Miles of Smiles

To My Friends

2010-02-22T22:41:00.000-08:00

Hello, so if you are a follower of this blog and/or website I would like to inform you that I've done some site modifications, mostly internal. But if you were subscribing to this blog via the rss or atom feed then the changes I've made will affect you. So if you still wish to subscribe to this feed, go directly to torlandomileshakes.com and click on the subscription buttons or click on this link if you sub with bloglines.
Thank you and I hope you continue to enjoy my bloggin.

Bowerbirds - In Our Talons

2010-02-15T20:34:00.000-08:00

Bowerbirds "In Our Talons" from Alan Poon on Vimeo.

Animation directed by Alan Poon. Mmmmm...nature

Vegeterrible

2010-02-14T15:02:00.001-08:00

Vegeterrible from Henrik Sønniksen on Vimeo.

Yar-e Dabestani-e Man

2010-02-14T00:13:00.001-08:00

This is an animation made by an artist named Simon Ampel who is one of the cofounders of Aquifer Films, based in Brooklyn. Their website is one of the coolest, cleanest flash sites I've ever seen. Its pretty awesome. Check out the show reel.

The above animation is pretty cool too. Its based on the growing student movement in Iran against authoritarian regime. I thought it was real pretty and somewhat hopeful considering Iran's new "nuclear statehood".

From what I understand the animation was done in a program called TVpaint which may be a paperless studio and then it was colored in Animo. I've heard of Animo being pretty cool but this is the first I've heard of Tvpaint. Ok strike that, TVpaint is sort of a sister program to Mirage which is a french made program that I hear is really good about imitating a paper system. For example they have a series of papers that you can choose from and when you use a wacom tablet the pen strokes will react to the grain of the paper template you've chosen. So, pretty cool.

Happy Valentimes!

2010-02-13T23:39:00.000-08:00

Te Wei (1915-2010)

2010-02-06T15:56:00.000-08:00

So this is a repost from Cartoon Brew:

"The master of Chinese animation, Te Wei (Sheng Tewei), has passed away at age 95.

Te Wei, a pioneering animator and cartoonist, was one of the founding fathers of the Shanghai Animation Studio. His most significant film of the 1950s was The Conceited General, which I’ve embed below:

In the 1960s his animation style was influenced by the painter Qi Baishi. His 1963 mastepiece, The Cowboy’s Flute (Part 1 below), is one of the most beautiful films from China - or anywhere."

Get Out

2010-02-01T22:04:00.000-08:00

Get Out
by Esma-Movie

This is a cute little number from Charlotte Boisson, Julien Fourvel, Pascal Han-Kwan, Tristan Reinarz and Fanny Roche, with a score by Guilhem Rosa, students at the Ecole Supérieure des Métiers Artistiques in Montpellier and Toulouse. What a beautiful world they've created that we all get to enter through the door and explore.

2D 3D aaaannnnnd puppets

2010-01-30T14:01:00.000-08:00

Pssst...The End from Buck on Vimeo.

Jingles

2010-01-21T22:41:00.000-08:00

Some of you may remember that jingle just fine, but I didn't exactly have the pleasure of being born yet, but I did have a calendar which in the 7th month of the year had the words to this jingle, which I STILL have memorized.

The Middle East - Blood

2010-01-21T22:35:00.000-08:00

The Road Painting by DUSTIN NGUYEN

2010-01-21T22:10:00.000-08:00

Movie was so good.

Here's me and scott's spoof.

SCOTT AND TORLANDO - "Let's Sleep On It" movie challenge from Cob Job on Vimeo.

In a world much like our own. Two humans must find rest from those out to get them.

Ryan

2010-01-21T10:21:00.000-08:00

Ryan This Oscar®-winning animated short from Chris Landreth is based on the life of Ryan Larkin, a Canadian animator who, 30 years ago, produced some of the most influential animated films of his time. Ryan is living every artist's worst nightmare - having lost his ability to create and succumbing to addiction, he panhandles on the streets to make ends meet. Through the use of computer-generated characters, Landreth interviews his friend and colleague in an effort to shed light on his downward spiral. Some strong language. Viewer discretion is advised. http://www.nfb.ca/film/ryan

Fot with Rhys Darby

2010-01-21T10:14:00.000-08:00

FOT part 2 from alex dron on Vimeo.

A cool little web diddy with Rhys Darby. I found this one not laugh out loud funny but lol funny if that makes sense. If you want to see all for you can go to the site but they are all pretty consistently dry.

The Dot and the Line

2010-01-12T23:27:00.001-08:00

old school animation from the last century joe.

The Stormy Petrel (2004) by Alexei Turkus

2010-01-10T22:37:00.000-08:00

I was talking to my roommate this morning about other languages and he and I both speak multiple languages which, without boasting of myself, is somewhat uncommon in America. This, I think, is a well known criticism of our country, which is fine. To be quite honest, I love my second language, but I don't have a pressing need to use it, which is a shame because, Spanish, my second language, is a beautiful language. It's much more intelligent than we give credit for.

