A post on re-purposing comics and illustration into animation
Here are some new comic book trailers I have discovered on-line…
Mangaman by Barry Lyga with illustrations by Colleen Doran (A Distant Soil). A boy from a Manga (Japaneses Comic) universe somehow gets transported to the ‘real’ world and goes to an American high school. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing http://www.hmhbooks.com/ Just a nice trailer that gets the idea across.
A trailer for dave lapp’s CHILDREN OF THE ATOM with animation by Michael Darmanin and Dalton Sharp. Published by Conundrum Press http://www.conundrumpress.com I just saw this trailer posted on the Canadian comic website/blog: Sequential and found the animation worked pretty well, but the music does get a bit repetitive.
This BD(French language comic) by the artist Stanislas and based on a famous radio drama by Jacques Tardi and Michel Boujut that was broadcast in France in the late 1990s. Published by Dargaud http://www.dargaud.com/ Wow, lots of animation in this one. Very nicely done with good music.
I just discovered Reed Gunter by Shane and Chris Houghton while looking at the latest art at Comic Art Fans. I was surprised I had not seen the comic before and I hope to be able to pick up some copies soon. The art is clean and full of appeal in the tales of a cowpoke and his bear. I really like the animation in this trailer.
Today (Wen) I had the opportunity to visit the newly remodeled Oakland Museum of CA to check out the PIXAR art exhibit. The exhibit ends in a couple days and I knew it was popular, but I did not realize the large crowds that would be at this wonderful gem of a museum.
I arrived at 10:30 by BART (the only way to go) and found all-ready a line by the gate to get in to the PIXAR exhibit. As I lined up and waited for my friend Linda the crowds got larger and larger and by the time they opened up at 11am there were a couple hundreds people waiting. School groups of kids and excited fans were so loud that we could not hear the directions of where to line up for tickets and when the gates opened it was insane. We were in the wrong line till an employee took our complaints (I had been lined up for a half hour in what was the only line at the time) and she asked the folks next to us in the correct line to let us in which they did. The line organization was the only issue I had at the museum, but I am grateful of the kindness of the other patrons letting us switch lines. As crazy as it was, it will be sad to see the place a bit more quiet after the PIXAR exhibit is gone.
When we got our tickets we were given a time 1:15pm to return to enter the PIXAR exhibit. I had avoided buying a ticket ahead of time since they were through TicketMaster and I did not want to pay the extra fee. Looking back I probably should have bought the tickets ahead of time.
I put my messenger bag into a fancy new locker that allows you to set your own code and you can use for free. Excellent perk.
Next we went over to the Museum’s Blue Oak Café and had a nice lunch. I had a delicious and fattening Croc Monsieur sandwich (gruyère and ham on grilled bread) with the signature Blueberry Mint Lemonade which was just sweet enough and just tart enough. Excellent.
Then we journeyed on to the brand new history wing on the middle floor. I won’t go into super details, but the new changes are really a notch above. The exhibits now have plenty of interactive activities (analog and digital), audio stations, videos, and plenty of fun ways to learn. My only complaint is that the height of the sound stations are aimed at kids and not tall people and I sometimes had to stoop over to use them.
Highlights of the History Wing:
- A small room that features a Conquistador helmet and a Feather headdress that stand alone but have a montage of audio of the thoughts of the Spanish, Native Americans and others and their thoughts of meeting people different then themselfs. Effective and really intriguing.
- A digital table (sort of like a big iphone or ipad) that allows you to view maps virtually
- Lots of video screens to punctuate the artifacts and history
- A photo opp with you as an artifact
- A ship’s hull full of treasures where you can ‘document’ the items with a sketch to take home or to post on a bulletin board. I left my kiwi sketch there
- View 3D images of the San Francisco earthquake
- Lots of places to sit and draw and think.
- Interactive game and keyboard to make music with everyday objects.
- Cinema showing a silent film “family man” and portions of the documentary Hollywood Chinese by Arthur Dong. Both are worth seeing portions of.
The museum’s goal is to be shaped by the participants and so there are plenty of chances to have a say in the results.
We finally headed to line up for PIXAR at 1pm (15 min early) but entered right away thanks to a kind museum employee and a lull in guests in the previous group entering at 1pm.
The PIXAR exhibit was wonderful with the work set up by groupings of things like settings and characters. I actually have seen at least half the art at the PIXAR fundraisers for the Cartoon Art Museum so I headed to the back to check out the highly recommended ArtScape animated film.
