Weird, Dynamic, Fantasitc

Genius party from Aksel on Vimeo.

Kickstart Cicada Princess

There's an interesting new business incubator site called Kickstarter. The concept is fairly simple: You help fund a creative project by donating money. If the set amount of money is raised in a given time period then in return you get a predetermined reward for your donation. I call it a donation because you don't get your money back plus interest. You get a gift .. a bonus.

Quite frankly some of the projects on Kickstarter are a bit dodgy. You can fund anything from a start-up comic book to a purchasing a man-size bunny suit for a children's play.

From Penny Arcade

I decided to fund a project called, Cicada Princess. The project is a short-film based on a children's book of the same name. The film uses miniatures and puppets to create an unbelievably realistic  but magical world. The creator, Mauricio Baiocchi was a animation supervisor at Industrial Light and Magic. In 2002, he opened his own studio called Assemble.

Cicada Princess project is trying to raise around $52,000 with 33 days to go. The funding levels and gifts are:

$15 - A thank you and credit on the Cicada Princess film website. 

$25 - A Cicada Princess HD DVD signed by director + a set of postcards of cicada artwork

$100 - Cast in resin and individually painted, each bug on the bridge stands at about 4 1/2 inches tall. At this level we are offering the HD DVD signed by the crew, a set of postcards of cicada artwork, and a bridge bug from the film.

$150 - All of the rewards to this level but also the full color book signed by the Director and crew of the picture.

$250 - All of the rewards to this level with the addition of a limited run Cicada Princess figurine. Standing at 6 1/2 inches tall and mounted for permanent display, each princess is cast and painted by Steve Ferrera, Art Director of Cicada Princess.

$1,000 - An articulated full size ballroom cicada puppet. Each stands at 11 inches and comes with a handmade dress or suit and applicable jewelry accessories. And of course an HD DVD and signed Cicada .

$3,000 - All of the rewards to this level plus an Associate Producer title on the credits of the picture. 

I pledged 25 bucks, just couldn't afford the $100 level, although I seriously want that bug.

 

Oh, Cruel Heaven

I just found this video on Vimeo. It is very funny and a little gruesome. It shows that there's not on cookie-cutter god for everyone.

The Saga of Biorn by Animation Workshop.

The Saga Of Biorn from The Animation Workshop on Vimeo.
Bachelor film project 2011 from The Animation Workshop.

Story

Biôrn, an old Viking, is determined to reach Valhalla, the warrior's afterlife full of excessive drinking and debauchery. To gain entry he has to die honorably in battle, but he discovers that the right death isn't so easy.

Credits

A film by: Benjamin J. Kousholt, Daniel D. Christensen, Mads Lundgaard Christensen, Jesper A. Jensen, Jonas K. Doctor, Steffen Lyhne, Pernille Ørum-Nielsen, Frederik Bjerre-Poulsen, Jonas Georgakakis

Solar System in Action

I just found the coolest animation of our solar system and it's interactive. It was produced by Dynamic Diagrams. I captured some of the animation for your viewing pleasure .. but heck, just check it out for yourself.



Click here ---> Dynamic Diagrams Solar System

Pixar and Dreamworks

There's plenty to be said about the genius of Pixar and the miserable failure of Dreamworks. While some companies have learned from the successful elements of Pixar's animation and storytelling - like Universal Studios', "Despicable Me", Dreamworks remains defiant in producing more and more crap.

It's just not the animation and physics that is below average - it's more about the cheap jokes, adult humor, misconceived plot and total lack of respect for the characters, the artists and most importantly the audience.

But enough of what I think. I present the following video for your snarky humor.





** I will write a small critique about the successes of "Despicable Me" when it's not Sunday. **

Links:

Pixar / Dreamworks comparison.