This is a mind blowing animation. Really, you have to watch it!
If you want to know more about the artist and the process with which this was made, you can go here: http://www.behance.net/gallery/Spherikal/3565597
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
The Birds and The Bee
This video here is really weird. However, it reminded me of Phil Mulloy's work and the animator's interest in human genitalia so I thought that I might share it.
Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty Animation
I had to post this. Look at this! It's amazing. The animators drew this by hand (WHO KNEW!)
Animator Profiles: Bill Plympton
Bill Plymton's style is rather conspicuous. He is characterised by his scratchy colouring and fascinating transformations of characters.
There is a curious link between all the drawings. Everything is morphing into something new. As stated in Variety Magazine, "(Idiots and Angels is) closer in drawing style and mood to Plympton's award-winning shorts, with all their grungy metamorphic grotesquerie intact" Many Authors. (2008). Variety Magazine Reviews. Idiots and Angels.
Plympton's work is a tad strange to watch as its colour scheme is rather positive whilst the issues that are dealt with within his films are dark and sometimes gruesome.
In his film Idiots and Angels, Plympton portrays his character as an angry arms dealer who flings his alarm clock at chirping birds every morning. This is his conception of a layman.
He portrays the burdens of everyday life in the form of butterfly wings, which grow on the protagonist's back. At first, the character is able to shave them off but they grow bag with increased vigour and the character is made fun of by his piers. As time passes by, the wings begin to possess him and appear to have a will of their own.
The character goes to the doctor who wishes to use the protagonist as a 'medical marvel' and display him to the world in order to become rich and famous. At this point, the protagonist cuts off his wings and disposes them off in the trash. The doctor finds these wings, stitches them onto another person and creates a flying human out of him. Meanwhile, the protagonist grows a new set of wings. All this is portrayed in a surprisingly entertaining way. As reviewer Stephen Holden states, "The film defies expectations"Holden, Stephen. (2010). New York Times Film Review. Misanthrope Sprouts Wings and Humanity.
This film also shows the greed and lust of humans beautifully.
One might say that Plympton likes getting inside the mind of the characters that he draws. In his film Dog Days, Plympton portrays a dog who imagines different kinds of harm that befall its owner. The artist's style appears to have improved in this film. As reviewer Mike Everleth states, "This one (Dog Days) appears to be an exercise in Plympton broadening his style in both storytelling and in animation technique."Everleth, Mike. (2010). Bad Lit Journal. Bill Plympton's Dog Days
A striking example of rather amazing transformations is in Plympton's short film, The Tune. Another key characteristic feature of Plympton's work is capturing the attention of the audience.
In a scene in The Tune(1992), the protagonist opens a door to a pair of twins who inflict pain upon each other in the most bizarre ways imaginable. This sequence is the most gripping and tense in a strangely humorous fashion.
Bill Plympton takes hand drawn animation to a new level. He uses pencils to create stunning visuals that have a strangely dark humour to them.
He is an artist worth admiring.
Bibliography:
Everleth, Mike. (2010). Bad Lit Journal. Bill Plympton's Dog Days. At: http://www.badlit.com/?p=3033
Holden, Stephen. (2010). New York Times Film Review. Misanthrope Sprouts Wings and Humanity. At: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/06/movies/06idiots.html
Many Authors. (2008). Variety Magazine Reviews. Idiots and Angels. At: http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117937044/
Illustration List:
Fig 1: Plympton, Bill. (2008). At: http://ethanclements.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/animator-and-animation-reviews-bill.html
Fig 2: Plympton, Bill. (2008). Idiots and Angels. At:http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/news/2010/10/bill-plympton-idiots-and-angels/
Fig 3: Plympton, Bill. (2004). The Tune. At: http://thevistor.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/animation-timeline-bill-plympton-1946.html
There is a curious link between all the drawings. Everything is morphing into something new. As stated in Variety Magazine, "(Idiots and Angels is) closer in drawing style and mood to Plympton's award-winning shorts, with all their grungy metamorphic grotesquerie intact" Many Authors. (2008). Variety Magazine Reviews. Idiots and Angels.
Plympton's work is a tad strange to watch as its colour scheme is rather positive whilst the issues that are dealt with within his films are dark and sometimes gruesome.
 |
| Fig 1: Bill Plympton Himself. |
In his film Idiots and Angels, Plympton portrays his character as an angry arms dealer who flings his alarm clock at chirping birds every morning. This is his conception of a layman.
