Animation Production Software “OpenToonz” To Be Released on March 26
Tokyo – Dwango has announced that it has acquired “Toonz”, an animation production software which was independently developed by Digital Video S.P.A., situated in Rome, Italy. Digital Video and Dwango agreed to close the deal under the condition that Dwango will develop and publish an open source platform based on Toonz. In accordance with the agreement, Dwango developed an open source software OpenToonz based on Toonz which will be made available for everyone to use and update for free. The software will be released on Saturday, March 26th.
OpenToonz includes features developed by Studio Ghibli (*Toonz Ghibli Edition) which has been a longtime Toonz user. In addition, Dwango implemented effects for OpenToonz which utilized its artificial intelligence technology and a plug-in feature that enables anybody to add original effects for OpenToonz. These features will also be available for free.
Through OpenToonz, Dwango will create a platform that helps the animation industry apply various animation production related research results in the field instantly in hopes of making an environment where research labs and the animated film industry actively cooperate with each other.
An OpenToonz demonstration and exhibition will take place at the Kadokawa booth in AnimeJapan 2016 held at Tokyo Big-Sight on March 26th and 27th. In addition, a business seminar “Opensource Project of Animation Production Tool” will be held at the Creation Stage on March 26th. Nobuo Kawakami, chairman of Dwango and Mr. Shun Iwasawa, assistant professor at Tokyo University will be on stage welcoming Mr. Atsushi Okui, Executive Imaging Director at Studio Ghibli as a special guest.
*Toonz Ghibli Edition is a customized version of the Toonz software which was developed by Studio Ghibli. The software has been used in the ink and paint, color design and digital composition process for most of their titles ever since "Arrietty/The Secret World of Arrietty".
■ OpenToonz URL: https://opentoonz.github.io/
Comments from Officials:
"During the production of ‘Princess Mononoke’ in 1995, we needed a software which enables us to create a certain section of the animation digitally. We checked for what was available at that time and chose ‘Toonz’. Our requirement was that in order to continue producing theater-quality animation without additional stress, the software must have the ability to combine the hand-drawn animation with the digitally painted ones seamlessly. From then onwards we continued to use the software while going through major updates to make it easier for us to use. We are happy to hear that this open source version contains the Ghibli Edition. We hope that many people inside and outside of the animation industry will utilize this software for their work. We would like to extend our gratitude to the staff of Digital Video."
(Mr. Atsushi Okui, Executive Imaging Director, Studio Ghibli)
"The contract with Dwango, which offers Toonz open source platform to the animation community, has enabled Digital Video to realize one of its strategies, i.e. to make of Toonz a world standard for 2D animation. It will be also the starting point of a new exciting plan to endorse the Open Source business model, by supporting training and customizing Toonz for the old and new users. We are proud to share this path with Dwango and with Studio Ghibli, the renowned Toonz user since 1995."
(Mr. Claudio Mattei, Managing Director at Digital Video, the Makers of Toonz)
OpenToonz Seminar in AnimeJapan 2016
Date: Saturday, March 26, 2016 11:00 ~ 11:45
Venue: Tokyo Big-Sight, Creation Stage in East 6 Hall (http://www.bigsight.jp/english/hotel/map)
Theme: “Opensource Project of Animation Production Tool”
Speakers: Nobuo Kawakami, chairman of Dwango / Shun Iwasawa, assistant professor at Tokyo University
Atsushi Okui, Executive Imaging Director, Studio Ghibli (special guest)
*There will be numbered tickets distribution on the reception. Seminar is free but to enter the AnimeJapan will need to pay entry.
In addition to this seminar, there will be exhibition and demonstration of the OpenToonz on March 26 (Sat) and 27 (Sun) for two days, at the Kadokawa booth in the main area (J41). You can try the software at the booth. (https://www.anime-japan.jp/en/main/outline/)
OpenToonz includes features developed by Studio Ghibli (*Toonz Ghibli Edition) which has been a longtime Toonz user. In addition, Dwango implemented effects for OpenToonz which utilized its artificial intelligence technology and a plug-in feature that enables anybody to add original effects for OpenToonz. These features will also be available for free.
Through OpenToonz, Dwango will create a platform that helps the animation industry apply various animation production related research results in the field instantly in hopes of making an environment where research labs and the animated film industry actively cooperate with each other.
An OpenToonz demonstration and exhibition will take place at the Kadokawa booth in AnimeJapan 2016 held at Tokyo Big-Sight on March 26th and 27th. In addition, a business seminar “Opensource Project of Animation Production Tool” will be held at the Creation Stage on March 26th. Nobuo Kawakami, chairman of Dwango and Mr. Shun Iwasawa, assistant professor at Tokyo University will be on stage welcoming Mr. Atsushi Okui, Executive Imaging Director at Studio Ghibli as a special guest.
*Toonz Ghibli Edition is a customized version of the Toonz software which was developed by Studio Ghibli. The software has been used in the ink and paint, color design and digital composition process for most of their titles ever since "Arrietty/The Secret World of Arrietty".
■ OpenToonz URL: https://opentoonz.github.io/
Comments from Officials:
"During the production of ‘Princess Mononoke’ in 1995, we needed a software which enables us to create a certain section of the animation digitally. We checked for what was available at that time and chose ‘Toonz’. Our requirement was that in order to continue producing theater-quality animation without additional stress, the software must have the ability to combine the hand-drawn animation with the digitally painted ones seamlessly. From then onwards we continued to use the software while going through major updates to make it easier for us to use. We are happy to hear that this open source version contains the Ghibli Edition. We hope that many people inside and outside of the animation industry will utilize this software for their work. We would like to extend our gratitude to the staff of Digital Video."
(Mr. Atsushi Okui, Executive Imaging Director, Studio Ghibli)
"The contract with Dwango, which offers Toonz open source platform to the animation community, has enabled Digital Video to realize one of its strategies, i.e. to make of Toonz a world standard for 2D animation. It will be also the starting point of a new exciting plan to endorse the Open Source business model, by supporting training and customizing Toonz for the old and new users. We are proud to share this path with Dwango and with Studio Ghibli, the renowned Toonz user since 1995."
(Mr. Claudio Mattei, Managing Director at Digital Video, the Makers of Toonz)
OpenToonz Seminar in AnimeJapan 2016
Date: Saturday, March 26, 2016 11:00 ~ 11:45
Venue: Tokyo Big-Sight, Creation Stage in East 6 Hall (http://www.bigsight.jp/english/hotel/map)
Theme: “Opensource Project of Animation Production Tool”
Speakers: Nobuo Kawakami, chairman of Dwango / Shun Iwasawa, assistant professor at Tokyo University
Atsushi Okui, Executive Imaging Director, Studio Ghibli (special guest)
*There will be numbered tickets distribution on the reception. Seminar is free but to enter the AnimeJapan will need to pay entry.
In addition to this seminar, there will be exhibition and demonstration of the OpenToonz on March 26 (Sat) and 27 (Sun) for two days, at the Kadokawa booth in the main area (J41). You can try the software at the booth. (https://www.anime-japan.jp/en/main/outline/)
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