PICTOPLASMA: The 1st Conference on Contemporary Character Design and Art will take place in Berlin, Germany from October 28-30, 2004. The idea for the conference is intriguing and the website lists an impressive line-up of speakers, but the event also exemplifies a key problem of contemporary character design. A common trait that runs through a startling majority of the sample artwork posted on the conference site is the noticeable absence of personality in the designs. Too many artists today seem overly focused on discovering a graphic solution to characters, in other words the “design” aspect of the equation, while completely neglecting the “character” portion which dictates that the graphics should communicate personality and emotion. The end product is designs that succeed as iconic imagery, perfectly suitable for being printed onto T-shirts and adapted into toys, but unsuccessful as character designs that are meant to engage and entertain audiences.

The very best character designs in animation and comics - to name a few, Grim Natwick’s design of Betty Boop, Elzie Segar’s Popeye, John Hubley’s Mr. Magoo, Marc Davis’ Cruella de Vil and Ed Benedict’s conception of Fred Flintstone - equally consider both aesthetics and personality and successfully integrate them into a whole, resulting in dynamic combinations of shapes that emote. It is doubtful that this topic will be addressed in much detail at the upcoming event, but the very fact that there’s enough interest in character design to generate an entire conference devoted to the subject is a hopeful sign for the future.
(Thanks to Raiinboy for the link)

I’m a little late in mentioning issue #6 of COMIC ART magazine, but I just picked it up over the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed the piece on Virgil “VIP” Partch, who is one of my all-time favorite cartoonists (the other fave being Ronald Searle). Joel Goldstein’s article is well researched and offers many previously unknown biographical details about Partch, as well as insights into his complex personality. The article focuses only on VIP’s work through the 1940s and while there is still much to be written about Virgil Partch, this article serves as a fine introduction to his work.

Now for a couple completely random notes related to Partch. In a recent email, Oscar Grillo mentioned a Disney short which sounds mighty entertaining. Here’s part of his note: “I ‘found’ on the Internet an exquisite Donald Duck short, DUCK PIMPLES. It’s an absolute beauty, written by Virgil Partch (VIP) and animated by Milt Kahl. It is a real tour de force of beautiful animation and weird ideas.” This is incidentally Partch’s only writing credit at Disney, which he shares with buddy Dick Shaw. When the short was released in 1945, he had long departed Disney and was already a successful magazine cartoonist. Next is an instance of a cartoon discussion occuring in a most unlikely place. My dentist, a middle-aged Orange County Republican, the type of person who has a photo of George W. framed in his office, redeemed himself on my last visit by telling me that his parents had been drinking buddies with the Partch’s and Shaw’s in the Fifties. He told tales of how Partch and Shaw formed their own club where they’d preside over wacky events like ’sailing a boat’ to Las Vegas and ‘driving a car’ to Catalina Island. Next time I go in to have my teeth cleaned, I’ll try to press him for more Partch-related trivia.

“Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie” came in 4th place this weekend with $9.4 million in three days. That’s more than TEACHER’S PET made during it’s entire run… heck, it’s more than TRIPLETTES OF BELLEVILLE made in it’s entire release, and that was nominated for an Oscar!Very scary indeed!

Dealing with the subject of the site I’m plugging today has personally been a most distasteful and unpleasant experience, but I’ll be damned if he isn’t a talented artist. That’s why I like the new RalphBakshi.com because it allows you to enjoy his work while staying as far away as possible from the actual person. The site, exquisitely designed by illustrator/animation artist Chris McD, is packed with examples of Bakshi’s animation and fine art, biographical info and all sorts of Ralph-related goodies. It’s a work-in-progress with lots of material still to be posted including drawing lessons from Ralph and reprints of old interviews with him.

Seven dedicated classic cartoon historians have banded their websites together under a new central banner Golden Age Cartoons.GAC is run by Jon Cooke (Unofficial Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Page), Matthew Hunter (Looney Tunes Page), Jack Tatay (Classic Cartoon Records), Thad Komorowski (who updates a terrific Walter Lantz Cartune Encyclopedia), Pietro Shakarian (webmaster behind the Columbia Crow’s Nest), Dan Porceddu and David Gerstein (The Felix The Cat Page).There is a wealth of cartoon knowledge posted on these pages - I highly recommend you spend a few hours checking this out. Good luck guys!

I caught an advance screening of SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW last night and enjoyed it immensely.
As a fan of cliffhanger serials & classic movies, It was fun to see someone try to recapture the magic of movies like King Kong, Lost Horizon, The Wizard Of Oz, pulps like Doc Savage and G-8, as well as chapterplays like Captain Midnight, Spy Smasher, The Lost Jungle, etc. And I think writer/director Kerry Conran succeeds. I was worried that his approach - to emulate that style of filmmaking, not be inspired by it (as Lucas & Spielberg were) - might not work with a general audience. For example, I’m a fan of Guy Maddin’s films - they are shot in the the style of late 20s/early 30s early talkies - which seem limited to cult audiences and midnight shows. I think there is enough action and visual wonder in SKY CAPTAIN for a modern audience to enjoy.Despite a lot of explosions and destruction, one element of classic serials was sorely missing - the fist fight. Yes, there are one or two punches here and there, and an abbreviated battle against a mysterious woman in the climax, but not enough Dave Sharpe, if you ask me. In fact, I noticed a reliance on close ups and spectacular establishing master-shots. The story itself was on the level of a B-film (but that’s the point, right?). The bottom line: I loved it - but I don’t expect many converts from the Spider-Man/Indiana Jones crowd.A major dose of the plot is suggested by the Max Fleischer Superman cartoon Mechanical Monsters - and, except for the live actors, the film was entirely computer generated. It is quite an achievement - and a lock for some art direction and special effects Oscars. It opens September 17th - I plan to see it again that day.

