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"The Book of Life" director is moving into vr, with a project celebrating lucha libre and Mexican culture.

The post ‘Book of Life’ Director Jorge Gutierrez To Make VR Project, ‘Son of Jaguar,’ for Google Spotlight Stories appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

The Oscar-nominated duo talks to us why they wanted to make their latest project as an interactive storybook app.

The post Smith & Foulkes Try Something Different With An Animated Storybook App appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

The creators of the Finnish cross-media brand "Gigglebug" share their unconventional app-to-broadcast journey.

The post Finnish Studio Gigglebug Shares 7 Insights on Turning An App Into A TV Series appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

Adult-skewing animation dominated the animation portion of the 2016 Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

The post ‘Archer,’ ‘Robot Chicken’ and Seth MacFarlane Win Creative Arts Emmy Awards appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

The series will premiere in late-September followed by the launch of an interactive app that allows users to collect their own Magiswords.

The post Cartoon Network Expands Interactive Property ‘Mighty Magiswords’ With A TV Series appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

With the heavily anticipated and exciting launch of ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ due to hit screens this November, Leaky was not only present at the San Diago Comic-Con event, but also lucky enough to get some behind the scenes action from our two representatives watching the live cast interviews unfold, from the Great Hall at Leavesden Studios in London!

Prior to the Live interviews commencing at Comic-Con, across the pond in London, we eagerly awaited the main event of the evening and took time to appreciate the Harry Potter Studios in all it’s glory! From famous sets to beautifully executed props with a magical aesthetic, the evening consisted of everything J.K. as we able to indulge in ultimate wizarding fan entertainment!

After a fantastic tour, fans were guided to a private screening, showing us the newly released trailer of ‘Fantastic Beasts’. Watch the trailer here! (If you havent’t seen it already–it’s amazing!)

Finally the Great Hall doors were opened, and along with some limited edition, ‘Newt Scamander’ wands gifted by Warner Bros, the audience was seated ready to go live with everyone at the SDCC exclusive event! The interaction with the cast was brilliant, with Ezra Miller and Dan Fogler receiving a particularly cheerful response from our London audience as they made the interview even more fun amongst their talented co-stars.

As a perfect round off to the already magical evening at the Warner Bros Studios, we were given a glimpse at the extraordinary 1920’s costumes used in the movie. The wizarding world felt very much present as fans took a good look at the very individual looks presented, but they definitely emitted something fresh and original to keep everyone on their toes for the latest Rowling installment!

Over in San Diego, Carianne and Tabitha met up with Warner Bros to take seats across from the Fantastic Beasts cast, as everyone prepared for a live Q&A with the cast of one of the most anticipated films of the year. Carianne, a proud Hufflepuff (just like Newt!) from San Diego, and Tabitha a proud Gryffindor, with a lot of Hufflepuff qualities mixed in, wrote about their experience at the events unfolding at SDCC 2016.

Carianne described what it was like behind the scenes, saying:

Being in the room in San Diego during the livestream was an incredible experience. The Fantastic Beasts group was so close to me that I couldn’t even fit them all in one picture! When they entered the room, the cast was buzzing with excitement over how well their Hall H presentation had gone (that room holds 6,500 people, so it’s a pretty big deal). Their energy was electrifying and contagious and an absolute joy to watch!

Then the host announced “2 minutes till live!” and the room suddenly became still and silent with anticipation. To lighten things up again, Ezra Miller started cracking jokes, such as giving us signals to follow during the live stream: He said if he tugged his ear we were supposed to laugh, and if he scratched his nose we were supposed to cheer! He was kidding, of course, but he got everyone laughing and really livened the room up again. He was such a riot! (Ezra also made a few hilarious quips after the Leavesden host said she wanted to “Take an Ezra Miller home,” but those might be the kind of things he would rather I did not share with the internet.)

After the livestream, they stood on the stage talking to each other for a few moments, looking just like a group of friends rather than co-movie-stars. It was clear that this cast really gets along well with each other. Their was a friendly and supportive demeanor among all of them. It honestly just made me even MORE excited for the film to come out! November can’t come soon enough

As the even ended, a few of the cast members gave a little bit of attention afterward to the fans that were in the room. They didn’t have a lot of time (as they were running late to make it to their next event), but just a “thank you for your question!”, a high-five, or a quick photo went a long way. They were in no way obligated to do any of those things — they just did it because they are nice. My only regret is that I couldn’t spend more time talking with them! Maybe someday…

There was a great spirit of camaraderie between all of the writers/interviews there. I talked a bit with a couple of writers there, one representing Snitchseeker and the other MuggleNet. We got to know each other a little before the interview, and we all expressed how excited we were for this opportunity. 