Anyways, in our discussion I said that Japanese is a really fun language to learn. (I should note that Japanese is his second language.) And we talked about how epic it is to hear "ski des" which roughly means "I love you" in a movie and how hilariously moving a moment like that is in japanese movies. Then he said something sort of interesting, he said "Japanese is like legos the way that it works" Meaning that while some of the romance languages may be more like painting or something like that, Japanese is like legos, one not being superior to the other, just different mediums and different interests.

Then I watched the above short film and started thinking about why this is so fascinating to me when I should be frustrated that I have to pay attention to the subtitles and miss some of the cleverness of the animation. And it dawned on me that even though I don't know russian, for me as an American, there is a weight that the language carries. I don't know if its the sort of weight or brand that is inherent in the culture or my own past experiences or just the cultural projections that America has produced through its media. What can I say? Its an intense language. The last russian house I was in, and this is true, the last russian house I was in the whole family could not speak to each other without yelling! The only english between the family was when the teenage son would say out of exasperation: "whatever". So I'm not generalizing and saying that all russian house hold are this way, it just happens to be the American perspective.

With other languages there are varying generalizations and perceptions that we as Americans project on to the entire people of a certain language and some languages are more versatile than others. I think most people associate french with being romantic and all that. Spanish has can be very seductive but on the other hand there are clint eastwood movies that make it sound really despicable. And Japanese sounds like legos, this all is very intuitive according to the American perspective. English from what I hear is a very "cool" sounding language. I've heard people who speak English as a second language say they feel "cool" when speaking it. This may be when thinking of american english, where as UK english we find very elegant and proper for the most part.

So I wonder about using language, under the American perspective as a tool for animations and films. What do we use them for? If we do use them, what does it seem like the purpose is to someone who has the language as their first language? They must have a different experience. I know that when I watch a movie like Vicky Christine Barcelona, I have a different view of the movie because I understood. When Penelope Cruz is trying to get the gun back and says "Dame la pistola, dame la pistola, que me des la pistola!" she says "Give me the gun, give me the gun, give me the gun!" But you see the third time, in spanish its different, but in English its the same because the spanish is using a tense that we don't really use in english. When she says, the third time "que me des la pistola" she is putting the phrase in subjunctive form, which makes the phrasing very strong, to the point of a beg but still being a command. With her language she is pushing her will onto his.

I have no real point here. But I think its interesting that for someone who doesn't understand the language they are viewing, words become even more abstract than they already are. A word is the most abstract descriptor that some how is the most concrete. If I say the word "tree" you know what I'm talking about. I don't need to show you a picture or paint you a picture unless you are severely autistic. Not only do you know what I am talking about, you also know everything that I am not talking about. I cannot assign the word "tree" to an object that is actually a dog, unless its his name. I say "tree" and you understand, I say "albero" you might not. You may be able to deduce that it is the spanish word for tree, but that is because I've told you I speak spanish and you trust me. Now if you also know spanish you may be thinking, he means arbol is the spanish word for tree, I don't know where he got albero. I got it from italian. Abstract things these words are. There is meaning in them, the form is a matter of subcontext.

Best thing I've seen all year. 1000 Voices

2010-01-10T16:34:00.000-08:00

Ctrl.Alt.Shift Film Competition Winner: 1000 Voices from Ctrl.Alt.Shift on Vimeo.

Ctrl.Alt.Shift is a movement for a new generation fighting social and global injustice. These films were made by members of the community to raise awareness of issues they care about.

Writer and Director: Tim Travers Hawkins
Mentor: Chris Harding (Shynola)
Music: Jesca Hoop
Voice of Bureaucrat: Adam Buxton

A verbose and politically correct bureaucrat gives a lecture to a group of teenagers on the merits of the UK's efficient and humane asylum system, whilst meanwhile, in the same building, detainees, imprisoned indefinitely in different 'Removal Centres' across the UK, leave messages in vain on an abandoned telephone answering machine in the ministry basement. Their messages detail the horror of the life that they have escaped due to conflict.

Check out the Ctrl.Alt.Shift website here: www.ctrlaltshift.co.uk

Light Forms - Malcolm Sutherland

2010-01-10T16:09:00.000-08:00

Light Forms from Malcolm Sutherland on Vimeo.

A short experimental floaty & aimless animation by Malcolm Sutherland in 2010.
Soundtrack is also made by Malcolm Sutherland.
Looks best in fullscreen HD

Moon Boy

2010-01-04T23:19:00.001-08:00

Moonboy from MoreFrames on Vimeo.

A short film about a boy who wishes for better things.

