Richard Williams at the Motion Picture Academy

Not to be glum, but that Friday evening October 4th will probably be the last time I see Richard Williams in person. As part of the Marc Davis Celebration of Animation, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave the evening to Richard. It had been a long day, and my stomach was acting up. I felt a bit trampled watching the autograph hounds mob him after the presentation. It was his night, and I figured he would make it home okay.

http://www.oscars.org/events-exhibitions/events/2013/10/this-amazing-medium.html

Richard recounted the key animated films that had shaped his career, such as the "Silly Song" sequence from Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", the performance by Milt Kahl of the tiger Shere Khan from the "Jungle Book", the demon from the "Night on Bald Mountain" from "Fantasia", and John Hubley's "Rooty Toot Toot". I'd never seen "Rooty Toot Toot" before, I thought I knew most of John Hubley's work.

After outlining how these classics influenced him, Richard also took us through his work with his 1972 "A Christmas Carol", "The Return of the Pink Panther", "The Thief and the Cobbler", and of course, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit". "The Rabbit", as Richard called it, earned him an Oscar for Special Achievement in Animation. Roger Rabbit was the film that finally got me to move to California, and get into animation.

We also got to see his personal project "Circus Drawings" that he finished in 2010. Richard converted sketches he did observing a small circus in Spain into a short animated film. Very dreamy, very smooth animation on "ones".

Here's the cover from the evening's program:

And here's the program from the Roger Rabbit 25th Reunion that I managed to glom onto.
(I think I got the last one!)

Still, it was good to set foot inside the Samuel Goldwyn Theater again. I still have some photos from my first Hollywood trip where our teacher, Phil Skerry, got us to let us pose with Oscars.

 

Paul McCartney's High in the Clouds animated project

It looks like Sir Paul McCartney will be involved with the production of a new feature based on his children's book "High in the Clouds". The articles state that these will be a stereo-optic 3D production, although oldies 1150 radio mentioned that the former Beatle prefers hand-drawn animation. There's also buzz that audiences are tired of the glasses, and the expense of going to 3D movies. Maybe they'll change before production starts.

http://www.oldies1150.com/News/Music.aspx?articleID=1151036

http://www.awn.com/news/films/animated-feature-planned-paul-mccartney-s-high-clouds

http://variety.com/2013/film/news/paul-mccartneys-high-in-the-clouds-heading-for-big-screen-1200682182/

Wish we could get more royalty to support animation...
Looks like it had a false start in 2009 -

http://www.michaelspornanimation.com/splog/?p=1891

My Stop-Motion project

Finally got my storyboard for my stop-mo project. Check it out here -

http://kenroskosanimationthesis.blogspot.com/

RFX Inc. Autodesk User Group Meeting at Gnomon

Pretty awesome stuff with Maya, Massive and more! I was intrigued by "reality capture": now we can generate mesh with regular digital cameras, using 123D Catch. All courtesy of RFX Inc.

http://www.rfx.com/

http://www.123dapp.com/catch

Excellent and fun presentations by Autodesk's Marcel de Jong and Mark Schoennagel.

http://www.gnomonschool.com/?p=2832

And many thanks to the Gnomon staff for setting up the show and buying the pizzas.
Nice to get out of the Valley and see old Hollywood.

Cute Stuff - Part IV - Adorable Dynamic Damsels look development

Here is some further ruff cleanup and color for the Adorable Dynamic Damsels-

And a 60's style color design.

More coloring in Photoshop

Someday I'll get this done. But beyond my personal satisfaction, I don't know if there is any market for these characters. Cubcake (the squirrel-girl) is sort of the team's hot-head, and has hit or miss magic powers. She is also the team gearhead and hot rod driver. Jet Puffin, with her power suit, has the genius of Tony Stark, but is more of the "mom" of the group. Lady Cobra is the real mystic of the group. She works as a librarian. Her coils are strong and dexterous enough to handle most of the volumes.

Hug Life Street Poster

I like Philip Lumbang's work, "Hug Life". That's instead of thug life, I guess.

He has cute characters that are bold and positive, and not just sickly sweet.

But I saw this poster over a year ago on a bus stop on Barham across from Oakwood Apartments near Universal City. It's cool, but it looks like it was done in collaboration with someone named "becca". This poster has been painted over now. The Awesome Bear is in "James Bond" mode, shaken, not stirred.

