3D

Harry by Sam Jones

Written by andy 9th September 2009, 9:09am

Posted in: 2D, 3D, Reviews

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Bad hair day? Well unless you have a giant scribbly pom-pom of orange hair like Harry, I’d count your blessings. Sam Jones’s “Harry” is a short animation telling the story of a boy and his massive, unruly, orange hair. Everything gets tangled in this mop, from hedgehogs to footballs, and people recoil from it in fear when it approaches.

Sam uses a nice mixture of stylish flats, cut out and placed in a 3D space. The short has a sort of abstract pop up book feel about it which is appealing. I particularly like the transitions between scenes.

If you like the feel good funkiness of this animated short, you’ll love Sam Jones’ portfolio site. There’s a floating penguin, a selection of more design and animation work, and a purple knitted dinosaur who goes “ROOOOAR”. Bliss.

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Ugly Love

Written by andy 2nd September 2009, 11:09am

Posted in: 3D, Reviews

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SPOILER: La La Lah, it’s a lovely day, look at the cardboard clouds. I am a cute deer with my cute doe. Everything is peachy. Oh what’s that on the ground? Holy crud my face! There’s a metal thing on my ever-so-cute-deer-face! And now my eyeball has popped out of its face-hole. Hey where’s my doe? Hey babe, you’ll never guess what happened…where are you going? Is it the blood-drenched dangling eyeball?…

This piece of animated animalia was Created by Jane Ashby, using painted cardboard, collage and toy-like animated animals. It has a nice, stagey, constructed feel about it. I just hope it isn’t autobiographical.

You’ll find more animal mal de vivre in ‘Panda Love’ and other animated goodies on Jane Ashby’s website.

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Interview with Anna Fitzsimons

Written by madevi 20th August 2009, 2:08pm

Posted in: 3D, Channel 4, Comedy, Commissions, Festivals, Interviews, Reviews

Another week, another 4mations director interview…

This week we catch up with Anna Fitzimons, who is working on The Life, Death and Suffer Story, a sort of mock tragedy that introduces us to Verity Burns, a lonely girl suffering the madness of a broken heart.

The Life, Death, and Suffer Story

You’re working on a mock tragedy. Is this Antigone meets The Office?

Ha! No, not quite, but maybe a little, the difference being that Verity is wallowing in self pity (between fits of pique and glimpses of optimism) rather than struggling against some kind of greater force for a noble cause.
Read the rest of this entry »

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Photocopier by Frank Mansfield

Written by madevi 13th August 2009, 2:08pm

Posted in: 3D, Reviews

Warning! This video contains very strong language

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I am sitting in my office, in a post-lunch stupor, desperately trying to string two sentences together. The blaring sound of apocalyptic drum music (oh, Edinburgh Festival, how I love thee and thy seasonal influx of poi-wielding minstrel mime artists) is further contributing to my quiet desperation. Should I reach for the biscuit tin? Sob on the toilet floor? Photocopy my face?

It’s hard not to feel some sort of creepy compassion for the office junior in  Frank Mansfield’s Photocopier. It’s described as the “tragic love story of one office junior and his photocopier - like Romeo and Juliet, only with toner”. Putting the slightly overzealous narration aside, I enjoyed the simplicity of this short. The zombie-eyed, paper thin characters look distinctly uncomfortable in their claustrophobic 3D world.  There’s not much light, or relief, to be found there.

Check out the director’s site for more examples of his work.

You’ll be glad to hear we’re leaving the office tomorrow to peruse the gaming wonderland of Dare to be Digital Protoplay.
See you there? The toner’s on me.

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3D is a fad - You don’t impress me with your extra dimension

Written by andy 23rd July 2009, 9:07am

Posted in: 3D, Random thoughts

3d

You probably noticed, everything is 3D these days. I don’t mean, you or your coffee cup or that half eaten sandwich on your desk. They’ve always been 3D. I mean let’s go to the movies, get your plastic specs on and check out the extra dimension.

3D is the latest in a long line of fancy-shiny-things in the battle betwixt  your telly and cinema. The cinemas enticed us with wide-wide-screens, ear-bleedingly loud surround sounds and big-super-extra-giant-bucket sized cups. Sure, you can drink out of a bucket at home but so far the EXTRA DIMENSION is only available at the movies. But is it any good?
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Furnik by David Suroviec

Written by andy 22nd July 2009, 8:07am

Posted in: 3D, Comedy

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This is sweet and such a simple idea. This curious monster is instantly lovable thanks to lively acting and movement. You’re hooked by his comical inquisitiveness and drawn in to his world.

This is great timing in action and a mini comedy diamond.

Another ace entry to our summer competition from director David Suroviec. Submit now for a chance to win a copy of Toon Boom!

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Blip

Written by madevi 9th July 2009, 1:07pm

Posted in: 3D, Reviews

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Some days, things just don’t work out the way you want them to. Say you’re an alien, and you shoot lasers out of your eye, and you’re feeling pretty smug about it. Say another alien comes along, and HE can shoot lasers out of his eyes, and this is getting in the way of you taking over a planet. You’d be pretty bummed out, right?

Well, bummed out is how I feel.
I’ve been writing this review all morning.  I’ve  griped about the “overbearing music”, while admiring the “quirky and convincing character design”. I’ve used phrases like “economic but sophisticated”, “tactile plasticity”, and “fine sense of timing and rhythm”.

All true, all ridiculous.

So, let’s make this simple:
Sean Mullen and Ben Harper , two students at the Irish School of Animation, have sent us this very good, inventive little film.

It has aliens in it. They shoot lasers out of their eyes. It looks ace. Watch it now.

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On the Level

Written by andy 3rd July 2009, 8:07am

Posted in: 3D, Comedy

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They must be putting something in the water over at Ringling College of Art and Design. “On the Level” is about a guy who just wants to hang his picture level and he’s willing to take things to the extreme to achieve this modest goal. Rutter does a good job of building the story up to its climax. The look is classic and the backgrounds details give a real sense of place, but this is really a character study. The only character here, an old chap, is wonderful. Great character design, the expressions on his face and the way he uses his body, tell the story. There is real variety and humour here. Great work.

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Monotone - a short film about love and identity

Written by andy 18th June 2009, 6:06pm

Posted in: 2D, 3D, Reviews

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Monotone, by Alex Donne Johnson

This is a short film about a cute little speaker-faced dude and his search for acceptance in a musical world. The director’s claim that “Monotone is a story of love and identity which tackles broader issues of taste, subcultures and a desire for acceptance ” might be a bit much as, thankfully “Monotone” isn’t at all heavy-handed. It does not contain any earth shattering insights but it’s nicely done and it does have charm. Dance little speaker guy, dance!

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Cat’s Meow

Written by andy 17th June 2009, 1:06pm

Posted in: 3D, Comedy, Reviews

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“Cat’s Meow” A short film by Jorge “Jay” Garcia - Ringling College of Art and Design

Wow. This has it all: great animation, great design, and a battle of wills between man and beast (And by beast, I mean cat-beast!) and it’s actually funny.

Everything in this film looks good, including backgrounds and props, from the telephone to the stereo. From the picture frames to a bunch of flowers, every item tells a story that creates that magical sense of place. The character designs actually have real character: you know who they are the moment you look at them. Even though it’s 3D it has that classic cartoon quality of a Tom & Jerry or a Road Runner. I don’t make this comparison lightly, there’s real life in these characters. A winner. Jorge “Jay” Garcia we salute you.

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