Saturday, December 24, 2011

Spunky the Snowman aka The Snow Postman, Leonid Almarik, 1955

Spunky The Snowman (The English language version)


The Russian version (In.. well, Russian, I will try to find a translation if I can.)

Friday, December 23, 2011

Monday, December 19, 2011

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Your 1000th Cartoon

ETA, of course I assed this up and set it to post at 6:30 PM, because it's major.


ANYWAY


This is my 1000th post! That's most likely more than 1000 cartoons, because my first post was multiple cartoons, and there have been several other entries that contain more than one piece, but 1000! That is SO MANY.

I wasn't sure what to post, until I thought of my first cartoon... ah let us embark in my Way Back Machine (so called because it is in the way-back of a buzzard puke green 1975 AMC Hornet station wagon and any similarity in the name is purely coincidental) and look at the first cartoon I ever posted before I even knew this was going to be A Great Big Amazing Thing, or even a blog:



The Hey Bulldog sequence, from Yellow Submarine. Directed by George Dunning, 1968. Character design by NOT PETER MAX! The wonderful Heinz Edelmann.

So yes! How would you like to see the whole thing?

ME TOO I TOTALLY LOVE THIS MOVIE

Off with your pants then, let's watch YELLOW SUBMARINE!!!!!

Friday, December 2, 2011

Tinned Food, Hamm Williams, 2011

all the profits from this film could be spent on illegal meat, if such a product exists.


Thursday, December 1, 2011

O makovém koláči (The Poppy Cake) Zdeněk Miler, 1953

Educational film from the 1950s, no subtitles.

Basically, it is the making of a biscuit. That is pretty much what is happening here. Yep. One of those "farm to table" deals, back when that was a much simpler process.

I just got a vision of a contemporary version and suddenly I am not hungry.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Monday, November 28, 2011

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Murry Wilson, Rock and Roll Dad, Peter Bagge and Dana Gould, 2001

This online Flash series that Bagge made for Icebox.com (HOLY CRAP. Remember them?)chronicles the wacky adventures of the delightful patriarch of the Beach Boys clan. A real charmer, that one.







Saturday, November 26, 2011

HATE, Steve Loter and Peter Bagge, 1995

This is a failed pilot for a series based on Peter Bagge's HATE comics. The series never materialized, so I, for one, had no clue this existed until a few minutes ago.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Address is Approximate, Tom Jenkins, 2011

Story: A lonely desk toy longs for escape from the dark confines of the office, so he takes a cross country road trip to the Pacific Coast in the only way he can – using a toy car and Google Maps Street View.

All screen imagery was animated - there are no screen replacements.


Thanks for the heads up, Sharyn.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

QWERTY the Dinosaur, Will Finn, 2009

An affectionate parody of Windsor McCay's silent animated classic: 'GERTIE THE DINOSAUR(1914),' created, written and animated in 2009 by Los Angeles animator Will Finn who nearly succeeded in shamelessly plugging this cartoon in the comments a while back, until he succumbed at the last second to a bout of shame, possibly induced by Comic Sans.


Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Sunday, November 13, 2011

shorts from The Fine Art of Goofing Off, Victor Moscoso, 1972

Spots from Henry Jacobs' The Fine Art of Goofing Off animated by genius comic book and poster artist Victor Moscoso.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Nigel Tufnel Day Cartoon Special! 11-11-11 11:11:11

TODAY IS 11-11-11!

In fact, I have set this to post at 11:11 11-11-11.

You know I could not let this momentous occasion pass without note.

I was unsure if I would be able to find any Spinal Tap related cartoons, but lo and behold, apparently in 2009 there was a video contest, and The Internet stepped up to the challenge with their very best crude flash.

Youtuber puckgodz reinvents the band as South Park style characters for his vision of Stonehenge.


Marie Gugliemo imagines a version of Back from the Dead in which Jeanine gets her way and the band dresses as Zodiac animals.


Bonnie Rose's animation for Back from the Dead


Charlie Tantam's animation for Stonehenge:


This is unrelated to the contest, but young Beatnick13 made a video for "Cups and Cakes" with what appears to be some sort of game program.


