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Cohen’s Cartoon Corner July Edition
by Karl Cohen
That the Soviet spy Edith Tudor-Hart had a conscience is suggested by this photo. photo courtesy P. S. Jungk’sTwo Serious Docs at Jewish Film Festival
“Tracking Edith” is Peter Stephan Jungk’s fascinating documentary about spies which includes some animation. It retraces the path of his great-aunt Edith Tudor-Hart, née Suschitzky, from her Viennese youth through her years as a Soviet spy in Great Britain. Her life was marked by tumultuous love affairs, a short-lived marriage, a son who became mentally ill at an early age, a Bauhaus education, unheralded work as a photographer, and her recruitment of the notorious MI5 agent Kim Philby to spy for the Soviets.
Catch “Tracking Edith” at the Cinearts, Monday, July 24, 3:30 PM; the Castro, Tuesday, July 25, 2:25 PM; the Albany Twin, Tuesday, August 1, 2:00 PM.
In regards to another excellent doc, “More Alive than Dead”, the advanced program notes: “The legacy of Sigmund Freud is a slippery subject indeed. Whatever your views on the founder of psychoanalysis, there is no denying his incalculable influence on science, art, culture and even language." “More Alive than Dead” explores opinions about Freud over the years using some humor but also hilarious animation. Experts assess his influence on psychoanalysis, neurology, literature, the LGBT community, the economy and feminism—in other words, just about everything!
See “More Alive than Dead” at the Castro, Friday, July 21, 12:40 PM; Cinearts, Thursday, July 27, 1:50 PM; and Albany, Twin Friday, July 28 12:05 PM
The 2017 Spring Showcase of Animation
ASIFA-SF, the Bay Area’s Animation Association, working with the animation program at San Francisco City College, presented their sixth annual Animation Showcase, a juried program of student, independent and commercial work. The 90 minute program of 32 films was well received by an appreciative audience.
Later, ten of the artists took part in an informative Q & A. The program ranged from a brief film with delightful cutout figures by 4th graders, from the Diane Feinstein Elementary School, to exquisite artwork in two films by Little Fluffy Clouds (Jerry van de Beek and Betsy de Fries).
In “A Dream of Dolls Dancing” Christiane Cegavske, who teaches at the Kansas City Art Institute, breathes lifelike movements into her stop-motion puppets. Still images of her fascinating-looking creatures are at Christiane Cegavske.com.
'Pittari' by Patrick Smith and Blend Films, out of NYC, concerns a horned creature’s conflict with a stubborn foe. photo courtesy P. Smith“Pittari” by Patrick Smith is a powerful surreal work of art. An 18 second “trailer” is on his unique website.
For humor David Chai’s “swiPed” got the most laughs while Joanna Priestly’s “Bottle Neck” is a really handsome work of abstract art/design set to music. Coming from Europe there was “Tabook,” an amusing short about a young woman trying to hide her enthusiasm for a kinky publication from other shoppers in a bookstore.
In the end, the audience voted for their favorites. And the winners are: Best in show: “Catching the L Train” an independent production by Eric Raingruber, Modesto, CA; 1st Place, Independent: “Pittari” by Patrick Smith, New York City; 2nd Place, Independent: “Tabook” by Dario van Vree, music by Nik Phelps, Gent, Belgium; Honorable Mention: “swiPed” by David Chai, assisted by students from San Jose State; 1st Place, Professional: “As the River Flows” by Little Fluffy Clouds; 2nd Place, Professional: “It’s a Wonderful Loaf” by Little Fluffy Clouds; 1st Place, Student: “Anxiety” by Allison Jones, NYU Tisch School of the Arts; 2nd Place, Student: “Ted” by Tada Kongjonrak, Academy of Art, San Francisco.
For information about the SFCC animation program, contact . For information about ASIFA-SF, visit the site.
Shot from Pixar's 'Coco', which appears to be an innovative new offering from the hit-studded company. photo courtesy PixarThe Latest from Pixar
Pixar's latest animated feature, “Coco”, will have its world premiere in Morelia, Mexico, at the Morelia International Film Festival on Oct. 20, a few days before the nation's annual Day of the Dead festivities. The trailer for this film suggests it is an exciting, fresh and inventive production, not a sequel like “Cars 3,” which is a film designed to sell a line of toys to young kids.
Nevertheless, their "Cars" franchise can be fascinating and another big question from Pixar is: “Who will win the big race in ‘Cars 3’?” The Hollywood Reporter says the latest addition to this billion dollar series will give race car fans lots of action to enjoy.
