After Effects News

Boris FX released the latest version of their collection of effects plugins for editing and compositing applications. The new release offers support for native After Effects lights, on-screen overlay control widgets for streamlined workflow, audio-driven keyframe generation, and a new Compare Mode feature to compare the filtered result with the unfiltered source via either a side-by-side or live split-screen view. Each Final Effects Complete filter has been re-engineered for 64-bit operating systems. More at Boris FX.

Rocketbox Libraries has released a collection of 40 animated human characters that bring facial bone rigs for lip sync and expressions. Available in Max file format. More at Rocketbox Libraries.

Check out the latest batch of great short films produced by students at French school Gobelins!

A funny animated short by RoughCutPresents.com.

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration has made available a number of 3D models for download (mostly low poly models).

Over the next five days (Monday to Friday), the Adam Walker Studio is publishing a series of posts and videos about the making of their short film "Arcade Trap" (YouTube, Vimeo), which they completed back in 2008. The studio's blog is going to have articles on animation, character design, game design, sound design and papercraft.

Those who have been around for a while will recall Marcos Fajardo's Arnold renderer, which was used by Daniel Martínez Lara and Kike Oliva in its early origins as well as by Ruairi Robinson on his Fifty Percent Grey short film. Check out this interesting interview with Marcos Fajardo by Eric Heines on the history of the renderer.

A great short film written and directed by French artist Jérémy Clapin. Check it out!