LEGO Dilbert

Unlike Calvin and Hobbes, this is a 'mosaic'.

As is this Mickey Mouse in the Sorcerer's Apprentice.



And this Wall-E.

March 21: Animated Environmental Film Features

National Geographic is showing two films - at noon, Spirit of the Forest with film maker Lucas Mackey of Spain in attendance.

At 2pm, Wall-E with Burt Berry, Shading Art Director for Wall-E.

Both are $5 tickets at http://www.nglive.org or 202-857-7700.

Local News and Reviews

A couple of local Bolt reviews, a surprise Wall-e review and a look at a Japanese cartoonist are in our local papers today:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/20/AR2008112003758.html
Disney's 'Bolt,' Picking Up Pixar's Trail
By Dan Kois
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, November 21, 2008; C01

http://www.dcexaminer.com/entertainment/Bolt_a_cute_tale_designed_for_younger_audiences_11_21.html
'Bolt' a cute tale designed for younger audiences
By Sally Kline
Washington Examiner Movie Critic 11/21/08


One Lovable 'WALLE,' Four Fantastic DVD Sets
By Jen Chaney
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Washington Post Friday, November 21, 2008; WE32

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/20/AR2008112003659.html
Kafka of the Cubicle
Japanese Cartoonist Chronicles the Indignities Endured by Young, Dutiful, Sad Office Drones
By Blaine Harden
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, November 21, 2008; A01

Hellboy game review in Onion UPDATED

This is in the physical paper this week - "Hellboy: Science Of Evil," Reviewed by Scott Jones, Onion July 21st, 2008.

Other items on comics are appearing on their website:

Jeff Smith
Interviewed by Tasha Robinson
Onion July 28th, 2008

Jules Feiffer
interviewed by Sam Adams
Onion July 29th, 2008

Mike Mignola
Interviewed by Jason Heller
July 24th, 2008

The Luna Brothers
Interviewed by Tasha Robinson
Onion July 25th, 2008

San Diego Comic Con, Day 0: July 23, 2008
By Keith Phipps
Onion July 24th, 2008


Your guide to the WALL-E controversy
posted by: Sean O'Neal
July 10, 2008

More messages in Wall-E

Besides environmental and consumer messages, some are finding second thoughts about music - "WALL E, 'Dolly!' And the Universe Of Musicals," By Jonathan Padget, Washington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, July 13, 2008; M03.

Wall-E continues to draw in editorial writers CORRECTED

The Washington Times goes first because I only saw theirs online - "'WALL-E's critics miss point: Pixar films have traditional values," Scott Galupo, Washington Times Friday, July 11, 2008.

The Post also ran one on Friday - "A Robot Who Offers Renewal" by Michael Gerson. Gerson writes, "'Wall-E' is partly an environmental parable, but its primary point is moral. The movie argues that human beings, aided by technology, can become imprisoned by their consumption. ... The pursuit of our rhinestone desires manages to obscure our view of the stars." A valid point, but one I feel a bit conflicted about, given that I am sitting alone retyping this, but also that I'm reaching a larger audience, some of whom have become my friends. (Thanks to alert reader Aziz Gökdemir who pointed out I had my newspapers mixed up!)

These Times demand the Times

5 comics-related pieces this Sunday:

"Michael Turner, 37, Creator of Superheroines, Is Dead," By GEORGE GENE GUSTINES, New York Times July 6, 2008

Rob Esmay, a local artist whose cartoons have appeared in The New Yorker curates an exhibit in a hardware store - "In Williamsburg Store, Customers Find Art Among the Wrenches," By JUSTIN PORTER, New York Times July 6, 2008

Hellboy II's director del Toro's character-design artwork is featured in "Elves and Killer Beanstalks From Director’s Personal ‘Hell’," By DAVE ITZKOFF, New York Times July 6, 2008 with audio commentary at "Dear Diary," New York Times July 6, 2008.

An editorial calls for a bold new direction - "Wall-E for President," By FRANK RICH, New York Times July 6, 2008.