He portrays the burdens of everyday life in the form of butterfly wings, which grow on the protagonist's back. At first, the character is able to shave them off but they grow bag with increased vigour and the character is made fun of by his piers. As time passes by, the wings begin to possess him and appear to have a will of their own.
 |
| Fig 2: A Still From Idiots and Angels |
The character goes to the doctor who wishes to use the protagonist as a 'medical marvel' and display him to the world in order to become rich and famous. At this point, the protagonist cuts off his wings and disposes them off in the trash. The doctor finds these wings, stitches them onto another person and creates a flying human out of him. Meanwhile, the protagonist grows a new set of wings. All this is portrayed in a surprisingly entertaining way. As reviewer Stephen Holden states, "The film defies expectations"Holden, Stephen. (2010). New York Times Film Review. Misanthrope Sprouts Wings and Humanity.
This film also shows the greed and lust of humans beautifully.
 |
| Fig 3: A Still From The Tune- The Twins |
One might say that Plympton likes getting inside the mind of the characters that he draws. In his film Dog Days, Plympton portrays a dog who imagines different kinds of harm that befall its owner. The artist's style appears to have improved in this film. As reviewer Mike Everleth states, "This one (Dog Days) appears to be an exercise in Plympton broadening his style in both storytelling and in animation technique."Everleth, Mike. (2010). Bad Lit Journal. Bill Plympton's Dog Days
A striking example of rather amazing transformations is in Plympton's short film, The Tune. Another key characteristic feature of Plympton's work is capturing the attention of the audience.
In a scene in The Tune(1992), the protagonist opens a door to a pair of twins who inflict pain upon each other in the most bizarre ways imaginable. This sequence is the most gripping and tense in a strangely humorous fashion.
Bill Plympton takes hand drawn animation to a new level. He uses pencils to create stunning visuals that have a strangely dark humour to them.
He is an artist worth admiring.
Bibliography:
Everleth, Mike. (2010). Bad Lit Journal. Bill Plympton's Dog Days. At: http://www.badlit.com/?p=3033
Holden, Stephen. (2010). New York Times Film Review. Misanthrope Sprouts Wings and Humanity. At: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/06/movies/06idiots.html
Many Authors. (2008). Variety Magazine Reviews. Idiots and Angels. At: http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117937044/
Illustration List:
Fig 1: Plympton, Bill. (2008). At: http://ethanclements.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/animator-and-animation-reviews-bill.html
Fig 2: Plympton, Bill. (2008). Idiots and Angels. At:http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/news/2010/10/bill-plympton-idiots-and-angels/
Fig 3: Plympton, Bill. (2004). The Tune. At: http://thevistor.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/animation-timeline-bill-plympton-1946.html
Transformation!
Here is a transformation that I found really interesting. I used it to help me through my animation process.
Animator Profiles: Phil Mulloy
Phil Mulloy, best known for his short film Intolerance, began his career in animation rather late in his life. This film focuses on the origin of mankind and does so in the most disturbing way possible.
The use of the human form in his animation is fascinating, to say the very least. Not many can digest the idea of an alien being where the organs have forgotten their place and have found refuge in those parts where other organs should be.
The style of the art in this short film reminds the audience of that of a stamped drawing where a flat surface of a dissected potato or a piece of rubber or wood is craved into with an image, that image is painted over and then stamped upon a piece of paper. As Reviewer Steven Hampton states,"forget about Disney artistry, quirky Japanese anime, or photo-realistic CGI." Hampton, Steven. (2002). Video Vista. Phil Mulloy: Extreme Animation.
Mulloy's films are more inclined towards the Arthouse cinema than anything else. The Cowboys series was not as successful due to the low level of thought dedicated to the fight sequences. They were not convincing enough and did not portray war.
With an average level of visuals present in his films, the storyline could not afford any flaws.
Having said that, Mulloy's style is beautiful in its own right. It is intentionally rough and has an appeal that is unparalleled by others. It also seems to fit into the concept of the films perfectly.
There are no obvious protagonists in Mulloy's films. As a result, his characters never attain the characteristic of beauty. They are superlatives of the word ugly.
Another one of Mulloy's less successful films was the Ten Commandments Series. It portrayed the ill effects of following the Ten Commandments. This was, without surprise, a controversial film (the genre that Mulloy is famous for contributing to).
In the year 2000, Mulloy created the trilogy Intolerance where the inhabitants of Earth discover an alien civilization with ways different to our own but strikingly similar. Mulloy favours creating his films in series. As reviewer Anthony Nield states,"It is also worth mentioning how Mulloy makes his films in themed groupings"Nield, Anthony. (2003). The Digital Fix. Phil Mulloy: Extreme Animation.
