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Tagged With: Background Design

Inspiring Change by Being Yourself ANIMATIONWorld

‘Pete’ Unpacks 1970’s Gender Norms and a Mother’s Unwavering Love

Long-time Pixar artist Bret Parker discusses her award-winning animated short based on the true story of her wife, Pete Barma, who as an 8-year-old in 1975 Florida, just wanted to play Little League baseball, and whose mom Denise was determined to let her child be themselves regardless of a world that wasn’t quite ready.

Professional Animation Tools Even Beginners Can Master ANIMATIONWorld

How Teens Animate with Photoshop and Cartoon Animator

By Jop Govers | Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at 10:56am

Animator Jop Govers breaks down his latest project, from sketching with an iPad and storyboarding with Photoshop to designing characters and animating with Cartoon Animator 5 and compositing with After Effects.

Heaven Help Us! ANIMATIONWorld

‘Little Demon’ Takes a Unique ‘Look’ at Animated Family Sitcoms

Art director Paula Spence and supervising director Jeanette Moreno-King discuss how they re-designed the show’s characters, while moving to a new production studio, to bring more realism and texture to the FXX and Hulu show’s backgrounds, characters, and performances.

Hypothetically Speaking ANIMATIONWorld

The Forward-Looking, Retro Visual Style of ‘What If…?’

Head of Visual Development and Character Design Ryan Meinerding talks about early twentieth-century influences for the character designs in Marvel Studios’ acclaimed new animated series, now playing on Disney+.

Hypothetically Speaking ANIMATIONWorld

Nailing the Unique, Stylized Animation of ‘What If…?’

Animation Supervisor Stephan Franck talks about how the production’s creative ‘toys’ were all employed to mix 2D and 3D effects, backgrounds and characters into a visual style never seen before in Marvel Studios’ groundbreaking animated series, now playing on Disney+.

Hypothetically Speaking ANIMATIONWorld

Paul Lasaine Talks the Not So 3D World of ‘What If…?’

The production designer on Marvel Studios’ and Disney+’s first-ever animated series discusses the difficult, tireless work his ‘five-headed Hydra’ team performs poring over every detail of the stylized, mostly 2D show’s environments, lighting, color, and cinematography.

Hypothetically Speaking ANIMATIONWorld

Designing the Infinite Possibilities of Marvel Studios’ ‘What If…?’

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 2:00pm

Executive producer Brad Winderbaum knew right away that the limitless creative canvas his new anthology series needed to explore any story, at any place in time, could only be achieved in animation.

Hypothetically Speaking ANIMATIONWorld

Marvel Studios Reimagines the MCU in ‘What If…?’

Debuting today on Disney+, the studio’s first animated series, inspired by their 1977 comic anthology, tantalizes fans with alternate, hypothetical new versions of favorite stories, all observed and discussed in ‘Twilight Zone’ style by ‘The Watcher.’

No News that’s Fit to Print Headline News

‘Tooning Out the News’ Kicks Off New ‘Smart Talk Tonight’ Segment

Paramount+’s critically acclaimed daily news satire series welcomes animated host Kenneth Parsons, who will get up close and personal, in studio, with real life guests; June 11 debut features famed novelist Salman Rushdie.

Production Design ANIMATIONWorld

The Sharp, Edgy Designs of ‘Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts’

For art director Angela Sung and director Bridget Underwood, blending ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ ‘The Walking Dead,’ and classic Japanese anime gave the DreamWorks Animation series a bold look and feel unique to Western TV.

In-Passing Headline News

Terrytoons and Hanna-Barbera Animator Doug Crane Dies at 85

By Dan Sarto | Monday, December 21, 2020 at 9:56am

The veteran cartoonist, animator, and teacher’s career spanned 65 years and included stops at a number of well-known studios as well as New York’s School of Visual Arts.

Music Videos ANIMATIONWorld

Focus on My ‘Vote:’ Six Point Harness Delivers Election-Themed Animated Music Video for ABC’s ‘Black-ish’

Channeling Golden Age UPA cartoons, Childish Gambino’s ‘Feels Like Summer’ and ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,’ director Musa Brooker and Six Point Harness — the studio behind Oscar winner ‘Hair Love’ — create an animated music video for the two-part ‘Black-ish’ election special.

Covid-19 Headline News

New Short Reveals a Young Boy’s Imaginary Battle Against the Covid-Dragon

By Dan Sarto | Friday, July 3, 2020 at 1:21pm

In Joey Jones’ charming CG animated film, ‘How the Covid-dragon Disappears,’ a kid’s imagination serves as the battleground for a knight’s valiant fight against the coronavirus, honoring the brave essential workers of the 2020 pandemic.

Animated TV Series ANIMATIONWorld

Even a Pandemic Can’t Stop Politics from Being Funny on ‘Tooning Out the News’

By Dan Sarto | Monday, May 18, 2020 at 3:59pm

Quickly retooling their production in the face of COVID-19, executive producers R.J. Fried and Tim Luecke continue bringing us a sorely needed daily animated dose of hilarious political satire.  

animated short films ANIMATIONWorld

Fresh Takes: New ‘Quarantoon’ Series ‘Gnat & Tina’ Episode 1

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 4:17pm

Brandon Martin and Eric J. Trujillo’s 100% quarantine-produced 2D animated short, about two bored houseflies looking to experience the world, is the first of a bi-weekly animated series. 

Music Videos ANIMATIONWorld

Catchy and Cool: The Celebrity Shorts of V+ Animation

By Dan Sarto | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 4:22pm

For Vitaly Nikolaev and Veronika Nikolaeva, one animated Will Smith Instagram piece opened the door to a number of promo projects that bring positive online vibes to their artist clients.

SVOD ANIMATIONWorld

Juan Antin’s Acclaimed Animated Feature ‘Pachamama’ Debuts on Netflix

By Dan Sarto | Friday, June 7, 2019 at 11:39am

The director talks about Pre-Columbian art, character design and the 14 years it took to produce his beautiful and thoughtful homage to indigenous Andean cultures steeped in harmony with the Earth.

FXX ANIMATIONWorld

Workplace Dysfunction in Zero Gravity: ‘Archer: 1999’ Has Arrived

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 4:06pm

Chad Hurd and Justin Wagner share artwork and creative insights on our favorite FXX animated misfit ensemble that has taken its incessant backbiting to the Cosmos in a new season of robots, aliens, space battles, excessive drinking and boner references.  

Awards Headline News

‘The Breadwinner’ and ‘The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe’ Take Home Emile Awards

By Dan Sarto | Monday, December 10, 2018 at 4:48pm

Director Nora Twomey and co-directors Christian Bøving-Andersen and Eva Lee Wallberg among animation artists honored at second annual ceremony in Lille, France.  

animated short films ANIMATIONWorld

‘Changyou’s Journey’: Perry Chen’s Tribute to a Dad’s Determination

By Dan Sarto | Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at 5:17pm

Starting an animated short film at age 12 forced a young director to face his grief while continuing to learn from a father who’d passed away far too soon. 

FMX 2018 ANIMATIONWorld

WATCH: Lynne Naylor Talks Character and Conceptual Design at FMX 2018

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 11:24pm

The DreamWorks TV Animation veteran artist talks about her different approaches to character and conceptual design projects, the dynamic of realizing a strong director’s vision, such as Genndy Tartakovsky, and challenges she faced on shows such as ‘Samurai Jack.’ 

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