Last, but absolutely not least, is an outstandingly gory interpretation of The Majesty of Rock that was apparently created with frickin' DOS in 1994 by Frank Stringini of Stringanime.



oh by the way (this is not a cartoon):

The Interview, Ernest Pinthoff, 1960

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Dumbo, Ben Sharpsteen +, 1941

If you were to ask me "Oh hey, Kinky Boot Beast, if that is your real name, what is the best Disney cartoon?"

And I would say THIS ONE RIGHT HERE!

Not my favorite when I was a kid. I was scared shitless of those pink elephants.

Oh, yeah, this is the whole darn thing.



Directed by too many people to add to the marquee up there - Ben Sharpsteen was the supervising director. Sometimes it takes a lot of people to make something this great.
Sam Armstrong
Norman Ferguson
Wilfred Jackson
Jack Kinney
Bill Roberts

Friday, November 4, 2011

The Wind in the Willows, James Algar, Clyde Geronimi, and Jack Kinney, 1949

If you're wondering why in tarnation they are singing about "Ichabod" in the credits, it's because this was packaged with "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

Ichabod doesn't even know where Toad Hollow is. Pfft.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

哐哐: Year of the Rabbit, Pi San, 2011

Earlier this year, animation director Pi San made a sweet, lighthearted New Year's cartoon. The cartoon went viral, because everyone likes bunnies, right?

As it turns out, the Chinese government did not care for the bunnies so much.



In this news clip, Pi San discusses his creation.



Humor is serious business.

Monday, October 31, 2011

A Witch's Tangled Hare, Abe Levitow, 1959

Oh what the Hell, IT'S A HOLIDAY! Here's one more.

Transylvania 6-5000, Chuck Jones, 1963

I was scratching my head over what to post for Halloween, when my friend Loren reminded me of this one. (Thanks!)

Le Squellette Joyeux (The Dancing Skeleton), Auguste and Louise Lumiere, 1895

I can't say as this is a strictly animated film, as it is, per se, and whatnot, but it does appear that there are elements of animation included. Also, this rules.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

It Depends On Your Perspective, Vincent Collins,197?

A gentler Vince Collins animation. Also known as Magic Pig Calypso, which is incidentally the name of your new band.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Word Salad, Micah Buzan, 2011

Usually, I find animation, but sometimes animation finds me.

For instance, I checked my inbox, and discovered I had mail from one Micah Buzan, suggesting I check out his video.

So I did, and then this happened to my face:



AND I LIKED IT.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Monday, October 3, 2011

Big Tim, John Hubley (?) 1949

This is a sales film commissioned by the Timken Roller Bearing Company, so the crew and director are uncredited. John Hubley is a semi-sorta-educated guess. If anyone out there in Cartoonland knows any different, feel absolutely free to school me.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Bumble Ardy, Maurice Sendak and Jim Henson, 1970

Maurice Sendak? Jim Henson? Ken Nordine?

That isn't bad. In fact, it's fine.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Idea Man, Jim Henson, 196?

How about another Jim Henson short?

Like the earlier post, this is from the "early 1960s." If anyone knows an exact year, feel free to tell me.

Cat and Mouse, Jim Henson, 196?

Today would have been the great, great, great Jim Henson's 75th birthday. He's not known for his animation, but he did animate -

Caught in the act!



In observance, I present a stylish early animated short Cat and Mouse.

Friday, September 23, 2011

The Severed Stream, Chris Mars, 2005

Question why a villain is villainized, a victim martyred. Ask why a group is demonized, and the motives for control. See for yourself what the truth looks like in your hands. Dig it up and hold it for a while. This work you see, it’s my Truth. But please don’t take my word for it.

- Chris Mars, 2005


Thursday, September 22, 2011

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Gena the Crocodile, Roman Kachanov, 1969

First of the much beloved Cheburashka cartoons.

If you don't see the subtitles, mouse over the window and click CC.



Friday, September 9, 2011

Юбилей (Jubilee) Vladimir Tarasov, 1983

A brief history of Soviet animation, told by great Soviet animator Vladimir Tarasov.







Sunday, September 4, 2011

La Linea #157: Sexilinea, Osvaldo Cavandoli, 1978

La Linea was a long running series of short cartoons, made for TV, by cartoonist Osvaldo Cavanoldi. They're spare, well conceived, and quite funny.

