Things will soon return to a normal schedule around here; next week is the last week of class, forever!
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RETURN OF 2D ANIMATION? (Princess and the Frog as a Case Study)
A very thorough analysis of the film itself over on Total Media Bridge, and why the plot and characters more than anything else may have contributed to the abrupt end of hand-drawn feature animation at Disney. Having attempted to watch the film myself, I had to give up within half an hour; it was so stilted and tired I felt I’d seen it all before.
Notes For Fred
Josh Selig has a post over on Kidscreen that talks about notes; specifically executive, creative notes. Cartoon producer and ‘Person I Respect‘ Fred Seibert says that notes “impact the DNA of [the creator’s] creation”. I agree, but Selig provides a respectable counter argument that’s well worth reading.
The Sullivan Bluth Studios in Ireland
This is actually a very interesting post from an old animation magazine that takes a look at the pioneering Sullivan-Bluth studio in Dublin. Although it delves more into how an animated film is produced, it’s nonetheless a unique insight into a studio that helped kickstart the modern Irish animation industry.
Passive Female Characters From a Passive Woman’s Perspective
Erin over at the Gagging on Sexism blog has a really good post about passive female characters (as opposed to strong female characters):
…I don’t think doormat female characters are inherently harmful role models, the likes of which should vanish from fiction. Rather, I think how we present these characters in fiction should be altered. Instead of depicting a complete lack of a backbone as something to be admired in a woman, it should be shown as a type of behavior that some people have, with all the trouble it can bring upon those people.
She makes a good point, and in fact complements another piece by Sophia McDougall for the New Statesman entitled ‘I Hate Strong Female Characters‘ wherein she expresses the regrettably narrow definition in which ‘strong female characters’ are often placed.
Both pieces are well worth pondering because while many have noted the need for strong female characters, there has been scant attention paid to exactly what kind of characters they should be. A strong femals character does not have to be a ballbreaker; I tend to consider them as characters that are at least the equal of any male characters in a show or film for instance.
I also agree with Erin that there needs to be a variety of female characters representative of real life.
Tweets of the Week
Thanks to everyone who went to see Alan over the weekend and helped us crush the Smurfs.
— Armando Iannucci (@Aiannucci) August 12, 2013
The City of Albuquerque NM, is trying to cash in on it’s “Breaking Bad” fame after missing the boat as “Home of Bugs Bunny’s wrong turn”.
— Josh Weinstein (@JElvisWeinstein) August 12, 2013
Scooby Doo Team 3D cartoon Zbrush sculpt by mane162 (Jose Manuel Lopez) of Granada, Spain!!! http://t.co/pNaX3SzWO4 pic.twitter.com/nKBfapKXI2
— CGHUB (@CGHUB) August 13, 2013
Chibi Usa sketch: pic.twitter.com/Y2JC6JIKv1
— Courtney Godbey Wise (@courtneygodbey) August 13, 2013
you are this person pic.twitter.com/RCCnij0LbD
— Shmorky!!! (@sashmorky) August 13, 2013
All work places should offer vacation time, sick days, and catch up on manga / anime / video game days. “Sorry boss, I’m calling in manga”.
— Giancarlo Volpe (@Giancarlo_Volpe) August 16, 2013
In a recent comment post by Steven Hullet of TAG Blog, Lasseter wanted Disney to make 2D animated films whilst Pixar makes CG ones. Bob Iger turned down the idea.
Yup. Pixar is the goose that lays the golden egg, etc. etc.