Computer Animation Arts

"Star Wars Concept Trailer" by The DAVE School graduating class of August & October 2017 This film trailer was made by a group of graduating students from the DAVE school in Florida. It uses live action and 3D to recreate Ralph McQuarrie's original concept art for 'The Star Wars' (based off of an early draft script written by George Lucas in the early 1970's). Watch and enjoy....and make sure to WATCH THE END CREDITS. "A long time ago in a galaxy far far away... we might have seen a version of Star Wars that featured a Han Solo with green skin and gills, Stormtroopers with lightsabers, and a female heroine named Luka Starkiller. Many of these anomalies can be seen in concept artist, Ralph McQuarrie's early illustrations of the Star Wars universe. While looking back at these early paintings we can't help but wonder what Star Wars would have been like had it remained loyal to the concept art and early drafts of the script. The DAVE School gradua...

"Jackie Chan - How to Do Action Comedy" by Every Frame a Painting Some filmmakers can do action. Others can do comedy. But for 40 years, the master of combining them has been Jackie Chan. Let’s see how he does it. "Buster Keaton - The Art of the Gag" by Every Frame a Painting Before Edgar Wright and Wes Anderson, before Chuck Jones and Jackie Chan, there was Buster Keaton, one of the founding fathers of visual comedy. And nearly 100 years after he first appeared onscreen, we’re still learning from him. Today, I’d like to talk about the artistry (and the thinking) behind his gags

"The Present"   “The Present” is a thesis short from the Institute of Animation, Visual Effects and Digital Postproduction at the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg in Ludwigsburg, Germany. The Present” is based on a great little comic strip by the very talented Fabio Coala. Make sure to check out his page: mentirinhas.com.br"

"The Early Animated Films" by The Royal Ocean Film Society The early history of animation is widespread and worldwide, and chalk full of marvelous films showcasing the lengths to which animation can strive towards. Let's take a look at a handful of filmmakers and the technical innovations they developed that got us from the turn of the century to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

"Here's the Plan" by Fernanda Frick "A married cat-dog couple of cupcake bakers dream of opening their own bakery. One day their oven breaks and they have to postpone their dream in order to earn money and replace it. Somewhere down the line, they drift apart from their dream and from themselves."

"Mel Blanc: The Man of a Thousand Voices" "Melvin Jerome Blank (May 30, 1908 – July 10, 1989) was an American voice actor and radio personality. After beginning his over-60-year career performing in radio, he became known for his work in animation as the voices of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and most of the other characters from the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies theatrical cartoons during the golden age of American animation. He later voiced characters for Hanna-Barbera's television cartoons, including Barney Rubble on The Flintstones and Mr. Spacely on The Jetsons. During the golden age of radio, Blanc also frequently performed on the programs of comedians from the era, including Jack Benny, Abbott and Costello, Burns and Allen, The Great Gildersleeve, and Judy Canova. Blanc was nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Voices", and is regarded as one of the most influential people in the voice acting industry". - Wikipedia

"The Loner" by Sticky Monster Lab Music by The Freaks

Chuck Jones: Extremes and InBetweens. A Life in Animation Documentary You all know the animation work of 'Charles (Chuck) Jones'. He wrote, produced, and/or directed many classic animated cartoon shorts starring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, Pepé Le Pew, Porky Pig, Michigan J. Frog, the Three Bears, and a long list of other Warner characters. He animated and edited theTom and Jerry cartoons and directed, anaimted, and produced the 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas' (1966), 'Horton Hears a Who' (1970), and the 'Phantom Tollbooth' (1970). Chuck Jones was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning three times. He won for the cartoons For Scent-imental Reasons, So Much for So Little, and The Dot and the Line. "Bonus: Chuck Jones - The Evolution of an Artist" by Tony Zhou (Every Frame a Painting)

 Who is Weird Al Yankovic? For those of you who are not familiar with the music of 'Weird Al', he is a extremely talented music artist and musical comedian who has been creating comedy songs and parody songs of contemporary artists for over 40 years. Including, recreating and performing in parody versions of the contemporary music videos. Starting in the 1970's he has created over 150 parody songs and sold more than 12 million albums. Creating parody songs such as ' Eat it -1984' (Beat it by Michael Jackson - 1983), ' Armish Paradise - 1996 ' (Gangsta's Paradise by Colio - 1996), and ' Smells Like Nirvana -1992 ' (Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana 1992). However, in this post we are looking at two of Weird Al's songs 'Don't Download this Song' and 'Word Crimes'. Both of which were visualised using animation. "Don't Download this Song" - 2006 'Don't Download the Song' is a comedy song which captur...

