Full Disclosure: I am an employee of the Animation Guild IATSE Local 839, so what I'm posting here is a matter of public record. Hopefully, a majority of our members will vote on these contracts, one way or another.
https://animationguild.org/ratify22/
https://perfectunion.us/iatse-animators-demand-a-new-deal/
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/animation-union-pushes-production-workers-strategy-labor-katie-kilkenny-1235164936/
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/animation-guild-contract-deal-reached-long-negotiations-1235055769/
https://variety.com/2022/biz/news/animation-guild-amptp-deal-1235280032/
Sunday, June 19, 2022
The Animation Guild's tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP)
Monday, June 06, 2022
Innovations in Animation - Part 5 - Fever The Ghost - SOURCE (official music video)
Here's some amazing work by Felix Colgrave. Born in Tasmania, now based in Melbourne, Colgrave blows the viewers' minds in the most unexpected, and dare I say it, charming way. Felix has a background in TV ads, music videos and video game cinematics, but he presently is focused on his own work. Pulsing to the music of the band Fever The Ghost, this little old man and his dragon, "Long Morrison", travel to the center of the earth. Their mission: turn the world into a party planet! But then, it looks like it's just their job, day in and day out.
https://www.facebook.com/fevertheghost
From what I've read, Colgrave uses After Effects to animate his fantastic art. Virtually all of the exposure of his independent work comes from using the world wide web. As far as I can see, no TV, film or DVD gave his work any publicity. There's some Monty Python surrealism, with even a touch of Moebius in this short. While there's nothing really groundbreaking in Colgrave's techniques, or use of animation technology, I'm putting his work down as an innovation simply from his use of the internet, and the fearlessness of his ideas.
All of which has gained him an audience!
Monday, May 02, 2022
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Animation Department ranks among best in U.S.
Some good news from the Edinboro Universtiy Alumni Newsletter:
"Edinboro University animation program ranks among best in U.S."
(my photo from CTN Expo in Burbank CA)
My second old Alma Mater Edinboro made a mark in the Top 25 East Coast Animation Schools and Colleges for 2022, going up against heavy hitters such as School of Visual Arts, New York, New York and Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island. Edinboro is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Nice to know the 'Boro's is still slugging it out, in spite of the Covid lockdown, and the university being merged into the new Pennsylvania Western University with Clarion and California (PA) universities. While my career didn't go as far as distinguished alumni as Bill Waldman or David Filoni, I'm still grateful to Edinboro and the teachers there.
Sunday, April 24, 2022
Innovations in Animation - Part 4 - Gorillaz
Hello folks, this article has been giving me trouble for a while. I've been an on and off fan of the Gorillaz for some time, and they've seemed to have fallen off the pop culture radar. Their music and graphic style from the '90's is still interesting to me, but I've had trouble collecting info on the artists and writers on this unique and outrageous virtual band. Been working on this since the pandemic started, so it's kind of slopped out down below. Publishing it "as is" may provide the spur for me to tighten up my writing here. We'll see.
(original copyright Jamie Hewlett and "Zombie Flesh Eaters")
The virtual band members: Murdoc - bass, "2D" - vocals and keyboards, Noodles -guitar and vocals, and Russel - drums, percussion.
I first heard the Gorillaz while riding along in my sister's truck over the Holidays on a dark winter night years ago, as we rumbled over the snowy back roads in Amish country. "Dirty Harry" came on her truck's sound system, and I was delightfully haunted by the whole bizarre experience.
This track had an enticing trance-dance-pop feel, with some killer rap that came in to break the spell. Later, when I picked up their DVD debut album set, Gorillaz Phase One: Celebrity Take Down, I was struck by the graphic underground comics style of Jamie Hewlett, who created these four bizarre misfits, streetwise, sort of rough and tumble characters, resembling his character designs from his Tank Girl comics.
(Gorillaz Phase One: Celebrity Take Down features the animation of director Pete Candeland, Dave Antrobus, and Chris Hauge.)
