Puppeteer Bob Baker died Friday of natural causes. He was 90.
Baker’s Marionette Theater in Los Angeles is — no exaggeration — one of my favorite spots on Earth. It’s like visiting Disneyland or Pee-Wee’s Playhouse in the magical way that it transports you back to the innocence and wonder of childhood. This ‘magic’ isn’t limited to the shows, either. Thanks to Baker’s innovative approach to entertaining his audience, the ENTIRE THEATER is brimming with l‘enchanté!
Thanks to everyone out there who visits daily, weekly, monthly or entirely by accident. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
(Or, depending upon your politics and/or country of residence, a reasonably uneventful November 27th).
I know that there’s probably a pretty great joke somewhere about stop-motion animators and Anne Frank both spending lots of time cooped up in tiny, dimly lit rooms, but I can’t think of a way to condense all of that down to Twitter size.
Instead, here are the facts: Ari Folman, director of Waltz With Bashir and The Congress, will be making a stop-motion Anne Frank film with the DP of Fantastic Mr Fox. For more details, click here.
These are real, and these are WRONG.
I mean, I expect this stuff from Ursula, but not Triton. Not Ariel. And Flounder? Why does he look so hungry? Those nuggets are his family!
Disney’s The Great Movie Ride used to be the centerpiece of their Hollywood Studios theme park. Over the years, though, its popularity has waned in favor of newer, more ‘exciting’ rides like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Toy Story Midway Mania. The ultimate low came in 2001 when Disney execs erected a giant Sorcerer’s Hat in front of the ride to sell low-price souvenirs.
Disney and Turner Classic Movies plan to change all that via a new deal wherein TCM will add their name (and a large cash infusion) to the ride. Not only that, but that damned Sorcerer’s Hat is coming down, too!
So how does this tie into animation?
There is nothing I do not love about this. Via.
CG artist Milton Keynes used the Batcomputer to create a series of Adventure Time/Batman mash-ups, and the results are mathematical! Click here to check ‘em all out.
Home features the voice acting of Rihanna, Jim Parsons, Jennifer Lopez and Steve Martin. Home will be released on March 27th.
Related: Jeffery Katzenberg Loves Rihanna
Pitbull and Rufus from Kim-Possible. (Via.)
For more animation look-alikes, click here.
Here it is. The trailer for Lucasfilm’s Strange Magic, the “fairy tale musical” inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
To quote the trailer, “I dunno. I was expecting…more.”
Quote via: Skwigly
Character posters for Shinji Higuchi’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Attack on Titan hit the net today, and they look GREAT. Click through to view the lot of ‘em.
Continue reading
Thanksgiving is coming.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade by Elliott Erwitt, 1988. (Via.)
The Peeping Tom’s at Nielsen TOPTEN have put together an infographic detailing how many hours…days…WEEKS you’ll spend binge-watching your favorite cartoons. Looking at it only gets more intimidating when you realize that the chart was made in May. Think about it — there’s now HOURS more Bob’s Burgers, Legend of Korra and Archer to catch up on! Well, what are you waiting for? TURN ON YOUR TELEVISION.
Click through to view the complete chart. Continue reading
LEGO Movie writer/director Chris Miller recently told Empire Magazine:
“Rest assured that every era of Batman filmmaking will be acknowledged. There have been so many interpretations of Batman and there is so much to play with there. There are 40 versions of his origin story alone.”
Even the Joel Schumacher Batman? Hallelego!
Former Disney animator Ruben Aquino has revealed to Rotoscopers.com that he and “a handful of other former Disney 2D artists” are in negotiations with an independent studio to make a hand-drawn animated film. Aquino says, “If it happens it’s going to have to be different than anything we’ve ever seen.” Continue reading
Then again, who doesn’t? (Via.)
Title and screencap via funnuraba.
This mug is a little weird, right?
It’s okay to groan. That’s what it’s here for.
(Via: Brogre.com)
Click pics to enlarge.
For lots more images and info re: Inside Out, click here.
(via/context)
Hmn…now why does that pic seem so familiar?
Oh, wait — I know!
