Top 10 FableVision Moments of 2014

2014 was a good year. FableVision Studios added smiling new faces to the team, expanded our animation prowess, jumped into Unity, made new partners, and twinkled against the Boston skyline throughout this especially bright year.

To celebrate, we've crafted our FableVision Top 10 Moments of 2014. It was an exciting 12 months filled with rewarding moments and FableVision fun – enjoy!

1. New Partnerships
FableVision made some new friends this year: 

• Florida Virtual School (Cave Bro, Solar Skate games)

• Random House Kids (Nightmares! website)

• DHX Media (UMIGO website)

• Maritime Gloucester (Think Tank museum interactive)

• National Geographic Kids (Mission Animal Rescue videos)

2. Continuing Partnerships
And, of course, we’re thankful for ongoing collaborations:

• Maryland Public Television

• Doorways to Dreams (D2D) Fund

• Classroom, Inc.

• Smithsonian

• Learning.com

• ERB

• Dig-It! Games

3. Business Development and Marketing Highlights
If you’re reading this blog, you’re on our new website! We launched the new www.fablevisionstudios.com in the spring. Not sure what’s new? Our project gallery highlights our work as it’s released, the blog is active with new posts every week (like this one), news is being shared (and made), and our production process is now open to the public. We love the site and hope you do too! 

4. New FableVisionaries
We’ve grown! 2014 drew new, innovative talent to the league of FableVisionaries. We proudly introduce you to our latest hires:

5. Thought Leadership
FableVisionaries travel from coast to coast, to attend conferences and learn from great minds in the gaming, education, and animation worlds. It is exciting when our team is asked to share. This year, FableVision’s Creative Director Leigh Hallisey joined an esteemed panel at the Games, Learning, and Society Conference. In March, our President Gary Goldberger hosted a hands-on engineering workshop at Sandbox Summit. Paul Reynolds unveiled his book Going Places at the EdLeader21 Conference, where he spoke to 500 district school leaders about the critical role of the 4Cs: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. Always making his mark, our founder Peter H. Reynolds was instrumental in numerous, inspiring events in 2014, including International Dot Day, which reached 2 million teachers, libraries, and students in 87 countries.

6. Art Highlights
The art team was pretty busy this year “making huge leaps” into new technology. We created Renegade Buggies and Solar Skate, two 3D games that use Maya and Unity. The team had to model environments and characters and then animate the skateboarding/shopping cart maneuvers.  As we continue to expand our portfolio beyond Flash,  we’ve been animating more in ToonBoom Animate Pro and doing projects in Adobe After Effects.

7. Events
FableVision opened its doors this year for some incredible events. Wacom’s JAMuary event brought artists and visual thinkers into our studio to get a hands-on look at some of Wacom’s latest technology, and FableVision’s Bob Flynn did a demo for the crowd. Then, the Children’s Media Association hosted their Imagination Illustrated, featuring our own Renee Kurilla. The MIT Game Circle also brought their crowd to FableVision for Cash Cows and Corpses: the Deadly Fun Business of Educational Gaming, moderated by Paul Reynolds. The main event was our annual Creative Juices Open House Art Show, which featured a glow-in-the-dark theme. Glow on! 

8. Technical Highlights
2014 should be called the year of Unity for the tech team. The team became fully and completely immersed in Unity. We’ve been using it for tons of projects, particularly games and cross-platform apps. We continue to create fun and innovative mobile projects for our clients. On Solar Skate, we delved into the world of fast-paced 3D game development. For Classroom, Inc., we created an enormous HTML5 game. We developed it with an eye toward scaling to take on new content. We also built a robust CMS on the back-end to drive the application. We completed the next phase of Mayan Mysteries for Dig-It! Games. We had lots of fun returning to one of our favorite projects, creating lots of great puzzles and activities.

9. Good Deeds
FableVision contributed to two 2014 charitable fundraising events. Team FableVision raised over $7,000 for Boston Children’s Hospital in this year’s Extra Life, the 24-hour gameathon that benefits Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. We also participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge, and collected staff donations for ALS.

