Dance! Dance into the future! Bah ha ha!
December 31, 2009
December 26, 2009
Princess & The Frog: Almost There
I finally got to see "Princess and the Frog" on Christmas Day (yes, I went to the movies on Christmas Day like a good Jew should). I've been anxious about this movie a long time- I'd heard unhappy whispers from people who'd seen story reels. But I must say I'm relieved now. It wasn't bad at all- not a bit bad. While it wasn't the "Little Mermaid" or the "Lion King" it needed to be to ensure a robust return of traditional animation, it was a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable film. The tone is a little reminiscent of "Enchanted", where Disney seems to be saying "We know the whole Princess thing is naive and silly, but aw, heck, its our bread and butter!" But the story is playful, and the characters are very appealing. Tiana, the new Princess on The Block, has all the elements of being a character I should adore. She's smart, independent, diligent, focused- but for some reason, she didn't have that certain oomph. She's the perfect role model, but not a particularly interesting personality. Just like Belle, the intelligent outcast bookworm, she seems calculated to be a positive female character, but there's nothing intriguing going on. (Just as in "Beauty and the Beast", this film is really about the Prince.) My favorite character was the Shadowman. The way he moved, the way he spoke- I was much happier when he was onscreen. The design of the voodoo numbers was just delightfully creepy- I wish the movie had a little less swamp and much more voodoo. The sidekick characters were not as annoying as you might suspect, and they actually worked well in the story. I was surprised by how much I liked the Charlotte character- I think she's a close second to the Shadowman. She was just so manic, like a little yappy dog- you had to like her. Oh, and the dream sequence! Absolutely gorgeous. The movie is worth seeing just for that. The music was very...meh. I don't hate Randy Newman, but I don't really like him either. He just feels- safe. I doubt they'll be turning this movie into a Broadway musical anytime soon. But maybe thats not such a bad thing... As for the animation- it felt oddly sloppy. The major characters were mostly fine, but the secondary and background characters were just spilling over themselves, structureless. While I'd rather watch animation that's too loose than too tight, I was expecting more.
Disney has a legacy of creating the finest character animation in the world, but this just felt rushed. I saw in the credits that animation had to be farmed out to several other studios- that was a little depressing. Also, the CG stuck out like a sore thumb. I don't know if it was the texturing, the rendering, or the compositing, but it just looked out of place. But still, I enjoyed the film. It was meant to be entertaining, and it got the job done. This film has the makings of something great, but I suspect the studio would only fund something "good". But good is still good! If you are on the fence about it, definitely go see it. While it didn't make my dreams come true, it definitely put my nightmares to bed.
December 25, 2009
Beary Christmas!
Surprisingly, I was beat out of "Best Holiday Card Pun of 2009" by my friend Zoran "Sneezon's Greetings" Gvojic. Congrats Zoki. :)
December 22, 2009
December 21, 2009
Daily Crapbook
I can't come up with a funny Christmas card this year! All I have are just some disparate doodles. but nothing quite sticks. I'll try again tomorrow.
December 19, 2009
December 15, 2009
December 11, 2009
December 06, 2009
PupSaver Final Animation
It's done! Even though this was a quick little project, and even though I hate doing crappy limited animation, I do like how this piece turned out. It was a lot more work than I estimated (and charged for), but I learned a lot. (Boy, that seems to have been my mantra for the last couple of jobs I've done.)
December 05, 2009
December 03, 2009
PupSaver Animatic
The animatic has been done for about a week, and I'm a little more than halfway done with the animation now. I'm just trying to think of that optimistic little train...
December 01, 2009
PupSaver Designs
In a flurry of ambition, I elected to take on a quick little :30s promo for a new product called the PupSaver. In what is getting to be a bad habit, I underestimated the load and overestimated my ability. So what was supposed to be a quick little 40-hour job has revealed itself to be...a bit more. I have until Monday to finish, and I will make the deadline, but by then my nose will be sharp and shiny from all the grinding. So here's what I'm doing! These are the character I designed; the Lady and Puppy.
and here's the look. I always wanted to do something a little fifties:
and here's the look. I always wanted to do something a little fifties:
November 28, 2009
November 25, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
Beer is traditional Thanksgiving fare, right? Its just that they looked like they should be holding mugs.
