Open Season

ooo and check out the new trailer for Open Season.
I love the bear at the end.

LINK

open season 

Monstories

A couple of good friends of mine whom I went to school with have recently started their own studio called Facelift Prod.
They've created a series of shorts called Monstories, which are charming in every way.

Short, funny and to the point I'm sure we'll be seeing more of these in the near future.

You can check out their latest short at their site HERE.

Monstories 

Richard Scarry

Well I've finally finished off my last show and am just begining another so I'll have a bit more time to post.

Below are a couple of images from famed childrens illustrator Richard Scarry.

If you are at all familiar with his work you'd know he sure could draw. An inspiration to millions of kids who have, at one time or another, picked up one of his Biggest Books Ever.

I have been unable to come up with a suitable link for him so for now you'll just have to use Google to track him down.

Richard Scarry1 

Richard Scarry 

Don Bluth

Now don't get me wrong, story is not one of his strong points. And I'm by no means a fan of rotoscoping and using stats....BUT, Don Bluth was a major influence on myself and others while going to Sheridan college studying animation. His early films are great and have great animation, layouts fx and colour.

It's hard to put into words but his stuff was the last of the old Disney style of animation. Animation that seemed to be based on placement of drawings for timing rather than futzing around with a program to get it right. The drawings themselves were beautiful to look at.
If you've ever had the chance to hear Don Bluth speak you'd find yourself mesmorized. He has a great ability to inspire based on his passion for the art form.

I suppose that's why people keep giving him money to make films like Thumbelina. It's too bad things worked out the way they did. However, we will always have Secret of Nimh.

Dragon's Lair 

Got any of these?

Here's a link to just about every Flinstone book ever made. The images are a little small but cool just the same.

LINK

Flintstones book 

Toontracker

One of my favourite sites filled to the brim with animated reference of old shows.
If you haven't already, check out Toontracker.com

dthomas show 

family dog 

Two greats

Below is a great picture of Iwao Takamoto. Responsible for many great memorable designs he is truly a living legend, and still working today. You can read about him and other legends over at Bob Clampett studios. A great little site devoted to preserving the memory of one of animations finest.

Check it out HERE

Bob Clampett 

Iwao Takamoto 

Loobylu

A great little site with more than your basic animation type stuff. I posted it before and felt it would be a good idea to post it again as it is always changing. Blogs will do that.

Check it out HERE

Loobylu 

Gallery

The images below are from an animation gallery which can be a great resource for original drawings and inspirational studies.
You can often find incredible images that you would never find in a book or on model sheets.
Take for example the Chuck Jones illustrations below. There are also lots of sketches from Ken Anderson and Eyvind Earle.

Check it out HERE