May 29, 2007
Sneak Preview of Coming Attractions!
Here it is, the super mega secret teaser for the upcoming Stolen Minks music video "Stop Talking", as animated by Ben Jeddrie.
May 28, 2007
Calvin and Hobbes Animated?
We may never see a Bill Watterson-approved animated version of Calvin and Hobbes but the following student film from Italy is a nice unofficial attempt. The animation was done by Donato Di Carlo at the CFP Milano film school.
Mars Holes!
Black spots have been discovered on Mars that are so dark that nothing inside can be seen!Quite possibly, the spots are entrances to deep underground caves capable of protecting Martian life, where it to exist. The unusual hole pictured above was found on the slopes of the giant Martian volcano Arsia Mons. The above image was captured three weeks ago by the HiRISE instrument onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter currently circling Mars. The holes were originally identified on lower resolution images from the Mars Odyssey spacecraft, The above hole is about the size of a football field and is so deep that it is completely unilluminated by the Sun.
Such holes and underground caves might be prime targets for future spacecraft, robots, and even the next generation of human interplanetary explorers.
May 26, 2007
May 25, 2007
Droopy & Popeye
Twenty-four short cartoons featuring Tex Avery’s beloved Droopy are featured on this beloved set, Tex Avery’s Droopy - The Complete Theatrical Collection. The cartoons have been carefully restored from original prints that were originally shown in theaters between 1943 and 1958. Droopy was a dog whose detective skills were both cunning and unrivalled, and his low monotone voice was a favorite among cartoon fans.
Popeye the Sailor Volume 1 At last they are doing justice to the Popeye franchise by cleaning up some great animation created by Max Fleischer. Sure you can get the public domain versions of most of the cartoons on this boxed set, but the quality will never come that close to what Warner is offering.
Popeye the Sailor Volume 1 At last they are doing justice to the Popeye franchise by cleaning up some great animation created by Max Fleischer. Sure you can get the public domain versions of most of the cartoons on this boxed set, but the quality will never come that close to what Warner is offering.
Clockwork Girl
Arcana Studio’s Clockwork Girl is making the rounds this summer. This great comic has the talented duo of Kevin Hanna and Grant Bond. Kevin is a multi talented writer on past projects like Narnia, Meet the Robinsons, Chicken Little, Disney Princess and dozens of other projects. He made his move to comics like many writers in the industry who do both and compliment both mediums. Grant Bond really fleshes out the characters and the preview first issue will cost only .25¢ and you will find other artists’ interpretation of Clockwork Girl. That is a bargain for a promising book. Sandbox World will keep an eye on this project. Preview art >>
The Superman Guide to Life - Living the Super Hero Lifestyle
Need wisdom? Look no further the man of steel is willing to give it out with Magnetic Wisdom™ . You could say this is the Chicken Soup for heroes. Lois Lane has her own book of Magnetic Wisdom™ too.
May 23, 2007
Some new footage leaked out from the set of Spiderman 4, looks much better.
You’re wondering who I am, machine or Spiderman
With parts made in Japan, I am the modern man.
Domo arigato, Spiderman.
May 22, 2007
Classic Hanna Barbera Collectibles Book
Brian Mariotti from Funko, a cool site for the latest cartoon related toys is releasing CLASSIC HANNA-BARBERA COLLECTIBLES. This book is real funky and is coming out at the end of the summer with a forward written by Joe Barbera.
Possible Watchmen Casting
A source for AICN reports that casting for Zack Snyder's adaptation of Watchmen may have started, with three actors being offered parts. Patrick Wilson, seen recently in Little Children, is supposedly up for the role of Night Owl, pretty boy Jude Law will take the part of pretty boy Ozymandias, and, most surprisingly, Keanu Reeves may fill in the shoes of Dr. Manhattan. I'm a huge Watchmen fan, I was hoping it would be an HBO mini-series instead of cramming 12 comic issues into 2 measly hours, but I'll take what I can get.
Someone should inform Zack Snyder that however much he thinks The Matrix is cool, its coolness is not a reflection of the acting talent of Keanu Reeves. There's a reason the standard impression of him is looking dazed and saying "whoa." And if Reeves is doing Watchmen, what becomes of The Lake House 2!?
Cat Getting Out of a Bag and Other Observations
With just a few line strokes when an artist is able to convey the most mundane routines and reap a white page of paper into choreographed motion , you feel like you are holding something of magic. Jeffrey Brown has cat scratch fever and he illustrates the elementary things around us and brings his lines to life. It’s amazing how the obvious eludes us and Jeffery Brown captures it with his orb like a camera.
Loads More Lies to Tell Small Kids
Just when you were about to run out of lies to tell small children, the creator of the bestselling Bunny Suicides books is back with more wickedly funny falsehoods for the truly twisted. Each hilarious cartoon tells a tall tale guaranteed to trouble guileless minds and crack up the grown- ups. So, find yourself a wide-eyed youngster and ask:
Did you know . . .