Michael Lierly

2010-01-04T00:28:00.001-08:00

This dude, Michael Lierly, is a cool dude. He lives in the same town as I do, Bloomington, and is a really awesome artist. I first met him as a freshman at IU. To clarify I was a freshman and he was a grad student. And I was taking one of the fundamental classes and my instructor couldn't make the class so he asked mike if he would fill in for him. And I used to have this thing where I wanted to know if the instructor teaching me was sweet or not so I asked him: what do you do? and he said, I draw. and I said are you sweet and he humbly replied, 'yes'. That's sort of when I knew. So the other day I was in the art supply store picking up a drawrin' book and we did a website swap and I was sort of blown away by the images on his site, so people should check him out for sure. Link

Tomer Hanuka

2010-01-04T00:22:00.000-08:00

tomer hanuka is an illustrator and cartoonist based in new york. I recognized his work from the movie Waltz with Bashir which blew me away. I can always vibe with an illustrator where you can tell the clients are going to him for what he does and not just looking for someone who can design the clients vision. Not sure if that is really special or uncommon, but I can vibe with it.

My lastest work called Play Things.

2010-01-02T15:56:00.001-08:00

Play Things from Torlando Hakes on Vimeo.

Óscar T. Pérez

2009-12-27T00:10:00.000-08:00

Óscar T. Pérez is an illustrator based in Madrid, Spain. Perez has a group of animated shorts made to promote some of his recently published books. The Encyclopedia of Monsters and Other Terrifying Creatures, written by Enric Lluch.

Electropolis - watch this.

2009-12-20T13:47:00.000-08:00

Electropolis from Kevin McCullough on Vimeo.

This is a group work by students from Sheridan College. It took them about 7 months. I think I'm going to have to watch it again.

Silent Film Series

2009-12-17T10:22:00.001-08:00

I'm going to start a silent film series on Miles of Smiles today. There is an interesting genre that is blossoming in web video where no dialogue is used in the videos like when film was first invented, but these directors aren't directly mimicking the "old film" style, they are using current effects and shot styles, keeping them in crisp HD and telling the story visually. This is smart, because it is very difficult to find a good dialogue actor and this allows you to free yourself from bad acting and focus on mise en scene.

I present to you:

Adventure Glue by Karen Abad.

Adventure Glue from Karen Abad ♥s Dinosaurs. on Vimeo.

PRESS + Benjamin Ducroz

2009-12-16T21:25:00.001-08:00

PRESS + from benjamin ducroz on Vimeo.

Tell em large marge sent ya

2009-12-16T13:07:00.000-08:00

On tuesday I got my new wacom tablet in the mail that I order off of my amazon x-mas wish list and this is a fun toy. Its customizable and it feels like the real deal. I got to drawing this morning and here is the first practice image with my new tablet.

Last Day of Summer

2009-12-12T22:51:00.000-08:00

click the pic.
from chichek brief

Neil Diamond

2009-12-12T22:44:00.000-08:00

I know, not animation, but real quick, I was out at a country bar tonight called the office lounge and we were doing a little karaoke. Its not a bad idea to use your iPhone to pull up a video of the song you're about to sing with the youtube app. It helps remind you on how the verse goes.

This was the video I used to refresh my memory on Holly Holy. I did it true.

Frog Rocket

2009-12-12T00:03:00.000-08:00

FrogRocket - New Media Manitoba Business Showcase from BlinkWorks -James Swirsky on Vimeo.

A sharp little video profile on founder of FrogRocket comics coloring studio.

Monkeymen

2009-12-11T23:51:00.001-08:00

skinlines from monkeymen on Vimeo.

Our brandnew movie! Finished 2009

Greedy Boy

2009-12-11T23:46:00.001-08:00

Greedy Boy from flew on Vimeo.

Jordan Clarke

2009-12-09T11:18:00.000-08:00

Looking today at Jordan Clarke, a motion designer and video producer out of Vancouver. I believe he's at or was at Vancouver Film School, I think I saw a credit that mentioned that somewhere in there. Anyhow, really crisp work with After Effects and Cinema 4D.

Box Animation from Jordan Clarke on Vimeo.

Internet from Jordan Clarke on Vimeo.

Seconds Title Sequence from Jordan Clarke on Vimeo.

Broadcast 2000 "get up and go" Full from Jordan Clarke on Vimeo.

Syn Emergence

2009-12-09T11:15:00.000-08:00

Syn Emergence from RICH BEVAN on Vimeo.

MADAME TUTLI-PUTLI

2009-12-08T21:09:00.000-08:00

Another great animation from the national film board of Canada. Pay particular attention to the eyes, are they real?

Mr. Fortune by Eric Lerner

2009-12-06T23:33:00.001-08:00

Sugimoto Kousuke!

2009-12-06T00:10:00.000-08:00

SproutBox

2009-12-05T23:31:00.000-08:00

SproutBox - How does it work? from SproutBox on Vimeo.

