These wonderful works of anime-inspired art were created by a paper-folding pro known only as Kira. To see some close-ups, click here.
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Cartoons
Stay Up Late And Hurt Your Brains
David OReilly has put his newest short, The Horse Raised By Spheres, online - and it’s free! What’s more, OReilly has released five other equally effed-up + enthralling shorts as well. I happened across them while I was getting ready for bed, and now I’m afraid to go to sleep.
Quick question: Is it possible to have a horrific nightmare that doesn‘t make you wake up screaming and crying whilst simultaneously lowering your ability to look your next door neighbors in the eye for at least a week? Anyone? Anyone?
Oh, well. I’ll find out soon enough.
(This is what I get for starting the day with a David Lynch post.)
This Is Weird (Even For David Lynch)
“Early in his career, David Lynch was a bit obsessed with Woody Woodpecker and traveled around with five identical Woody dolls.” — Peteykins, via Cartoon Research
As a longtime fan of both Lynch and Woody, this comment inspired me to go sniffing around the internet, looking for more info regarding this unusual ‘obsession.’ Continue reading
Great Concepts Never Go Out Of Style
Alka-Seltzer ad by MAD Magazine alumn Wally Wood (1967).
French poster for Pixar’s Inside Out by Stacey Aoyama (2014).
A special thanks to Jim Korkis at Cartoon Research for the Alka-Seltzer ad. In a recent ‘Animation Anecdotes‘ post, Korkis gathered together a bunch of deliciously demented storyboards Wood drew for an animated version of this ad. To check those out, click here.
OReilly Doh?
David OReilly is going to Sundance! Not that I’m going or anything. I’m just excited because this means I’m that much closer to seeing his new short, The Horse Raised By Spheres. I am ALWAYS up for more David OReilly. His 2009 animated short, Please Say Something, remains one of my all-time favorite ANYTHINGS. If you’ve never seen it, save this link and watch it when you’ve got some downtime. It’s a visual, emotional and comedic masterpiece. CARTOONS DON’T GET NO BETTER!
A Closer Look At King Candy’s Walk Cycle
“Okay, I don’t normally do this, but let me just say something about [...] the sheer amount of detail they put into [King Candy's] walk-cycle in correlation to the character. [N]otice how his legs go straight out to the sides of him while he twirls his feet - like the wheels of the cars he has been programmed to drive. Not only that, but the lull in his walk is exactly like spinning your tires while breaking (or revving one’s engine), which happens at the start of every cart-racing game. Also, his hand [...] ‘changes gears’ [...] before his shooing gesture, before returning to the unseen ‘gear-shift.’ [King Candy] embodies both his car and racing games in general.” - Noxaldia
Wow! That’s a fascinating theory. Makes sense, too. What do y’all think?
Charting The Voice Actors
Jishai Evers has created voice-cast charts for The Simpsons and South Park. It’s incredible to see the number of characters handled by some of these folks. Dan Castellaneta does 26 voices. Trey Parker? 32! It’s a testament to these casts’ talent that not only is each character’s voice funny, they’re instantly identifiable. Click through for the full-size charts. Continue reading
Is Anyone Out There A Sign Maker?
Cuz I really, really want one of these.
Scooby Doo, Where Are You…Now?
It’s been 38 years since Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? went off the air. Curious as to the cartoon cast’s current whereabouts, the internet sleuths at BuzzFeed hopped in their mystery machine and tracked ‘em down. Shown above are some recent pics of the 50-something-year-old ‘meddling kids.’ If you think these are good, wait’ll you read the gang’s present day ‘fun facts.’ They’re AMAZING.
Wait, What?
Via: Newspage
Flipping Out Over Flip Books
Collector’s Weekly has a beautifully illustrated piece about vintage flip books. Covering a wide swath of time (the late 1800s to today), the article presents a concise, contextual history for flip books. It’s neat to see the role that flip books played in the development of not just animation, but also cinema in general. Take that, Academy!
Anyone who has ever scribbled a rocket ship blasting off in the margin of their math book should check this article out. Click here to read.
Related: Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Nine Old Men: The Flipbooks
Incomplete Super Powers
JHallComics has put together a set of one-panel superhero comics featuring the sad, scientific (not to mention political, social, gender-based, etc.) realities behind comics’ most popular super powers.
It’s like Watchmen as written by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Only funnier.
Click here to view.
Damn, Elsa. That’s Cold.
Ice cold sympathy card available on Amazon. (Image via Patty Watty.)
“if you ever feel sad, just remember what aragorn wore in the animated lotr films.”
