Dreamworks animator David Stodolny has been working for the past 3 months in evenings and on weekends on this hand-drawn parody of The Hunger Games.
Check out this in-depth, behind the scenes look at how Stodolny created the film – in the video below:
“It’s the way the world works. Essentially, poverty is what makes the rich rich.”
Poor Us: An Animated History of Poverty is a new documentary by Ben Lewis, debuting this week throughout Europe, and on PBS in the United States. The special, will be shown on TV in over 70 countries, is an animated survey of over 10,000 years of poverty. It draws on interviews with economists and historians including Jeffrey Sachs (author, The End of Poverty), Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, Esther Duflo (MIT Poverty Lab and author, Poor Economics), Tim Hitchcock (Council of the Royal Historical Society), Emmanuel Akyeampong (Historian of Africa, Harvard) and Oscar Guardiola (Author, What if Latin America Ruled The World).
The animation portions of the film were directed by Fons Schiedon, designed by Cesare Davolio and Maarten Janssens, and animated by São Paulo, Brazil-based Birdo.
The director discusses the film at length on his website. American viewers can watch the entire film on the PBS website. Otherwise, here’s the trailer:
(Thanks, Fraser MacLean)
Nicholas Chatfield-Taylor’s new music video “Do the Devo” is a frame-by-framer’s delight. Chatfield-Taylor directed the piece for Unstoppable Death Machine during a 22-day residency at the Clocktower Gallery in Manhattan where over 160 people helped him draw frames. To catch all the creative (and NSFW) things happening in the video, make sure to switch the settings to high-def because the compression is awful on the default version.
(via Animal New York)
Call it “McKimson-palooza!” Next Friday December 7th, in Santa Monica, California, in celebration of the critically acclaimed book, I Say, I Say….Son! A Tribute to Legendary Animators Bob, Chuck, and Tom McKimson, the American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre is presenting a tribute the McKimson’s landmark Warner Bros. animation.
The lineup includes these classic cartoons in 35mm: Hillbilly Hare, Devil May Hare, Rabbit’s Kin, Hot Cross Bunny, Foghorn Leghorn, Bedevilled Rabbit, Bill of Hare, Tabasco Road, The High and the Flighty, Falling Hare and Walky Talky Hawky.
Robert McKimson Jr., John Kricfalusi (Spumco) and Darrell Van Citters (Renegade Animation) will sign copies of the book I Say, I Say….Son! at 6:00PM in the Aero theatre lobby. There will be a discussion following the screening with Kricfalusi, Van Citters and McKimson Jr. moderated by yours truly, Jerry Beck.
Where: Aero Theatre 1328 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA
(310) 260-1528When: Friday, December 7th, at 7:30 p.m. (booksigning begins at 6:00 p.m.)
The news today from Disney annoucing the promotion of Jennifer Lee (Screenplay, Wreck-It Ralph) to co-director (with Chris Buck) of Disney’s next major feature, Frozen, has animation people buzzing. After the PR debacle over the replacement of Brenda Chapman on Pixar’s Brave, could this be a sign of trouble – or just business as usual?
All I know is the advance visuals I’ve seen on the film look spectacular and I am prepared for a Frozen treat when Disney releases it next winter. Here’s the studio’s full press release:
BURBANK, Calif. (November 29, 2012) — Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) taps Jennifer Lee to join Chris Buck at the helm of its 53rd full-length animated feature “Frozen,” which is slated for the big screen on Nov. 27, 2013. Lee, who has contributed to the film’s screenplay, is one of the screenplay writers of this year’s hit arcade-hopping adventure “Wreck-It Ralph.”
Featuring the voices of Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel, “Frozen” is the coolest comedy-adventure ever to hit the big screen. When a prophecy traps a kingdom in eternal winter, Anna, a fearless optimist, teams up with extreme mountain man Kristoff and his sidekick reindeer Sven on an epic journey to find Anna’s sister Elsa, the Snow Queen, and put an end to her icy spell. Encountering mystical trolls, a funny snowman named Olaf, Everest-like extremes and magic at every turn, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom from destruction.
