Allan McKay’s neat 30-minute video explains how the ash effects from the Super Bowl spot were created.

Neat script lets users create hair as polygons, convert to Maya Hair, then carry on editing using poly tools.

Nice new breakdown video gives a glimpse into the movie’s CG environments and simulation work.

See an explosion go from FumeFX simulation to in-game effect in Epic’s new Inside Unreal tech demo.

Discover the alien life pulsating at the heart of a comet in Erik Ferguson’s unnerving Houdini short.

Updated: global network of studios taking part includes Oscar-winning production house Autour de Minuit.

Check out the making-of, then see the studio’s impressive fluid effects work from The Wolf of Wall Street.

New experimental simulation system automatically animates men, monsters – and even ostriches.

New making-of video lifts the lid on big environments, big simulations – and even bigger CG creatures.

Set up sims in a couple of clicks with this plugin to make Max’s physics simpler and more art directable.

Nifty free tool, pitched as the ‘ZBrush of particle animation’, adds support for point cloud data in PLY format.

See some rather nice simulations in the Korean VFX house’s teaser for the online version of Valve’s shooter.

Try NewTek’s innovative new tool for sculpting animation caches by hand. Works with most 3D packages.

Check out eight minutes of beautiful Houdini effects breakdowns from the epic Russian war movie.

The versatile technical director discusses the key skills for today’s TDs, and his tips for young FX artists.

See how Epic Games set up the fluid and particle effects for its UE4 Infiltrator tech demo.

Control deformations and particles with this CUDA-based tool to scatter and manipulate points on a mesh.

Turn any model into an editable, relightable cloud in real time with this Maya plugin. AE version to come.

Molecular add-on recreates Frozen’s physics demo surprisingly accurately – albeit at much lower resolution.

See strange things simulated with CG snow in this video of the tech behind the new animated feature.