This semester I'm an intern at a company called SproutBox and I've been working on a web video for them for a couple months and it was finally completed this past week. I think it turned out pretty good.
This is my first commercial work as far as video goes but I'm proud of it and within its first couple of days its received some good traffic so I'm excited about it.

Also this weekend I showed my Skymall project that you can watch a snippet from here and also a new digital installation in another gallery. I'll have pictures from the events up soon enough. I think it went pretty well. A lot of people came out to see the art which was fun, it was sort of bloomington's night of art. I'll do a more introspective article on the night later.

Dueces, my friends.

Partly Cloudy by Pixar

2009-11-30T22:49:00.000-08:00

Partly Cloudy from Pixar from xandru88 on Vimeo.

Probably the best animation I've seen all year. This one is remarkably cute and cuddly and sometimes that's what hits the spot.

Heart - Laurent Clermont

2009-11-29T01:38:00.000-08:00

heart from laurent clermont on Vimeo.

Technically speaking it must have been difficult to sync the shaky camera movements up with the 3D figure. Cute.

The Mysterious Explorations of Jasper Morello

2009-11-26T11:39:00.000-08:00

I saw this a while ago and then a friend sent it to me as sort of a thanksgiving victorian steampunk surprise, and so I give it to you.

Going West by Andersen M Studio

2009-11-23T00:26:00.000-08:00

Fluorescent Hill animates Tom Waits & Kool Keith

2009-11-21T13:59:00.000-08:00

I've posted some N.A.S.A. projects before I think on another blog, but this one I feel like is blowing up the intranets everywhere.

The Machine by Rob Shaw

2009-11-21T13:56:00.000-08:00

THE MACHINE from Bent Image Lab on Vimeo.

Vladislav Delay

2009-11-17T21:40:00.000-08:00

Vladislav Delay directed by Carolina Melis and Lorenzo Sportiello

Goldfish Fort Knox

2009-11-17T21:11:00.000-08:00

Goldfish - Fort Knox. Animated by Mike Scott.

House

2009-11-17T21:03:00.000-08:00

I'm really diggin on the music in this one. I also am into these types of old animations for kids (its sooooo vintaaaagggggeee, J/K). But seriously, it takes a lot of effort for the handmade and low tech, and again the music is what just hits home for me in a somewhat proxified way. House by Carmen D'Avino.

Jookabox - You Cried Me.

2009-11-17T06:23:00.000-08:00

Jookabox came through my town a couple months ago, it was fun. And my roommate DM Stith did the album cover design on their new album, Dead Zone Boys.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

2009-11-16T15:11:00.000-08:00

Being a half white person, I get excited about white people things. (i.e. moleskin notebooks, taking a year off, hummus, unpaid internships, sweaters, the wire, graduate school, study abroad, mos def, knowing what's best for poor people, japan, art degrees, and of course, Wes Anderson Movies) So when I was doing one white people activity, (watching the previews before "where the wild things are") a movie preview showed and it was the Fantastic Mr. Fox. I saw the cast list but they didn't mention who was directing it, so I turned to my white girl date (something that both sides like) and I said I bet you that's a Wes Anderson movie. Now any self-respecting white person would be able to take one quick look at the cast list and say, yeah that's probably a Wes Anderson flick, but I've got a steep white person handicap and not all of us get the same tiger woods blend of say, being a phenomenal athlete in a white man's game. So I had to do some interdependent shaking from both the salt and the pepper. I had to read between the lines of the sunday paper, alright? I had to eat the oreo without splitting the halves. (Maybe I've taken it too far.) My point is, I had to use my soul to feel it out. The same detector that knew on the inside that Soul Food, This Christmas and anything Madea, was a "feel good", had to work together with the logic of a full blood Vulcan. The interesting thing about the Fantastic Mr. Fox is that from the previews, it feels like a Wes Anderson movie even though its in a different medium. Here is some concept art by Chris Appelhans

Themselves - Roman is as Roman does.

2009-11-16T11:13:00.000-08:00

The Brainwashers by Patrick Bouchard

2009-11-15T17:44:00.000-08:00

This one comes to you via the National Film Board of Canada.

Sphere's of Fury

2009-11-08T19:19:00.000-08:00

Hecq Vs Exillion - Spheres Of Fury from Tim.Chris.Film on Vimeo.

So, not an animation, but I am not prepared to completely limit myself to only cartoons, I'm not a kid anymore you know.

“Sebastian’s Voodoo” by Joaquin Baldwin

2009-11-06T06:58:00.000-08:00

This is pretty sadistic

2009-11-05T21:44:00.001-08:00

RAMONA FALLS "I SAY FEVER"

2009-11-03T22:56:00.001-08:00

Inking Comics with Doug TenNapel

2009-11-01T21:05:00.001-08:00

Après La Pluie - Emanuelle Walker

2009-11-01T20:53:00.000-08:00

The Light House Keeper

2009-10-29T22:38:00.001-07:00

THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER from THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER team on Vimeo.

