News & Events
Jul12
Advanced prosthetics hit retail this year
2016 at 05:57 pm by admin | Comments Off
In the latest development from US robotics industry DARPA and inventor Dean Kamen, one of the world’s most advanced prosthetic limbs will be made available on the market this year! The arm, titled the Luke Arm after the protagonist from the Star Wars franchise, is designed to provide amputees with a limb capable of almost-natural manipulation and control. The Luke Arm is capable of delicate procedures like holding an egg, and at the same time is durable enough to handle lifting heavy objects in day-to-day life. The arm will also be able to be adjusted for any level of amputation, and can even be used underwater! The first wave of the arm is scheduled to be released sometime in 2016, with future releases improving on accuracy, durability, and other user-friendly options. The release of this arm to the market is an exciting step in using technology to help improve the lives of disabled citizens and veterans, and will surely lead to more amazing advances in the field.
Jul12
Inflated Eiffel Tower appears in Paris
2016 at 05:40 pm by admin | Comments Off
As part of a collaborative event between magazine publication TOILETPAPER, furniture manufacturer Gufram, and design company Seletti, a giant inflatable recreation of the Eiffel Tower has appeared in Paris’ Galeries Lafayette! The giant installation piece, which towers over the main lobby of the gallery, is the main attraction of the exhibition, and includes two giant golden eggs alongside the tower. The gallery also consists of a number of images and installations displayed around the Boulevard Haussman, featuring a number of paintings and unconventional furniture pieces and accessories that were created as part of the collaboration. The gallery is poised to transport viewers into a surreal world of visual and art, as famous icons are juxtaposed into unusual or unfitting scenarios.
Jul06
Captain America statue coming to Brooklyn
2016 at 05:40 pm by admin | Comments Off
Classic comic book hero Captain America is celebrating his 75th birthday this year, so Marvel has gone above and beyond in paying tribute to this American icon by commissioning a bronze statue of the hero to be placed in New York City’s Prospect Park in Brooklyn! The statue, which will be initially unveiled at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con before moving to this permanent New York residence, will predominately feature Captain America in a heroic pose, with his iconic shield held aloft. Once completed, the statue will measure 13 feet in height! As of this moment, the only visual fans have to go off of is a design sketch of the statue, though you can look forward to the statue’s unveiling at Comic-Con later this July!
Jul06
Artist transforms abandoned building into art
2016 at 05:28 pm by admin | Comments Off
Artist Katharina Grosse has taken it upon herself over the weekend to turn a condemned building on the New York beach into a work of art. Titled “Rockaway!”, Grosse has encompassed an abandoned aquatics building at Fort Tilden, which had been deemed structurally unsafe and was scheduled for demolition, with her signature style of spray paint art. The result is the transformation of the space from an eyesore into a vibrant playground of color, which expands from within the building itself to the sidewalk and environment around it. This is not Grosse’s first work with condemned structures, as the artist formerly created similar artwork out of buildings deserted after the Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans in 2008. As for “Rockaway!”, the piece is scheduled to remain until November 30th, 2016, after which demolition of the abandoned building will go underway.
Jul06
Ghibli exhibit to host exclusive menu
2016 at 05:14 pm by admin | Comments Off
The brand new upcoming Studio Ghibli exhibit, titled “The Great Ghibli Exhibition~From Nausicaä to Red Turtle~”, has announced a brand-new exclusive menu to go alongside the exhibit! The exhibit will open on July 7th in Tokyo, and will begin serving these unique foods at the Museum Café THE SUN in the exhibition. The menu offers a wide variety of options, each of them themed after Studio Ghibli characters from the company’s years of animated films. Some of the food options include a Soot Sprite black hamburger, Totoro matcha shaved ice dessert, a Nausicaä-themed parfait, and even the sunny-side-up egg on toast from Castle in the Sky! The exhibit will also feature a wide variety of Ghibli memorabilia and souvenirs on top of these delicious treats, making this exhibit a must-see for any Ghibli fan!
