Great Soundtracks Of Our Time

After hearing the sad news of the death of John Barry, I decided to collect some of my favourite soundtrack music that always sticks in my mind. We all know how important the right soundtrack and music can be to accompany a film. Some films rely on the music very heavily and others not so much.

To start with, here is my favourite of John Barry's - Chaplin (1992)



John Murphy - In the house, In a heartbeat - 28 Days Later (2002)



Clive Mansell - Fall: Dreams - Requiem For A Dream (2000)



Hans Zimmer - Dream is Collapsing - Inception (2010)



Hans Zimmer - Psychological Recovery..... 6 Months - Sherlock Holmes (2009)




Dead Can Dance (Lisa Gerrard) - Host Of Seraphim - Baraka (1999)



Randy Newman - You Got A Friend In Me - Toy Story (1995)



Klaus Doldinger - Main Theme - The NeverEnding Story (1984) (I know this is cheesy but it's a childhood classic for me :D)











Godspeed John Barry, your music echoes on for eternity

Plaid - White's Dream (Tekkonkinkreet)

Five Plot Point Breakdowns

A very good blog i've just discovered, has posted a very interesting analysis and story breakdown of some recent films which includes Inception, Toy Story, The Incredibles and more. Read it in full HERE. This should help me write my first movie analysis soon - it's a Woody Allen picture! :-)

The Thief Who Never Gave Up - Richard Williams Documentary

Not long ago I posted the entire online version of Richard Williams film; The Thief And The Cobbler. Now we can go behind the scenes with RW and find out how epic the production was to make the film. To say RW has a lot of drive is an understatement.

Larry Griswold - The Diving Fool

I have never heard of or seen Larry Griswold before - co-inventor of the trampoline! But after watching this clip on YouTube, he has definitely etched himself into my mind as a great stunt artist and comedian. Just watch as he defies serious injuries countless times, with such grace and precision.



Found on Spungella
Photo From WVTC

My First Animation Gig

For a while now I have been posting a lot of other people's work, work that is finding its way to me, inspiring me and making me certain that the animation industry is where I want to be. So it might seem like I have been wasting time, when i've been doing just the opposite. In fact, I am currently approaching the end of my second week at my first animation job at The CharacterShop in Birmingham.

I've been working on a 1min 20sec shot for a scene in the Zoo Troop franchise of Haven. I'm animating Rory and Ned as they speak to the camera (and in turn to the audience for when it gets used). There is a lot of dialogue and lots of different innocent, funny humour, because it's aimed at a young audience.

It's a lot of fun animating these two and it's very challenging. I think there will be a lot of good material I can use for my next showreel though.

I am also working on two other animation projects, both for short films. I'm very happy to be included in the projects because they have a big following. I won't mention what they are now until I get more of that animation done.

So that's where i'm at so far. Looking forward to the next few months!

Soundtrack: Wilco - Muzzle Of Bees

Chuck Jones: Extremes and Inbetweens

Yesterday I borrowed a book from work for the purpose of researching and watching the films made by various classic animators that the book talks about. To start things off (in the USA of the animation world) here is a really cool documentary about Chuck Jones.

You'll find the who's who in current American animation being interviewed and lots of interviews with Chuck himself...













PART 7



Part 9

Very inspiring!

Disneyland Imagineers

"Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world." - Walt Disney

Here is a great short documentary that takes a peak at what goes on behind the door of Disneyland and the imagineers that make the rides and attractions possible. And it just gets better and better so watch it all!

The Thief and the Cobbler: Recobbled Cut

I was so happy to find that the entire film has been uploaded to YouTube. It's been on my 'films to watch' list for far too long now. I don't know if this is what Richard Williams wanted (I somehow doubt it), but I have to say it is good news for fans.

