SIGGRAPH officials, along with AMD, DreamWorks Animation, and HP, are hosting the world’s first international FJORG! competition -- an “iron animator” event in which 15 competing teams from around the world have 32 hours to create the world’s best character-driven animation in front of a live, “Gladiator-style” audience and judging panel at the San Diego convention center.
To earn the title of “Viking Animator” and several other prizes, each team will be tasked with creating a 15-second (or longer) animation. FJORG! tests contestants’ skill, talent, creativity, teamwork, and physical endurance throughout multiple staged distractions, such as live music, belly dancing, acrobatics, and martial arts performances.
FJORG! contestants will be required to complete the animations using their talents and skills, along with technology assets supplied at the event (outside resources are not permitted). Teams will be judged by a panel of industry experts, including recruiters from top graphics, feature film, animation, and game companies, such as Pixar Animation Studios, Industrial Light & Magic, DreamWorks Animation, and Sony Pictures Imageworks. Competitors will have access to the following applications:
Sound and voiceover selections
Rigged model for Maya
51 HP xw9400 Workstations (with AMD processors)
Autodesk 3ds Max
Autodesk Maya
Macromedia Flash
Adobe Photoshop and After Effects
Softimage|XSI
In addition, members of teams that successfully create an animation sequence of at least 15 seconds in length will be awarded a full conference pass for the remainder of SIGGRAPH 2007 and a ticket to the Electronic Theater.
The winning team will be chosen by an elite panel of judges from throughout the entertainment industry based on judging criteria set forth in FJORG! Official Rules at http://www.siggraph.org/s2007/presenters/fjorg/. Winners will be announced at a Special Session Wednesday night, August 8, at 6pm during SIGGRAPH 2007.
FJORG! (pronounced FORGE) is a new international computer graphics animation competition hosted by SIGGRAPH and sponsored by AMD, DreamWorks Animation, and HP.