• If you rub two redheaded kids together, you can make fire
• Your dad’s got one nipple and two belly buttons
• If you drop a tooth in a glass of Coke, after a day it becomes a white butterfly
• French people eat croissants—and poo baguettes
• If you cut a badger in half with an axe it turns into two chipmunks
If Andy Riley believed in wearing pants, they’d be on fire right now! For the inner child and pathological liar in all of us, Loads More Lies is truly hysterical.
Did you know . . .
• If you rub two redheaded kids together, you can make fire
• Your dad’s got one nipple and two belly buttons
• If you drop a tooth in a glass of Coke, after a day it becomes a white butterfly
• French people eat croissants—and poo baguettes
• If you cut a badger in half with an axe it turns into two chipmunks
If Andy Riley believed in wearing pants, they’d be on fire right now! For the inner child and pathological liar in all of us, Loads More Lies is truly hysterical.
Welcome to the Jungle Hornswiggle
Hornswiggle seems like such a cool cartoon created from Jerry Beck. It brings back flashes of Terrytoons. This 6 minute cartoon is loaded with eye candy for all. This is the way a cartoon should be made. Check out Jerry’s blog.
Crazy By The Letters - Mental Problems From A to Z
Shades of Edward Gorey and Tim Burton, Joey Chou, brings us his weird fun art about mental illness. Joey is still an art student at the Art Center College of Design and is already on his second book. There is a lot of promise here with his new book. A little morbid for some, but others will love the original subject matter. Keep your eye on Joey Chou, he has all the tools to make a force to be reckoned with.
May 21, 2007
May 19, 2007
May 18, 2007
CalArts Goodies
CalArts Producer's Show 2007 - You have to see this, very funny!
CalArts Producer's Show Opening 2003
- with an apprearence from Glenn Keane and some puppets
CalArts Experimental Animation Online
CalArts: 20 Years of Experimental Animation, 1970-1990 is a website that offers for viewing nearly twenty experimental shorts created at CalArts. The selections were chosen by Jules Engel who started the experimental program at CalArts, and includes works by many well known names including Joanna Priestley, Paul Demeyer, Henry Selick, Kathy Rose, Gary Schwartz and Eric Darnell. The image above is from Pink Triangle by Bob Doucette.
CalArts Producer's Show Opening 2003
- with an apprearence from Glenn Keane and some puppets
CalArts Experimental Animation Online
CalArts: 20 Years of Experimental Animation, 1970-1990 is a website that offers for viewing nearly twenty experimental shorts created at CalArts. The selections were chosen by Jules Engel who started the experimental program at CalArts, and includes works by many well known names including Joanna Priestley, Paul Demeyer, Henry Selick, Kathy Rose, Gary Schwartz and Eric Darnell. The image above is from Pink Triangle by Bob Doucette.
May 17, 2007
Rotating Earth from Galileo
When passing Earth on your way to Jupiter, what should you look for? That question arose for the robotic Galileo spacecraft that soundlessly coasted past the Solar System's most photographed orb almost two decades ago. The Galileo spacecraft, although originally launched from Earth, coasted past its home world twice in an effort to gain speed and shorten the duration of its trip to Jupiter. During Galileo's first Earth flyby in late 1990, it made a majestically silent home movie of our big blue marble rotating by taking images almost every minute during a 25-hour period. The above picture is one frame from this movie -- clicking on the above image will put it in motion.
Stuart Immonen
Canadian comic book artist Stuart Immonen has penned an interesting article for Comic Book Resources on building an arsenal of tools and reference material in order to make drawing comics efficient and productive. His toolbox includes everything from 3D modelling software to old-fashioned paper photo and reference archives.
May 16, 2007
Remembering Jim Henson
Jim Henson, died seventeen years ago today, May 16th.
Here's a clip filmed just shortly before his death, watch as he,
Frank and Michael talk about the Muppets' designs and attitudes,
particularly Kermit's personality.
And for another real treat, watch this clip below, to see my favorite
part (which is one of the best moments of puppet acting ever!)
Wait for it to load up and fast-forward to 7:00, where Fozzy Bear
is on stage, pure genius, absolutely hilarious!
Here's a clip filmed just shortly before his death, watch as he,
Frank and Michael talk about the Muppets' designs and attitudes,
particularly Kermit's personality.
And for another real treat, watch this clip below, to see my favorite
part (which is one of the best moments of puppet acting ever!)
Wait for it to load up and fast-forward to 7:00, where Fozzy Bear
is on stage, pure genius, absolutely hilarious!
May 15, 2007
Spielberg and Jackson Team Up for Tintin
Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson have announced they will develop a trilogy of computer animated 3D Tintin films. Based on Georges Remi's (under the pen name of Herge) popular Belgian comic strip, each director will helm at least one of the pictures, though it's still unclear who will do the third.
Jackson explained that the characters will retain Remi's original designs, but alter the cartoon look to a photorealistic level, making them look "like real people — but real Herge people!" Or, in other words, they're going to look really fucking creepy. Looking like Tintin works in an illustrated world, but can you imagine it as reality? Imagine those beady little eyes, glassy and real, staring out of his perfectly ovular head, straight into your soul. Absolutely terrifying.