“Frozen” producer Peter Del Vecho says the match-up is perfect. “Jenn has a real connection to the film and creates dynamic and relatable characters. Her sense of comedy, adventure and story structure paired with Chris Buck’s vast experience and incredible instincts create an ideal situation for this film.”
Lee’s screen adaptation of John Steinbeck’s “The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights” is being produced by Troika Pictures. She has an original screenplay in development with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way, and her original script “Lucid Dreams” was optioned by Wolfgang Peterson’s Radiant Productions. Lee holds an MFA in Film from Columbia University and a BA in English from the University of New Hampshire.
Buck directed (with Kevin Lima) Disney’s 1999 high-swinging feature “Tarzan,” which won an Oscar® and a Golden Globe® for Best Music/Original Song (Phil Collins’ “You’ll Be in My Heart”). He directed (with Ash Brannon) 2007’s Oscar-nominated “Surf’s Up” for Sony Pictures Animation. His credits within animation also include 1989’s “The Little Mermaid,” “The Rescuers Down Under” (1990) and “Pocahontas” (1995).
With original songs by Tony®-award winner Robert Lopez (“The Book of Mormon,” “Avenue Q”) and Kristen Anderson-Lopez (“In Transit”), “Frozen” journeys into theaters Nov. 27, 2013, in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters. For more information, like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DisneyFrozen.
Former Cartoon Network animation artist Andy J. Smith has a thriving illustration, children’s book and advertising career in Newburyport Massachusetts. He’s just finished up a series of gorgeous animated spots for Fat Louis Wines. The project was done mostly in Flash, and aided by a handful of super talented artists from the animation world (like former Sesame Street Workshop AD, Dagan Moriarty) and a few kid lit illustrators (like the uber-prolific Kelly Murphy). Here they are collected into a 3-minute compilation:
Just in time for the holidays… I’ve received hard cover revised editions of two essential animation books. Both were must-have’s in their original printings. Now both are even better.
First up, animator Darrell Van Citters has added 40 more pages to his labor of love, Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol: The Making of The First Animated Christmas Special. I first raved about this book back in 2009. This new edition comes in a slipcover, and is a limited edition of 250 copies (I hear he’s got less than 100 left – order it now!). Darrell has expanded every section, with additional text incorporating research he uncovered while writing his companion blog; more rare artwork, recently unearthed; and revised layouts making this a richer experience. Literally the final word on the subject – Van Citters’ Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol Commemorative 50th Anniversary Edition is a must for all UPA fans and vintage TV buffs.
Rick Goldschmidt – the Rankin-Bass expert-of-experts – has gone overboard (in a good way) by expanding his already essential 176-page 1997 labor-of-love, The Enchanted World of Rankin-Bass, into a monster 296-page (120 additional pages!) limited edition. This 15th Anniversary Edition is for anyone who worships at the altar of Rudolf, Frosty and Mad Monster Party. It contains 84 new color pages of rare photos and artwork, including original concept sketches and storyboard artwork – and beautiful tribute pieces by Bruce Timm, Mike Fontenelli, Patrick Owsley, Mark Christiansen, Matt Pott and others. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Order it now!
The producers at Laika created a series of brief behind-the-scenes virals to communicate the handmade production details that went into making ParaNorman – which went on sale on DVD and blu-ray yesterday. Here’s the one I like best, and it was just posted online today: production designer Nelson Lowry walking us through the intricate process of bringing the handmade world of ParaNorman to life, one frame at a time.
Beginning today in Montreal and continuing through Sunday is the 11th annual Montreal Animated Film Summit (Les Sommets du cinéma d’animation de Montréal, for all you fancy French speakers). This year’s event, the largest yet, takes place at the Cinémathèque québécoise.
The Summit will present over 125 animated shorts as part of competition screenings and panoramas. Special guests include David OReilly, who will present his work on Friday evening, as well as Franck Dion (director of the NFB short Edmond was a Donkey) and experimental filmmaker Steven Woloshen. A range of workshops, exhibitions and discussions accompany the film screenings.
