In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, here are two photo galleries worth exploring:
This you gotta see.
Collector Mel Birnkrant has posted an amazing story – and gallery – of art created by amateur wood carver Charles Ponstingl. Beginning in 1973 Ponstingl began (at age 38) carving over 200 wood dioramas, creating three-dimensional shadowbox homages to beloved comic strip and animated cartoon characters.
In addition to doing pieces devoted to Disney classics, Ponstingl tackled everything from Little Nemo to Mary Jane and Sniffles! Mutt and Jeff, Snuffy Smith, Popeye, Beetle Bailey, Sad Sack are some of the comic strips he did; Felix The Cat, Daffy Duck, Woody Woodpecker, Mickey, Donald and Goofy are among the animated characters he’s carved.
Some of the carvings are spot on recreations, some are way off-model – but all of them are charming and clearly done with a lot of love and care.
Collector Birnkrant discovered Ponstingl’s folk art and bought many of the pieces – telling the remarkable story behind them and showing off the collection on his website. Click thumbnails below to enlarge three great examples – check out the story and see more amazing stuff here.
(Thanks, Ed Austin and Mark Mayerson)
I’m a big fan of retro-animation tributes – here’s a clever one in comic strip form. Ohio-based cartoonist Anthony Hunter has begun posting Silent Sillies (“A silent cartoon… in comic strip form”) one each week on his new website.
Hunter has a whole cast of period characters and illustrates a different silent animation cliche each week in cute and clever ways. Here’s a sample:
Calling all students! Warner Bros. Animation is trying to get the word out on an animation scholarship program that the studio is offering to graduating high school students/incoming college Freshman. Below is the basic info along with a link to the application. It’s a great opportunity… don’t be a moroon – go for it!
2013 Warner Bros. Animation/Hanna-Barbera Honorship
Who: Any graduating high school senior enrolling in a college, university, or trade school to study animation.
What: Through the Warner Bros. Reach program, one outstanding student is awarded the Hanna-Barbera/Animation Honorship each year that includes a scholarship and four full-time paid internships at the company during four consecutive summers while enrolled in college. Successful Reach program graduates will be eligible for full-time positions at Warner Bros.
How: Application (w/ instructions) can be downloaded via this link.
When: Application deadline is by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 4, 2013
Brad Bird has leaked (via Twitter) this poster for The Incredibles.
It was painted by Robert McGinnis, the veteran artist who created the advertising art for many 60s spy flicks, including the Matt Helm and James Bond movies (Thunderball, You Only Live Twice), poster art for the iconic Breakfast At Tiffanys and Barbarella, and over 1200 paperback novels. McGinnis began his career as an apprentice at the Walt Disney Studio.
Here’s the poster that might have been, if Brad Bird had his way…
(Thanks, Ed Austin via BleedingCool.com)
Take a look at this beautiful new video for folk-rock sister trio The Staves by UK directing duo Karni and Saul Freed…
Once upon a time, long before Buzz Lightyear and Lightning MacQueen, Pixar was a struggling start-up looking for clients interested in their imaging computers. Here is their sales demo reel from 1988. It shows what the studio was producing in the earliest days before character animation took over – and also features an appearance by a younger Ed Catmull.
(Thanks, Chris Sobieniak)
The Annie Award nominated The Rabbi’s Cat is getting its “real” LA, SF and San Diego theatrical release this month. I urge you all to see it (especially in 3D). It’s a beautiful adaptation of an acclaimed graphic novel by Joann Sfar.
The film will will be playing at multiple theaters, with one 3D option for the die-hards, starting January 18th. In San Francisco it will be at the Landmark Embarcadero and the Smith Rafael Film Center. In San Diego the film will play at the Landmark Hillcrest. In Los Angeles The Rabbi’s Cat opens at the Downtown Independent (in 3D), the Laemmle Music Hall (on Wilshire), Laemmle Playhouse in Pasadena and Laemmle’s Town Center in Encino.