You might remember seeing them on The Great Space Coaster. If you're old like me.

Though this episode was made for TV, it's still NSFW, due to assorted bouncy bits.





Edited to close my tag. Apparently if I don't close the "i" tag it italicizes everything.

Maybe it's because this is Italian.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

The Year 1812 (War and Peace) Sándor Reisenbüchler, 1972

I am super high on Sándor Reisenbüchler at the moment, so you get more of this sort of thing.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

barbarok ideje (The Age of the Barbarians) Sándor Reisenbüchler, 1970

IT IS CHRISTMAS AND MY BIRTHDAY AND THIS IS MY PONY. I have been wanting to see this piece for AGES and now I can and so can you.

YAY YAY YAY YAY WOOOOOO!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Hisab, Ezra Wube, 2011

An African tale painted on a single canvas.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Eyewash (1959) and A Man and His Dog Out for Air(1956) Robert Breer

Yesterday, I found out that avante garde animator Robert Breer passed away at the age of 84.


R.I.P. I genuinely enjoyed your work, sir. Thank you.

Eyewash


A Man and His Dog Out For Air


I've featured his film REcreation before, but I'd like you to watch it with me now. It's a favorite of mine.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The Treasure Island, D.Cherkasskiy, 1986, 1988

Part one is 47 minutes, part two is just shy of an hour.

Part one (1986)



Part two (1988)

Monday, August 15, 2011

Terry Gilliam's Do It Yourself Animation Show, Bob Godfrey, 1974

"Terry, what advice do you have for people out there who want to make film animation?"

"Well, Bob, don't. Keep well away from it - it's dangerous stuff.


In 1974, animator Bob Godfrey hosted the Do It Yourself Film Animation Show. He invited established animators to demonstrate their techniques, and inspired a new generation of British animators. (Oh look there's a book, too.

Anyway. It's my birthday. I love Terry Gilliam. Everything I am today is pretty much his fault.





So now you know how to do that, you can make me some cartoons. Get cracking, people.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

The Mouse and his Child, Charles Swenson and Fred Wolf, 1977

Adaptation of Russell Hoban's novel about two mechanical toy mice, and their quest to become "self-winding". via

The full length feature.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Tom Waits for No One, John Lamb, 1979

Tom Waits performed in 1978 live at the La Brea stage in Hollywood, photographed and rotoscoped.The original live action was shot with 5 cameras - 2 high, 2 low and one hand held.. shot by Dan O'Dowd and crew..The music from "The One That Got Away" blared in the background as Tom sang the lyrics. Donna Gordon is the dancer performing as the stripper, 6 takes and 13 hours of video footage were edited to make a 5 1/2 minute live action short which we turned into animation. A total of 5,500 frames were captured, re-drawn, inked and painted by hand onto celluloid acitate to create this film. Produced by Lyon Lamb Video Animation Systems and directed by John Lamb, the film bore some cool new technology and talent ..and was created specifically for a burgeoning video music market that didn't yet exist and arguably may be the first music video created for the MTV market.However, a series of unfortunate events prohibited the film from ever
being released or sold commercially, consequently catapulting it into obscurity.
In 1979, an Academy Award was presented to Lyon Lamb for the technology used in this short.
(Via)

Thanks, Ian.



ETA: some of the raw footage, prior to rotoscoping:

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Valse Triste (Sad Waltz) Bruno Bozzetto, 1976

This is another segment of Bruno Bozzetto's brilliant Allegro Non Troppo, and is definitely a top contender for saddest cartoon ever.



Saturday, August 6, 2011

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Gertie the Dinosaur, Winsor McCay, 1914

I have been posting animation for two years. How I have managed to NOT post this one blows my mind.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Lily and Jim, Don Hertzfeldt, 1997

Do yourself a favor and hit the CC button at the bottom of the video. Then select "Transcribe Audio."

