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!
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!
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 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.
