Tag Archives: Reveals
Digibook Reveals Behind the Scenes of ‘ParaNorman’
Just in time for the Academy Awards ramp-up, the acclaimed team of Oregon’s LAIKA Studios is offering an interactive, all-digital look behind the scenes of their Oscar nominated 3-D stop-motion film ParaNorman (Focus Features), directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler.
The film, which follows a young boy named Norman whose ability to communicate with the dead thrusts him into the harrowing role of hero when an ancient curse threatens his small town of Blithe Hollow, has already picked up 15 Best Animated Feature awards, two Annies (Character Animation, Design) and is nominated for a BAFTA, five VES Awards and a GLAAD Media Award in addition to the Oscar nod.
Theatrical Trailer
To take a peek at how LAIKA’s dedicated crew of 320 animators, designers, artists and technicians hand-crafted this celebrated film over the course of two years, www.focusguilds2012.com/pnbooklet/ to download the booklet. You can also take home the movie on DVD, Blu-ray or Digital Download.
ParaNorman digital booklet
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Science Reveals How Owls Avoid Stroke While Rotating Heads
THURSDAY Jan. 31, 2013 — What a hoot: Scientists say they’ve discovered how owls can almost fully rotate their heads without damaging the blood vessels in their necks or cutting off the blood supply to their brains.
Owls have four major bone structure and blood vessel adaptations that prevent injury when they rotate their head. Humans lack these adaptations, which helps explain why people are more vulnerable to neck injuries, according to the Johns Hopkins researchers.
“Until now, brain imaging specialists like me who deal with human injuries caused by trauma to arteries in the head and neck have always been puzzled as to why rapid, twisting head movements did not leave thousands of owls lying dead on the forest floor from stroke,” study senior investigator and interventional neuroradiologist Dr. Philippe Gailloud said in a Hopkins news release.
“The carotid and vertebral arteries in the neck of most animals — including owls and humans — are very fragile and highly susceptible to even minor tears of the vessel lining,” added Gailloud, an associate professor in the radiology department at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
In people, sudden twists of the head and neck can stretch and tear blood vessel linings and lead to blood clots that can break off and cause a stroke. These types of injuries are common and can occur due to whiplash in car crashes, or even after rollercoaster rides or improper chiropractic manipulations, the researchers explained in the news release.
The Hopkins team used angiography, CT imaging scans and medical illustrations to examine the anatomy of a dozen snowy, barred and great horned owls that died of natural causes. Their findings are noted in the Feb.1 issue of the journal Science.
The scientists found that, in owls, bone structure and the vascular network have adapted to support the animal’s top-heavy head. With this anatomical design comes several unusual features.
One of the first things the investigators noticed was the large size of the hollow cavities of the vertebrae in an owl’s neck. This allows extra space for movement of the major arteries that pass through these vertebrae on their way to feed blood and oxygen to the brain. In addition, an owl’s vertebral artery gains even more room and slack by entering the neck at a higher spot than has been seen in other birds.
While studying the owls’ vascular network, the scientists noted a large blood reservoir at the base of the head. This allows the animal to store a blood supply for their brain and eyes while they rotate their head by as much as 270 degrees in either direction. Even if this twisting movement blocks the blood supply along one route, the owls’ interconnected vascular network helps provide uninterrupted blood flow to the brain.
The researchers now plan to study hawk anatomy to see if they possess the same adaptations for head rotation as owls.
More information
The World Owl Trust has more about owls.
Posted: January 2013
Annecy Director Reveals 2013 Guidelines
Marcel Jean, the new Artistic Director of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival (taking place June 10 to 15 in France this year) has revealed some preliminary guidelines for this year’s edition of the fest. Annecy 2013 has already shown signs of change with the appointment of Jean and plans to hold screenings in different locations due to work being done at Bonlieu.
Among Jean’s revelations is the announcement that this year’s guest country will be Poland, with around 50 shorts set to be screened in “a tribute to the history and vitality of Polish cinema.” This year’s event will also explore new creative territories with Animation Off-Limits—four programs showcasing various techniques (including experimental, video art, shadow theater, conceptual works, etc.). Attendees will be able to discover films rarely if ever seen at animation festivals as Jean seeks to “transgress the boundaries of animation to enter the vast territory of hybrid films.”
Visit www.annecy.org for more information.
The 2013 Annecy International Animation Film Festival
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Capcom Reveals 3DS Spin-off to Lost Planet Series
With Lost Planet’s roots firmly planted on consoles, it comes as a surprise that the series will soon be making a trip to portables in the form of E.X. Troopers for the Nintendo 3DS. Taking an anime-inspired look and featuring gameplay similar to its console brethren, it appears that the franchise will be bringing some familiar elements to Nintendo’s smaller screens. As sudden as the announcement is, Capcom seems to be taking an unexpected approach for the franchise on portables.
Kourtney Kardashian Reveals Baby’s Sex
Watch out, world: There’s another Kardashian girl on the way! Kourtney Kardashian revealed she and beau Scott Disick are expecting a daughter this year.
Kardashian shared the baby news exclusively with OK! magazine and confirmed she’s expecting a daughter to E! News.
“We feel so blessed to be having a little girl and to be able to share this new experience with Mason,” she told E! Wednesday.
In November, Kardashian announced she was expecting her second child with Disick, and her younger sister, Kendall, admitted she hoped Kourtney would have a girl.
“It would be so cute because when they’re older, Mason could be like the protective big brother,” Kendall told E! in December. “And I feel like Kourtney could have fun with a girl — dress her up in little tutus and everything.”
Well, after the big baby news today, it looks as if Kendall’s wish has come true.
Check out photos of the Kardashian family below:
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