It adds an extra dimension.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Silvery Moon (Candy Town) John Foster & Mannie Davis, 1933

This was originally released as part of Van Beuren's Aesop's Fables series under the title Silvery Moon; it was re-released as Candy Town in 1933.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

AIDES; Sexy Fingers, Jean Michel Tixier, 2011

French Organization AIDES continues their campaign to fight AIDS and HIV with the best PSAs in the world. VERY VERY NSFW.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

My Pal Foot Foot, D. Sticker, 2005

I have debated posting this before, but after my phone autocorrected Norma's nickname "Simple Dog" (from this blog of incredible awesomeness) to "Simple Foot" (My pal Simple Foot) I knew what I had to do.


My pal Norma

I even noted the resemblance between Dorothy Wiggin's Foot Foot character drawing and Norma. Especially the tail and the facial expression. Coincidence?



Sunday, July 17, 2011

The Ballon (Gubbara) B.R. Shendge, 1985

An educational short from Films Division India about the dangers of gossip.

Friday, July 15, 2011

The Day of the Subgenius, Chris Hopewell, 2001

Produced by Bolex Brothers and directed by Chris Hopewell (all better known for their excellent stop motion work) and written, of course, by Reverend Ivan Stang of the Church of the Subgenius.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Полифем, Акид и Галатея(Polyphemus, and Galatea Akida) Anatoly Petrov, 1995

In Russian, no subs, chock full of n00dz and assorted sexytimes, totally NSFW.

Seriously, everyone is nekkid the whole entire time. This might be the nudest cartoon I have ever seen.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Baa, Cyriak Harris, 2011

I feel I have been somewhat derelict in my duties for not posting the new Cyriak animation the minute it hit the web. I am sure by now you have seen it, but for posterity...

Monday, June 13, 2011

IS TROPICAL: The Greeks,Megaforce and Seven, 2011

This starts with, and is comprised primarily, of live action film of children at play, but gets its main punch from some really splendidly animated (and sometimes disturbing) cartoon violence.


I wish I knew the animator's name or could find more information about this mysterious numerical individual or organization. The Sevens I have located either openly deny involvement or remain quiet.


Sunday, June 12, 2011

Passions of Spies, Yefim Gamburg, 1967

Youtube user IgorRussland writes:
This is the second feature directed by Yefim Gamburg, an artist who began working at Soyuzmultfilm in 1955 and animated many of the best children's poems, fairy tales and songs. He turned his attention to adults with "Passions of Spies," reviewing dozens of Soviet spy and detective films to make Soyuzmultfilm's first spoof. He selected the most stereotypical spy movie plots and characters, all well known to Soviet audiences. Soviet censors were so nervous about the film that they immediately sent it to the film club at Lubyanka (KGB Headquarters) to test the political waters. A high ranking general loved it and personally thanked Gamburg for "destroying the established stereotype of the 'wooden' Soviet intelligence." Made during a period of Soviet world power, the film was never officially shown abroad until after perestroika.


Saturday, June 11, 2011

Schwechater, Peter Kubelka, 1958

Some might argue that this barely qualifies as animation. But they can argue with somebody else, because a)the abstraction, the stylization of the images, and the short length of the clips give it the appearance of animation, b) THIS IS MY BLOG AND I SAY IT GOES HERE, and c) It's amazing.

In 1957, Peter Kubelka was hired to make a short commercial for Scwechater beer. The beer company undoubtedly thought they were commissioning a film that would help them sell their beers; Kubelka had other ideas. He shot his film with a camera that did not even have a viewer, simply pointing it in the general direction of the action. He then took many months to edit his footage, while the company fumed and demanded a finished product. Finally he submitted a film, 90 seconds long, that featured extremely rapid cutting (cutting at the limits of most viewers' perception) between images washed out almost to the point of abstraction — in black-and-white positive and negative and with red tint — of dimly visible people drinking beer and of the froth of beer seen in a fully abstract pattern. Via

Friday, June 10, 2011

Six Weeks in June, Stuart Hilton, 1996

11000 miles around the USA in the back of a van with a band, a pen, a stack of paper and 6 weeks to do it all. A road movie. By Stuart Hilton

This perfectly captures the feeling of being a passenger on a very long road trip.



Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Bird is the Word, Bill Plympton, 2005

Animated segment from F*CK, Steve Anderson's documentary on Ol' Effenheimer.

