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Pixar Working Hard, Animation at Pacific Film Archives by Karl Cohen
Pixar prez Ed Catmull praises the animation program at Brigham Young University a couple of years ago. photo: courtesy BYU
Catmull Announces New Pixar Plan
Pixar's new plan is to produce an original feature each year and probably a sequel or prequel every other year. Ed Catmull, who is the President of Pixar/Disney's Animation Studio, has told the press that the studio plans to scale back its production of sequels and prequels.
“For artistic reasons," Catmull said, "It’s really important that we do an original film a year. Every once in a while, we get a film where we want or people want to see something continuing in that world — which is the rationale behind the sequel. They want to reuse characters."
"That means we were successful with them. But if you keep doing that, then you aren’t doing original films.”
How successful will Pixar be trying to move forward? Can they avoid Disney’s CEO trying to interfere with their story decisions? Disney is beholden to stockholders, not to the desire to create brilliant original work unless it is likely to be extremely profitable.
Moreover, how original can they be if they are under a lot of pressure to create features primarily for young audiences? Finally, does Pixar have the story people today that can equal the talent that created their most brilliant features?
Joe Ranft (lots of story supervising and voices) died; Glenn McQueen (lots of animation) has left; Brad Bird ("The Incredibles", 2004, and "Ratatouille, 2007) hasn’t been inspired to create another masterpiece; and others have moved on. I also suspect Steve Jobs had a major role in shaping Pixar's work.
As far as I know Ed Catmull’s brilliance is with technical development, not story, so does John Lasseter have the brain trust surrounding him that can revitalize the studio’s creative and artistic freedom? Time will tell.
Brenda Chapman, first woman to helm an animated feature, 'The Prince of Egypt' (1998), in a happier moment at the beginning of 'Brave'. photo: courtesy Pixar
Why Was Chapman Removed from Pixar's Brave?
For those who wondered why Brenda Chapman was relieved of her job directing “Brave” (2012) at Pixar, Cartoon Brew.com reports (posted July 16) there was friction between her and Pixar CEO John Lasseter.
Chapman claimed Lasseter is micromanaging Pixar. As a result she is back at DreamWorks Animation where the environment is pleasant and it allows people to be more creative.
Lasseter Becomes Academy Vice President
Already a governor of the Academy’s short and feature animation branch and previously the Academy’s treasurer and secretary, the well-laurelled chief of creative at Disney and Pixar, John Lasseter, has taken on even more responsibilities.
He been elected the First Vice President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He is also is chief creative officer at Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
The new president is Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the first African-American and third woman to head the 86-year-old organization. She is a marketing executive who has worked for Paramount and New Line.
Actress Bette Davis held the post of president in 1941, and screenwriter Fay Kanin served for four years from 1979-83.
A scene from Stacey Steers' 'Night Hunter' about Lillian Gish. photo: courtesy S. Steers
Experimental Animation at Pacific Film Archive Soon
“Lost And Found: Recent Experimental Animation” will screen on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 7:00 pm, at the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley. Lawrence Jordan, Kerry Laitala, James Sansing and Stacey Steers will appear in person at this screening.
I’ve seen “Night Hunter” by Steers and it is a fascinating surreal experience using old still images of Lillian Gish (probably frame grabs from her silent movies). In it, she appears to be part bird and in one sequence lays large eggs in her home. Lots of animated creatures add to the mystery of this lonely environment.
A surreal film I look forward to seeing is “Solar Sight II” by Jordan. He is a highly accomplished animator who taught at the SF Art Institute until he retired a few years ago. The archive’s program describes it as: “Bits of intricate lace, an outdated video game, and a water-soaked ledger are among the disparate materials used to create the animation art in this program."
"The silent-film actress Lillian Gish, magic lantern slides relating the story of 'Alice in Wonderland', and J.M.W. Turner’s painting Slave Ship are among the artists’ inspirations. Whether dreamscapes or videoscapes, hand-painted films or videos painted with computer pixels, these works suggest the diversity evident in recent experimental animation.”
Scene from Ghostbot's 'Written by a Kid: La Munkya'. photo: courtesy Ghostbot
The program also includes “Slave Ship” by T. Marie (silent, color, digital video); “Point de Gaze” by Jodie Mack (silent, color, 16mm); “Ceibas: Epilogue—The Well of Representation” by Evan Meaney (color, digital video); “Verses” by James Sansing, 2012 (silent, color/B&W, 35mm); and “Conjuror’s Box” by Kerry Laitala (silent, color, 35mm); total running time: 54 minutes.
