Thinking Animation Blog

Brave "The Prize" Trailer

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:40:04 PST

Two and a half minutes from Pixar’s thirteenth feature film, Brave.

Archetype

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:43:41 PST

RL7 is an eight-foot tall combat robot that goes on the run after malfunctioning with vivid memories of once being human. As its creators and the military close in, RL7 battles its way to uncovering the shocking truth behind its mysterious visions and past.Directed by Aaron Simsstarring Robert Joy (Land of the Dead, CSI:NY) and David Anders (Heros, 24).

CrossRoad- Le Film

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:36:47 PST

CrossRoad- Le Film from Cross Road on Vimeo.

Not he best animation I ever saw, but the cinematic storytelling and character design are really kewl!

Pelicans and Flying Rays

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:43:59 PST

amazing reference...

Maurice Sendak

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:36:01 PST

Straight Talk with Maurice Sendak.

“People said, ‘why didn’t you do Wild Things 2? Wild Things 1 was such a success’. Go to hell. Go to hell. I’m not a whore. I don’t do those things.”

Happy New Years from Norm McLaren

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:10:01 PST

To usher in 2012 here's a wonderful New Year greeting from the early-1980s, written on an exposure sheet by the late-Norman McLaren — pioneering animator who in 1941 established an animation studio at the National Film Board of Canada in Montreal; a studio in which he produced numerous award-winning films and taught countless aspiring animators until his retirement in 1983 — and circulated amongst his fellow animators. via Letters of Note

Happy New Year!

Transcript follows. Image from the collection of Kaj Pindal; huge thanks to Amir Avni.

Image: Kaj Pindal / Larger Version

Transcript

To all animators
New Year Greetings
from Norman McLaren

My best wishes for seven hundred and fifty six million, eight hundred and sixty four thousand frames of hale and hearty good health in 1983.

For the two to three hundred million frames of them when you will be unconscious, may your R.E.M. sleep be dappled with delightful, delicious or delirious dreams.

Of the approximate one hundred and fifty two million when you are at work, may they be crammed with contented cat-purring craftsmanship enlivened by many million-frame bursts of consummate creativity.

As for the 352 million frames of leisure time, may you find tranquility, peace, joy, happiness or jubilation, or whatever you are searching for.

There will be nearly nine million frames spent eating; be it gluttonous or graceful, be it gallimaufrous or gourmet, may you always have goluptious gustification.

Of the "I-don't-know-how-many" million frames you will spend in amorous activity may you have sinless, sweet, soulful and sensational sex!

God bless you.

--------------------------------

A HANDY REFERENCE GUIDE FOR ANIMATORS

1 SEC. 24 = 24
1 MIN. 24x60 = 1,440
1 HR. 24x60x60 = 86,400
1 DAY 24x60x60x24 = 2,073,600
1 YEAR 24x60x60x24x365 = 756,864,000
10 YRS. 24x60x60x24x365x10 = 7,568,640,000
100 YRS. 24x60x60x24x365x10x100 = 75,686,400,000

(I hope I'm correct.)

--------------------------------

As you know, our CONSCIOUS impression of time is very elastic. The greater the cerebral or emotional activity the shorter seems a second; the lesser the cerebral & emotional activity (COMPLETE BOREDOM) the longer seems a second.

THE BEST POEM I KNOW ABOUT THIS ASPECT OF TIME IS -

THE DAY

The day was a year at first
When children played in the garden;

The day shrank down to a month
When the boys played ball;

The day was a week thereafter
When young men walked in the garden;

The day will last forever
When it is nothing at all.

Theodore Spencer
20th century American poet.

PROTEIGON

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:06:22 PST

PROTEIGON from BURAYAN on Vimeo.

Animator Steven Briand made this stop motion animation over a period of two months.

iAnimate Classes

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:35:24 PST

Hello All! My schedule for iAnimate has shuffled around a bit and I wanted to let everyone know that I am back teaching Facial Animation and Body Mechanics, again. In the next block of iAnimate I will be teaching:

WS3 Advanced Body Mechanics

WS4 Facial Acting

WS6 Sequence Work

Contact iAnimate here if you are interested in signing up!

Morphology

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:24:51 PST

Morphology from Peter Sluszka on Vimeo.