You know I saw it in the theater. I believe we have already established that I am a super duper classy broad and if you didn't know that, I really think you should.

ANYWAY.

If you are a person of more delicate and refined sensibilities, you can also see this on Bill Plympton's Dog Days DVD, which of course won't contain anything whatsoever that will offend you even a little bit.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Le Roman de Renard (The Tale of the Fox) Ladislaw Starewicz, 1930

Here's a treat for you - the entirety of Ladislaw Starewicz's masterfully animated and very entertaining Le Roman de Renard. Enjoy.











Friday, May 27, 2011

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Tusalava, Len Lye, 1929

Tusalava was originally performed with live accompaniment composed by Jack Ellit. Unfortunately, the original score was lost. Many people have stepped in to fill that void, and I can think of several others who would do an amazing job. In my mind, I am looking at them pointedly right now, in a "You. Do this thing at the Trylon" kind of way.

I do think that Youtube user pukunu1 did a mighty decent job here.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Cosmic Clock, Al Jarnow, 1979

A temporal take-off on Charles and Ray Eames' "Powers of Ten" that was originally shown on PBS's 3-2-1 Contact!


Thursday, May 12, 2011

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Aos, Yoji Kuri, 1964

No subtitles, but somehow I doubt they would explain much.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

La Serenissima, Guido Manuli, 1981

I don't usually post works by the same animator two days in a row, but it's not like it's a rule or anything.

Plus, this is completely different from yesterday's work, I promise.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Thursday, May 5, 2011

The Big Story , David Stoten and Tim Watts, 1993

A Kirk Douglas extravaganza, voiced by Frank Gorshin.




Pencil test!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Pulsar, Katushi Bowda, 1990

Made for an amateur animation contest for the show "EBITEN."


Starring...plaster.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Kevadine kärbes (Spring fly) Riho Unt and Hardi Volmer, 1986

Unfortunately, this has no subtitles.



Synopsis:
A parable examining questions of ethics in human relationships based on the miniature "The Fly, the Cockroach and the Spider" written by Anton Hansen Tammsaare.
via

So that's what you are watching.


Sunday, May 1, 2011

Rainbow Dance, Len Lye 1936

I couldn't find a version as properly vividly colored as the original, which is quite bright. It must have been electrifying in 1936.

OH SPEAKING OF LEN LYE AND STUFF - I just saw Pip Chodorov's Free Radicals, which features Lye (his 1958 short is featured in full and gives the doc its title)Robert Breer, Stan Brakhage, Stan Vanderbeek, Hans Richter, and more fully awesome individuals. Now heads up - I really genuinely love this stuff. So fair warning; you might be in for more of this sort of thing, because I'm excited.


Friday, April 29, 2011

Duo Concertantes, Larry Jordan, 1964

I can't believe I have neglected to link to Larry Jordan's beauteous website.

Also, if you really loved me you would buy me this.

If you don't really love me (I understand) you should buy it for yourself.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Bike Race, Tom Schroeder, 2010

I saw this on Tuesday at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival,on a program of local short documentaries and animation. Definitely one of the highlights of the show.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Trik, Ondřej Švadlena, 2005

Inspired 3D surrealism from Ondřej Švadlena.

I can tell I am watching something truly, deeply weird when I can't decide whether it's NSFW or not.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Spin Cycle, Jeff Scher, 2003

BREAD!





MOAR BREAD!

Still Loaf with Guitar, 2003

Friday, April 15, 2011

Ernest le Vampire (episodes 1 & 2) Francois Bruel and Jose Javier, 1988

It is somewhat well known in my circle of friends and acquaintances that I generally think vampires are pretty stupid. But Ernest is adorable.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Monday, April 11, 2011

Resemblage, Vicki Bennet, 2004

Resemblage (2004) was created as a result of an invitation from the LUX archive to make a film derived exclusively from their film collection (with permission from the original artists). We chose films by artists Alan Berliner, Lawrence Jordan, People Like Us, Semiconductor and Stan Vanderbeek.