Who were these bizarre, even frightening characters? They seem to be some sort of gang, or part of some criminal underworld. Again, comic artist Jamie Hewlett oversaw the dark, sinister stylized limited animation, with some 3D CG elements, mostly backgrounds or characters with vehicles.
Blank eyes, bad teeth, and some character designs that flirt with racial stereotypes. There's some demonic possession too. But they were also politically aware in a sardonic, but progressive way, and technologically adept as well. Just what EMI, Parlophone, Virgin and later Warner needed to present what is essentially Damon Albarn's studio band work, with rotating members who provided the real music. Sort in method that was used by the Archies, or the Monkees. And yet, their music has polished, professional level of production quality that gives the Gorillaz a successful multi-media foundation.
Musician: Damon Albarn
Artist: Jamie Hewlett
Passion Pictures, animation studio for the Clint Eastwood video
https://www.passion-pictures.com/project/gorillaz-clint-eastwood/
But, to sum up: It's good, "clean" dirty fun. The Gorillaz give me a chance to be a vicarious hoodlum. From time to time.
(Tank Girl original copyright
Jamie Hewlett - Dark Horse Comics)
Jamie Hewlett - Dark Horse Comics)
Netflix and Jeff Smith's Bone Feature
This bad buzz turned up on my Facebook feed a couple days ago. It sounds like it's the end for Jeff Smith's "Bone" Feature. Jeff Smith created a cleverly written and beautifully designed comic that was geared to be just right for animation. No dice. "Bone" seemed to be cursed ever since I visited their old Character Builders Studio back in Columbus Ohio. Hey, it's not my fault. Maybe management had something to do with it...
https://www.thewrap.com/netflix-animation-shakeup-executives-fired-shows-canceled-staged-data/
More here-
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/never-again-jeff-smith-posts-215000073.html
("Bone" original copyright Jeff Smith)
And because, the Bone comic dealt with some mature issues, such as smoking and drinking alcohol, the censorship battle sprung up some years ago. There seems to be a rigid view of what an animated feature should be, and what "ingredients" it should contain. Heaven help up us if we get something refreshing, nutritious and imaginative besides the usual fast food.
http://cbldf.org/banned-challenged-comics/case-study-bone/
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/19/jeff-smith-bone-us-banned-books-week
It's been a long time since I read the comics, but I remember Bone's story beginning to approach an epic that borrowed a bit from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Jeff Smith's influences from classic animation, and Walt Kelly' "Pogo Possum" also added to a lively mix of comedy, action and great characters interacting. Plus, some mysteries and drama that arise with the female leads, and their connection to the Dragons. It would be quite a story to squeeze all that material into one feature, along with all the desperately needed pop culture and music to "help make it a hit".
Get back to the basics here.
Saturday, April 09, 2022
Discovery Aquires Warner Media From AT&T
Hello group, I'm grateful to the readers who still follow this blog. Health and work issues have kept me away again, but I felt this article deserved some attention. The course of the old Time-Warner corporation has always has always held my interest, mainly due to its animation history. And the old WB was me bread 'n' butter back in the 1990's.
But now, Bugs Bunny, Batman and the whole Warner media empire will go to work for the Discovery Channel. This group includes the Food Network, Animal Planet and TLC. Do they know they will be inheriting skeletons in the closet like Pepe Le Pew? Will they actually see the real ingredients of a Scooby-Snack? Maybe Superman will show how he bakes one of his giant super cakes?
I'm just bellyachin' here folks, bear with me.
(original copyright Warner Brothers)
At first, I was surprised that AT&T would sell off a library like Warner's when they still have all these digital arteries to fill. But now I'm wondering if the ol' "Ma Bell" isn't doing well with streaming. It looks like they have some big bills to pay off. And it's not like Discovery is a young, agile, cutting-edge new media entity like Amazon or Netflix either. This purchase looks more like another incident of buying up competitors, selling off the new surplus resources, and cutting jobs.