Paper Folding Animation - VIDEOGIOCO

2009-10-27T17:49:00.000-07:00

VIDEOGIOCO by Donato Sansone from Enrico Ascoli - Sound Design on Vimeo.

One time at church I did a doodle where I folded the paper into fours and then ripped one side half way to the middle and on each panel drew a picture that changed the orginal panel in some way when you folded it. It was more of a one page comic for me. From what I can recall I did two or three of them, this might have been about four years ago, but I never thought about doing them in a video, wow, this is pretty dang cool. I might have to watch it again.

GUERRE NAIVE

2009-10-26T16:21:00.001-07:00

Guerre Naïve from Guerre Naïve on Vimeo.

Deru - Peanut Butter and Patience

2009-10-26T16:07:00.000-07:00

Deru - Peanut Butter & Patience from Mush Records on Vimeo.

I love this animation, quite a bit, but I hate the music.
Those things are hit or miss sometimes.

Something Wrong with this Picture

2009-10-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

So I was on my daily internet browse today when this pop-up came along to entice.

I almost clicked to win, but then I noticed something. Who can tell me what it is?

Snow-bo by Vera Brosgol; Lambchop - Is a Woman

2009-10-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

A cute little animation by Russian artist Vera Brosgol. I recognized her work from Flight Vol. 1, there was a little comic short she did in there. I really enjoy her site, its cute without being kitschy. Verabee.com And there is a nice interview with her on the animation show.

In the interview they reference a Lambchop video called "is a woman" and I've been listening to Lambchop, quite a bit lately, its good end of summer fall music. Well the album Ohio is, but really his music is seasonal, I should say. Whatever season you are in and listening to his music, the season becomes attached to the music in an interesting way. Anyhow, I decided to show the video they mentioned just in case you don't have time or desire to go to the interview, you can just watch it on my site. Its a really pretty video.

Know that I somewhat hesitate with this post since its so wintery and we are only at the apex of fall. I don't know what the weather is like where you are but Bloomington is about the prettiest place I've been to during the fall. The south was pretty but not as plentiful as Bloomington.

Destino

2009-10-17T13:10:00.000-07:00

Disney and Dali - Destino from Jayme Johnson on Vimeo.

Here for the wiki entry on this 2003 Disney short after 58 years in the making.

Alberto Cerreteño

2009-10-15T21:54:00.000-07:00

I guy who's blog I've been following for a while now, always seems to produce a very distinct illustration style, rich with autumn colors and culture, Alberto Cerreteño releases a new animation for children's song "That's How a Pumpkin Grows" by Brian Vogan.

That's How A Pumkin Grows from Alberto Cerriteño on Vimeo.

Tom Fun Orchestra - Bottom of the River

2009-10-15T12:40:00.000-07:00

Tom Fun Orchestra-Bottom of the River from trunk animation on Vimeo.

So so pretty. Directed by Alasdair Brotherston and Jock Mooney at Trunk Animation.

Cat Walk - Black Cat Crossing

2009-10-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

" height="202">

Catwalk - Black Cat Crossing from no name party on Vimeo.

A really nice animation today by no name party. no name is out of germany. This is a 3d animation, so the site says but I'd be surprised if the figure animation wasn't after effects. But this is a really good one to come out by No Name Party.

Buddy Bradley

2009-10-12T11:51:00.000-07:00

I'm really exited because today I went down to Boxcar books in hopes of finding my mother a birthday book and instead I got an autographed copy of Hey, Buddy! Volume I of the complete Buddy Bradley stories from Hate by Peter Bagge.

One of my favorite activities is to go down to the local comics shop and ask the owner for a suggestion. This guys knows that first off, I like something dense and as 90's as they come. And he suggested one day Buddy Does Jersey.

Buddy Does Jersey is brilliant. There are enough references to 90's Americana (grunge/post-grunge) that you can remember exactly how old you were when you experienced these things first hand. In this sequel to Buddy Does Seattle, Buddy has moved back to his hometown in Jersey to live in his mom's basement with his girlfriend Lisa from Seattle. All the old losers and junk heads are still there, all "recovering" from rehab and trying to move on with their otherwise scummy lives.

I could just imagine moving back to my own hometown and finding that one kid who's still there, that in the sixth grade ate a cigarette because no one had a lighter and he thought that you could get the same buzz off the nicotine. Then later in high school that same kid tried to get you to buy powder in the school bathrooms. You know the one.

Anyways, I'm a huge fan and word on the street is that fox has signed a deal to finally turn it into a cartoon. (Finally something to take care of every other awful fox cartoon (Yes, Family Guy)) To read it from the horse's mouth, visit and subscribe to FLOG!, the Fantagraphics Blog.

