Michael Sporn Animation – Splog

- I’m a fan of Terrytoon cartoons. Yes, it’s a guilty pleasure. I don’t like them just for the Jim Tyer animation – but, of course, I do love the Jim Tyer animation.

I recognize how poor they are, compared to the other films being produced at the time (but they’re arguably better than most animation being produced today.) But there’s something about that Phil Schieb music that gets me. Or to hear some of those sound effects; the ploppy splashes of water on the sound effects brings it all back.

What a pleasure, then, to see the recent posts on the Hollywood Animation Archive Blog. There are the model sheets posted now. They’re attached to an appreciation of the film, The Tempermental Lion, which is also posted.

(Click either image to enlarge.)

The same site features the Nat Falk book, How To Make Animated Cartoons post #1 and post #2. This is a Terry-centric book written in 1941 with a foreward by Paul Terry.

I have another Nat Falk book in my collection which is, unfortunately, currently in storage. Eventually, I’ll post it when I can get it out.
In the meantime, posted are a Mighty Mouse and a Tom Terrific model sheet, neither of which appeared on their site.

There was a time in my childhood when I was addicted to Mighty Mouse. I drew the character everywhere, all the time. All of my schoolbooks became flipbooks of Mighty Mouse. It was obsessive for a while – though I don’t think anyone noticed but me.

The NYTimes, today, has an article about James Cameron‘s next film. It’s expensive, of course, and will use cgi characters as no one has done in the past. Apparently, MoCap actors will be combined with real actors, and it seems they’ll be shot at the same time.

“For its aliens, “Avatar” will present characters designed on the computer, but played by human actors. Their bodies will be filmed using the latest evolution of motion-capture technology — markers placed on the actor and tracked by a camera — while the facial expressions will be tracked by tiny cameras on headsets that will record their performances to insert them into a virtual world.”

“The most important innovation thus far has been a camera, designed by Mr. Cameron and his computer experts, that allows the director to observe the performances of the actors-as-aliens, in the film’s virtual environment, as it happens.”

Now MoCap will not only replace animators but live actors as well. Good luck.

The NYTimes today also has a review by Dave Kehr of the 4 additions to the Disney Treasures series of DVD’s. All praise Leonard Maltin.

“The Complete Pluto, Volume Two” takes Mickey’s oddly disadvantaged animal companion (why is Pluto the only resident of Disneyland who isn’t able to speak?) from 1947 to 1951, and represents Disney product at its least distinguished, most industrial level.

Far more intriguing are “Your Host, Walt Disney” — five episodes from Disney’s weekly television show, all with Uncle Walt — and, supremely, “More Silly Symphonies, Volume Two,” a gathering of work from 1929 to 1938, most of it very seldom seen.

Subscribe to the comments through RSS Feed