Meanwhile, the remnants of the old Hollywood studios only seem to be flashy accessories that get passed around, like old antiques.
Thursday, February 10, 2022
RIP Douglas Trumbull
Found out via facebook, regrettably, that visual effects king Douglas Trumbull has passed away at the age of 79. His work included cornerstone effects films such as as "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", "Blade Runner, and, of course "2001: A Space Odyssey". But one of his most innovative creations was the "Back to the Future" ride. Trumbull was the first to give riders the full "immersion experience" with surrounding screens and motion actuated seating.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0874320/
I saw him more as an visual artist, rather than a traditional story teller and movie maker when he was at the helm as director. During the downer 1970's, "Silent Running" was the only new science fiction product available, after countless Star Trek reruns. The visual style of 2001 kind of echoed there, but a much smaller budget. A grim tale of earth's last biospheres being placed in giant domes, and launched into space for protection. And a grimmer story of one man's fight to save them, as the space ship's owners order the crew to ditch the domes so the spaceships can return to more profitable cargo missions.
Still, before I outgrew the big budget Sci-Fi movies, there was a level of quality, and believability in the images that Douglas Trumbull created. While there may not have been much of a plot, going along for the ride was what mattered.
Saturday, February 05, 2022
Visual Effects Nominees Spotlight | 93rd Oscars VFX Bake-off Apr 21, 2021
Hello blog, 2022 has been off to a slow start for me with my duties in a new position at the Animation Guild, and the restrictions of the continuing Covid pandemic. https://animationguild.org/ Still coping with losses in the family, and the shut down of our Computer Lab. Trying to get my rest, and searching for some new inspiration. Will try to catch the Oscars, as well as the Annie Awards coming soon. Forward! https://annieawards.org/
Animateducated Blogcast 002
Animated Educated is a great channel. It gives animation students and
fans access to great experience, and the backgrounds and insights
of very talented guests. I've been lucky to work with Jim Richardson back during my time at Woodbury University's animation department.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPETaABtv6Un8YMQ4d0Y57w
Sunday, November 07, 2021
Animated Holiday Characters And Their Pets
Well, it's time for more musings on Christmas animation as the Holidays close in. In our most beloved Holiday TV Specials and movies, I've finally paid more attention to the ways the main characters usually seem to have a special dog, or some other unique animal companion involved in their story. Most recently, Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas comes to mind, with his poltergeist pooch buddy, Zero. Naturally, Zero leads the reindeer team through through the fog with his glowing pumpkin nose.
(copyright Disney)
Rudolph doesn't really fit in this article, since he was ostracized very early on. He didn't become buds with Ol' Saint Nick until much later, when Santa finally appreciated his talents very late in the game. Once in a blue moon, Santa's reindeer do get some comments in, now and then, but they are still basically treated as beasts of burden.
Even The Grinch, with his hostility towards Christmas, and just about the entire world in general, still had his friendly and faithful canine companion Max. Since Chuck Jones portrays The Grinch as this cranky, and even somewhat tragic character, the fact that he keeps Max around proves that The Grinch is not a complete monster.
(original copyright Chuck Jones/MGM, now Turner-Time Warner)
A bigger leap occurred when Frosty the Snowman was assisted by the cute magician's rabbit, "Hocus Pocus". This new companion, and fellow traveler seemed to be a writer's contrivance, but a good one. The "mystically challenged" magician, Professor Hinkle, throws away his top hat when his magic act for the schoolkids goes wrong. Hocus hops away with the Hat to where the kids have built Frosty, and Karen places The Hat on Frosty's head. After seeing the Hat bring Frosty to life, Professor Hinkle grabs it back when he realizes that the old top hat can actually generate real magic. (The Hat seemed to have some built-in moral compass that resisted Hinkle's selfish motives, but I'm being pedantic here.)