The Rabbi’s Cat tells the story of a rabbi and his talking cat – “a sharp-tongued feline philosopher brimming with scathing humor and a less than pure love for the rabbi’s voluptuous teenage daughter. Set in Algeria in the 1930s, an intersection of Jewish, Arab and French culture.” Co-Director Joann Sfar is an award winning filmmaker and one of France’s most celebrated comic artists.
This is an uber-cute, beautifully designed kids music video starring “Huggtopus”, a Kimochis character. Kimochis are “Toys with feelings inside”, a plush doll line created by Nina Rappaport Rowan. Directed by Rowan with Gordon Clark; Daniel Peixe did the rough animation of the characters, following Gordon Clark and Mike Overbeck story boards. Zach Gill wrote and performed a the song.
Art director Santiago Agusti wrote to tell us:
I’m from Spain (and living in Spain) and animator Dani Peixe is now living in L.A. and working at Disney. Once I had the roughs on my hands, I did the clean-ups, added colors, some extra animation, types, compositing and vfx there. All the other people who appear on the credits are from the U.S., mainly The Bay Area. I`m doing some art direction for them, as well as animation, mini comics which come with the Plush Toy Box, iphone games, etc. Here is a 7-second video where I put animation on real footage, playing with my kid.
San Francisco-based illustrator/animator Dan McHale made this cool experimental short film that plays with the RGB (or additive color model).
Italian-American artist Joe Magro was hired at Disney in 1936 during the studio’s expansion to produce Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Originally from Rochester, New York, Magro was attending Mechanics Institute (now Rochester Institute of Technology) when his teacher Fritz Trautmann suggested that he apply to the Disney studio.
Magro left Disney in 1937 and returned to the East Coast. He apparently stayed long enough at the studio to make friends with the other artists. We know that because when Magro left, his Disney colleagues presented him with a “good luck” book filled with gag drawings. The drawings from that book are currently being auctioned by Heritage Auctions and include pieces by Fred Moore, Ward Kimball, Bill Tytla, Grim Natwick and Marc Davis, among others.
I’ve collected all the pieces in the gallery below. It’s a beautiful set of cartoon drawings by some very talented artists.
(Thanks, Mark Mayerson)
Seattle-based animator/designer Colin Hesterly is the Creative Director of the filmmaking agency The Academy. Check out their first hand-drawn film, its very short, but its pretty spectacular.
Says Hesterly, “Hammer & Hand follows the mysterious journey of one man creating something bigger and better than himself”. Some cool behind the scenes material is posted here. Character Design and animation is by Yassir Rasan.
Who says DVD is dead? Warner Home Video has announced the latest release in its Looney Tunes Super Stars series: Sylvester & Hippety Hopper: Marsupial Mayhem.
This DVD features 18 classic cartoons re-mastered to perfection (17 of these Looney Tunes never-before-seen on DVD), featuring Sylvester versus the “giant mouse” (aka Hippety Hopper). In addition to every Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies appearance of the baby kangaroo, the disc also includes each and every cartoon featuring Sylvester’s long suffering son, Sylvester Junior.
The single-disc release is scheduled for April 23rd priced at $19.98 SRP ($13.99 on amazon for 18 Robert McKimson cartoon classics. Titles included are listed below:
HOP, LOOK & LISTEN
HIPPETY HOPPER
POP ‘IM POP!
WHO’S KITTEN WHO?
HOPPY-GO-LUCKY
CATS AWEIGH!
BELL HOPPY
LIGHTHOUSE MOUSE
TOO HOP TO HANDLE
SLAP-HOPPY MOUSE
MOUSE-TAKEN IDENTITY
HOPPY DAZE
FREUDY CAT
CAT’S PAW
FISH AND SLIPS
BIRDS OF A FATHER
CLAWS IN THE LEASE
GOLDIMOUSE AND THE THREE CATS
(via TV Shows On DVD)
Here is the trailer for the forthcoming Disney video game, Disney Infinity:
Welcome to Disney 2013, where synergy rules – or perhaps, runs amok! Imagine a similar game in a few years mashing up the Muppets, Marvel Superheroes and The Lion King.