10. Production Highlights
And, coming soon in 2015, projects with TERC, National Center for Families Learning, Lulu.com, and Committee for Children, creators of the Second Step program. We’re so excited to share what we’ve been working on…stay tuned!

Keep up to date on FableVision happenings by following us on social media. What were some highlights from your year?

Go on safari with National Geographic Kids and FableVision

Every day I’m on a safari. Okay, not a real safari, but I’m regularly on Buzzfeed checking out a cute animal video to share with friends. Nothing brightens my day more than a hilarious home video of a dog barking out a song or unlikely animal friendships. I guess you could say I take after Leo (not DiCaprio).

Leo is a kid on a mission to rescue animals. AND he’s the host of a new series of videos FableVision created to promote National Geographic Kids’ Mission Animal Rescue book series and encourage kids to consider what they can do to help endangered animals. Cool, right? I think so.

Combining FableVision’s signature blend of humor and animation and National Geographic’s footage of adorable animals – we created four “awwww”-causing videos. Because the videos highlight the books, each video focuses on a different animal – lions, wolves, polar bears, and elephants – and mixes live action footage with animation to share facts about the animal, factors affecting their endangerment, and suggestions for ways kids can raise awareness about the endangered animal.

So you can’t afford the ticket to Africa to save the lions, but what can you do? Leo knows.

In each video, Leo talks about the endangered animal and shares ways kids can raise awareness about the animals. In the lion video, Leo is ready to start an uproar about the problems lions face in Africa and what people on the ground are doing to protect the animal. He encourages kids to spread the word by making things that will trigger a conversation about the bigger picture – like creating lion art – and then connecting with a community.

What will you do to help raise awareness about endangered species? Why not start by sharing one of these videos during your lunch break today? I mean come on, who doesn’t want to coo over a lion cub? 

FableVision-Recommended Apps to Spruce up your Holiday Season

Bill Gonzalez shows off two of his favorite photo apps at FableVision earlier this week.

Everyone should know one fun joke, one fun card trick, and one fun photo app. I won't display my comedic or slight-of-hand skills here but I will share a couple of apps that amuse me.

Both of the following photo apps are made by Cycloramic who had a very successful appearance on ABC's Shark Tank.

The first app is their flagship product called (wait for it...) Cycloramic, which shot to the top of the Apple Store after the Shark Tank appearance. Cycloramic uses the power of the vibration module within the iPhone. Pull your phone out of its case, set it up on a hard (like granite) surface, push the start button, and your phone magically rotates on its own, taking a series of images that are then stitched together into a seamless movie. The first time you make this happen in the office or at a bar, you will have a crowd of people gawking.

I'm not big on buying apps but this one really intrigued me and after I used it a few times it was totally worth the $1.99 price tag. One caveat would be that this was originally designed with iPhone 5 in mind since it takes advantage of the phone's flat bottom. With the release of the iPhone 6 and its curved edges it doesn't work quite as elegantly. The work around is to prop the phone on a USB plug, but really how many of us walk around with a USB plug in our pockets? The app also does video panoramas. Download for the iPhone 6 (not 6+) here and iPhone 5 here.

The other app I've amused my office mates with is selfie360. This app puts a new spin on taking selfies by allowing you to be the center of attention in a spinning panorama. It’s free and it’s also available for Android. It has three modes: Portrait for partial spin, Panorama for full 360 degree spin, and Full that you use to walk around an object or people. Download for iPhone is available here, and Android here.

So get one of these apps especially if you don't know a fun joke or card trick! Or let us know which fun photo apps you use!

Empower young changemakers with Ashoka, City Awake, and FableVision

Celebrate changemakers and young changemakers-to-be! Kindred spirits will gather to share ideas, collaborate, and be inspired at the Young Changemakers Expo on Dec. 7, from 3-5 p.m at the Boston Children's Museum. Co-hosted by Ashoka, City Awake Boston, and FableVision, the afternoon will empower young changemakers to share their stories, and prompt them to dream up their mission.