To my many many followers...

2009-10-11T23:39:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you're all just dying to know why I changed my color scheme to all black. Well...I've gone morbid, that's all. Well that and I'm finally getting around to designing myself a personal portfolio site and I'm using this blog as part of the home page. So now you know. The page will be torlandomileshakes.com, so that's pretty exciting.

Until then, here is a video. Not animation, but there is animation in it. I like it cinematically, however, I think the sound design is unnecessarily creepy. I want to hear someone like Lambchop in the background. (No, not the doll)

twofur

2009-10-07T06:36:00.000-07:00

I would have really liked this when I was about 8 which is probably why I really like it now. It was done as part of the Cartoonstitute Program at comedy central

This next one is a little different, its like a slide real for David M. Buisán's illustrations, so its not really animated, more like an X factor Ken Burn's Effect.

Buisan Book from David M. Buisán on Vimeo.

Iwa

2009-10-05T20:46:00.000-07:00

Iwa from Kenneth Coker on Vimeo.

I don't have much of a commentary about this, but sometimes when I watch something it occupies my mind enough to be able to gather my thoughts on other things. Side note, I met Scott McCloud tonight and he told me he liked my art work. Anyways, I'm the kind of person that really likes to be brutal about things. I really like to take my small judgments and blow them way out of proportion and to be as least sympathetic as I possibly can. I don't know that I'm really as judgmental as I make myself out to be, it could be that I am actually much more so than I ever imagined. Either way, there are people who say that they care or say they are compassionate, but don't do anything about it and then there are folks like me, cranky and cynical because the world never done nothin' for them but in the end could never really bring themselves to turn away the homeless or help a kid with homework because his mom wont do it and the dad ain't around.

JumpTrumpRumpBump

2009-10-01T08:13:00.000-07:00

JumpTrumpRumpBump from Molasses Murphy on Vimeo.

Temperley London Circus Zoetrope

2009-10-01T07:58:00.000-07:00

Temperley London Circus Zoetrope from LEGS on Vimeo.

"A zoetrope is a device that produces an illusion of action from a rapid succession of static pictures. The term zoetrope is from the Greek words zoe, "life" and trope, "turn".
The earliest elementary zoetrope was created in China around 180 AD by the prolific inventor Ting Huan (丁緩). Driven by convection Ting Huan's device hung over a lamp. The rising air turned vanes at the top from which were hung translucent paper or mica panels. Pictures painted on the panels would appear to move if the device is spun at the right speed.[1][2][3][4]
The modern zoetrope was invented in 1833 by British mathematician William George Horner. He called it the 'Daedalum' popularly translated as 'the wheel of the devil' though there is no evidence of this etymology. More likely it is a reference the to Greek myth of Daedalus. It didn't become popular until the 1860s, when it was patented by makers in both England and America. The American developer, William F. Lincoln, named his toy the 'zoetrope', which means 'wheel of life'."
source

Evolution

2009-09-28T10:10:00.001-07:00

Evolution from Alex Glawion on Vimeo.

Visit

2009-09-15T20:01:00.000-07:00

VISIT (Wizyta) from Daniel Zagórski on Vimeo.

I just started learning 3D modeling this semester and so all things 3D I've been looking at with that "I sort of understand how they did that" mentality. I thought this piece by Daniel Zagórski was nice.

Breathing Apple

2009-09-15T19:52:00.001-07:00

Ecological apple (experimental short) from Andreas Soderberg on Vimeo.

Awesome

Carnivore Reflux

2009-09-14T21:23:00.001-07:00

Another by The People's Republic of Animation.

Carnivore Reflux from PRA on Vimeo.

The Cat Piano

2009-09-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

Perhaps to rival my last post: The Cat Piano, an allegory of cat abuse beautifully told and animated by The People's Republic of Animation. Check out the rest of their animations on your own time.

The Cat Piano from PRA on Vimeo.

The Black Dog's Progress

2009-09-14T11:24:00.000-07:00

By Stephen Irwin
Music by Surenious Bonk

The Black Dog's Progress is a haunting short about an abused dog told in the fashion of tiny flip books merging together to create a larger mise-en-scene.

esteban diacono

2009-09-02T14:59:00.000-07:00

I haven't seen a digital piece this beautiful. I've been thinking about my beliefs lately and I remember hearing an argument between an atheist and a "believer" and the atheist said when he was thirteen years old he decided he didn't believe in a god or The God and hasn't turned his back on that decision. (He was a professor of theology, consequently) The "believer" said "oh, that's interesting, you would trust the opinion of a thirteen year old to base your entire life and career."

Most of the big decisions people make in this life or rather views of life are made before the age of 12, or around that time. Some larger "decision time" moments come later in life but the actual choice, the left or right, comes from before. I joined a religion when I was 18 but the fact that I looked into it to begin with was because when I was 12 years old I made a new year's resolution to be an "open minded" person.