The festival leader was created by Patrick Doyon, the director of last year’s Oscar-nominated short Sunday:
“A taxidermist has just died. His widow and a team of funeral directors pay him their last respect.”
Le Taxidermiste was directed by Paulin Cointot, Dorianne Fibleuil, Antoine Robert & Maud Sertour at the animation school Supinfocom (Arles) during the 2010/2011 school term.
Pedro Eboli directed, designed and animated this kids music video with Brazilian based Birdo Studio. Its being played at live concerts, as an animated backdrop for Brazilian childrens band Little Citizen (aka “Pequeno Cidadão“); the lyrics tell the story of a kid who goes into the living room and sees the furniture dancing.
There´s more info and images over at the Birdo website. Studio founders Paulo Muppet and Luciana Eguti produced the piece.
Also check out this Birdo piece I posted in 2008, one of my favorite bits of retro animation.
To bring attention to gender inequality and the poor representation of girls and women in children’s media, Newton Massachusetts-based Hero4Hire Creative partnered with actress/advocate Geena Davis to launch See Jane, a national public awareness campaign. This beautiful new PSA uses a combination of traditional hand drawn with computer animation techniques. Adrian Garcia directed based on designs by Lindsay Small-Butera.
CREDITS
Director: Adrian Garcia
Designer: Lindsay Small-Butera
Animators: Dan Flynn, Mike Nordstorm, Adrian Garcia
Writer: Allison Dressler Kramer
Original Score: Daniel Koren
Voiceover Talent: Mira Downie
Sound Design: John Moreland
Executive Producers: Allison Kramer/Joan Meister
Creative Director: Evan Sussman
Minneapolis Minnesota-based studio MAKE created these two Quit Smoking public service announcements, using live action and wonderful hand-drawn character animation.
CREDITS FOR BOTH SPOTS
Creative Director: Danny Robashkin
Writer/Director/Producer/Editor/Sound Design: Mike P. Nelson
DP: Nick Junkersfeld
Production Sound: Tom Colvin
Puppeteers: Justin Weber, Josh Clos, Chang Dai, Alec Mueller
Animators: Andrew Chesworth, Justin Weber, Aaron Quist, Alec Mueller, Michelle Yoon, Josh Schneider, Chang Dai
Assistant Animators: Jordan Hill, Niklas Norman
Compositing/Finishing: Daniel Broadway, Josh Clos
3D artist: Aaron Dabelow
The Interviewer….Kevin Klein
Eric……..Charles Hubbell
Lexi……..Lindsey Dumire
Looking for the perfect unique gift for that special animation nerd in your life? Or maybe you just want to give yourself a special treat. Either way, you can’t go wrong with any of these hand-picked animation and cartoon-related goodies. For the price conscious, I’ve arranged them by cost, with the lowest-priced items first.
Wreck-It Ralph Little Golden Book
$3.99 on Amazon
The Perfect American
$10.85 on Amazon
This controversial fictionalized account of Walt Disney’s life will be much talked about in the coming months since it is the basis of a new opera by Philip Glass that will premiere next year.
The Prince of Cats
$11.35 on Amazon
Fantastic high-energy artwork by an artist who has done character design on Adult Swim’s Black Dynamite
Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth
$11.55 on Amazon
Life in the Analog Age: A Time Before Volume 2 by Gabe Swarr
$11.99 on his personal website
The Day the Cow Sneezed
$13.49 on Amazon
If you don’t want this book, I don’t know what to tell you.
Adventure Time Finn boxers
$13.50-$16.65 on Amazon
Once the ladies see you in these, you’ll never spend another night alone!
Phil Mendez 2013 Year-in-Progress Calendar
$15 on StuartNgBooks.com
Keep track of the year with drawings by animation legend Phil Mendez
Bugs Bunny Superstar
$15.39 on Amazon
This long out-of-print 1975 documentary about Warner Bros. animation is worth it just for the film footage of Bob Clampett, Tex Avery and Friz Freleng.