“Legolas, what do your elf eyes see?”
“Too much, Aragorn…”
(Title and screencap by ohpippin. Dialogue by thorin-theeagles)
Our Friend, Martin: An Awkward Yet Effective Time-Travel Tribute To The Slain Civil Rights Leader
Our Friend, Martin, Robert Brousseau and Vincenzo Trippetti’s 1999 time-travel tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., is as awkward as it is engaging. The dialogue is cringe-worthy. The jokes are even worse. The animation looks like Captain Planet, and the voice acting sounds like it’s comprised entirely of first takes. Yet despite its many, many flaws, the movie manages to be an oddly effective bit of After School Special-style ‘edutainment.’
Continue reading
R.I.P. Walt Peregoy (1925 - 2015)
“I am the greatest 20th Century White Trash artist!” - Disney background artist, Imagineer and outspoken iconoclast Walt Peregoy
Have You Seen This Animator?
Brenda Banks is an inspirational mystery wrapped up in a historical enigma. Or, to put it another way: Banks was the third Black female animator to work in the American animation industry (EVER!), yet no one in the industry has heard from her in nearly a decade. What gives? Continue reading
Bye-Bye, Pokemon Gym
The Pokemon Gym has left Tacoma, WA just as mysteriously as it appeared. Rumor has it that the Gym was an all-ages music venue created by some local college students for a senior project. Just who were these students and what grade did they get? No one knows for sure. What we DO know is that the Gym was ALSO an illegal squat, one that the local authorities shut down tout de suite. Still, that lovely blue and yellow paint-job remained for a few years after, providing smiles galore across the internet. Until now. Yes, the Pokemon Gym is gone, its exterior repainted a drab, muddy brown. Who painted it and for what reason? It doesn’t f*cking matter. It’s like Robert Frost used to say, “Nothing gold and blue can stay.” (Info, pics)
Andreas Deja Recommends:Ken Hultgren’s ‘The Art Of Animal Drawing’
Over the years, Andreas Deja has animated quite a few iconic animals. There was the devious Scar, the lovable Tigger and the irrepressible Roger Rabbit. Oh, and who can forget the lower half of King Triton? More recently, Deja has been busily working on a new animal character - Mushka the tiger - for a feature film that he is personally writing, directing and animating.
According to Deja, there is ONE BOOK that made all of these characters possible: The Art of Animal Drawing by Ken Hultgren. Continue reading
“This Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway”
Title and photo via TheraMay. Frozen tissue via Amazon.
Wanna See Some ‘Me and My Shadow’ Concept Art & Test Footage?
DreamWorks’ Me and My Shadow was going to be the studio’s first CG/hand-drawn hybrid. How to Train Your Dragon 2‘s head of story, Alessandro Carloni, was going to direct. The film was initially scheduled to be released in 2013, then 2014, and has since been removed from DW’s official release schedule. Bummer, eh? Ah, but there’s hope. Recently, rumors have begun swirling that the project may still happen. Until then, though, howzabout some CG concept art and hand-drawn test footage? It’s pretty, witty stuff. Continue reading
“My wife called in sick. I came home early to surprise her. Instead, I found her in bed with My Neighbor…”
Title and photo via: CombatGynecologist
Cartoons: 1, Sh*tty Childhood: 0
Want to hear an inspirational podcast that will make you laugh AND cry? The newest episode of The Champs Podcast features an extremely emotional interview with comedian Tiffany Haddish. In it, Haddish tells the heartbreaking story of her insane upbringing and the secret, cartoon-inspired source of strength that enabled her to survive it and become a successful stand-up comedian.
There’s one part, in particular, that gave me goosebumps. If you’ve got a minute, I’d like to share it with you… Continue reading
Congratulations to Dean DeBlois, Bonnie Arnold & Everyone Else Involved In The Creation Of ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’!
Y’all deserve that Golden Globe!
Look-Alikes?
Will Poulter and Sid from Toy Story. (Via.)
For more animation look-alikes, click here.
“This Was the First Clue, Everyone”
Title by Too Zoot, screencaps by LoK Gifs and Musings.
Are These Two Penguins Related?
I just finished reading former Disney story artist Homer Brightman’s autobiography, Life In The Mouse House. It’s an incredibly candid book, full of uncensored anecdotes about the early days at Disney’s — some of ‘em heartbreaking, some of ‘em hilarious.