We recently chatted with Fernande Raine, Senior Changeleader, Northeast Director of Ashoka and the brainpower behind this event. She shared what’s inspired her to unite young changemakers from the Boston area. 

Fernande Raine of Ashoka.

Tell us a little bit about your role at Ashoka and the work the organization does.
Ashoka is a unique organization—it’s part talent scout, investing great social entrepreneurs, part think tank, looking for patterns in the innovations we find around the world, and part movement, working towards a world in which everyone is a changemaker. We believe that in the rapidly changing world we are in, new rules apply. It’s not about hierarchy and silos, it’s about many leaders and fluid adaptation. We have not only the opportunity but the obligation to ensure that everyone has the skills they need to participate and succeed. Social entrepreneurs are still part of our work as great role models for empowering others, but we also work with schools, universities, entrepreneurs, and multinational corporations to help them lead in this new game. 

As for my role, like most Ashoka people, I have had several roles, since we all are hired to be entrepreneurs within the organization. I’ve launched two country programs and designed the organization’s global People Team. I am now working on a global strategy for how to help cities develop as ecosystems for changemaking. 

How did Ashoka’s path happen to cross with FableVision’s?
I was being given a tour of Citizen Schools, a wonderful organization housed in the same building, and my guide pointed out FableVision’s offices. The creative energy was radiating out of the door into the hallway, and I felt an immediate desire to plug into the source. I went home and wrote them an email asking for a chance to meet Paul and Peter H. Reynolds, FableVision’s co-founders. We immediately felt a deep kindred spirit connection, and we have been looking for an excuse to collaborate on something concrete ever since. 

What is a changemaker?
I think of a changemaker as an individual driven to help solve the world's most pressing problems, either locally, or on a large scale. Changemakers create or join teams and enable others to join in. They have empathy for the needs of others, and translate that into an idea that they execute effectively. They feel, practice, and develop their power to make the world better.

Were you a changemaker as a child? Do you have a memory that stands out from when you did a positive action to evoke change?
I was an enthusiastic, but unsuccessful changemaker as a child. My father was always very encouraging of our efforts to take on causes you care about, but beyond carrying out fake wars in the playground, I didn’t find much to fight for. When I was in seventh grade, I moved from New York City to Duesseldorf, Germany. I spent a large portion of my middle and high school years trying to recreate things I had loved and missed about my old school, like a drama club, chamber music society, and year book. The drama club failed, and the chamber music group was terrible, but the year book happened, and I came out of high school with a sense that if you have an idea, you can make anything happen. Otherwise, I channeled my changemaking energy into being a serial class-president and advocating for students. What I also took with me was a really deep understanding of history. I have always had amazing history teachers who opened my eyes to the power of humans to create both progress and misery, and helped me see my obligation to society to care, think, and act as a force of good for all mankind.

What prompted you to want to organize the first Young Changemakers Expo?
We had been dreaming up a festival of young changemakers since last fall, but without the resources or concrete vision to follow through. Then, a few weeks back, a group of young entrepreneurs—including Katie Schulz and Justin Kang—approached me about their City Awake festival project and asked whether Ashoka would be able to host an event. My first question was: how are you showcasing kids as changemakers? And this idea was born. The vision was clear from the first moment: in the Boston Children’s Museum, with FableVision. Paul immediately jumped on board and gave his unconditional support, bringing along the Children’s Museum as well.

How does Ashoka work with City Awake? Any other events on the horizon?
Ashoka is a partner of the festival, and a particularly enthusiastic cheerleader of the founding team. We fully embrace the mission and vision of the festival, and are thrilled at its genesis and ambition. We are hosting a fabulous event with five of our most amazing fellows (leading social entrepreneurs) on Dec. 6 at District Hall at 6 p.m., in which we will engage them in a conversation about how to think big. This isn’t about celebrating them as heroes, it’s about hearing about the role of empathy in their work, how they empower others, and how they think about systems change. 