(And the "Martini Bear" seems to have a hot date!)

You can see his work and the original poster at http://philiplumbang.tumblr.com/tagged/becca

http://philiplumbang.tumblr.com/page/2

More of my cute stuff either today or tomorrow.

Cute Stuff - Part II

Here's a woodcut from a print making class back at old Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. It was done probably when Edinboro was Edinboro State College.

More weird than cute I guess. Horse and rider become blended together. This was shown in Woodbury University's faculty art show last spring.

Cute Stuff - Part I

It's been a while since I've posted anything original on Animation Re-creation. After scribbling for years, I've got some work I'm proud of. But I'm still self conscious about showing it. Here's why:

Animation artists and cartoonists seem to be split into two camps: the majority seem to be easy going... well, to put it bluntly, nerds. But I've seen a smaller group, the more macho, athletic group who practice martial arts, mountain biking and other deadly weekend pursuits. They make me feel lame as I'm shoving that extra piece of pizza in my face.

So, it appears I fall in with the majority. It's hard to pose as a too-hot-to-handle "weekend warrior" when I'm drawing cutesy stuff like this:

This is my "Cubcake" character. She's a tough, but sweet amalgamation of girlfriends from my past. She's also a mixture of squirrel, bunny, kitty and a few other critters mixed in. I figure she can give Bugs Bunny a run for his money.

C'est la Vie.

Snail with Halo- More street poster Art around North Hollywood

And this cute little guy was put up on the old Camera Craft storefront on the corner of Vineland, Lankershim and Camarillo. All the art was drawn on large post office mailers. He's got these blanked out, swirly eyes and a halo over his head; is the artist saying this fella has croaked?

They were side by side on Camera Craft; here's a lighter one in light beige and tan, with no post office mailer surrounding it.

This looks like it would make a cool toy, or a nice stuffed animal. I guess the meaning is up to me. There is no other information on the web that I can find so far. There's a whole world to the street art poster movement that I'm just learning about. From what I've Googled, this art may be in several different cities, and could have come from the other side of the country. Or the world.

Whale goes Poof - Street poster Art around North Hollywood

These posters have been around my neighborhood since the beginning of the year. I don't see any name.
They look like interesting, and fun characters.

On second thought, this whale looks like he's in distress. I also noticed a big, cartoony poster of Swiss cheese on a signal box on the corner. Someone took the time and resources to put these up around the area.

This was near the corner of Camarillo and Cahuenga. Does anyone know who made these?

More bloody spam!

Good article from Andres Tirado on spam.

http://www.tecnoxps.com/2012/08/how-much-spam-visit-your-blog-some.html

All this technology, and people have to burrow into our computers like some sort of...
Never mind.

Wander over yonder

Now this looks like fun! Wander over Yonder reminds me of Tom Terrific done in a Quisp cereal style, with a little BraveStarr thrown in. The star on Wander's hat made me think he was some type of marshall, but I guess he's just the opposite. I like the magic setting of going from planet to planet, looking for adventure. And a spot for the perfect picnic.

https://www.google.com/search?q=wander+over+yonder&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#

Looks like the Disney Channel is getting a boost now that Craig McCracken has left Cartoon Network. McCracken is the creator and executive producer of the show. McCracken had created the Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends for CN. It's not so much about the studio name anymore, but where the top talent goes

I like the contrast between Wander, who is joyful and fun loving, and his dino-horse-girl pal Sylvia. Sylvia is the first cute female character (that I've seen) who likes a good scrap and seems to go looking for trouble. Their voices are performed by Jack McBrayer as Wander, and April Winchell as Sylvia. It turns out April is the daughter of famous ventriloquist Paul Winchell.

                          (Artwork copyright Disney Channel)

A friend at the Animation Guild tipped me off about this show. It takes me back to my old back to school days, and my anticipation of the new fall TV line up. Especially for the new Saturday morning cartoons. I've been watching the previews on YouTube over and over again already.

And the primary villain is named Lord Hater. Hater? That's pretty bold for a kid's show. I hope there will be more for the adults. "Yes, Lord Vader, I mean Hater." Huh?