By Vicki Bennet, better known as People Like Us.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

The Peanut Vendor, Len Lye, 1933

New Zealand filmmaker Len Lye is best known for his pioneering work with abstract animation. This is what happened before that.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Whinsey on the Phone, Sally Cruikshank, 2008

Animator Sally Cruikshank experimented with Flash, and this is what happened.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Smutley, Niklas Rissler and Kevin Grady, 2011

Humorous spot for French organization AIDES


Smutley is a very naughty kitty. NSFW, unless you work somewhere where it's totally cool if your boss catches you watching a video of a cartoon cat getting a beej from a goldfish.




Thanks, Cavin.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Mesék a műveszet világából (Tales from the World of Art) Kovásznai György, 1965

Once again, no subtitles. I believe the first act is called "Exciting Film ("Action Film" is probably a closer translation) the second act is called "The Old Trumpet Player Took the Cyanide," and the third act is "The Famous Pianist," but that is all I've got for you.

That and this sweet animation.


Friday, March 18, 2011

The Cyclotrope, Tim Wheatley, 2011

OK, this is really the post for the 18th. I made an.. error.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Kizakura Sake Ads, 1959-1980

A wonderful series of advertisements featuring an family of kappa.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Superflat Monogram and First Love, Mamoru Hosoda, 2003

Based on characters created for Louis Vuitton by Takashi Murakami.


We have one of Murakami's pandas where I work. Oh you think it's cute and innocent, but I assure you as soon as the lights go out, that thing is terrifying.

Superflat Monogram


Superflat First Love

Sunday, March 6, 2011

No Neck Joe, Craig McCracken,1990, 1997

Most sites put the date of these cartoons as 1997, but that is total bullshit. I saw these in the theater in 1990.

ETA - I can't believe I left "site's" up for almost two days. Mortified.




Also mortifying - when the animator himself shows up in the comments and tells you that yes, the date is correct. Confirming that my memory actually kind of sucks. (Thanks, Tim!) And then you don't even see it for seven months because you just assume nobody comments on your blog. THIS IS ALL VERY AWKWARD


BUT WAIT! Craig McKracken just dropped in to say that yes, he did make the first No Neck Joe shorts in 1990 when he was at Cal Arts! So perhaps I was not as addled as previously believed.


(I was still pretty addled, though.)



Friday, March 4, 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

The Gruffalo, Max Lang and Jakob Schuh, 2009

One of the nominees for the 2011 Academy Award for Best Animated Short.

Of course, we know that Shaun Tan's The Lost Thing won. But IT WAS AN HONOR JUST TO BE NOMINATED.



Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Saturday, February 19, 2011

American Lady, Jesus Camillo Barros and Hugo Nicolas Rivera, 2006

No subtitles (sorry) but it's not difficult to understand what's going on.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

The Lost Thing, Shaun Tan, 2010

The Lost Thing is nominated for a WON! the 2011 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.


Congratulations!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Deuce, Monica Cook, 2010




Now with director's commentary from Monica Cook!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

My Internet's Gone Down, Mike Booth, 2008

Mike Booth's Some Grey Bloke is really taking things in stride, all things considered. You should see me when my internet goes down.


Well, no, you shouldn't. Nobody should see that.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Oedipus, Starring Vegetables, Jason Wishnow, 2004




Bonus; Me and my Potato - the making of Oedipus, Starring Vegetables:


AND MORE - the storyboards for Oedipus, Starring Vegetables

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Madagascar, Carnet et Voyage, Bastien Dubois, 2009

This lovely short, from Sacrebleu Films, is nominated for the 2011 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Hook and Ladder Hokum or A Fireman's Life, George Stallings and Frank Tashlin, 1933

Featuring Tom and Jerry.


No, the other Tom and Jerry. Not the cat and the mouse. Two dudes.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

excerpt from Plasticene Crow, Aleksandr Tatarskiy, 1981

The lyrics, as translated by the invaluable Youtube denizen Niffiwan:



There is a simple folk tale
or maybe not a folk tale
or maybe not so simple
that we'd like you to hear

we know it from our childhood
or maybe from adulthood
or maybe we don't know it
but hope it will appear.

One time there was a crow
or possibly a dog
or possibly a cow
who struck a lucky score:

she found a piece of cheese
about 200 grams
or possibly 300
or maybe even more.