What youth-led projects should people expect to see at the Changemakers Expo? 
We are still collecting presenters, but there will be everything from a fifth grader mobilizing volunteers across the city, to a youth group spreading environmental awareness, with everything in between.

How can people participate?
Everyone can participate in the movement to build a world of empathy and changemaking. If you’re a parent, you should value those skills as much as you value math and science, because they will be key to your kid’s success in the future. If you’re a young person, be brave, care, and come up with ideas for how to make things better. 

In terms of this event, anyone can come and learn from the kids who are showcasing their work: how they got started, what drives them, and what we can do to support them. Young people who have a project going on can showcase it (please send us your application before December 1!) and are encouraged to use the ideation space in the expo to work on formulating their own passion and ideas. Contact me if you have any questions!  

A Seat at the FableVision Thanksgiving Table

Food, family, and laughter; this is the trend at the various FableVision Thanksgiving tables. To celebrate this holiday we asked the studio to share memories, recipes, and photos. So sit back, grab a turkey leg, and read on!   

Brian Grossman, Technical Director
Memories of Thanksgiving as a kid always included my folks, sister, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, and cousins. Lots of laughing with a family whose biting sarcasm was matched only by its cooking [and eating] prowess. As we got older, lives got complicated and the big meal splintered into a few smaller ones. But a few years ago, we made an effort to get back together. Grandma (Gingy) and Grandpa (Papa) are no longer with us, but we have a new generation of cousins to carry on the traditions. I can't wait for Thanksgiving!

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Cecilia Lenk, Creative Strategist
On our Thanksgiving table there can never be too many cranberry sauces – from the non-traditional, multi-ingredient, foodie-blog extravaganza to the humble canned variety. And each sauce has its fanatic proponents (only the canned jellied variety cut carefully into 5/16th inch slices will do for some diners). Over the years, this has led to a multiplicity of sauces on the table – a trend that shows no signs of stopping. 

Here is my favorite:

Cranberry Chutney
In a saucepan combine 1/4 cup chopped dried apricots, 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, 1/2 cup raisins (I prefer golden), 1 cup water. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Add 3 cups (1 bag) cranberries, 1 tart apple chopped, 1 tsp. grated lemon rind. Simmer 10 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/2 tsp (or more) red pepper flakes, and 1/4 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger. Chill and serve.

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Polly Searles, Producer
When I was a kid the whole family used to play Duck Duck Goose around the table at the end of the meal. Five kids and a German shepherd who wanted in on the game. 

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Jordan Persson, Production Assistant
Last Thanksgiving, my mother suggested that everybody should make whatever they wanted.  In my perpetual quest to make her eat her words, I made cranberry sauce using a Betty-Crocker-issued recipe...but I replaced the cranberries with Fruit Gushers.

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Andrea Calvin, Brand and Development Strategist
My great-grandmother Mutlow hosted Thanksgiving once and only once that I can remember. She owned a multi-family home in Jamaica Plain and lived on the top two floors. In 1991, I was nine, and great grandma decided to open her home to the entire family – cousins, aunts, great aunts, great cousins – the house was packed. We were all jammed in her odd shaped dining room. She made what seemed like a million pies. During the day, she had everyone sign the tablecloth in puffy paint.

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Sarah Ditkoff, Communications and Development Strategist
Sister Mary’s Zesty Carrots (Sounds weird, tastes delicious; a Shaker recipe, now a family favorite.)

• 6 carrots
• 2 TBSP grated onion
• 2 TBSP (or more) horseradish
• 1/2 c. mayonaise
• 1/4 c. water
• salt and pepper to taste

Peel carrots, cut into thin strips. Cook until crisp-tender in boiling water, 7 minutes. Place in baking dish. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over carrots. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until heated.

Leave a comment below to share your favorite Thanksgiving memory or recipe!