Hey, the show has some spunk. It's been missing in animation for a long time. I hope this succeeds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgX839ftKO8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwN5HLiZ7_o

Andrew McAfee - Race Against the Machine

 Race Against the Machine by Andrew McAfee: Does technology put people out of work? As far as animation goes, studios seem to favor certain techniques and media output. But then, many of the old hand/eye jobs were sent overseas, and then made obsolete. Older artists trying to make their quota of drawings were unable to find the time to learn the new technologies. Younger, lower paid artists were brought in to take their places. Imho.

http://www.kpfa.org/archive/id/88631

Rocky and Bullwinkle statue taken down

The statue of Rocky and Bullwinkle on Sunset Blvd. has been taken down. From what I could find online, it seems Dreamworks has taken the statue down for restoration. The reports say the statue will not be returned to it's spot on Sunset. From what I understand, Dreamworks now owns the rights to Rocky and Bullwinkle.
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/biz/dreamworks-animation-agrees-to-acquire-classic-media-66896.html

                                  (My photos from fall 2006)

Bullwinkle stands here in the newer "Wassamatta U" color scheme. (Or is it "Wossamatta"?) Older photos show him in a blue, white and light purple outfit, and Rocky wasn't holding a "Wassamatta U" pennant. Jay Ward and Bill Scott must have figured bad publicity was better than no publicity at all, right?

http://www.seeing-stars.com/imagepages/bullwinklephoto1.shtml

Still, it comes from a time when we could laugh at ourselves more easily by concocting these abstract characters. L.A. has been criticized over and over again for being an ugly city, and I'm forced to agree. Hollywood has already been turned into a stack of giant boxes, and little things with some charm or whimsy always seem to get bulldozed under. Establishments like "Tail of the Pup", and even Bob's Big Boy are vulnerable to being swept aside by developers for another Starbuck's/Subway/nail salon strip mall.

Here's a last look at our heroes walking off into the sunset. True, it was a battered piece of paper mache' and plastic that needed a major restoration, but that doesn't make it worthless. Perhaps they'll resurface someday. Stay tuned for our next episode. Right now, I can't think one of those groaner punchlines the way they could.

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/07/breaking_52yearold_bullwinkle_statue_lifted_off_the_strip_1.php

http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2013/07/bullwinkle_statue_moved_o.php

Summer Vacation

Or, what I didn't do this summer. So far. I fell way behind on animation news, technology and art in general. I did get to see the Superman display at Cleveland Hopkins airport back in June.

                                              (Superman copyright DC/Time Warner)

The biggest drama in June before my summer trip was having our new PC crash. I mean, totally dead, just a black screen with a cursor. The boot sector was totally corrupted. And the kicker was it was our only Toon Boom Storyboard Pro station at the Animation Guild computer lab.

Finally managed to copy the files using the command prompt, and then reformat the disk. What a nightmare. All the "home remedy" advice for repairing the boot sector, and avoiding reinstalling everything never panned out. I was biting my nails making sure everyone's files made it off safely before I wiped out the drive.

I think I know what caused it, but I can't go into here. I'll get on ordering backup drives to soften the blow next time. Got to spend a week at my dad's place north of Toronto.

I also got my parents old PC and laptop running again, with some vital help from my brother. I'm still a bit disgusted with all the electronics people are hauling up to their cabins. Fortunately, the local township seems conscientious about recycling. Saw a couple old PC's at the transfer station last year.

Blew off Comic-Con and Siggraph. I need something else to inspire me. Tired of the same old thing.

Here's what I started this spring. I'm not sure how it's going to turn out.
http://kenroskosanimationthesis.blogspot.com/

Ah yes, and someone "kidnapped" the Rocky and Bullwinkle statue from Sunset Blvd. Taken in for repairs they say, but it may never be returned to that fabled spot. You can read more about it here.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/animationscoop/bullwinkle-statue-removed

Go away for awhile and L.A. just falls apart!

Ernest & Celestine Trailer

I need to see where I can buy this, and just bypass the old Hollywood system that stifles so many fresh ideas. It looks good...

