist and cameraman from Berlin, Germany. I have been creating 3D scenes for a few years now, allowing me to really live out my creativity.Fox Renderfarm: Congratulations on winning 1st place in the CGandWE monthly 3D challenge "Cyber Security"! How do you feel about it?Luca: I am very happy about the positive feedback on my scene and winning 1st place. I've been taking part in these challenges for some time now and I'm always happy to see the enthusiasm from others.late at night at the cyber security office © LucaFox Renderfarm: How did you conceptualize and execute the storyline in this scene?Luca: At the beginning, I usually make a list of ideas that would be suitable for this theme. Then I think about which idea fits and can be best implemented in the context. In this case, another idea I had was to depict an antivirus program with a police force and the viruses with robots. As soon as I had the idea, I sat down and made a rough scene without details to get an overview and check the color elements that should be implemented in this scene. Rough Scene © LucaFox Renderfarm: How did you handle the lighting relationship between the character and the environment in this piece?Luca: I kept the whole scene rather dark and illuminated it with practical lights. Like the table lamp, for example. Making the person silhouetted was also important to me, as it allowed them to stand out a little from the rest, due to the bright screen behind them. But she was not illuminated any further to achieve this secret, unknowing look, as cyber security usually happens in the background and in "secret". Fox Renderfarm: Could you please tell us about your pipeline for this work? And how long did it take you?Luca: I spent about 6 hours on this work. It was spread over about a week. I don't necessarily follow a strict schedule as I adapt to my free time and motivation level. The rough scene and the details are usually done in one go. On other days, I take care of the lighting and finer details, such as the moving fan. Creating the person also takes some time.Fox Renderfarm: Did you do any special research or preparation work when creating this piece?Luca: For the scene, I first looked for a few inspirations from films and then used these images to create my own in my head. There wasn't really any other preparation.Inspiration Photos © FilmFox Renderfarm: What's the significance behind the character lighting a cigarette in the image? What was the intention behind incorporating this element?Luca: The cigarette in this scene reflects the character being in this room for some time, not seeing sunlight, and needing some kind of activity and reassurance while sitting in a dark room in front of screens all day. Fox Renderfarm: Are there any challenges you have encountered during creation? If so, how did you overcome them?Luca: There were actually no problems with this project compared to many others of mine. The only thing I had some difficulty with was getting the cigarette and the moving fan to work properly to make the scene look more dynamic. Fox Renderfarm: What is your proudest technical achievement in the creation process?Luca: Definitely the lighting and the associated implementation of the right mood. Fox Renderfarm: How do you improve your CG skills? What kind of exercises do you usually do?Luca: I usually look for a single word and try to build a world around it. I often just go ahead and do something without making a big plan beforehand. Of course, this also means that I come across unfamiliar things and problems that help me learn and acquire new skills.TIME PORTAL INCIDENT © LucaFox Renderfarm: Have you ever tried the cloud rendering service from Fox Renderfarm? If so, what do you think of our services?Luca: So far I have only used it once for a larger animation and it has saved me a lot of time and work. Fox Rendering is easy to use and you have many options to achieve exactly what you want. Fox Renderfarm: What valuable experiences in your creative process do you think are particularly valuable for other 3D artists?Luca: Do something, anything, as long as you can live out your creativity. If you can express yourself creatively and have fun at the same time, you learn extremely well. Creating something out of nothing and being able to say at the end that I did this is a great feeling. But the most important thing is not to rush. Don't overwhelm yourself with huge projects and ideas and become demotivated as a result.Cinematic Sci-fi interior © LucaLuca’s social media:Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/lucxeywa.vfx/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EYWATMWebsite: https://linktr.ee/luca.eywa