Why does EVERY OTHER VERSION OF THE BEAST look better than Disney’s official walk-around character?!
The United States Postal Service has issued a set of four stamps featuring characters from the Rankin/Bass classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The limited edition ‘Forever Stamps’ (ironic, no?) are currently available in your local Post Office and at USPS.com.
Disney/Lucasfilm have announced the Jan. 2015 release of Strange Magic, an animated, musical retelling of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
According to Disney/Lucasfilm’s official synopsis, the film will use “popular songs from the past six decades help tell the tale of a colorful cast of goblins, elves, fairies and imps, and their hilarious misadventures sparked by the battle over a powerful potion.” Continue reading
“Taylor Swift is always pulling the Max and Ruby face.” — sunharry
For more animation look-alikes, click here.
According to IndieWire.com, Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr. Fox) recently revealed that his next film may be stop-motion animation. In a Q&A at the Lisbon And Estoril Film Festival, Anderson said that the story would be divided into episodes, inspired by Vittorio De Sica’s The Gold Of Naples. The Gold Of Naples is made up of six short vignettes, the only connecting thread being that they’re all set in Naples.
“I think I’ve been lucky because I’ve been able to participate in the last era when we can make films with paper, pencil and film.”
Hayao Miyazaki, receiving an Honorary Academy Award on 11/08/14.
“Please consider making your female leads half as interesting design-wise as your male leads. Please refrain from sticking to the huge eyes + button nose + thin lips formula. Please use the design skills you learned in school.”
Steve Holt, via steveholtvstheuniverse
Let’s be honest. Shang was a mighty, honorable, admirable warrior.
That said, he really wasn’t the most observant fellow, was he?
‘…featuring the voices of Sylvester Stallone, Gilbert Gottfried and Harvey Fierstein.’
Is there a Razzie-like award for Most Grating Vocal Performances In An Animated Film? If so, Vegas odds are on Animal Crackers.
My one and only complaint? Inedible. (Via: NerdyGirlNoodles)
Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger announced that John Lasseter will be directing Toy Story 4, “a new chapter in the lives of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the Toy Story gang.”
Parks & Rec alum Rashida Jones, along with her writing partner Will McCormack (Celeste and Jesse Forever), will pen the screenplay. The film is scheduled for release on June 16, 2017.
While I LOVE the original trilogy, I must admit, this news came as a bit of downer to me. Reprinted below are the first four questions that popped out of my mouth when relaying the news to my gal, Mishka. Continue reading
Is this a celebration of The Book of Life‘s artistic, aesthetic and box office success, or simply a long list of Amazon Associates links themed around a cartoon that the cool kids like?
Full disclosure: A li’l bit of both. That said, stunning swag awaits! Continue reading
Marvel Comics Senior VP, CB Cebulski, has announced that the Avengers will be fighting Attack on Titans‘ titular titans in a Japanese comic book later this month.
Cebulski described the genesis of this unexpected crossover via his Twitter feed, saying, “I loved Marvel Team-Up and What If? as a kid. I would spend hours dreaming up my own crossovers & alternate reality stories. As I got more into manga, I always imagined how cool it would be for the Marvel characters to cross into the pages of manga worlds. If you ever wondered, ‘What if the titans from Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan attacked the Marvel universe?’ you’ll find out soon!”
Universal Studios Japan has announced a series of limited-time attractions based on popular anime including Neon Genesis: Evangelion and Attack on Titan. Continue reading
Yesterday’s big animation news was that Taika Waititi will be writing the screenplay for Disney’s next animated princess film, Moana.
But who exactly is this Taika Waititi?
The Simpsons‘ showrunner, Al Jean, told CNN what he believes is the ideal way to end the series: Loop it back around the show’s beginning!
“There is an ending I’ve always had in mind, which was, I thought it would be cool if in the last episode they’re getting ready to go to a Christmas pageant, and they go to the Christmas pageant that opens up the first episode, Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire, so the entire series is a loop with no end. That would be my way of concluding the run, but nobody has asked me for it yet.”
To read CNN’s whole interview with Jean, click here.