“The franchise returns to its core values," The Hollywood Reporter noted recently. "In the wake of the noisy misfire that was 2011’s 'Cars 2', the Pixar pit crew ran the diagnostics and were able to pinpoint the winning formula of humor, heart and action (along with an added dose of Route 66-informed nostalgia) that made the 2006 original such a sweet ride. They all make a welcome return in 'Cars 3' but, while visually dynamic, Lightning McQueen’s newest challenge still feels out of alignment with a languid end result that lacks sufficient forward momentum.”
Shot from Pixar's 'Cars3' addressing the big question: who will win? photo courtesy PixarThe following day the paper added, “Given the enduring good will generated by the first installment, the franchise, which has to date grossed well over $1 billion and sold countless billions more in four-wheeled merchandise, should expect similarly strong, school’s-out business, even with the picture’s less-than-zippy performance.”
Indeed, other publications gave the film faint praise. USA Today said it "at least tries." Vox said it "gets back to what made the franchise adequate." Entertainment Weekly said, "[it] doesn't have that much going on under the hood," while Indiewire called it the "best entry in Pixar’s weakest franchise." While Rotten Tomatoes gave it a score of “63%,” The SF Chronicle summed it up by saying, "If you love competition between race cars you will love the film, but everyone else will be disappointed."
Although the online trailers suggest “Cars 3” is mostly a series of action packed NASCAR-type race sequences with impressive, almost photo-realistic cars and backgrounds, a few days after it opened, The Hollywood Reporter ran an article asking if kids can relate to its adult themes. They called it “a well-meaning but misconceived sports/action-comedy that concludes that passing the baton, and gracefully sharing a stage with young up-and-comers, is just as satisfying as enjoying your day in the sun.”
Pixar's 'Lou' concerns a transformable boy confronting a bully. photo courtesy PixarAccording to writer Bill Desowitz who saw Pixar’s “Lou” with the world premiere of “Cars 3” in France, Lou is an anthropomorphic character who confronts a bully after he steals from other kids in a schoolyard. Lou can change his shape by obtaining different parts from a box of stuff. “Baseballs become Lou’s eyes, a book becomes his mouth, a baseball mitt and slinky become his hand and arm, and a hoodie becomes his body.” Somehow he manages to hold together as he runs after and defeats the bully.
“We’re cramming so much stuff into the film that people don’t get a break until… toward the end,” said director Dave Mullins. He has worked at Pixar in various roles since 2001.
Karl Cohen is an animator, educator and director of the local chapter of the International Animation Society and can be reached . Posted on Jul 12, 2017 - 05:29 AM
by Karl Cohen
That the Soviet spy Edith Tudor-Hart had a conscience is suggested by this photo. photo courtesy P. S. Jungk’s“Tracking Edith” is Peter Stephan Jungk’s fascinating documentary about spies which includes some animation. It retraces the path of his great-aunt Edith Tudor-Hart, née Suschitzky, from her Viennese youth through her years as a Soviet spy in Great Britain. Her life was marked by tumultuous love affairs, a short-lived marriage, a son who became mentally ill at an early age, a Bauhaus education, unheralded work as a photographer, and her recruitment of the notorious MI5 agent Kim Philby to spy for the Soviets.
Catch “Tracking Edith” at the Cinearts, Monday, July 24, 3:30 PM; the Castro, Tuesday, July 25, 2:25 PM; the Albany Twin, Tuesday, August 1, 2:00 PM.
In regards to another excellent doc, “More Alive than Dead”, the advanced program notes: “The legacy of Sigmund Freud is a slippery subject indeed. Whatever your views on the founder of psychoanalysis, there is no denying his incalculable influence on science, art, culture and even language." “More Alive than Dead” explores opinions about Freud over the years using some humor but also hilarious animation. Experts assess his influence on psychoanalysis, neurology, literature, the LGBT community, the economy and feminism—in other words, just about everything!
See “More Alive than Dead” at the Castro, Friday, July 21, 12:40 PM; Cinearts, Thursday, July 27, 1:50 PM; and Albany, Twin Friday, July 28 12:05 PM
The 2017 Spring Showcase of Animation
ASIFA-SF, the Bay Area’s Animation Association, working with the animation program at San Francisco City College, presented their sixth annual Animation Showcase, a juried program of student, independent and commercial work. The 90 minute program of 32 films was well received by an appreciative audience.
