Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Because We Need Another Reason to Love John Lasseter

I thought there was something vaguely familiar about the new Toy Story 3 trailer.



Enjoy :D

Friday, February 5, 2010

Can I Get an Amen!

I have been dancing and grinning for three days straight since I heard the news. For those living under a rock. Pixar's Up is nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, as well as best animated feature. (First time that's ever happened, and only the second time an animated film has been nominated.)

Also Nominated for Best Animated Feature is Princess and the Frog (evidence I may have employment one day), Coraline (pulling on my Gaiman allegiance), The Fantastic Mr. Fox, and the Irish dark horse The Secret of Kells.


I have been lucky enough to see The Secret of Kells recently, and I was absolutely in awe of the quality of animation. It was gorgeous, done in the style of a medieval illuminated manuscript.


The character designs were to die for. Very shape oriented and simplistic, each character had a distinct silhouette and dynamic lines.


There is also something sorely missed in the world of animation these days. It doesn't happen in 3D animation, and rarely happens even in anime. In a good feature animation, there is a quality of the movement that always takes my breath away. When I first saw Tiana and Charlotte moving around on the movie screen, my heart nearly broke for joy. Their movement was so pure and free. I was even more in awe at Kells. Their characters moved like dancers or water. It was so lyrical and smooth. I miss that. I may have become an artist because of that beauty. The world needs to see more of that movement.