(Artwork copyright-)

• La Parti Productions
• Les Armateurs
• Maybe Movies
• Mélusine Productions
• StudioCanal

Here's the link to the trailer -

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=ernest+and+celestine+trailor&mid=2DC0F8C9DC003C9FF7C72DC0F8C9DC003C9FF7C7&view=detail&FORM=VIRE3

Directed by Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin Renner. Based on a children's book written and illustrated by Gabrielle Vincent.

time lapse sketching

Hello blog, haven't posted here in a while. Here's my first attempt at time lapse sketching using Video Velocity software.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj6QkdvN8DE

http://www.candylabs.com/videovelocity

Mandelbulber

Cool "3D" Mandelbrot generator.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/mandelbulber/?source=dlp

More spam

Some people will do anything to make money. Spam sites like topblogstories tried to attack my computer, but the Norton stopped it. Makes me wonder if blogging is worth it.

https://productforums.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!topic/blogger/2HeLlFIRbbM

Angelina Jolie is Tigress!

 Angelina is a true warrior. Fight on!

Lord, this must take courage to get this preemptive surgery, I tip my hat to Angelina. I freak out just going in for a checkup.

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-angelina-jolie-mastectomy-first-person-20130515-dto,0,5217359.htmlstory

(Artwork copyright Dreamworks SKG)

Link courtesy of neofundi.com


http://www.neofundi.com/profiles/blogs/the-best-of-angelina-jolie

I have to admit: the first time I saw Kung Fu Panda was on a flight back to L.A. I don't like watching movies on a jet with headphones and the small screen overhead. But KFP kept grabbing my attention, and I kept watching it. Without sound, and the lousy monitors on the jet, I thought Tigress was a guy!

I regret not seeing KFP on the big screen. It was definitely on my DVD list when I got home.

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/po%20and%20tigress?language=pt_BR

Ray Harryhausen San Diego Comic Con interview 2005

Here's a scan on the Ray Harryhausen interview from the San Diego Comic Con update flyer that came in the mail in 2005. I'm still intrigued how Harryhausen met Willis O'Brien, and worked for George Pal.

(Writer unknown, copyright 2005, San Diego Comic Con)

Ray Harryhausen at the Motion Picture Academy 1997

This xerox had been stuck to my fridge since 1997. I must confess, I don't remember much from that night. Since the passing of Ray Harryhausen, I finally scanned before it completely deteriorates. I'll let you read this hand out, and imagine what that evening was like a the Motion Picture Academy back in 1997.

Saul Bass' Birthday

Interesting, how we lost Ray Harryhausen, and today is Saul Bass' Birthday. I just learned from one of my Maya students about Saul Bass's collaboration with John Whitney. Whitney invented an analog computer from the gun sight system of a WWII anti-aircraft gun. Together they worked on the titles for Hitchcock's Vertigo.

https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en&tab=ww

I wonder if either one bumped into Ray Harryhausen or George Pal...

Ray Harryhausen1920 – 2013

(Darth Vader scream) Noooo!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Harryhausen

According to Wikipedia, Ray Harryhausen was born in Los Angeles on June 29, 1920. He met the animator of King Kong, Willis O'Brien, worked for George Pal and became a good friend of Ray Bradbury.I'd say that's pretty impressive, career and life-wise.

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-ray-harryhausen-20130508,0,7687365.story

Back at summer camp, my dad managed to get a copy of Jason and the Argonauts on 16mm film. Set up the projector, got the kids together, and get the popcorn going: pure heaven!

(Copyright 1963 Columbia Pictures)

I'll never forget Jason fighting those skeletons. At the time, I had no idea who Ray Harryhausen was.
Later on, I could detect the differences in the film grain and exposure between the actors and the stop motion figures when his films came to video, but it's still a great experience.

With digital technology, I wonder what it would take to recreate that stop motion look from the early 1960's. What lenses, what film stock, lights and materials did Harryhausen use?

I'm still on my own quest for the Golden Fleece. Need a break from all this technology, get back to some earthy type of creation.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057197/

I don't know what else to say. A great time in film history.
He was 92. I hope I can make that.

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=806440http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=806440

http://www.rayharryhausen.com/index.php

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/07/181931429/ray-harryhausen-master-of-stop-motion-animation-dies

Flamingo Waitress as Green Lantern

Okay, she does have a secret identity. I read too many comics, I guess. Quick sketch colored in Photoshop.

