Disney/Pixar's UP

When I first saw previews for Pixar's newest film "UP" I was not all that excited to go see it. The idea of a house being carried by thousands of helium balloons is pretty far-fetched. And yes, I know it's a cartoon they can get away with it, but it turned me off. The previews did not show much of the character's personalities besides a grumpy old man and a small boy scout type boy.

Well today was my wife's birthday and she wanted to go see a movie. She chose UP and I didn't have any problem with that. I was surprisingly interested to see what it was really about. Pixar has been cranking out films that have all been big hits and I've been waiting for a flop. This definitely wasn't it.

UP is excellent. It is not Pixar's most polished film. Wall-E was a visual feast for the eyes in the beginning of the film with its realism and a design wonderland on the Axiom later. UP is a different kind of beautiful. First, everything begins with a great story. Pixar has emphasized the importance of story and it is what keeps their films on the top. The visual beauty is just icing on the cake. UP's story begins with Carl Fredricksen as a boy. His childhood imagination latches onto a specific adventurer who searches for an elusive monster in the wilderness of South America. He becomes friends with a young girl his age, Ellie, you shares his adventuring hobby. They make a pact to one day go to South America. In a heart-wrenching montage, the lives of Carl and Ellie pass before our eyes. They become old and without ever completing their dream. Ellie becomes ill and passes away, leaving Carl alone. The true movie is between Carl and the memory of Ellie in his heart. Even though he travels in his house, lifted by balloons, the movie is mostly internal.

The visuals of the film take a step back from Wall-E's realism and look a lot like character's from the Incredible's universe. But the imagery is still beautiful. The shots of the house flying in the clouds are complemented by a wonderful score by Michael Giacchino.

I really enjoyed this film. "It's the boring things that you remember most."
Take a look at the trailers:

Teaser Trailer
Trailer

Go here to view special UP-isodes.

At CNet, there is an article about how Pixar animated thousands of balloons.
CNN has an article talking about the secret to Pixar's success: Their people.

This film is a mish mash of many things. There are some ridiculous events that are funny, but in no way plausible, like getting to South America in a night or even the house lifted by balloons! But these things are easily overlooked when you become emotionally attached with the characters. The talking dogs piloting small fighter planes was also a stretch bu funny. My screenwriting teacher would question many of the motivations in this movie, saying that their motivation was not strong enough to cause them to do what they did. I say they were. If they weren't we wouldn't have a film. A hilarious addition to the cast is Dug the dog. He is funny because he is so true to how we see dogs. My wife really enjoyed the quote: "I hid under the porch because I love you."

I won't say too much more, but I urge anyone to go see this film. It is excellent. Pixar is still going strong. Be prepared to laugh and cry. If you are married, this film is a real tearjerker.

9

Okay, so I am really stoked about the new film 9 by Shane Acker. I remember seeing his short film "9" that sparked the feature film. I think I saw it when I attended the 3rd Animation Show in Detroit. Anyways, after seeing two trailers I've become very interested in the film.

Please view them for yourself:

Trailer 1
Trailer 2

The trailers are very good. I love the music in them and the imagery shown is very graphic, showing some of the characters being drained of their life. I love it. It's going to be hard waiting until September to see this movie, but I will definitely be going to see it in the theater.

Check out production drawings, storyboards and an interview with director Shane Acker here: Interview

Also check out Shane Acker's site.

The original short has become very hard to find and I am hoping that when the feature 9 is released on DVD the short will be included.

Independent Animators in History

Suzan Pitt was a painter that fell into animation. Her painterly skills are shown throughout this film:
ASPARAGUS


Joanna Priestly - her website
VOICES


Bill Plympton is one of the most known independent animators. His work was frequently played on MTV and he continues to create a large library of work. Plymptoons website
LEARN TO KISS


25 WAYS TO QUIT SMOKING

25 Ways To Quit Smoking - More free videos are here

Don Hertzfeldt has become one of the most popular contemporary independent animators. His style is very simple but he puts a large amount of work into creating the specific look and timing that is in his work. He works with no digital equipment and shoots his films analogue. HE also is a big stickler for viewing the films in the highest quality possible and really hates that people watch them online. So HERE YOU GO!
BILLY'S BALLOON


REJECTED CARTOONS


William Kentridge is a fine artist and his work is considered so. Doing his animations in charcoal and editing the same picture over and over, a ghost image remains from the path of moving objects. It is very hard to view his work outside of a museum or art gallery since this is the only way he chooses them to be seen and experienced. You can catch some clips of his work on YouTube if you like.


Yuri Norstein is a Russian animator who does beautiful work with cut out animation. He is currently having trouble finding someone to finance his films since the fall of the Soviet Union.
TALES OF TALES

Stop Motion History.

