Gamers who are free to interact with and explore a game world at their own pace are more relaxed and have improved mental well-being, according to new research. The findings could open the door to using gaming as a therapeutic tool to counter stress and anxiety.Video games and gaming. Theyve been the subject of much research over the years, with findings that run the gamut from gaming is bad to its good and back again. But, just like the wide-ranging results from studies into gaming, different games require different play styles.Researchers from Imperial College London in the UK and the University of Graz in Austria have examined the mental health benefits of playing open-world games, which are characterized by sprawling, detailed environments in which gameplay is not always linear and structured.In particular, in this study, we posit that open-world games with their expansive environments and opportunities for leisurely exploration may create a sense of escapism and relaxation, said the researchers. Previous work found that casual video game play may significantly reduce stress and improve mood, suggesting potential benefits for players of open-world games, which often offer similarly engaging yet nonpressuring experiences.Whether its Minecraft, Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Assassins Creed: Valhalla, Elden Ring, Ghost of Tsushima, Red Dead Redemption 2, or Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, open-world games are all about giving players freedom. The freedom to explore and to interact with their surroundings, to spend an afternoon honing a profession, or to pick up a bunch of side-quests and deviate from the main storyline. Importantly, with open-world games, players can do these things at their own pace.The self-directed playstyle of open-world games promotes a deeper connection with the game world, with a primary focus on exploration, the researchers explain. In contrast, competitive games, such as Fortnite, are structured around set objectives and a defined path The competitive nature drives a high level of excitement and urgency. Open-world games, in contrast, often emphasize player-driven experiences over predefined goals. This allows players to set their own objectives at their own pace and preference, whether it is building a new settlement, taming wild creatures, or mapping out uncharted territories.Being free to explore an immense world and its characters, such as with the PlayStation game 'Ghost of Tsushima,' can increase feelings of competence and satisfactionSonyTo investigate the relationship between open-world gaming and mental health, the researchers adopted a mixed methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data. The qualitative data they collected from in-depth interviews with gamer postgraduate students showed that the so-called cognitive escapism that immersive game worlds provided allowed players to temporarily disengage from real-life stressors, improving their mood and psychological well-being. Quantitative data analysis showed that cognitive escapism had a significant positive effect on players relaxation, which in turn had a significant positive effect on well-being.Well-being is a multifaceted construct that includes emotional, psychological, and social dimensions, the researchers said. The immersive experiences in open-world games can contribute to psychological well-being by fulfilling basic psychological needs, such as autonomy, competence, and relatedness, as described by self-determination theory. The autonomy offered by open-world games allows players to make choices and control their in-game actions, which can lead to increased feelings of competence and satisfaction.The study demonstrates that open-world games offer substantial benefits for cognitive escapism, significantly improving relaxation and well-being among postgraduate students, they explained. By providing immersive environments that allow mental diversion, emotional relief, and meaning, these games can serve as valuable tools for enhancing psychological and emotional health."The studys principal limitation, which the researchers acknowledge, is its reliance on self-reported data. They note optimistically, though, that while its a limitation for the present study, it allows future researchers to incorporate physiological measures to examine the effects of open-world gaming on mental health. And, they say, it doesnt diminish the importance of their findings or what they mean.Open-world games could be used as therapeutic tools for stress and anxiety management, offering a cost-effective and accessible method to improve mental health, they said. Developers should consider incorporating features that promote relaxation and cognitive escapism to enhance the well-being of players. The finding that open-world games may enhance peoples well-being through enhanced escapism and relaxation is not trivial, given the growing evidence that other forms of entertainment, such as traditional social media, contribute to adolescent anxiety and depression. We invite future research to build on the findings of this study and examine the role of open-world games in peoples lives further.The study was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

