Fahrenheit Digital

Some of us recall the ads in our childhood showing a cartoon pirate or skunk then asking, if you are interested in pursuing a career in art, to draw that same character and mail it in. I have to admit that I completed those drawings many, many times but, alas, never mailed it in.

Well, it turns out that this series of mail-order art courses was established by none other than Norman Rockwell. He hired some of the best artists of the time to create a series of courses which were mailed to the student in a set of three binders. Artists like Rube Goldberg & Milton Caniff were among the instructors.

ASIFA has begun digitizing all 24 lessons for inclusion into their archives.

Link to the Famous Artist Courses article.

I have to say that I am particularly excited to see this trailer. I have been privileged to work with some of the most incredible artists on this show and we all know it is going to be an truly original & amazing movie once it hits the big screen.

The “2D” animation sensibility that has been injected into these shots still amazes me! Another example of the happy union of applying the tried and true 2D “Principles of Animation” to a relatively new tool, computer graphics.

click here to view Meet The Robinsons Trailer

ASIFA Hollywood has posted a blog page with some great drawings of Ralph Bakshi!

His work marked a near diametric departure from the animated films being produced by the major studios such as Disney. Grating, gritty and often quite “adult,” Bakshi created interesting and memorable movies, such as “Fritz the Cat” and a couple of my childhood favorites, “Fire and Ice” and “Wizards.”

ASIFA Blog Page Doodles

Ralph Bakshi

Famed animator Joseph Barbera celebrated his 95th birthday today! We all know his work and have all loved Hanna-Barbera shows since we were kids. Tom & Jerry. Scooby Doo, Where are You? The Flintstones. The Jetsons. And one of my personal favorites as a kid, Johnny Quest.

Joseph Barbera info

On April 6th, 1906 the first animated piece was created by James Stuart Blackton titled “Humorous Phases of Funny Faces.” The artform of animation was invented and the rest, as we say, is history!

The Animation Archive is hosting an event celebrate this historical achievement and how far our industry has come in the past 100 years. This celebration is open to anyone and everyone who loves the art of animation!

Thursday April 6th, 2006 from 6PM to 9PM
ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive
2114 Burbank Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91506

Please rsvp at: animation100@animationarchive.org

More information about James Stuart Blackton

On Saturday, March 25th the Visual Effects Society and LA Chapter of ACM Siggraph will be hosting a panel discussion entitled “Experential Narrative in Games and Film.”

With some of the top names in the entertainment industry, this panel will discuss the future potential and convergence of the storytelling power in both the Interactive and Feature Film industries. This convergence will combine the emotion and drama of film with the interactivity of video games to create stories in which we can participate as well as watch.

The panel includes:

• David Goyer - Writer, Director (The Invisible, Batman Begins, Blade Trilogy, Dark City)
• Tom Desanto - Executive Producer (Transformers, X-Men 1,2)
• John Gaeta - VFX Supervisor (Matrix Trilogy)
• David Jaffe - Game Designer (God of War, Shadow of the Colossus, Twisted Metal)
• Habib Zargarpour - Game Designer (Need for Speed)
• Richard Taylor - Cinematics Director EA

The program starts with a reception at 10AM, the panel discussion begins at 11AM and admission will cost $15 (free to VES and LA Siggraph members). This event will take place at:

Digital Cinema Laboratory at the Pacific Hollywood Theatre
6433 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028