One thing confused me, though. Towards the end of the book, Brightman is said to have co-created the character Chilly Willy with Paul J. Smith in 1953. The book says that Chilly Willy was inspired by Pablo the Penguin, star of The Three Caballeros‘ short The Cold Blooded Penguin (1944) — a short which Brightman co-directed. Since I’d never heard this before, I went online to try and find out more. Only when I did, the credit for Chilly Willy’s creation goes solely to Smith. Which is correct?
UK-Only Bonnie Doll May Reveal The Top Secret Plot To ‘Toy Story 4’
TIL that Disney/Pixar released a limited-edition Bonnie doll, and she’s scaled to the size of the previously released Toy Story dolls! While this minor retail-revelation was pretty cool in its own right, it was the unsaid, un-implied and entirely untrue follow-up thought that made the synapses in my sleep-addled brain light up like your neighbor’s seemingly year-round Christmas decorations:
I think I just discovered the top secret plot to Toy Story 4! Continue reading
Top 5: Creepiest Walk-Around Characters At Disneyland/Walt Disney World
We all have a pic or two of ourselves posing with a Disney walk-around character. Maybe you were an adult on your first trip to Walt Disney World, or perhaps you were a child visiting Mickey and Minnie ‘where they live’ at Disneyland. Either way, the experience was a right-of-passage of sorts, and one you felt was worth preserving.
But there’s a second set of pictures hidden away in the scrapbooks and smart phones of some Disney fans. These photos forgo sentimental selfies in favor of the hideous, the nightmarish and the truly terrifying walk-around characters. Listed below are the worst of the worst. Continue reading
The Best Anime Of 2014
BlueFF has put together a GREAT list of this year’s best anime. Adventure, horror, romance and slice of life - it’s all represented! Set aside a month and start streaming.
How’s this for geeky?
On Feb. 6, Disney Channel is premiering Miles From Tomorrowland, a sci-fi kids cartoon featuring the voices of Mark Hamill, George Takei, Wil Wheaton and Bill Nye the Science Guy! If that ain’t geeky enough for ya, Disney has hired experts from NASA and the Space Tourism Society to act as consultants on the series!
For more info pics and info, click through… Continue reading
HANNA BARBARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
This marvelous mash-up comes courtesy of Jay Fosgitt, the artist on such comic books as Bodie Troll and My Little Pony: Friends Forever. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I do believe we’re looking at the Guardians of the Galaxy versions of Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm (circa The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show), Mutley, Captain Caveman and Grape Ape. Pretty clever — and cute!
Pokemon Latte Art
And here I am, thinking I’ve achieved something great when I make a K-Cup correctly.
Via: dwimback
The Night Marilyn Monroe Met Mr. Magoo
“Jim was in the 1952 film Don’t Bother to Knock with Marilyn Monroe. He came home one night during the filming and told me that Miss Monroe in her most seductive breathy voice asked him to meet her in her dressing room. His curiosity got the better of him and he went. Once there, she exclaimed like an excited child, ‘Do Mr. Magoo!’ And Jim did.”
- Henny Backus, wife of Jim Backus, the voice of Mr. Magoo (Via: A.S.)
WANT!!!
A Laika triple feature of Coraline, ParaNorman and The Boxtrolls?! I’ve experienced year-long unrequited love over less! And this is REAL!
Existential Animation
I love the end credits sequence from Laika’s The Boxtrolls. In it, Mr. Pickles (Richard Ayoade) and Mr. Trout (Nick Frost) hypothesize about the true nature of their existence. Turns out, their trippy theory is pretty spot-on!
The Boxtrolls will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on Jan. 20.
2014: An Animation Industry Recap
Wannabe Animator has graphed the year’s biggest Animation Industry events. Click here to view.
Depending On Your Love of ‘Chicken Little’…
…this is either the cutest or cruelest appetizer ever. (Via.)
Sweet Sweater
No-Face elbow sweater, via.
Merry Christmas!
Scrooge McDuck animation cel from Mickey’s Christmas Carol. (Via.)
Happy Hanukkah From Svenorah
Original pic by Popjoust. Candles crappily GIFed by me.
‘Bob’s Burgers’ Gingerbread House
Created by Sitcom Family.
Truth!
Via: floozys
“I Turned My New, Blue, 7′ Christmas Tree Into Cookie Monster”
Title and pic via enhydra-lutris.
Happy Hanukkah!
Sadly, this Lumiere Menorah is NOT currently being offered by Disney. That said, they DID release a full-sized, light-up Lumiere replica last year. Perhaps someone far craftier than I could buy a few and Frankenstein ‘em together?