It's such a shame the film was never completed. It's truly a masterpiece of animation, it goes without saying. I hope whatever the issues are, they can be resolved so that the film can be finished and sold on DVD (with the great added bonus behind the scenes/making of features!) :-)

From Wikipedia...
"The Thief and the Cobbler is an animated feature film, famous for its animation and its long, troubled history. The film was conceived by Canadian animator Richard Williams, who worked 28 years on the project. Beginning production in 1964, Williams intended The Thief and the Cobbler to be his masterpiece, and a milestone in the art of animation. Due to its independent funding and complex animation, The Thief and the Cobbler was in and out of production for over two decades, until Williams, buoyed by his success as animation director on Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, signed a deal in 1990 to have Warner Bros. finance and distribute the film. This deal fell through because of Warner Bros. disliking a rough cut of the film, Disney's Aladdin appearing as competition and Williams failing to complete the film on time. As Warner Bros. pulled out, The Completion Bond Company assumed control of The Thief and the Cobbler and had it finished by producer Fred Calvert without Williams.

In the process, Calvert completely re-edited the film, removing many of Williams' scenes and adding songs and voiceovers, in order to make it more marketable. Two versions were released: One was issued in Australia and South Africa in 1993 as The Princess and the Cobbler and the other in the United States in 1995 as Arabian Knight (later released under the film's original name, The Thief and the Cobbler, on home video), distributed by Miramax Family Films. Neither was a financial success nor met with a positive reception. However, the film's history and intent has given it significant cult status among animation professionals and fans. As many animators from the Golden Age of animation were involved, the development of the film also played a significant role in preserving the knowledge and skill of animation for the newer generation of animators.

Video copies of a workprint made during Richard Williams' involvement of the film often circulate within animation subcircles. In addition, several different people and collectives, from animation fans to The Walt Disney Company's Roy E. Disney, have initiated restoration projects intended to create a high-quality edit of the film which would mirror Williams' original intent as closely as possible. With The Thief and the Cobbler being in production from 1964 until 1995, a total of 31 years, it surpasses the 20 year Guinness record by Tiefland (1954), eventually having the longest production time for a motion picture of all time.

The film was the final appearance of Vincent Price (d. 1993), who recorded his dialogue from 1967 to 1973."

The Thief Archive via Michael Sporn

Runaway

Here is a masterpiece animation by Cordell Barker.

8 Bits

Great work! Showing at the Sundance Film Festival 2011. I really like this...

"A fight between an 8-bit superhero and a high-def boss, in a retro-gaming world.

Programmer's Note: Assaulting the senses with dazzling visual imagery and gloriously over-the-top action, this high-octane animated adventure plays with classic video-game archetypes while simultaneously concocting its own fully rendered environment. Collectively directed by Valere Amirault, Sarah Laufer, Jean Delaunay, and Benjamin Mattern, the film displays the considerable talents of all four artists in developing an atmospheric anomaly of stylistic bravado that fashions a fight between an 8-bit superhero and a high-def boss in a retrogaming world. Much appreciated for the painstaking hard work involved as well as the fast-paced clarity of the result, "8BITS" is a welcome shot in the arm for any program. We invite you to learn more about the work of these collaborators at www.8bitsmovie.com."

Interview: Bill Plympton

Bill Plympton on music and the Bonnaroo festival opening title sequence animation...

Tips and Tricks From An Art Slave

Over on the Muddy Colors blog, Eric Fortune has posted a fantastic list of tips and tricks for artists everywhere to improve not only their work but their day to day life. They make a lot of sense and I think I have fallen/may fall into these traps at some point. Heed the warning now!..

1. Get up happy. Say some affirmations. Get rid of the negative chatter in your head-that voice that says things like, “I’m not coming up with any good ideas. I’ll never make this deadline. I’ll never be good enough to do this job.” Instead, train that voice to say something positive. Reprogram yourself. “I am illustrating books that people love. I am happy with my art. My career is going great. I am a successful artist…” This might sound too simple, and you’ve probably heard it before from the self –help gurus. Have you ever actually tried it….consistently over a few months?

2. Exercise and stay healthy. This is not an option. When you feel healthy, you are more open and ideas come more quickly.