And she's keeping her skates. She just had to replace those yellow wheels with white ones. True fans will understand why;)

top blog topics

Here's what I've gathered so far, in no particular order -

01 money/finance
02 fashion/shopping
03 politics
04 religion/philosophy
05 sex/relationships
06 gadgets/tech/internet
07 learning/self improvement/questions in general
08 health/fitness/lifestyle
09 entertainment/celebrities
10 travel/leisure
11 hobbies/crafts

Almost forgot!

12 art/culture

And blogs just about blogging itself?

This was interesting today -

http://blog.ted.com/2013/03/14/the-10-most-popular-ted-ed-lessons-so-far/

The Bad Guy

Monday was a rough day. News about the attack in Boston, and just finding out about the white ribbon campaign just leaves me more staggered about life, and what our responsibilities are toward each other.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_ribbon

Conflict is a part of life. But we have to decide on how big the repercussions will be if we lash out. Individuals and governments can lash out blindly, or they can proceed in a destructive manner with some high degrees of premeditation. To me, it's how big of a mess do we leave behind for someone else.

Here we go again. As a storyteller, I'm still fascinated by the cute character in jeopardy. Good stories need bad guys, and we get a thrill watching them carry out their dirty deeds. As long as they are confined to a screen, or on the pages of a book or comic. We even had the "noble villain" in Leader Desslok from Starblazers. They see themselves as the heroes.

 http://www.fanboy.com/2009/08/desslok.html

I liked the ironic twist to the villain Darla Dimple in "Cats don't Dance".

L.B. Mammoth: Ah, the recipe for a Darla Dimple movie. Begin with one part adorable character in jeopardy.
[inside the soundstage, Darla has tied up Pudge]

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001421/?ref_=tt_trv_qu

It takes only one, or a handful of crazed or enraged people to blow us all to Hell. Stopping their plots takes work, time and insight. But I don't want a police state either. I want to trust people. I don't have a good answer. And we always seem to have the time, people and resources to bust heads afterwards.

Van Eaton Galleries "THE HB SHOW”

Hoo-Ha! Saturday morning becomes Saturday night for grownups, and kids of all ages.
It was fun! Saw a few familiar faces, I think the show was a success. But my head is exploding right now. Have a good night folks.

(Art copyright Gris Grimly)

http://www.vegalleries.com/thehbshow.html

http://www.superpunch.net/2013/04/hanna-barbera-themed-art-show.html

How Hollywood still sees computers

Here's a cute article on how Hollywood is still using old film cliche's when it comes to technology.
Via Tom Sito- Evil geniuses, evil machines taking over the world. The real threat comes from our own laziness.
http://www.denofgeek.com/games/24877/the-things-the-movies-think-computers-do

This is the guts of my old Compaq. I still don't have the energy to take it the recyclers. Had two old Macs go out on me at the Guild computer lab this winter. Need to have a wake for them as well.

They sure got the mileage out of those Burroughs B-205's; Lost in Space, Batman, Time Tunnel. Speaking of time tunnels-

http://www.angelfire.com/scifi/B205/

http://www.starringthecomputer.com/computer.html?c=45

Animation Guild sends Pizza Planet truck to Rhythm & Hues

No more free grub for the remaining R&H artists working overtime. Cutbacks and stuff. The Animation Guild brought the pizza! (But they didn't use the Pizza Planet truck.)

Some devoted fans re-created the Pizza Planet truck from Toy Story. Sorry, I didn't get their names.
This was next to the Marriott at the 2012 CTN Expo in Burbank. (The Pizza Planet truck copyright Pixar/Disney)

http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/cheese-tomatoes-and-all-fixings.html

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/animation-guild-picks-up-lunch-425759

Best visual effects Oscar acceptance speech cut short or too long?