Kessel Re-RunStar Wars: Outlaws is completely unoriginal, but that's kind-of the best partIt's not innovative, but sometimes the best thing about Star Wars is that it's unmistakably Star Wars.Image credit: VG247 Article by James Billcliffe Guides Editor Published on Dec. 20, 2024 On TV and in films and games, Star Wars has the same problem.The original trilogy was an unprecedented mix of grizzled Western, brooding Samurai film and pioneering Science Fiction which made for transformative popcorn entertainment, a true pop-cultural event.Most things they do make lots of money, but in a cultural impact sense, in the Disney-era particularly, Lucasfilm has only managed to repeat anything close to that level of success a couple of times, most recently with the Mandalorian; itself a Sci-Fi soup of The Lone Ranger, Seven Samurai and good old fashioned practical effects.Saddled with this legacy, with the series already steeped in nostalgia for John Wayne, John Ford and Flash Gordon since the late 70s, new Star Wars media has the unique prerequisite of being authentically Star Wars-y before it can even attempt to deliver on its own ideas.This can pull a project both towards the Dark Side and the Force, because it makes a lot of Star Wars stuff inherently derivative and unimpressive, by design its aping the wet puppets, pew-pew blasters and sliding doors on strings that we all find cozier than the inside of a Tauntaun. However, because it has that route into everyones happy place - even if its no bigger than a womp rat - when something really nails that vibe, it really nails it.After its post-launch re-work, Star Wars: Outlaws is a perfect example of this. It doesnt do much thats new or exciting in and of itself, but there are so many Star Wars hallmarks it gets right that its quietly one of the best, breeziest, most action-packed and rollicking romps you can play over the Holidays (even if it retains some of the weirdness that left if with a rightly mixed reception at launch).This is especially true if you live in a cold, snowy climate - or wish you did for Christmas. Just as youre settling into your groove with Outlaws, your mission takes you to the frigid, slick and stony streets of Kijimi (home of the sequel trilogys only redeeming character, Babu Frik). As the snow drifts down and you get to wear a Hoth cosplay puffer jacket, its lovely.But to get the right feel post-patch, the first thing you need to do is turn one of the main changes straight back off.One of my favourite things about Star Wars: Outlaws is playing with the letterbox, wide-screen aspect ratio, which immediately grounds all of the action and exploration in the unique grungy, yet cinematic aesthetic of Star Wars. It turns the flat, arid landscapes of Toshara and Tatooine into frames from the films instead of just another Ubisoft open world.The amount of fluff activities scattered across the main planets are mercifully restrained, although I have definitely started ignoring random quest givers like I owe them a fiver as I wander from place to place.But the moment that really sold me on Outlaws was on Tatooine. In need of new parts for my blaster, I found a merchant on the map, set off and sprinted around the corner to meet them, only to come face-to-face, or rather thigh bone to yellow golf ball eye, with 3ft of unadulterated Jawa.Can you imagine how much better other open world games would be if the merchants were Jawas? Like in Far Cry 6 or something you just came around the corner and its a little Jawa standing on a box behind the counter. Umpeeni! Whanga hoopa! hed say, handing over a new silencer - itd be great.Anyway, these little moments of Star Wars-y discovery are all over Outlaws and make it feel like an amazingly lived-in representation of a galaxy far, far away. The cities and spaceports are perfectly populated with big hitters and deep cuts alongside a sprinkling of major movie characters and Easter Eggs I wont spoil.There are gameplay elements of Outlaws I dont love. From, I think, the second worst communicated lockpicking mini-game Ive played (after Kingdom Come: Deliverance) to visual signposting in platforming sections thats harder to read than Aurebesh, theres a surprisingly low floor to some of the mechanics and design thats very jarring when it appears. But ultimately its low-stakes, simple stealth with a seat-of-your-pants energy once it all goes wrong that calls to mind Han, Luke and Leia escaping from the Star Destroyer in A New Hope, as you scoop up Stormtroopers blasters and haphazardly fire back at them one-handed.Now, after its difficult initial release, I feel like Star Wars: Outlaws occupies a similar place to a lot of Disney Star Wars. Its a pulpy, but gorgeous and lushly produced caper that was too flawed on launch to capture the cultural consciousness like its predecessors, but, when freed of the pressure to do so, is just clean, escapist fun. This is Star Wars to enjoy under a blanket pulled up to your nose with just your eyes peeping out.Sadly, thats not enough to feed the gears of the AAA games machine, but thats Ubisofts problem to solve, not the playing public. If you need me, Ill be swapping a Jawa three rolls of Bantha wool for a power converter.

