Tekkonkinkreet
An interesting article about the making of this very interesting film.
Showing posts with label Anime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anime. Show all posts
Ian's Rambles - Anime Vs Western Animation Teachers
In any context where I have been around teachers and students of animation, whether it be as a student myself, working in the industry where senior staff are instructing junior or as a teacher, there has been this struggle. Over and over I’ve seen teachers roll their eyes at a students insistence at copying the Anime look and just as often I’ve seen students shoulders slump as they are discouraged from producing work in a style they dearly love. This year a large percentage of our new students at Southbank are obviously into Anime, so I thought it might be an issue worth visiting.
Before we go too far lets just take a moment to ...........
Click here or the image to see the full post.
Tekkonkinkreet
In America they have the Academy of Motion Pictures (presenting the Oscars), in Japan the equivalent is The Nippon Academy-Sho Association, and this year their best animated film award went to Tekkonkinkreet. Sure looks pretty.
I really have to make a bigger effort to get out and see some of these Anime films (or in to see them on DVD as is so often the case). I still haven't seen Paprika which looked amazing in the preview. If anyone else has seen it, I would love to hear what you thought of it.
Found at: Animated News
Laser Shooting Giant Robots - Miyazaki
I hope you were all staying up late on Thursday nights this past month watching SBS? They had a month of Miyazaki movies. I'm a Miyazaki virgin, so it was a wonderful month here in the armpit of Brisbane.
The final movie was Laputa - Castle in the Sky. Once again the trees, planet or robots (programmed with the best of human intentions) win over greedy, power hungry humans. But not before the robot shot lasers from it's eyes and caused a nuclear explosion.
So, maybe giant alien robots will save the earth?
Jane (our teacher at animation school) would be so proud of Mr. Miyazaki mixing robots with an environmental message.
There are some other Miyazaki posts to check out in the ARC blog while you're here.
Can someone tell me about more robots that appear in Miyazaki films? Which other films? Maybe you can find me a better link for the picture?
Paprika
A while back I posted a link to the trailer for an interesting film on its way called Paprika. I have found some new clips on Youtube, including the opening sequence. Sure looks pretty.
Gota love the way the Japanese seem to effortlessly integrate 
fantasy and myth with the modern world, it all blends together seamlessly. There have been a string of western fantasy films of late that involve escaping to or being trapped in another world of fantasy, but in anime it can just erupt around your everyday life at any second and there's nothing you can do about it. . . . . COOL!
One thing I didn't notice when I first saw the trailer was the references to the old Monkey TV show.... that's cool too.
MIYAZAKI at work
Check out this clip from Japanese TV promoting the next studio Ghibli film. Its cool because you get to see the man doing some drawing (and its nice to know that even he gets one wrong every now and then). You can't understand what he's saying (unless you speak Japanese) but it kind of relates to something I was talking to the first year students about this last week. To get really good at animation you have to be in the habit of looking at your work with a critical eye.
Here is a clip I found on Youtube, its from a british TV show, and about 2 minutes in there is an interview with Miyazaki
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time was the big winner at this years Tokyo's Anime Awards. Click HERE for an article. Looking at the preview here I can't see a lot to get excited about, but maybe its because I'm not as captivated by school girls running around in short skirts as your average Japanese awards judge. Of course it could be that is has an incredible well executed story, and lets hope so.
Freedom Project
Check out this cool preview for the next film from Otomo, the creator of Akira. Blending 3D with traditional, it looks mighty swish.
New Pic on the way from Studio Ghibli
Here is some news that will put a smile on your dial. HAYAO MIYAZAKI has started work on a new traditionally animated film set to be released in 2008. Here is a good article about from an interesting site called Ghibliworld.
Toei Animation and Bicycle Madness
The creators of the show (and soon to be a movie I think) One Piece, Toei Animation Studios have just launched an English version of their web site which is worth a visit. Lots of fun things to look at.
And here is a real kooky looking anime movie preview about a bicycle race from what I can tell. Is there anything they won't make a film about.
Click here for the link (it takes a while to download)
Highlander
There is an anime version of Highlander coming out, and here's a picture.... which is nice.
And click HERE to read an article about it.
And click HERE to read an article about it.
Cultural Differences
If you ever needed an indication of how animation fits into mainstream Japanese culture, the post office over there has released limited-edition stamps based on Neon Genesis Evangelion. I'd be lying if I said I follow whats happening with Australian stamps closely, but I get the feeling this wouldn't happen here, much if at all.
click to enlarge
Paprika
Just when I'm thinking I've been neglecting the Anime folk I find a string of interesting things. Check out the preview for Paprika, it looks awesome. It appears (in this case) to be marketed at a western audience, if these kinds of film start to do well in the west then who knows, western producers may start showing more interest in traditional animation again.
click the pic for the link
More from Japan
I found this cool short film from Dr Osamu Tezuka, often referred to as the father of Anime. At his studio Mushi Pro he created such classics as Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion. In the 50s Osamu travelled to the US where he visited Walt Disney Studios, he was a massive fan of Disney and reportedly saw Snow White 50 times and Bambi 80 times (in a time before home video players), he was so taken with the style that back in Japan he started drawing characters with large Mickey Mouse eyes. This became the done thing in Japanese animation and was exaggerated even further by others, hence the wide eyed manga beauties we know today.
If you're interested here are some more links-
Monday is Blogday
I tend to neglect the Anime fans a bit on this blog, so here is a blog just for you guys, The Sea Slug Anime Blog! I don't have anything against anime (good anime that is), its just that I don't know much about it and fans tend to be so into it that I'm bound to say something stupid. As a general rule I will be staying in my comfort zone. :)
Click the pic for the link
Click the pic for the linkAnime in Progress
How cool is this! You can see that even Anime animators start with and refine a series of rough keys before committing to all the detail and inbetweens.
And here is some 3D Anime trying to look like hand drawn Anime, I surpose this was inevitable. While I'm cynical I must admit it looks nice.
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