Not sure what to put as the subject...

[wiggins]

I watched final fantasy: the spirits within, and the computer animation was sweet. I was wondering how that kind of animation is made. Does anyone know? Can someone whose not part of sopme big company learn it? What's the first step for a computer klutz like me?

[Straylight]

I don't know much about this subject, but I think the industry standard program is 3d studio max, the trouble is that the app costs an extremely large amount of money. If you want to learn 3d animation, your best bet is probably to get on some kind of course

[madphilb]

Mya (sp?) is what Pixar uses as well as many other studios. I think B5 years ago was done with 3D Sudio Max (which is an Autodesk product if I'm not mistaken).

If you have any of the Pixar DVDs around you should get an idea of some of how they do those things.

You can also do some stuff with free programs like POVRay (I've seen some incredable things done with that).

Sadly to do anything that comes close to FF:SW you'll need lots and lots of money, for both the software and the hardware... and you'll need some programming skill too I bet (from everything I've heard, many of those studios write their own code to do things, i.e. - most of the Trees in Shrek are "grown" rather than modeled.)

PHIL

[LorentzForce]

it's Maya.

speaking of which, they have this version of Maya out there known as Personal Edition. think of it as ad-filled freeware program. most features won't work too. but HEY! at least it's free. or at most you have to buy the CD with the software in it...

i know a person who is working in this industry. he makes all these cool graphic movie kinda things... he uses Maya, he says it's good, so i'll learn Maya too! if i can afford it one day...

[animenewstoday]

it's Maya.

speaking of which, they have this version of Maya out there known as Personal Edition. think of it as ad-filled freeware program. most features won't work too. but HEY! at least it's free. or at most you have to buy the CD with the software in it...

i know a person who is working in this industry. he makes all these cool graphic movie kinda things... he uses Maya, he says it's good, so i'll learn Maya too! if i can afford it one day...

Maya really cool if you are very very careful you can get on kazaa lite and put blocks so it can't send singles to there company

[LorentzForce]

actually, i'll just buy it, even if it'll cost me two grand at least. because i know, it's worth it. why? because downloading pirated material sucks if it was something that was only few cents worth and i can't find it 20km from my place under any time of the day, then i'll download it. if it's available on shelves in my local computer store, then i'll buy it, even if it'll cost me a fortune.

[Bobtheduck]

I've used 3ds max (demo and educational) and love it... The educational does EVERYTHING that the full version does, but you just can't sell anything... It's 500 dollars, and is worth it... I mean, people here prolly spend that much on Photoshop... Of cousre, I don't have it (my old college did) but I may buy it someday... Of course, since Full Sail Uses Maya, I may get the free version of maya (the non-ad one, you know... The one that doesn't render and has ALIAS WAVEFRONT written all over the screen? ) just so I can practice.

[glitch1501]

i prefer 3dsmax over maya....