Ghostbot Does Ottawa
Ghostbot will show “Written by a Kid: La Munkya" at the Ottawa Animation Festival. It stars La Munkya, a ravenous horse made of paper whose off-the-wall journey from the county fair to the county jail is the subject of a delightfully strange tale told by a very cute "animated" 6 year-old Emily. See it at here.
Lithgow Gets Algebra Lessons
Karen Lithgow's publisher, The Phoenix Learning Group, has launched a website for the project—www.animatedalgebra.net—which provides animated algebra lessons. The first two of seven lessons are available for download and sale for home and school use (for Mac and PC). She has been working for many months to make this happen.
“I'm quite pleased and am working on the third lesson, Exponents, to be released this fall," says Lithgow. "I chose the 2 most difficult topics to create first, The Slope Intercept and Quadratic Equations. The rest of them should be easier to make."
"I get on great with my Phoenix contact," she added, "They made a wonderful website, logo and marketing materials for me."
In Zynga's new game 'Hidden Shadows', you look for clues and solve crimes. photo: courtesy Zynga
Zynga Is Outsourcing
A news item from India proudly announced “Team Zynga India has successfully brought out its first global game that saw its Facebook June release…”
The multi-player game is “Hidden Shadows” where you solve crime mysteries, uncover corruption, and other crime-stopping adventures with the help of supernatural powers.
It has over 34 million users each month. “FarmVille 2,” once Zynga’s most popular game, has fallen to the third spot with 31 million players.
Canemaker Cheered at Castro
As part of the Silent Film Festival John Canemaker presented a tribute to the pioneering cartoonist/animator Winsor McCay and got a long standing ovation at the bejeweled Castro Theater.
The reason for calling attention to McCay's outstanding ability to entertain, charm and educate an audience at the same time is let you know Canemaker will be at the Walt Disney Family Museum for a panel discussion on the work of Bruno Bozzetto on Sat., Nov. 23.
The latter program will complement the opening of a special Bozzetto exhibition on Thursday, Nov. 21. Canemaker will also be at the Disney Museum the week of March 11, 2014, for the opening of a special exhibition on Mary Blair that he’s curating. He will also be presenting a talk about Mary Blair an important Disney animator (1911-78).
If you are a serious lover of animation, don’t miss seeing him talk when he returns to San Francisco! John is a remarkable person who has written several books about animation, has won an Oscar and other honors for his animated shorts and is the head of the animation program at NYU.
Wong at Disney Museum
Tyrus Wong, a Disney legend whose watercolors influenced “Bambi”, is currently at The Walt Disney Family Museum with a show entitled: “Water To Paper, Paint To Sky: The Art Of Tyrus Wong”.
Moreover, the show goes far beyond Wong’s career at Disney in this retrospective exhibition featuring more than 150 works. He was at Warner Bros. for over 30 years creating concept art, storyboards and more for major features.
The exhibition includes paintings, hand painted ceramics and silk scarves, original greeting cards, works on paper, and his latest work that includes handmade and hand-painted kites. The show ends Feb. 3, 2014.
Cartoon by Michael Jantze. illo: M. Jantze
Jantze’s Next Piece Well Financed
This summer Michael Jantze left a teaching position in Georgia and moved back to the Bay Area—his hometown, in fact, San Anselmo—with his family and dogs.
He will stay busy writing “The Norm,” his syndicated comic strip, and directing his own animation and, in fact, his next personal work will be very well financed.
He ran an Indiegogo campaign to help him finish a graphic novel that stars his character “The Norm.” Although he only asked for $7,500, he raised $22,660! The book will be titled “Knocked Out Loaded.” For details visit Jantz.com or go here.
Superman Celebration
"Superman: A 75th Anniversary Celebration" is a good-sized exhibit at the Cartoon Art Museum. It includes some animation and ends September 29, 2013.
Animation Association Has Screening
ASIFA-SF, The Bay Area’s Animation Association Is Presenting two major screenings on Monday, September 23. This is a must-see for those who enjoy seeing films that will be considered for Academy Award nomination. This will be ASIFA's 15th Annual Animation Show Of Shows and will feature special guest artists.
Then on Friday September 27, ASIFA will present “Recent Films from the National Film Board Of Canada’s Acclaimed Animation Studios,” with celebrated directors Chris Landreth and Theodore Ushev in person. Both events are free to members and their guests. Not a member? Visit http://www.asifa-sf.org for membership information.