Michael Sporn Animation – Splog

– Animation Magazine has an article and interview about the animation in the new film, Miss Potter. I enjoyed the film particularly the acting of Renee Zellweger and Emily Watson. There wasn’t a lot of animation, perhaps a minute or two done in snippets.

The animation was done at Passion Pictures by Alyson Hamilton. (Ms Hamilton also acts as Renee Zellweger’s hand double in the film.)

I thought the 2D animation captured the look of the Beatrix Potter drawings (though it was obviously colored digitally) but lacked in the actual movement. The animation, for my taste, was just too cute and exaggerated, Jemima Puddleduck in particular. As another animator at the screening suggested, Miss Potter might not have approved.

However, it’s nice to see the credits for the animation given at Animation Magazine. They weren’t elaborate on the film giving only a couple of overall credits.

There was once an article in Animation Magazine about this film to star Cate Blanchett with CG versions of the Beatrix Potter characters. We can only thank heaven better taste survived.

As Mark Mayerson points out, there’s little promotion built around animation; this film is a prime example. We have to search it out and celebrate it.

FPS has 6 views of the Year In Review for animated features. These commentaries are worth a read. I especially liked those of Bob Miller and Emru Townsend. A positive look-back to 2006.

My friend, Jason McDonald and his wife Dina Mermelstein had a baby boy on Jan. 3rd. Hugo McDonald. Jason has worked on many projects with us over many years. All the best wishes go out to all three of them.

As a result Jason will take a break from doing his weekly on-line comic strip, My Living Dead Girl. Jason also has a blog for the strip.

(Click on all images to enlarge.)

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