Written by Nic Wistreich | 19 February 2010 | in news - Animation

Coalition of the Willing is a collaborative animated film and web-based event set in our 'post-Copenhagen' world exploring the role of the Internet. Directed and produced by Knife Party, it brings together a network of 24 artists using a range of different filmmaking styles and techniques including the likes of Decoy, World Leaders, Foreign Office and Parasol Island.

In the gloom post-Copenhagen chill, this 'optimistic and principled film' explores how we could use new Internet technologies to leverage the powers of activists, experts, and ordinary citizens in collaborative ventures to combat global environmental disaster. Through analyses of swarm activity and social revolution, Coalition of the Willing makes a case for new online activism and explains how to hand the fight against global warming to the people. And as a global collaboration presenting a coherent narrative, it also practices exactly what it preaches. Indeed the animations and films can be viewed as they are created via various other sites (featured above and below) - and discussed in their forum.

Like a moving jigsaw falling into place over many weeks, the film has a staggered online release. From 3rd February 2010 the script for the film has been fully available on the site. The completed animated sections will be uploaded in 6 different ‘waves’ 2 weeks apart, over a 12-week period, as they are finished by the contributing artists.  Each wave of uploads will introduce 3-5 new sections of the film. The film’s staggered release and the online forum will allow the site to be a crucible for debate on the issues it raises, and allows the audience to collaborate in re- defining the argument even as the film is being made. The film will be complete by mid-April 2010.

Written by Laurence Boyce | 13 June 2009 | in news - Animation

‘Where’s Your Head At?’ is one of those songs that people remember for the video just as much as they do for the tune. It was innovative, fresh and, quite frankly,  frigging terrifying as rock band monkeys with human faces (ah, in all my years as a journalist, how long have I wanted to be able to type that phrase) go mental to the driving beats. As good as the video is, the genius computer animation and idea started to – slightly – overshadow the song. So, when animator Max Hattler was asked to provide concert visuals for the song, there was one simple request: “There was no brief, no pitch, they just wanted me to do whatever I want – as long as it didn’t involve monkeys!”

Written by Guy Ben Shetrit | 18 January 2009 | in news - Animation

Guy Ben Shetrit writes in with details of the music video he directed, animated and composed. The visuals look like nothing else. Some really nice lighting and cell shading.

"Sci-Fi Fantasy journey of a little girl with a special pet friend, a huge toad. Once the girl loses her pet, which drifts in the sky in a form of a balloon, she is going through different adventurous scenarios by chasing it. This is a full 3D animation music video for the song 'Hey' by Eatliz band."

 

Written by Nic Wistreich | 03 April 2007 | in news - Animation

The future of the UK's largest animation studio looks safe after signing a three year deal with Sony. The Dreamworks deal had put the previously autonomous wunderkids under the thumb of Jeffrey Katzenberg, whose West Coast style seemed to jar with the West Country outfit. Rumours abounded about this clash of cultures, so when it fell through earlier this year, it seemed like it could be a good thing provided they weren't left without a major backer. Sony, who made Billy Connolly a squirrel  in their first animated feature last year, will hopefully be more sensitive to the Aardman sensibility. 

 

Written by PR Sarah Cameron | 03 March 2007 | in news - Animation

E4 and Creative Review present E STINGS 4, the annual opportunity to use your imagination.

"The E4 competition has become something of an institution" says E4 head of on-air, Neil Gorriinge. "It's fanstastic to see what people can get up to with our Logo" The big difference this year is that E4 want you to create stings not just for E4 but also for E4 music .

"Since it launched in the 6am -2pm slot in August 2005, E4 Music has been a great success for the channel. People are watching E4 round the clock", says Channel 4 and E4 marketing executive Peter Spiers. "and since E4 Music shares the same brand values as E4 we think it deserves it's own E4 STINGS.

Written by PR - Nicola Steller | 14 February 2007 | in news - Animation

For the fmx team, January and February are the hottest months of the year: we now have the first confirmations from speakers and companies with exciting ideas to present at fmx/07 – the 12th International Conference on Animation, Effects, Realtime and Content. The international digital community will gather at the Haus der Wirtschaft in Stuttgart from May 01 to 04, 2007 to discuss and experience future technologies and current innovations in the conception, production and distribution of digital imagery – whether seen in cinemas or on television, or games and mobile entertainment.

Written by Nic Wistreich | 10 September 2006 | in news - Animation

Got an email through this week with one of those hard to believe offers. Register on SMS.ac, upload a Flash movie or Shockwave file of any description by September 15th and get sent a cheque for $100 - to anywhere in the world. The most popular upload by October 15th will also win a $5000 grand prize.

I emailed Peter Moormeier, who sent the email through in the first place to check it out, and it's bona fide. SMS.ac claim to have 50 million users so they can afford to do this. It's part of a strategy to build a network of content developers for mobile phones which could include things like a short film channel.

Terms and conditions are here - to register go here to upload your content go here.

 

Written by James MacGregor | 30 June 2006 | in news - Animation

 

A 20-year correspondence with a pen pal inspires a feature

When Adam Elliot was making the Oscar-winning short film Harvie Krumpet, he worked in a storage unit. Conditions were so tough that during hot weather he stripped to his underpants to keep filming his claymation figures. Now the Australian animator can work on a grander scale after getting approval from Australia's Film Finance Corporation for his first feature - the "comedy-tragedy" Mary & Max.

Written by James MacGregor | 22 June 2006 | in news - Animation

 

Dusting off their old episodes of the original Doctor Who series for DVD release, the BBC discovered that more than 100 episodes had somehow vanished from the archives. Cosgrove Hall, the Manchester-based animation house was then called in to recreate two lost instalments using animation.

Written by James MacGregor | 20 May 2006 | in news - Animation

 

Aardman Animations, the Academy Award-winning stop-motion animation studio, is moving into distribution, launching its own dedicated sales arm, Aardman International, to exploit its growing catalogue of properties.