She flew right up a pine
or maybe didn't fly
or maybe up a palm tree
she ran right up from thence

and there for some nice breakfasting
or maybe for some dinner
or maybe even suppertime
she quickly made her plans.

But here a fox was running
or maybe wasn't running
or maybe a mad ostrich
or kind, we might presume

Or possibly a sweeper
who traipsed along the countryside
to find the nearest hazel tree
and carve himself a broom.

"Oh listen my dear crow
unless you are a dog
or possibly a cow
the finest cow of all

your feathers are exquisite
your horns are really something
your hooves are nice and slim
and what a kindly soul!

If ever you should sing
or maybe if you woof
or if you started mooing
(since cows moo a lot)

then you'll get a big saddle
a carpet and a TV;
nice presents will be gotten
or maybe will be got."

And so, the stupid crow,
or possibly the dog,
or possibly the cow,
began to sing and crow...

And from such awful singing,
which may not have been singing,
our population fainted
as if from a great blow.

The crow lost the cheese,
or possibly the dog,
perhaps it was the cow;
on this we are agreed,

and right atop the fox
or possibly the ostrich
or possibly the sweeper
it fell with some great speed.

The moral of this tale,
which may not be a tale,
not just a grown adult;
a dwarf should understand

don't ever stand, don't jump around,
don't sing or even try to dance
in off-limits construction zones
where heavy things might land!


Wednesday, February 2, 2011

The Little Tiger on the Sunflower, Leonid Nosyrev, 1981

*races breathlessly into room* HERE'S YOUR CARTOON! I DIDN'T FORGET! HERE IT IS! *pant pant*


Monday, January 31, 2011

Le Balayeur, Serge Elissalde, 1990

The good news is...There are subtitles!

The bad news is... They're in Spanish.

The good news is... You probably don't really need them.

The best news is... it's a cartoon. Watch the cartoon.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

The Thomas Beale Cipher, Andrew Allen, 2010

Using pioneering animation techniques to create a look never seen on film before, his 10-minute award-winning film tells the true legend of history's most challenging cipher. Professor White, cryptographer extraordinaire, is on the trail of the notoriously uncrackable Thomas Beale cipher—a century-old riddle hiding the location of a fortune in gold that has tormented its pursuers since inception. But White is not alone—shadowy forces are tight on his tail.

The film contains 16 hidden messages that reveal the larger story at play. Eight are fairly easy and require only a close eye. Six are moderately difficult using various encryption methods. Two are extremely difficult and will require a genius mind to decrypt.





If you have a genius mind (and I will assume you must, seeing as how you have such impeccable taste in entertainment) and wanna do this, knock yourself out. I'm a bit daft, myself, so I'm just gonna enjoy the pretty pictures.

If you DO figure it out, feel free to brag to us in the comments, genius.


Also.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Day and Night, Teddy Newton , 2010

Day and Night is a nominee for the Academy Award in the Best Animated Short Film category.


Here's an HQ preview:



And here's a less HQ version of the whole thing.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Ryan, Chris Landreth, 2004

Chris Landreth's short animated interview with gifted animator Ryan Larkin.

Winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, 2005.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Hidavatas, Marcell Jankovics, 1969



Thanks to Chris for this gem, and for generally being informative and cool.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Goofy Goat, Ted Eshbaugh, 1931

This cartoon was originally made in two color Technicolor, but no color print is known to exist.
Official Films offered 16mm B+W prints of it in the 40's and changed the name to 'Goofy Goat Antics'.
- zootsmcgurn


Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Sensology, Michel Gagne, 2010

Sensology is a short animated film by Michel Gagné that visualizes in abstract form, an improvised musical session by two leaders of the avant-guarde jazz movement, Paul Plimley (piano) and Barry Guy (bass). The music was recorded on November 9th, 1995, at the Western Front in Vancouver, Canada

To me, it brings to mind the work of Norman McLaren.


It's also on the short list of possible Academy Award nominees. Good luck!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Train of Thought, Leo Bridle and Ben Thomas, 2010

Train of Thought is Leo Bridle and Ben Thomas's graduation film from The Arts Institute at Bournemouth.

Although we used digital compositing software, all the animation and models were done by hand, not with CGI. The film took approximately 9 months to complete, from storyboards through to the final edit.