“Bizzarro Classic” by Rob Pratt

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on

Last year we posted an excellent fan-made film, Superman Classic, by Disney veteran animator Rob Pratt (Tarzan, Pocahontas, Kick Buttowski, Kim Possible). Platt returns with this follow up and explains his process after the clip in the video below. As a longtime fan of the classic Man of Steel, I hope my friends at Warner Animation are taking note. This is the way to go.

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  • http://billdunnanimationpaint.blogspot.com/ William Joseph Dunn

    I’m a huge fan of what Rob has done with these shorts.

  • Mike

    That was great! Make more, Rob.
    Bizarro demand it.

  • http://oye-studio.daporfolio.com Seni

    Boooooo! Me sad that Rob Pratt is at it again. Me think Bizarro Current sucks! Me want less! Bizarro talking forward am stupid trick.

    • Mike

      Stick to Zack Snyder.

      • Corey Bean

        Whiff!

      • http://oye-studios.daportfolio.com Seni

        @Mike
        just to be sure: You ARE indeed familiar with Bizarro’s speech pattern, right?

      • The Gee

        Yeah.
        When Bizarro says he hates Superman and then kicks the crap out of him it isn’t because of Tough Love, it is just Bizarro being backwards and saying the opposite of what he means.

        So, if “Bizarro demand it” then Bizarro really could do without it and probably doesn’t care about what he’s talking about.

        Now me continue to make brilliant, un-obvious point until me get tired typing.

      • Mike

        Ah, apologies, guys. Color me stupid. I wasn’t that familiar with the character. So, he doesn’t just talk in a weird backwards sort of way; he also means the opposite of what he says. Gotcha.

        To revise my earlier comment: Bizarro NOT demand it (because Mike want more).

  • http://librabear.blogspot.com Wesley Louis

    That was incredible. I have so much respect for this guy. I really hope he gets commissioned to do more.

  • wever

    I first saw a thumbnail for this video on another site. I thought it was just another amateur Youtuber trying to look cool, until I actually played the film, and CB made me discover it was BY AN ACTUAL DISNEY ANIMATOR. QUIT TRICKING ME, INTERNET!

  • http://www.terrybiddle.com TBiddy

    There’s a classic red & blue 3D version up on Robb’s YouTube channel as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjmEALDKKBQ&feature=plcp

  • http://www.toonocity.com fremgen

    Nicely done. I’d love to see a fully animated 2D movie like this. How about it Warner Bros?????

  • OtherDan

    Right on Robb! Love the atmosphere and flight animation especially. Bizarro rocked. Hope you don’t take too much heat about knocking down another building in NY.

  • http://inkthinker.deviantart.com Ben

    I’m confused (as I was by the previous Superman short) as to why Pratt starts digital with his boards/animatics, goes to paper for the frame production, only to go back to digital for all the color and post. Why not just draw the frames in PS if you’re already there? Seems like a hassle to jump back and forth.

    • robb pratt

      I love drawing on the Cintiq, but there’s just no digital answer to being about to flip and roll your drawings as you animate. -Robb

      • http://inkthinker.deviantart.com Ben

        Photoshop works well enough. You’ll still need to do final comp in something like AE (or whatever your particular poison may be), but that’s the case with paper anyhow. You can check your motion using the base animation tools built into PS.

        I agree that vector drawing (which is so prominent these days) is NOT the same. A raster-base drawing platform is much closer to the same feel as pencils or ink on paper. But once you get used to it, the only thing you’re giving up is the tactile flip and additional overhead expenses (animation bond, pencils, erasers, scanner and light-table maintenance, not to mention all joys of maintaining registration while capturing).

        Well, and I suppose there’s some value in selling original frames of animation. Unless you’re keeping them all? Takes up so much space…

      • OtherDan

        There’s a tactility to drawing on paper that is pleasing and can’t be replicated. Plus, a digital print will never be worth as much as an original drawing on paper.

      • Rajesh

        Nothing beats being able to touch the paper you’re drawing and flipping on. Photoshop and Flash are too complicated to come close to the simplicity of paper and pencil.

      • http://inkthinker.deviantart.com Ben

        PS as an animation tool is entirely capable of being as simple as a brush and a frame. It’s no more complicated than paper and pencil.

  • sydney

    Excellent! Especially loved the music cues from the 1950′s Adventures of Superman TV series, and the homage to George Reeves’s Superman jumping out the storeroom window. The 3D version rocks as well! More!

