Xtranormal

Xtranormal is a website that hosts text-to-speech based computer animated videoclips, featuring animated three-dimensional characters speaking in monotone computer voices.[1] Users who log into the site may create videos by scripting the dialog and choosing from a menu of camera angles and predesigned characters and scenes.[1][2][3][4] Xtranormal videos may also be created through an interface on the Youtube web site,[2] and Xtranormal's animation software, called State, may be downloaded free and run offline.[4]

Xtranormal launched in October, 2008, after four years of earlier software development.[3] Although it was originally intended as a way for filmmakers to quickly produce storyboards,[1] its emphasis shifted towards satires of workplace misbehavior after one of its videos, about a cellphone salesman, went viral.[1][2][5][6]

In 2010 the short film Sleeping with Charlie Kaufman by director J Roland Kelly, animated entirely with Xtranormal, premiered at the Little Rock Film Festival and was shown at The Rome International Film Festival in Rome, Georgia.[7] Xtranormal videos form a recurring feature on the late night Fox talk show Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld, and have been featured as part of a GEICO advertising campaign.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Stein, Jeannine (April 24, 2011), "Using video to combat job stress: On Xtranormal, a movie site, people let off steam by satirizing their workplaces", Los Angeles Times: A22 .
  2. ^ a b c Newman, Jared (March 24, 2011), "Make Your Own Cartoons and Slideshows on YouTube", Time, http://techland.time.com/2011/03/24/make-your-own-cartoons-and-slideshows-on-youtube/ .
  3. ^ a b Albrecht, Chris (October 8, 2008), Xtranormal Launches Text-to-Movie Making, gigaom, http://gigaom.com/video/xtranormal-launches-text-to-movie-making/ .
  4. ^ a b Grotta, Sally Wiener; Grotta, Daniel (April 2, 2010), "Make Bobbleheaded Animations Easily With Freebie Xtranormal State", PC World, http://www.pcworld.com/article/192187 .
  5. ^ Humphries, Matthew (July 2, 2010), Best Buy suspends employee for making funny iPhone 4 vs HTC Evo video, Geek.com, http://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/best-buy-suspends-employee-for-making-funny-iphone-4-vs-htc-evo-video-2010072/ .
  6. ^ Siegler, MG (Jul 1, 2010), Best Buy Trying To Fire Employee Over Those Hilarious EVO Versus iPhone Videos, TechCrunch, http://techcrunch.com/2010/07/01/best-buy-iphone-4-evo-4g/ .
  7. ^ Sleeping with Charlie Kaufman at the Internet Movie Database
  8. ^ Hart, Hugh (October 26, 2010), "Video: Robo-Talking Superhero Ad Uses Text-to-Voice Trick", Wired, http://www.wired.com/underwire/2010/10/geico-superhero/ .

External links