My Life in Point Form ...

Lacking time to type coherent paragraphs I give you this:

- Very busy. My spare time is getting squeezed lately so I've been avoiding the blog.

- The book was delayed due to professional obligations but the proof copy will be in my hands this week. I'll post pictures and info on where to purchase.

- The book has spawned a side project tie-in which is fashion related. It's time to tap into my entrepreneurial spirit.

- I'll be posting my interview with Nathan Affolter

- With hockey season over I've gotten down to finishing the outline for a film idea. It's something different that, if you know me, might not be what you expect - that seems to be a theme filtering through my work lately.

- Concept art from the film:

Ollie Johnston 1912-2008

Ollie Johnston, the last of Walt's Nine Old Men, passed today at 95.
Rest in Peace.

His episode of the Disney Family Album seems like a respectful way to remember him today:

Saturday Night...

See y'all at Deighton's Well Saturday night (my small contribution):

Busy, Busy, Busy ...

Things are hopping at the studio these days so it's been more difficult to find time to post. However there still is just enough hours in the day to get some art done and so I'll have a piece in Deighton's After Dark IV:


Also - my book "Girls: a collection of flavours" is in the printing process as we speak. I'm hoping to have the shipment in by March 8th but I'll believe it when I see it. It'll be a limited run of 30. If anyone is interested let me know - they'll be going for $20.

And before you click on your next website scoot over to John Vincent's new blog. John is highlighting some of the weirdest, wildest, and most mind-bending cartoons of the 30's.
Uncle John's Crazy Town is the place to be!

Crystal Skulls Are Neato ...

Today I feel like a 12 year old:


*Update* and apparently this trailer was made for 12 year olds. This trailer is being shown in front of the Spiderwick Chronicles and so the MPAA had demanded that certain scenes be altered. Guns pointed at Indy have been digitally removed. Also, internet sites are reporting that some of the FX are temporary and the waving American flag doesn't exist in the International version. Interesting...but a disturbing trend.
Discussion here.
Here's the international version.

Hibernation...

Just came back from 5 relaxation filled days here:

Read these by the fire:


All, along with the 5 feet of snow, infinite icicles, and king-size breakfasts at the Inn, inspired my creative soul. I'm looking forward to a productive 2008...

Lights, Camera, Action ...

By my count I viewed a little over 50 films in 2007. Looking at my list its apparent I enjoy action adventure movies that offer more than just big explosions and animated films. Go figure. Of the films I saw a few really stunk (The Hoax, Beowulf, Blades of Glory), a few dished up exactly what I expected - good or bad( Transformers, Pirates, Ocean's 13), a few surprised in a good way ( Juno, Zodiac, Hot Fuzz, Stardust, Sweeney Todd, Surf's Up), and one I actually worked on (search my blog for that one).
But there were 5 that I really enjoyed and will return to enjoy again and again:

Ratatouille

This was a hallmark in CG animation. A great story and it didn't feel cold and calculated. The relationship between the boy and the rat was developed warmly and with humour. The hi-lite
for me was the physical animation of Linguini - particularly when Remy was in control. This would only be out shined by Lou Romano's sincere voice performance.

The Rocket

As a lifelong Hockey fanatic I was the target audience for this film. But beyond the hockey action the story of Maurice Richard and his relationship with the fans, the team, and management of the Montreal Canadians as well as his importance to the francophone community was told in an honest and exciting way. This was a Canadian film told and shot with some Hollywood panache. Highly recommended - it is opening in US theaters this spring.

How to Hook up Your Home Theater

The triumphant return of Goofy. This was a really fun film animated with real energy. Well directed and handled with class. A nice retro touch paid tribute but the film becomes relevant to our time - especially to a home theater buff like myself. Seek this out. Nothing is more enjoyable than a cartoon.

The Bourne Ultimatum

This was just awesome. This is a near perfect trilogy and the final film offers more excitement, answers and ties in to the second film in a neat way. Action films won't be the same after these and I hope they don't make another - this is a nice way to end it.

3:10 to Yuma

This was my favorite film this year. A fantastic western - dirty, gritty, depressing, exciting and surprising. Christian Bale and Russell Crowe create two memorable characters who develop a bond. Ben Foster as Crowe's number 2 nearly steals the show though. Fantastic film making and a fun cinematic ride.

And five I'm eager for in 2008 - There Will Be Blood, Indiana Jones, Wall-E, 007, The Dark Knight.

Shhhhhhh...

Michael Barrier had a post today about Hayao Mizyazaki and his preference of recording the dialogue for films after the animation is finished (which of course goes against common practice in most commercial animation). Michael ended his post with this :

"If post-recording has now become attractive to some, perhaps that's because today's cartoons tend to be so dialogue-heavy, and their dialogue is so often driven by the desire to thrust forward not the character itself, but the star speaking the lines."

