It be the screener season. Got Open Season last week. Full release DVD all the extra and this week Cars.

Now the Cars screener comes in the screener for-your-consideration packaging and I`m thinking okay just the movie with a watermark and I will run out and get the full DVD with the extra features when it comes out later on.

Then I pop in the DVD and what are they doing with coming attractions on a screener? That`s messed up but no! This might be good? The menu comes up and it is everything, One Man Band, deleted scenes, extra features. I am a very happy camper today. Membership has its privileges. I love being a member of ASIFA-Hollywood this time of year.

Larry Loc  ¶ 12:21 PM

 

Who is the Secret Hubley Fan?

Over the weekend I watched A Prairie Home Companion to mark the passing of a great filmmaker and cinema rebel, Robert Alman.

I didn`t think going into this experience that there would be a cartoon connection coupled with a little mystery. But at the end of the radio broadcast within the film the Lindsay Lohan character, a suicide opposed third generation girl from a family of no talent radio singers, sings a stream of conscienceness made up version of Frankie and Johnny.

That is where the cartoon mystery comes in. Somewhere in the first few lines of made up lyrics Ms. Lohan inserts the words Rooty Toot Toot. The question is, who is the UPA fan of the 1952 John Hubley classic of the same name?

Is it Garrison Keillor, long a down home intellectual? He is the writer of the movie. He is well capable of watching and loving classic cartoons.

Or maybe Robert Altman? He is the director and a filmmakers filmmaker. He would know about this work and about John Hubley, another film rebel.

Is it possible that Ms. Lohan has more depth to her than pretty little party girl tabloid princess? Altman is known for giving actors a lot of room to make the work their own. Maybe she grew up on cartoons? Maybe she thinks when she drinks? Maybe she loves UPA cartoons? Who knows?

One thing is for sure, somebody was surely making a reference to the great John Hubley animated short because Rooty Toot Toot does not rhyme naturally with anything in the lyrics.

Larry Loc  ¶ 9:33 AM

 

Just finished the edit on a 3 disk set of An Afternoon of Remembrances 2005. Okay 2 and a half disks of stories with a special feature on Joe Ranft & Mark Kausler writing Roger Rabbit as told by Mark at one of my History of Animation classes on March 17th 2006. I am going to make sure that the Guild, ASIFA, & Women in Animation get a copy. Will get copies into a number of Animation School Libraries. I will also make copies available to any family members that want a copy. Give me an email.

Larry Loc  ¶ 4:57 PM

  What I did on my Thanksgiving Holiday:



I have been editing digital video for the last 2 days. Not just any video but video of last year`s Afternoon of Remembrance. I have this backlog of about 12 events that are waiting in DV Mini tapes next to my computer and I have been meaning to get to all of them but this annual event has been at the top of my list all year long.

There is a very good reason that Afternoon of Remembrance has been at the top of my edit list. The stories on these 3 tapes are priceless (Howard Morris telling Bill Hanna to do an anatomically importable act, Selby Kelly sleeping on the floor at night for fear of shot gun blasts during her union days, Paul Winchell inventing the first artificial heart and not being able to get anyone interested in it). I am ashamed that I have taken so long to get around to these tapes.

This is a great event and one of the few times you will get so many people from the animation community together in one place willing to talk about the past. since it is time to start planning this year`s event I thought it might be a good idea to edit last year`s tapes. Nothing like a deadline to get an artist going. These stories belong in the Archives and in the video libraries of animation schools.


Larry Loc  ¶ 11:41 AM

  Archive: Carlo Vinci Today, we feature an underappreciated pioneer of animation... Carlo Vinci.



Biography: Carlo Vinci

Carlo's career spanned a half century, and his style is instantly recognizable. Stop by the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive site and learn about him.

Stephen Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive  ¶ 4:39 PM

  Archive: Mary Blair Song Book Part Two More from the Mary Blair Song Book today...



