animation
Sand and other fluid animation
Kseniya Simonova created a sensation in last year’s Ukraine’s Got Talent with her sand animations. I think my mum will like this one.
In terms of creating story through such fluid re-drawing and re-framing, I draw connections to Terra Prenyada (The Pregnant Earth) by the master puppeteer and Spanish artist, Joan Baixas, and to the wonderful work of William Kentridge. MoMA’s present Kentridge exhibition website offers much to explore.
Peter and the Wolf stopmotion animation
Suzie Templeton’s animated short of Peter and the Wolf has, among other things, the most gorgeous and engaging Indian Runner duck. My pet ducks are Runners, and I just love them. Be warned, though, Peter’s one doesn’t make it…
The other three parts follow at YouTube. The film won an Academy Award in 2008 for Best Animated Short Film and is based on the 1936 composition of Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev. I found a little bit info about the puppets at Pollystaffle.
(Via Espaço das Marionet@s)
Behind the scenes: Fantastic Mr. Fox
Here are two behind-the-scenes video clips from the makers of the Fantastic Mr Fox movie, showing more of the puppet making, among other things. In the first, Roald Dahl’s wife Felicity thinks he would have loved it.
Previously: Fantastic Mr Fox trailer
Fantastic Mr. Fox movie: first pictures of puppets
Roald Dahl’s great story Fantastic Mr. Fox is being adapted for the big screen using stop-motion animation. Some early glimpses of the puppets have been released, and the trailer will be out at the end of the month. (Update: here it is). More details about the production at USA Today. As usual I am anxious about how it will be interpreted!
First glimpse of animation adaptation of Shaun Tan’s The Lost Thing
InFrame.tv has produced a great 5 minute documentary with Shaun Tan which offers an introductory glimpse at the work-in-progress on his short animated adaptation of The Lost Thing. It includes little (unfinished) animation clips, and aspects of designing and directing the work. On his website Shaun also writes about his involvement and includes some interesting new sketches and models. I noted the film in 2005, so it is exciting that it is expected to be finished this August!
The film, by Passion Pictures, will be 15 minutes long, and uses CGI with 2D handpainted elements. I’m interested in the comments about achieving rich textures, as they are so much part of the illustrations, and CGI is often so disappointingly smooth and shiny.
I’m happy to see a new book, too: Tales from Outer Suburbia.
I worked on the puppets for Jigsaw Theatre Company’s production of The Lost Thing a few years ago, so you will find numerous related previous posts here:
Also: The Lost Thing website
Lull
Andrew Bird – Lull (daytrotter version): cool music, interesting shadow puppetry and animation.
(via Loobylu Tumbles)
The Lost Tribes of NYC
For those of us with a love of pareidolia, a cool short film called The Lost Tribes of New York City by London Squared Productions.
(via Laughing Squid)
Another advance in lifelike CGI
This woman is a computer generated animation by Image Metrics. Pretty amazing. Though I do wonder if being able to reproduce a real person like this is a good use of time and resources? The Times Online has more details. The makers say 90% of the work is in convincing people that the eyes are real, lending even more weight to what puppet makers and lovers know about the eyes being the window to the soul.
Previously: Uncanny Valley
