66 Animation Artists Contribute to The Picture Book Project

Here’s something special I want to you to be aware of: Making its debut at next week’s CTN Expo in Burbank, The Picture Book Project Coloring Book.

This is no ordinary coloring book. This is one you will really want. Dreamworks animation artists Rachel Tiep-Daniels, Margaret Wuller and Pixar producer Karen Dufilho-Rosen have collected illustrations by sixty-six artists from the animation community (including Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi, Raymond Zibach, Christophe Lautrette and Patrick Hanenberger among many others) to create this unique coloring book to raise funds to support kids cared for by orphanages in Ghana West Africa, Tijuana, and Cambodia. Jeffrey Katzenberg wrote the forward.

The Picture Book Project Foundation is having its book launch at CTN on Sunday November 18th at 11am to 1pm. Copies of the book will be donated to the children cared for by the One by One Foundation, Ghana; The Corazon de Vida Foundation (Mexico); and the Takeo Orphanage (Cambodia). Additional info can be found here.

Here is a bit of back story about the non-profit organization (The Picture Book Project Foundation) behind this effort:

Our Story:
Animation artists, Rachel Tiep-Daniels and Margaret Wuller, were touched by their experiences volunteering at orphanages in Ghana and Mexico. They found that the children were immediately captivated with adults who could draw for them. Despite living in extreme poverty, and having limited exposure to forms of entertainment like movies, the children demanded drawings of characters like Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Rachel and Margaret realized the far-reaching impact of their industry and were touched by the idea that no matter one’s position in life, drawing brings a smile to children’s faces, inspires them, and has the ability to connect people from around the world. The Picture Book Project Coloring Book, and subsequently, the formation of the Picture Book Project Foundation was inspired by these experiences.

Mission:
The PBP Foundation gives parents, artists, and art enthusiasts a way to help and inspire children in need. Our mission is to bring continued resources and support to orphaned and disadvantaged children around the world by:
•Providing financial support and supplies to organizations helping children in need so that they may continue providing these children with their basic living necessities;
•Bringing art and animation to the hands of children for their enjoyment and to encourage creativity, motivation and education; and
•Extending the talent and good will of the artist community to communities of children in need.

Click thumbnails below to see a gallery of just some of the images included in the book. These include the cover by Timothy Lamb, and art by Bill Kaufman; Conrad Vernon; Gérald Guerlais; Kirsten Kawamura; Matt Jones; Mike Lee; Peter de Sève; Shane Prigmore; and Willie Real. A complete list of all 66 contributing artists can be found here.

CTN ANIMATION EXPO 2012: Jerry’s Panels

The 2012 CTN Expo in Burbank California is next week – and I’ll be there. Cartoon Brew will have a table on the exhibit floor and that’s here you’ll find me signing books and discussing animation with my friends (perhaps like the gang above, from last year’s CTNX: David Silverman, Craig Bartlett, Bill Plympton, Matt Groening… and me). If I’m not at the booth, I’ll be out and about introducing several panels and screenings… including these (in no particular order):

Meet the Talent Behind the Making of the Hotel Transylvania
Saturday: 11/17/2012
Time: 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Moderator: Jerry Beck
With: Genndy Tartakovsky | Director
Michelle Murdocca
William Haller
Karl Herbst
Location City Ballroom

Rise of the Guardian Artist Panel
Saturday: 11/17/2012
Time: 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
MC: Jerry Beck
With: Hamish Grieve, Head of Story
Gabe Hordos, Head of Character Animation
Other Guests TBA

New Talent Spotlight and Showcase – Nacho Rodriguez, Jacob Wyatt, Faye Hsu
11/17/12 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
City Ballroom
Moderators Jerry Beck, Kazu Kabushi, Robh Ruppel
Guests: Nacho Rodriguez, Jacob Wyatt, Faye Hsu

“Bottom of the Ninth” and the Game Plan to Succeed as a Creator
Sunday: 11/18/2012
Time: 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
MC: Jerry Beck
With: Ryan Woodward

Team Prime: The Artists and Design of Transformers Prime
Friday: 11/16/2012
Time: 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM
Location City Ballroom
MC: Jerry Beck
With: Supervising Director Dave Hartman (Bubba Ho-Tep, Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles, Jackie Chan Adventures), Art Director Jose Lopez (Green Lantern: First Flight, The Batman, Jackie Chan Adventures), Production Designer Vince Toyama (Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, The Boondocks, Godzilla: The Series) and Visual Effects Art Director Christophe Vacher (Enchanted, 9, Treasure Planet).
Panel moderated by Mathias Dougherty, Production Manager (The Mighty B, El Tigre, Invader ZIM).

I’ll be introducing these screenings of Gkids animated Oscar hopefuls:

The Rabbi’s Cat Wed 11/14 7:30PM

The Painting (Le Tableau) – 11/15 7:30pm

From Up On Poppy Hill 11/16 – 7:30 pm

Secret Surprise Screening – 11/17 7:30pm

Zarafa – 11/18 7:30pm

Another panel I plan to sit in on is this one:

Meet John K.’s Virtual Studio
John Kricfalusi is doing a workshop on his “Virtual Studio Model” sponsored by ToonBoom.
Saturday: 11/17/2012
Time: 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM
Location: Sunset A+B

Currently working on his new cartoon sitcom titled Cans Without Labels, John K. will share how he is using the internet to raise the funds to produce his project and find animators all around the world to work with remotely.

There are so many great exhibitors, panels and events associated with CTNX this year. I wouldn’t miss it. A complete list of guest speakers is posted here. More details and information about the event is posted on the CTN website.