Underbidding, the big fish eat the little fish, "we'll do anything to get into the movies"... Maybe I'm resorting to some hysterics in this headline, just to get Google hits. Still the VFX workers could not get the chance to organize, until it was too late. Now R&H is reforming itself just to work overseas?!

 http://www.deadline.com/2013/02/rhythm-hues-facility-to-open-in-taiwan-by-late-march-report/

Still, I'm using the green box to stand with the workers.

http://blogs.wsj.com/bankruptcy/2013/02/25/rhythm-hues-gets-oscars-shout-out/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/feb/25/oscars-protest-life-of-pi

Camera Craft closing it's doors in North Hollywood

After 50 years of business, Camera Craft is closing it's doors in North Hollywood. Nancy, the owner, says the building will be preserved. She said it will be converted to some kind of cafe/bakery. The store was originally a private home that was moved to that crazy corner of Vineland, Lankershim and Camarillo . I picked up some spare parts along with some odds and ends on their last day of business today. Someday, I'll build my own shooting stand.

Long live Camera Craft, we hardly knew ye! Long live film!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/a-1-camera-craft-sales-and-rentals-co-north-hollywood

http://cameracraftnh.com/

VFX Work leaving Canada

And if R&H's troubles weren't enough-

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/02/28/bc-film-jobs-special-effects-overseas_n_2785756.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cathryndc/4603093826/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/friedmud/5484155085/

(Photos copyright of each flickr user)

Brave, Life of Pi, Oscar Awards

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Oscars/?utm_content=oscars&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=guptamedia&utm_source=google&utm_term=academy+awards

They cut his mic talking about Rhythm & Hues!

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/oscar-winners-2013-full-list/story?id=18570339 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm_and_Hues_Studios

Life of Pi Oscar Protests

The situation at Rhythm & Hues, among other efx houses having financial troubles, has vfx artists banding together. During the pre-show at this weekend's Oscars, a plane towing a banner will fly overhead, protesting obvious lack of wealth being spread around.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-visual-effects-oscar-protest-rhythm-hues20130222,0,2940036.story

http://vfx.iatse-intl.org/

I also want to pay a tribute to the The 1st American Volunteer Group, aka the Flying Tigers, who took on the defense of China before the United States officially entered WWII.

(It appears the “Flying Tiger” insignia was created by the Walt Disney Company.)

Ivan Illich

I've just started reading about Ivan Illich. Can't tell if he is critiquing institutionalized education, or just slamming it. Ivan Illich came up during a guest lecture at Woodbury University back on Tuesday.

(Image copyright Fox)

Tired today, will try to report more later

EFX outsourced to India

Where is Ganesha when you need him? Unless he is only removing obstacles for the producers...
(from my Over the Mountain comic)

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/ideas-commentary/guest-commentary-the-life-of-an-indian-visual-effects-artist-78220.html

http://vfxsoldier.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/vfx-soldiers-in-india/

Over the Mountain comics on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.494289563962018.111602.131130086944636&type=1

I don't know if I'll ever get around to printing a real run of comics, so here is the first issue on my facebook page. Please let me know if you enjoy it. I should set up a separate site just for this comic.

Rhythm & Hues gets loan

But that doesn't help the employees much...

Thomas Capizzi, a modeler at Rhythm & Hues for 16 years is leading the fight for fellow employees, at least as far as getting the wages and benefits of a 60 day notice required by federal law.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118066262/

http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/life-line.html

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-rhythm-hues-20130215,0,4131089.story

http://www.deadline.com/2013/02/rhythm-hues-bankruptcy-hearing-today/

Flamingo Waitress Samba dance mocap

Here is my Flamingo Waitress character dancing. The rig and mocap animation are copyright http://www.mixamo.com/motions The paint weights are messed up, but that's my fault, especially on her skate wheels. The human rig doesn't quite fit well, but I couldn't resist trying this in Maximo. The way she dances is a bit disturbing, yet charming in a way. And it's a break from all the unemployment news.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo0cFcvIzKk&feature=youtu.be

Rhythm and Hues vs Warner Bros.

Jeez, when they smell blood, WB pulls the plug on work sent out to Rhythm & Hues:

(From "Uncle Tom's Bungalow" copyright Looney Tunes 1937)

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/studios-have-differing-responses-to-visual-effects-companys-financial-woes/

http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/kick-them-while-theyre-horizontal.html

Full disclosure: I used to work at Warner Classics. Those were happier days. But by no means do I condone the stereotypes shown in "Uncle Tom's Bungalow". I'm only using the creepy white guy to portray the villain.