To me, as someone who has never been behind-the-scenes for something like this, it was fascinating how something as seemingly simple as an interview takes so much preparation by a host of different people. All of the camera operators had to prepare their equipment and test it extensively; other members of the crew had to test the live-feed between San Diego and Leavesden to make sure it worked properly; and of course, there were quite a few people dedicated solely to making sure the actors were ready. 

On a light note, the room the interview took place in was *tiny*! It was maybe a fifth of the size of the Great Hall shown in Leavesden. The stage took up about half of the room, and there was hardly any free space for people to move around in. 

Unfortunately, the cast couldn’t stick around for long after the interview. They were rushed out pretty much immediately afterwards to go sign autographs at Comic Con. 

Thank you to Georgia, Gemma, Tabitha and Carianne for attending the Fantastic Beasts Live Q&A events both in London and SDCC 2016. The video of the event can be seen here.

Phil Tippett is using augmented reality to bring his classic creatures to life in the new game Hologrid: Monster Battle.

The post Stop Motion Master Phil Tippett Brings Hand-Made Vitality to Augmented Reality Holo-Chess Game appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

In the new frontier of vr animation, basic film concepts like cutting and editing can become huge technical challenges.

The post Navigating VR Animation Production: Patrick Osborne And His Team On Creating ‘Pearl’ appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

With the wizarding world returning to the big screen with a movie called Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, not only will the magic return but so will the many magical creatures we have come to love. But which ones will we meet again, and how many new ones will we be introduced to for the first time?

There were many different types of magical beasts that were mentioned and introduced throughout both the Harry Potter books and movies. We all have our favorites, the ones we’d want as a pet, and now, the ones we want to see return in the Fantastic Beasts movie. I’ve decided to explore a few of my personal favorites. I’ve got my copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them here to help us rediscover these fantastic beasts.

Shall we start with the obvious? Probably the most popular and most widely known throughout the wizarding world as well as the Harry Potter fandom. Terrifyingly beautiful, they are the hardest creature to conceal from muggles.

Dragons

We were first introduced to dragons in Harry’s first year, when Hagrid began raising a Norwegian Ridgeback in his cabin. They were mentioned many times from that point on, finally making a reappearance in Harry’s fourth year as the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. Since the four wizards each had to face a different dragon, we had the pleasure of being introduced to four new breeds: the Hungarian Horntail, the Chinese Fireball, the Swedish Short-Snout, and the Welsh Green.

There are ten different breeds of dragons known in the wizarding world but they occasionally interbreed, producing rare hybrid dragons. They have just a few different uses among wizards, namely for their wands. One option for the core of a wand is a dragon heart string. Other aspects of dragons are also useful in brewing potions or as fertilizer for plants.

As full beings, they have been known to be used as obstacles, sort of like guard dogs. Aside from the triwizard tournament, we see them used this way in the lower levels of Gringotts Bank. The Golden Trio even lived my dreams by flying a Ukrainian Ironbelly, the largest breed of dragon, to safety.

Moving on to one of my personal favorites.

Hippogriffs

A Hippogriff is a beautiful creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a horse. They first appeared in the books in Harry’s third year, when Hagrid took over the job of Care of Magical Creatures professor. Hagrid owned a beloved Hippogriff named Buckbeak. Luckily, Hippogriffs are one of the creatures Hagrid owned throughout the books that are actually able to be domesticated.

Hippogriffs are very sensitive creatures. One must be very careful when attempting to approach them, bowing low and keeping eye contact at all times. If the Hippogriff bows back, it is safe to approach farther. Also, it’d be wise to remember “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all,” otherwise you may end up with an injury or two.

Phoenix

Very few people have been able to domesticate these birds, but it is not impossible. Phoenixes are grand birds, with rich scarlet feathers and a golden tail. They are very gentle creatures whose tears have powerful healing properties. The Phoenix song is quite magical as well, it is believed that it can increase the courage of the pure of heart and strike fear into the hearts of the impure.

