I’m sure a lot of people have already seen this short. BIG BOX MART premiered on THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO back in October and since then has been seen online by many millions more. Still, I wanted to point it out here because it’s one of my favorite shorts that JibJab has produced. (JibJab, for those unfamiliar, is the six-year-old Flash animation studio started by brothers Evan and Gregg Spiridellis). As is typical of their work, the concept and lyrics are top-notch and the Flash animation is snappy and well timed, but on top of that, there’s a new level of graphic sophistication in their photo cut-out/collage technique that sets BIG BOX MART apart from the studio’s earlier films. The backgrounds have a greater level of detailing with thoughtful attention to color styling, and the layouts and camera moves take good advantage of deep space possibilities. It’s exciting to see this increasing graphic ambitiousness in their work, and as JibJab continues to receive other high-profile gigs, hopefully we’ll see even more of it.

Beyond producing solid Flash cartoons, JibJab also deserves props for doing something that very few other animation creators are able to do nowadays: reach an audience of millions without subservience to traditional studio distribution models. Flash producer Aaron Simpson, of Cold Hard Flash, summed up nicely JibJab’s unique accomplishments: “They create, develop and produce their own properties; they distribute to a massive audience online and beyond; they partner with media empires like MSN - all while maintaining ownership of their properties and brands.” JibJab is fulfilling the promise of online animation in an impressive manner, and they continue to innovate and experiment with progressive ideas like their ‘audience participation’ films. Here’s to their continued success, and to the hope that more animation creators can learn from how they’ve managed to exploit the potential of the Net.

JibJab’s films, including BIG BOX MART, can be seen on their site Jibjab.com. Also, a collection of some of their most well known shorts is available on the just-released JIBJAB: THE EARLY YEARS dvd.

Former editor of ANIMATO and ANIMATION PLANET (two great animation fanzines of the pre-internet era), G. Michael Dobbs, has started a blog: OUT OF THE INKWELL. In one of his first entries he explains his love of Fleischer cartoons and how a planned book on the subject never happened. Hopefully Dobbs will post his research online.

John Canemaker is coming to Los Angeles and that is always a treat. He’s going to be giving a lecture at LACMA (The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, to you) on January 14th, on Winsor McCay and he’ll be signing his newly revised book as well. Two days earlier ASIFA-Hollywood members can meet and greet John at the Dreamworks campus in Glendale. That night, Thursday January 12th, Canemaker will screen his (soon to be Oscar nominated) new film, The Moon and The Son: An Imagined Conversation as well as several rare cartoon shorts that have influenced his work. I’ll moderate a Q&A with him. Mark you calender now for two rare nights with this acclaimed animator, educator and historian.

Asifa-Hollywood has released its list of nominees for the 2005 Annie Awards. The winners will be announced at a star-studded ceremony on February 4th at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. Corny Cole, Ty Wong and Fred Crippen will be recieving Winsor McCay Lifetime Achievement Awards. Tickets are now available now for the event.Congratulations to all the nominees!

For today’s inspiration, I want to highlight three new artist blogs which have a strong focus on showcasing the inspiring work of others. There promises to be much inspiration found at all three of their sites.

Dan Goodsell with an emphasis on kids’ food packaging, cereal art and other mid-century ephemera.
Will Kane for all things mod.
Eric Sturdevant and his great taste in mid-century children’s book and magazine illustrators.

Jerry mentioned a UPA tribute coming to LA in February, but folks in Paris can get their fill of UPA this month. There will be a film tribute to the studio’s work on December 13 at the Espace KODAK (26 rue Villiot 75012 PARIS). The screening starts at 7:30pm and is being organized by L’AFCA (Association Française du Cinéma d’Animation). The film line-up includes some of the classic standards like GERALD MCBOING BOING, WILLIE THE KID and BARE-FACED FLATFOOT, but it also includes a lot of rare BOING BOING SHOW shorts like THE OUTLAWS, TWO BY TWO and DUSTY OF THE CIRCUS. Another rare piece of UPA on the line-up is a version of FROSTY THE SNOWMAN, directed in 1952 by Bobe Cannon, which is something that I’d personally love to see.

Big UPA screening and a Q&A with surviving artists coming to the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on February 7th. More info coming soon… but mark the date now.

Several of the original animation puppets from the 1964 Rankin/Bass TV classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer have been found:

“Stored casually among the household holiday décor of a former Rankin / Bass employee, the Rudolph and Santa puppets came out every December to take their place under the family Christmas tree. With last year’s 40th anniversary celebration of the television special, and the recent multi-million dollar merchandising of everyone’s favorite holiday characters, the owner realized there might be some public interest in revealing these lost treasures.”

Kevin Kriess of TimeAndSpaceToys.Com purchased the models and is restoring them with plans to display them at various comic book conventions in 2006.(Thanks to Jim Downey)