Amber Arden Is Snowba Fett
Visit Arden’s Facebook page for more cosplay pics.
First Look:Mamoru Hosoda’s ‘The Boy and The Beast’
Gaumont, Studio Chizu and Nippon TV have released the first poster for Mamoru Hosoda’s next film, The Boy and The Beast (Bakemono no Ko).
Richard Scarry + Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer + Little Golden Book?!?!
Bob Iger On CG
Variety reports: “[Walt Disney Co. chief Bob] Iger noted how the use of computer-generated graphics has made filmmaking seem ‘too easy.’ ‘There’s a sameness to a lot of these films today,’ Iger said. ‘The wow factor isn’t what it used to be.’”
Full disclosure: This out-of-context quote actually refers to J.J. Abrams’ use of practical effects in Star Wars Episode VII and NOT Disney/Pixar’s last few animated films. That said, if the shoe fits…
‘Inside Out’ Trailer #2
My reaction? Not good. This is the first bit of Inside Out promo material that I haven’t loved. Judging from this trailer, it looks like one joke spread super-thin. And the gag about the dad thinking only of sports is bad, just bad. Pixar has proved itself capable of doing so much better than tired cliches. Still, I’m looking forward to it. Joy must be at the controls in my brain!
Is ‘Birdman’ Really A Remake Of The Looney Tunes Cartoon, ‘Show Biz Bugs’?
Over at Animation Scoop, Jerry Beck compares the two, and the answer appears to be a resounding Y-E-S.
Prepare to have your mind blown.
(Warning: BIG TIME SPOILERS!)
Every DreamWorks ‘Art Of’ Book…Ever
Believe it or not, the DreamWorks ‘Art Of’ books are a great gift for DreamWorks detractors. While they may not be enough to change anyone’s mind about the artistic merits of Turbo, they DO give a gorgeous glimpse at what could have been. I mean, YES — Shrek Forever After was CLEARLY a corporate cash-in, but did you see the eerie-as-f*ck concept art depicting Shrek’s decrepit tree stump home?! It’s AWESOME! But the only way you’re ever going to see it is by flipping through a copy of The Art of Shrek Forever After. The movie version was…blah.
Compiled after the jump are the covers and ordering info for each and every one of these books. There’s a bunch, so make sure you view on a full wallet.
(P.S. I love me some DreamWorks, but even I think Turbo was trash.) Continue reading
Never Forget
Before Nicki…before Iggy…there was Mrs. Incredible.
An Early Christmas Present
Wanna see Mickey’s Christmas Carol as told through the window dioramas of Walt Disney World’s Main Street Emporium?
Click through for the full set.
Impeccably Packaged & Endlessly Inspiring
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Nine Old Men: The Flipbooks
This box set of nine flipbooks pays tribute to Walt Disney’s legendary animators, The Nine Old Men: Les Clark, Eric Larson, Frank Thomas, John Lounsbery, Ward Kimball, Ollie Johnston, Mark Davis, Wolfgang Reitherman, and Milt Kahl. In addition to the flipbooks, the set contains a booklet of brief bios about The Nine Old Men, written by amazing animators like Glen Keane, Andreas Deja and Ron Clements. (Pic and GIF via A113.)
Best Cartoon Cosplay Of 2014 Goes To…
‘Best Cartoon Cosplay of 2014′ goes to LowCostCosplay for their flawless recreation of Elsa from Frozen. To any and all cosplayers who’d been hoping to win S&BT’s prestigious (and/or first annual) award…
…LET IT GO.
The Limited Edit. French ‘Inside Out’ Poster Is A Looker
Click through for the full-size image. Continue reading
“The ‘Attack on Titan’ Santa Is Back At My Local Target”
And on that Christmas day, humanity received a jolly reminder…
Quote and pic via andrewplayspiano.
Problem, Solution
When it comes to hipster hobbies, knitting is second only to micro-brewing. When it comes to cartoon-loving kiddies, Frozen is second-to-none. So according to my iffy, imaginary pseudoscience, that makes Drunk Girl Designs‘ ‘Cold as Fuck’ mittens the nexus (nadir?) of 2014′s pop culture trends.
Curious? Crafty? Cold as fuck? Click here to purchase the pattern.
Animation Essentials:Character Vs. Personality
Comedy for Animators has put up a nice post explaining the difference between personality and character. Animation students, in particular, would do well to check it out. In an industry that uses the term ‘character animation’ almost as often as ‘outsourcing’ and ‘imminent layoffs,’ it’s important to understand the true meaning of the phrase. Click here to read.
