Mavs | Tron Legacy

We actually did this video for the Mavs about a year ago, but to commemorate the release of Tron Legacy today here it is for your viewing pleasure!

Tech Savvy Santa

It's been exceptionally Merry around GGS this year.

Santa came early with iPads!!

 

It's Never Too Early to Get Into the Christmas Spirit

The holidays are getting close, although it definitely doesn't feel that way most days here in Texas.  The weather is finally cooling down and we can actually begin to see winter peeking around the corner.  Thanks to the recent 75 degree weather in November it's not always easy to feel the Christmas cheer.  Normal fall activities like enjoying fall leaves, cold football games, and fireplaces are practically vacant in Texas until about mid-December when the weather finally turns cold!  I tried to listen to a Christmas station on Pandora a few days ago and could hardly stand the first few cords before I switched back to my usual station (this was extremely disheartening as I LOVE Christmas music and used to whip it out immediately after Halloween when living in the wonderfully chilly Midwest).  So needless to say, it was quite nice when we got a project in the shop that practically threw the holidays in our face regardless of if we were quite ready for it or not!

If you're traveling via DFW Airport over the holidays you will most likely get to see our newest project first hand.  Our team worked with Moroch to develop a festive animated experience to encourage DFW Airport travelers to take in some shopping, eating and relaxation while waiting for their next flight.

Happy Veterans Day!

THANK YOU to all the men and women who serve, have served, or will serve in the U.S. Armed Forces! GGS appreciates EVERYTHING that you all do for our country!  :)

ZBrush Big Shots

Two of our very own GGS artists were featured in ZBrush Magazine! The magazine, done by 3D World, features multiple character tutorials from a variety of artists. Great work Sean and Jesse!

Get your copy here:

http://www.3dworldmag.com/page/3dworld?entry=learn_zbrush_from_the_masters
Owner/Art Director, Jesse Sandifer, takes the reader through the creations of his Mammal-Man and Pirate.

"I mean, all I have to do is create a human body and stick on some random mammal's head and call it a day, right? Wrong! There is also the expression to consider, the pose, the character itself. There has to be a reason for choosing one creature over another."

"I knew I wanted a little bit of attitude, and subconsciously, I thought of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings movies and how possessive he was with the ring. I wanted to get the same sort of feel with my character, so I went with the concept of a pirate holding his treasure chest in his arms. I then realized I could give him a creepy 'turned back' pose."

Sean Langford, Production Lead at GGS, tackles a muscular Minotaur and fantasy Elf using the speedsculpt technique.
"...ultimately, I felt that a speedsculpt was best suited for quickly sketching out a new idea, not trying to recreate someone else's design...I have been thinking about the character's pose for a while. This minotaur has presented himself as a tough and proud fighter, so I think he should have a weapon."
"Speedsculpts are useful for many different reasons, but as my drawings are sometiems more of a handicap than a help, I tend to use them for flushing out concepts quick, dirty, and to the point."

GGS goes to the 2010 AICP Southwest Show

Tune In: Wed Oct 20th, 8pm CT

During the summer months GGS worked with AMS Pictures to complete a documentary for the History Channel. The 2 hour documentary, I Am Alive: Surviving the Andes Plane Crash, recounts one of the greatest human survival stories of all time. On Friday the 13th of October, 1972, a plane carrying 45 passengers crashed high in the Andes Mountains. GGS artists recreated the plane and the Andes in full CG. An accurate depiction of the plane crash was created based on the flight documents and the memories of the survivors.

Of the passengers, 16 survived. The group was assumed dead for 72 days.

For the next 2 1/2 months following the crash the survivors battled malnutrition, hypothermia, and dehydration. The imposing threat each of these conditions takes on the human body is depicted through CG created by GGS. One of the ways the group was able to survive the severe environment surrounding them was by utilizing the deceased for food. While the thought of eating other people isn't too appealing - one can understand the lack of options they had. The group was faced with the choice to survive or perish.

Nando Parrado, one of the survivors, recounts his story for the documentary. Parrado lost both his mother and sister in the crash, but turned his sadness into strength that led him to attempt the impossible - journey through the Andes to find civilization and salvation for him and 15 of his friends.

Tune in to the History Channel on Wednesday, Oct 20th and 8pm CT to hear the amazing story and see the incredible graphics and visuals that Green Grass provided to bring this story to life.

Scooby, Scooby-Doo!

...Where are you?!

It's been years since I watched the syndications of the original Scooby-Doo cartoons, but somehow I can still hear the theme song in my head when the topic comes up. Since the original series, the lovable, loyal dog has been passed down to new generations through various series spin-offs throughout the late 80's and 90's and through the live action/CG movies that started in 2002.