"A Portrait of Tex Avery" "Frederick Bean "Tex" Avery (February 26, 1908 – August 26, 1980) was an American animator and director, known for producing and directing animated cartoons during the golden age of American animation. His most significant work was for the Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, where he was crucial in the creation and evolution of famous animated characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Droopy, Screwy Squirrel, George and Junior, and Chilly Willy." - Wikipedia

"Wish List" by Directed and animated by Andrew Griffin with illustrations by Scott Garrett, Wish List is funny, quirky and a bit dark in places.

"The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore" by William Joyce & Brandon Oldenburg “Mr. Morris Lessmore" was awarded the Oscar® for Best Animated Short Film in the 84th Academy Awards® in 2012. Inspired in equal measures, by Hurricane Katrina, Buster Keaton, The Wizard of Oz, and a love for books, "Morris Lessmore" is a story of people who devote their lives to books and books who return the favor. The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is a poignant, humorous allegory about the curative powers of story. Using a variety of techniques (miniatures, computer animation, 2D animation), award-winning author/illustrator William Joyce and Co-director Brandon Oldenburg present a hybrid style of animation that harkens back to silent films and M-G-M Technicolor musicals. The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is old-fashioned and cutting edge at the same time.

Peter Ellenshaw - Matte Painter and VFX Pioneer (Documentary) by VFX Geek Peter Ellensaw started work at Walt Disney Studios beginning with their first completely live action feature film, Treasure Island (1950). He went on to work on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) and Mary Poppins (1964), for which he won an Academy Award. He retired after his work on The Black Hole (1979), but contributed matte paintings for Dick Tracy (1990). His son Harrison is also an Academy Award-winning effects designer. After Peter Ellenshaw retired from the film business, he dedicated his life to his passion for painting. Numerous works were created, of both Disney and non-Disney themed subjects, which have been highly collected. He was named a Disney Legend in 1993.

"Space Stallions" by Graduates from the Animation Workshop, Denmark "As darkness is covering the multiverse, far away in the galaxy of the wild stallion, a spark of hope is born. Guided by the light of Mother Mustang, the Space Stallions must defeat the Demon of darkness, Destructo." Created in 2012 as a graduation film by students at the Animation Workshop, Denmark, Space Stallions is a beautifully observed parody of 1980s animation as exemplified by He-Man and She-Ra (see below).

"A collection of funny (very) short films made by Birdbox Studios for the BBC" "Pub Dog" "Carwash" "Olives" "Mower" "Plane"

"How South Park Mastered The Art of Doing Things the Wrong Way" by Nerdstalgic The best South Park episodes are still just as funny and relevant as they were the day they were made. Cartman, Kyle, Kenny and Stan have given television some of its most memorable moments. Yet its the absurdity of what goes into South Park that has kept the show interesting for so long. This is a look at how South Park has survived for over 20 years! Two things, one, a great look at the behind the scenes stuff is the doc 6 days to air, and two, most of the content here does not pertained to the fully serialized seasons. "The Making of South Park: 6 Days to Air" **WARNING CONTAINS ADULT CONTENT** A documentary filmed in 2011 showing the infamous 6 day turnaround for a South Park episode. On day one nothing exists. no script, sound, or animation. However, by day six a fully animated film is delivered to the network for air. Love or hate South Par...

"Mother" by Frabrice Le Nezet Designed and Directed by Fabrice Le Nezet Character Animation: Benjamin Mousquet Sound: Raphael Azel Martinez

"What is UPA Style?" United Productions of America, better known as UPA, was an American animation studio active from the 1940s through the 1970s. UPA pioneered the technique of limited animation. Although this style of animation came to be widely used in the 1960s and 1970s as a cost-cutting measure, it was originally intended as a stylistic alternative to the growing trend (particularly at Disney) of recreating cinematic realism in animated films. The three films below by the Royal Ocean Film Society explores the world, the style, and rise and fall or UPA. Not to mention its lasting impact on animation and character design.

