Final Blog Specimen

Here are my 2nd Blog Specimens. Enjoy!

Blog Specimen#1: Blog Entry#8 – SyFy Channel’s Animations

Blog Specimen#2: Blog Entry #11 – 300 (Historically Incorrect)

Nothing was changed.

Blog Entry #13 – I’m Here (A Short Film by Spike Jonze)

Can’t go wrong with any films by Spike Jonze. A few months back, Spike Jonze released a short film online called “I’m Here” A film about robots! The same similar style like “Where the Wild Things Are” cinematography and lighting wise. I think this short film is interesting because the hand gestures and facial expression of the robots are very human-like. While watching the short film, it feels like these robots were human.

The trailer of the film shown above is great. You see robots living with people having jobs, going to parties, driving, having feelings. I’m sure there’s some huge message in the film but animation wise, the facial expressions look real. The music of the film and the trailer gives this film more of an impact to the story as well as the animation. All in all, it’s a short 30 minute film worth watching!

I commented on Cory Finch’s and Bradley Schoolfield’s

Blog Entry #12 – L.A. Noire

The creators of the “Grand Theft Auto Series” has created another free roaming game like “Grand Theft Auto” but in film noire. I brought up from a previous blog about how video games are not seen the same as an animation movie. Things are picking up after reading an article about this game. I thought it was interesting in how “L.A. Noire” is using motion capture to develop their game. The facial expressions and the body movements are exactly being captured from actors like the film “Avatar”.

The fact that the game is free-roaming makes this game have freedom. More and more games are allowing gamers to act freely. I remember hearing about the game “Heavy Rain” how you brush your teeth or play basketball.  It seems that motion capture is becoming a big hit since “Avatar” not just in movies but in video games. If you watch the trailer for this game, the quality looks great. The facial expressions and the look of the characters were motion captured from the actors. Everything looks so detailed. All in all, I can’t wait for it to come out!

I commented on Cory Finch’s and Mike Griffith’s

Blog Entry #11 – 300 (Historically Incorrect)

After watching “Pocahontas” in class we discussed how inaccurate the movie was. A few examples were Jamestown being one giant forest, the Indians spoke English (most movies do this), Pocahontas and John Smiths were adults when they met (more like 11 and 28 years old), or John Smith being tall, handsome, blond, and blue eyes (the complete opposite).  This is not the only movie that is very historically incorrect, but several. One movie with some pretty awesome graphics is the movie “300″. A film based on the comic book by Frank Miller. Notorious for that one liner everyone quotes and the fast to slow motion then back to fast movements. I think the movie “300″ is another movie where Hollywood changes its historical background for cinematic appeal.

One obvious thing viewers can pick out in the movie is how the Spartans were nothing but underwear and a cape. The real Spartans actually had on full body armor. Of course, to barely have any armor with ridiculous six packs gives the Spartans a greater affect. If the Spartans had on full body armor, then the movie would not have been more appealing because of its plot. How only 300 Spartans took on an entire Persian army. To have them with nothing but their swords and spears with just a helmet and shield makes the Spartans more impressive.

Another historical inaccuracy is the way the Persian army looked. While watching the movie, the Persian army looked like dark creepy monsters. Their animals looked like something that came out of Lord of the Rings or how the soldiers had a face like Freddy Krueger. Some people comment that the way they depicted the Persians seemed racist. Once again, Hollywood does this to have a cinematic appeal. In the movie, the Persians looked like monsters, but in reality, they were people like the Spartans (wearing nothing but underwear and a ripped six pack)

When thinking about the villain Xerxes in “300″. Accurately, Xerxes is a Persian ruler looking like any person. But in the film, they made him into this eight foot tall giant with several piercings and looking very feminine. They do this for a reason being to look down on the Persians as lower beings. As Spartans, they were seen as these noble people fighting for what was right. All in all, there are several flaws in the movie, but for the reason to make it visually appealing. There was the “300″ documentary that did come out TV which explains what really happen. “300″ or “Pocahontas” are not the only movies that are historically incorrect and future films will probably do the same. In a way, you have to remember, it’s just a movie.

