Academy Award Winner Chris Landreth to Speak at SIGGRAPH 2009

Landreth will discuss the unintended consequence of the "Uncanny Valley" -- the "creepy" effect of making CGI characters too realistic - as well as how The Spine attempts to avoid this outcome. He will describe how his animators used a method acting approach to create movement in these characters including how they mimicked subtle gestures, ticks, and micro-expressions in faces and bodies.

"It is an honor to have Chris return to give back to the SIGGRAPH audience. He has a wonderful story to tell that should be applicable across multiple industry lines," says Carlye Archibeque, SIGGRAPH 2009 Computer Animation Festival executive producer. "Chris' animation expertise, as well as his long-standing history with SIGGRAPH, specifically his participation in the Computer Animation Festival, offer a great example of the caliber of work showcased in this great venue and what is possible by showcasing your talents at SIGGRAPH."
 
Landreth first received acclaim in 2004 at SIGGRAPH when his animated short, Ryan, won its Best of Show Award. The film's story was based on the life of Ryan Larkin, a former animator who produced some of the most influential animated films of his time at the National Film Board of Canada. Ryan went on to receive an Academy Award for Best Animated Short later that year.

The Spine was produced by the National Film Board of Canada in association with Copperheart Animation and C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures, with the creative participation of Autodesk Canada CO. and Seneca College School of Communication Arts.