With the new year underway, it seems like a good time to announce that Cartooon Brew now has a bi-coastal presence. As many have surely heard by now, I moved to NYC a couple months ago. My estimable co-editor Jerry Beck continues to take care of business on the West Coast. Our coverage of the animation world will remain largely unchanged, as can be evidenced these past few months. The agenda for the Brew remains the same as always: write about topics that interest us, and that’s what both Jerry and I intend to keep on doing. As an added bonus, perhaps the posts on the Brew begin to reflect an even broader and more diverse tone as a result of my new surroundings.

Personally I’m quite pleased to be in and around the New York animation community. The NY animation scene has appealed to me from afar for a long time. One big reason for that is because artists do things in New York. They make short films, they teach, they cross over into other media, they dip and dabble in everything and don’t pigeonhole themselves as “animation artists.”

Hell, they even make animated features; three local indie animated features are nearing completion — directed by Bill Plympton, Nina Paley and Emily Hubley — and a fourth is starting production by Michael Sporn. I point this out not to suggest that a feature is the highest form of expression, but because a feature is one of the most time-consuming and ambitious things that one can endeavor to do in this art form. To embark on an independent feature with limited resources and budget takes guts, and it’s a testament to the drive and dedication of NY animators that so many have undertaken the challenge. Animation and beyond, I’m looking forward to spending some time in this amazing city and experiencing its rich and vibrant atmosphere…and eating lots of pizza by the slice.

There may not be a whole lot that’s funny about the recent assassination of Benazir Bhutto, but illustrator Steve Brodner managed to create this political cartoon that works in references to both Pluto and Bluto:

Speaking of Brodner, he not only has a blog that features his latest work, but also a fun new video series on the NewYorker.com—“The Naked Campaign”—where he does ‘chalk talks’ about the presidential candidates and places them in context of earlier presidents and cultural figures. The Obama/Lincoln transformation is particularly entertaining. The After Effects animation in these pieces is provided by NY commercial studio Asterisk Animation.

(Thanks, Jakob Schuh)

Thought that Orangina spot was disturbing? Click here to see the trailer for a Spanish Brazillian rip-off of Ratatouille.

For additional laughs, check out the Amazon link and read the reviews. Pixar, what have you wrought?

I suppose it could be worse. I suppose someone could try making a knock-off of Bee Movie. Nah, that’ll never happen.

(Thanks, Floyd Bishop)

Two more quick bits of regular monthly business:

1. I’m showing movies at the Janet Klein set tomorrow night TONIGHT, Thursday January 3rd, at the Steve Allen Theatre in Hollywood. Details here.

2. Steve Moore’s monthly animation magazine, Flip, has a new edition (#9) posted. Good stuff. Go Here.

…or Manhattan takes a Cartoon Dump! One of those things.

We’re going LIVE In New York next Tuesday! Our twisted take on the children’s shows of yesteryear and my worst cartoons ever will make their first east coast appearance, with Frank Conniff (MST3k), Erica Doering, Kathleen Roll and special guest comedian Mike Dobbins. And me.

Tuesday 1/8 @ 8pm • Comix 353 W. 14th St. (Just east of 9th Ave.) NY, NY 10014

Order Advance Tickets HERE or call the box office (212) 524-2500. Use our discount code for an extra $5.00 off!! Discount Code: DUMP9 (That makes advance tix just 5 bucks!)

“It’s like a children’s show, but in Bosnia!” - Patton Oswalt.

And check out this rave review on Sequential Tart!