Sue Larkin has been updating an ongoing blog about her dad, lengendary Looney Tunes writer Dave Monahan, since his passing away in May 2003. Check it out for some great insight and facts about one of the less celebrated members of Termite Terrace.

Our friends at TV Shows on DVD.com scooped us yesterday with some new details on the LOONEY TUNES GOLDEN COLLECTION Volume 2. However, I must give our loyal Cartoon Brew readers an advantage - so here are some further details on the bonus materials to be included on V.2 (keep in mind that the following is NOT a complete list of bonus goodies - more to come!):31 Audio Commentaries1. The Big Snooze - Bill Melendez
2. Tortoise Beats Hare - Mike Barrier (with Dave Monahan)
3. Slick Hare - Mike Barrier (with Paul Julian)
4. Bugs Bunny Rides Again - Greg Ford
5. Gorilla My Dreams - Jerry Beck
6. The Heckling Hare - Greg Ford
7. Broomstick Bunny - June Foray
8. Beep Beep - Mike Barrier
9. Whoa Be Gone - Greg Ford
10. Stop, Look & Hasten - Greg Ford
11. The Dover Boys - Mike Barrier (with John McGrew)
12. Mouse Wreckers - Greg Ford (and Chuck Jones)
13. A Bear For Punishment - Mike Barrier (with Chuck Jones)
14. Tweetie Pie - Greg Ford (and Friz Freleng)
15. Ain’t She Tweet - Greg Ford (and Chuck Jones)
16. Kitty Kornered - Mike Barrier (and Bob Clampett)
17. Baby Bottleneck - Michael Barrier (and Robert Clampett)
18. Old Glory - Jerry Beck & Martha Sigall
19. The Great Piggy Bank Robbery - John Kricfalusi
20. Porky In Wackyland - Mike Barrier (and Bob Clampett)
21. Book Revue - Mike Barrier (and Bob Clampett)
22. Corny Concerto - Mike Barrier (and Bob Clampett)
23. Hollywood Steps Out - Greg Ford
24. One Froggy Evening - Mike Barrier (with Chuck Jones & Mike Maltese)
25. What’s Opera Doc? - Chuck Jones, Mike Maltese & Maurice Noble
26. What’s Opera Doc? - Daniel Goldmark
27. Show Biz Bugs - Greg Ford (with Friz Freleng)
28. Rhapsody Rabbit - Daniel Goldmark
29. Back Alley Oproar - Greg Ford (and Friz Freleng)
30. The Three Little Bops - Jerry Beck & Stan Freberg
31. You Oughta Be In Pictures - Jerry BeckFeaturettes1. A Conversation With Tex Avery (6 mins.)
2. Looney Tunes Go Hollywood (8 mins.)
3. Crash! Bang! Boom! The Wild Sounds of Treg Brown (10 mins.)
4. The Man From Wackyland: The Art Of Bob Clampett (20 mins.)
5. It Hopped One Night: A look at ONE FROGGY EVENING (6 minutes)
6. Wagnarian Wabbit: The Making Of “What’s Opera Doc?” (8 mins.)Music Scores1. Hyde & Hare - Music
2. Baby Buggy Bunny - Music & Effects
3. Bunny Hugged - Music & Effects
4. Broomstick Bunny - Music & Effects
5. Guided Muscle - Music
6. Gee Whizzz - Music
7. There They Go-Go-Go - Music
8. Scrambled Aches - Music
9. Zoom & Bored - Music
10. A Bear For Punishment - Music & Effects
13. One Froggy Evening - Music
14. The Three Little Bops - a. Music Only b. Freberg vocals only
15. What’s Opera Doc? - a. Music only & b. Blanc & Bryan vocals onlyBONUS SHORTS will include, complete & uncut:The restored ADVENTURES OF THE ROAD RUNNER featurette (pilot)
ORANGE BLOSSOMS FOR VIOLET
SO MUCH FOR SO LITTLE
BUGS BUNNY ROAD RUNNER SHOW opening titles
Another set of BUGS BUNNY SHOW bridgeing sequences!And much more - including 60 uncut, remastered from the original negs Looney Tunes - including restored original titles on several cartoons including I LOVE TO SINGA, BABY BOTTLENECK, BOOK REVUE and BACK ALLEY OPROAR!So remember to go out and vote for the LOONEY TUNES GOLDEN COLLECTION Volume 2 on November 2nd (it’s also Election Day)!