Pixeldust Studios, an Emmy Award-winning digital animation and visual design company with studios in the Metro D.C. area and New York City, has produced eight minutes of original animation sequences which will be featured within a one-hour special episode of the NOVA series, Cracking Your Genetic Code. Set to air on March 28th, this PBS special examines the medical benefits and moral dilemmas posed by new technologies that decipher and analyze an individual’s genetic makeup. nnnTo view a preview of this work online, click here.nnPixeldust Studios produced original animations depicting the workings of DNA strands, genes, chromosomes and cells within the human body for the Cracking Your Genetic Code presentation. The company also animated sequences depicting how the introduction of drugs into the human body binds those drugs with certain proteins in the bloodstream, in efforts to help battle against a variety of illnesses.nnSarah Holt, Producer for NOVA/PBS & Holt Productions, said, “Pixeldust did an amazing job coming up with creative ways to visualize the human genome. Their animators skillfully took the audience inside a human cell, past human chromosomes, and into DNA that is coiled inside the nucleus. The animation was sophisticated and artistically gorgeous to look at, but also helped the audience grasp difficult concepts in genomics. The Pixeldust team labored to ensure the accuracy of the scientific details, and dealt gracefully with last minute narration changes. They are a wonderful group, and a joy to work with.”nnRicardo Andrade, Founder/Executive Creative Director of Pixeldust Studios said, “Our goal with these animations was to present a highly futuristic yet contemporary style for the depiction of the medical information this NOVA episode was presenting. To give our work a more organic look and feel, we used warm colors for the internal cells and organic tissue of the human body. This warm and bright color palette was contrasted with a shiny and reflective bluish palette for illustrating the medicine and DNA strands. While we always kept an eye on medical accuracy, we allowed ourselves a good bit of artistic liberty with our lighting, shading and 3D modeling along the way.” nnAdds Tim Mrozek, Pixeldust Studios’ Lead Animator on this project, “To best prepare ourselves before producing our animations, we consulted with a noted cell biologist to ensure that our representations of DNA strands, genes, cells and chromosomes would be medically accurate. Our work within this show was also presented at multiple levels of magnifications, often moving from cells to chromosomes to DNA strands, so our animation team used microscopic imagery as source material behind the organic modeling of our creations. We also used a proprietary plug-in to help us portray molecules that had been previously scanned as guide material. Our Senior Designer Harry Castleton worked closely with me on this unique and challenging assignment.” nnAbout Cracking Your Genetic CodenCracking Your Genetic Code premieres on March 28th at 9PM/8c on PBS (check local listings). The program illuminates technological advances in genetic sequencing and what this will mean for the future of healthcare administration; the treatment of chronic, genetic diseases; lifestyle choices; and medical ethics and information accessibility. The show continues NOVA’s medical and genetic exploration, from the historical discovery of DNA to interviews with experts, experiments, educational features and more.n nA description of the show is as follows: “What will it mean when most of us can afford to have the information in our DNA — all six billion chemical letters of it — read, stored and available for analysis? In Cracking Your Genetic Code, NOVA reveals that we stand on the verge of a revolution. The show presents cancer patients who have returned to robust health, and a cystic fibrosis sufferer who now breathes easily because scientists have been able to pinpoint and neutralize the genetic abnormalities underlying their conditions.” The program also addresses the question: “What are the moral dilemmas raised by such new technology?” For more information, visit here.nnAbout Pixeldust StudiosnFounded in 2004, Pixeldust Studios is an Emmy Award-winning digital animation and visual design firm with studios in the Metro D.C. Area and New York City. Pixeldust Studios specializes in creating innovative motion graphics, animations and visual effects for television, film, new media and corporate clients. For more information, please visit www.pixeldust.tv or call 301-656-0050.
Media Contact: Dan Harary The Asbury PR Agency Beverly Hills, CA 310/859-1831 Contact Dan via email
Contact In The Desert Returns To Indian Wells, CA, May 29-June 2, 2025, Featuring Keynote Speaker Josh Gates of “Expedition Unknown”
The Contact In The Desert Conference (CITD) will take place May 29th - June 2nd, 2025, at the beautiful Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa in Indian Wells, CA. The conference will feature over 120 lectures, workshops, intensives and panels presented by the world’s most prestigious experts in the fields of UFO/UAP, Government Disclosure, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Science, Ancient Civilizations, Space Exploration, Future of Technology and Space Travel, Non-human Intelligence, Spirituality, and more. This year’s conference, with the theme Event Horizon, will feature renowned keynote speaker Josh Gates, host of Discovery’s Expedition Unknown, as well as Dr. Diane Hennacy Powell, the leading expert on child autism and savant syndrome, who will be speaking about her telepathy project. Tickets are now available: CLICK HERE “We are thrilled to welcome Josh Gates and Dr. Diane Hennacy Powell to CITD 2025. They both bring unique insights and deep dedication to discovering the unknown,” said CITD Executive Producer Ron Janix. About Josh Gates Adventurer, television personality and author Josh Gates is the host and executive producer of the smash-hit Discovery Channel TV series, Expedition Unknown. Armed with a degree in archaeology, a quick wit and a hunger for adventure, Gates has traveled to the most remote corners of the world, participated in sub-sea archaeological excavations in the Mediterranean, and explored everywhere from sweltering African deserts to the icy shore of Antarctica. To date, he has set foot in more than one hundred countries, has scaled “the roof of Africa” on Mt.... Read More