January 22. Viabhav More Films & ARTHA Animation
Create Disney Princess Academy 2014 Promo.
The Animation
Xpress interview with Vaibhav More includes storyboards and promotional
art. “Mumbai based Vaibhav More Films
& ARTHA Animation have collaborated for the very first time to create
Disney Princess Academy 2014 Promo. Directed, ideated and scripted by
Vaibhav More- Founder of Vaibhav More Films, this 30 seconds promo is an
extension of a similar clip that was executed last year by Vaibhav Studios.
Aired on leading television channels, Star Plus, Colors, Disney, and Hungama,
the promo also managed to reach audiences through theatrical screenings. Created in a time span of 7 days, this promo is targeted at young girls
audience between 4 -12 years. Animation of the promo was handled by Gaurav
Malhotra, Lighting & Texturing done by Shriram Prabhu, Modeling was
executed by Mamas and Bharat and Compositing was brought out by Yogesh
& Swatantra.”
Note the promo’s lettering all in English with a
soundtrack in Hindi. The January 22 Animation Xpress also has a story about “Green Gold Stores introduces Trendy Chhota Bheem Socks”. No animation, but color closeups of the
multicolor soft cotton socks with Chhota Bheem and his friends for the 3 to 10
age group at ₹109 at all Green
Gold Stores.
January 23. Garnier’s Animated Touch For Pure Active’s
No Pimple, No Marks Campaign.
The manufacturers of Garnier Pure Active Neem Face
Wash anti-pimple face cream have commissioned the FoxyMoron digital
advertising agency in Mumbai and Gurgaon to create a Facebook and YouTube
advertising campaign for it (in Hindi). FoxyMoron has used “layered animation” to create “illustrated comic strips of iconic Bollywood characters” disfigured
by pimples.
“Over 8,00,000
fans were in for a treat when illustrated comic strips of iconic
Bollywood characters were released that showcased Brand Ambassador
Alia Bhatt as the savior and means of bringing the Garnier Pure Active
Neem Face Wash to the rescue of Bollywood’s pimple problems. These have been released in a series of illustrated videos
called ‘Lights. Camera. Garnier Pure Active.’ So
far, the campaign reach has risen by 1500%.”
The word “pimples” is in English while the rest of the
adv’t is in Hindi. Isn’t there a word in
Hindi for pimples? It looks like comic
strips rather than animation to me, but I gather that that’s the point. See for yourself.
January 24. Square Enix Releases New Trailer of TOMB
RAIDER: DEFINITIVE EDITION.
Crystal Dynamics, a Square Enix studio, today released
a new trailer for TOMB RAIDER: DEFINITIVE EDITION – coming to Xbox One and
PlayStation 4 consoles on January 28th, 2014. TOMB RAIDER: DEFINITIVE EDITION
is the character defining action-adventure where a young and inexperienced Lara
Croft transforms into a hardened survivor. This fully re-built version for
PlayStation 4 and Xbox One features an obsessively detailed Lara and a fully
realized lifelike world.
Lara Croft in unprecedented detail:
An all new face
and head for Lara, handcrafted exclusively for next-gen!TRESS FX
technology that delivers realistic hair simulation and motion for the new LaraIncreased
polygon body density with new sweat, mud and blood materials and effects
A world in constant motion:
Underbrush
reacts as Lara passes by, wind whips tree branches and tattered cloth around,
rain pierces through searchlight beams as individually lit particlesAll texture
resolutions have been increased by over 4x for maximum
detail . In-game characters have been
enhanced for added realismSubsurface
scattering technology literally renders the world’s beauty beyond skin deepNative 1080p
gameplay for outstanding visual fidelity
The Definitive Edition of the award-winning
action-adventure includes all of the original downloadable content, plus
digital versions of the Dark Horse comic, Brady Games mini-art book and the
Final Hours developer videos. Customers who pre-order will receive special art
book packaging featuring never-before-seen concept art.”
Crystal Dynamics is “an important cornerstone for
Square Enix” located in Redwood City, California. I can’t find any mention of a studio located
in India, which leaves this as a mystery as to why it is announced on an Indian
animation site. Animation Xpress’ video
sample leads to the Tomb Raider website which requires your date of birth to
enter. The video trailer is worth
it.
January 27. FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn
Playstation 4 System Version Releasing April 14 2014
Square Enix,
Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX interactive entertainment products in the
Americas, today announced that the PlayStation4 computer entertainment system
version of FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn will be
released on April 14, 2014 with official service beginning on the same day.
FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn on
PlayStation4 system will be available in either a Standard Edition or
Collector’s Edition with pre-orders for both starting January 27. Pre-orders
for either edition will include two in-game items (Mog Cap & Cait Sith Doll
minion) and the ability to participate in Early Access starting on April
11.
FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn PlayStation 4
system Collector’s Edition Includes:
Special box featuring artwork by Yoshitaka Amano
Art Book – The Art of Eorzea: A Realm Reimagined
Special Soundtrack -The Sounds of Eorzea-
Seventh Umbral Era Special Movie Content Disc – The
Waning of the Sixth SunArt Card Set
Themed Security Token
In-Game Items – Coeurl Mount, Behemoth Barding, Baby
Behemoth minion, Helm of Light, Fat Chocobo Mount and Wind-up Moogle minion”
And much more.
There is still no clue as to why a Japanese video game is being promoted
in an Indian animation industry newsletter.