Claymation test by animator Peter Sluszka.

10,000 FPS

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:34:06 PST

whoah...

My Bloody Lad

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:55:47 PST

My Bloody Lad - Dead Walter - WIZZprod° from WIZZprod° on Vimeo.

Pincel de Zorro

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:35:26 PST

Pincel de Zorro (English) from Hug Codinach on Vimeo.

via vimeo (http://vimeo.com/31069740) Hug Codinach

Personal project to promote the book Pincel de Zorro, now in its second edition, published by Ediciones Ondina. An illustrated tale from the Spanish author Sergio A. Sierra, Pincel de Zorro is a whimsical story set in Japan, full of tenderness, magic and sadness. The story is complemented by unique illustrations, all of which are hand drawn by Meritxell Ribas using a complex technique called grattage, in which paint is scraped off the canvas with a pointed tool.

Pincel de Zorro tells the tale of Shiori, a little girl whose life changes the same night her father brings home a dead fox from a hunting trip. Mysteriously when her parents decide to sell the precious skin of the animal, they receive a visit from a magical woman.

This project has been an amazing collaboration between my friends, Sergio and Meritxell, authors of the book, Albert Alay, the music composer, and me, taking the role of creative director. This has been a passion project of ours, done with no budget, and we hope that someday we can bring these wonderful characters to life in a feature film.

For more information visit pinceldezorro.es

Direction, Design and Animation: Hug Codinach
Illustrations: Meritxell Ribas
Text: Sergio Sierra
Music: Albert Alay

All illustrations were camera projected in C4D and composited in After Effects. The ink was generated with Turbulence 2D from Jawset. I used a Canon 5D MrkII to shoot the brush footage.

The Arctic Circle

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:21:53 PST

The Arctic Circle from Kevin Parry on Vimeo.

12 Drawings a Day - 12 Dessins par Jour

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:42:09 PST

12 Drawings a Day - 12 Dessins par Jour from Denis Chapon on Vimeo.

12 Drawings a Day, an animated diary:

The 23rd of June 2008, Denis went to the copy room. He found a hole lot of paper printed one side and blank on the other side, he thought he would do something with it. The same day he drew 12 drawings of animation. Since that day he has made 12 drawings every day. This project has no script, no storyboard, they are all drawn with none erasable pen, and I have not changed the rhythm of the animation afterwards.

Koi - Lzf Lamps

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 11:25:12 PST

Koi - Lzf Lamps from Diestro on Vimeo.

stunning...

Diestro

iAnimate Classes

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:02:09 PST

iAnimate.net 2011 show reel from iAnimate on Vimeo.

There is a sneak peak on a couple of my students from my facial class in the show reel above...
Erica Pinto - starts at 6:28 and again at 6:47
Micheal Paech at 9:57

We just wrapped another block at iAnimate! I had a great time with both my Body Mechanics and Facial animation students. As usual, there will be a most improved student posting here soon, with the winner from each class. if you are unaware, I let the students vote on the most improved of their classmates and post their website and reel here, so stayed tuned for that!

In the meantime, I have a little announcement. I will be instructing the Sequence Workshop (WS6) this coming block - starting January 9th, instead of Facial animation. We had a lot of students sign up for that workshop, so we are shuffling instructors around. Speaking of instructors, there has been some new blood added there too at iAnimate so check it out!

Below, are details for the Sequence Workshop:

Sequence work

Part 1: In this 7 week workshop, we will be working with continuity across cuts. We will be fine tuning your planning and blocking process for a substantial length of dialog. This will greatly help our productions run more smoothly. (cost $999)

Part 2: In this 7 week workshop, we will now work on refining your animation from part 1 so that it is production ready. Many directors want to see a plan or blue print from us so that they can feel comfortable with the time spent on polishing shots. (cost $999)

Slim Picings Fat Chances

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:01:13 PST

Slim Pickings Fat Chances from David de Rooij on Vimeo.

Pure awesome disgustiness...

John Lasseter talks about Toy Story 4

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 20:35:11 PST

John Lasseter was asked about Toy Story 4 and doesn't deny its existence.

The Goon

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 20:30:18 PST

This image above is from an early animation film test for The Goon, based on the comics by Eric Powell.