The post brings up some good arguments on both sides but this final sentence got me thinking about the amount of dialogue or talking not only in animation but in live action films, television, and life in general. Dialogue heavy cartoons are generally cheaper to produce but in my mind are also generally less interesting to watch. The majority of today's cartoons are glorified radio shows. Close your eyes the next time the Simpsons or Family Guy or most Saturday morning fare is on and see if you laugh just as much (perhaps even more? .... or you may not find them that funny or engaging in the first place) The drawings are there simply as a vehicle for the writing. Of course these are hugely popular shows thanks to our "talk heavy" society. Every town has 24 hour talk radio and there has never been more talk shows on TV. I watch a lot of sports and it's not unusual to have three commentators yakking over the action followed by another yakking in between down at field or ice level followed by 5 minute commercial breaks followed by intermission breaks with 3-4 "experts" yakking away talking over one another. How can a solid opinion be discussed and supported like this? Even action films have taken to adding dialogue during the action. (Save The Bourne films - did Matt Damon say much in those films? no witty one-liners but I can remember the intricate story vividly) Walk down any street and count the people talking on their cellphones.
I guess my point is this - why so much talking? What happened to silence? Some of the best animation ever produced has little to no dialogue - Road Runner Cartoons? Silly Symphonies? Fantasia? Popeye only talked when needed.
A picture says a thousand words they say.
A thousand voices sounds like white noise.
The upcoming film "There Will Be Blood" apparently has a 15 minute prologue with no dialogue. Almost every review I've read has made a point of noting this - in some cases as a gamble as if having only moving pictures and music may alienate the audience.
I'm not saying a return to silent films is in order and I'm not down playing the importance of writing or that I don't enjoy a good "talkie" but I do feel a little quiet can go a long way.

Silence is golden:

Porky Pig's Feat ... or the Greatest "F" Mouth Ever ...

I had the pleasure of attending another of Bob Jaques' and Kelly Armstrong's killer cartoon parties this weekend. Watching cartoons in 16mm is incomparable and inspiring. None more, perhaps, than one of the best Warner Bros. cartoons ever - Frank Tashlin's "Porky Pig's Feat". This is an amazing short with some intense rage from Daffy, a hilarious falling down the stairs gag and a great ending. Thad K. at Animation ID has a great post about the short and fills us in on who is responsible for the animated genius. My favorite part is actually one frame - the greatest "F" mouth ever:

Art Davis handles the scene of Daffy here and has created such a pure cartoon mouth. The joy of seeing something like this reminds me of why I love animation. He's saying "FFFFFATTSOOO" and the pose here alone is delicious and the mouth shape here emphasizes his attitude and pronunciation. Here it is over 5 frames (click to see the goodness):

And here's the full cartoon. I dare you to watch it just once.
(the mastery of "F" is at 2:09)

Festivus ...

I'm inside out of the bluster here on the coast and out east their fighting a blizzard. Shopping's all done too. Time to sit back and enjoy Sunday afternoon with a hot drink and my laptop.
Christmas is here ...

10 Second Update

The first in a series of interviews with local (Vancouver) animators will be up later this week. Until then I present a 10 second interview with yours truly.

Someone once dared me to...
write a blog
What's your earliest memory?
Dark.........Light!
Make up a fact about penguins right now:
They could very well win the Stanley Cup
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Tall
Naked food fights are...
better with Nutella
When the world ends, I will be...
getting ready for my encore
The best ride at Disneyland is...
the monorail
Bikini, Tankini, or Linguini?
Stupid Questioni
What celebrity do people say you look like?
Spongebob Squarepants
No matter how badly I needed the money, I'd never...
work for it
If there's another book, it should be called "Harry Potter and The ..."
Rod of Wizzledorf
Propose a new toothpaste flavor:
avacado

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like ...

Phew. Christmas is almost here. Where has the time gone ?? Lately I find myself coming home from 8 hours staring into a computer monitor and hiding from my laptop as far away as possible. But there is much work to be done down here in the dungeon so it's time to pull some extra time in front of the super computer.
The book is close to be being a reality. Art is coming to a close and a proof should be here shortly. The style of the work is something I wouldn't usually be drawn (heh) to but it's been a fun experiment nevertheless. Also I'll be starting a series of interviews with some local animators this month. Nathan Affolter of Affolter Entertainment will be my first victim. Look for that later this week.

Steaming Pile ...

I really couldn't have said it better:

Mark Mayerson Slays Beowulf and Stomps on it's Heart.

I Likes Me Spinach!

I watch and enjoy all types of animation. It's a good way to learn and grow as an animator and filmmaker and I find I get something out of most everything I watch whether it be CG, hand-drawn, or stop motion. But if I had to choose one style to watch on a deserted isle then the short form cartoons of the 30's and 40's would be my choice. (and I'd sneak in Ward Kimball's demo reel) So the news that my friend and part time employer Bob Jaques has entered the blog world has me excited. I've worked with Bob and his wife Kelly at Carbunkle Cartoons when I can over the past 5 years and an hour spent in the office is like a year's worth of animation history classes. Bob has every Popeye cartoon burned into his brain and has a limitless knowledge of the Fleischer produced cartoons and the under appreciated artists that worked on them. His new blog will shed light and reveal invaluable information about some of the best animation that ever was/is that was produced at the Fleischer studio in New York. Bob and his wife Kelly are uber talents in their own regard and any shed of info you can gather from them should not be ignored. Run, don't walk, to Bob's Place.

BOO!

Happy Halloween folks...very busy lately so I'll be back soon with news and notes.