by Ed M. Koziarski
This is the second of a two-part report.
BEACON ENTERTAINMENT INC.
5125 Blodgett, Ste. 218, Downer’s Grove
Joel David Swiney, 630/663-9956
Based in Downer’s Grove with offices in Denver and in Austin, Texas.
Produces independent film, provides visual effects and custom titles, 2D and 3D character animation, compositing, modeling, wire removal and match moving. Clients include Microsoft, Chucky Cheese Entertainment, and Advanced Micro Devices. www.beaconent.com.
CRUNCHIE FROG
Allan Roysdon, 312/217-FROG
Provides motion graphics, compositing, animation and effects for broadcast, film, corporate, multimedia and web. Clients include McGraw Hill and Adler Planetarium. www.crunchiefrog.com.
FILM & TAPE WORKS
237 E. Ontario
Jim Mahoney, Julie Cooke, 312/280-2210 25-year-old full-service production and post company provides 2D and 3D animation, compositing and morphing using SoftImage, Paintbox, Smoke and Pandemonium. www.filmandtapeworks.com
FIRM PRODUCTION SERVICES, INC.
1321 Louis Ave., Elk Grove Village
William DeMarco, 847/593-0753
Full-service film, video and multimedia production company provides 2D and 3D animation for broadcast and corporate using After Effects and 3D Studio Max. Clients include A&E, MSNBC and PBS. www.firmproduction.comFLUXGROUP
215 W. Superior
Kathy Casey, 312/640-0049
A division of post house Superior Street, this design/branding firm provides 2D and 3D animation, motion control, visual effects and live action for commercial, broadcast and web, using Flame, Flint, Smoke, MAYA, After Effects, Combustion, and Commotion. Clients include BET, National Geographic Channel, WTTW, Whirlpool and the Chicago Bulls. www.fluxgroup.com
FOURNIER STUDIOS
170 N. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park
Joe Fournier, 708/848-2756
Award-winning animation and illustration for advertising clients. Fournier’s short “Polarlust” won best video at Telluride Indiefest in 1999. home.earthlink.net/~joefournier
GOLD SKELETON PICTURES
520 W. Erie, Lower Level
708/647.6079
Provides 2D animation, character design, CGI and storyboards. Clients include Kellogg’s, Keebler and Illinois Tourism. Also provided animation for John McClenahan’s animated feature “Jester Til” for Munich Animation Studios. www.goldskeleton.com
HAMMER & PIXEL STUDIOS 717 Custer Avenue Evanston IL 60202 Steve Cejtin, 847/475-1004 10-year-old company provides special effects and graphic design for film, video and print. Clients include Pacific Bell, Ch. 5, Fox Spots, Coca Cola and Bosch. www.hammerandpixel.com
HEHR COMMUNICATIONS
16825 Vicky Lane, Orland Hills
Daniel H. Hehr, 708/212-7944
Freelance 3D animator and multimedia designer. www.hehr.tv
I-CUBED
401 E. Illinois
Carol Schaffner, 312/645-0303
Full-service post house provides graphic design and visual effects for commercials, broadcast and film. Clients include Wrangler, Haagen-Dazs and Discover. www.i-cubed-fx.com
INDE DIGITAL
Thom Miecznikowski, 773/338-3209
Six-time Monitor award-winning former Post Effects animator provides freelance animation and effects for independent film and develops original content. Miecznikowski’s 3D short “Aun/Jnu” premiered at the 1999 SIGGRAPH convention in Los Angeles. animate@aol.com.
INFINITE VIDEO PRODUCTIONS
1880 Fabyan Parkway, Batavia
630/389-0000
22-year-old corporate producers provide animation, graphics and multimedia services. Clients include Walgreen’s, Kodak, and Stroger Hospital. www.infinitevideo.com
ITOONS CORPORATION
3717 N. Ravenswood, Suite 210
773/573-1103
The game and animation studio’s clients include Lego, Nickelodeon and General Mills. www.itoons.com
KARL PRODUCTIONS
David Beedy, 630/782-5553
110 Cottage Hill, Suite 230, Elmhurst
Video production company offers 3D Studio Max and Paintbox. www.karlproductions.com
MACHETE EDIT & DESIGN
333 N. Michigan Ave., 30th floor
312/332-0033
Commercial post house offers After Effects, Combustion, Flame and Inferno services. Clients include Home Depot, Volkswagen and Pop Secret. www.machete.tv
MADTOWN MEDIA
125 N. Halsted, Suite 201
Matt Russell, 312/930-0993
Video production/multimedia/marketing firm provides 2D and 3D animation. Clients include American Bar Association, Carson Pirie Scott, and HistoryMakers. www.madtownmedia.com
MEDIA MONSTER
1440 N. Dayton, Suite 205
Sharon Karp, 312/587-0338
Video and multimedia production and post company founded in 1993 provides computer animation including After Effects. Clients include General Electric, Kartemquin, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Provided computer animation finishing for Battle Axe Productions’ cel-animated short “By the Light of the Moon.” www.mediamonster.net
OPTIMUS, INC.