Fortunately, with a sneaky, but clever bit of subterfuge, Hocus returns the Hat to Karen to let her restore Frosty back to life. Hocus is the key player in Frosty's origin, but then allows himself to become somewhat overlooked. It's clear that Hinkle and Hocus didn't have a good relationship at the start, so the rabbit is more than happy to join Frosty and Karen on their adventure. Since Frosty is almost a blank slate in this TV special, he comes to rely quite a bit on Hocus for guidance to save Karen while on his journey to the North Pole.
As characters for the very young viewers to relate to, all the dogs, rabbits and even a penguin become helpers, comrades, and witnesses to the main characters' actions and feelings. They also offer clues and inspiration to the main characters, sometimes accidentally; as with Max landing in the snow, and popping up looking like Santa to give The Grinch his perfectly, wonderfully, awful idea.
Which leads us to the heart of this article:
Scrooge had no dog.
After being stranded alone for the Holidays due to Covid last year, the corrosive effects of isolation became painfully apparent for me. No one should be alone, especially during the Holidays. It's a wonder there aren't more Scrooges in the world, and I've seen how becoming like Scrooge can happen all too easily. The usual unreasonable social and emotional expectations of the season are tough enough. In the meantime, let's hear it for those magical fuzzy buddies who are always there to bail us out!
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Inktober - 2021
Finally sat down, concentrated, and put some ideas down on paper for Animation Guild post-it show.
They're also doing double duty for Inktober.
https://animationguild.org/post-it-note-show/
"Spooky Old House"
"Breaking Free"
"Common Bonds"
Enjoy!
Sunday, September 26, 2021
Disney Sues Marvel Creators’ Families To Keep Full Control Over Character Rights
Here we go again:
Disney is preemptively suing the families of comic creators to hang on Cap, Spidey and all the rest of the Marvel Universe to keep all of those sweet superhero simoleons. Indefinitely.
(original copyrights of photos unknown, taken from piratesandprincesses.net)
Monday, August 30, 2021
Ed Asner
Here's to Ed Asner: steady, sturdy, gruff, crusty, but progressive character actor with a heart of gold.
(original copyright 20th Fox)
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
R.I.P. Fred Ladd - American Producer of Astro Boy
Well, time takes it's toll. Again.
(photo copyright Anime' News Network)
Sorry to report on geeky stuff, but Ohio native Fred Ladd - American producer of the classic, foundational anime' Astro Boy, has passed away August 3rd. at 94.
I was able to see Ladd speak at an ASIFA-Hollywood presentation years ago in Burbank. While he was known for bringing Astro Boy to the states, here's another show he brought to the U.S. When the other networks saw what a hit NBC had with Astroboy, they tried to make another one with "Space Ace". (Not the video game.) For the U.S., I think they called him "Ringo" at the ASIFA screening. Ironically, it never took off. I guess one Astro Boy is enough.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgNPPHlcLcc
But here's to the pure enjoyment, and the pathways laid down for practically all the anime' that followed Fred Ladd's lead into the North American TV market. Astro Boy wrote the book on how to present great storytelling, and beloved characters. Developed from manga (comics) the animation was done on a dime, but Osamu Tezuka's classic designs and screen direction still kept us captivated, even with black and white TV.
Thank you Mr. Ladd!
Sunday, July 25, 2021
On Story 1103: A Conversation with Brenda Chapman
Interview with Brenda Chapman, director and writer on hits such as The Lion King, The Prince of Egypt, and Brave. Chapman brings her views on strong female characters, story and flawed characters. Brought to you by Austin Film Festival's On Story.
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Sunday, July 04, 2021
Innovations in Animation - Part 3 - The Peanuts Movie
(copyright Blue Sky Studios,
Twentieth Century Fox Animation, United Features Syndicate, and of course "Sparky" Charles M. Schulz)
Late to the party again, I finally borrowed the The Peanuts Movie screener DVD from work. After virtually growing up with all the original Bill Melendez animated TV specials from the 60's, I was hesitant to face a possible "South Park" kind of treatment of my childhood heroes.