3. Sit quietly each day, do yoga, or meditate. Get calm and peaceful so that when the ideas come, you actually realize they are there. Worry, anger, fear, and other emotions actually block the ability to grasp those sparks of imagination. [Spend time off of your iPhone, Twitter, Facebook - a whole day if that's possible!]

4. Create a place and time to be at work. This is important if you are working at home. Your mind needs to understand, “I am now at work. I will now be creative.” So sharpen your pencils, put on music, sit before your drawing table and begin.

5. Don’t talk too much about your ideas; this depletes some of the magic. On a subconscious level, your wonderful idea has become a real thing in the world. It’s not real, and it won’t be, until you do it. So, instead of sharing your magnificent thoughts, go make the work happen.

6. Take time outs doing something you love. Go to a museum. Sit by a lake. Walk though the woods. You must replenish yourself. Fill the well. Don’t view this as goofing off…this time is very important.

7. Don’t be a workaholic. This is difficult, because you won’t know it, until it’s too late. Your friends and family will know it before you will. ONLY YOU CAN CONTROL THIS. Be the work police and set your own boundaries. Make a contract with yourself. “I do not wok on Tuesday and Sunday. I go on vacation without my work. I have lunch with a friend on Friday every week. I only work from 9am to 2pm. “Put up a sign. Remind yourself that you are free to set your own schedule. Work as late or as little or as early as you want, but make sure you’re enjoying the pace.
Remember, somebody you know will be published before you or more often than you. They will be more successful. They will sell more books. They will get more speaking engagements. You think you will never make it. You won’t…unless you stop working so hard to catch up. Find your own pace. Find your own style. Do what works for you. Be patient. Change happens in incremental ways. When you consciously make these daily choices, you will see a big difference in your life over time…and you will be balanced enough to notice!

Interview: Alex Williams

This is a good interview on the Flip Animation Website with Alex Williams (The Iron Giant, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Robots, The Lion King, The Thief and the Cobbler to name a few). He's a hugely talented person as you will gather from this interview; he studied law, animates in 2D and 3D, currently teaches the animation program at Escape Studios and has drawn comic strips for major UK papers...

See the full interview HERE

To Life! - A Wedding Surprise

This is a great video that shows the kindness of the heart and thought that can go into a wedding. I think the 'normal' formalities of weddings are going out the window with a new generation that want their own unique way of doing it. Here is another great example. I wonder if the groom is an unknown actor, he plays the part really well!

The Gruffalo and The Making Of

Magic Light Pictures have now uploaded the making of The Gruffalo...

Compare Your Life To Pixar

Very inspiring video!



Found at The Illusion of Movement

AT-AT Day Afternoon

Made by Patrick Boivin. A hugely talented stop motion animator.

We're Doomed To Walk In Circles

Here's a very nice rotoscope animation which talks about our inept ability to walk in straight lines when blindfolded.

Classic Animator's Showreels

Wow! Thad Komorowski has compiled a shots done by the classic animators and made them into their own showreels. Showreels he's made so far for animators have included...
Bobe Cannon (1909 - 1964)
Art Davis (1905 - 2000)
John Gentilella (1914 - 1997)
Ken Harris (1898 - 1982)
Emery Hawkins (1912 - 1989)
Bill Melendez (1916 - 2008)
Rod Scribner (1910 - 1976)
Irv Spence (1909 - 1995)
Jim Tyer (1904 - 1976)

Check them out on his BLOG.

The Making of Tron: Legacy

Digital Domain at their best again! This 8min video doesn't explain much about the story, which is good because I haven't seen it yet, although i've read the story is very weak. But it shows how much work has gone into the VFX. This is green screen to the max. Look forward to seeing it even more now!

Video Reference Tool

I just found this over on the animation resource blog. It's a brand new accessory for mobile smart phones made by Satarii. I'm definitely beginning to think how useful this would be when animators need to video reference themselves.



They need some more help to lift this off the ground, so if you are in a position or know someone who is in a position to help, head on over to there campaign site.

