November 12th, 2010

Sure, there’s a new Keith Richards autobiography out (in which he either remembers everything, or doesn’t remember anything) but equally interesting (if not more) is the Keith doppelganger of Like A Rolling Stone.  Steve Kurutz’s book documents a year in the life of a Rolling Stones tribute band, and it’s a fascinating look at creativity.  No matter how talented and charismatic these guys are, they keep hitting a self-imposed glass ceiling of success— after all, a cover band can only be so big.  You repeatedly root for them, then are struck by the fact that their best is a really good mimicry.   A very recommended read!

Fashion-imation: Nagel meets Yellow Submarine in this video for the Concretes. perpetua: The Concretes“You Can’t Hurry Love”

November 10th, 2010

November 9th, 2010

This past week, I went to Lansdowne, VA for a Toon Boom workshop led by Rusty Mills, and hosted by Studio Kinate.  I’ve been animating & teaching using Toon Boom Studio & Animate for several years— this was a nice way to get more in-depth knowledge of Storyboard Pro & Animate Pro.  I hope Toon Boom gains more traction with the industry in New York — it’s really the best way I know of to integrate hand drawn animation into a digital workflow.   As a 2D industry veteran with a solid digital grasp, Rusty Mills is a great teacher, providing lots of examples and anecdotes from American Tail, Animaniacs, and Pinky & the Brain.  It was much more interesting than just learning the software — often, class discussions were just about classic animation.  The other attendees were excellent too – everyone was really interested & passionate about animation, with a variety of backgrounds, making it a treat to be there.  Thanks to Char for putting it all together!

Yesterday’s NYC marathon, as a time lapse. (via Gawker)

November 8th, 2010

The coolest of the aforementioned subway zoetropes— the Masstransiscope, by Bill Brand, which you can catch on the B & Q train going into Manhattan from Brooklyn, created in 1980 & restored in 2008.  This video collects vintage news reports from the time of its debut — love the shots of the subway system of 80’s NYC.

November 7th, 2010

The car-powered zoetrope in this ad is another cool use of the in-camera animation techniques explored by David Wilson and used in similar subway-powered zoetropes.  The behind-the-scenes is great (though it’s a little crazy how many people were involved in this project.)  Would have loved to hear a little more about the tech details, like matching the frame rates/car speed, as Wilson does so eloquently here. drawnblog: Pure Performance – The 2011 Subaru WRX STI (Extended Cut) (via SubaruCanada) This Subaru ad may be the first example of a car-powered zoetrope. Here’s the making-of:

November 7th, 2010

Edited a new factory tour documentary for Epaulet (previously). Learn how Swedish clogs are made with your host, Adele! And dig those phat beats — I had fun making the background music, via good old Garage Band.

October 29th, 2010

Halloween fun from Tom DesLongchamp. (Via Asthmatic Kitty)

October 27th, 2010

October 21st, 2010

Up for auction are sketches for an unfinished, unpublished Dr. Seuss book about sports from the late sixties.  It’s interesting as some insight into his creative process, and despite the sketchy layouts (some are on hotel stationery) it’s easy to imagine how it would look fully-formed. The page layouts are similar to those completed books we’ve all seen as kids.  There are a couple versions of the same pages, particularly towards the end, where he is evidently deciding where to next take the story.  After cataloging all manner of sports and games, the pages stop. A newly invented sport is called “blumf,” which could either be the most brilliant Dr. Seuss sport ever, or else the sound of Seussian writer’s block: “I could blumf.  Or blumf blumf blumf blumf blumf.”

(via flavorwire)

Early abstractions from Harry Smith. via Singing Serpent Glen

October 16th, 2010