Diving Bell and the Butterfly.... Schnabel's masterpiece..

It takes a painter to make a film like "Diving Bell and the Butterfly". There are moments in this wonderful film that only a painter could ever think up. One scene in particular, a long moment of a girls wind blown hair in an automobile is so subtle, hypnotic, and beautiful, it seems to be lifted directly from one of his abstract paintings.I was fortunate enough to visit Julian Schnabel's studio in Montauk this winter (all the cool kids have studios out in montauk;), and it was so inspiring that I jumped at the opportunity to go see "diving bell and the butterfly", as well as several other of his films, ie "basquiat, and "before the night falls", the later of the two is another epic film worth it's length in gold.
Netflix Before the Night Falls. Netflix Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

Another Patrick Smith....

How rad is this? There is another Patrick Smith, and he happens to be not only a really good artist, but also, an amazing animator! I dig it. I don't know Patrick, but we do have a few friends in common. Check out his site VectorPark, there's some really interesting stuff, my favorite is the interactive animation called "Spider", it's highly addictive, and I can't get enough of making the little spider with sticky little legs walk around! Enjoy, and thanks Patrick Smith, from Patrick Smith.

Closer Look: Night on Bald Mountain...

Have you sat and watched "Night on Bald Mountain" recently? It is a sobering experience to be reminded what fine, truthful, and master-crafted animation can accomplish. This segment of "Fantasia" encompasses so many elements of quality film making, that I'm finding it hard to even discuss, you may try reading this article by Michael Koresky. I'm simply in awe of this segment of Fantasia and it's accomplishments. I can't possibly begin to point out all the great aspects of this animation.Above, It begins with an incredible opening, the image of Chernabog coming to life on the precipice of a steep rocky mountain. The simple but dramatic and raw power in the drawings of Bill Tytla is enough to give you the chills.Turning into a multimedia technique(which happens throughout), we see ghosts and spirits, brilliantly rendered in pastel, or by using camera effects, rising from the ground, and riding up toward the mountain. There are moments of true brilliance through horrific imagery of demons, spirits, and lost souls. One of my favorites is the realistically rendered dancing female figures in flames. Most of the demon characters end up be morphed into sacrificial beasts, or simply cast down into flames after a playful exchange within hands of Chernabog. "If it’s the enormousness of Fantasia that still reverberates to this day, then it’s the film’s beatific final statement that still manages to surprise" That quote sums up the ending of "Night on Bald Mountain", as well as the ending of the feature itself. the animated rendition of "Ave Maria" is an incredible victory over the evil imagery that came before it. So, in closing, next time you get into a discussion of "Sponge Bob", or "Family Guy" (and yes, you CAN compare them, one is crap, one is brilliant), remember what has truly had an impact within art history, and re-discover what powerful, quality animated content can be. Cease this artform!!!!

School me: Hedgehog in the fog....

I will be the first to admit that I don't understand why the acclaimed work of Yuri Norstein "Hedgehog in the Fog" is an important film, it's OK, i like it, but for so long I heralded it as a masterpiece, not knowing why. I spoke of it because as an animator you're SUPPOSED to admire that film. But I just don't see it anymore. Maybe I'm stupid, and I don't get it, maybe I don't fully appreciate stop motion, maybe i'm too stuck on drawn animation(admitting biased). But I suspect, it's another piece of the brainwashing that goes on in art school, and I still have traces of it. At the same time, you will rarely hear about how brilliant the "rite of spring" is in fantasia. which, in art school, is quickly classified at disney stuff. There are several films like this that, after animating now for over a decade (i'm a friggin' child to this art form), i'm beginning to see an overstated value. again, nothing wrong with these films, they are quite good, but i don't get the pedestal they are placed on. Someone school me!

One of my Favorite Blogs...

Mark Kennedy must have one of the most useful blogs on the internet today (well.. for an animator anyway). I constantly link to it and refer to it when I teach, and I lap up his knowledge of everything from design, to layout, to really anything animation. Mark is a storyboard artist with extensive experience and currently works in Los Angeles. Check his blog out, it's called "Temple of the Seven Golden Camels".

Overlooked: Pink Floyd's "The Wall"

Frames from my film "Drink" and "Moving Along" next to frames from "The Wall", a massive influence, not that my stuff comes close. I've posted a good quality quicktime of this sequence here, by far the most impressive bit of animation in the film. When I play this clip, it reminds me of what i want to try to accomplish within this amazing medium.

I think "The Wall" is an overlooked film. I rarely even hear it mentioned. There are segments in that film that I see as some of the most original, emotional, and effective animation ever. I don't say that lightly. The particular segment that begins with the flower sequence, during the song "Empty Spaces", was originally responsible for getting me into the medium. The film has over 15 minutes of animation designed by artist Gerald Scarfe. I'm not a huge Scarfe fan, but his style worked well here. Some of the Animators include Mike Stuart(yellow submarine), Chris Caunter(watership down, little mermaid), Bill Hajee(rescuers) and Angela Kovacs(roger rabbit) all brits, i believe.