Later, ten of the artists took part in an informative Q & A. The program ranged from a brief film with delightful cutout figures by 4th graders, from the Diane Feinstein Elementary School, to exquisite artwork in two films by Little Fluffy Clouds (Jerry van de Beek and Betsy de Fries).
In “A Dream of Dolls Dancing” Christiane Cegavske, who teaches at the Kansas City Art Institute, breathes lifelike movements into her stop-motion puppets. Still images of her fascinating-looking creatures are at Christiane Cegavske.com.
'Pittari' by Patrick Smith and Blend Films, out of NYC, concerns a horned creature’s conflict with a stubborn foe. photo courtesy P. SmithFor humor David Chai’s “swiPed” got the most laughs while Joanna Priestly’s “Bottle Neck” is a really handsome work of abstract art/design set to music. Coming from Europe there was “Tabook,” an amusing short about a young woman trying to hide her enthusiasm for a kinky publication from other shoppers in a bookstore.
In the end, the audience voted for their favorites. And the winners are: Best in show: “Catching the L Train” an independent production by Eric Raingruber, Modesto, CA; 1st Place, Independent: “Pittari” by Patrick Smith, New York City; 2nd Place, Independent: “Tabook” by Dario van Vree, music by Nik Phelps, Gent, Belgium; Honorable Mention: “swiPed” by David Chai, assisted by students from San Jose State; 1st Place, Professional: “As the River Flows” by Little Fluffy Clouds; 2nd Place, Professional: “It’s a Wonderful Loaf” by Little Fluffy Clouds; 1st Place, Student: “Anxiety” by Allison Jones, NYU Tisch School of the Arts; 2nd Place, Student: “Ted” by Tada Kongjonrak, Academy of Art, San Francisco.
For information about the SFCC animation program, contact . For information about ASIFA-SF, visit the site.
Shot from Pixar's 'Coco', which appears to be an innovative new offering from the hit-studded company. photo courtesy PixarPixar's latest animated feature, “Coco”, will have its world premiere in Morelia, Mexico, at the Morelia International Film Festival on Oct. 20, a few days before the nation's annual Day of the Dead festivities. The trailer for this film suggests it is an exciting, fresh and inventive production, not a sequel like “Cars 3,” which is a film designed to sell a line of toys to young kids.
Nevertheless, their "Cars" franchise can be fascinating and another big question from Pixar is: “Who will win the big race in ‘Cars 3’?” The Hollywood Reporter says the latest addition to this billion dollar series will give race car fans lots of action to enjoy.
“The franchise returns to its core values," The Hollywood Reporter noted recently. "In the wake of the noisy misfire that was 2011’s 'Cars 2', the Pixar pit crew ran the diagnostics and were able to pinpoint the winning formula of humor, heart and action (along with an added dose of Route 66-informed nostalgia) that made the 2006 original such a sweet ride. They all make a welcome return in 'Cars 3' but, while visually dynamic, Lightning McQueen’s newest challenge still feels out of alignment with a languid end result that lacks sufficient forward momentum.”
Shot from Pixar's 'Cars3' addressing the big question: who will win? photo courtesy PixarIndeed, other publications gave the film faint praise. USA Today said it "at least tries." Vox said it "gets back to what made the franchise adequate." Entertainment Weekly said, "[it] doesn't have that much going on under the hood," while Indiewire called it the "best entry in Pixar’s weakest franchise." While Rotten Tomatoes gave it a score of “63%,” The SF Chronicle summed it up by saying, "If you love competition between race cars you will love the film, but everyone else will be disappointed."
Although the online trailers suggest “Cars 3” is mostly a series of action packed NASCAR-type race sequences with impressive, almost photo-realistic cars and backgrounds, a few days after it opened, The Hollywood Reporter ran an article asking if kids can relate to its adult themes. They called it “a well-meaning but misconceived sports/action-comedy that concludes that passing the baton, and gracefully sharing a stage with young up-and-comers, is just as satisfying as enjoying your day in the sun.”
Pixar's 'Lou' concerns a transformable boy confronting a bully. photo courtesy Pixar“We’re cramming so much stuff into the film that people don’t get a break until… toward the end,” said director Dave Mullins. He has worked at Pixar in various roles since 2001.
Karl Cohen is an animator, educator and director of the local chapter of the International Animation Society and can be reached . Posted on Jul 12, 2017 - 05:29 AM
