The Making of ED-209

Gorillaz go Bananaz

Bananaz, a documentary

Director Ceri Levy filmed alongside and behind the scenes from 2000 to 2006, from first drawings, animations, music and the musicians, through to the faces behind the voices of Murdoc, 2D, Noodle and Russel Hobbs. The result is an unsanitised, free-wheeling documentary film; an intimate, honest and often hilarious account of the working relationship between Albarn and Hewlett.

watch it HERE

Original source: http://www.babelgum.com/gorillazgobananaz go visit.

Tom Moore’s BRENDAN AND THE SECRET OF KELLS

Tom Moore’s Brendan and the Secret of Kells.

WOW... Another French Animation I just have to see - great atmosphere in this scene.

There's more clips over at twitchfilm.

First Squad

Studio 4C have released the trailer for their next animated movie FIRST SQUAD. I cant wait to see more, check it out...

It is 1942. The Red Army is putting up a violent and effective resistance against the German invaders. 14 year-old Nadya is a medium. In a deadly air raid the girl is shell-shocked. Recovering from her concussion, Nadya discovers her new gift – the ability to foresee the “Moments of Truth” - the most critical moments of future combat encounters, in which one person’s actions will decide the outcome one way or the other.

Nadya’s ability is indispensable for the classified 6th Division of the Russian Military Intelligence, which is waging a secret war against the “Ahnenerbe” – an occult order within the SS. The Ahnenerbe summons from the realm of the dead the powerful prince of darkness, Baron von Wolff. With him on their side they hope to change the course of history and achieve world domination. To oppose the Baron Nadya decides to enlist the support of her old friends from the beyond – the Pioneers of the First Squad.

I’m Back!

Wahey – a new post!

Thought I should get back into this blogging malarky as I’ve been hiding for last four months. I started this blog to document my journey into digital sculpture but many other things have taken my time over the year and the digital side of my work and learning ground somewhat to a halt.

So what have I been doing?

I went to see Radiohead in Glasgow, then again in Amsterdam. I went to Paris with my better half, drank wine and collected conkers! I designed a range of Cats for ENESCO (which ended up ‘too cartoony’) I was offered a contract at a Games Company but had too much other work on to take up the offer (doh!) I have been perpetually busy translating Pete Underhill’s Bad Taste Bears from sketch to 3D and any other spare moments I have used to sample the delights of Yo Sushi!’s culinary conveyor belt.

Anyway, check this beauty out…

La Maine Des Maitres (The Hand of Master)

Mixing Mucha, Mamoru Oshii and Katsuhiro Otomo into a steampunked short - a majestic achievement of design, atmosphere and lighting. I love it.

The French keep delivery the most interesting Animations (and this a student film!!!), I pray these guys are working on a full length movie.

Check out the Original website here:

http://www.lamaindesmaitres.com/

an interview here for anyone who can read Francais otherwise happy translating :

http://www.3dvf.com/modules/publish/_2138_1.html

Studio 4C

(post edited to fix links and add images)

Studio 4C, The Japanese animation studio whose work first came to my attention on The Second Renaisance (parts 1 & 2) on the Animatrix compilation.

Tekkon Kinkreet was the next release that I heard critical acclaim for. The character designs have stepped away from the normal anime style. The clips below shows the dynamic blend of CG and traditional 2d animation to produce a distinctive, energetic storytelling style...

Tekkonkinkreet directed by Michael Arias, adapted from a manga series "Black and White" by Taiyō Matsumoto.

And below is a trailer for the studio to showcase it's animation talent with Genius Party. Five director shorts.

You can find the Studio 4C website here: http://www.studio4c.co.jp/english/
and the official website for the Genius movie: http://www.genius-party.jp/

I found The above trailer up at TwitchFilm which has become a favourite site for info on anything weird and/or wonderful in Film and Animation from around the Globe. The media player has hundreds of classic and bizarre trailers.

DRAGON HUNTERS

Here is a great 3min segment from the upcoming French CG movie 'Chasseurs de Dragons' AKA: DRAGON HUNTERS...

I really like the look of this, a welcome antidote to the poison that was Shrek. Can't wait to see it, here is the Trailer...

http://www.ivernel.com/

The Right of Spring

While on the Dinosaur topic, I found The Right of Spring chapters from Disney's Fantasia on YouTube so I thought I would post them here...

GENESIS

EVOLUTION

EXTINCTION

DINOSAURS

I have a child-like obsession with dinosaurs and prehistoric mammals just now. Ignited anew by my research into Human Anatomy and also Comparative Anatomy; the function and evolution of the Vertebrates. The Evolution of the planet and it's life forms, sitting in the vast cold space of the Universe is the most humbling and fascinating subject.

Any how... I plan to make a couple of Dinosaurs to roam around my desk here (watch this space) so I ordered some Schleich dinosaurs to play with, errr... I mean for reference, along with a couple of books including the utterly absorbing: Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs.

This Month's Imagine FX (issue 29 April 08), and 3d World magazine (issue 102 April 08) both have great Dino features including tutorials from Weta artists Greg Broadmore and Steve Lambert and an article on Dinotopia creator James Gurney....

http://www.imaginefx.com/

http://www.3dworldmag.com/

I went on a hunt around the internet to gather some reference and discovered some cool dinosaurs on YouTube.... check this workshop for the Waking with Dinosaurs Live experience...

And a clip from the ludicrously grand TV show Walking with Dinosaurs...