For now, click here to see a “cast photo” of the characters involved in Disney Infinity and their redesign for the game.
From the press release:
DISNEY INFINITY unlocks the freedom to play with some of your favorite Disney and Disney/Pixar worlds like never before! You can experience adventures in the worlds of Pirates of the Caribbean, The Incredibles and Monsters University – take on the role of Sulley, the naturally gifted ‘scarer’; become Captain Jack Sparrow, the sword-wielding pirate; or transform yourself into Mr. Incredible, one of the world’s greatest crime-fighters. Battle enemies, solve puzzles, overcome obstacles and complete a variety of other unique quests.
Or create your own world! Unlock virtual toys, characters, buildings, weapons, gadgets and more — and bring them into the Disney Infinity ‘Toy Box’ where you can mix them all up to create your own game. In the Disney Infinity Toy Box, there are no rules and you can create any adventure you want. Share your creations with your friends with up to 4-player co-op play.
The more you play, the more you unlock so the story never ends. It’s up to you and your imagination — infinite possibilities, infinite ways to inspire your imagination!
Disney Infinity will be available in Summer 2013 on all major gaming platforms including PS3, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Nintendo 3DS.
Once again, the only way the world gets a chance to see the Oscar nominated short films – before the Academy Awards – is through the theatrical program released by Magnolia Pictures, this year in conjunction with ShortsHD.
The program will screen in over 260 theatres on February 1st and the release includes the animation, live action and documentary shorts. It goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway): Go!
The Press Release is posted below.
Los Angeles, CA, January 15, 2013 – ShortsHD™ The Short Movie Channel (www.shorts.tv), working with Magnolia Pictures, will release The Oscar® Nominated Short Films 2013 in over 260 theatres across the United States, Canada and Europe on February 1, 2013. This is the 8th year of the Oscar Nominated Short Film Theatrical Release. The announcement comes on the heels of last year’s record-breaking release, which was one of the top 50 grossing independent film releases in North America, earning over $1,700,000 nationwide. Since its debut in 2005, the Oscar® Nominated Short Films theatrical release program has grown 800%.
A key fixture of the awards season, the theatrical release featuring Live Action, Animation and Documentary short films is the only opportunity for audiences around the country to watch the nominated shorts prior to the 85th Academy Awards® ceremony on February 24, 2013.
This year’s release breaks new ground: a past Oscar winner in that category will host each film. Hosting the Live Action program will be director Luke Matheny, who won the Academy Award® for his Live Action Short film God of Love (2011); hosting the Animated Shorts program are Bill Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg who won the Academy Award® for their Animated Short Film The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (2011); and hosting the Short Documentary program is Daniel Junge, co-director of last year’s Academy Award® winner for Best Short Documentary Saving Face.
This year’s release includes the following Nominated short films:
ANIMATION
Adam & Dog – (director: Minkyu Lee, USA) The story about the dog of Eden. What happened in those first days of Creation that made Man and Dog so inseparable? The dog, as he lives through this curious world, encounters a strange creature; a human being named Adam – and with that discovers a new found connection to the world.
Fresh Guacamole – (director: PES, USA) Learn how to transform familiar objects into Fresh Guacamole!
Head Over Heels – (director: Timothy Reckart, UK) After many years of marriage, Walter and Madge have grown apart: he lives on the floor and she lives on the ceiling. When Walter discovers a long-lost memento of their wedding day, he tries to reignite their old romance. But it brings their equilibrium crashing down, and the couple that can’t agree which way is up must find a way to put their marriage back together.
Maggie Simpson in ‘The Longest Daycare’ (director: David Silverman, USA) Maggie Simpson spends a day at the Ayn Rand Daycare Center where she is diagnosed at an average intelligence level. Longing to be grouped with the gifted children, Maggie finds her destiny by rescuing a lonely cocoon from Baby Gerald, who is busy smooshing butterflies.