  • andreas Wessel-Therhorn

    makes perfect sense to me. having animated on the cintiq, it has none of the control you have when you work on paper and pegs.then to go back for color is the way to go.

  • Jeff

    Fantastic, but for me lois lane is kind of creepy.

  • http://www.portfolio-powell.blogspot.com Chris Powell

    Its SO crazy!..i was was just watching “Superman Classic” last night! Mr. Pratt mentioned in the comments section that he was working on a new one and I wondered “wow when?” and the next day – Bam :)

    This is really fun and Im a huge bizarro fan…Love it.

  • http://www.terrybiddle.com TBiddy

    Mr. Pratt, please start a Twitter account if you haven’t already. You might (or might not) be surprised to find you are building a sizable fan base. I include myself! Fantastic work!

  • Crom

    I wonder how long this took from start to finish? This level of quality would be an amazing draw to a DC website. I wonder if Robb has any personal creations he plans to tackle?

  • ShouldBeWorkin’

    He must be really gambling Warner will take him up.
    As I am sure I’ve said on the net before, if I had that time and talent, I’d do an original idea.
    That said, this is the most enjoyable Superman I’ve seen in years.

    Years ago I saw a guy who appeared in a live act who billed himself as Mr. Backwards. (Not the original but a younger guy). He would say anything backwards anyone in the audience suggested, record it on a reel-to-reel, and then play it backwards so we could hear it forwards.
    He would inhale as he spoke backwards so it came out moreorless normal.

    I don’t know what they’ll do if Bizarro starts monloguing. I think have the guy record the line forward and then reverse it. Fans could have fun finding out what Bizarro said with basic software nowadays.

  • http://richbailey.blogspot.com Richard

    Awesome!! Loved Superman Classic, this just continues to get better

  • http://hobsonproductions.blogspot.com/ Kevin

    Awesome work, Rob Pratt! This should be made into a movie!

  • Gerard de Souza

    Ha. Like how the music is backwards too when Bizarro is on.

  • AaronSch

    Warner Bros., please give this guy a contract for a series. Rob Pratt’s Superman could represent a renaissance for the character similar to Bruce Timm’s work on Batman: The Animated Series.

  • http://www.nickbruel.com Nick Bruel

    Stuff I love…

    1) The little “Boing” of Superman’s curl when he transforms.

    2) Bizarro’s speech pattern. Personally, I think the use of backwards recording is very clever.

    3) The overall design of a 1940′s Metropolis.

    My only nitpicky, obsessive compulsive difficulty…

    Lois’ hair. I get that it’s inspired by the Vernoica Lake look, but I really found myself distracted by how it covered one of her eyes most of the time. But that’s me. Otherwise, this whole thing is a beautiful homage to the Fleishers with a modern Bruce Timm-ish design.

  • Michel Van

    That a Fantastic piece of amazing Animation ;-)
    all those lovely little details

    Bizzaro background musik the superman tune play backwards…
    that Louis figure it all out Clark Kent/Superman, until Bizzaro fly by
    The “Boing” sound of Superman’s curl when he transforms.
    and Ken navie look transform to sternest look

    Warner give Rob Pratt’s version Superman classic a chance !

    we will buy it !

  • James Madison

    Love it!

  • http://miehana.blogspot.com/ Kevin Kidney

    That was pretty neat! I’d like to see more.

  • http://www.milowerx.com Mike Milo

    Really great piece of film! There’s an interview with Robb up on my site if anyone wants to learn more about this talented fella. http://www.animationinsider.com/2012/07/robb-pratt/

  • John

    What’s with the tease, there was no moment where the two of them were fighting?!!!

  • http://dailygrail.com/ Red Pill Junkie

    If he’s in Disney, shouldn’t he be trying to do the same with Marvel characters?

    How about some Namor stuff for starters ;)

  • Rodney

    Beautiful job , both times ! Wonderful to watch

  • MASOOD HUSSAIN

    WOW… BIZZARO TOTALLY RULES ^_^ AND I REALLY BUY THE WAY SUPERMAN’S HAIR PUFF POPS OUT.. REALLY KOOL CHOICE INDEED.

    ALL THE BEST MASTER.
    CHEERS

  • http://warmandfuzzyprints.weebly.com nick

    that was really good. make more