CGI Rendering Gives Us a Glimpse of the Stockholm Library of the Future

Entered into the International Competition of Architecture, this CGI rendering of Stockholm library shows the kind of future we can look forward to: one where technology and books can co-exist peacefully. [CGSociety via Sub-Studio]

To Conceptualize a Trillion Dollars, We Require Computer Visualization

While you will never see a trillion dollars in person (nature's way of protecting your sanity amidst the bailout), computers can do the job without breaking a sweat—or worrying about retirement. More »

The 50 Greatest Special Effects Shots In Cinema

Not only did the Den of Geek assemble a respectable (if not a little controversial) list of the top 50 special effects shots of cinema, the site also explained the tricks behind the illusions.

Emily Isn't Real, But Would You Have Guessed?

The woman above is not real. I mean, she was real once, when real actress Emily O’Brien provided Image Metrics (you know their work from GTAIV) with 35 facial poses in front of a pair of digital cameras. From there, O’Brien was dismissed so the animators could go to work. Apparently "ninety per cent of the work is convincing people that the eyes are real." And the results—while not always perfect—are pretty extraordinary. Here's Emily's "interview": More »

Footprint Fireworks Were Faked into Olympics Opening TV Show

A local Beijing paper has revealed that some of the amazing fireworks in the Olympics opening show were digitally-crafted fakes, inserted into the live TV feed. The Beijing Times quotes the head of visual effects, who says that the 28 giant footprints that stomped through the air above the city, ending at the stadium, were advanced CGI. Though the pyrotechnics really were set off, the airborne camera view that the rest of the world watched was fake. Why go to these lengths? Apparently the Olympic committee decided that to follow the real trail of firework footprints was too dangerous for a helicopter camera. Instead a team spent almost a year crafting the fake segment, paying attention to even get the smog lighting effects correct. [The Telegraph]

Andre Kutscherauer Robot Art Reminds Us Not to be Cocky

Check out these awesome CGI images, all put together by Andre Kutscherauer, a super-talented 3D artist. The works all include some form of evil robot madness, and with titles such as Brute Force, Selfillumination and Dandelion of Screws, how could we be anything but massively impressed? If you think we're talking junk, as usual, dive into the gallery and be amazed by the fantastic art installations. For the record, that little light bulb was just asking for moth based trouble—we'd be surprised if he doesn't have his head shattered in no time. That's the problem with being too clever for your own good; given enough cord, you'll plug yourself in...or something like that. [ak3d via io9]

Trailer for Wachowski Brothers' Speed Racer Has CGI, John Goodman and the Creamy Goodness of Christina Ricci

"Prepare to trip balls" says sister site Jalopnik about Speed Racer, the Wachowski Brothers movie that comes out next year, and they're not wrong. Judging by the trailer, we're going to be going on an acid-colored trip on May 9, 2008—and the best thing is that Christina Ricci is coming along for the ride. Find out for yourselves here. [Jalopnik]