The film took up the full length of the wall and used 3 projectors to make one long image that uses concept art from the films and brought to life with digital technology. We felt like we were flying as we zoomed into 2D art that gained motion and depth in the progress. No music, but sound effects in surround sound. The second time watching, my friend and I laid on bean bags on the floor. LED lights over the back of the dark room changed colored with the changes in the film. So a blue “UP” sky had bright blue lighting and a lazer guns flash strobes over the audience as well.
After that we made our way back, moving to the images that we were most attracted too. The work is so varied and so amazing that it’s really had for me to even pin point a single image. Ah, all the details and talent. It’s enough to make an artist both inspired and scared and jealous all at the same time.
After exiting through the gift store we went up to the Art Gallery on the top floor. Once again it’s hard to go into details, but the revamped space is equally interactive and informative. Art is harder then history to explain since it’s so individual, but they have really gone to lengths to educate the guests (us) on the process and ways to experience it. This is where I got out my sketchbook at started to take notes and do doodles. So much to absorb it seems.
Art Gallery highlights:
- On a digital tablet do your own self portrait finger painting style that can be emailed to you and appears amongst traditional painted portraits on the wall. (below)
- Comfy chairs with view of a beautiful turn of the century painting of Yosemite National Park and audio players and headphones that help you explain ways to appreciate the artwork. Really a great way to learn about viewing art.
- The California Impressionist and Arts and Crafts gallery is great and they have a nice sitting area with comfortable chairs and books to read. A great place to sit and draw.
- A digital touch screen to watch video clips of artist speaking on different topics.
- A kids area with ways to explore a statue with audio, and other interactive enhancements.
- and other stuff I can not remember right now.
I ended up staying till 4:30pm and revisiting the History Gallery another time as well.
All in all a very enriching day of history, art and technology which I hope I can do again later this year. The museum promises to continue to grow and change in exciting ways with an entire floor (the bottom one) not opening up till 2011 that will feature the plants and animals of California.
So if you are in the Bay Area, why not go by and check it out. I think you will enjoy it if you take the time to explore all it’s treasures.
A doctumentry of master cartoonist Will Eisner is coming out on DVD. I am assuming that this ties in with the release of the movie version of his character The Spirit.
Spiderwick artist Tony DiTerlizzi has posted a cool retooling of a monster from the original D&D Fiend Folio. Tony is an amazing artist and his blog is worth reading, so check them out.
Mr. Door Tree has posted some classic art from books of Tarzan HERE and HERE and John Carter of Mars HERE and HERE.
Over at Golden Age Comic Book Stories, Mr. Door Tree has been posting comic book covers from the 1950′s and 1960′s that have been rendered in ink washes with flat comic book color on top of it. This is a technique that I have been using myself in 2007 and really enjoyed the effects. Go on over and check out the cool examples.
I did not buy much at Wondercon 2008. When you have your own table you are more focused on making money more then spending it. But one of my new favorite artist is Ben Walker.
I first saw Ben’s work at APE a couple of years ago on a postcard on the freebie table. Ben’s work is a whimsical take on the old west including a 3 legged sheriff and bears bearing arms, all presented in beautiful paintings done in acrylics. What’s not to like with bears in the art.
I purchased his book, Portraits & Tales from Remington Ridge as well as an awesome print of Does a Bear Shoot in the Woods?. The book is really lovely and I was impressed how slick the quality was. The only issue is that the cover is so glossy that fingerprints show up easily.
The table at Wondercon 2008 set up was excellent with nice themed touches including a cutout of a bear, worn wooden boxes, labels on playing cards, etc.
Mr. Walker also runs a alternative drawing studio called Pompsicle. They meet once a week in Sacromento CA and draw models wearing costumes. Sounds like a lot of fun. I might just have to drive up and give it a try.
I look forward to seeing what Ben comes up with in the future. I painted graphic novel or comic would be awesome.
I recently did the logo design for the Cartoon Art Museums retrospective of Creig Flessel. I translated his distinctive signature into a vector file and then modified it. I really like how cool this one turned out.
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This month, February 2008, Creig Flessel turned 96. To celebrate his life and art, there is a showcases of his work from early superhero comics, comic strips, Playboy Magazine, and beyond. He is the creator of The Sandman from Detective Comics as well as the Shinning Knight, both reside as part of the DC comics universe now. The show does have some ‘adult’ content, but is worth a see. Just be warned if you bring along some young kids.
I find it inspiring that Creig is still drawing, and drawing well this late in his life. If only I can be so lucky.
As a bonus, below is the card Creig created for Phil Frank last year when he was in the hospital. Great drawings and wonderful painting skills too.