Jul05
Cartoon Network hosts Animation Jam
2016 at 05:19 pm by admin | Comments Off
In a move designed to inspire young artists and help promote the ever-growing animation business, Cartoon Network has announced their first Animation Jam collaborative event! In this event, Cartoon Network Studios will invite undergraduate animation artists from across the nation to their headquarters in Burbank, California to take part in a group project of creating a completely original 15-second animated short. The project, which will take place in the universe of the “O.K. KO! Let’s Be Heroes” cartoon, will be led by a creative team of animation mentors, including the creator of “O.K. KO!” Ian Jones-Quartey. The Animation Jam follows Cartoon Network’s Game Jam event in Portland, Oregon earlier this year, and will run from July 9th to July 11th, with the completed animation to be aired on Cartoon Network’s television channel later this year!
Jul05
Attack on Titan second season announced
2016 at 05:07 pm by admin | Comments Off
After a busy weekend at Anime Expo 2016, anime fans across the world have gotten even more good news in the announcement of a second season of the widely popular “Attack on Titan” anime! The announcement was released by the show’s producers over the weekend, along with the second season’s promotional poster showing protagonists Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and Levi facing off against the titans. The second season will continue where the first anime left off, following the story of the ongoing manga. The new show will air in 2017, and more details will be revealed as the show draws closer to its release date, so fans can get excited for another season of suspense and titan-fighting action next year!
Jun30
Frederator Studios releases Hatsune Miku robot
2016 at 05:15 pm by admin | Comments Off
All images © MODERHYTHM/Kazushi Kobayashi Crypton Future Media, INC.
Frederator Studios, most well-known for their work with the Adventure Time cartoon series, has worked with toy company Ultra Tokyo Connection to design a brand-new Hatsune Miku-themed robot toy for the upcoming Anime Expo 2016! This figure features the Vocaloid character herself in Frederator Studios’ iconic graphic art style, along with a large Miku-themed mecha for her to pilot and interact with. The robot itself is fully articulated, and features a number of accessories for itself and Miku, including microphone stand and leek-themed baton. The robot even opens up, allowing Miku to enter and pilot it in style! The toy will release at Anime Expo, which will run from July 1st to July 4th, and will also be released for preorder online from July 5th to July 25th. Make sure to pick up one of these cool Miku figures for yourself!
Jun30
KAWS x Nancy Gonzalez bag collection
2016 at 05:03 pm by admin | Comments Off
All images © Nancy Gonzales
Internationally renowned graphic artist KAWS has collaborated with fashion design company Nancy Gonzalez for a line of brand-new themed bags! This new collection of bags features KAWS’s trademark X-eyes as decals on a set of monochromatic-themed tote and crossbody bags. These bags will be released as a set of limited-edition collectibles, and are part of an ongoing series of artist collaborations with Nacny Gonzalez, which includes works from artists like Dr. Lakra, Richard Phillips, Jim Hodges, and more. The bags will be released sometime in 2017 in short supply, so look forward to these brand-new KAWS collectibles!
Jun29
Dreamworks Animation in Concert begins this week
2016 at 06:18 pm by admin | Comments Off
All images © Dreamworks
After years of beloved animated films and franchises, Dreamworks will be celebrating over 20 years of animated film history with their “Dreamworks Animation in Concert” orchestral presentation! The concert is planning on an international tour, and will begin its journey at the Wolf Trap’s Filene Center in Vienna, Virginia on June 30th. The concert will cover a wide variety of Dreamworks’ biggest hits, including classics from Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, Kung-Fu Panda, and more alongside animated clip shows from the films. After their debut in Virginia, the concert will be stopping by dozens of other cities later this summer, including other USA locations like Houston, San Diego, and Salt Lake City, along with international locations like Moscow, Calgary, and Melbourne! Check out the official trailer below for a taste of what’s to come at the official premiere, and keep an eye out for a location near you!