Two Big Chunks of Anime Eye Candy: 'Appleseed' & 'Sky Blue'
Fred Patten compares and contrasts two new theatrical releases from Asia -- Japans Appleseed and South Koreas Sky Blue.
Joanna Priestley: Goddess of Independent Animation
Animator Joanna Priestley celebrates 20 years of innovation, imagination and squiggly lines with the recent release of her two-disc DVD anthology, Fighting Gravity and Relative Orbits.
Cowboys and Indies: the Vertically-Integrated Individual — Part 2
In Part 2, Christopher Panzner looks at how independent producers have to be a vertically-integrated individual as well as a little of a cowboy to survive in the industry.
New from Japan: Anime Film Reviews
Taylor Jessen talks with Henry Selick about going dry-for-wet on The Life Aquatic and opening the door on the looking-glass world of Coraline.
The Pitch Bible: Just The Essentials
In pitching animation, not only do you need the passion, have a thorough understanding about your property and know the broadcaster and their needs, you need to demonstrate what your story it about. Your pitch materials are your sales tools.
The Pitch Bible is a tool that helps convey your concept. It is a tool to help you present and is a leave-behind to trigger the decision makers memory.
There are no hard and fast rules about what form a pitch bible should take. At its very best, it should reflect the concept of the project, whether it is a television, feature or home entertainment project, to help the buyer visualize the story as you pitched it. The size, color, number of pages, how it is put together is up to you, the creator, to determine what best conveys your creation.
Pitching Animation: Rules of the Game from the Pros That Play It
Pitching television animation, like any game, has its rules. Some are hard and fast and others are house or table rules. You know those rules that are specific to a region, country or culture. And the game has its players and pros. Animation World Magazine asked the pros about pitching.
Pitching professionals know that there are some basic rules. Tatiana Kober, founder of Bejuba! Entertainment, and Rick Mischel, ceo of Mainframe Entertainment, Inc., provided the basics:
Fresh from the Festivals: December 2004’s Reviews
Taylor Jessen reviews five short films: Magda by Chel White, Kaze: Ghost Warrior by Timothy Albee, Get in the Car by Greg Holfeld, Seventeen by Hisko Hulsing and Bid `Em In by Neal Sopata. Includes QuickTime movie clips!
Cowboys and Indies: the Vertically-Integrated Individual — Part 1
Christopher Panzner looks at how independent producers have to be a vertically-integrated individual as well as a little of a cowboy to survive in the industry.
Make It Real — Part 1: Off the Beaten Path
In Part 1 of this series, Ellen Besen sits down with maverick CG director Chris Landreth, creator of Bingo and the new, breakthrough film Ryan, to discuss the current state of CG human characters and realism.
Hydronicus Inverticus: An Interview with Henry Selick
In the second of four installments on art direction for their book Inspired 3D Short Film Production, Jeremy Cantor and Pepe Valencia look at how color, texture and style help define characters and story.
Career Coach: Gift Ideas
The Career Coach gives some holiday shopping tips that will help your career and the animation industry in general.
BrainCamp in Los Angeles
Anime expert Fred Patten reviews the latest anime releases including Gravion, Magical Play: The Complete Collection, Miami Guns, Shootfighter Tekken and Wolfs Rain.
Dr. Toon: Handicapping the Oscars: Best Animated Feature
Dr. Toon acts the part of a Vegas bookie and casts the odds for each short listed film’s chances in the big Oscar race.
The 'Charlotte' Papers — Part 3
Gene Deitchs Charlottes Web starts to go south as Bill Snyder writes a letter that turns E.B. White sour on the project.
Soft Money, Cold Cash: Money Shopping for Animated Feature Films — Part 2: Asian Territories
In part two of a two-part piece, Christopher Panzner gives readers a detailed guide to where financing is found throughout Asia.
Don Bluth Update: More Books, More 'Dragon’s Lair'
Isaac Kerlow looks at recent human 3D character animation developments in The Incredibles and The Polar Express.
'Don Bluth’s The Art of Storyboard' Review
Animation World Network has compiled the loving thoughts of many in the animation community as a tribute to the life and work of animation legend Frank Thomas.
Peace and Love in Hiroshima
With the release of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, Taylor Jessen chronicles what happened to Stephen Hillenburg for him to give up being a marine scientist and create the ever-optimistic sponge, who lives in a pineapple under the sea.
Model Makers — The Professionals — Part 3: Mold Making — Hard and Soft Molds
In Part 3 about mold making with hard and soft molds, Susannah Shaw shares secrets on casting foam latex and silicone.
Soft Money, Cold Cash: Money Shopping for Animated Feature Films — Part 1: Non-Asian Territories
In part one of a two-part piece, Christopher Panzner gives readers a detailed guide to where financing is found for features around the globe.