So if it is fair to ask the atheist if he can trust the opinion of a thirteen year old, I think the same question is viable to the quote "believer".

So do I trust my own youthful opinions? I can say this, knowing that in the 7th grade had you asked me what my favorite band was, I would have said Limp Bizkit. So what? So, I feel content with a majority of the big decisions I've made in my life but I do think it would be responsible to reevaluate and start with a clean slate on what it is that you believe. And see if you come to the same conclusions.

Recently I decided to clear out my favorite things list. I have no favorite actor, no favorite color or food or song or band. I got out the little pin or paper clip and hit the tiny concave reset button. And it is very hard to decide on new favorites. Its almost even more critical at this age. When I was a kid, I liked the disney channel, I liked roller blading, easy my favorite actor was Brink! (2:12-4:30 is particularly moving) But I am a man now and I need to rethink that decision.

So why say all this after watching that video? My thoughts are that beauty, subjective as it may be has to come from somewhere. And if one claims or is tought that beauty comes from God, what then is God? Where is God? How does God work? Are we the Gods? Even if in embryo? I believe its healthy to question the decisions you make even if you come to the same conclusion that you came up with before. Because by making the decision again you will have recommitted yourself to the life that you want to live in.

Little Dragon - After the Rain

2009-08-26T22:16:00.000-07:00

I'm in love with the singer.

4th Estate 25th birthday vid.

2009-08-26T22:06:00.001-07:00

This Is Where We Live from 4th Estate on Vimeo.

Dan Britt

2009-08-26T05:54:00.000-07:00

The Colouring from Dan Britt on Vimeo.

2nd Hand Music Video from Dan Britt on Vimeo.

Woody from Dan Britt on Vimeo.

Bad God from Dan Britt on Vimeo.

Dan Britt

Too many copy cats

2009-08-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

You know, I like stop motion as much as the next man. And I liked this, but I will tell you it is not original, there are too many copy cats out there doing this same stupid trick and its getting annoying. But people do it because its what's viral and hip on the blogosphere.

Allow me to provide a short list of videos doing the same thing:

Cold Play - Strawberry Swing

I'm Late

The Last Laugh - Stop Motion

Stop Motion with Wolf and Pig

Friends

We Are Going to Be Friends

Human Skateboard

Re:Human Skateboard

Human Skateboard - NuckinFutz Edition

Human Skateboard 2

The Human Skateboard!

Deadline Post-it Stop Motion

Post-it Note Stop Motion

Vampire Weekend Cory and Rachel's Wedding Stop-Motion

and if you've come this far, watch not for the biggest chotchy of them all:

Roommate Row

yes, yes, thank you very much. I too fell victim to the alluring ease and tediousness of human stop-motion. Although mine was an ode to Norman McClaren and Louis Malle, who did these things with film! They were brilliant men.

Obama's Article in the New York Times on Health Care Reform

2009-08-17T22:06:00.000-07:00

You know what? I'm one of the 50 million Americans who don't have health insurance. You know why? Because I can't afford it. I'm 24 and an independent student and am not covered by my parents anymore. I can barely afford my most basic needs. I have about two or three health items that could use some attention but they would all be considered pre-existing conditions because I had them checked out when I was on my parents plan, and got turned down by the insurance companies for coverage, and even after paying the doctors straight up, the problem is still there. Now ain't that somethin' else. Read this article in the New York Times by President Obama and pass it on. Why We Need Health Care Reform

A short Animated Film By Filippe Lyra e William Paiva.

2009-08-03T20:50:00.000-07:00

Voltage from Bam Studio on Vimeo.

I was just blown away by this animation. Clarity comes to mind when I think of the illustration. I can't believe I found it on Kanye's blog.

In/Side Out

2009-08-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

Another powerful animation brought to you by the world wide web.

inside/out from eranhill on Vimeo.

I was thinking lately how impressive much of the work in animation is spreading on the internet. It seems like there are so many solid works out there, its inspiring. People doing inspires me.

White Box by Makoto Yabuki

2009-07-31T21:08:00.000-07:00

White Box from makoto yabuki on Vimeo.

I caught this one over at Drawn!. Some people just know how to pick the "hip" colors. I mean, I like the way they look, but I feel like you'd also expect to see the same combos in throw pillows and comforters. I also thought that the music was too repetitive. There could have been some nice moments of a natural ambience like when the trees sprouted up to make the world feel "real". This would have also slowed the pace down so that when music came back in the pace would speed up again creating an ebb and flow that is present in nature. Other than that I thought it was pretty. I wish my creative process was as peaceful.

paint-o-mation

2009-07-29T21:55:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of fun watching this one today.

Music Painting by JUL & MAT from JUL & MAT on Vimeo.

The People Tree

2009-07-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

Faux vintage animation and intonation rap, who could ask for anything more?