“Star Wars” Episode 7: NMA animates the Disney-Lucas Deal

It’s been a long time since we posted something from Taiwanese animation madhouse Next Media Animation (NMA) – but this warrants your undivided attention. It’s their take on the $4 billion dollar Disney/Lucasfilm deal – with humanoid Minnie Mouse strippers, Sith-like George Lucas, dancing Buzz Lightyears, Ronald McDonald… I have no idea what it means—but it’s a hoot:

“Made by Molly” by Cam and Benny

This pilot for a pre-school pitch by Cameron Baity and Benny Zelkowicz (aka Cam and Benny) – about a little girl getting into trouble with her stuffed monster friend, Galoot – is a combination of traditional stop mo, drawn, CG, and even some rock-salt animation for the snow elements. It’s slick, professional and very, very cute.

The pair are Cal Arts graduates who have gone on to professional careers in stop-mo (Baity directs Morel Orel, Zelkowicz animates on Robot Chicken). Together, for a change of pace, they decided to “try to make something sunny and kid friendly”. Whether they sell the series or not, this test piece is a quite a charmer:

“Chasm” by Jan Šrámek and Martin Búřil

This music video, animated by Czech Republic-based artist/designer Jan Šrámek for experimental electro-acoustic performer Pjoni, feels more like an art piece. I mean that in a good way. I like the way it establishes an appropriately somber mood, using mostly straight lines and sharp angles.

CREDITS:
Direction: Jan Šrámek, Martin Búřil
Illustration: Jan Šrámek, Veronika Vlková
Animation: Jan Šrámek, Martin Búřil, Martina Chwistková

It’s A Spongebob Stop-Mo Christmas

When was the last time a prime-time TV Christmas Special was really special? I’ve seen this one – and it really is. Nickelodeon’s first full-length stop-motion animated special, It’s A SpongeBob Christmas! will premiere on CBS on Friday Nov. 23th, then begin airing about two weeks later on Nickelodeon, Thursday 12/6 at 8pm ET/PT. Inspired by the classic Rankin/Bass specials of the past, and featuring John Goodman and the voice of Santa Claus, the show was animated by Mark Cabellero and Seamus Walsh at Screen Novelties in Los Angeles. The special is available for purchase on DVD starting today.

Production on the show began in October 2011. Sixty pounds of baking soda, 42 pounds of glitter, 22 pounds of wood chips and 20 boxes of breakfast cereal were used to create the film’s sets. I made a quick visit to Screen Novelties studio a few weeks ago to get a first hand look at some of the props and puppets and talk to the guys. Join me by clicking the video below…

Jack Bosson, RIP

Word has come our way of the passing of a beloved artist, instructor and animation professional, Jack Bosson. Bosson was a practicing fine artist and freelance illustrator for over 35 years and had taught drawing and painting at Cornell University, College of New Rochelle, University of Southern California, Otis College of Art and Design, Gnomon, and Woodbury University. He did background painting briefly at Hanna-Barbera and was hired as a trainer in Feature Animation at Disney in 1995. In 1999, he continued as a training consultant to Disney and taught at various institutions until he was hired to set up an Animation Department at Woodbury University, which he chaired for three years. He retired last spring after eight years at Woodbury, as Professor Emeritus.

There can be no better tribute to the man, than this video of Jack creating a creature with only pencil in hand – via Sketch Theatre.

Box-Office Hero: “Wreck-It Ralph” is #1

Wreck-It Ralph was the box office champion this weekend with an estimated $49.1 million U.S. box office gross. This is reportedly the highest opening weekend ever for a Disney animated feature film. According to Box Office Mojo:

The movie’s audience skewed younger (57 percent under the age of 25) and male (55 percent), and they gave it a strong “A” CinemaScore. Considering the positive word-of-mouth and lack of competition over the next few weeks, Wreck-It Ralph could be on its way to as much as $200 million at the domestic box office.

Ralph took in almost double that of it’s nearest competitor – Robert Zemeckis’ Flight, which grossed about $25 million. Sony’s Hotel Transylvania has held on very well, with $4.5 million added this weekend to its total $137 million gross (so far). Frankenweenie is sinking fast, it’s total gross thus far at $33.3 million.

Friday in LA: Raymond Scott tribute at Redcat

What music do you think of when you see Porky and Daffy running through a factory?

There’s only one answer – and that piece (Powerhouse) was composed by Raymond Scott. This Friday at the Redcat theatre (behind the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown L.A.) in celebration of Scott’s musical career, former Oingo Boingo guitarist Steve Bartek and his band (including other Oingo Boingo alums) will perform the composer’s most well known animation-affiliated classics, while composer Ego Plum’s ensemble will re-create Scott’s experimental electronica. In addition, puppeteer Sean Cawelti will stage the first-ever “live interpretations of Scott’s film collaborations with Jim Henson”. Machine-Man: The Musical Mayhem of Raymond Scott starts at 8:30pm on Friday, November 9 at REDCAT, the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater.

Sounds like a great show. In the meantime, here’s a montage of Looney Tunes clips where Carl Stalling or Milt Franklin used Powerhouse on their soundtrack:

“Giving Me a Chance” By Gina Thorstensen and Nacho Rodriquez

Gina Thorstensen and Nacho Rodriquez are very cool. Their Barcelona-based Thorstencoo Productions made this “experi-mellow” music video for Gotye. It was produced over the course of five months and is a mix of flash and hand-painted illustration.

Even cooler than this video – I’m going to be interviewing Nacho Rodriquez in person at CTN Expo on Saturday November 17th. Be there!