Everything's Peachy

Spent the other day in at uni working on a collaborative project with other keen animators. Organised by lecturer Joe Brumm we worked from a base character which we adapted to suit our own style. Each animator did about 7 seconds of animation depicting the character in a typical teenage situation.

I'm excited about the result and think it will look fantastic as a complete film. It also gave us practical experience in working with a model sheet and in a studio format wherein deadlines were strict (one day!!) and everyone did only a small piece on a larger film. A great idea that I think will do well if entered into festivals.

Speaking of competition, I also entered the James and the Giant Peach comp on Deviant Art. My entry below. Check out my full folio at Deviant Art.

Toy Story 3

Was a bit wary of this one after the pioneering success of the first Toy Story film, and the continued box office smash of Toy Story 2, but Pixar seems to have pulled off a 3rd chapter in the franchise without compromising on character or storyline. One of the most particularly pleasing aspects of this film was the fact that there was a resolution and conclusion to the franchise without fear of another 4 Toy Story films being released with a lessening in the quality of the story.

This final chapter of Pixar's Toy Story CGI animation film tells the story of Andy's toys and the conundrum of what to do with childhood toys once you grow up and move off to College. The toys take matters into their own hands once they fear they will be tossed to the kerb and instead choose to be donated to the local childcare, a toy utopia where children are plentiful and always want to play. However all is not as it seems.

This film, like Shrek was also released predominantly in 3D and I must say that Im warming to it with CGI pieces. It seems to add a depth to the world of CGI animation that brings it almost to the realm of live action without crossing into the path of the uncanny valley. The animation, attention to detail and movement in this film are superb and its the tiny touches of character movement and individual toy habits that help this Toy Story to move beyond the sometimes awkward and clunky CGI animation world. Ken btw is a real winner and and Barbie is at first predictable but offers an inspiring and empowering character.

Pixar has truly outdone themselves and this final chapter of Toy Story is a must for anyone that had a favourite toy as a child or anyone who loves not just animation but film.

Wolverine Commission

Commission done for a toddler's room, which is why this Wolverine looks a lot friendlier than the original lol.