Comic by hope-for-snow.
How cool is this? I’d always sorta known how most of it worked, but I *never* would’ve guessed the trick to moving right hand. You learn something new every day!
Via: Educational GIFs
NBC has announced an hour-long, stop-motion animated special starring the characters from Will Ferrell’s hit holiday film, Elf.
Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas premiers Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. and will feature NINE new songs, including Happy All the Time, A Christmas Song and Nobody Cares About Santa Claus. Jim Parsons (Big Bang Theory) will voice Buddy, with Mark Hamill, Ed Asner, Fred Armisen, Gilbert Gottfried, Jay Leno and Kate Micucci also doing voices. The film will be animated by Screen Novelties.
“Everything about The Legend of Sleepy Hollow I consider to be perfect. The fall colors, the narration by Bing Crosby, the disarmingly cute opening and the scary end. Brom Bones’ song at the Van Tassels’ Halloween party always make me feel like I was there amongst the frightened guests. And the execution of Ichabod’s final, lonely ride through the deep woods and hidden graveyards of his township is a masterpiece of tension, humor, and sudden terror.”
Director Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch, The Croods) discusses his love for Walt Disney’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and its female lead, Katrina Van Tassel.
Click here to read Sanders’ whole post.
Hot. Jack-o-lantern and GIF by Pylon Press Screen Printing. Via.
This quick video tutorial by Felix Sputnik demonstrates walk cycle basics and advanced schlong sway. Seriously, how many times have you nailed your character’s hip and shoulder movements only to realize you’ve left their crotch stiff? No, wait — I meant ‘left their crotch LIFELESS?’ Problem solved! Thanks to Sputnik’s tutorial, your characters’ dicks will dangle — and boobs will bounce — with all twelve principles of animation!
(Apologies to Frank & Ollie if this was covered in The Illusion of Life.)
“I would love to see animation artists really get how important they are and how amazing their skills are, because they don’t seem to fully realize the wonder of what they can do.”
Dan Haskett, character designer on The Little Mermaid (Ariel), Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Toy Story, Tiny Toon Adventures and dozens of other wonderful cartoons!
I’m not entirely sure. But Charles Kenny over at Animation Scoop makes a damned good argument for why they should’ve.
…and the cartoon-themed ice cream treats.
(Although honestly, c4′s pic makes them look a helluva lot better than they really are. Have you ever — EVER — had one that didn’t have wonky eyes and a melting face?)
We all knew it was coming, but here’s the first *official* announcement.
Is this the most awkward, awful piece of anti-drug propaganda ever made? Maybe! Starring all your favorite cartoon characters from the 90s, a slumming Bugs Bunny and two of the most pathetic human ‘kid’ characters ever animated, you are sure to inject yourself with a double dose of heroin long before you ever reach the film’s forced happy ending. Enjoy! (Well, try to…)
Via: Don Rickles
(No, not that Don Rickles. I wish, though.)
The bad news:
This is your blood under a microscope. That yellow thing is Ebola.
The good news?
(Via: fillurheartwithglee)
Available exclusively at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. (Kidding!) Continue reading
The bad news: Warner Bros. has put The LEGO Movie 2 on hold.
The good news: A LEGO Batman movie is being fast-tracked to take its place. Chris McKay, the animation supervisor on The LEGO Movie, will direct.
The great news: Will Arnett is back as Batman!
For more info, click here.
Via: NeoGaf
Butt-head and Benedict. Yep, I see it.
Via: Klick Kilck Klick
Our trip begins on Hollywood’s famous Sunset Boulevard, circa 1957. A huge statue of a Las Vegas showgirl towers over the passing traffic, spinning endlessly, advertising the Sahara Hotel and Casino in Nevada. Continue reading
The animation is simple, the story is bare bones, and the CG is anything but photo-realistic. Yet I’ll be damned if I didn’t get totally sucked into The Boxcar Children. Continue reading
TIL that Disney and Milton Bradley once put out a Lilo & Stitch-themed version of the game Operation. Players act as Jumba, operating on a strapped down Experiment 626! Click here for Amazon’s listing.
