Animation Nation

Here's a fine studio that reflects the great legacy of America's excellence in animation. Planet Texas is an animation design and production company for broadcast, games, interactive and educational media. Here's the topic on the AN Forums and here's their  2011 demo reel...

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In reference to Walt Disney's famed Mickey Mouse cartoon from 1928, I started a topic on the forums a few months ago in regards to an upcoming animated project from DisneyToon Studios entitled "Planes", which is a continuation of the vehicle characters theme we've come to know through Pixar's "Cars". We can expect to see Planes in the Spring of 2013.

I've featured several versions of airplane characters that have preceded the Disney project in this topic on the AN Forums  which I'm sure folks will find enjoyable, along with a just released teaser for Disney's Planes.

Of all the versions of plane characters showcased in the topic, I'd say that the most intriguing interpretation of the concept is a short film created by animation students in China a few years ago. Uploaded to YouTube in 2008, it's very well done and quite surreal. I'm posting it here for our readers to enjoy.  

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Are you a fan of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe TV series from the 1980s? Or perhaps She-Ra: Princess of Power, or the Thundercats. If you are, I'm sure you'll be excited to learn about the Power-Con Thundercon Fan Convention that will be taking place in Los Angeles the weekend of  September 24 & 25, 2011. This will be a special event as it will mark the first time that I'll be making an appearance at a venue related to the He-Man and She-Ra animated series. I was fortunate to have been a member of the original development crew for He-Man and She-Ra, as well as Filmation Studio's last TV series Bravestarr.

My participation in the Power-Con ThunderCon has just been arranged thanks to a topic on the AN Forums in which I'm endeavoring to describe the Origin of the He-Man series from my experiences with it. Good things can happen as a result of the AN Forums. I'll be at the PowerCon on Saturday, September 24 as part of the He-Man cartoon panel from 1 - 2 PM, with a signing from 2 - 3 PM. My name is a recent addition so if you don't see it on the program schedule at this moment, it'll be there none the less.

This will be a lot of fun. If you're in the LA area that day you're welcome to join in. Hope you get a chance to be a part of this very special event. For more info visit the Power-Con ThunderCon site or go to the topic on AN's Festivals and Events Forum.

If you recall the comedy team of Cheech and Chong from the 1970s and 80s, you'll appreciate a new cartoon that's emerged on the Web featuring Tommy Chong. It's called 'Master Kush' and was posted on the AN Gallery yesterday by one of our newest members on the forums who is with the project. Follow the link to see more animation from Master Kush. Meanwhile, here's Tommy Chong explaining the story...

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If you're a Disney Pixar fan and would like to stay on top of what's up with the company in a wide range of areas, why not follow their Twitter account. Click here for Disney Pixar on Twitter. Here's the link to the topic on the forums.

Here's another film submitted to us from the Utrecht School of the Arts in the Netherlands. The film is entitled "Mac 'n' Cheese" and is a wild ride with a surprising twist at the end. Check out what four students can do in five months fueled by a limitless supply of peanut butter sandwiches and a talented support staff. Here's the link to the topic on the AN Forums.

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In the Netherlands there's an up and coming animator who's recently completed a touching short he's entitled 'Rooted'. It was produced at the Utrecht School of the Arts where he's been a student.

It's a love story between two trees. Take a look at Edwin's Schaap's film, he did a great job with it. Follow the link to the AN Forums to view his impressive demo reel.

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I'm obliged to Skynet, AN's webmaster, for posting this video on the forums and rediscovering the gem. This is an animated short with great historical significance. It's called "Rooty Toot Toot" and was produced in 1951 by a company called UPA (United Productions of America). Some of the most significant animation talents of the day were involved in this film, including director John Hubley, Art Babbitt, Grim Natwick and several others. It was nominated for an Academy Award that year, and although it didn't win, UPA went on to artistically dominate the decade of the 1950s and beyond, leaving an influential creative legacy that endures to our own time.

Today, we look at cartoons like Rooty Toot Toot and take the design, feel, tempo and style of it for granted. But in 1951, it was an absolutely revolutionary approach to animation. Something that flew in the face of convention and everything that most in animation thought of as the way to do things. It opened new possibilities and methods of approaching the art, giving all a glimpse into what animation can achieve and the future of the craft. Even today, it still holds up and even surpasses what we think of as contemporary animation.

So without further adieu, here's the great Rooty Toot Toot for all to enjoy.

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How much animation can be produced in 24 hours? Animator James Lee shows that with some help from a support crew and music composer Hannia Lee a remarkable amount of creative productivity can be achieved.

Take a look at "24 Animations in 24 Hours". I'm not keen on the plural use of 'animation', but when it's the title of the film, that's the way it is. The forum topic can be accessed here. Also, the music can be purchased here along with other scores composed by Hannia Lee for James Lee animated films.

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Check out this charming animated short film.

It's about a boy named Gioannin, a 6 year old child living in Italy at the beginning of the 1900s. He dreams of his strong and wonderful father he never knew, who was lost at sea and never returned. He'll discover that a dream is not worth what real life can naturally give, despite its difficulties and disappointments.

It's in Italian with English subtitles.

Here's the studio's website: Arte.Five Animation Studio, and here's the topic on the AN Forum. Enjoy!

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