Of Sorcerer’s Apprentices and Virtual Aquariums
NEXT COMIC FESTIVAL at the Ars Electronica Center
(Linz, March 18, 2013) This week’s lineup at the Ars Electronica Center is guaranteed to animate the passions of comic fans. The theme of the 5th NEXT COMIC FESTIVAL at the AEC is Comics and Music. Deep Space LIVE on Thursday evening, March 21 showcases interactive cartoon adventures projected onto a 16×9-meter screen. Graphic artists will demonstrate how various music styles can be visually interpreted. The final highlight is an inspiring address by internationally renowned character designer Florian Satzinger, who will go into detail about his creative process. On Saturday, March 23rd, visitors are invited to use a digital drawing board to render fantastic sea creatures or to morph into a sorcerer’s apprentice as part of a role-playing game.
Program Overview:
Mangarium
Thursday, March 21, 2013 / 7-8 PM
Graphic artists from the Upper Austrian Illustrators Association will show ways of visually interpreting various musical styles and create drawings for the new Mangarium, a virtual aquarium filled with comics related to music.
Deep Space LIVE: Music and Comics
Thursday, March 21, 2013 / 8-9 PM
Artist Michaela Konrad, students at the Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences’ Hagenberg Campus, graphic artists from the Upper Austrian Illustrators Association and Ars Electronica Futurelab staffers present their latest interactive comic adventure in Deep Space.
Speech: Visual Development and Character Design
Thursday, March 21, 2013 / 9-10 PM
Austrian character designer Florian Satzinger, student of the legendary Ken Southworth (Woody Woodpecker, Tom & Jerry, The Flintstones) will deliver an inspiring address that elaborates on the methods and techniques of industrial character design.
Limelight
Saturday, March 23, 2013 / 1-2:30 PM
In a magical world, a sorcerer’s apprentice tries to drive monsters out of a cellar and gets support in his endeavors from mysterious flickering lights. In this game developed at the Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences’ Hagenberg Campus, visitors can either actively participate or anonymously influence the sequence of events from the seating area.
Mangarium Fish Farm
Saturday & Sunday, March 23-24, 2013 / 10 AM-5 PM
Visitors are invited to create fantastic designs—sea creatures, cartoon characters, whatever— on a digital drawing board and to set them free in Deep Space.
Interactive Games
Saturday & Sunday, March 23-24, 2013 / 10 AM-6 PM
In “The Chorister,” members of a comic chorus unsuccessfully attempt to hit the right note and turn to volunteers for help. “Rodent Riguez” is a game involving rodents in a church; the action is controlled by puffs of air. These interactive games were developed by students at the Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences’ Hagenberg Campus.
press release “Of Sorcerer’s Apprentices and Virtual Aquariums” / PDF
Photo:
Limelight / Michael Lankes / Printversion / Album
Photo:
Mangarium / Florian Voggeneder / Printversion / Album
Photo:
Sample Sheet / Florian Satzinger / Printversion / Album
