Here’s a book I can’t wait to have and hold (and read!). Russell Merritt and J.B. Kaufman have been researching the history of Disney’s Silly Symphonies for a decade. This year, in conjunction with a screening at the Pordenone Silent Film Festival (held last week), the book has finally been published. However, I have no idea how to order a copy or from where. In the meantime, we can whet our appetities by reading Merritt and Kaufman’s film notes for their Pordenone presentation, and this essay they wrote for the on-line Walt Disney Family Museum.

Scrat - No time for nuts
Uploaded by Juraya

Artist, illustrator and flash animator Danny Cannizzaro has spent the last year working on a new project, Tower 8.

Tower 8 is a growing online narrative that’s told through a series of experimental animations by myself and other directors, centered on the idea that in the future, the earth has undergone major change: its natural resources are near depleted, the oceans have receded and creativity has become a physical force. As of right now we just have the first video up, about a city that has a band as its army that it sends out to defend itself.

It’s a good looking, ambitious piece of work. Danny and his partners, Gavin Brown and Ashtnmike, have also set up a production blog to update its ongoing progress.

Slow day at the Brew. So here’s a lovely animated short, courtesy of YouTube, by the celebrated Czech filmmaker Jiri Trnka. It’s The Merry Circus (1951). Although Trnka is well-known for his puppet films, this piece uses cut-out animation and has a lovely picture-book illustration style to it.It’s split into two parts - part one is below. Part two is here: The Merry Circus - Part 2This and many other great Jiri Trinka films are available on DVD.(Thanks, Firoz Hussain)

Okay, check out this cool music video based on a track by the late hip-hop producer J Dilla. Nothing Like This was produced by Brooklyn based Mixtape Club for Producer/Director Daniel Garcia (sample his incredible work here) for Adult Swim and Stones Throw Records, as part of a mixed media project called Chrome Children. Two other animated videos directed by Garcia will be posted soon on the Adult Swim site. For more information on Chrome Children go here.(Thanks, Delirio & Kaos)

Mark Parisi started self syndicating his comic panel Off The Mark in 1987. In 2002 the strip went big time when United Media took it on and since then it’s been nominated for Best Newspaper Comic Panel by the National Cartoonists Society. Like other cartoonists, Parisi has occasionally poked fun at established comic strip and animated characters. His cartoons about cartoons are quite funny - and thanks to his search engine, you can see all of those strips collected here.

Did you hear the one about the Tom and Jerry commercial in CG…
…selling a flavored milk drink…
…in hebrew? Click Here. Oy Vey!

Ain’t It Cool News posted a lengthy description and spoilers for the new Pixar short Lifted.New York Daily News TV critic David Hinckley pays tribute to Ed Benedict.