My Little Pony “Brony” Wallet
$16.50 on Amazon
My preferred method for carrying lots of cash around town!
Pixar Short Films Collection 2
$19.96 on Amazon
A collection of twelve recent Pixar shorts including Presto, Day & Night and La Luna. Also includes six CalArts student films by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Pete Docter.
Skadi volume 1 by Katie Rice and Luke Cormican
$20 on their personal website
Spacehawk
$23.21 on Amazon
Amazing pop art decades before the term existed.
Mighty Mouse: The New AdventuresThe Complete Series
$23.70 on Amazon
A must-have for anyone interested in the history of modern TV animation. 2012 marks the 25th anniversary of this seminal show.
Walt’s People, Vol. 12:
$23.99 on Amazon
If you’ve missed the first 11 volumes, don’t miss this super-packed twelfth one. More details about the contents HERE
It’s Kind of a Cute Story by Rolly Crump as told to Jeff Heimbuch
$24.95 on Bamboo Forest Publishing or a limited edition, hardcover edition signed by legendary Disney Imagineer Rolly Crump for $59.95 on Bamboo Forest Publishing
Deconstructing Dad: The Music, Machines and Mystery of Raymond Scott DVD
$24.95 on ScottDoc.com
A documentary by the son of and about the experimental music composer Raymond Scott whose music was used by everybody from Jim Henson to Bob Clampett.
Poster Art of the Disney Parks
$26.04 on Amazon
Rowland B. Wilson’s Trade Secrets: Notes on Cartooning and Animation
$26.37 on Amazon
Herve Morvan: The Genius of French Poster Art
$27.70 on Amazon
Comics Sketchbooks: The Unseen World of Today’s Most Creative Talents
$29.97 on Amazon
Evoke: The Art of Dave Pimentel
$29.99 on his personal website
Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two video game
$29.99-$59.96 on Amazon
Dr. Seuss: The Cat Behind the Hat
$37.50 on Amazon
Beany and Cecil 2-DVD set
Available for $54.90 on BeanyandCecil.com
Animation history buffs will be delighted by the amazing extras on both volumes. See the contents for Volume 1 and Volume 2
It’s “Cyber Monday” in the US, the Monday after Thanksgiving: the biggest online shopping day of the year. However we at Cartoon Brew have nothing to sell you. In fact, we are giving things away.
Yes it’s another pop quiz – and the first five readers to post the correct answer below (in the Comments section) will win a DVD copy of documentary Adventures in Plymptoons.
Courtesy of our friends at Plymptoons and Cinema Libre Studio Adventures in Plymptoons! goes deep inside the method and madness of America’s most independent animator, creatively incubated in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. Interviews with many of Plympton’s collaborators, such as Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob SquarePants), David Silverman (Director, The Simpsons Movie), Terry Gilliam (Director, Monty Python and the Holy Grail), Ed Begley, Jr., Moby and “Weird Al” Yankovic, offer candid and comedic insights into the irreverent man who has become an international success by not selling out.
When we run out of Plymptoons DVDs, the next three correct answers will win a DVD of the Academy Award nominated French animated feature A Cat In Paris.
Courtesy of our friends at GKids and NewVideo, the Academy Award-nominated A Cat In Paris is a beautifully hand-drawn caper set in the shadow-drenched alleyways of Paris; a witty and stylish “animated noir” with a jazzy soundtrack featuring Billie Holiday and a thrilling climax on top of Notre Dame cathedral, featuring the voices of Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden (Mystic River), Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston (The Royal Tenenbaums) and Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket).
And the Trivia Question is:
What was the name of Bill Plympton’s first animated feature film?CONTEST NOW CLOSED!
Winners will be contacted by email and will be required to give their mailing address. If you didn’t win, I still highly recommend you get both videos – both are hugely entertaining and make great Holiday gifts for the animation fan in your family.