Illustration: Mary Blair Song Book Part Two

Stephen Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive  ¶ 9:17 PM

 

One of the things I picked up on my studio visit at the Chiodo Bros. last Tuesday was this way cool kids book, The Chiodo Bros. Alien Xmas. Thanks Stephen and Edward, I just got time to read it last night and it was a lot of fun.

It is currently at Amazon and it does kind of read like it would make a killer movie so maybe we will get lucky and see it on film some day. Until then, pop over and pick up a copy. It is a fun read and the visiuals are great.

Larry Loc  ¶ 7:59 AM

  Archive: John Bauer's Bland Tomtar Och Troll 1915 Today, we digitized a beautiful book by the little-known Swedish illustrator, John Bauer...



Illustration: John Bauer's Bland Tomtar Och Troll

John Bauer is probably the least known and most influential illustrator of the golden age. He died in a shipwreck in 1918, but his color harmonies, compositional techniques and watercolor style over the years have continued to inspire artists as diverse as Kay Nielsen, Arthur Rackham, Brian Froud and Jim Henson. Take a look...

Stephen Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive  ¶ 5:07 PM

  Chiodo Bros. Join ASIFA-Hollywood`s Stop Mo Expo:

Yesterday I was in Burbank on stop motion business at both ends of the spectrum.

First at Woodbury University to meet with my student, Nancy, who is doing stop motion at the low, student, cardboard sets and wire armatures end of things. Hey we all start there.

Then over to the Chiodo Bros. Productions at the high end of the spectrum where I meet with Stephen and Edward Chiodo to talk about the ASIFA Stop Mo Expo coming up in April 2007.



Notice that the focus is on the creature, we must have our priorities straight



I loved their machine shop. It reminds me of my childhood (my father owned a garage) only their shop is cleaner and more orderly.








The short on the story is that they have agreed to take part in the fun and games happening on the Woodbury campus April 21st 2007.

Larry Loc  ¶ 8:08 AM

  Archive: Nat Falk's How To Make Animated Cartoons Today we began digitizing a classic "How To" book on animation...



History: Nat Falk's How To Make Animated Cartoons

The first section posted includes an introduction by Paul Terry, and a chapter on the history of animation with many facts you won't find in recent animation history books.

Enjoy!
Stephen Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive  ¶ 8:43 PM

 

Normally I am the one in the family putting on the animated cartoons but last night I was reading a book when the opening sounds of Roger Rabbit pulled me into the living room were the TV hooked me.

That first Baby Herman cartoon is a tour de force of story driven non stop character animation gags. Gods, why don`t they make `em like that anymore?

Mostly it is because no one is brave enough or smart enough to take 2 guys like Joe Ranft and Mark Kausler and luck them away in Spielberg`s office with all the Dove Bars they can eat and just let them bounce ideas off of each other.

Mark started doing mean things to Roger Rabbit and Joe started doing cute stuff with Baby Herman and that cartoon is one of the tightest, most seamless, fastest/best paced cartoons ever filmed.

It happens the same way every time. Someone in the family puts on Who Framed Roger Rabbit just to watch the Baby Herman cartoon and the next thing you know we watch the whole cartoon. If you haven`t watched it in the last couple of months you owe it to your family to view it again.

Larry Loc  ¶ 9:36 AM

  Annie Nomination Committees Meets at Woodbury:

All of the nomination committee meetings for this year`s Annie Awards were held today on Woodbury University.




Beverly Wagner (volunteer from Brooks College) and Tom Hanson help set up the Cabrini Meeting Room for the pre judging breakfast.



The campus catering service set up the continental breakfast.



Roger Ramjet`s daddy, Fred Crippen



Astro Boy`s Uncle, Fred Ladd











David Burgess, Hammy`s nurse




Will Ryan, ?, Jason Plapp, & Aki Umemoto





I will label more of the photos later, now I have to do the dishes. (it`s my night)

Larry Loc  ¶ 6:12 PM

  My Week Again:

Annie season is full upon us and the times they are a shorter. It is about time that another studio sends out a screener or 2 just to keep my spirits up. Hint, hint.

