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Dreamworks, Sinbad & Linux
Ex-MislTech writes "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, an animated movie from DreamWorks Animation Technology that hits theaters July 2, is the first Hollywood production created entirely on Linux. More than 250 Hewlett-Packard workstations running Red Hat Linux make up the core of DreamWorks' graphics platform."
Short answer: No.
Since when has a Linux user honestly given a cr*p what anyone else thinks?
Rock on boys!
"Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
--Dr.W.Edwards Deming
Oh yeah, sure, keep supporting the MPAA. And when linux won't run on DRM-mandated machines, don't come running to me!
I patented screwing your mom. But it got revoked for "prior art."
Or maybe he just needs some money.
"Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
--Dr.W.Edwards Deming
The article didn't mention what specific workstation tools they were using to model or develop the animation. I assume that these are home-grown tools but any chance that they will release that software?
Sinbad's numerous ocean scenes created a daunting technological task. If animators had created the film's oceans segment by segment (as in the past), it could have added years to the movie's production time. By using Linux, the DreamWorks effects department was able to create a rolling oceanscape rather than compose the ocean frame by frame.
What has linux got anything to do with anything here? it's an OS not a rendering suite!!!
Hype like this just makes you lose credibility man...
Actually, take a look at all the high profile actors that do voice-over work for animated and CG films. A lot of big name actors lend their voices to kids movies, but that doesn't mean they are moving into that realm. It's just another job (and another paycheck).
Or maybe he just likes Linux
Anyone want to take me up on a bet that he doesn't know what Linux is? For some reason I don't see actors choosing to work on this movie because they have some heart-felt connection with Linux advocates.
"Oh dear, she's stuck in an infinite loop and he's an idiot" -Prof. Farnsworth (Futurama)
I wonder if Dreamworks will ever come up with some original concepts for their animated films.
A Bug's Life/Antz (Obvious.)
The Emperor's New Groove/Road to El Dorado (These were much closer originally, but changed quite drastically after rewrites on both sides).
Monster's Inc./Shrek (This is quite a stretch, but hey, green monsters star in both, heh.)
Treasure Planet/Sinbad (Hardy har har!)
Finding Nemo/Sharkslayer (Something smells fishy here.)
Obviously these movies aren't all complete ripoffs by any stretch of the imagination, but it is quite interesting that Dreamworks/PDI movies that closely follow the release of Disney/Pixar ones have similiar basic ideas behind them.
It surprises me that no animator (that I know of) has started some kind of distributed rendering effort with people on the Internet (eg. distributed.net). Not only could it be faster and cheaper, but you immediately have a huge number of people who feel that they have a stake in the movie, this might also increase audiences.
You've probably noticed that people's noses get bigger as they get older. That's because old people are huge liars.
Very true. My friend does animations / special effects with Maya in Florida and South Carolina area. He would have an all Linux shop if not for Photoshop. He got into an argument at the last siggraph with a booth guy. Went more or less like this.
Friend: When are you going to have photoshop on Linux? It's the only program I use that I need Windows for.
Adobe: (Annoyed) Never. Linux people just want everything for free.
Friend: You sound pretty upset, people must ask you that a lot
Adobe: All the time! All day.
Friend: Maybe you should think about that.
As far as wanting things for free I'm not sure how much, but he paid several thousand for Maya on Linux over the years.