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re-purposing comics and illustration into animation

The LA Times HERO COMPLEX blog shared a really nice Motion Comic by artist Dean Haspiel and animator Daniel J. Kramer with music by Moby. It really is a great example of what can be done with taking the printed comic page and animating it, text and all. The final result is bittersweet and worth the watch. They really have done a good job at bringing the comic to life while not trying to pretend it’s something more.

Take a look…

I am really excited about the new realm of Motion Comics, but at this writing I don’t see them as a replacement for a printed or web comic, but another way to extend the reading experience.

I was thinking this about this when I read the quote from the artist Dean Haspiel… (italics by me)

“Even though I’ve collaborated twice with Daniel, I’m still not convinced of a ‘motion comics revolution,’ but I like where Dan is going with these. I believe our ‘cinema graphique’ experiments complements the source material while adding a new dimension to the reading and viewing experience, keeping the work vital by iteration.

The HERO COMPLEX also has an interview with ground breaking comic artist Neal Adams who’s Continuity Studio/Neal Adams Entertainment is producing the Motion Comics for Marvel. Continuity studio’s regular output is producing animatics (pre-visualization animation) of storyboards which is where a lot of the techniques for Motion Comics comes from. Mr. Adams is really positive about the future of Motion Comics, but he is also profiting from them as well so what he says should be taken with that in mind. On the whole the Marvel motion comics are some of the most elaborate I have seen, but I so far prefer ones that are more simple and work with the limitations of the original art work.

Here is a small example of Continuity Studio/Neal Adams Entertainment Motion Comic of the X-Men…

Continue reading »]]> The Cartoon Art Museum has a multi-faceted art exhibit coming up starting on September 20th. The show will actually appear in segments with the fist one opening in a week. So by December the show will encompass 1/3 to 1/2 of the museum. The art work was created as part of a fund raiser for the Totoro Forest Project.

Now you might be asking yourself, what’s a Totoro?

Totoro is a mystical forest creature that appeared in the delightful Japanese animated movie by Hayao Miyazaki, my neighbor Totoro. Here is a clip from the movie:

The Totoro Forest Project is an a group who have set out to protect the forest that inspired the movies setting and story. To help raise money many of the artist who have been inspired by the movie and it’s talented director donated original art for an auction that was held at PIXAR animation studios a week ago.

Sayama Forest is one of the most remarkable urban forests in Japan, located just outside of Tokyo. This forest is said to be the inspiration for legendary animated film My Neighbor Totoro. With Japan’s rapid urban development in the 1970s and 1980s, the forest has been diminished to a small fraction of its former self. In 1990, Miyazaki helped set up a national trust, Totoro no Furusato National Fund, to preserve the park and promote awareness of environmental issues.

It is estimated the PIXAR art auction raised about $201,236.00 to protect the forest. Much of the artwork will be on display for the museums show. You can see all of it at the official website, Totoro Forest Project.

I will be teaching the drop-in cartooning class at the Cartoon Art Museum on the same day the show officially opens, Sept 20, 2008 and I am trying to create an art project to tie into the exhibit. My idea is to take a painted blog and turn it into our own version of the Totoro. Here are some experiments I did below, inspired by a kids art lesson where they turned fingerprints into people.

What do you guys think?

As a bonus, here are some short animations made from the art that was part of the fund-raiser…

Continue reading »]]> Yesterday, Saturday December 8th, 2007 was really long…and really fun.

The day started off in Fremont CA at a book signing at SeaWolf Trading Co, a great store that is all pirate stuff. Richard Becker was signing his Graphic Novel Blackbeard along with singer/songwriter Skip Henderson. Richard had some of his Oil Paintings with him as well as a stunning portfolio of watercolors and pen and ink drawings. I sadly could not stay as late as I would have liked, but snapped a few pictures.

Captain Kristofer Nicklaus, Pirate Lord of the Arctic Sea – my kind of Santa. Captain, how about some rum?

Here is Richard Becker (on right) with the arch-pirate Blackbeard himself. Watch out for the burning hemp rope under his hat.

Next I scurried off to BART and into San Francisco to teach a cartooning class at the Cartoon Art Museum. Here my assistant Toni watches over as the kids create mini-comics.

Then a bit later I got to see the 5th Annual Parol Lantern Festival & Parade 2007 at Yerba Buena Gardens, which was beautiful.

The Parol is the quintessential Filipino symbol of hope, blessings, luck, peace and light during the holiday season. The annual Parol Lantern Festival and Parade, was started by the Filipino American Development Foundation (FADF) in 2003…It has become a must-see event during the holiday season.

I hope it gets bigger and better every year since it is something to see. Maybe in the future the park will be filled with people from all walks of life sharing a magical moment under magical light up stars.

Then it was off to the gallery show Graphic Novel which features the work of my fellow Cartoonist Conspiracy San Francisco members. The show was at Tree Frog Treks on Hayes St and featured cages of reptiles along with the original art. The show features original comic book art by the talented Mike Hales, Kraig Rasmussen, and Daniel Salcido.

Mike signs a comic book.

A long roll of butcher paper was on a table so people could add to a giant Jam Comic that will be published in book for for a future show.

Doc Popular adds to the Jam Comic.

Continue reading »]]> Bay Area artist Richard Becker who is best known for his Pirate comics and artwork will be signing his new Graphic Novel Blackbeard this Saturday at the SeaWolf Trading Company in Fremont CA. Richard will joined by singer Skip Henderson who has a new CD of sea chanties. Richard also painted the album cover for Skips new album.

I have never been to SeaWolf before so I am looking forward to my first visit. Maybe I can find some cool gifts as well.

Here is the official information from the stores owner, from the Tales of the Seven Seas message board:

Ahoy me Hearties,
Send’n out a hale ta all ye pirates of TOSS ta come join us at
SeaWolf Trading Company on Dec. 8th ta have fun with
Richard Becker and good ol’ Skip Henderson. We will have both o’
these scallywags here ta sign copies of their latest artistic releases and
no doubt Skip will be sing’n all o’ yer favorite chanties, and Richard
will have some o’ his fine art pieces on display and for sale.

“Blackbeard the Pirate” by Richard Becker and “The Poet &
Pirate Overtures” by Skip Henderson, will be on hand so get yer
copy signed and help support our mates artistic endeavors.

This will be fun piratical event full of music and revelry so come in
yer favorite pirate attire, if’n yer so inclined, and feel free ta have
fun with our customers…no pressment of the local townsfolk please,
it tends ta get the Constable a wee bit irritated.

 

Our Store opens at 10:00 am, Richard and Skip will be here at
11:00 am.