LAIKA ONLY TO DO STOP MOTION!!!!!

Hello all.

Well just found this small article posted over at Cartoonbrew.com stating that Laika has decided to scrap making any CG features to focus on producing stop motion features. WHA!!!! Thats AWESOME!!! Don't get me wrong, but I feel terrible for the several talented CG artist that were laid off, but hopefully this will open up the doors for up any up and coming stop motion artist to get their foot in the door.

Considering the specialization of the field, as well as its tight knit community, I hope the studio will use this move to offer up chances for newbies to start their new life as stop motion animators and artist. I for one and super excited about this news, and hope to get the opportunity to work with Laika in the future.

You can read the full article here: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/stop-motion/laika-cuts-computer-animation-staff.html

Lets take a Ride in an Electric Car!!!!

Well, I was browsing the motionographer.com and they posted a really interesting stop motion style video. Its for a song by They Might be Giants, and the animation was created by Tiny Inventions. Very fun little video using what appear to be found objects and recycled materials to further promote going green. Love the idea and the concept. Looks like most of the character animation was done in After Effects, which in and of itself is a pretty hardcore program.

Well, here is the video, I hope you enjoy. Be sure to watch the making of vid too...shows a ton about how they created the video.

La Nostalgia del Sr. Alambre

La Nostalgia del Sr. Alambre from Jonathan Ostos Yaber on Vimeo.

So I got this tweet from Marc over at animateclay.com about this new stop mo festival film thats going around called La Nostalgia del Sr. Alambre (I have no idea what it means). Anyhoo... It uses stop motion puppets and 3D sets and backgrounds. Not only that, but it uses many other forms of animation to convey the story as well(2d, shadow/silhouette puppetry).

I love the design of the characters, and I'm pretty please with the CG backgrounds. I think it makes the film somewhat of a treat for the eye. Will be very interested in seeing this film dubbed or sub titled.

**UPDATE** I was sent a message from the animations Director Jonathan Ostos Yaber and he supplied me a direct link to the trailer for the film.

Thanks Jonathan for the information!!!

Romance

Here are some puppets I created for a short film for the 48hr Jacksonville Film Festival. For the time I had to make them, I think they turned out fairly well, but as always, much room for improvement. Enjoy!!!

Here are the puppets in action too!!!

Oldie but a Goodie!

I was searching through the interweb when I remembered one of the first found object stop motion projects that I screened. The title was Mr. Resistor. It was done by Mark Gustafson at Will Vinton Studios. A very strange but interestingly funny piece. Fun and clever little animation. Just thought I would share it with you.

** Side note, this is what partially inspired a film Hanna Bliss and myself created entitled "The Yard".**

Stop Motion Workshop

Soooo.... I will be hosting at Stop Motion workshop for my School, the Art Institute of Jacksonville later this month. Its gonna feature a puppet fabrication workshop on one day, and then an animation workshop on the following day. SUPER EXCITING!!!!

Another STOP MOTION FEATURE!!!!

@ Yahoo! Video

Very different from anything we've seen in recent years. I will be one of the first in line to see it, but I am not sure what I think about it. I love the fact it has the traditional characteristics of old school stop motion, but will the style hold up as a feature? Thought?

Playing around with Flash and Illustrator....

I AM ALIVE!!!! Sorry I haven't posted in FOREVER, but I have been busy working at my new job as a college prof, so I've been keeping busy. So A friend of mine sent me a link to this animation tutorial, so I thought I'd play around with and see what developed. So here is the result. I created two characters as well as a bloo character in the style of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. Then created a quick background in Illustrator. Fun with Flash!!!


Playing in flash from boaktree on Vimeo.