Ablus Dumbledore was one of the few able to domesticate a Phoenix. Harry, along with the rest of us, were quite confused when Fawkes suddenly burst into the flames the first time we saw him. Phoenixes have a regenerative ability that let’s them burst into flame when their body is weakening and be reborn from their ashes once again. They can also disappear and reappear at will, taking anyone holding onto them along with them. Kingsley Shacklebolt had it right, Dumbledore’s got style.

Acromantulas

I’ve never been one for spiders but I think if I ever came within 100 feet of an Acromantula I’d probably soil my pants. It may not be the prettiest magical creature that I know of but it is definitely one of the scariest and most interesting. An Acromantula is a large, eight-eyed spider that is capable of human speech and has near-human intelligence.

Hagrid raised an Acromantula from the egg, creating a profound bond between the two. The Acromantula, Aragog, inhabited the Forbidden Forest until it’s untimely death in 1997. Within it’s life, Aragog established a colony within the forest where it’s children still live today.

Since the latest trailer for Fantastic Beasts was released, we have caught a glimpse of two new beasts: the ever-adorable little trouble maker, the Niffler, and the Swooping Evil. The Swooping Evil isn’t in the Hogwarts textbook, so Warner Bros. will be including Beasts fans would never have expected. The Niffler, the creatures listed above, as well as many others, you can learn more about in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them book!

Leave a comment about which fantastic beasts you’d like to see in the movie!

We look at some of the latest high-profile vr animation projects, and offer some thoughts on this new animation frontier.

The post Observations from the VR Front: ‘Pearl,’ Invasion!’ and ‘Allumette’ appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

As many fans may know, Hot Topic has been a Harry Potter partner for eons. Okay, maybe not eons, but they have been a place for fans to purchase official Harry Potter merchandise since Harry Potter became a “hot topic” many years ago.

Recently, Hot Topic has started a new brand and initiative called BoxLunch. With only a handful of stores around California and Texas (though, more are coming soon!), Hot Topic’s new brand caters to a slightly different audience than their normal Hot Topic stores. BoxLunch sells similar pop culture merchandise as their Hot Topic parent, but through a partnership with Feeding America, with every $10 a customer spends, BoxLunch helps provide a meal to a person in need.

If there isn’t a store near you, visit the BoxLunch website and “get some–give some.” BoxLunch sells men and women’s apparel, accessories, home decorations, Funko Pop! figures, and more.

To support HotTopic with their new initiative, Leaky is taking part in a BoxLunch give away! Hot Topic and BoxLunch has generously donated a Marauder’s Map trow pillow, Deathly Hallows mini bag, and a $50 gift card! To be put in the running to win one of these fantastic Harry Potter prizes, be the first to answer the following questions correctly. Honesty Policy: try to answer all the questions without cheating–like googling the answers all the questions. Email your answers to [email protected].

1. Who causes the most mischief at Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry?

2. Not completely without loyalty, to which two students did [Answer to Question 1] show respect for during Dolores Umbridge’s attempt to control Hogwarts? (“Give her hell from us…”)

3. What is a Skiving Snackbox? What four types of candies are included?

4. What trick did the Weasley Twins play on their Auntie Muriel that got them written out of her will?

5. What product does the following slogan belong to? “Ruin a gentleman’s day by making his hat fly away!”

6. What is the “Dungbom Rule” that Ron wrote? In which of Harry’s textbooks did he write it?

7. What candy did the Weasley Twins drop for Dudley to eat, and what was the affect?

8. What trick did Harry, Ron, and Hermione play on Crab and Goyle in their quest for Polyjuice Potion ingredients?

9. What spell did Draco use to capture Harry when the Inquisitorial Squad captured members of Dumbledore’s Army?

10. What did Peeves chase Dolores Umbridge with as she fled Hogwarts?

In the meantime! Miss tasting that yummy Butterbeer at the Harry Potter parks? Or can’t go to the parks because they are too far away? Check out BoxLunches new, and available for a limited time only, Butterbeer kit!

More information on purchasing a Butterbeer kit can be found here, on the BoxLunch website.

There is another Harry Potter publishing and merchandising partner coming to brick and mortar stores across the country!

