Events

This Sunday in London: Centennial Tribute to Pioneering Animator Joy Batchelor

On Sunday April 13, as part of the Bird’s Eye Film Festival, the Barbican art centre in London is set to hold an event to mark the centenary of animator Joy Batchelor. Speaking at the event will be Joy’s daughter Vivien Halas; author and former Channel 4 commissioning editor for animation Clare Kitson; BFI animation curator Jez Stewart, and film critic Brian Sibley, whose work includes books on Disney and Aardman.

Cartoon Brew Pick

‘Yellow Sticky Notes: Canadian Anijam’ by Jeff Chiba Stearns

An ‘Anijam’ is a collaborative animation where various artists create individual short animated segments that are linked together to make one larger film. For the first time in Canadian history, 15 of Canada’s most acclaimed independent animators have come together to create a collaborative animated film. "Yellow Sticky Notes: Canadian Anijam" is an innovative and global approach to animation filmmaking and unites animators from coast to coast, from Vancouver to Halifax and all parts in between, to self reflect on one day of their lives using only 4x6 inch yellow sticky notes, a black pen and animation meditation.

Cartoon Brew Pick

‘Doctor, My Son is an Animator’ by Marcos Magalhaes

“He doesn't play football… he’s only drawing, all the time. What’s his problem, Doctor?” Only a specialist can find out… Real animators were asked to give their animated and live action testimonies about their childhood as animators. It is indeed a strange condition...

Events

Animation Torrent Festival Will Debut in Chicago Next Month

The United States has surprisingly few animation festivals for a country of its size, but increasingly we are seeing smaller local events that serve as a substitute for the festival experience. Animation Breakdown is an ongoing series in Los Angeles, and Chicago animation fans, who already enjoy the Eyeworks Festival of Experimental Animation, will see the arrival of Animation Torrent next month.

Animators

‘The Hero of Color City’ Brings Crayons to Life

If LEGO can have its own movie, so can crayons. At least that's the thinking behind "The Hero of Color City," an animated feature being distributed in the U.S. by Magnolia Pictures, which also distributes the Oscar-nominated short films as well as documentaries like "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" and "Blackfish."

TV

New Artwork from Nick’s Upcoming ‘Funny’ Shows

As part of its recent upfront presentation, Nickelodeon released new art from their previously announced series: "Pig Goat Banana Cricket," "Bad Seeds" and "Welcome to the Wayne." If their new slate of shows look comedy-centric, it's the result of Nick's market research, which revealed to them that children rank laughter as more important than vacation, family meals and holidays.

DVD

Latest Issue of ‘Believer’ Contains Exclusive DVD of Restored Hubley Shorts

"The Believer" is one of the magazines in "McSweeney’s" indie publishing empire. Published nine times a year, it focuses primarily on books, but occasionally devotes an issue to another topic. This year, the March/April film issue includes a DVD of shorts by John and Faith Hubley, in tribute to John Hubley’s centennial, which happens on May 21st.

Feature Film

Kirby Atkins is Making Progress On His Feature ‘Beast of Burden’

While working on his short film "Mutt" in 1999, television writer/animation director Kirby Atkins ("3-2-1 Penguins," "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius") conceived of a new idea about anthropomorphized cartoon animals. Over time, that idea evolved into the concept for his new feature "Beast of Burden," which is currently in development at Huhu Studios in New Zealand.

Patrick Kyle
Artist of the Day

Artist of the Day: Patrick Kyle

Patrick Kyle is a Toronto-based comic artist and illustrator. His non-traditional comic designs often feature troll-like creatures and a world rendered with a flat sense of abstract space and gradated pastel and neon hues.

CGI

First Look: “The Absence of Eddy Table” by Dave Cooper and Rune Spaans

No, these are not snapshots from the latest window display at Kidrobot, they are advance images from the upcoming CG short "The Absence of Eddy Table." The superbly lowbrow PVC collectible aesthetic that you see is the result of an artistic collaboration between Canadian comic artist and illustrator Dave Cooper and Norwegian animation director Rune Spaans.

Recaps

‘Steven Universe’ Recap: ‘Giant Woman’

Last week Steven put Garnet on a pedestal"and quickly learned she has flaws. This week in “Giant Woman,” he was fixated on the idea of what Amethyst and Pearl could be if they fused and became the “ultra powerful being” known as Opal.

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