East Coast animators paid less than West Coasters
Of late we've been much focused on the economics of creating comics as a career, and the challenges of such an undertaking. Animation is often viewed as the "money spout" for comics types—more competition, more exposure more money. But an investigation by animation writer Amid Amidi reveals a disquieting story about East Coast animators getting paid much less than their West Coast analogs, even when employed by two branches of the same company, Titmouse Animation. In fact, in the NY office, animators are being paid $400 a week to work on Disney's Motorcity cartoon. In LA, a similar job for the same company pays a union-scale $1,055 a week.
Continue ReadingWATCH: MetLife’s cartoon team-up Super Bowl ad
Or as Damon Lindelof tweeted, Voltron has life insurance? I cry foul, MetLife. The video shows every cartoon character from Charlie Brown to Jabberjaw joining together to celebrate the Affordable Care Act, MetLife's commitment to affordable insurance. It is questionable whether everyone in the spot would currently be insurable, however, due to some preexisting conditions. Fat Albert is at risk for Type 2 diabetes due to his weight and unhealthy lifestyle, for instance. He-Man's dangerous deeds would lead to sky-high premiums as defending the universe from evil-doers can be a very hazardous profession. Casper the Friendly Ghost is already dead, so presumably would be uninsurable on that basis.
Continue ReadingSCOOP: From the people who brought you Adventure Time….James Kochalka’s SuperF***ers
Move over, Finn. Jack Krak is on his way. Over at the Cartoon Hangover blog, this image of James Kochalka's Superf***ckers has appeared with the headline "Too Wild For T.V." If you've read the debauched adventures of Kochalka's NSFW teen superheroes—imagine Beavis and Butthead without the intelligence and restraint—you know that any such cartoon WOULD be too wild for T.V. Frederator Studios, which runs the blog and produced such cartoon classics as Adventure Time and The Fairly Odd Parents has had Superf***ers in development for a while now—and now it's going to be seen as part of the massive new influx of programming on YouTube. Kochalka has already written 8 of the 12 episodes.
Continue ReadingAardman’s awesome DC Nation trailer
Okay this might just be the coolest comics-related promo of the year. Aardman Films, the claymation studio behind Wallace and Gromit, has made a promo piece for the DC Nation cartoon block debuting on the Cartoon Network later this year. It takes a conceit first used on their breakthrough film, CREATURE COMFORTS, which animated zoo goers comments on what the zoo animals might be thinking. In this case, they take kid's voicing various DC superheroes. The result is charming and fresh. If DC Nation has anything this good we're in for a treat.
Continue ReadingWilco produces new Popeye cartoon for “Dawned on Me” video
Much loved indie band Wilco is back with a new video—their first in 12 years—which doubles as a new Popeye cartoon. Directed by Darren Romanelli and art directed by Frank Caruso, the video recalls the classic Fleischer Bros. animation.
Continue ReadingCool free things: ADVENTURE TIME storyboard storybook
Another cool free thing on the internet! A downloadable book collecting the best storyboard spots featured on the Adventure Time tumblr. SInce Adventure Time is just one big indie comic come to life, by presenting these comics like storyboards, now we've come full circle.
Continue ReadingRare 12-minute Hobbit cartoon by Gene Deitch resurfaces
Don't have time to watch the whole two-movie HOBBIT from Peter Jackson, or even the Rankin Bass version? Well then maybe this 1968 "limited animation" version which clocks in at under 12 minutes is more your speed. It's actually a recently unearthed version of the Hobbit written by the legendary Gene Deitch (Tom and Jerry) and based on drawings by Czech illustrator Adolf Born. When we tell you you have never seen the Hobbit like this, we mean, You have never seen the Hobbit like this.
Continue ReadingDisney XD rolls out Marvel Universe programming block in April
From the moment Disney purchased Marvel, people were drawing a line between their Disney XD channel -- an attempt to lure more of the lucrative audience of young boys -- and the Marvel characters. Marvel animation has been running non-stop on the cable channel ever since, but in April, the Marvel Universe programming block will roll out with the new Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon as the tentpole. Produced by Man of Action — Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau and Steven Seagle—the creators behind Ben 10 and Generator Rex, with input from Jeph Loeb,joe Quesada and Brian Michael Bendis, the show does not lack for comic book bonafides. Plus, it's got JK Simmons reprising his lifetime role as J. Jonah Jameson. Soundboard that.
Continue ReadingHoliday reading: Dave Roman’s Christmas Cartoon Timeline!
Cartoonist/writer/editor Dave Roman has created a Christmas Classic:
Continue ReadingWatch the Neil Gaiman Simpsons episode
"The Book Job," the sixth episode of the 23rd season of The Simpsons, co-stars Neil Gaiman. Not in a cameo, but as the main storyline.
Continue ReadingHalloween Supplemental: Robot Chicken DC episode — The horrifying NSFW trailer
We meant to post this yesterday but somehow it got lost in the shuffle. This fall Robot Chicken — the toy-motion animation satire that uses lookalikes of your favorite childhood toys to enact grisly jokes — is doing an entire 15-minute episode devoted to DC comics. Recently, Geoff Johns, a past contributor to the show, linked to the trailer — which is NSFW, we might add. Robot Chicken is animated in the super bad style, and it's ugly all the way, but with its laser-cutting, bloody wrist stumps and cock ring humor, this is one of the most disturbing things we've ever seen. And to think that DC used to burn books just because it was suggested that Superman might drink a beer.
Continue ReadingGREAT ART: Mary Blair
It's Mary Blair's birthday and if Google can celebrate her, so can we. And so should we all. As an animator and designer, Blair is among the most influential artistic figures of the mid-century era, an icon and the creator of some of the loveliest art you'll ever see.
Continue ReadingBatman teams with Katana in BEWARE THE BATMAN cartoon
Batman's got a new cartoon and a new sidekick: Katana, the female ninja character created in the 80s and lately part of the New 52 Birds of Prey comic (above, foreground). Talking at the MIP JR tv conference in France, Cartoon Network programing head Sam Register said that BEWARE THE BATMAN will debut in 2013. In addition to katana, Batman will be teamed with a gun-toting Alfred.
Continue ReadingGender battles: Miyazaki is shocked to see a woman driving a bus
It might come as a shock that Hayao Miyazaki, the revered animator behind such enduring and magical characters as Totoro and Nausicaa -- a creator whose body of work nearly defines entertainment that everyone can enjoy -- might have some odd ideas about women animators but that's what this tweet seemed to imply:
Continue ReadingCartoon mash-up: David OReilly and NWA
New World Animation -- the makers of those amazing Taiwanese news cartoons -- and experimental animator David OReilly have teamed up! OReilly wrote and NWA animated -- in their typical deadline-busting style -- "Children's medium used for dissemination of truth." It's pretty cool but NWA should totally collaborate with other writers -- imagine Warren Ellis or Johnny Ryan writing an NWA cartoon.
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