Some Sketches

Caricaturist, Don Pinsent:

No, Don hasn't paid me to promote his site... at least, not yet.

Another Weird Al Yankovic Animated Music Video

Comics / Illustration / Animation

-Ghostco-
A small selection of Matthew Woodson’s prints are now available for purchase, care of Thumbtack Press.

In case you weren’t aware of it, Matthew has been blogging for the past couple of months, over here. Definitely worth checking out if you’re interested in process and pretty pictures and all that other good stuff.

-New Ojingogo print collection-
Matt Forsythe is now selling the second print collection of his Ojingogo comics online! He’s also reprinted the first book of this (twice) Eisner nominated comic, so if you missed out on picking one up the first time, now’s your chance. The quality of these books is outstanding, so you definitely know you’ll be getting your money’s worth (plus, he’s throwing in free sketches for all orders). Swing by his shop page to order the books, or read it all online.

-Aaron Renier-

The inimitable creator of Spiral Bound (from Top Shelf Productions) and The Unsinkable Walker Bean (forthcoming from Scholastic Books) has a nicely designed new website, complete with a generously stocked gallery and assurances of more cool stuff to come.


-Walt Disney Exhibition in Montreal-
Here are photos from the Once Upon A Time Walt Disney: Sources of Inspiration for Disney Studios exhibition showcasing the range of illustration and concept art see them all here.


-Comics Festival 2007-
This kick-ass cover by Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley is one of two covers (the other is by The New Frontier’s Darwyn Cooke) for Comics Festival 2007, one of the offerings available in finer comic shops everywhere for Free Comic Book Day on May 5. (See larger versions of both covers here)

Chris Butcher hooks us up with the full lineup of creators who are featured in the book. Included is new full-colour work by R. Stevens (Diesel Sweeties), Ryan North (Dinosaur Comics), Bryan Lee O’Malley (Scott Pilgrim), Kean Soo (Jellaby), Hope Larson, myself, and many others.

I just saw a proof of the finished book, and it’s a beauty. It’s a darn near perfect group of artists to get new readers excited about comics, and it’s FREE!

-Afro-
I saw the Afro Samurai marathon on Spike TV the other night, and I was intrigued. I haven’t seen this much “head chopping fun” from an cartoon in a long time. The over-the-top violence level is on par with such classics as 'Ninja Scroll'. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. I normally hate all anime, with the exception of Miyasaki, Otomo, Tsurumaki, and Tezuka.

If you don't get Spike TV, check out the show here.
The DVD came out a month ago I believe.

Vista

Shown above is a demo on Microsoft's latest Windows OS: Vista. And once again with each new Windows edition, Microsoft copies styles, techniques and programming that Mac had years earlier. This has been true since 1984, Windows has always been a few years behind Mac in every development of their technologies, it took a while for me to convert, I didn't want to let the PC go, but it was undeniable how Mac (to me) was superior for the field of graphics and animation that I was getting into. I began using PCs when I was 12 years old and continued using them for 16 years. I first operated a mac about 12 years ago, liked it, but I wasn't convinced that I couldn't survive without both, I only completely converted from PC to Mac 3 years a go, I got rid of my last PC and never looked back.

Here's the Mac ad spoof for it:
Here's a great animated short - Bill Gates vs. Steve Jobs:

Another great Harry Potter fan art site:

A great collection of sketches by Scott Campbell:

Goofy

I was 8 years old when I first saw the clip below on CBC's Wonderful World of Disney.
I was hyper-ventilating by the end of it, crippled with laughter, and it was burned into my memory ever since.

Human Space Invaders!

Captain America Kicks Ass!

Ratatouille - Full Trailer

Cocotte Minute

Another great short film by Sylvain Marc and
his talented team of directors and animators:

Even more impressive, click here
to see the incredible making-of clips.

Go see these fun sketches from the mind of Ben!

Think Different

Chris Ware

Check out Chris Ware's
short film,
This American Life.
It’s the story of a class that becomes obsessed with video-taping everything everyone does, it's awesome, have a look!

Starbucking Trailer

I'm not sure if this is actually new, but I was shown the trailer for Starbucking today and I'm fairly saddened by its content. It's about this pathetic guy, possibly afflicted with OCD, who wants to do something no one has done before by visiting every Starbucks in the world. Of course, we rational humans understand that this goal is impossible. Starbucks are popping up at some insane rate of like three a day in every nation that allows coffee to mix with sweeteners.

Honestly, he'd be better off counting sand on the beach; it's just as impossible but there's less traveling, and a "Venti" sand won't cost you $6 and two days' calorie intake.

Spidey's Back

Click image above to see new trailer.

and here's a scene from the That '70s Show series finale. : )

Platypus & Beaver

Jake Macher has a new production blog.
He's using the site to show his process while
creating a new short film.
So far he has nice BG designs and step by step
storyboarding/timing samples for his
scene breakdowns, very nice.

Check Out Scott's New Cartoon!

Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show

Mating Season (a.k.a. Sexy Panda)

Amazing Creature Concepts:

Watch Jupiter Rotate:

Click on image.

