There are not too many fancy things happening in my life at the moment. The work at Ambient is quite interesting and yet a little bit disenchanting from time to time. First of all because I have to admit how little I know about Maya. This program opens up a hell lot of possibilities! On the other hand it’s kind of wired to feel like you’re building up your future career on a single program… Second it is becoming obvious to me how difficult it is to produce a 3d animation feature film in Germany. Compared to America, Australia or New Zeeland the industry over here still seems to be in its infancy which of course is mostly a matter of size. In other words: Ambient does not employ a few hundred 3d artists like Pixar does – but the ticket price at your local cinema is the same for movies from both companies. Assuming that the German average consumer goes to the movies 1.5 times a year you can clearly tell what the problem is.

Apropos cinema and Pixar: I did what Woody, the cowboy from Toy Story, recommends in this awesome trailer:

I met WALL•E who finally arrived in German theatres on September 25^th. Kind of a good idea because this movie kicks ass! Although Ratatouille stays my favourite movie from Pixar, I highly recommend watching this masterpiece (definitely to everybody, not only to my fellow 3d animation students!) The only thing that bothers me a little bit is the implementation of live action characters during a few video messages on the human space ship. It’s not like it’s ruining the movie in any way but I just don’t understand the reason and from my point of view it simply does not fit in.

During the next few days I’m going to finish my report on the semester abroad in Sydney that I have to write for the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service). That’s the support organisation that payed my scholarship. If I’m confident with the result I might upload it to this site (in German language). While writing this report I really feel like my German vocabulary and writing skills have degenerated rapidly in the past few years. Or maybe I’m just getting older. At least I am not 20 anymore, am I? ;)

Fortunately I found this nice website (German language)…