"Smell-O-Vision, and Other Glorious Gimmicks" by The Royal Ocean Film Society At its purest, the theatrical experience has always consisted of an individual sitting down in a dark theater watching a bright screen and nothing else, however for many years there have been those who've tried adding onto that experience in wild, obnoxious, or just plain goofy ways. Let's dive into the gloriously hammy world of film gimmicks.

Professor Simon Schama explores the life and work of the art world's most inspiring figures. Born in Naples, Bernini was an exceptional talent from an early age and went on to dominate the art world of 17th century Rome. His work epitomised the Baroque style and his sculpture, church interiors and exteriors and town planning could be seen everywhere. Simon Schama's power of art. Bernini Watch this if you have even a passing interest in sculpture, the animation and life that Bernini captures in his work is peerless, the passion and verve that he exhibits in his life is evident as he breathes life into marble. Let us know what you thought of his work in the comments below, does his work have any relevance to the world today or is it a product of an earlier time?

"The Wishgranter" by Kal Athannassov, John McDonald, & Echo Wu CGI 3D Animated Short Film The Wishgranter by Kal Athannassov, John McDonald, Echo Wu. Set in a world where wishes are granted by mythical beings that live under fountains, an apathetic wish granter is forced to go above ground to grant a wish of love.

"Star Wars - Episode IV Sound Design Explained by Ben Burtt" by In-depth Sound Design Legendary sound designer Ben Burtt (Lucasfilm, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and more) explains how he 'found' the iconic sounds for Star Wars from the world around him.

So, carrying on with the eStream goodness an excellent resource for budding creature designers is  Guillermo de  Toro's directorial masterpiece  Pan's Labyrinth  . Essentially an a dult fairytale, set in 1944 Spain, about an 11-year-old girl with a brutal stepfather who is drawn into a magical world of mythical beings. Pan's Labyrinth still stands up to scrutiny in a genre where the special effects can quickly date. How well do think Del Toro captured this "other" world of magic and paganism? What other themes is Del Toro exploring here?

"All 50+ Adobe Apps Explained in 10 Minutes" by Humtog "Adobe makes so many software that it can be quite overwhelming for even a professional to understand what each one is used for. Many people who are new to this have confusing questions regarding similar apps like "what is difference between after effects and premier pro" or "What is the difference between Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom and Bridge". So, I made this video to quickly give you an overview of all adobe products as I couldn’t find a similar guide anywhere else, not even in Adobe’s own website. I hope it helps anyone entering the creative fields to get a sense of different apps. - Humtog"

As some of you may be aware UCA has an E-Streaming service that stocks a wide range of material for your viewing pleasure, this is an audio visual equivalent of the e-books available via the library and is also accessible through the library portal. https://estream.ucreative.ac.uk/View.aspx?ID=2647~4t~UXIPjzBI&msauth=1 I would encourage you to watch Children of Men , directed by Alfonso Cuaron and starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Michael Caine amongst others. Take aways from this film are the ruthless storytelling (I won't give away any spoilers), the cinematography and use of long takes and the way that our familiar world is distorted to create a dystopian near future. Post your thoughts about the film in the comments below, how relevant are the themes covered? Do you think the cinematography and art direction captures the feel of a dystopian Britain?

"A collection of funny (very) short films made by Birdbox Studios" "I'll Get the Ice Creams" "Duel" "Guard" "Chop Chop"

"Drawing Hands Detached from the Body" by Aaron Blaise Sometimes coming up with a clear character pose is difficult. Here is a trick to help you find your poses more quickly. Leave the arms off! Taken from his Youtube profile ( The Art of Aaron Blaise ) - "Aaron Blaise is an animation feature film director and wildlife artist. For 21 years Aaron worked with Disney helping to create some of the greatest animated films ever made. During that time he worked as an animator or supervising animator on "The Rescuers Down Under", "Beauty and the Beast", "Aladdin", "The Lion King", "Pocahontas", "Mulan" and more. In 2003 he was co-director of "Brother Bear" for which he earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film. After "Brother Bear" he helped to develop several projects but ultimately left Disney to pursue an opportunity back home in Florida. Aaron recently served as 2D Anim...