Finally, Rutu Modan is doing the comic strip in the Magazine.

Payne, Bat-Senator and Wall-E complaint today in the Post

Caricaturist CF Payne has a large drawing of Tiger Woods on the front of a special AT&T National Section in today's paper. It's not online.

To read about the Bat-Senator, see "Leahy's Hat Trick as a Batman Cameo," By Mary Ann Akers And Paul Kane, Washington Post Thursday, July 3, 2008; Page A15...

...and a Letter writer to the Editor missed an e-bay opportunity:

Why a Movie Has Disney in the Dumps
Washington Post Thursday, July 3, 2008; Page A16

In his review of Pixar's new movie "Wall-E" ["From Pixar, a Droid Piece of Filmmaking," Style, June 27], John Anderson pointed out that the movie's dark messages are making co-producer and distributor Disney nervous.

Should I therefore assume that it was the Walt Disney Co.'s marketing machine that had the great idea to hand out useless, trashy plastic watches (complete with excessive packaging) to every child attending the movie? This movie is about the impact of trashing our planet -- literally.

My family came home from the movie with four of these watches. They are all in the garbage today, heading out to the dump to meet the tons of other silly, free plastic "toys" generated by Disney and distributed every day through McDonald's and Burger King.

If Disney is nervous about the movie, it is because the movie challenges the core of Disney's moneymaking strategy: insatiable consumerism.

ALLISON SCURIATTI
Washington

Friday's newspapers - Ed Arno, Wall-E and Wanted

In the local papers on Friday, one could find a lot of comics articles:

"Ed Arno, Cartoonist of New Yorker Whimsy, Is Dead at 92," By WILLIAM GRIMES, New York Times June 27, 2008 namechecks and quotes two bloggers, Michael Maslin and Mike Lynch. This is the first obituary I've seen that's taken information from blogs, I think.

Wall-E's all over the place:

"In a World Left Silent, One Heart Beeps," By A. O. SCOTT, New York Times June 27, 2008.

"From Pixar, A Droid Piece of Filmmaking," By John Anderson, Washington Post Friday, June 27, 2008; C01.

"'Wall•E's' world Strong visuals, comic brilliance can't save environmental fable," by Christian Toto, Washington Times Friday, June 27, 2008.

[this is longer than the print version...]
"Wall-E director Andrew Stanton," Interviewed by Tasha Robinson, Onion June 26th, 2008.

Millar and Jones' Wanted, based a comic that I hadn't read, was widely reviewed:

"'Wanted': This Angelina Jolie Is Not One for the Kiddies," By Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
Friday, June 27, 2008; C01.

"You Talkin' to Me, Boys? (Bang-Bang, My Pretties)," By MANOHLA DARGIS, New York Times June 27, 2008.

"Wanting more: A brotherhood of assassins fails to discover any deeper meaning," by Sonny Bunch, Washington Times Friday, June 27, 2008.

...a new tv cartoon - 'Three Delivery' - that I'll probably never see -

"With 3 You Get Egg Roll and a Side of Adventure," By MIKE HALE, New York Times June 27, 2008

...an animation voice was interviewed - the online version is much, much longer than the July 26th print one...

"Random Roles: Billy West," by David Wolinsky, June 18th, 2008.

Finally, it's online only this month, but the Onion also reviewed comic books...

"Comics Panel: June 27, 2008," Reviewed by Noel Murray, Keith Phipps, Tasha Robinson, Onion June 27th, 2008,

...and published this guide to Pixar...

"Primer: Pixar,"
by Donna Bowman, Noel Murray, Onion June 27th, 2008.

Whew! No wonder I'm two days late with this.

Today's newspapers roundup

Cartoon Network's Dethklok animation series - "As Seen on TV: Dethklok" by Glenn Dixon, Express June 26, 2008

Wall-E review - "Droid to the World," by Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper June 26, 2008.

Zadzooks on the Hulk - "ZADZOOKS: Hulk, foe take rivalry to stores," by Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, June 26, 2008.