Screengrabs courtesy of:
http://classiccartoons.blogspot.com/2006/02/uncle-toms-bungalow.html

http://powervoyeur.blogspot.com/2006/11/banned-looney-toons-6-uncle-toms.html

"My body may belong to you, but my soul belongs to Warner Brothers". Huh?!

More Visual Effects News

I've been shooting from the hip too much, just posting links on impulse. But does this mean this is the end of another "Golden Age?" Will there be a "Dream on Silly Dreamer" for digital artists?

http://www.dreamonsillydreamer.com/

With outsourcing and the undercutting of narrow profits, sounds like the same old story hand drawn animation went through. With the high expectations, especially of profits, we keep going through these cycles of boom and bust. Technology should be our servant, not our master. But a few folks with connections can pull up stakes and head to other countries with tax incentives, and a lower paid, but talented work force.

Grouchy, ain't I? (Image from Le Voyage dans la lune (1902), copyright Georges Méliès)

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/las-visual-effects-community-fears-421201

http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-storm-has-hit.html

http://provideocoalition.com/mchristiansen/story/why-is-the-vfx-business-failing-at-its-moment-of-greatest-success?utm_source=WeeklyNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=020713

Rhythm & Hues to file for Bankruptcy

(Life of Pi washed up?)

I am sorry to hear this. I know someone who has worked at Rhythm & Hues for a long time. It's still amazing that a studio like R&H can be connected to so many popular films, and then end up like this. But that's how it goes when you are just a "hired gun"?

Maybe R&H needed to develop its own properties. The lack of creating their own characters and films may have helped to leave it at the mercy of the studios who do.

I can see that creative people aren't necessarily good at business, in other words, turning a profit. The ability of technology to leap overseas, and the outsourcing jobs sure don't help.

http://vfxlaw2012.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/rh-fallout/

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/business/breaking-rhythm-hues-will-file-for-bankruptcy-today-77816.html

http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/chaos-and-creative-destruction.html

Rhythm & Hues, Dreamworks layoff rumors?

Over heated, over used, studios cranking out the same old stuff, and the public is tired of it.
"Labor is just something that comes in a box, you can just pour it out, and expect miracles and money to blossom". Wrong! The grass won't grow if you keep stomping on it!

Europe, Canada and Japan still have broader, and healthier animation markets. But our current system won't let the public at large cultivate more sophisticated tastes.

The fish rots from the head down, and a broke public can't afford to keep dragging itself to watch the same old thing. Things are going to break down before we can break out of this cycle of multi-million dollar blockbuster disappointments.

Grouch grouch grouch. Maybe my coffee was no good this morning...
 
http://vfxsoldier.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/film-works-la-interviews-rhythm-hues/

http://news.yahoo.com/troubled-visual-effects-company-rhythm-hues-gets-20m-235424091.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324906004578290592577813994.html

http://www.labusinessjournal.com/news/2013/feb/06/report-suggests-dreamworks-layoffs-imminent/

3D printing

http://www.makerbot.com/

and

http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/02/home-3d-printing-is-killing-the-manufacturing-industry/

The 40th Annual Annie Awards!

http://annieawards.org/watch-it-live/

Got to sit and watch. Didn't have to dress up. Oh well.

Early graphic user interface

Courtesy of Tom Sito via Facebook. This is how people functioned before Cintiqs.

The officer looks like he's drawing with a small power drill, or a soldering iron. You can find what he drew on this link:

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/01/the-never-before-told-story-of-the-worlds-first-computer-art-its-a-sexy-dame/267439/#.UQKoKHF5gtA.email

Eric Hoffer - learners will inherit the earth

'Nuff said.

Basic City - Basic Mental Ray render

Just some basic polys; simple Physical Sun and Sky in Mental Ray. Gives a fairly dramatic layout, imho.

Aaron Swartz cyber activist

More on Aaron Swartz, I'm just learning about this.
http://www.democracynow.org/2013/1/14/an_incredible_soul_lawrence_lessig_remembers

James Baxter - Notes on Acting for Animation

Link courtesy of http://floobynooby.blogspot.fr/

http://floobynooby.blogspot.fr/2012/04/james-baxter-notes-on-acting-for.html

Rage against the Machinima

 Happy New Year blog

Artists, protect your rights!

http://www.laweekly.com/2013-01-10/news/machinima-maker-studios-YouTube/

Machinima