The Wolf

     From the moment it begins, "The Wolf" by SIAMÉS grabs your attention with stark contrast. The animation is so smooth that one might even think that it's partially made through CGI, but that's not the truth. Everything is animated by hand, the animators just paid close attention to perspectives to ensure that everything stayed in proportion. Below is the link to the video on Vimeo where you can see their process. Along with the catchy music and engaging story, the colors used by the Rudo Company (the animators behind this video) are purposely limited to invoke powerful scenes. Personally, I feel that the wolves represent the inner demons of each character presented as they're forced to face their addictions (alcohol, cigarettes, etc.), but it can be interpreted differently, as that is what I think the creators were trying to attempt. Below is also the music video.

Process Video

Fire Tiger vs. Acid Panther

     In this beautifully constructed short, Anya McNaughton features a fight between a fire tiger and an acid panther. They initially fight for food, but it seems that this yearn eventually envelops the forest. The music is striking and helps to establish the tense tone set by the scenes. The composition is captivating and the colors capture the eye with the contrast between tiger and panther. Below is the video.

Tamara

     When one has a flaw, they shouldn't stop their dream because of it. In this short film, a girl named Tamara dreams of becoming a ballet dancer. Although nothing serious happens in this, I find it endearing how the mother doesn't stop her but rather she encourages her to pursue. Below is the video.

Hurricane

     There are several animation communities on YouTube. Some focus solely on collaborations to silly videos to even serious, long animations. On all that, there are also these videos called animatics that typically entail the main points of an animation without much of it (like storyboards). Within the musical/animatic community, they tend to focus on Broadway musicals or even simple scenes from a random artist or comedian. For this one, I'm going to discuss CherryGarden's "Hurricane" animatic, featuring Alexander Hamilton from the hit Broadway musical Hamilton: An American Musical.

     This seems to be one of the most detailed YouTube animatics that I've seen so far, with nice touches of brief animation here and there. The colors bring emotion with the pained expressions in Hamilton's face as he recounts his past. I appreciate the metaphor at the end, as it really describes how his main passion can either be his rise to the top or demise (or even both). Below is the animatic for those who want to see it.

GARUDA

     In an anime-styled short, Gen'ichi Yonezu depicts two children having to fight each other due to breaking their society's rules. The fights and designs are characteristic of a typical anime. However, that's to be expected as this was created by Japanese animators. The music fits well into every scenes and actually adds to the tension portrayed between the children. It's a breathtaking 13 minutes, but it's 13 minutes worth of your time. Below is the video.

Singles

    Rebecca Sugar is known for creating Steven Universe, but did you know that she also made her own animations? In "Singles", someone tries to make a sandwich. It addresses the idea of an "out of body experience" in its own strange way. However, it also establishes an interesting concept. Below is the video.

lucy & the limbs

     Created by Edlyn Capulong, Lucy, a bored girl, encounters an unlikely friend in "lucy & the limbs". The cutesy style really takes one back as they watch this animation. One is left wondering, especially at the end. I admire the animation, but the plot is... unlike the films you've seen so far on my blog. I'm kind of at a lost for words, so hopefully you can make your own thoughts based on the video itself.

Puppy Love

Tiffany Chang, in her endearing short film, created an animation featuring a cynical cat and a lovable puppy. The colors give it a homely atmosphere. In fact, it reminds me of Caillou, as the backgrounds are faded out. Below is the video.

Endlessly

     For her BFA3 Film at CalArts, Michelle Lam animated a conflict between mother and daughter. It has its own unique style and approach to a common situation. The pet was a humorous but interesting addition. On top of that, I appreciate how every character stands out by themselves, with their appearances somehow complementing their personalities. Below is the animation. 

Piper

     Winning the Oscar for best animated short film, Alan Barillaro's "Piper" features a cute baby sandpiper that goes on the search for food. Barillaro was inspired by his trips to the beach where he saw birds of the same kind compete with the tide. With this inspiration, he wanted to create a beautifully detailed short. At Pixar, there are these things called a "Tool session" where animators test its proprietary software to see if it can be manipulated in new ways. Through these sessions, "Piper" was born and it took up to 40 animators to create the 6-minute animation for "Finding Dory". The short is featured below and one can follow the link to the article for the specifics of what Alan Barillaro had to do to create this beloved film.

Article

Run

     A junior in high school, Curie Lu developed this short film for CAP Hollywood at Montgomery Blair High School. She won Best Picture and Best Art Direction for this contest. Lu did all of the animating with some others aiding in coloring.

     While many are left clueless by the ambiguous meaning behind the story (as only half of the story was animated due to the limited time Lu had), I believe it's centered around our education system. As the two characters get older, the instructors care less about their talents that are not centered around academics (like art for instance). This is demonstrated in our society today as standards push more towards "core subjects" like the sciences and away from the arts. They are in quotations since that phrase could have a broader definition than what is to be expected, although it does not. While English and math classes do prove to be beneficial, other courses like 2D Drawing or Music Theory would help students pursuing careers in those fields as well. Despite the benefits, many schools do not offer such classes nor even consider them in their budgets. To relate to the film without giving spoilers, this focus on the core curriculum limits the freedom a student has in developing their skills as memorization takes priority over talent.

     From an artistic point of view, the animation is impressive. Lu had the discipline to focus on her work as a sophomore and finish what was necessary in time for the deadline while she juggled with school and her life. There is barely a still or stiff frame in this, and every motion looks natural. The only scene that felt awkward to me was when the white-haired boy went towards what frightened him instead of backing away. However, I understand that Lu had to manage time wisely and that it was possible that it would be more difficult and more time-consuming had she went that route.

     The film is below for anyone who wants to see it.

Happy New Year!

It's a new year! I hope everyone starts their new year off well and that it will continue to go well for the rest of the year. With works such as Moana, Kubo and the Two Strings, Finding Dory, and even Zootopia, 2016 was a good year for animated movies. Luckily, it seems that 2017 might be a good year as well. Despicable Me 3, Coco, The Boss Baby, and Captain Underpants will be coming out later this year. To celebrate the new year, have this cute animation that I found.