Check out the Art of Megan Furgeson:

Dreamworks Animation Going Three-Dimensional

Dreamworks Animation has announced the futuristic notion that it has plans to start releasing all of its pictures in 3-D. Beginning with summer 2009's Monsters vs. Aliens, their animation projects will be created with 3-D in mind from the outset. This news follows Disney's decision to release Meet the Robinsons on about 600 3-D screens as well as the apparently overlooked rise and fall of 3-D popularity during the '50s. If the plan is successful, studios will hopefully continue investing in strange, dated movie trends like Smell-O-Vision, hand-painting black & white film, and driving a train at the camera to scare the audience into thinking it will fly out of the screen.

The Muppet Mobile Lab Visits Pixar

iRack

Steve Jobs unveils new Apple technology, with hilarious results!

Check Out Matt Cassan's Art:

Hasboro's Experiment 626 Figure

Sometimes, U.S. toys just get it right! This is a great Stitch - nice sculpt, lots of strong colors in a fine paint job, and cute play features. Press his chest button - he says one of several phrases. Press his back fin - his gun arms fly up and he talks some more! You can make him drool if you want, too - just use the (included) tub of slime, and fill up the reservoir in the back of his head. A terrific toy for the money!

You can still get one for $25.99 + shipping at cartoonfansclub.com or Underbid.com.

AWESOME LINKS...

Amazing Illustrator, Kennon James:








A new Japanese feature film,
looks surreal and a definite
visual treat, I can't wait:







A great short film, in case you
haven't seen it yet, here it is:







Coming out soon, a documentary film
about Will Eisner, one of my all time
favorites comic book artists:







James Frawley, director of one of my
all time favorites The Muppet Movie
is interviewed here, inlcuding an answer
to the famous question,
"How did Kermit ride the bicycle?"
See the article here:

Recruiting new talent for the studio - Part 3

We had our third and final trip out of province to discover new blood for our new productions beginning next month. First, Miramichi, then Oakville, and now Ottawa!

I must say, the Algonquin college had the best animators yet, and so eager to work, learn and join our jolly band here at Collideascope!

After 12 straight hours of interviews, lectures and show reel reviews, we hit the town. We had some beaver tails and then hit the strip clubs! After a night of heavy drinking we awoke dazed and confused and nude, with Mexican wrestling masks on our heads... explanation? We have none, it was just really weird.

First Shot From New Star Wars Series

Despite the fact there won't be anything to stand in line in a costume for, many Star Wars fans are getting worked up for the new animated series planned to continue the Clone Wars saga. Starwars.com has released the first shot from the new show, which looks to combine the stylized look of Genndy Tartakovsky's Cartoon Network series with slightly more realistic 3D renderings. In short, Yoda is now a Pokemon.

300 Wins the Weekend

"My opening is even bigger than your mom's, sucka."

Last weekend, 300 took the top spot in the box office, bringing in an estimated $70 million and destroying its closest competitor, four past-their-prime actors playing four past-their-prime suburbanites in Wild Hogs. The massive earnings gives the epic the achievement of highest March opening ever, stealing the title from Ice Age 2: The Meltdown, which was apparently very popular, as well as becoming the third-highest opening for an R-rated film ever, just under The Matrix Reloaded and The Passion of the Christ. It also gained the honor, bestowed by the man behind me at the theater, of being "the most fucked up crazy ass shit" he'd ever seen. This award was given about fifteen times during the course of the movie.

The Big Magic Book

The Big Magic Book is a pilot for a new children's puppet series that's been in the works for awhile. The amazing Nate Pacheco - an animator who also happens to be a very talented puppet builder - has been putting together the show's title sequence and with the help of Ann Walker and Peter Michail, it looks amazing. There's still very little actual footage from this project available, but if the puppetry lives up to Nate's work and the excellent looking puppet characters built by Pasha Romanowski, The Big Magic Book may be something very special.

Movie Stuff

Shazam! Movie Gets a Writer

John August, writer of Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Big Fish, has been hired to pen New Line's Shazam!, a take on the DC's Captain Marvel character.

The comic book series focuses on Billy Batson, a teenager who becomes the superhero known as Captain Marvel when he utters the magic word "Shazam!" The name is an acronym for six gods and heroes of the ancient world as well as their attributes: the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Aries, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles and the speed of Mercury.

I think they might be wasting their money writing an entirely new script for this tale of teenage transformation. They've already got Teen Wolf, so why not just change the wolf parts into Captain Marvel parts and call it a day? For instance, any instances of Teen Wolf howling are rewritten as "says Shazam!" Playing basketball as a wolf would be rewritten to say, "plays basketball as Captain Marvel." It seems pretty straightforward to me.

Michael Myers

Rob Zombie has released the first shot of Michael Myers from his upcoming take on Halloween. Judging by the hair, I'd say the classic William Shatner mask from the original has been replaced by a Da Vinci Code-era Tom Hanks mask, an undoubtedly scarier guise.

