I attended the Mongrel FX open-house studio 3 weeks ago. Currently Mongrel FX specializes in motion-capture and is in production of a yet-to-be-named animated pilot for broadcast television.
There are surprisingly few true animation studios in New York, so it’s even more surprising that Mongrel also provides motion capture services. I spoke with Jeff Hipolito, the owner of Mongrel FX and he said that he hopes to provide a cheaper alternative to mocap solutions currently being offered in the New York. That would make 2 real players in the mocap market in New York, one of course being Mongrel FX.
The mocap system we previewed was the newly installed Optitrack system, which is a passive optical marker setup and very easy and quick to use (once everything is calibrated).
Since Mongrel FX exclusively uses the open source Blender package in its pipeline, I will be posting more on Blender and Mongrel FX in the future since I am currently teaching myself Blender.
Here are some pictures of the Mongrel FX open house:
I have also been studying Python, an object-oriented interactive language. The reason being that one day I will be able to write my own scripts in whatever package I need. Most programs these days seem to utilize Python in one sense or another: Maya, Cinema 4D, Max, etc. I have just mastered the basics so far: strings, user inputs, modules. I still have a way to go and will post more on my progress soon.
So in recap: lots of technical subjects. I will keep a check on myself so I don’t get too technical and so as not to forget the creative and the artistic.