Autodesk has once again pushed the boundaries of 3D design and animation with the release of 3ds Max 2025. This latest version is packed with new features and enhancements that aim to improve efficiency, foster collaboration, and empower creativity.Emphasis on Modern Color ManagementImage from AutodeskOpenColorIO is now the standard color management system in 3ds Max 2025. This makes it possible for artists to use a standardized framework for color management, improving the quality and consistency of their work. Two notable improvements are the VertexPaint tool's complete color management integration and the Bake to Texture tool's capability to specify the color space for output files.Streamlined Global Search FunctionalitiesImage from AutodeskThis edition features a condensed version of the global search functionality. The purpose of this enhancement is to make it easier for users to browse the software and save them time and effort.Enhanced Retopology ToolsImage from AutodeskImproved retopology tools are included with 3ds Max 2025. By increasing modeling efficiency, these enhancements hope to free up artists' time to produce more intricate and detailed models.Customizable User InterfacesA new Menu Editor has been introduced, enabling personalized user interfaces. By allowing users to customize the software's interface to meet their unique requirements, this feature enhances productivity and workflow.Improved Collaboration with Open StandardsImage from AutodeskConnecting assets and data across many tools, departments, and studios is essential as co-development becomes more popular. With the most recent update, 3ds Max now supports OpenColorIO, LookdevX has been improved in Maya, and both tools have a stronger OpenUSD (Open Universal Scene Description) integration for better teamwork.ConclusionAutodesk's 3ds Max 2025 is evidence of their dedication to helping its clients work more efficiently and cooperatively. 3ds Max 2025 is poised to transform 3D creation and visualization with its emphasis on open standards, enhanced content creation tools, and unified workflows and data across whole production pipelines.As a leading cloud rendering service provider and render farm, Fox Renderfarm also supports 3ds Max rendering. Fox Renderfarm is now offering a free $25 trial to all new registrants, so let's start rendering!Source: Autodesk Inc.

After the release of "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" last year, the young superhero Miles Morales once again appeared in the public eye and the film received widespread acclaim. Miles becoming a superhero as a teenager is something very cool in the eyes of his peers. As a young Spider-Man, does he have other worries besides fighting evil? In reality, he does, but they may be shown less in the movies. Teamed up with Kevin Love Fund, Sony Pictures released the short film "The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story," in which you can see how Miles feels under pressure and how he deals with it.Image from Sony Pictures Entertainment"The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story" was created and produced during the first year of the Leading and Empowering New Storytellers (LENS) program, initiated by Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks. It is directed by Jarelle Dampier, written by Khailia Amazan, and produced by LENS program creators Michelle Raimo-Kouyate and David Schulenburg.Image from Sony Pictures EntertainmentIn "The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story," Miles grapples with the delicate balance between his roles as a teenager, friend, and student, all while donning the mantle of Brooklyn's beloved Spider-Man. Amidst the complexities of his daily life, Miles finds himself confronting the weight of his responsibilities, culminating in a harrowing panic attack. Through this ordeal, he must confront the manifestations of his anxiety, discovering that seeking support is just as courageous as defending his city against nefarious forces.Watch the short film here:Source: Sony Pictures EntertainmentIf you're interested in animation and visual effects, you might want to check out Fox Renderfarm - the leading cloud rendering services provider and render farm in the CG industry. Fox Renderfarm has provided cloud rendering services to countless visual effects and animation studios, allowing them to get the best quality results in the shortest time. A $25 free trial is available to let you speed up the rendering of your 3D projects.

The open-source 3D creation suite Blender recently launched Blender 4.1, its most recent version, on March 26th, 2024. Numerous enhancements and new features have been included in this edition, which aims to improve user experience and expedite the 3D development process. Now let's explore the main updates.GPU-Accelerated DenoisingImage from Blender.orgOpenImageDenoise, which uses GPU acceleration, is one of the most interesting additions. This feature makes image denoising faster and more effective, which is essential for producing realistic, high-quality renderings. Users with compatible hardware should see a significant performance increase in rendering with this update.Cycles RenderingBlender 4.1 brings a 5% speed increase to Linux Cycles rendering. With this enhancement, rendering times will be shortened for designers and artists, enabling more rapid iterations and project completion.Compositor NodesImage from Blender.orgAll Compositor nodes—aside from Render Layer passes—now operate in the Viewport. With this version, users now have more control and flexibility over their compositions, which makes it simpler to give their projects the desired look and feel.Bone CollectionsImage from Blender.orgIn the realm of animation, Bone Collections are now hierarchical, providing animators with more organization and control over their rigs. This update will make managing complex character rigs much easier.Animation Keying WorkflowA new animation keying workflow is introduced in Blender 4.1 with the aim of improving animation efficiency and user-friendliness. Animators will have more tools to bring their works to life with these and other updates to the Graph Editor and NLA, such as baking channels.Video SequencerThe Video Sequencer has received a significant speed boost, making drawing, rendering, effects, and scopes much faster. This will greatly improve the efficiency of video editing within Blender.USD ExportImage from Blender.orgBlender 4.1 now allows shape keys and armatures to be exported in USD as blend shapes and skeletons. Artists will find it simpler to incorporate their Blender works into other USD-compatible programs as a result.User Interface ImprovementsImage from Blender.orgBlender's user interface has undergone a number of changes to make it more intuitive and user-friendly. Both novice and expert users will find it easier to utilize the software with these modifications.Python UpgradePython, the programming language used in Blender, has been updated to version 3.11. This will give developers access to the most recent Python language enhancements and capabilities.New Bake Node in Geometry NodesImage from Blender.orgUsers now have additional freedom and control over their geometry thanks to the addition of a new Bake node to the Geometry Nodes set.In conclusion, Blender 4.1 is a significant upgrade that brings a host of improvements and new features. Whether you’re a 3D artist, animator, or developer, Blender 4.1 has something to offer you. Happy Blending!As a leading cloud rendering service provider and render farm, Fox Renderfarm also supports Blender rendering. Fox Renderfarm is now offering a free $25 trial to all new registrants, so let's start rendering!Source: blender.org