Skinwalkers Poster and Trailer

In Skinwalkers, two rival werewolf families war over a boy and his mother. If that isn't silly enough, the trailer wasn't able to convince me anyone actually turned into a wolf. The werewolf fights were composed of driving motorcycles and shooting at each other. In fact, it may have been an episode of the early-'90s action series Renegade with werewolf lines overdubbed.

Top View

Charles Dickens' Biography - Animated!

A short film, VERY well done:

Four Minutes of Parkour - Very Nice Stuff

Microsoft Soda?

One week of art works

Somedays I feel like Flooby Nooby simply isn't big enough to hold all the cool and creative things I find. Please watch this through, it's awesome time-lapsed mural-making fun.

A Great Whiteboard & Marker Animation:

The Smurfette Show

The years have gone by and the little blue people have gotten older.
TV Funhouse cartoon on SNL.

Walking

La Linea

Italian animator Osvaldo Cavandoli died in Milan on Saturday, March 3rd, 2007, of natural causes. He had been honored in June 2006 by the Annecy Museum and the Annecy International Animation Festival.

Here are the fantastic films he was best known for:

犬のおまわりさん

You've got to see this!

The Balls Will Never Read

Zodiac

According to Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood Elsewhere, “Anyone who doesn’t see Zodiac (Ruffalo, Gyelylehalnyealynhyal, Downey, Jr., and others) is going miss one of the most oddly arresting and excitingly different cop thrillers of all time. It is sure to be a disaster at the box office.”

I agree, I'm sure no one will go see this great cop movie, one of my favorite directors crafted this film with amazing attention to detail, yes it's VERY long, but GO SEE IT!

Lunar Transit from STEREO

A million miles from planet Earth, last weekend the STEREO B spacecraft found itself in the shadow of the Moon. So, looking toward the Sun, extreme ultraviolet cameras onboard STEREO B were able to record a stunning movie of a lunar transit (aka solar eclipse), as the Moon tracked across the solar disk.
Click on the image to see the view.

Recruiting new talent for the studio - Part 2

First we visited the awesomely talented animators of Miramichi and left a nice impression there, and now the 3rd and 4th year classes of Sheridan College in Oakville Ontario. It was a fun trip, did some realy quick site-seeing then gave a presentation to the Sheridan students, it seemed to blow their minds to see what Flash can do and we got lots of them interested in our up coming projects. Mark and I were exhausted after over 60 interviews, some Flash demos and tutorials and then a quick tour of Queen and Young street in Toronto.

The lecture hall.
We talked about the company, then
showed them what Flash could do in
classically-trained animators' hands
and they couldn't believe it!

Here' just the 4th year students' studio,
over 500 animation students currently in the program.

I was at MacDonald's apparently.

The place where angels come to bake.
The Krispy Kreme, where they make the best
220 grams in saturated fats donut delicacies you ever tasted.



We went to the Mirco store!
That's right, Mirco owns a store
and we were there!
Check out the crazy stuff that was in there!
Knock-offs of EVERYthing, movies that
just came out in theaters were selling
there in perfect packaging, 7 movies
for $20 and there were thousands
of them. A billion anime dolls and
books, along with lots of chinese foods.

Trillions of toys.

Some sort of accident.

This is in a mall!! Here piggy, piggy, piggy.

Good 'ol Much!

The Velvet Underground... a VAMPIRE bar!!
Seriously... people dress up as vampires,
get all gothed-up, and hang out there,
you're not allowed in unless you're a vampire.

Heaven on Earth the massive comic book shop known as Silver Snail.

Monkey playing piano!

Cables for cable-cars!

The Magic-Pony shop was proabbly the
coolest shop I went inot during our short
visit downtown, this wasa painting entitled
"The First All-Witch Acadian Hockey Team"

Cool architecture.

My mini getting towed away.

Speakers Corner!

The first Hard Rock Cafe.

A flock of geese attacked the Eaton Center while we were there!

Gargoyles atop the clocktower!

Zanzibar: "Where the women don't stop!"

Unfortunately we didn't have the
chance to visit and find out if that was true.

The first Sam The Record Man.

After walking thru these heavanly gates,
how could anyone buy a PC ever again ?

The Apple store was amazing,

I was drooling everywhere, shorting out
equipment from all the siliva.

The technology and gadgets were amazing.

The Hockey Hall of Fame.

This random lady wanted her picture
taken with Mark, then she fled,
we're still not sure why.

My first time at the Old Spaghetti Factory!
No, it wasn't an industrial plant,
it was just a nice pasta restaurant.

My first time in a subway train!

My first time in a subway station!

My first subway wino!

The great robot hand of tomorrow!
No explanation, it was just sitting
there in the middle of the mall.

My first time on a mono rail!!!!
Its like a train way up high in the sky!
We had to take one so we wouldn't
miss our flight, I think we went 710 km/h,
so we got to our terminal in 18 seconds.

And finaly, after an exhausting two days of presentations,interviews, and walking around in -37 degree temperature... We chilled out in Mark's Hotel Suite, where he had the water bubbling in his own jacuzzi hot tub.... very relaxing.