But the Final Fantasy XIV
video link is as spectacular as that of the 24th to Tomb Raider.
January 28. Chhota Bheem, Main Krishna Hoon & Mahabharat nominated for IBN Live
Movie Awards – VOTE now!
IBN Live Movie Awards have announced Chhota Bheem and
the Throne of Bali, Mahabharat and Main Krishna Hoon as the nominations in the
Category of Best Animated Feature Film Award. The winner will be decided on the
basis of public voting, choose your Favorite Animated Movie by Casting Your
Vote by Clicking Here
Directed by Rajiv Chilaka, Chhota Bheem and the Throne
of Bali that was released in 415 theaters across
India grossed over 2 crores in the first four days of its
release.
Coming to Mahabharata that was voiced by renowned
Bollywood Actors, is created by Pen India and Directed by Amaan Khan whereas
Main Krishna Hoon that was Directed by Rajiv S. Ruia was composed with animated
character of Lord Krishna.”
What; we get to vote in the IBN Live Movie Awards for
the three candidates in the Category of Best Animated Feature Film Award? Chhota
Bheem and the Throne of Bali is a fully animated fantasy adventure for
children; Mahabharat is a partly
“animated Indian mythological drama film” in which “Hindu god Lord
Krishna, who appears as an animated character, assisted an orphaned boy named
Krishna”; and Main Krishna Hoon is a
live-action fantasy with an animated Krishna as a young boy. The posters for the three movies are shown.
I do not understand enough Hindi to understand the
difference between “Mahabharat” and “Mahabharata”; or between Mahabharat as a “partly animated film”
with only one character animated, and Main
Krisna Hoon as a “live-action film” with one character animated. 2 crores are ₹20,000,000, and an Indian rupee is currently worth U.S. 1.59¢ (The Indian rupee has fallen so far so fast
that on June 30, 2011, the Indian government declared the 25 paise coin, the
Indian quarter-rupee, to no longer be legal tender. Indian vending machines have become mostly
useless, and India has become one of those nations where people have to carry
large baskets of low-denomination currency to go shopping.)
January 30. Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and his Merry
Mouse Premiere set for 1 Feb on CN.
Sit back & enjoy loveable duo Tom and Jerry in a
brand new movie titled Tom & Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse,
which premieres 1st February at 12 noon on Cartoon Network.
The story line of the movie is that he stole from the
rich, gave to the poor and desperately needs the help of Tom and Jerry! Now the
famous outlaw Robin Hood has been captured by the evil Sheriff of Nottingham,
and Robin Hood’s true love, the fair maiden Maid Marian, faces grave danger at
the hands of greedy Prince John. Can sworn adversaries Tom and Jerry set aside
their differences long enough to save the day? With high-flying action,
daredevil stunts and rollicking songs, your favourite cartoon Cat-at-Arms
Thomas and Merry Mouse Jerry take furry aim at the beloved medieval tale in a
new, full-length original movie. It’s all for one and fun for all in Sherwood
Forest’s most madcap swashbuckling adventure ever!
Warner Bros. Home Video produced this as a
direct-to-DVD 58-minute movie, with other MGM classic cartoon stars like Spike,
Droopy and Barney Bear, released in the U.S. on October 2, 2012; so it’s not
earthshaking news. But this allows me to
put some original promotional art into this column. Is this February 1 Cartoon Network premiere
only for CN of India, or for CN of the U.S. as well? Just India, I guess; the Feb. 1 schedule for
the U.S. lists a noon half-hour Powerpuff
Girls special. And there isn’t any
12 p.m. midnight broadcast.
January 31. Dhvani Desai’s ‘Chakravyuh’ (Vicious Circle)
Nominated for MIFF 2014 in International Competition Category
Founder of Metamorphosis Studio, International and
Indian award-winning Animation filmmaker, Dhvani Desai’s 2D animated short on
RTI Act ‘Chakravyuh’ (Vicious Circle) , is nominated for
Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) in the International Competition
Category, which is set from 3-9 Feb.
Produced by Films Division, Chakravyuh has also bagged
Award for Best practices in RTI from the DOPT GOVT. OF INDIA NEW DELHI AND
YASHADA
In a conversation with AnimationXpress.com, Dhvani
takes us through the making of this four minute animated short.
What is Chakravyuh all about & when was it
released?
This film is an effort to eradicate ‘Corruption’ through usage of the
Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI) by showing real life experiences woven
together with colorful visuals and satirical poem.
The Film illustrates the petty struggles of four
characters. All unrelated with each other and dispersed in different parts of
India. They all have completely different type of problems in their lives but
surprisingly have the same solution.
Can you elaborate more on the story line?
I have illustrated four stories from different parts
of the country. I was clear that I wanted to narrate as many stories as I
could, to create an impact in the minds of the audiences so that they realize
that RTI can be used for many issues. The first story is of a young widow
and her little boy from Goa who goes from pillar to post to get pension and
compensation from her deceased husband’s Govt. office. The second story is of a
man from Lucknow who wants an electric meter to be fitted in his house without
giving a bribe. Third story is from Bengal about a poor farmer whose land gets
encroached by goons. And the last story is about a law abiding man from Kerala
who is fed up with the garbage in front of his house. Typical struggles that
any common man faces in one’s life.”
There is considerably more information (it is a very
long article). Fortunately, it includes
a link to the complete 4-minute film.
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