Image: Bullet-Proof Software / Digital EclipseDigital Eclipse has announced that the curious Tetris sequel Welltris will be added to the excellent compilation title Tetris Forever via a free update on Switch.The game, originally release in 1989, takes the same basic gameplay of Tetris, but adds in an extra dimension, essentially turning the gameplay area into a 'well'. It's weird stuff, and it's no surprise that it didn't quite reach the same cultural heights as its predecessor, but it's an excellent new addition to the game nevertheless. Digital Eclipse also promises to add more games in the future, so keep your eyes peeled.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Not only that, but Tetris Forever has also received some welcome improvements, including the ability to remap controls on Tetris Time Warp and the Electronika 60, MS-DOS, and Apple II versions of Tetris. An audio issue with the Switch version has also been patched out.Let's check out exactly what's been added here then:Welltris (Spectrum Holobyte, MS-DOS)The first follow-up to Tetris created by Alexey Pajitnov, Welltris is a beloved variant in which Tetriminos (and other shapes) fall down four sides of a well.TETRIS TIME WARP - All players can now individually remap their controls in Tetris Time Warp, the new four-player Digital Eclipse game included in Tetris Forever that has proven to be a hit with both casual and competitive players. Control remapping was the most requested feature change from players.OTHER IMPROVEMENTSMore customization options: Players can now remap their controls in Electronika 60, MS-DOS & Apple II games on console. This functionality was previously added to the PC version in November.Switch version audio fix: At launch, a conflict with the Rewind functionality caused audio issues that could be heard while playing some classic games in the Nintendo Switch version of Tetris Forever. As a first step, the team has disabled the Rewind function in games that had audio glitches, which has fixed the issue. The team will look into the possibility of restoring Rewind in a future update.Images: Bullet-Proof Software / Digital EclipseTetris Forever is available now via the Switch eShop. In our 8/10 review, we said that it's the "best breakdown of the franchise's creation and evolution so far". The building blocks of historyWill you be checking out Welltris via the new Tetris Forever update? Let us know with a comment down below.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Nintendo Lifes resident horror fanatic, when hes not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles'Hyperdimension Neptunia' & 'Death End' Switch Releases Scrapped For "Not Complying With Nintendo Guidelines"Death end re;Quest: Code Z still on for PS5/4, thoughToby Fox Shares Another Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3, 4 & 5"Progress has still been steady"'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"

OpenAI announced its new o3 models on Friday.In a tweet ahead of its final livestream for its 12 Days of OpenAI event, the company confirmed previous reports that it is skipping the o2 generation due to copyright concerns, and is releasing early evals for the o3 model. It appears to be a successor to its o1 reasoning model.OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced o3 and o3-mini on Friday, but said the company is not publicly launching these models at this time. OpenAI will start public safety testing on Friday, part of a new safety testing procedure with researchers that want to help the company test its models.According to The Information, OpenAI skipped o2 to avoid a potential conflict with British telecom provider O2.This story is developing

OpenAI is in the holiday spirit, it seems. The ChatGPT series of reveals, called 12 Days of OpenAI, will be streamed live at 10 a.m. PT each weekday through December 20. So far, weve seen the launch of ChatGPT Pro, OpenAIs $200 per month subscription plan; the full version of its reasoning o1 model; the [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

There is a new venture fund in town. Swizzle Fund, founded by Jessica Kamada, former COO of the marketing agency Bamboo, has raised just a little more than $5 million for its Fund I, according to an SEC filing. There was no target raise amount.The firm, which quietly opened in 2023, is an early-stage firm looking to invest in companies that address some of the most pressing concerns facing women, including caretaking, health & wellness, and finances. It has invested in at least one company so far, according to PitchBook: the mental health care platform Mavida Health.Kamada did not respond to our request for comment.Kamada posted a year ago that she had left her job at Bamboo after seven and a half years without any plan for what to do next. At the company, she was the vice president of growth marketing, before becoming COO and joining the board of directors. She also used to work at RedDrop, which provides menstrual education to tweens, as a growth advisor. Bamboo is known for working with startups and tech firms like Great Jones, Lemonaid, and Dropbox, it says.Swizzle is entering the industry at an important time for innovation targeting women. The caregiving industry is undergoing a crisis due to the cost of supporting ailing family members; women are facing a historic boom in finances from the predicted upcoming wealth transfer; and womens health has always been a hot topic, even more so now with the overturn of Roe.

