TORONTO, May 1, 2024
/CNW/ - JALI Research Inc., a pioneer in procedural facial
animation, proudly announces its involvement in the Toronto Film
School Awards, marking a significant moment in the convergence of
industry excellence and academic ambition. Chris Landreth, an Academy Award-winning
animator and a luminary in animation education globally, will serve
as a judge for the Visual Excellence Award in Game Animation,
bringing an unparalleled depth of knowledge and insight to the
adjudication process.
JALI is co-founded by principal inventors Chris Landreth and Phd candidate and CTO Pif
Edwards, whose groundbreaking work in procedural facial animation
was the catalyst for the company's formation. Spun out of U of T's
Dynamic Graphics Project (Department of Computer Science), JALI
co-founders also include industry leaders Karan Singh and Eugene
Fiume, who, while leading the RnD department at alias|
wavefront (since acquired by Autodesk, now Maya) developed many of
the backbone technologies of Autodesk Maya, which is the industry
standard platform for 3D character modelling, rigging, and
animation across animation, film, and video games.
With their advanced insights in both industry and craft, the
company launched its first product offering alongside the
critically acclaimed release of "Cyberpunk 2077," celebrated for
its ambitious world scope, profound story and character
development, and best-in-class cinematics.
Headquartered in the heart of Toronto, JALI is now collaborating with more
than 200 studios and has worked on 50 licensed and upcoming games.
This success story is underscored by JALI's mission to center the
animator in the creative process, offering production tools that
leverage the power of AI and automation to craft compelling,
character-driven stories without compromising artistic control.
"We are natural partners," says JALI CEO Sarah Watling, "and I am excited by what we can
do together for the benefit of the students who will, in many ways,
be defining the future of work. More and more leaders are looking
to innovative ways to communicate and connect with their customers,
communities and networks - their audience. While advances in AI
technologies are making it easier for more and more people to
easily increase the quantity of creative work, it is the mastery of
foundational artistic principles - the very essence of the concept
of "craft" - regardless of the tools used, that distinguishes
"output" from creative work that is truly unforgettable, truly
impactful. This key distinction is a core value I believe we share
with the leadership at TFS, as it is this kind of mastery that is
learned in film and video game animation programs, that will be the
in-demand skills across industries beyond entertainment."
Andrew Barnsley, Emmy and Golden
Globe Award-winning Executive Producer and President of Toronto
Film School reflects on this collaboration, sharing "Interactive
entertainment and artistry is evolving rapidly, and our
industry-active faculty and career-relevant
programs ensure our animation and design students stay
ahead of the curve. Our partnership with JALI speaks to our
dedication to providing students with hands-on learning and access
to the newest ideas and technologies. This collaboration aligns
with our commitment to providing exceptional education that's
infused with industry relevance and expertise."
In addition to adjudicating and JALI's sponsorship, Chris Landreth will be presenting a Pinnacle
Award and, along with co-founder Pif Edwards, will be leading a
hands-on workshop at Toronto Film School using JALI's tools this
June, hoping to inspire and help prepare some of the city's next
generation of creators and storytellers as they embark upon their
industry journey.
Chris Landreth shared his
approach to judging the Visual Excellence Category: "I'm incredibly
honoured to be chosen to participate in the Toronto Film School
Awards. The Gaming Program at TFS is a new, rapidly evolving one
that is moving forward with a remarkable balance of 'traditional'
arts education and education in emerging fields of AI that are
shaping gameplay today. When helping to judge the games created in
the students' Capstone projects, I was blown away by the
sophisticated imagery, storytelling and environments that I saw in
these games. I'm looking forward to being part of the awards
presentation for these projects this coming month."
This partnership comes hot on the heels of JALI's upcoming
release of version 2.0 of its powerful automated facial animation
production software on May 1, 2024.
The news of the release already generated hype during their recent
participation at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. This next iteration will
continue to support studios and creators worldwide, contributing to
notable titles such as "Cyberpunk 2077," "Call of Duty: WWII,"
"Robocop," "This Bed We Made," and "Atomic Heart" among others.
About JALI Research Inc.:
Founded in Toronto in 2016,
JALI Research Inc. provides production teams with a powerful,
flexible suite of tools for directing 3D character performances. By
combining best-in-class automated lip sync, expressive multilingual
facial animation, and high-performance rigging and pipeline
solutions, JALI empowers creators across the globe. For more
information, visit JALI's website.
About Toronto Film School:
Toronto Film School (TFS) is a globally acclaimed,
industry-focused career college located in the heart of downtown
Toronto, Canada. Its curriculum is
delivered by award-winning faculty who are actively working in
their fields and well-placed to prepare students to succeed in the
rapidly growing film, TV and creative industries. TFS's three
locations include its flagship, 17,000 square foot studio campus,
which features five studios, motion-capture technology, and
Hollywood-grade equipment. TFS
offers its specialized training through both on-campus and online
programs, including Film Production, Video Production, Acting for
Film, TV & the Theatre, Writing for Film & TV, Graphic
Design & Interactive Media, Video Game Design & Animation,
and Video Game Design & Development. TFS students graduate
set-ready and industry-ready with a professional portfolio in 12 to
24 months.
SOURCE JALI Research Inc.