2009 was a momentous second year for Cinematics. If we applied a theme to every year, the theme for 2009 would be relationships. This past year we developed new relationships with some great developers like Telltale games and as a result, our teams grew in size, which meant new relationships with talented game artists and animators both here in Portland as well as all over the United States. We also started a few pet projects here at the studio, one in particular being our Artist Profiles Series where we sought out local Portland-area artists, profiled them and sent them off to all our friends and colleagues in the industry.  The artists have very little to no association with video games so it’s been refreshing to put energy into an endeavor for the endeavors sake.  As a result we were exposed to some great local art, the artists got some exposure to an audience they normally wouldn’t and we met some really cool creative people along the way.  The series has brought in some very enthusiastic and positive feedback so we will continue it into 2010, though it will no longer be a monthly thing, but when we get the chance to put some time into it.

Another great relationship we have fostered has been with the Art Institute of Portland.  They have been a valuable partner in helping to establish Portland as viable destination for game development and entertainment in general. Our work experience program has us working closely with student interns, helping to sharpen their skills and allowing them to actually get their hands dirty on some games.  This way they can enter the industry with a title or two under their belts and kick start their new careers with a bang.  As long as the Art Institute keeps churning out young fresh talent we will continue to corrupt them with our video games, toilet humor and rock music.

Since you are reading this you probably noticed some changes to the face of Cinematics.  We decided to kick off 2010 with a fresh new website and animation reel, showcasing a few of the great projects we worked on last year.  The website also has a few more bells and whistles, such as this blog, for instance.  We are very excited about this new forum where we can voice our thoughts and experiences at the studio and hopefully entertain a few readers in the process.  The Artist Profile Series will be posted here, along with studio news and updates and we will also get to hear from our team members who will be contributing their thoughts and experiences as well.  Expect to see some useful tutorials from our animators, maybe a project diary or two and if anything, just plain goofiness, which we can always use a little more of.

We’ve also reached our dirty little hands into the world of social networking so you can become a fan of us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or soften your brain with our videos on Youtube and Vimeo.  Is there no end to this manifest destiny of animation madness?  No, my friend.  Not even close.

A very special thanks to everyone we have met and worked with in 2009.  To the amazing and talented artists and animators who have joined our team and are continually helping to make us the best game animation studio in the world.  To the incredibly friendly, intrepid and rock solid clients who have trusted us with their most valuable franchises and pay our rent.  To the knowledgeable and courteous faculty and instructors of the AI.  To their talented and ambitious students who put up with our tormenting critiques and back breaking work schedules.  And to our friends and colleagues in the industry who support us and listen to us yap yap yap after a few post work beers.  We love you all.