Dzignlight Studios recently completed animation on AT&T’s “Webopolis.” A specialty format animation video, it will be displayed as part of Walt Disney’s “Innoventions” attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Formerly known as the Carousel of Progress, “Innoventions” carries spectators on a video tour of technological progress from the beginning of the 20th century to the imminent future, while displaying future AT&T telecommunication products.

Designed to peak the interest of both children and adults, the highlight of AT&T’s Webopolis is future technology – talking kitchen appliances and video cell phone – and how it affects a typical American family. The video is displayed on two HD projector systems using technology from Electrosonic, Inc. In addition, a single HD plasma screen sits in the foreground of the projector screens. An imated media then travels between the screens and is coordinated with motion and sound to provide a Disney-like visual and acoustic experience. Dzignlight Studios’ handled the character and object animation elements of the project.

Eric Deren, Owner of Dzignlight, served as Animation Project Manager while Jim Husted acted as Lead Animator. The studio borrowed several concepts from AT&T’s current commercial campaign (the bouncing ball), created by Digital Domain, assimilating them into the Webopolis storyline. “The most challenging part of this project,” says Deren, “was the task of managing half a terabyte of image data. That’s an impressive amount of data to work with for a five minute piece.” The show is expected to run until 2004. An estimated ten thousand people will view the show weekly.