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival, known as the Festival international du film d’animation d’Annecy in French, was established in 1960. It occurs annually at the start of June in the charming town of Annecy, France. With its more than 60-year history, the Festival has become a global event dedicated to animation and a top reference for animation. The 2024 edition of the Festival will be held from 9 - 15 June. During a full week, the event will bring together prominent figures from the animation industry to celebrate a rich variety of creative styles and techniques.According to the Annecy Festival, for the 2024 edition, it has already received more than 2,600 films from a hundred countries. Recently, the Festival revealed its 2024 Official Selection: the short films and the graduation films in competition.The 2024 Short Films Official SelectionFrom the 1,505 short films submitted by creators from 108 countries, the Annecy Festival Selection Committee meticulously selected 67 films representing 33 countries for the competition, and the shorts were divided into 4 categories as shown below:31 in the Official category 12 in the Off-Limits category 16 in the Perspectives category 8 in the Young Audiences categoryCheck out the full list of its 2024 Short Films Official Selection.The 2024 Graduation Films Official SelectionThis year, more than 1,194 Graduation Films were submitted, according to the Annecy Festival. Finally, about 40 shorts from 23 countries were shortlisted. Among this, France tops the list with 7 films from 6 schools.In terms of making techniques, stop-motion animation and painting on glass are particularly well represented. Additionally, there were a handful of 3D animated films. These films are so diverse and exciting that they are not to be missed! Check out the full list of 2024 Graduation Films in competition.Furthermore, the publication of other selected films is as follows:TV Films, Commissioned Films: beginning of April 2024VR Works: mid-April 2024Feature Films: end of April 2024Awards Ceremony: 15th June 2024Fox Renderfarm at Annecy Festival 2024Big announcement! Fox Renderfarm will attend the Annecy Festival 2024 with an on-site booth E.08 at the Mifa market from 11 to 14 June. As a leading render farm in the industry, Fox Renderfarm provides TPN-Accredited CPU/GPU cloud rendering services with 24/7 technical support. We invite you to visit our booth and talk about your impressive projects.Can’t wait to meet you in the charming landscape between the mountains and lakes of Annecy!Source: Annecy Festival

Warner Bros. has shared the latest trailer for the horror comedy film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a sequel to the 1988 version. Based on characters created by Michael McDowell and Larry Wilson, it is directed by Tim Burton, from a screenplay by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, story by Gough, Millar, and Seth Grahame-Smith. The cast includes Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, and Jenna Ortega, among others.Image from Warner Bros. Pictures"After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia's life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it's only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice's name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem," reads the official synopsis.On this September 6, meet Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in theaters.Source: Warner Bros. PicturesIf you're interested in animation and visual effects, you might want to check out Fox Renderfarm - the leading cloud rendering services provider and render farm in the CG industry. Fox Renderfarm has provided cloud rendering services to countless visual effects and animation studios, allowing them to get the best quality results in the shortest time. A $25 free trial is available to let you speed up the rendering of your 3D projects.