This film had a very pornographic outlook to the world and suggested that the way portrayed by the characters of the film was the way humans should behave.
Phil Mulloy's work is something that grows onto the audience. That, or it is either hated or loved.
Mulloy has a strong style and his work hits home with the audience.As Sean Gandert states, "He did grow a lot through his work, and now his films are some of the more interesting pieces of avant-garde cinema being produced today." Gandert, Sean. (2009). Paste Magazine. Salute Your Shorts: Phil Mulloy's Extreme Animation.
Bibliography:
Gandert, Sean. (2009). Paste Magazine. Salute Your Shorts: Phil Mulloy's Extreme Animation. At:
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/07/salute-your-shorts-phil-mulloys-extreme-animation.html
Hampton, Steven. (2002). Video Vista. Phil Mulloy: Extreme Animation. At: http://www.videovista.net/reviews/april02/philmulloy.html
Nield, Anthony. (2003). The Digital Fix. Phil Mulloy: Extreme Animation. At: http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/5909/phil-mulloy-extreme-animation.html
Illustrations:
Fig 1: Mulloy, Phil. (2000). Intolerance. http://www.hyperboreans.com/heterodoxia/?p=723
Fig 2: Mulloy Phil.(1991). Cowboys. http://www.animateprojects.org/films/by_artist/m/p_mulloy
Fig 3: Mulloy, Phil. (1994). The Ten Commandments. http://www.kino.com/press/kimstim_animation2/index.html
The use of the human form in his animation is fascinating, to say the very least. Not many can digest the idea of an alien being where the organs have forgotten their place and have found refuge in those parts where other organs should be.
The style of the art in this short film reminds the audience of that of a stamped drawing where a flat surface of a dissected potato or a piece of rubber or wood is craved into with an image, that image is painted over and then stamped upon a piece of paper. As Reviewer Steven Hampton states,"forget about Disney artistry, quirky Japanese anime, or photo-realistic CGI." Hampton, Steven. (2002). Video Vista. Phil Mulloy: Extreme Animation.
 |
| Fig 1: A Still From Intolerance I(2000) |
With an average level of visuals present in his films, the storyline could not afford any flaws.
Having said that, Mulloy's style is beautiful in its own right. It is intentionally rough and has an appeal that is unparalleled by others. It also seems to fit into the concept of the films perfectly.
There are no obvious protagonists in Mulloy's films. As a result, his characters never attain the characteristic of beauty. They are superlatives of the word ugly.
 |
| Fig 2: A Still From Cowboys(1991) |
In the year 2000, Mulloy created the trilogy Intolerance where the inhabitants of Earth discover an alien civilization with ways different to our own but strikingly similar. Mulloy favours creating his films in series. As reviewer Anthony Nield states,"It is also worth mentioning how Mulloy makes his films in themed groupings"Nield, Anthony. (2003). The Digital Fix. Phil Mulloy: Extreme Animation.
This film had a very pornographic outlook to the world and suggested that the way portrayed by the characters of the film was the way humans should behave.
 |
| Fig 3: A Still From The Ten Commandments (1994) |
Mulloy has a strong style and his work hits home with the audience.As Sean Gandert states, "He did grow a lot through his work, and now his films are some of the more interesting pieces of avant-garde cinema being produced today." Gandert, Sean. (2009). Paste Magazine. Salute Your Shorts: Phil Mulloy's Extreme Animation.
Bibliography:
Gandert, Sean. (2009). Paste Magazine. Salute Your Shorts: Phil Mulloy's Extreme Animation. At:
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/07/salute-your-shorts-phil-mulloys-extreme-animation.html
Hampton, Steven. (2002). Video Vista. Phil Mulloy: Extreme Animation. At: http://www.videovista.net/reviews/april02/philmulloy.html
Nield, Anthony. (2003). The Digital Fix. Phil Mulloy: Extreme Animation. At: http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/5909/phil-mulloy-extreme-animation.html
Illustrations:
Fig 1: Mulloy, Phil. (2000). Intolerance. http://www.hyperboreans.com/heterodoxia/?p=723
Fig 2: Mulloy Phil.(1991). Cowboys. http://www.animateprojects.org/films/by_artist/m/p_mulloy
Fig 3: Mulloy, Phil. (1994). The Ten Commandments. http://www.kino.com/press/kimstim_animation2/index.html
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