The Aha moment, part 2

TRON came out in the summer of 1982. I loved a lot about that movie, and it was a privilege to work on it at MAGI, but I didn’t like the fact that its aesthetic was limited by technology.

Rather than the rich visual palate that we associate with classic animation such as Disney’s Fantasia, TRON had a stripped down look that was largely dictated by the state of the art. In order to produce the required amount of high resolution CGI footage in 1981-82, the filmmakers needed to make some tough decisions.

The surfaces in the animated portions of TRON generally looked bare and untextured, and shapes were highly simplified. This worked thematically because the story took place within the somewhat abstracted world of computer software. But it was definitely a case of necessity being the mother of invention.

So after TRON wrapped, I took it as a personal challenge to try to push things in a more organic direction. I had seen Fantasia as a teenager, and the fantastical visions from that classic film had always stayed with me. In fact, the inspiring visuals of Fantasia had been a large part of my decision to take a job in the field of CGI.

More tomorrow.

The Aha moment, part 1

I was having lunch with my cousin the other day, and he asked me whether I ever had an “Aha moment”. Of course I had — everybody has.

But that got me wondering which was my most significant Aha moment. And I realized that I had one in particular that changed my life. In fact, it has arguably touched the lives of many millions of people.

If you know my work, you probably think you know what I’m talking about. But you would probably be wrong.

More tomorrow.

Music from the gods

I was fortunate this evening to attend a musical gathering which was largely by and for a small group of talented musicians and performing artists.

I realized that when watching and listening to these supremely talented people, one can perceive no observable effort. The performance is so natural, and comes from a place so deep within them, that it is as though they are channeling music from the gods.

I felt blessed simply to be in that room.

Darwin and Lincoln

Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln were born on exactly the same day — exactly two hundred and fifteen years ago today. I find the intellectual connection between the two men fascinating.

Darwin’s concept of evolution and natural selection helped to create the intellectual climate within which Lincoln was able to bring about emancipation. For one thing, evolution helped people to understand that just as species can evolve over time, so can societies.

But even more important, the knowledge that all humans have a common ancestry supported the moral argument against slavery. When you understand the theory of evolution, you understand that the concept of “racial superiority” is no more than a self-indulgent (though highly dangerous) fantasy.

Let us all celebrate this double birthday!

Last shot of The Fabelmans

I recently watched Steven Spielberg’s cinematic roman a clef The Fabelmans. I can say with confidence not only that it is a masterpiece, but also, in particular, that the final camera shot is pure genius.

It may be my favorite camera shot in the entire history of movies. When else has a director managed to turn a single camera shot into a key character in the film?

Necessary medicine

It was sixty years ago today…

On February 9, 1964, four young musical geniuses showed up on the Ed Sullivan show and changed the face of popular music forever. As it happened, a confluence of forces had come together in that moment.

For one thing, it was the height of the Baby Boom, and therefore the world population of girls in their early to mid teens had hit an all time high. They were ready for a style of music that spoke to their generation, like no music had before.

Also, the population of the United States of America had been in deep morning for a little over two months, for a reason that should be obvious. Something as joyful as Beatlemania was more than welcome — it was necessary medicine.

…They’ve been going in and out of style
But they’re guaranteed to raise a smile
So may I introduce to you
The act you’ve known for all these years

Books++

I am convinced that there is an exciting future for the combination of books and spatial computing. It’s not going to be a competition between the two media, but rather a collaboration.

Books, of course, are beautiful. They are physical and viscerally powerful. We hold them in our hands and enjoy them deeply on a sensuous level.

But at some point soon, a book will become even more than that. When you open it, worlds of wonder will appear in the air. And you will be able to interact with those worlds.

Books will retain their immense power, but they will also gain entirely new powers. I, for one, am looking forward to what lies ahead.

Sweatpants

Having now experienced both the Meta Quest 3 and the Apple Vision Pro, I have a sense for how to compare them. They are very different beasts, and are clearly aimed at very different markets.

The Vision Pro is like that beautiful upscale outfit you take out of the closet when you really want to impress people. After you wear it, you need to remember to have it dry cleaned, because you paid so much for it.

The Quest 3 is like your favorite pair of sweatpants. You would never wear it to impress anybody, but you find yourself wearing it every day at home, while eating a snack or watching your favorite guilty pleasure TV show.

I love dressing up, but there’s nothing like a great pair of sweatpants.