There’s lots of new blogs I’ve been meaning to mention recently and haven’t found the time. Here are five good ones for the moment:

Dan Krall (SAMURAI JACK, POWERPUFF GIRLS and currently on Laika’s CORALINE) now has a BLOG.

So does Bill Wray (REN & STIMPY, BIG BLOWN BABY) who has decided to go legit and become a fine art painter.

Not only can Andrea Blasich draw well, but he does terrific character maquettes.

The boys at the Animation Guild, Local 839 IATSE are blogging now too. This is shaping up into a solid resource for insider-type industry news.

CINEMA 4: CEL BLOC is a site where Rik reviews one classic animated short every day - from Felix the Cat to Popeye and Clampett to DePatie-Freleng. The writing is solid (if a bit long occasionally) and his write-ups make me want to see these films again (or in some cases, for the first time).

Tonight, March 2nd at 8pm, Janet Klein and the Parlor Boys celebrate the release of their 5th album, entitled: “Oh!” So, if you have yet to thrill to the sweet syncopations of Janet and her band, then this is the night! As always, the musical program will be preceded by another great selection of vintage cinematic goodies presented by Brewmaster Jerry Beck. THE STEVE ALLEN THEATER (Center for Inquiry-West), 4773 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood (Two blocks west of Vermont — Plenty of FREE parking in the rear). Tickets $15.

Ok folks, something a bit different. We’re looking to redesign the CartoonBrew logo. It’s been up for two years, and we think it’s high time for a new look. We want something really solid, worthy of the Brew name. The project is a little more involved than just a logo for the site, so make sure you’re good. Also, we are paying. Not a fortune, but enough that hopefully you won’t want to do bodily harm to us. Please send links to your portfolio site or email examples of your work to both of us at:
amid at animationblast dot com
jbeck6540 at aol dot comThanks,
Your Brewmasters

O-Meon.com is reporting that veteran Disney directing duo John Musker and Ron Clements (THE LITTLE MERMAID, ALADDIN) are returning to Walt Disney Feature Animation. They had left Disney in 2005 because of the studio’s deteriorating creative atmosphere. This is great news…as long as they don’t make another TREASURE PLANET, or for that matter, another HERCULES.

This is a genius trailer mash-up of TOY STORY 2 and Darren Aronofsky’s gritty REQUIEM FOR A DREAM. (Click on the image above to watch the video.) It also inadvertently makes a powerful point about contemporary cartoons: the problem with most animated films today isn’t the actual artwork or animation, but rather the writing, the voice acting and the lack of directorial vision. TOY STORY 2 is a great film to begin with, but this trailer shows how so many weaker animated films could be improved if other aspects, besides the visuals, were overhauled.
(Official TOY STORY 2 REQUIEM trailer mash-up site HERE)