ASIFA-Hollywoodhas just released nominations for its52st Annual Annie Awardsrecognizing the years best in the field of animation. This year, the ceremony is scheduled to be held live, in-person on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at UCLAs Royce Hall.The Wild Robot leads all feature nominees with 10 nominations, followed byInside Out 2 and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowlwith seven eachand That Christmaswith six.Arcane leads all TV/episodic nominees with seven.This year, there are 6 nominees in each of the two best feature film category:Inside Out 2 (Pixar Animation Studios), Kung Fu Panda 4 (DreamWorks Animation), That Christmas (Locksmith Animation for Netflix), The Wild Robot (DreamWorks Animation), Ultraman: Rising (Netflix presents in association with Tsuburaya Productions), and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Aardman and Netflix) lead the pack as nominees for Best Animated FeatureBest Animated Feature-Independent, spotlighting features with a much smaller distribution footprint than major studio releases, includeChicken for Linda! (Dolce Vita Films, Miyu Productions, Palosanto Films, France 3 Cinma, Distributed by GKIDS), Flow (Sacrebleu Productions, Take Five, Dream Well Studio), Kensukes Kingdom (Paramount Pictures), Look Back (Studio Durian Distributed by GKIDS), Mars Express (Everybody on Deck, Je Suis Bien Content Distributed by GKIDS), and Memoir of a Snail (Snails Pace Films / Arenamedia).The Annie Awards cover 36 categories and include Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Feature-Independent, Special Productions, Sponsored Films, Short Subjects, Student Films and Outstanding Individual Achievements, as well as the honorary Juried Awards. Juried Awards will be presented during the ceremony, honoring achievement and exceptional contributions to animation. The Winsor McCay Award in recognition of lifetime or career contributions are being presented to three recipients: Aaron Blaise, Eunice Macaulay, and Normand Roger, The June Foray Award for significant and benevolent or charitable impact will be awarded to Women in Animation.The Ub Iwerks Award for technical advancement affecting the animation industry will be presented to Alberto Menache. The Special Achievement Award recognizing unique and outstanding achievement not recognized within the existing award category structure will be presented to Directing at Disney: The Original Directors of Walts Animated Films.ASIFA-Hollywood is the worlds first and foremost professional organization dedicated to promoting the Art of Animation and celebrating the people who create it. Today, ASIFA-Hollywood, the largest chapter of the international organization ASIFA, supports a range of animation activities and preservation efforts through its membership. Current initiatives include the Animation Archive, Animation Aid Foundation, animated film preservation, animation open source support, special events, classes and screenings.Created in 1972 by veteran voice talent June Foray, the Annie Awards have grown in scope and stature for the past four decades. For information regarding the Annie Awards, please visithttps://annieawards.org/.The full list of nominations in all categories is shown below:Best FeatureInside Out 2 - Pixar Animation StudiosKung Fu Panda 4 - DreamWorks AnimationThat Christmas - Locksmith Animation for NetflixThe Wild Robot - DreamWorks AnimationUltraman: Rising - Netflix Presents in association with Tsuburaya ProductionsWallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl - Aardman and NetflixBest Feature-IndependentChicken for Linda! - Dolce Vita Films, Miyu Productions, Palosanto Films, France 3 Cinma, Distributed by GKIDSFlow - Sacrebleu Productions, Take Five, Dream Well StudioKensukes Kingdom - Paramount PicturesLook Back - Studio Durian Distributed by GKIDSMars Express - Everybody on Deck, Je Suis Bien Content Distributed by GKIDSMemoir of a Snail - Snails Pace Films / ArenamediaBest Special ProductionA Bear Named Wojtek - The Illuminated Film Company and FilmografMogs Christmas - Lupus FilmsOrion and the Dark - DreamWorks AnimationTabby McTat - Magic Light PicturesYuck! - Ikki Films & Iliade et FilmsBest Short SubjectBeautiful Men - Animal Tank, Miyu Productions & Ka-Ching CartoonsIn the Shadow of the Cypress - Barfak Animation StudioRuthless Blade - IDEOMOTOR Culture Media Co., Ltd.The Swineherd - Fleng Entertainment and Tumblehead ProductionsWander to Wonder - Circe Films, Kaap Holland Film, Les Productions de Milou, Beast Animation, Blink Industries & PictanovoBest Sponsoredfeelslikeimfallinginlove - BlinkinkFuzzy Feelings - Passion Pictures Hungry ManMoonlit Bamboo Forest - Passion Paris Production, HoYoFairNatlan Impressions Trailer, Blaze to Natlan - BUCKWelcome to the City of Love - Nexus StudiosBest TV/Media - PreschoolDisney Jr.s Ariel, Episode: Crystal Cavern Caper - Wild Canary, Disney Branded TelevisionGabbys Dollhouse, Episode: Pandys Bad Day - DreamWorks AnimationJessicas Big Little World, Episode: Jessicas Picnic - Cartoon Network StudiosThe Tiny Chef Show, Episode: Tiny Chefs Spooky Stump Spectacular - Imagine Entertainment, Tiny Chef Productions and Nickelodeon ProductionsWonder Pets: In the City, Episode: Save Tate? - A Nickelodeon Production in association with AppleBest TV/Media - ChildrenGremlins: The Wild Batch, Episode: Never Use Double Negatives - Warner Bros. AnimationJurassic World: Chaos Theory, Episode: Batten Down the Hatches - DreamWorks AnimationMarvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Episode: The Molecular Level - Flying Bark Productions, Disney Television Animation, Disney Branded TelevisionPrimos, Episode: Summer of Tater Luna - Disney Television Animation, Disney Branded TelevisionWondLa, Episode: Ruins - Skydance Animation in association with AppleBest TV/Media - MatureBobs Burgers, Episode: They Slug Horses, Dont They? - 20th Television AnimationSolar Opposites, Episode: The What If?! Device - 20th Television AnimationSouth Park, Episode: The End of Obesity - MTV Entertainment StudiosThe Great North, Episode: Aunt Misbehavin Adventure - 20th Television AnimationThe Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy, Episode: The Land of Sex and Death - Amazon MGM Studios, Titmouse StudiosBest TV/Media - Limited SeriesDream Productions, Episode: A Night to Remember - Pixar Animation StudiosIwj, Episode: Tola - Walt Disney Animation StudiosLego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, Episode: Part Three - Lucasfilm Ltd.Moon Girls Lab, Episode: Moon Girl Saves the Moon - Disney Television Animation, Disney Branded TelevisionMy Adventures with Superman, Episode: Pierce the Heavens, Superman! - Warner Bros. AnimationBest Student FilmAdis - Student Director: Jos Prats; Student Producer: Bernardo Angeletti; School: National Film and Television SchoolEl Ombligo de la Luna olaj - Student Directors: Sara Antnio, Julia Grupiska, Bokang Koatja, Tian Westraad, Ezequiel Garibay; School: GobelinsPear Garden - Student Director/Producer: Shadab Shayegan; School: Filmakademie Baden-Wrttemberg GmbH, AnimationsinstitutPolliwog - Student Director: Julia Skala; Student Producer: Max Pollmann; School: Filmakademie Baden-Wrttemberg GmbH, AnimationsinstitutTurmspringer - Student Director: Oscar Bittner; Student Producer: Andra Berila; School: Filmakademie Baden-Wrttemberg GmbH, AnimationsinstitutBest FX - TV/MediaArcane, Episode: The Dirt Under Your Nails - Production Company: A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix, FX Production Company: Fortiche Studio - Guillaume Degroote, Aurlien Ressencourt, Adam Bachiri, Guillaume Zaouche, Jrme DuprDream Productions, Episode: A Night to Remember - Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios, FX Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios - Gary Bruins, Jongwon Pak, Arturo Aguilar, Alan Browning, Alen LaiSecret Level, Episode: Warhammer 40,000: And They Shall Know No Fear - Production Company: Amazon MGM Studios, Blur Studio Inc., FX Production Company: Blur Studio Inc. - Josh Schwartz, Joe Coleman, Michael Huang, Guilherme Casagrandi, Raul RodriguesSecret Level, Episode: Dungeons & Dragons: The Queen's Cradle - Production Company: Amazon MGM Studios, Blur Studio Inc., FX Production Company: Blur Studio Inc. - Arthur Loiseau, Tom OBready, Esteban Genre, Alexandre Lerouge, Guillaume GrelierSecret Level, Episode: Crossfire: Good Conflict - Production Company: Amazon MGM Studios, Blur Studio Inc., FX Production Company: Blur Studio Inc. - Kamil Murzyn, Rafa Rumiski, Jarosaw Armata, Micha led, Micha FirekBest FX - FeatureKung Fu Panda 4 - Production Company: DreamWorks Animation, - FX Production Company: DreamWorks Animation - Zachary Glynn, Alex Timchenko, Kiem Ching Ong, Yorie Kaela Kumalasari, Jinguang HuangMoana 2 - Production Company: Walt Disney Animation Studios - FX Production Company: Walt Disney Animation Studios - Santiago Robles, Marc Bryant, Deborah Carlson, Jake Rice, Ian J. CoonyThe Wild Robot - Production Company: DreamWorks Animation - FX Production Company: DreamWorks Animation - Derek Cheung, Michael Losure, David Chow, Nyoung Kim, Steve AvoujageliUltraman: Rising - Production Company: Netflix Animation - FX Production Company: Industrial Light & Magic - Goncalo Cabaca, Vishal Patel, Zheng Yong Oh, Nicholas Yoon Joo Kuang, Pei- Zhi HuangWallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl - Production Company: Aardman and Netflix - FX Production Company: Aardman Production - Howard Jones, Rich Spence, Deborah Jane Price, Jon Biggins, Kirstie DeaneBest Character Animation - TV/MediaArcane, Episodes: Killing Is A Cycle, Heavy Is the Crown, Finally Got the Name Right, The Message Hidden Within the Pattern, The Dirt Under Your Nails, Pretend Like Its the First Time, Blisters and Bedrock - A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix - Tom GouillDream Productions, Episodes: The Dream Team, Out of Body, Romance! - Pixar Animation Studios - Travis HathawayIn the Know, Episodes: Yogurt Week, Thinksgiving - Peacock Original in association with Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, Bandera, ShadowMachine - Jeff RileyStar Trek: Lower Decks, Episodes: Various - CBSs Eye Animation Productions, Titmouse; Secret Hideout; and Roddenberry Entertainment - Raymond DunsterThe Patrick Star Show, Episode: Something Stupid This Way Comes - Screen Novelties / Nickelodeon Animation Studios - Colin LepperBest Character Animation - FeatureInside Out 2 - Pixar Animation Studios - Aviv ManoKung Fu Panda 4 - DreamWorks Animation - Patrick GuisianoMoana 2 - Walt Disney Animation Studios - Brian ScottThe Wild Robot - DreamWorks Animation - Fabio LigniniWallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl - Aardman and Netflix - Carmen Bromfield MasonBest Character Animation - Live ActionBetter Man - Production Company: Footloose Productions, VicScreen, Partizan, Facing East Entertainment, Rocket Science, Lost Bandits - FX Production Company: Wt FX - Shaun Freeman, Luisma Lavin Peredo, Carlos Lin, Seoungseok Charlie Kim, Kaori MiyazawaGladiator II - Production Company: Paramount - FX Production Company: Framestore LTD - Kyle Dunlevy, Philipp Winterstein, Gil Daniel, Michael Elder, Julien BagoryGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire - Production Company: Legendary Entertainment - FX Production Company: Wt FX - Ludovic Chailloleau, Jonathan Paquin, Craig Penn, Florian Fernandez, Marco BarbatiHouse of the Dragon Season 2 - Production Company: Warner Bros - FX Production Company: Wt FX - Jason Snyman, Manjoe Chan, Chloe McLean, Cedric Enriquez Canlas, Vincent LeeKingdom of the Planet of the Apes - Production Company: 20th Century Studios - FX Production Company: Wt FX - Christian Kickenweitz, Aidan Martin, Allison Orr, Radiya Alam, Howard SlyBest Character Animation - Video Game#BLUD - Exit 73 Games, LLC. - Chris Burns, Bob FoxAsgard's Wrath 2 - Sanzaru Games - Sanzaru Games Animation TeamDiesel Legacy - Maximum Entertainment - Maximum EntertainmentNeva - Nomada Studio - Nomada Studio Animation TeamSenua's Saga: Hellblade II - Ninja Theory - Ninja TheoryBest Character Design - TV/MediaDream Productions, Episode: A Night to Remember - Pixar Animation Studios - Grant AlexanderJentry Chau vs. the Underworld, Episode: Pilot - A Netflix Series - Kal AthannassovMarvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Episode: The Molecular Level - Disney Television Animation, Cinema Gypsy Productions - Jose LopezTales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Episode: Bishop Makes Her Move! - Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Point / Grey Pictures - Rustam HasanovX-Men '97, Episode: Mutant Liberation Begins - Marvel Studios - Amelia VidalBest Character Design - FeatureInside Out 2 - Pixar Animation Studios - Deanna MarsiglieseScarygirl - Highly Spirited and Like A Photon Creative - Nathan JureviciusSpellbound - Netflix Presents / Skydance Animation Presents a Skydance Animation Film - Guillermo RamreThat Christmas - Locksmith Animation for Netflix - Uwe HeidschtterThe Wild Robot - DreamWorks Animation - Genevieve TsaiBest Direction - TV/MediaArcane, Episode: The Dirt Under Your Nails - A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix - Arnaud Delord, Pascal Charrue, Bart MaunouryBig City Greens the Movie: Spacecation, Television Movie - Disney Television Animation, Disney Branded Television - Anna OBrianBob's Burgers, Episode: They Slug Horses, Don't They? - 20th Television Animation - Bernard DerrimanTabby McTat, Television Movie - Magic Light Pictures - Jac Hamman, Sarah ScrimgeourTales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Episode: The Pearl - Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Point / Grey Pictures - Alan Wan, Colin HeckBest Direction - FeatureChicken for Linda! - Dolce Vita Films, Miyu Productions, Palosanto Films, France 3 Cinma / Distributed by GKIDS - Chiara Malta, Sbastien LaudenbachFlow - Take Five, Sacrebleu Productions, Dream Well Studio - Gints ZilbalodisThat Christmas - Locksmith Animation for Netflix - Simon OttoThe Wild Robot - DreamWorks Animation - Chris SandersWallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl - Aardman and Netflix - Nick Park, Merlin CrossinghamBest Music - TV/MediaArcane, Episode: The Dirt Under Your Nails - A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix - Ryan Jillian Santiago, Alexander