I commented on Cory Finch’s and Mike Giffith’s

Animation Project – Stop Motion

Here is my animation project. Hope you enjoy!

Blog Entry #10 – Paper Skateboarders

Paper Skateboarder

I wasn’t able to upload the video, but here is a link to it above. The video is fun to watch and very creative in a different way. It’s just pictures from skateboard magazines frame by frame and then put into motion. I can see it in a commercial or some music video. It nearly looks like it was actual skateboarders doing tricks but with some effects. Instead, it is another impressive thing one can do with stop motion. I think this animation is very interesting because there is absolute freedom to express an idea. The music along with the lighting and background compliments with the animation thus making it more effective.

From the first (13 seconds) in, we see a bunch of cut out pictures standing on top of a turntable spinning. Then it transitions into this arty skateboard video. We can definitely see the cutouts of the trees, the backgrounds, and even the skateboarders. It was something simple turned into something so complex. This video did not seem it cost that much too make. Just some supplies from your arts and crafts store and book you have lying around. In the description, the creator said it took three red bulls and 30 hours to make this 1:31 video. That’s not a lot of time spent on it and it already is amazing. Tons of animations take way longer than that even if it is just a minute long. For it to be stop motion is crazy. The interesting thing about this video is the way the artist was able to place the skateboarders in to place making the tricks look smooth. All in all, it was a fun creative video to watch that should be in a commercial on television.

I commented on Mannon Butt’s and Cory Finch’s

Blog Entry #9 – Rymdreglage 8-bit trip!!

This is what I’m talking about! A music video with Legos and stop-motion! I can see the comparison between the two because when we look at old video games in 8- bit form, they look like Lego blocks. I think this is a real creative music video because it shows how impressive animation can be with something so simple like Lego blocks can be something so complex. Plus the song is so appropriate for the video!

I saw this video on Youtube and read the description for it. It took 1500 hours to complete the whole project. This video is a little under 4 minutes long and a lot is going on during the video. You can tell that they put a lot of effort in it. There are so many video game references such as Pac Man, Dig Dug, and Mario. This music video had me sold when they built Mega Man. This was not simple stop motion and it makes you appreciate the art of it. From the beginning of the video it starts off simple, but then it just takes it to a whole other level. Watching this video makes me wonder “How did they do that?” All in all, this was a fun video to watch, the title speaks for itself, and this is way better than White Stripes “Fell in love with a girl” music video.

I commented on Mike Giffith’s and Bradley Schoolfield’s

Blog Entry #8 – SyFy Channel’s Animations

I am usually flipping channels trying to find something entertaining to watch on TV. Somehow, it always ends up on the SyFy Channel. Whether it is about “The Snakeman” “El Chupacabra” or my favorites the “Transmorphers” series. We know that these films are awful but some of us can’t stop watching them. The animations on movies like “Megalodon” are completely fake and not smooth at all. Since they look like a beginner’s first animation project ever, the creatures don’t look scary at all.  These SyFy movies are seen more as a comedy rather than horror. The acting doesn’t help either. I believe these SyFy movies are not successful animation-wise because it fails to capture the audience in believing the creatures. I know these movies are bad but because they are so cheesy, it’s fun to watch. These films are not a complete failure since more and more are being made. These SyFy movies are just a good example of what not to do if you want to be taken seriously. But, these films do help jump start careers of famous actors, animators, and give washed up actors a job.

Transmorphers

Sometimes I wonder if the people who make these films know it’s bad. A film like “Transmorphers” are made from this one studio company called “Asylum” who is notorious for making B-Rated films to big Blockbuster ones like “Transformers”. If you skip to that clip above to 13 seconds in, the animation on the robots look completely awful. If this was made during the 80′s or 90′s then this would be top of the line animation. This in a way can be bad because technology is advancing from what we see in “Avatar” . We do not exactly appreciate these B-Rated movies that do not have the same funds for top of the line animations. I repeat though, the acting doesn’t help either.