The newest installment to the Scooby-Doo franchise, Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster, is a made for TV movie by Warner Premiere that combines live action and CG characters. When a creepy lake monster attacks Erie Point, it's up to Shaggy, Scooby, Velma, Fred, and Daphne to unmask the mystery. The movie premieres on the Cartoon Network, Saturday October 16th at 6pm CT. But don't worry if you miss it, just check out the TV schedule to find out when it reruns!

Jesse Sandifer, Art Director and Co-Owner at GGS, took on the challenge of interpreting concept guidelines from Fuse FX to put together a memorable CG creature for the Scooby-Doo franchise. Jesse designed, modeled, textured, and created an advanced muscle system in order to achieve realistic dynamic animation for the creature.

Check out Lake Monster:

Jesse also got to travel to sunny California for the screening! Here are a few pics:

(Right: Jesse Sandifer; Left: Matt VonBrock)

(Even the WB can have spelling issues!)

Great work Jesse!!

TCU @ the Cowboys Stadium!

Football season has officially begun. TCU had the season opener at the Cowboys Stadium last Saturday and Green Grass Studios had a wonderful surprise waiting for us....

The day began in the parking lots around 3pm for tailgating, beers, and ladder golf. Two Green Grass TCU Alums were in attendance (and coincidently tailgating right next to each other unknowingly until AFTER the game was over!). The game started at 6:45, TCU Horned Frogs vs. Oregon State Beavers, and within only a few minutes into the first quarter I looked up to the big screen and...to my surprise there was Green Grass Studios work!

Like I had talked about in the last blog, Green Grass Studios has provided all the in-game animation for the Dallas Cowboys and a few of the pieces were used at the TCU game. Even though I'm not an animator, I still had a proud parent moment - and tugged on my boyfriends arm every time the "DE-FENSE" and "IT'S GOOD" videos lit up the big screen.

The day was a success, not only did I get to see Green Grass Studios videos, but TCU won 30-21! GO FROGS!! A BIG shout out to the guys at the studio - the videos looked amazing!

[Once we have the videos on Vimeo I'll post for everyone to see!!]

How 'Bout Them Cowboys?

Football season is upon us - let the tailgating, beer drinking, jersey wearing, fantasy football obsessing season begin! Green Grass Studios has been hard at work animating the in-game entertainment for the Dallas Cowboys. So this year, remember that time outs aren't times to get a soda or go to the bathroom...it's your chance to see our work! Take special notice when you go to Cowboys Stadium this season and the big screen tells you to "get loud"!

GO COWBOYS!

"The Ultimate Cowboy" by Jesse Sandifer and Crew

Green Grass Studios Teases Consumers

...with the newest Nerf installment!

GGS teamed up with UPROAR! to create a teaser spot for the Nerf Stampede, the newest dart blaster in the N-Strike series.  The Stampede will hit stores in about a month on 09-09-10.  Nerf and UPROAR! wanted to generate some consumer excitement about this product through this commerical that gives the audience a sneak peek of the newest installment to the N-Strike series.  Check out the spot!

Playing Video Games at Cowboys Stadium

OK guys - correct me if I'm wrong - but I think it's safe to assume that every guy out there loves to play video games (and yes, some girls do too). Young or old, guys love the graphics, the competition, and the sheer awesomeness of video games. So, take that awesomeness and multiply it by about a million, because that would be the awesomeness of playing a video game at the Cowboys Stadium on the huge video screen that hangs above mid-field (and no big deal, but it is the world's largest HDTV). Are you salivating yet?

Green Grass Studios helped to make this video game fantasy possible for the newest Papa John's commercial created by The Loomis Agency. The commercial (on TV now) features Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and "Papa" John Schnatter going head to head in the Cowboys Stadium to play a video game. The video game features Jones and Schnatter as robotic muscular characters, prepared to combat. Green Grass Studios supported the production team by creating the Jones and Schnatter characters through advanced animation and a 3D environment created to replicate the Cowboys Stadium.

Check out what happens when anyone tries to trumph Jerry Jones in his house.

Life After People

Life After People: The Series is a stunningly graphic journey to a world wiped clean of humanity. In every episode, aired on the History Chanel, viewers will witness the fate of a particular environment, city or theme resulting in human’s departure from earth. Green Grass Studios was hired to create a series of special effects that provided unforgettable visuals to support the episodes featuring the ambitious destruction of the iconic Burj Kalifa tower, the ruin of the Sacramento Airport, and the devastation to the Spirit of Saint Louis Aircraft which is showcased in the National Air and Space Museum. Human’s won’t be around forever and now we can see in detail, for the very first time, the world that will be left behind the moments after people disappear.

Check out the video of the collapse of the Burj Kalifa tower.

Coming soon to a city near you...

The Green Grass Studios blog has new postings coming soon! Stay tuned...