Computer Animation Arts

So the trailer for the upcoming Charlie Brown and Snoopy film doesn't look as bad after all. Take a look at how the CG animators kept the aesthetics of the original comic book strip   here  for a frame to frame analysis.  

Andrew Wheeler @ Comics Alliance outlines 10 'diversity resolutions' he'd like to see Marvel et al take up and run with in 2014 - including my personal favourite, 'sexy costume equality'...  Read the full list here .

"The New York Times broke news today of a new solo superhero title launching from Marvel early next year — and this one comes as a welcome change of pace for readers who want to see more diversity in their super-books. Ms Marvel #1, from writer G. Willow Wilson (Cairo) and artist Adrian Alphona (Runaways), introduces the world to the young Muslim woman who takes on the mantle of Ms. Marvel formerly held by Carol Danvers, the current Captain Marvel. The new Ms. Marvel will be the first Muslim character to get her own ongoing solo series at Marvel, one of a growing number of female solo leads, and the only person of color headlining a solo book." Read the complete article here .

"Marvel has done excellent work expanding its stable of gay and bisexual characters and giving them a share of attention. It can’t currently match DC in claiming an LGBT character with their own ongoing title (Batwoman), but it can boast a greater number of recurring lesbian, gay and bisexual superheroes, especially in supporting roles, especially in its X-Men family of titles. (Neither company has much to crow about when it comes to transgender heroes.)  Yet I still worry that these characters are too disposable. There are three male “power” couples in Marvel right now, and all three appear to be under threat..."   Read more of Andrew Wheeler's article on the fate and future of LGBT comic book characters over at Comic Alliance here.

"After 72 years of tackling supervillains as a straight man, DC Comics's magical-ring-wearing superhero the Green Lantern, one of the publisher's oldest and most established characters, is set to be reintroduced as gay."    The Guardian Yes, after much speculation that Batman was about to disclose his real feelings for Robin, or that it was more than just her Jetplane Wonder Woman was keeping invisible, it's DC's Alan Scott who is putting the green colour into the rainbow flag of the LGBT community.  Yes - the Green Lantern has turned pink, but he's not  unique in terms of gay superheroes.  In the Marvel universe, X-man Northstar just married his boyfriend in a superhero gay-wedding , and way back in 2006, Batwoman aka Katherine Kane came out as a lesbian.    Inevitably, not everyone is happy at this queering of the superhumans' patch.  The Christian mothers group One Million Moms responded, "Why do adul...

RON EMBLETON (1930-1988) British comics artist and illustrator, works include Stingray and Captain Scarlet concept artwork and the Wicked Wanda cartoons for Penthouse as well as hundreds of illustrations for children’s books in the 60s and 70s. These images are from his many fairy tale illustrations, its worth looking at the actual books as the image quality does not do them justice.

Describing itself as a 'neverending celebration of monsters', the Monster Brains blog might be the perfect place for a newly gene-spliced CGAA first year to find some further inspiration for their own transformations and ample evidence of the enduring cultural appeal of human metamorphosis and cross-species hybridisation...

Some of you may not be familiar with Dave Stevens ' retro comic book character, The Rocketeer , and those that are no doubt recall the 1991 movie adaptation (see trailer) directed by Joe Johnstone , and with a score by James Horner . Filmmaker John Banana is a big fan, and his Pixar -esque tribute is featured here. It's cute and feels like a bid for a new cg adaptation or television series.

... and suddenly Chris Foss's 'tropical fish meets sci-fi' aesthetic doesn't seem quite so startling! Introducing the wonderful illustrations and cover art of Frank R. Paul. "Frank R. Paul was born in Vienna, Austria on April 18, 1884. He died on June 29, 1963 in Teaneck, New Jersey. Known as the "Dean of Science Fiction" he illustrated hundreds of pulp magazine covers & interior illustrations. Born in Austria he studied art in Vienna, Paris & then New York City. He began working for Gernsback Publications doing covers & technical drawings for Gernsback's Electrical Experimenter (later Science & Invention), Radio News & others. He was the natural choice for the covers of Amazing Stories in 1926 & became known as the pre-imminent sf artist of the time, igniting the imagination of many including Al Feldstein who would go on to write, illustrate & edit Weird Science & Weird Fantasy in the 1950's. Paul p...