BoxLunch is here to “get some” and “give some”. With only a handful of stores around California and Texas (though, more are coming soon!), the new store caters to a slightly different audience than other Harry Potter merchandise retailers. BoxLunch sells similar pop culture merchandise as seen in other stores, but also, through a partnership with Feeding America, with every $10 a customer spends, BoxLunch helps provide a meal to a person in need.

If there isn’t a store near you, visit the BoxLunch website and “get some–give some.” BoxLunch sells men and women’s apparel, accessories, home decorations, Funko Pop! figures, and more.

To support BoxLunch and their new initiative, Leaky is taking part in a BoxLunch give away! BoxLunch has generously donated a Marauder’s Map trow pillow, Deathly Hallows mini bag, and a $50 gift card! To be put in the running to win one of these fantastic Harry Potter prizes, be the first to answer the following questions correctly. Honesty Policy: try to answer all the questions without cheating–like googling the answers all the questions. Also, please retweet or repost BoxLunch’s post about their new Butterbeer kit (see below)! Email your answers and links to your retweets/reposts to [email protected].

1. Who causes the most mischief at Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry?

2. Not completely without loyalty, to which two students did [Answer to Question 1] show respect for during Dolores Umbridge’s attempt to control Hogwarts? (“Give her hell from us…”)

3. What is a Skiving Snackbox? What four types of candies are included?

4. What trick did the Weasley Twins play on their Auntie Muriel that got them written out of her will?

5. What product does the following slogan belong to? “Ruin a gentleman’s day by making his hat fly away!”

6. What is the “Dungbom Rule” that Ron wrote? In which of Harry’s textbooks did he write it?

7. What candy did the Weasley Twins drop for Dudley to eat, and what was the affect?

8. What trick did Harry, Ron, and Hermione play on Crab and Goyle in their quest for Polyjuice Potion ingredients?

9. What spell did Draco use to capture Harry when the Inquisitorial Squad captured members of Dumbledore’s Army?

10. What did Peeves chase Dolores Umbridge with as she fled Hogwarts?

In the meantime! Miss tasting that yummy Butterbeer at the Harry Potter parks? Or can’t go to the parks because they are too far away? Check out BoxLunches new, and available for a limited time only, Butterbeer kit!

More information on purchasing a Butterbeer kit can be found here, on the BoxLunch website.

As millennials abandon TV viewing and gravitate to mobile and online consumption, traditional TV studios are scrambling to adapt to the viewing habits of young viewers.

The post TV Studio Bento Box Launches Mobile- and VR-Focused Digital Division appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

The film is directed by Shannon Tindle, who also came up with the idea for Laika's "Kubo and the Two Strings."

The post Google’s Spotlight Stories Unveils Trailer For Interactive ‘On Ice’ Short appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

Legendary director and provocateur Werner Herzog has some thoughts on the future of entertainment.

The post Werner Herzog Believes Animation is More Convincing in Virtual Reality Than Live-Action appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

"Special Delivery" is the most widely available short from Google's Spotlight Stories initiative thanks to a move to the YouTube 360 platform.

The post Aardman’s Interactive Short ‘Special Delivery’ Is Now Available on YouTube 360 appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

For a look at path-breaking VR animation, Sundance 2016 is worth checking out.

The post Look Out For These 5 VR Immersions From Sundance’s New Frontier Program appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

Darnell's new company Baobab Studios will release its first virtual reality short, "Invasion," early next year.

The post ‘Madagascar’ and ‘Antz’ Co-Director Eric Darnell Moves Into VR Filmmaking appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

Moonbot's interactive film introduces a new emoji-driven campaign that offers kids a modern way to confront bullying.

This month, Connect the Thoughts (Chronicle Books), a guided journal for young thinkers, is back again as The Children's Book Review's best selling middle grade book.

What drove you to start creating children's books? A revolt! When I had my first child, children’s books looked like some stupid marketing thing.

"...individual readers can make the experience more child-centered by engaging kids in a dialogue."

Manga for the Beginner Kawaii, My Monster Bubblewriter Book and Photoplay! all seek to engage readers by providing prompts and tips to spark creativity.

The short is now available to download for Oculus Rift and PC users.

After directing Pixar's "Blue Umbrella," Saschka Unseld has moved into the world of VR filmmaking.