Balance
One of my favorite stop motion animated short films, from Germany, 1989. It's a great use of space and the creation of a world that can truly only work in animation.
Directed by Christoph Lauenstein & Wolfgang Lauenstein
Directed by Christoph Lauenstein & Wolfgang Lauenstein
May 13, 2007
May 12, 2007
TV & Movie Info
Early Poster Art From Sicko
Nothing sells me on a film like the threat of Michael Moore's chubby fingers maneuvering their way into my sphincter, so I absolutely adore the new poster for Sicko, Moore's sure-to-be scathing documentary about America's wretched health care system, coming June 29th. The one-sheet is still obviously without the text, but it will supposedly carry the message "This might hurt a little." The clever double-meaning points out both that exposing the truth of health care will hurt and that it's going to really fucking hurt when Moore gets his hand up your ass, because he doesn't pull out until he's found food.
Tim Roth to Play Hulk Villain
This one's going to be directed by the guy who did The Transporter, this story gives me reason to be optimistic.
A) Like Edward Norton, Tim Roth usually seems to me a pretty competent actor.
B) "Blonsky is a KGB agent who deliberately exposes himself to the gamma rays that caused Bruce Banner to morph into the Hulk. Blonsky has upped the dosage, making him larger and stronger than the Hulk, but unable to change back to human form."
Two Live-Action Star Wars Headed to TV
George Lucas announced to Fox News that he has decided to continue making the Star Wars universe shittier, injecting more of his out-of-touch ideas of humor and romance into two hour-long made-for-TV Star Wars movies. The director added that the stories won't involve the Skywalker family, and he has not yet determined what network they will air on.
At this point, having completely given up on the chance of a respectable Star War, I'm hoping they do this on the Lifetime Channel. Dean Cain stars as The Perfect Jedi, a young Jedi powerful with the Force and great with the son of single mom Shmoora (Tracey Gold). But it seems her suitor has a dark side, and as his Sith powers (and alcoholism) take control, Shmoora must go to extreme lengths to save her son... and the galaxy.
Oh, and ol' Lucas also said Spider-Man 3 was "a silly movie." I don't think the irony of this needs to be explained.
Nothing sells me on a film like the threat of Michael Moore's chubby fingers maneuvering their way into my sphincter, so I absolutely adore the new poster for Sicko, Moore's sure-to-be scathing documentary about America's wretched health care system, coming June 29th. The one-sheet is still obviously without the text, but it will supposedly carry the message "This might hurt a little." The clever double-meaning points out both that exposing the truth of health care will hurt and that it's going to really fucking hurt when Moore gets his hand up your ass, because he doesn't pull out until he's found food.
Tim Roth to Play Hulk Villain
This one's going to be directed by the guy who did The Transporter, this story gives me reason to be optimistic.
A) Like Edward Norton, Tim Roth usually seems to me a pretty competent actor.
B) "Blonsky is a KGB agent who deliberately exposes himself to the gamma rays that caused Bruce Banner to morph into the Hulk. Blonsky has upped the dosage, making him larger and stronger than the Hulk, but unable to change back to human form."
Two Live-Action Star Wars Headed to TV
George Lucas announced to Fox News that he has decided to continue making the Star Wars universe shittier, injecting more of his out-of-touch ideas of humor and romance into two hour-long made-for-TV Star Wars movies. The director added that the stories won't involve the Skywalker family, and he has not yet determined what network they will air on.
At this point, having completely given up on the chance of a respectable Star War, I'm hoping they do this on the Lifetime Channel. Dean Cain stars as The Perfect Jedi, a young Jedi powerful with the Force and great with the son of single mom Shmoora (Tracey Gold). But it seems her suitor has a dark side, and as his Sith powers (and alcoholism) take control, Shmoora must go to extreme lengths to save her son... and the galaxy.
Oh, and ol' Lucas also said Spider-Man 3 was "a silly movie." I don't think the irony of this needs to be explained.
Aaron Springer's Special The Pussycat
Warning, contains graphic images, once you watch this, you can't un-watch it.
The Golden Compass "Sizzle Reel"
The His Dark Materials trilogy looks to join Harry Potter and Narnia in the genre of young-adult-fantasy-spectacular with its first entry, The Golden Compass. Though the effects are far from finished, what I'm told is referred to as a "sizzle reel" has shown up online, giving a preview of the film. If, like me, you assumed anything with the term sizzle in it included bacon, bikini babes or a Sizzler, you're in for a disappointing surprise.
May 11, 2007
Gesture Drawing for Animation
While the title of this “book” suggests it is only for animators, the lessons within are valuable to anyone itching to be better at drawing expressive people. Walt Stanchfield was Disney animator who taught drawing at the studio. His handouts have been passed around and circulated for years, and Leo Brodie has organized them (based on the 60 handouts shared on animationmeat.com) into a book that Stanchfield might have written: Gesture Drawing for Animation.