Lego Artist: Nathan Sawaya

This really grabbed my attention and was just too cool not too mention.

Nathan Sawaya is a Lego brick artist in New York. He has created some really stunning Lego sculptures...

Found at Scribble Junkies

Tom Waits For No One (1979)

This has only just found its way to me and I really like it. A rotoscoped animation by John Lamb for Tom Waits singing The One That Got Away. Brilliant stuff!

Heavy Traffic Trailer

Mighty Mouse Story Meeting

A really cool behind the scenes look into the animators working on a story session for Mighty Mouse in January 1988!



Found at Flooby Nooby

2010 In Film

I was wondering what were my favourite and least favourite films of 2010. There were so many films last year, it's hard to choose. I've managed to find and list 10 in no particular order. And don't worry, they're not all animations, in fact most of them are live action films. I was a little bit disappointed by Dispicable Me and How To Train Your Dragon and as I haven't seen Megamind yet I haven't included it.

Best in 2010:
Toy Story 3: What else is there to say about the movie. Not much. For me, it sealed my dream to be a character animator.

Inception: The story was brilliant and had me thinking all the way through. The second time I saw it I didn't have to think about the story so much, and just enjoyed the great effects.

Shutter Island: Another great story which had me thinking throughout. 2010 was a good year for Leonardo Di Caprio films!

Four Lions: Immensely funny, but nothing less was expected from Chris Morris. I'll be getting the DVD soon and watching the special features.

Exit Through The Gift Shop: I just enjoyed watching this story unfold. The centre character (not Banksy) was very interesting to watch and it was interesting to learn a bit more about Banksy and go behind the scenes so to speak.

Worst in 2010
The Expendables: I knew it was going to be so awful, that's why I watched it, but it surpassed all my expectations. The cameo of Arny Swarch was utterly laughable with a hint of cringe.

Clash Of The Titans: A really poor film and the only reason I watched it was because Smoke and Mirrors (or maybe The Mill) made the title sequence! Not a good reason, but the only I can think of. The original is so far better as far as I remember it.

Kick-Ass: I just didn't get what was good about it. Effects were nice actually, but story wise it didn't appeal to me.

Prince of Persia: Sands Of Time: This had so much potential; good actors and a long successful history in the games market, but it failed for my tastes.

Here's to another year of awesome films to be made, watched and enjoyed!

Soundtrack: Frank Zappa - Packard Goose

Merry Christmas From...

I've only just seen these brilliant Christmas videos from various artists and studios. All of them brilliant and well worth watching, even after the season.

Daniels


Kilogramme


Realtime UK


John K

A New Business Model for the VFX Industry

I occasionally follow some of the online VFX and Animation industry blogs such as TAG, VFX Soldier and VFX Law (if you know of any others please leave them in a comment for me). There seems to be a strong growth of these blogs about the interweb and they are very interesting to read. Quite recently, VFX Law has posted on the subject of suggesting a new business model for the VFX industry, because the current model is seeing good companies bleeding to death. What VFX Law suggests also applies to individual artists and other businesses outside of the VFX industry. So if you are interested in a new business model for this new year, have a good gander...

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone enjoyed leaving 2010 and entering 2011. The feeling I have for the new year is one of clarity and optimism. Whether or not I find the way into a career in animation, I know that I will be happy and that's more important. I still have goals though, as with every beginning, here is what they are:

1) Finish a new showreel. I want to have a new Winter 2010 Showreel ready by the end of January. This will follow the great advice I was recently given at BYOA in London.

2) Move to London.

3) Learn to play the Chinese Guzheng [pro: Goo-jung]. It was a fantastic surprise Christmas gift and I want to learn one of the traditional songs.

4) Draw one thing at least once a week. After a while I'd like to do one drawing a day.

If you've set yourself goals for the year, I hope you can achieve them to move on and create more goals.

Peace on.

Soundtrack: Gentle Giant - Free Hand (live)