Watching cheesy SyFy movies is a guilty pleasure. I personally enjoy watching them. The production is not great but we have to understand that production cost a lot to fund and some studios have to work with their small budget. These films are meant to be bad because they’re considered a B movie. Either way, I believe in the philosophy “If something is so bad then it’s good.” Also I repeat for the third time, the acting does not help these films to be appreciated.

Megalodon

I commented on Mike Giffith’s and Hayleigh Allingham’s

Midterm Blog Specimen

Blog Specimen #1 – Blog Entry #2 – Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Blog Specimen #2 – Blog Entry #3 – Beast Wars

Feature Film Blog

The feature length I chose is “Fantastic Mr. Fox” an animated stop motion movie directed by Wes Anderson. Watching previous films of Anderson such as “The Royal Tenenbaums”, “Rushmore”, and “Life Aquatics with Steve Zissou” this one is a bit different. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is Wes Anderson’s first animated film ever and sure enough a real good one that was nominated for an Oscar. The film is an adaptation based on the book by Roald Dahl. The stop motion on this film is smooth and detailed in every way. From the nasty toes of the farmers to Mr. Fox’s tail being blown off. I believe that this film worked real well because the creativeness of stop motion combined with Wes Anderson’s style created such a great adaptation of Roald Dahl’s infamous book.

Each character had such a unique quality in them. Ash; Mr. Fox’s son is a example we can use. When Ash is mad he tends to cross his hands and spits. In the scene where Mr. Fox is discussing with Mrs. Fox how Ash is different at breakfast. Ash hears this while he is brushing his teeth. Ash looks at Mr. Fox and spits on the floor. Another character is Kylie; Mr. Fox’s partner in crime, he tends to have crazy eyes. Mr. Fox always brings it up every time he talks to Kylie how he needs Kylie to give him some kind of signal that he understands what Mr. Fox is talking about. The animation of Kylie’s crazy eyes are two eyeballs that are swirls rather than circle when he has a close up shot. The film tends to answer what the viewers might be thinking like how did Mr. and Mrs. Fox escaped in an impossible trap in the beginning of the film. THEY DUG THEIR WAY OUT!

One quirky thing Wes Anderson tends to do in his film is to come up with something clever. Since the film had a PG rating, it did not have any curse words. But, instead of using the “F” word they would use the word “Cuss” as a replacement. One scene was funny between Badger (Voiced by Bill Murrary) and Mr. Fox (George Clooney). Mr. Fox asked to Badger if he was “Cussing” at him. Badger asked Mr. Fox the same thing and they go into this savage like fight in Badger’s law firm office.

One of the messages “Fantastic Mr. Fox” brings up is how we’re all wild animals. Even the humans in the film are savage in how they will not stop trying to kill Mr. Fox. We see these animals have human like qualities like in any other cartoons. Where we see them all dressed up as humans, act like humans, talk perfect English, but yet they tend to have a wild side to them. It goes to show about animal instincts in certain scenarios like when one is mad or in a desperate situation, our animal instincts kicks in. For Mr. Fox, he growls and makes fox like noises. Mr. Fox even brings it up a lot especially at the end when he gives his epic speech. How we’re all wild animals, we all have some qualities in us that made us survive for so long. Then he goes ranting to each character their given Latin name for Badger, Mouse, and what not. Going back to the farmers and how they relate to the animals. They are seen as savages. Even at the end, they would not stop trying to kill Mr. Fox and his family. They waited with their guns in front of the whole. I thought it it was a bit too much when they ordered 500 rounds of ammunition and bulldozers trying to get Mr. Fox. It was weird how Mr. Fox spoke to the farmers and they understand what he said. All in all, the animation on this film is a victory for stop motion and Wes Anderson’s vision of this classic book is amazing!