So this week in not quite as insane as my last week`s schedule. Monday night introduce stylized animation and UPA for my Cal State Fullerton class. Showed Dover Boys and then showed the slow-motion smear animation section from Chuck Jones Extremes and Inbetweens. (great DVD) Straight on to Baby Weems and Hell Bent for Election. Then I got out the Hellboy DVD and showed some McBoing Boings and The Telltale Heart, followed by Rooty Toot Toot. (I know it is a little backwards but I wanted to end with Faith and John and some of their shorts, which is how I ended the class)

Tuesday morning it was Woodbury for a lesson on pre-clay build up on armatures and how to paint beads to be eyes. Closely followed by helping Nancy (my stop motion student) plan a pre-production schedule.

Yesterday was spent in last minute planning of the Annie Judging event for this weekend, reviewing Gaming submissions, returning calls and getting my book order together for my spring class at Laguna College of Art & Design. Touched base on an animation preservation project (Mar - Oswald) I have been working on that is finally starting to come together. Oh, and rebuilding my laptop that finally came back from the shop.

Today is Brooks College and mid-term presentations from my pre-production class. Followed by a guest speaker, Aki Umemoto, who will let the students know that there are animation jobs outside features and TV. Something students never seem to be able to see for themselves.

Tonight is the Toon Saloon in Chatworth (see below) with the Chiodo Bros. and Animation Magazine but I am going to have to pass on that one or my week will be just like last week and I don`t think I can pull off 2 in a row.

Friday is mid-term portfolio review for my internship class at Brooks.

Saturday in Annie Judging.

Sunday I need to get my grades together for Brooks and write a test for Cal State Fullerton.

You know 9 to 5 pays better and isn`t as much work. What and give up my life in show business?

Larry Loc  ¶ 10:03 AM

  Archive: More Milt Stein Supermouse Today, we present another great Supermouse story by the underrated Funny Animal cartoonist, Milt Stein...



Media: Milt Stein's Supermouse (Coo Coo Comics No. 4)

I hope you enjoy these great old comics as much as I do. Check out the wonderful compositions Stein uses to put the story across!

Thanks
Stephen Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive  ¶ 9:38 AM

  Archive: The Wan Brothers Today, we post more information on the Wan Brothers, the founders of animation in China...



Biography: The Wan Brothers

I think you'll be amazed at what these pioneers accomplished. We posted a fascinating video documentary on their lives on the site too.

Thanks
Stephen Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive  ¶ 5:09 PM

 

I was talking to Stephen Chiodo today about the ASIFA-Hollywood Stop Mo Expo. As a interesting sidebar, The Chiodo Bros. are joining forces with Animation Magazine to put on a meet and greet for stop motion people this Thursday night. Damn/darn, I have another event Thursday that I planned (so I can`t very well skip out and go to Chatsworth)

Animation Magazine`s Toon Saloon

Get to know some respected, professional animators and watch some cool stuff in an intimate setting as we present the inaugural Animation Magazine`s Toon Saloon on Thursday, Nov. 9 at McG`s Irish Pub & Grill in Chatsworth, Calif. Kicking off at 7:30 p.m., this first live event will focus on the art of stop-motion animation and will feature some rare early works from a veritable who`s who of the Los Angeles stop-mo scene.

Thursday, Nov. 9
7:30 p.m.
McG's Irish Pub & Grill
21356 Devonshire Street
Chatsworth, CA 91311  ¶ 11:49 AM

  Archive: Mary Blair Song Book Today, we archived another great book by Mary Blair...



Media: Mary Blair Song Book

If you'd like to see more from this book, let me know in the comments at the bottom of the post.

Thanks
Stephen Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive  ¶ 11:29 PM

  Archive: 50s and 60s Album Covers Today, we digitized a bunch of great 50s and 60s LP covers loaned to us by archive volunteer, Eric Graf...



Media: 50s and 60s Album Covers

Try not to think of that song in your head... Too late! You'll be humming it all day now!

Thanks!
Stephen Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive  ¶ 6:11 PM