Explore 'Ice Age' to the Digital Age Animation at SI

This month, the Museum of American Illustration at the Society of Illustrators will be hosting a special exhibition for animations lovers. “Ice Age” to the Digital Age: The 3-D Animation Art of Blue Sky Studios is an amazing exhibit for families, school groups, and professional artists. Animators can also find entertainment as this unique exhibit features animation from the lovable movie Ice Age.

Digital production still of Blu, Jewell and Rafael from Rio. TM & ©2011 Twentieth Century Fox Films Corporation. All rights reserved.

The exhibit, which will be on view at the museum from March 21 through May 25, sheds lights on the creative process of one of the biggest computer animation studios, Blue Sky Studios. Serving as a leader in the animation industry for over 20 years, Blue Sky Studios has used their animation to change the way we view blockbuster films like the Ice Age series, Robots and Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!

With one of their more recent productions, the movie Rio also used technical innovation and animation to capture compelling narratives of animal-like characters, securing it as a box office hit. Yet, animation is so much more than what we see on TV. “Ice Age” to the Digital Age will give visitors an in-depth look at the entire process of creating computer animated films introducing them to initial concepts, storyboards, characters and background art. The exhibit will also highlight 3-D and digital modeling in addition to showing final movie clips at the Museum’s new Winsor McCay Screening Room.

Storyboard drawing of Manny and Diego from Ice Age. TM & ©Twentieth Century Fox Films Corporation. All rights reserved.

Guests are also given a unique experience by inviting them to enjoy a new perspective in animation through rarely-seen original concept drawings, character illustrations, storyboards, background paintings, sculptural models, props and digital stills.

The only limit to what can be accomplished in this exhibition is your ability to imagine what is possible. The animation is exciting, but the real magic is the ideas that define creation.