161 E. Grand
Julia Finlayson, Gretchen Praeger, 312/321-0880
Full-service post house with offices in Chicago and Santa Monica offers graphics, special effects and 3D animation using Infinity, Inferno, Flame, Fire, Quantel Henry, 3D Studio, Combustion, MAYA and After Effects. Clients include Coors, Oldsmobile, and Nintendo. www.optimus.com
POST EFFECTS
400 W. Erie, Suite 101
Laura Coleman, Evie Silvers, 312/944-1690
Full-service post house offers illustration, 2D and 3D animation, compositing, motion capture, motion control and Chicago’s first real-time voice-sensitive virtual actors using the Filmbox system. Clients include Harpo Productions, Kurtis Productions, and Leo Burnett. www.posteffects.com
PROTO KULTURE
506 N. Clark, Suite 400
John Michaels, 312/832-1600
Digital effects, motion graphics and animation studio for film and broadcast. Clients include Sears, Kellogg’s and Budweiser. www.protokulture.com
RADAR STUDIOS
401 West Ontario, Suite300
Linda Zic, 312/266-2900
Live action, visual effects, animation and graphics for broadcast commercials. Clients include McDonalds and Kahluah. www.radarstudios.com
RICHTER BROTHERS STUDIOS
921 W. Van Buren, Suite 240
David Richter, 312/861-9999
Provides video and multimedia productions services including graphics, compositing, special effects and 3D animation for clients including CDW, Belden and N2 Group. www.richterbrothers.com
SEANFX
Sean McMenemy, 630/776-1071
32 W. Crystal, Lombard
Motion graphics and 3D design studio, storyboards, special effects and concept art for broadcast and film, also combined with live action, using Animation Master, 3D Studio Max, and After Effects. Clients include Nabisco and Bucktown Pictures. www.seanfx.com
SOL DESIGNFX
515 N. State, 26th Floor
Neal Cohen, 312/706-5500
Post house with offices in Chicago and in Venice, California, Sol provides animation and effects using Flame, Fire, MAYA, Combustion, and After Effects. Clients include Tide, Beck’s and Gerber. www.soldesignfx.com
SOMERSAULT
625 N. Michigan Ave., 23rd floor
Ross Woods, 312/943-4144
With offices in Chicago and Santa Monica, provides motion graphics, design and visual effects for film, HD, video, and print, using Inferno, Flame, Flint, Combustion, MAYA 3D and After Effects. www.somersault.net
STUDIO GIGANTE
4621 N. Ravenswood
Josh Tsui, 773/338-7881
Founded in 2000, video game developers from the original “Mortal Kombat” team are ramping up to 35 staffers as they launch into a game tied to a major entertainment franchise. Previously has designed Xbox games for Microsoft. New facility features motion graphics studio. www.studiogigante.com
STUDIO2A
1758 N. Cleveland Ave. #3
Wil Bruchmann, 312/493-7254
With offices in Kansas City, New York, and Chicago, provides animation, modeling, graphics and web design for architectural clients. www.studio2a.net
THEREMEDIA
1351 W. Grand
Tom Kwilosz, 312/421-0400
Commercial production company Theremedia features a team of on-staff interactive and multimedia designers. Specializes in brand identity. Offers 3D animation services. Clients include TNT, Cartoon Network, and Buell. www.theretv.com.
UMEDIA
2060 Timberbrook, Springfield
David Cain, 217/546-2450
Founded in 1986, these corporate producers provide 2D and 3D animation, special effects, compositing and rotoscoping. www.umedia.net
UNITED PIXELS
Sean McMenemy, 630/776-1071
A collective of animators, web designers, concepts artists, and visual effects and motion graphics designers. www.united-pixels.com
Have we missed you? Send info about your animation house to Ed M. Koziarski, edk@homesickblues.com