N.A.S.A.
"The People Tree" (Featuring David Byrne, Chali 2na, Gift Of Gab & Z-Trip)
Art by Marcel Dzama
Directed and Animated: Syd Garon and Johannes Gamble.
© 2009 Spectrophonic Sound under license to Anti- Records

Breeze - Djeff Regottaz

2009-07-06T22:09:00.000-07:00

Breeze reflection by Djeff @ "Mal au pixel" France from djeff on Vimeo.

These types of interactive installations really excite me. Especially when you're able to go to the gallery to be a part of it. I saw a Janet Cardiff piece in japan in which the motion of your body dictated the course of the piece and it was very empowering and enriching to feel apart of the beauty inside of a gallery.

Malcolm Sutherland

2009-07-06T21:38:00.000-07:00

Before I show this animation, I have to go on a mini-rant. (which is fun) When I watched the forthcoming animation, the drawing style and color palette immediately reminded me of the Nickelodeon cartoon Aaahh! Real Monsters Then the thought came to my mind, "you know, a very base and not clever person might be tempted to say, 'it's like aaahh real monsters on crack'" Now you must understand my frustration in such a thought. People who say "Its like _________on crack" are the same people who have been saying "that's what she said" jokes to every word you say for the past four years and still think its funny every time. And if they say that particular phrase then I am sure that, at least in high school, when they saw a poor movie they also said, "I feel dumber for having watched that movie." To which I say "really? is your mind so feeble to actually make you lose brain cells from watching a bad movie?" And then I think further back, because if they say all of those things then they were probably the type as kids to say this number, "that was sooooo funny, I almost forgot to laugh." And then I discover the root. People like that aren't funny enough to think of their own jokes. Now if you fall into this category, don't think I'm chastening you, I'm helping you become aware, because I love you. Its just that, those kind of jokes aren't good enough in America. Just ask Samuel Clemens. I mean, how can a cartoon smoke crack really? Anyways, without further adieu, I present "The Astronomer's Dream" by Malcolm Sutherland

The Astronomer's Dream (2009) from Animalcolm on Vimeo.

Eros by Tom Geraedts

2009-07-04T21:51:00.000-07:00

Eros from Tom Geraedts on Vimeo.

Street Art

2009-07-03T22:49:00.000-07:00

Man, Street Art is getting pretty deluxe. I mean, I got a kick out of the STOP sign I saw today that somebody wrote WAR underneath STOP and then somebody else wrote in between the STOP and WAR "listening to" and then put a "G" in front of the WAR. OK, stop, think about it....there you go.

But tonight over on the Juxtapoze Online Mag I saw some of the street work of artist Dante Horoiwa and man, pretty beautiful work. Too bad the interview was the most boring thing I've ever read in my life. It was like watching Michael Phelps on Saturday Night Live, it was that boring.

A Micrometer From Here

2009-07-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

"a micrometer from here" (eng sub)- graduation project from amit zakai on Vimeo.

What is the video artists fascination with the silent film treatment? So many of us try to latch on to this nostalgia of a period we did not experience. Is it an emulation of the surrealists movement? Is it the timelessness trapped in a very defined epic? I think its that because we did not experience, we seek to imagine how it could have been. And the grit of film stock and low-fi reminds us of discovery and invention. Innovation springing from crude technologies. Imagination intersecting industry's intermittent illusions of inspiration and ingenuity. phwew...ill-iteration.
Not even necessary.

Richard Hogg

2009-06-29T18:38:00.000-07:00

This is really funny to me.

Sunday Announcements

2009-06-28T23:33:00.000-07:00

On my personal blog I started posting the doodles I do on the Sunday Announcements Program at church and so I've decided to move the segment to this blog. It seemed more appropriate.

Water Brain

2009-06-27T20:10:00.000-07:00

Water Brain Complete Edition（16：9） from Johann.Poo on Vimeo.

We have here a Chinese made 3d animation by Ani7ime Studio and it is just terrific. The movie has a deliberate sense of beauty that just plain delivers. An entirely weird family with strange little kids and strange parents would really enjoy this together. I know some have slapped a steampunk label on this one for obvious reasons but its a lot more than that, this is about China. I really liked this one.

Artist Patrick Lee

2009-06-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

I was in a small gallery in tokyo today rummaging through the art store inside and found a series of portraits called Deadly Friends by artist Patrick Lee. It wasn't until I read the description until I realized they weren't photographs.

McCormick

2009-06-22T07:25:00.000-07:00

Some people ask me why I read Kanye West's blog, and that's because who ever writes it posts cool stuff like this sometimes.

McCormick from Boxlab Crew on Vimeo.

When the Day Breaks (1999)

2009-06-21T07:54:00.000-07:00

very pretty. thank you canada
Amanda Forbis Wendy Tilby
Interview
Early Rotoscoping. Its legit.