David Fincher/Blur Studios/Dark Horse

Watch The Goon

10 Animated Shorts Move Ahead in 2011 Oscar® Race

angie@thinkinganimation.com — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 16:18:06 PST

Beverly Hills, CA (December 1, 2011) – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 animated short films will advance in the voting process for the 84th Academy Awards®. Forty-four pictures had originally qualified in the category.
The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production company:

Dimanche / Sunday (trailer) from doiion on Vimeo.

"Dimanche/Sunday," Patrick Doyon, director (National Film Board of Canada)

Every Sunday, it's the same old routine! The train clatters through the village and almost shakes the pictures off the wall. In the church, Dad dreams about his toolbox. And of course later Grandma will get a visit and the animals will meet their fate. facebook.com/dimanchelefilm

"The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore,"

William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg, directors (Moonbot Studios LA, LLC)

http://www.tridimagine.com - Diseño 3d y Animación

"I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat," Matthew O'Callaghan,

director and Sam Register, executive producer (Warner Bros. Animation Inc.)

Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and directed by Matthew O' Callaghan, who also helmed last year's Oscar shortlisted "Coyote Falls", this 3D cartoon short seamlessly blends state-of-the-art CG animation with Blanc's newly remixed, remastered and re-orchestrated soundtrack song.

Warner Bros. Animation presents 'I Tawt I Taw A Putty Tat', featuring the voices of Mel Blanc and June Foray. Directed by Matthew O' Callaghan and executive produced by WBA's Sam Register, the animated theatrical short is produces by Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone (The Looney Tunes Show, Duck Dodgers).

'I Tawt I Taw A Putty Tat' debuted in theathres on November 18, 2011 in conjuntion with Warner Bros. Pictures' release of Happy Feet Two.

More information, you can found in http://thatsallfolks.com/

Clip from Pixar's short film La Luna by animatieblog

"La Luna," Enrico Casarosa, director (Pixar Animation Studios)

Enrico Casarosa Blog http://enricocasarosa.com/wordpress.1/

Pixar's Longest Short

"Luminaris," Juan Pablo Zaramella, director (JPZtudio)

In a world controlled and timed by the light, a common man has a plan that could change the destiny.

"Magic Piano," Martin Clapp, director and Hugh Welchman, producer (BreakThru Films)

**I can fnd nothing about this short anywhere online. Please comment on thsi post if you have any information.

"A Morning Stroll," Grant Orchard, director and Sue Goffe, producer (Studio AKA)

'When a New Yorker walks past a chicken on his morning stroll, we're left to wonder which one is the real city slicker...'

STUDIO AKA is pleased to announce completion of a new short from Director GRANT ORCHARD. Based loosely on a real life event recounted in Paul Auster's brilliant book 'True Tales of American Life', 'A MORNING STROLL' tells the story of one New Yorker's early morning encounter with a chicken, an event that plays out over 100 years.

A MORNING STROLL is nowplaying at festivals worldwide.

WATCH TRAILER: http://www.studioaka.co.uk/#/work-amorningstroll

"Paths of Hate," Damian Nenow, director (Platige Image)

Nowy film Damiana Nenowa.
New animated short by Damian Nenow.

"Specky Four-Eyes," Jean-Claude Rozec, director and Mathieu Courtois, producer (Vivement Lundi!)

**I cannot find any trailers for this short either. Please comment if you have info.

Some bad news has just arrived: Arnaud has to wear glasses. And not any ordinary glasses: they're so thick that his eyes seem no more than two little black spots. Arnaud would much rather live in the imaginary world of his nearsightedness, a world populated with monsters, unicorns and the other fancies which appear according to his fertile imagination.

In 1909, a dapper young remittance man is sent from England to Alberta to attempt ranching. However, his affection for badminton, bird watching and liquor leaves him little time for wrangling cattle. It soon becomes clear that nothing in his refined upbringing has prepared him for the harsh conditions of the New World. This animated short is about the beauty of the prairie, the pang of being homesick and the folly of living dangerously out of context.

The Short Films and Feature Animation Branch Reviewing Committee viewed all the eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting in screenings held in New York and Los Angeles.

Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members will now select three to five nominees from among the 10 titles on the shortlist. Branch screenings will be held in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco in January 2012.

The 84th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.