Seaver, Simon WilcoxBig City Greens the Movie: Spacecation, Television Movie - Disney Television Animation, Disney Branded Television - Joachim HorsleyHazbin Hotel, Episode: Masquerade - Amazon MGM Studios, A24, Bento Box Entertainment - Sam Haft, Andrew UnderbergJentry Chau vs. the Underworld, Episode: Lock-In - A Netflix Series - Brian H. KimWondLa, Episode: Captive - Skydance Animation in association with Apple - Joy NgiawBest Music - FeatureKensuke's Kingdom - Lupus Films - Stuart HancockPiece by Piece - i am OTHER, TREMOLO in association with The LEGO Group, Pure Imagination Studios and Tongal - Pharrell Williams, Michael AndrewsThat Christmas - Locksmith Animation for Netflix - John Powell, Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaidThe Wild Robot - DreamWorks Animation - Kris BowersWallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl - Aardman and Netflix - Lorne Balfe, Julian NottBest Production Design - TV/MediaArcane, Episode: The Dirt Under Your Nails - A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix - Arnaud-Loris Baudry, Julien Georgel, Faustine Dumontier, Charlotte ONeilDream Productions, Episode: The Dream Team - Pixar Animation Studios - Bert Berry, Josh HoltsclawOrion and the Dark, Special Production - DreamWorks Animation - Timothy Lamb, Christine BianSilly Sundays, Episode: Stringy Soup - Cartoon Saloon - Fran Bravo, Rosa Ballester CaboWondLa, Episode: Bargain - Skydance Animation in association with Apple - Andy HarknessBest Production Design - FeatureInside Out 2 - Pixar Animation Studios - Jason Deamer, Josh West, Keiko Murayama, Bill Zahn, Laura MeyerThat Christmas - Locksmith Animation for Netflix - Justin Hutchinson-Chatburn, Mike RedmanThe Wild Robot - DreamWorks Animation - Raymond Zibach, Ritchie SaciliocUltraman: Rising - Netflix Presents in association with Tsuburaya Productions - The Ultraman: Rising Production Design TeamWallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl - Aardman and Netflix - Matt Perry, Darren Dubicki, Richard Edmunds, Matt Sanders, Gavin LinesBest Storyboarding - TV/MediaArcane, Episode: Killing is a Cycle - A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix - Josphine MeisInvincible Fight Girl, Episode: The Way of The World - Cartoon Network Studios - Gladyfaith Abcede, Miki Brewster, Kaela Lash, Sheldon VellaJurassic World: Chaos Theory, Episode: That Night - DreamWorks Animation - Aevery HuensSnoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin, Short Film - WildBrain Studios in association with Apple - David LuxTales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Episode: The Pearl - Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Point / Grey Pictures - Laura Gille, Sebrina Gao, Kevin Molina-OrtizBest Storyboarding - FeatureDespicable Me 4 - Illumination - Habib LouatiMoana 2 - Walt Disney Animation Studios - Ryan GreenSaving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie - Nickelodeon Animation - Piero PilusoSpellbound - Netflix Presents / Skydance Animation Presents a Skydance Animation Film - Alex Relloso Horna, Carlos Zapater OlivaThat Christmas - Locksmith Animation for Netflix - Ashley Boddy, Lorenzo Fresta, Helen SchroederBest Voice Acting - TV/MediaBob's Burgers, Episode: The Right Tough Stuff - 20th Television Animation - John Roberts (Character: Linda Belcher)Bob's Burgers, Episode: They Slug Horses, Don't They? - 20th Television Animation - Kristen Schaal (Character: Louise Belcher)Dream Productions, Episode: Out of Body - Pixar Animation Studios - Paula Pell (Character: Paula)Hazbin Hotel, Episode: Dad Beat Dad - Amazon MGM Studios, A24, Bento Box Entertainment - Jeremy Jordan (Character: Lucifer)Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Episode: Splinter and April Fight a Goldfish - Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Point / Grey Pictures - Ayo Edebiri (Character: April O'Neil)Best Voice Acting - FeatureChicken for Linda! - Dolce Vita Films, Miyu Productions, Palosanto Films, France 3 Cinma / Distributed by GKIDS - Mline Leclerc (Character: Linda)Inside Out 2 - Pixar Animation Studios - Maya Hawke (Character: Anxiety)The Wild Robot - DreamWorks Animation - Lupita Nyong'o (Character: Roz)The Wild Robot - DreamWorks Animation - Kit Connor (Character: Brightbill)Transformers One - Paramount Animation - Brian Tyree Henry (Character: D-16 / Megatron)Best Writing - TV/MediaCraig of the Creek, Episode: Whose Dimension Is It Anyway? - Cartoon Network Studios - Harron Atkins, Lorraine DeGraffenreidt, Pearl Low, Richie PopeJessica's Big Little World, Episode: Jessica's Picnic - Cartoon Network Studios - Austin Faber, Gabriel Franklin, Shawne Gibbs, Shawnelle Gibbs, Ashleigh HairstonOrion and the Dark, Special Production - DreamWorks Animation - Charlie KaufmanThe Simpsons, Episode: Bart's