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

 

 

Chuck Jones 

Daws Butler

Can you possibly imagine what it would have been like to animate to this guys voice? Amazing.
I mean you just close your eyes and you can see characters moving. Not many voice actors today can pull it off. What a range. Check out his early demo reel under sounds.

HERE

Daws 

Daws Butler 

Wednesday

I'm still fighting a deadline so the posts will continue to be sparse for at least another week.
However, here's one for Warner Bros. fans.

A sight dedicated to inside jokes and gags found in the classic Warner cartoons. Anyone familiar with the artists who worked on these will be able to find these hidden on cans bilboards windows boxes etc.

Enjoy...........LINK

gags 

Gags 

Wednesday

One of my favourite studios. Always exploring new techniques. Check out their 'news ' section for the link to the 'cbeebies' commercial below.

HERE

cbeebies 

Tuesday

Well the day has finally arrived where due to deadlines and such I have been unable to update daily. Oh Well.
At any rate here are some truly wonderful drawings done by the living legend and ex Hanna Barbera designer, Ed Benedict.
The images come courtesy of Amid Amidi's animation blast site and if he still has them you should pick up the issue of animation blast which shocases Ed's fine work.(Issue 8 I believe)

Check out more HERE.

Ed Benedict 

Ed Benedict 

Ed Benedict 

ed benedict 

Thursday

Came across this great blog this morning. Has some great screen grabs from Toot Whistle Plunk and Boom.
Check it out at " The Ward-O-Matic"

Toot 1 

Toot 2 

Wednesday

If you haven't heard of Oh Yeah cartoons, It's an open call for pitches of all shapes and sizes. Frederator studios is hosting it and has been posting some images from some submissions.
Check them out HERE.

Frederator

Tuesday

Below, an illustration from Shannon McNeill.
Visit her site to see lots of cute little drawings.

LITTLE DRAWINGS

Shannon McNeill

Monday

Below you will find a link to a site with oodles of Title cards from all sorts of movies.
Many interesting fonts and compositions.
Check it out HERE.

Title cards