Thoughtful Preparations: Media Spin Blog

Last night the San Francisco ACM SIGGRAPH Chapter hosted an evening with Walt Disney Feature Animation at Fort Mason’s Cowell Theater. Speaking straight from the mouse’s mouth, Disney Producer Don Hahn led the presentation. Don has been at the center of Disney’s animation renaissance, having produced Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

The audience of over 200 was treated to four previews of upcoming Disney 3D animated feature projects, Chicken Little, Rapunzel Unbraided, American Dog and A Day with Wilbur Robinson. With fresh stories and terrific looking design, Disney Animation is clearly entering the 3D Animated Feature horse race with all four legs galloping. Also in the works is Toy Story 3, so obviously no one at Disney is looking up to Pixar for their 3D animated bling bling supply.

Don described the story lines, inspirations and creative references of the features, followed by three senior Disney Animation staff member presentations and demoes of Look Development (3D surface texturing) software, Effects and Shot Finaling. Disney makes use of many third party tools, such as Maya, Shake, Photoshop and Renderman, as well as actively developing their own software for lighting, 3D painting, hair and fur control, and visual effects production.

The Disney group fielded questions from the audience, such as “How do you define family entertainment?” Don answered simply, “Something the entire family would enjoy.” The meeting concluded with refreshments and breakout discussions in the theater lobby, the crowd buzzing about the big things to come from Disney.

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