"The Race to the Bottom: What's the Story Behind Bad CGI?" by Bessie Yuill. 2020 In the wake of a string of visual effects disasters, such as ‘Cats’, ‘The Call of the Wild’ and ‘Dolittle’, Bessie Yuill investigates the highly skilled, over-worked life of a VFX artist. - Some (very short) extracts are included below but I recommend you read the full article - link here. "Cats was one of the most talked-about disasters of 2019 – especially in terms of its visual effects. Tom Hooper’s movie musical was rushed into cinemas with dubiously attached tails, Judi Dench’s visible wedding ring, and unsettling “digital fur technology”. Critics across the globe rushed to point out the errors, which only made the film feel more like a bizarre collective hallucination." "As for what he ( Joe Pavlo, Chair of the Animation and VFX Union branch at BECTU) thinks is behind sloppy CGI and bad working conditions (see below), he says that visual effects are “kind of late ...

"Coin Operated" by Two Ghosts "Coin Operated" is an award-winning 5 minute animated short film that spans 70 years in the life of one naive explorer. This film was proudly made by independent artists.

"How MacGuffins Can Ruin Movies" by Just Write MacGuffins are ubiquitous in Hollywood blockbusters, and are often the root cause of overly simplistic storytelling. In this episode, I take a look at the pitfalls of using this narrative device, as well as 5 ways to make this trope more interesting, unique and effective.

"The Adventures of Indiana Jones" by Patrick Schoenmaker "Famous archaeologist Dr. Indiana Jones is on a quest of a lifetime, but this time he is fully animated in this passion project by life long fan and artist Patrick Schoenmaker. Over the course of 5 years, he has crafted the opening sequence of what would be the tv series to make all other tv shows redundant: "The Adventures of Indiana Jones"!" As mentioned above this film was hand-crafted by Patrick Schoemaker over the course of 5 years (amazing!). Below is a selection of pre-production and production work, including clay scutlptures. You can take a look at more of Patrick's work on his website and blog - http://www.patrickschoenmaker.com/2016/09/

Minoru Takeyama in a name that many of you will probable have no knowledge of, yet his influence has imparted itself on Tokyo's cultural skyline.His use of strong geometric volumes combined with playful bold graphical treatments form the backdrop for the Shibuya and Shinjuku districts of Tokyo.  Educated in Japan and the USA, he worked with, among others, Harrison & Abramovitz, Arne Jacobsen, H. Larsen, Sert, and Utzon. He established his reputation with certain buildings incorporating aspects of popular culture in his designs, becoming a member of ArchiteXt in 1971, and developing an interest in architecture as a system of signs and language. His most highly acclaimed buildings were the populist Ichiban-kan and Niban-kan, Tokyo (1969–70), the ‘Renaissance’ Cultural and Commercial Complex, Kyoto (1983–6), and Tokyo International Port Terminal Building  (1989–91).

" "The Life and Death of 3D" by The Royal Ocean Film Society The Royal Ocean Film Society explores the history of trying to make the movie going experience 3D (Stereography) and the latest attempt and decline.

"No More Questions!" by StoryCorps Kay Wang was a strong-willed grandmother who was reluctantly taken to a StoryCorps booth by her son and granddaughter. Though Kay resisted, she still had stories to tell—from disobeying her mother and rebuffing suitors while growing up in China to late-life adventures as a detective for Bloomingdale's department store. Kay passed away just weeks after that interview, and her son and granddaughter returned to StoryCorps to remember her gentler side, which she kept to herself.

To keep all your jolly little fingers in the designing pie I thought I would come up with a series of challenges to keep you in a creative head-space. The first series of these will be a creature design challenge where you will be asked to splice three critters together to create a new hybrid. The first years and I did this at the beginning of lock-down and they seemed to enjoy the process, so I thought I would resurrect the idea to kick of these challenges. Jess Crosby, Mountain Goat/ Hamster/ Monkey Kim Davis, Panda/Armadillo/ Flamingo Jasmine Masters, Bear/ Elephant/Common Loon I will start the process by choosing 3 animals then it is up to you peeps, in the comments section post a choice of animals for the next weeks challenge and I will randomly select 3 to mash together, you can choose more than one. So Your animals for this week are: Lionfish Mexican Red Kneed Tarantula Malayan Tapir Good Luck and have fun with it, y...