But this film wasn't bad. As a family film, The Peanuts Movie is a nostalgic romp going through the key story points of the entire Charlie Brown saga: the childhood torments of grade school, his love of baseball and his longing for the distant, seemingly unattainable attention of the Little Red-Headed Girl. And of course, Snoopy relives his never ending aerial battles with the mysterious and relentless Red Baron. And then there is the actual design of the movie itself, and how the director Steve Martino and crew strove to stay faithful to style and charm of Charles Schulz' original comic strip.
Looking back on my last entry, I'm beginning to notice how studios having been making big strides in creating 3D polygon models to resemble flat, cartoon shapes. As with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Blue Sky Studios worked overtime to take Charles M. Schulz' beloved Peanuts comic strip into the CG world, and then make it "flat" again. I used to think that the studios are using 3D animation in ways that it was "not meant to be used", in as far as the usual process of modeling, rigging and animating CG characters.
But The Peanuts Movie is a nice reminder of how CG can do virtually anything, and should not just be shoehorned into mimicking alternate concrete looking realities. Director Steve Martino described how their first attempts with traditional modeling and rigging just didn't cut it, and eventually switched to a stop motion style to maintain the illusion of Schulz' and Melendez' art and animation styles. On a smaller scale, shows like South Park and the Olive The Other Reindeer Holiday special may have solved similar issues in the past with these techniques.
To sum up, The Peanuts Movie is worth a look, and can be a warm, fuzzy torch to pass on to a new generation.
https://mashable.com/archive/making-the-peanuts-movie
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/06/movies/review-the-peanuts-movie-curses-the-red-baron-in-3-dimensions.html
c • C • É”
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Animation Studios Use Game Engines for Production
This relatively new area of using game engines to render is uncharted territory for me. I experimented with Unity and Maya a couple of years ago, but now Unreal Engine seems to be the leader in game engine technology. I'm not sure if, or how a game engine station will take the place of a render farm. I'm trying to study this procedure, but it has been tough after over a year of lockdown with no clear signs of life returning back to normal.
All I have is the links to the articles down below. I'm still trying to learn about what output settings the studios are using to get finished footage on the air. Or onto streaming, as the case may be.
I'll try to update this asap.
https://kidscreen.com/2020/08/10/why-animation-is-leaning-into-real-time-tech/
https://postpace.io/blog/using-game-engines-for-cinematography-and-film-production/
https://usv.edu/blog/using-gaming-engines-to-make-feature-films/
Friday, May 14, 2021
Sunday, May 02, 2021
Innovations in Animation - Part 2 - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
It's been a hard year. As we start to dig out from under the horrors of 2020 and the Covid pandemic, let's take a moment to get back to my topic of Innovations in Animation. After my first entry from the 1980's, ("Twice Upon A Time") I want to jump forward to the 21st Century. Through the years, Sony Pictures was not my top pick as far as animation or superhero film studios go. But Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature for the studio. I finally saw it on Blu-Ray, and it definitely caught my attention.
(copyright Sony/Marvel/Disney?)
Comic book style! Other attempts have been made, with dubious success.
Hand drawn effects over 3D, far advanced from old cell shaders.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4633694/
https://www.imageworks.com/our-craft/feature-animation/movies/spider-man-spider-verse
https://www.foundry.com/insights/film-tv/into-spiderverse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEXUG_vN540
Art Direction by Dean Gordon, Patrick O'Keefe
Production Design - Justin K. Thompson
Danny Dimian - Visual Effects Supervisor
Directed by
Bob Persichetti
Peter Ramsey
Rodney Rothman
Writing Credits
Phil Lord ... Screenplay
Rodney Rothman ... Screenplay
Phil Lord ... Story
Paul Watling - Head of Story
While it's not a direct part of the MCU, Kevin Feige's hand still seemed to be felt.
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