SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lucasfilm Ltd. and
Lucasfilm Animation are using Autodesk, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: ADSK) Autodesk Maya
software to create the upcoming television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars,
just as they did to create the feature-length animated film that is now in
theaters.
These are the first animated Star Wars projects from Lucasfilm. The
projects benefited from a global production environment, with Maya as the hub
for creating highly detailed worlds, characters and creatures, including
Anakin Skywalker, R2-D2, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jabba the Hutt.
Lucasfilm Chief Technology Officer Richard Kerris said, "Star Wars: The
Clone Wars brings an entirely new look and feel to Star Wars by moving it into
animation. We wanted to use technology that would live up to the high
standards of Lucasfilm, and selected Autodesk Maya as our animation platform
for both the film and TV series. We chose Maya for its creative tools,
extensibility and large user base. Maya is the backbone of our global
production environment, enabling us to seamlessly share work between our
United States-based creative team and our production studios in Asia."
Digital artists in California, at Lucasfilm Animation Singapore and at
partner studio CGCG in Taipei, have created more than 30 episodes of the TV
series. The California-based creative team at Lucasfilm Animation establishes
the storyline and key scenes, while animators at the studios in Asia produce
the animation. This around-the-clock production chain generates an average of
eight finished minutes of animation each week -- an unprecedented productivity
level for film and TV production.
Kerris added, "Maya has become the animation platform of choice for the
film industry. It greatly reduces the complexity of working globally. At
Lucasfilm, we're constantly developing new tools, and we fit them into Maya.
In essence, Maya is the concrete foundation that lets us explore new concepts
and maximize productivity and creativity -- without disrupting our global
production pipeline."
"Ultimately, Star Wars: The Clone Wars is about great storytelling," said
Danny Keller, animation supervisor at Lucasfilm. "From a technological
standpoint, we need to be flexible in order to take the creative vision
wherever George Lucas and supervising director Dave Filoni dream of taking it.
Autodesk Maya allows us to do that."
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the
manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets.
Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the
broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art digital prototyping solutions to help
customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies
rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world
performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance
quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk,
visit http://www.autodesk.com.
Autodesk, AutoCAD and Maya are registered trademarks or trademarks of
Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or
other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to
their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product
offerings and specifications at any time without notice, and is not
responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this
document.
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(C) 2008 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.
CONTACT: Roohi Saeed of Autodesk, Inc., +1-514-954-7296,
roohi.saeed@autodesk.com; or Karen Raz, +1-310-450-1482, karen@razpr.com, for
Autodesk, Inc.
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