Mar 28, 2010

Beautiful stop frame animation

For a few months we’ve been into stop frame animation, sure it’s been around for a long time, but we;re gonna post a few examples of how stop frame motion can give a much more emotive feel for video work. Once upon a time the only way to produce animation was to use “Stop Frame Animation”, ie. move something very slightly and take a photo of it each time… when run together you get motion. That’s old school, but it is often the case the old ways are often the best for different reasons.

for years filmmakers such as the legendary Ray Harryhausen used this method to produce mind blowing animations of dinosaurs and skeleton warriors in films before the computer became the pre-eminent production method. Ray Harryhausen was the main exponent of this style in Hollywood movies such as Jason and the Argonauts and the Sinbad series, one look at his website will give you a great idea of what he is about.

This is the video for the single from Oren Lavie called “Her Morning Elegance” it’s a beautiful example of how stop frame animation can be used to explore an idea. Call it art for arts sake if you want, but in this case it suits the music perfectly. (It has obvious similarities (too similar some say) to a video by the artist Mitchell Rose, have a look here click)

The video show just how an idea can come to life using one technique over another… imagine if this had been produce in a 3d computer style, it would have nothing like the same emotion, drawn either.

Everybody likes this movie, and indeed Stop Frame Animation. As usual click the movie to go to youtube and watch it. It’s well worth 5 minutes of your day.

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Mar 16, 2010

Imagine Greater

I have to say that we at Everybody are not really your standard television viewers. We generally turn the channel to watch something specific, until it’s end and then see if there is something else on worth watching, or turn off. Recently it’s been more “turn off” than “watch”. BUT. Occasionally there is something that comes along that really captures your imagination.

Harking back over previous years, these things have been more and more the small things like “Channel Idents” and the occasional advert, I’m thinking things like the jaw-droppingly beautiful Sony Bravia advert (you know… the one where the coloured balls all roll down a San Francisco street) and the clever trailers for Better off Ted currently on Comedy Central, and not the programming itself.

The reason I’m telling you all this is because you may or may not be aware that recently the “Sci-Fi Channel” re-branded itself to the, much more multi-lingual friendly “SyFy Channel”. This was heralded on it’s sister channel 13th street, during one of the shows I watch (House, in case you wondered) and so I duly tuned in to see the re-launch.

At 20:30 the channel’s new logo was revealed on screen and was followed by an amazing little trail video. High in gloss, high in style and über high in production value. The video is entitled “the house of Imagination (Imagine Greater)” and you should watch it. No really, take three minutes to watch the video (by clicking the image above) you will see what I mean.

Everybody says well done SyFy Channel, you have actually made us Imagine Greater.

c

Mar 15, 2010

The Lady and the Reaper

Those of us who saw the Oscars (or at least know the results) can’t help but know the astonishing animated short that that won the academy was a movie based on Corporate Identity… Sort of anyway. Have a look for it, it is worth watching. As a Graphic and Branding designer I love that this particular movie won.

But one of the other nominees, which I personally felt was as good, was the Spanish short called “La Dama y La Muerte” (the lady and the reaper). It’s a stunning animation combining Sexy Nurses, Handsome Doctors, a loveable old dear and most strangely, a cute reaper.

The emotion that the first couple of minutes generates is great and this gives way to a pharsical series of events as the reaper tries to win over the hospital… the chase scene through the huge filing cabinets is pure Pixar, which is probably as high a compliment as you can give any animated movie. Nods towards other animated greats are evident too, such as Looney Tunes and the Tom and Jerry, so why not spend 10 minutes watching one of the best animated short movies in recent years.

The Writer/Director is a Spaniard by the name of Javier Reco Gracia obviously has a bright future ahead of him and with producers such as Antonio Banderas speaking up for him, Everybody can’t want to see what he comes up with next. Great work Javier, we hope to see more soon!

c

Mar 15, 2010

Mixtape. (A short movie).

For those of you outside the UK, Virgin Media is the company behind Cable TV, Telephone and Internet services. Long story but a combination of a few companies involved in buy outs a few years ago. Anyway, they have a vested interest in film and to that end they have a strong support for the “short” genre, (Orange hold feature films tightly by the throat in the UK).

Their sponsorship has lead to quite high exposure and a strong bunch of films were entered for the last round. Various films which were entered were good, but the one which was chosen for the 2009 Grand Prize, was called “Mixtape”. It was produced by Luke Snellin and went on to be nominated for a BAFTA. Certainly good going.

The sweet little film is the story of a boy and the girl next door… and her Mom, a little bit, not so much about her though. It’s well made, well shot, and most of all well scored. Perfectly scored infact. You can read loads into the story, but if it doesn’t make you smile then, you pretty much have no soul.

Everybody says, well done Luke, you deserve all the plaudits you get for this.

c