Houdini

Houdini is a name associated with several notable uses, most prominently the stage name of the Hungarian-American illusionist and escape artist Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz, 1874–1926). He gained fame in the early 20th century for daring escape stunts, for helping to popularize modern magic, and for co-founding the Society of American Magicians in 1902. Houdini’s public persona and performances made him a symbol of ingenuity and endurance, and he remains a defining figure in the history of magic. He died in Detroit, Michigan, in 1926 following complications from a ruptured appendix.

Houdini also refers to Houdini, a 3D animation and visual effects software package developed by SideFX. First released in the 1990s, it is known for its procedural, node-based workflow that lets artists build complex assets and effects by connecting operations rather than hand coding. The software is widely used in film, television, and game production for tasks such as modeling, rigging, dynamics, fluids, volumetrics, destruction, and crowd simulation. It supports a range of pipelines through integrations and the Houdini Engine, which enables other applications to access its procedural tools. Houdini is available in multiple editions, including a free Apprentice edition for non-commercial learning and a commercial version with a broad toolset.