Lets look through some clips for the history of Stop Motion!!!

This film, The Cameraman's Revenge, was the first character stop motion animation. It was made by Ladislas Starewitch, who was fascinated by bugs. In trying to capture the mating rituals of bugs, he found it difficult, since when ever he turned on the light, the bugs would just scurry away. So he produced this system of moving dead bugs to make his own tales and stories.
THE CAMERAMAN'S REVENGE


Next came Willis O'Brien. His independent films did not succeed due to unimaginative gags and story, but the technique was beautiful. This led him into the special effects business for Hollywood films. He is the man who made King Kong live.
KING KONG


This next film was also credited to Willis O'Brien, but is mostly the work of O'Brien's talented Pupil, Ray Harryhousen.
MIGHTY JOE YOUNG


Ray Harryhousen has a wildly imaginative talent that led to some great Sci-Fi classics. Here is some clips of his work from the various movies he has immortalized. He considers himself more of a technician than an artist.
RAY HARRYHOUSEN CLIPS


Jiri Trnka was a Czechoslovakian animator. His Junior High art teacher was one of the last great puppeteers left in the world, and Jiri was greatly influenced by this. Check out the beautiful wooden puppets in this film.
THE HAND - PART 1


THE HAND - PART 2


Jan Svankmajer produced his animations with found objects, rather that manufacturing puppets to animate. This sometimes disgusting and gritty approach creates a very unique quality to his work.
MEAT LOVE


DIMENSIONS OF DIALOGUE - PART 1


DIMENSIONS OF DIALOGUE - PART 2


Greatly influenced by Svankmajer's aesthetic, the Brothers Quay step into the spotlight with utterly beautiful and disturbing set design and characters. Unlike Svankmajer, there is no humor to balance out the disturbing imagery.
THE STREET OF CROCODILE

Watch 19. Street of Crocodiles (Timothy & Stephen Quay, 1986) in

Fall 2009 Class Schedule

26-2075 01 Digital Aniamtion Techniques I, S. Perkins, Monday 9a - 11:50a

26-3050 01 Acting for Animators, F. Maugeri, Monday 3:30p - 6:20p

26-2030 02 Stop-Motion Animation, D. Crisanti, Monday 6:30p - 9:20p

26-2010 01 Animation Camera & Sound, B. Young, Wednesday 9a - 11:50a

51-1330 03 Japanese I, B. Traczyk, Monday & Wednesday 1p - 2:50p

I am really excited for these classes. I know I will have fun in Frank Maugeri's Acting for Animators class. In Camera & Sound is where we learn timing on dope sheets and start dealing with sound and lip sync. 

More Animation History Clips

Here are a few more clips from Censorship, racism, and WWII week:
This is just a good Felix cartoon. Love the caricatures in it.

FELIX THE CAT IN HOLLYWOOD


Here's a WWII clip. These SNAFU cartoons were made by Leon Schlesinger and the gang who made Looney Tunes. They were headed off by the government, specifically Frank Capra!

PRIVATE SNAFU - SPIES

Dr. Suess wrote this! Can you guess who's voice Snafu's is copying?

This is one of the best Looney Tunes ever in my opinion. Chuck Jones and Michael Maltese combo was awesome. This was the first tune that change Daffy from crazy to cynical.

RABBIT FIRE


RABBIT SEASONINGS


DUCK RABBIT DUCK


WWII Bugs Bunny cartoon.... WOW

BUGS BUNNY NIPS THE NIPS


A Walter Lantz cartoon (Woody Woodpecker creator) He was really ragged on when they tried to redistribute this cartoon.

SCRUB ME MAMMA WITH THAT BOOGIE BEAT


This short by Bob Clampett is a little easier to watch since it is mixed with Jazz and has some war reference.

Coal Black And De Sebben Dwarfs

UPA style

Well, the Midterm Exam for Animation History was on Monday. I think I did fairly well. Before the midterm we had lecture on UPA. Pretty simply stuff, literally. Watched Hellbent for Election by Chuck Jones, the first Mr. Magoo, Gerald McBoing Boing, and this Yugoslavian UPA style cartoon which was... interesting. Enjoy:


HELLBENT FOR ELECTION PART 1


HELLBENT FOR ELECTION PART 2

Yes, the train had FDR's face


MR. MAGOO in THE RAGTIME BEAR

1949-Mr.Magoo - Ragtime Bear
Uploaded by iToons

GERALD MCBOING BOING

Yes, Dr. Suess is in the credits


SUROGAT by ZAGREB



Well that is the interesting stuff to date. I am hoping to post some of my Drawing for Animation work up soon.