Birthday - A Gracie Films Production in Association with 20th Television Animation - Jessica ConradYuck!, Special Production - Ikki Films & Iliade et Films - Loc EspucheBest Writing - FeatureFlow - Take Five, Sacrebleu Productions, Dream Well Studio - Gints Zilbalodis, Matss KaaInside Out 2 - Pixar Animation Studios - Meg LeFauve, Dave HolsteinKensuke's Kingdom - Paramount Pictures - Frank Cottrell-BoyceMemoir of a Snail - Snails Pace Films / Arenamedia - Adam ElliotBest Editorial - TV/MediaArcane, Episode: Pretend Like It's the First Time - A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix - Nazim Meslem, Gilad Carmel, Roberto FernandezCreature Commandos, Episode: Cheers to the Tin Man - Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios / - Annie De BrockJurassic World: Chaos Theory, Episode: Batten Down the Hatches - DreamWorks Animation - Ben Choo, Rich Liverance, Eric Hendricks, Anna Adams, Ian HurleyMarvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Episode: The Molecular Level - Disney Television Animation, Cinema Gypsy Productions - Sandra Powers, Phil Lomboy, Ryan Burkhard, Neil Wilson III, Gabriel GelbrechtTales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Episode: The Pearl - Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Point / Grey Pictures - Caleb YoderBest Editorial - FeatureInside Out 2 - Pixar Animation Studios - Maurissa Horwitz, David Suther, Fiona Toth, Jonathan VargoMoana 2 - Walt Disney Animation Studios - Jeremy Milton, Michael Louis HillThe Wild Robot - DreamWorks Animation - Mary Blee, Collin Erker, Orlando Duenas, Lucie Lyon, Brian ParkerUltraman: Rising - Netflix Presents in association with Tsuburaya Productions - Bret Marnell, ACE, William Max Steinberg, Nik Siefke, Ryan Sommer, Kaye SpeareWallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl - Aardman and Netflix - Dan HemberySource: ASIFA-Hollywood Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.

Breakdown & ShowreelsVenom The Last Dance: VFX Breakdown by Digital DomainBy Vincent Frei - 20/12/2024 The sinister power of Knull takes center stage in Venom: The Last Dance, thanks to the visual effects crafted by Digital Domain. Witness the intricate details of Knull and his Xenophages as they unleash chaos!WANT TO KNOW MORE?Digital Domain: Dedicated page about Venom: The Last Dance on Digital Domain website.John Moffatt and Aharon Bourland: Heres my interview of Production VFX Supervisors John Moffatt and Aharon Bourland. Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2024

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Developers shared visuals recently of a new building that will be constructed where Nakagin Capsule Tower used to stand in Tokyos Ginza district. Accor, a global hospitality leader based in France, is behind the project which replaces the the famous Metabolist project from 1970 by Kisho Kurokawa.AN has reached out to Accor for details on the architects working on the forthcoming hotel project. The replacement tower will host the Tokyo flagship of Pullman, a brand hotel. It will contain 145 guest rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, a destination bar, and other amenities, according to a press release. Its modular exterior will have a gold lacquer, standing in stark contrast with the building it replaces.Demolition on Nakagin Capsule Tower started in 2022, and its capsules are now scattered all over the world. One capsule, for instance, is currently on view at Romes MAXXI in an exhibition curated by Diller Scofidio+Renfro.Demolition on the tower began in 2022. (Mark Dytham)Nakagin Capsule Tower was marred by maintenance issues for years after its completion. In 2018, the former owner (Nakagin Integration) had become frustrated with high maintenance costs and sold the land under the building, which it operated as a condominium, to a real estate company. In 2019, realtors floated demolishing the prized building, ushering in public outcries to save it. Those initial demo plans eventually subsided, but the idea to raise the building came up again in 2021. Demolition subsequently began in April 2022 and lasted several months. Afterward, the capsules were shipped to museums, and elsewhere.Kisho Kurokawa & Associates took initiative and relocated several capsules from Nakagin to an off-site location for conservation. In San Francisco, SFMOMA restored one capsule, which is now part of the museums permanent collection, as reported by AN.Another capsule is on display at Japans Museum of Modern Art Saitama. Meanwhile, Centre Pompidou in Paris may acquire another module for its permanent collection.Archivists have created a meticulous digital model of Nakagin Capsule Tower in the event of its reconstruction sometime in the future, albeit at a different location.The new hotel will open in late 2027.