Grickle

Hello. Happy 2011.

I love Graham Annable's shorts. I subscribed to his youtube channel years ago. If you haven't seen any of his work you should check it out. His films are perfect examples of visual storytelling that is simple yet clear and entertaining. Watch them and marvel at his use of pacing and creating atmosphere. And the occasional skull-headed fellow.

Here is one of my favorites.

Poll: Best Animated Films of the Decade

I took a look at this list and couldn't believe all these films came out just in the last 10 years. I suddenly feel a lot older. And I haven't seen the bulk of these movies. Many I intentionally skipped, but now I have a bucket list of animation features I really should watch (Fantastic Mr. Fox, Secret of Kells, Persepolis, The Illusionist, Triplettes of Bellville, and Bill Plympton's features Hair High and Idiots & Angels). It's embarrassing to admit I haven't seen some of those. Almost as embarrassing as some of the ones I did see. Some more than once. Usually due to circumstances beyond my control.

So follow the link and pick your top 15 before December 27.

It's All True

???

Everything you've heard or read about Transformers 2 and/or Michael Bay is absolutely true. Unfortunately I verified it this weekend.

I've been collecting the reviews and such that were floating around work last week. So rather than beat an undead horse, I'll share some of the best critiques and lampoons.

Michael Bay finally made an art movie

Transformers 2 FAQs

Storyboards from Michael Bay's The Great Gatsby

If everyday life was directed by Michael Bay

Michael Bay Facts (like Chuck Norris...)

Michael Bay signs $50M deal to f--k up 'ThunderCats'

Roger Ebert's brutal-but-spot-on Transformers 2 review

Transforminators (because really, there's no need to see both... or either)

I ♥ Coraline

Coraline is my valentine this year.

Congrats to the folks at Laika. I'd been looking forward to this film for a long time and it didn't disappoint. I hope it attains the success it deserves and enables to the studio to bring us more good stuff. I was saddened that in box office terms it took a backseat to an epic shallow regurgitated garbage heap, but at least it did better than an ill-conceived sequel to a needless remake. Hopefully word of mouth will spread and the people who decided to watch crap last weekend will redeem themselves and see Coraline this weekend. And you should too! In 3D or not, it's well worth it.

Check out this interview with character designer & sculpter Damon Bard as well as examples from his amazing portfolio.

THE fat panda

Just got back from Kung Fu Panda. I was blown away. You know how a bad audience experience can ruin a good movie? Well I got in early and got the best seats, so of course everyone else plopped down all around me. And it wasn't because of my magnetic personality. So with the masses cackling about, kicking seats, spilling junk food in a surround-sound symphony of movie-spoiling mayhem, I was pleasantly surprised that once the film began it transcended all these unpleasantries and drew me in where it was warm and fuzzy (we're talking about a panda after all) and where no distractions could touch me. Zen... appropriately enough.


Kung Fu Panda is Dreamworks firing on all cylinders, perhaps for the first time. Everything was top-notch. There was a maturity to this film that I hope marks the beginning of a new era for all animated features. I kept wincing in expectation of a sudden break into song and dance or mindless frolicking around that usually crops up to fill time when the story is rice-paper thin. No, this thing is well-crafted from the get-go and the story is rich enough to sustain the entire timeslot.

Kudos to you, Dreamworks. Give me a call sometime why don'tcha?