Posts Tagged ‘2D’

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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Throw Me To The Rats

Written by madevi 27th August 2009, 11:08am

Posted in: 2D, Reviews

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You don’t fool me, Ratatouille. Oh sure, you may look all plump and cute, with your soft glossy fur, teeny tiny paws and uncanny dexterity with a wooden spoon, but I know where you been at, punk. Sewers. That’s where. Dark stinky sewers, and the dark recesses of the night, when I hear you scuttling, scuttling endlessly, worrying away at my sanity…

Clearly rats are up to no good, and nowhere more so than in this video. Rats are dancing suspiciously. Rats are being taunted by a matador. One rat is messing , threateningly, with a cog. All of this set in a riotous theatrical set of detailed cut-out puppets, live-action, and plenty of behind-the-scenes compositing. Alasdair Brotherston, who directed this video, was recently noticed by Kanye and is now represented by Trunk, along with his collaborator Jock Mooney.

What role did this nefarious rat-filled music video play in this? Draw your own conclusions.

Watch more kuh-razy music videos from the dynamic duo on Alasdair’s vimeo page.

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Welcome to Glaringly

Written by andy 21st August 2009, 1:08pm

Posted in: 2D, Channel 4, Reviews

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Director Grant Orchard’s  black comedy about a man who makes the mistake of going to visit a pal in small town Glaringly. It turns out to be Paranoia-central, chock full of surveillance equipment and suspicious towns folk who just can’t wait to mob-up. Our hero tries to help someone out but thanks to cctv spies jumping to the wrong conclusions and the gutter press spreading them about, he gets on the wrong side of an angry mob. It’s all done in the funky retro 8 bit style of an old timey video game.

Thank goodness this sort of thing could never happen here.

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Highly Overated! by Billy Allison

Written by andy 18th August 2009, 11:08am

Posted in: 2D, Reviews

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Billy Allison’s animation has the nostalgic feel of a newspaper cartoon strip writ large: strong pen and ink drawing and smudgy greys.  It follows a poor chap who, no matter where he goes: a scrap yard, under a bridge, on top of an apartment building, just can’t get any peace. You know the feeling. He just wants to read his paper but we keep stalking him. Sorry newspaper-guy! It’s out of my hands. He’s got some skills though, he runs like the wind and can climb tall buildings with ease. He even jumps out of a plane without of parachute. SPOILER - He’s okay. All accompanied by a jaunty tune from Steven Sproat.

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Best Present Ever

Written by andy 12th August 2009, 3:08pm

Posted in: 2D, Reviews

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Clarabell is having a tea party when she receives an unexpected present: a baby stegosaurus! A cute baby dinosaur she names “Sparky”.

I will declare an interest in this animated short. I didn’t invest in it or anything and I don’t know the director but I do love me some dinosaur. Man, she is one lucky kid, until the mad scientist who lives next door grabs Sparky to do some mad science on him. NOOOOO!!!!! But don’t worry, Clarabell to the rescue. Krystal Georgiou’s film has that classic Saturday morning cartoon magic. The animation is bouncy, springy and full of soul. Incidentally It does contain one of the most incisive and relevant questions of our time, to wit “Why are you not a dinosaur?”. This toon has it all: dinosaurs, a mad scientist and tea, it cannot fail.

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At the Gallery

Written by andy 28th July 2009, 10:07am

Posted in: 2D, Reviews

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Victor Balaguer’s animation tells what happens when a  punk and a dog visit a gallery opening, obviously on the look out for a bit of wine and cheese.  It seems we’re just having a look at the sort of odd-ball characters who frequent art galleries until about a minute and a half in, it all takes a turn for the surreal when moustaches and hairstyles come alive and start chasing each other around the gallery. It’s all done in a fun, energetic, scribbly pencil style. Enjoy it. I’m off to sharpen some pencils.

Victor Balaguer is an animation director and comic book creator hailing from Belgium. If you like this check out his aniboom channel.

Another sharp entry to our summer animation competition. Submit now for your chance to win a copy of Toon Boom! And while you’re at it why not take a look at our list of UK animation festivals? Go on. It’s time to get your animations seen.

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Luke Jackson, “Goodbye London” music video

Written by andy 27th July 2009, 8:07am

Posted in: Reviews

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Enjoy Luke Jackson’s paean to London, directed by Murray John. Rather than the obvious performance video this uses a cartoon version of the band, in the real streets of London: on billboards, bins and subway walls. It’s messed up graffiti wandering across an urban landscape. The demented drawing style and street footage give this vid a gritty style that fits the song like a pair of worn in old trainers.

There’s plenty more musical animated madness on Murray John’s Youtube Channel.

Another tasty entry to our summer animation competition. Submit now for your chance to win a copy of Toon Boom!

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The Birdwatcher

Written by madevi 17th July 2009, 10:07am

Posted in: 2D, Reviews

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What makes people laugh out loud? What triggers that physical reaction? Is it joy?Relief? Surprise?

Whatever it is, The Birdwatcher has it.

I didn’t want to like this film, and I’m still not sure I do. There’s something a little bit uneasy about it, something in the strange muted colours, awkward cut out characters and incessant crowing that makes you recoil. Looking through the watcher’s binoculars makes you feel both claustrophobic, responsible for what is happening, and queasy.

And yet somehow I couldn’t stop watching. I was moved, I was annoyed, I winced, and, yes, in spite of myself, I laughed out loud. Several times. While cringing. More than the plot, it was graduating student Ross Phillips‘ directorial skills which surprised me. There are odd touches of brilliance, in the movement of the worm as he’s pulled between two birds, or the careful timing of the crows going about their ghastly business. ‘Don’t assume you know what you’re watching’, he seems to whisper. I will listen.

The Birdwatcher was one of our fist submissions to the Toon Boom competition. Keep ‘em coming!

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Ep. 4 Suburban Myths - Jilted Janet

Written by andy 16th July 2009, 9:07am

Posted in: Channel 4, Comedy

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Commissioned for the launch of 4mations last year, Wonky’s series of short Suburban Myths describe different scenarios that are so absurd you really can’t be sure if they are true or not.

They have great style with loads of character. For example, I really like the way the chap bounces down the stairs in this episode. The stretchy limbs really bring out the details in the character design. Also look out for the teeny, tiny manbag that steals the show.

Anyway, Jilted Janet is a cautionary tale of the double dangers of deceit and texting. It’s short and we can all learn something from it.

Incidentally, If I were going to give some advice to anyone with two girlfriends it would be “dude, look up”. Neat.

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Sportsday Megaphone - Meet Me In The Middle by O W L S

Written by andy 6th July 2009, 10:07am

Posted in: 2D, Reviews

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It’s not often you get to see a rabbit being shaved in a pop video. Or maybe it’s more common than I thought. Anyway. Here’s a slice of upbeat 8 bit musical madness, played out in a peculiar video that looks like an old school videogame.  Yes, it’s another weird music video with animals: donkey on a swing, pig on a roundabout, bambi on a see saw, need I say more. It’s like a candy coloured nightmare, with rogue scissors and a windmill mincing machine. I’m never going to the barber’s again but I am going to dance!
Not suitable for vegetarians.

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