Hit the Animation Show this weekend. What a great show! I met up with Grant, Brett, Erin and Brandon on Friday and found out that Joe wanted me to speak to the crowd on Saturday to tell them about ASIFA-Atlanta. It was an honor. So all in all I got to see the show 3 times and loved every second of it. Here are some pics.
Rabbit
Directed by Run Wrake
I think I’ve spoken about Rabbit before. Run Wrake is absolutely amazing. How this got overlooked for an Oscar nom this year I can’t figure out. This is everything I hope to be able to do someday.
Everything Will Be Ok
Directed by Don Hertzfeldt
Wow. Jaw dropping. Don’s most incredible work yet! He’s obviously maturing his style with each new work he creates. This has the humor of Rejected with the seriousness of Meaning of Life. When it started I thought it would just be another short about City Angst. But as you slowly become aware that the main character is ill it changes everything. Serious without taking itself seriously. It deserved the Sundance short award. Hell it deserves every award out there. This is the pinnacle of modern animation. Should I gush some more?
Collision
Directed by Max Hattler
An abstract 2D piece. A kalidescopic work of the West colliding with the Middle East.
9
Directed by Shane Acker
Everyone’s raving about this one. It was fantastic CGI work done in a self contained fantasy world of machine parts, toys and bones. It was well executed, but I couldn’t help looking at it and think that it would look better done with Stop Mo. Hey personal prejudice.
Eaux Forte
Directed by Remi Chaye
No one seemed to like this one much, but I loved it. Traditional 2D of a man buying a pack of cigarettes before a tidal wave hits. It was stunning to watch.
Overtime
Directed by Oury Atlan, Thibaut Berland and Damien Ferrie
An obvious nod to Jim Henson. This was the most touching short in the mix and honored Jim Henson well. Jim Henson has been my hero since before I could speak. I grew up wanting to make puppets for his crew. His passing so early in life hit me hard. This short of the puppets animating the puppeteer was wonderful.
Game Over
Directed by PES
I love everything that PES has done and this is no exception. 80’s video games done with food. His skills with stop-mo are amazing, but his innovation and ability to create stories with everyday objects is incredible.
Guide Dog
Directed by Bill Plympton
I love this damn dog! Guard Dog was great. Guide Dog is even better. I love Plympton and this is my favorite short of his by leaps and bounds.
Davey and Son of Goliath
This was one of the unlisted shorts in the mix. Traditional Stop Motion and a riff off of the Davey and Goliath series with Davey as a serial killer. Pretty good, but I can’t help but compare it to the wonderful Moral Orel series on Adult Swim.
Versus
A nice CGI bit about two rival Samurai clans attempting to gain control of a bit of land between their two islands. Not just your typical one-up-manship and a nice, short laugh.