November 20, 2009
Daily Crapbook: Arkham Harley
Arkham Asylum is a fantastic game. Although I wasn't thrilled that they made Harley dress up like a slutty nurse, but it was still nice to hear her voice anyway.
November 19, 2009
Grumble Grumble Doodle
I spent today trying to get everything in the studio set up and get back to work- organizing art supplies, assembling furniture, plugging in lights and pencil sharpeners...yada yada. Then as a special surprise, all the shelves above my art table collapsed. (Nate had warned me that he thought the stud finder was wrong and we were installing in dry wall, but I was too impatient to listen.) Now I'm pissed off, and as unproductive as ever since I still don't have my work station. AGH! Here are some old doodles.
November 17, 2009
Unused Fake Billboard
Another lazy evening- I got home and the most productive thing I could do was cook dinner. So in leiu (leu? loo? my spellcheck doesn't like that word) of any new drawing I'm posting some artwork I did for a friend's project that will probably not get used.
November 15, 2009
History of The Devil
I'm cast in a play called "History of the Devil"- its so much fun I'm sketching the characters all the time now. The story is that the Devil is up for probation and wants to return to heaven, so he is put on trial. Here Lucifer taunts prosecutor Catherine Lamb (thats me!) and her partner/colleague Jane Beck.
November 12, 2009
November 11, 2009
November 04, 2009
November 02, 2009
Last Work Doodles I Swear (for now)
On this sheet you can see some of my ideas for the Frederator Birthday animation I never did...booo.
October 31, 2009
Work Doodles
Ack! Its Halloween already! I'm still trying to get my dream office set up, and tonight I undertook the laborious task of plugging in my scanner. Success!!! Here is a sheet of doodles.
October 13, 2009
October 12, 2009
No Time For Fred
Moving in to the new house is going well, but going slow. We haven't put together the studio yet (just finished putting down the floor yesterday) so when the Frederator contest rolled around- I had no way to work on it. With moving, every little thing is linked: can't set up the computer until I bring in the desk, can't bring in the desk until we have a floor, can't put down the floor until the room is painted...I think it all boils down to having wooden clothes hangers somehow. So as I misjudged the time it would take to set up my work space, I have missed a really fun contest. Ah me. But at lest I have a floor now!
October 01, 2009
September 30, 2009
September 25, 2009
Daily Crapbook
Enough gloomy doodles! Here's a happier one. We're not moved in to the house yet- hopefully by Monday we will and I can try to get back to drawing.
September 22, 2009
Daily Crapbook
Lots of things have been going on lately- I'm still workin', Nate and I are going crazy trying to move into our new house, and last week a little virus decided to take up lodgings in my throat. I'm very tired, as this sketch reflects in subject matter and in quality.
September 15, 2009
September 13, 2009
Daily Crapbook
From now until we're all moved in October, I'll probably not be posting much. I might post some very very old things, as with this sketch which is more of a color swatch than a sketch.
September 12, 2009
September 09, 2009
Daily Crapbook: Work Doodles
I've been skimping on the Daily Crapbook. So here's a sheet of work doodles I did while waiting for the hourglass on the PC to go away.
September 06, 2009
September 04, 2009
September 03, 2009
September 02, 2009
September 01, 2009
August 31, 2009
August 19, 2009
August 18, 2009
Daily Crapbook: Another Libra
Every once in a while I come back to this character idea- maybe someday I'll tighten it down.
August 17, 2009
August 16, 2009
Daily Crapbook: Guide for the Married Man
This movie is kinda obscure, but I swear its one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. A sex comedy starring Walter Matthau and directed by Gene Kelley- sounds odd, buts its golden.
August 14, 2009
August 12, 2009
August 11, 2009
August 10, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)