Paperman -(director: John Kahrs, USA) Paperman follows the story of a lonely young man in mid-century New York City, whose destiny takes an unexpected turn after a chance meeting with a beautiful woman on his morning commute. Convinced the girl of his dreams is gone forever, he gets a second chance when he spots her in a skyscraper window across the avenue from his office. With only his heart, imagination and a stack of papers to get her attention, his efforts are no match for what the fates have in store for him.
LIVE ACTION
Asad – (director: Bryan Buckley, South Africa) Set in a war-torn fishing village in Somalia, an all Somali refugee cast brings to life this coming of age fable of a Somali boy who is faced with falling into the pirate life, or rising above to choose the path of an honest fishing man.
Buzkashi Boys – (director: Sam French, Afghanistan) Set against the dramatic landscape of contemporary Afghanistan and the national sport of Buzkashi – a brutal game of horse polo played with a dead goat – Buzkashi Boys tells the coming of age story of two best friends, a charismatic street urchin and a defiant blacksmith’s son, who struggle to realize their dreams as they make their way to manhood in one of the most war-torn countries on Earth.
Curfew – (director: Shawn Christensen, USA) At the lowest point of his life, Richie gets a call from his estranged sister, asking him to look after his nine-year old niece, Sophia, for the evening.
Death of a Shadow – (director: Tom Van Avermaet, France and Belgium) Soldier Nathan died during World War I. A strange collector imprisoned his shadow and gave him a new chance: a second life against 10,000 captured shadows. It is love that guides him, as his purpose is to meet Sarah again, the woman he fell in love with before he died. But then he discovers that she’s already in love with someone else, jealousy clouds his mind and pushes him towards a bitter decision, not without consequences.
Henry – (director: Yan England, Canada) Henry, a great concert pianist, has his life thrown in turmoil the day the love of this life, Maria, disappears mysteriously. He’ll then discover the inevitable verdict of life.
DOCUMENTARY
Inocente – (directors: Sean Fine and Andrea Nix, USA) An intensely personal and vibrant coming of age documentary about a young artist’s fierce determination to never surrender to the bleakness of her surroundings. At 15, Inocente refuses to let her dream of becoming an artist be caged by her life as an undocumented immigrant forced to live homeless for the last nine years. Inocente is both a timeless story about the transformative power of art and a timely snapshot of the new face of homelessness in America — children.
King’s Point – (director: Sari Gilman, USA) Kings Point tells the stories of five seniors living in a typical American retirement resort-men and women who came to Florida decades ago with their spouses by their sides and their health intact, and now find themselves grappling with love, loss and the universal desire for human connection.
Mondays at Racine – (director: Cynthia Wade, USA) Every third Monday of the month, in brassy Long Island, sisters Cynthia and Rachel open up their hair salon, called Racine, and offer free beauty services for women undergoing chemotherapy. The sisters are determined to give women who are losing their hair, eyebrows and eyelashes a sense of normalcy and dignity in a traumatic and uncertain time. The story of what hair means in our culture quickly unfolds into an unexpected look at womanhood, marriage and survival.
Open Heart – (director: Keif Davidson, USA) Eight Rwandan children leave their families behind to embark on a life-or-death journey seeking high-risk heart surgery in Sudan. Their hearts ravaged by a treatable disease from childhood strep throat, the kids have only months to live. Open Heart reveals the intertwined endeavors of Dr. Emmanuel Rusingiza, Rwanda’s lone government cardiologist, as he fights to save the lives of his young patients, and Dr. Gino Strada, the Salam Center’s head surgeon who must convince Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir’s government to keep Africa’s only link to life-saving cardiac surgery free of charge for the millions who need it.
Redemption – (directors: Jon Alpert & Matthew O’Neill, USA) In the documentary Redemption, filmmakers Jon Alpert & Matthew O’Neill closely follow this growing army of New Yorkers whose treasures are in the trash. The film is a chance to meet the marginalized masses we often rush past on our way to catch a bus or make a meeting. They are poor but proud New Yorkers – people who don’t ask for a handout – people whose hands rake through the discards of our lives – building their lives one nickel at a time.
