Posts Tagged ‘ new york animation ’

“Around The World (And Back)” by Bryan Brinkman

April 27, 2012
By
ATWAB 13

Music videos still haven’t gone out of fashion yet. The possibilities of combining of music and art are still endless. That said, here is Bryan Brinkman’s animated music video for Dot Dot Dot’s “Around The World (And Back).” The animation style of the video doesn’t have a label yet, although we’re sure Bryan might have one. The style involves turning our index fingers into characters, and placing them in various locations. The video follows a good-natured finger as he travels throughout New York City to meet his loved one. Interspersed are “finger” renderings of the Dot Dot Dot band members. The video is quirky yet joyous. Bryan succeeds in visualizing something that is both offbeat and good-natured, leaving the viewer with a happy feeling. The visuals really do match the song nicely, which itself is a simple yet uptempo love song. And love appears to be the answer after all. The video is a mixed media that features animation overlaid on live action shots of several key locations around New York. Among these locations are Flushing Meadows, Radio City Music Hall (right near the home of the Jimmy Fallon Show, we might add), and Central Park. Along with the...

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“Sugar” by Katie Cropper

February 8, 2012
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Sugar 1

Katie Cropper’s short film Sugar seems simple enough upon first glance, but it possibly has some more complex undertones to it. It begins with a simplified landscape, forming with sound waves. After the shapes form, we see a colony of ants roaming around the shapes, and then the scene morphs into the ants eating a large apple and other fruits. From then on, the next two scenes show life evolving without the ants, and then the ants are floating in outer space. Since ant colonies are often compared to large working groups of people, it seems like an automatic conclusion to arrive at when watching this short. The colony consumes its resources, but then there comes a point when there is nothing left but space and time. This is Katie’s first personal short. According to Katie: “I just wanted to get to know flash a little better and figure out what kind of animation I find the most comfortable, relaxing, or exciting. It was a self learning experience really.” The experimental  flash animation is paired with an atmospheric electronic soundtrack by Sebastian Schinkel. The combination of the two is very effective. Of the collaboration, Katie says “The sound track...

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Orbis Park by Andrew Kaiko

December 12, 2011
By
Lauren, Orbis Park

Orbis Park is a double dedication: 1 to classical animation, and 2 to New York City. Andrew Kaiko’s pursuit of classical character animation during such a trying time for New York’s animation industry culminates in this film. The inspiration of New York and Central Park is not only evident, but also very affectionate. The setting has just as many colorful characters as you would find during a stroll through the heart of Manhattan. The film follows Lauren, a pedi-cab driver participating in a park scavenger hunt. However, she finds her participation hindered by an over-weight, inconsiderate passenger. What was supposed to be a simple job for Lauren becomes something along the lines of a futile olympic sport. Andrew was kind enough to provide us with some background information on Orbis Park’s background and history: “The idea came from seeing these pedicabs in Central Park, which provided good opportunities for a visual, kinetic narrative. These apparently simple vehicles are almost entirely run on mechanics. They all have an older, more tactile feel about them than most vehicles. I drew some sketches, keeping contrast in shapes and narrative in mind. One of them was of a tiny woman pulling a fat...

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Time Lapse by Robert Lyons

October 18, 2011
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Time Lapse by Robert Lyons

This week’s Viewseum exhibit is one of Robert Lyons’s many timelapse films. This particular film explores the difference between a quiet country life and the energy of a fast-paced city. Timelapse is one of the most unique tricks you can pull off with a film camera. You can capture things that a human eye can’t capture, like the cloud transformations shown throughout the film. Some of the city imagery include scenes of New York’s local art and animation community (keep an eye out for Indie King Bill Plympton hard at work). Some scenes are from Bob’s own career as a cameraman, both in animation and special effects (and yes, that is the USS Enterprise in front of the blue screen, you curious Trekkies). I admit some sentimentality in posting this film, because of a recent article that details the end of motion picture film cameras. It is sad, but not surprising. Bob’s film experiments remind us that there is a beauty to celluloid that can’t be replicated in the digital age.

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The Lift by Robert Kohr

October 3, 2011
By
The Lift

Today’s Viewseum entry is a short film with traits that most city dwellers can relate to. Traits pertaining to the consistent use of the elevator, a luxury most city dwellers (including us New Yorkers) tend to take for granted. Filmmaker Robert Kohr tackles issues of impatience and guilt in his film The Lift. Designed with a bold-line style reminiscent of graphic novels and 3D-rendered backgrounds, the film mixes both realism and fantasy in a domestic setting. Mr. Kohr presents a young woman in a Brooklyn-esque setting making the common gesture (and sometimes mistake) of closing the elevator doors before someone else can get on. The tale sounds simple, but Mr. Kohr proceeds to illustrate the young woman’s guilt and conscience through a series of illustrative hallucinations. Four years in the making, the film has won multiple awards and screened in over 55 festivals (full list here on Mr. Kohr’s website). Also of note, Mr. Kohr assembled a team of artists found online, all of whom he had never met before. According to Mr. Kohr on his website: “In this day and age it’s important to leverage social networking into your business model and The Lift is an example of...

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The 1st Time Cee Cee Did Acid by Twins are Weird

September 11, 2011
By
Cee Cee

Warning: Not Suitable for all audiences! Contains adult language and graphic references to drugs, bodily functions, and undercooked fish. Lets really get moving with this Viewseum. This is The 1st Time Cee Cee Did Acid by Twins are Weird (aka Joy Vacesse and Noelle Melody). This short was part of the twins’ organized “Dumbest S**t You’ve Ever Seen” screening a few months ago, and captures both the twins’ artistry and humor. Please do enjoy. UPDATE (5-07-2012) Cee Cee took home 3rd place Independent Film at the ASIFA-East Festival 2012! Joy and Noelle were unable to attend, but Twins associate and fellow animator Peter Ahern accepted on their behalf. Well done, Ladies!

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A panel discussion on the State of New York Animation

April 19, 2009
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A panel discussion on the State of New York Animation

This Wednesday, ASIFA-East will be presenting a panel discussion with Howard Beckerman, Steve Conner, David Levy, and David Wachtenheim.  Subject:   The state of the NY Animation Industry.  Moderated by the lively Linda Beck.  This promises to be quite the discussion in light of recent events and industry blog commentary.  Come for the comraderie, stick around for some words of enlightenment and well-worn wisdom, and afterwards, get thee to the bar. Wednesday, April 22, 2009 7pm School of Visual Arts 209 East 23rd Street Room 502 http://www.sva.edu

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