Showing posts with label animation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animation. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 06, 2013

Bambi wants YOU

Bambi Disney prevent forest fires poster

Disney's Bambi "Protect Our Forest Friends" by preventing wildfire poster, in Skyline, Falls Church, VA.

Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Feb 13-18: Disney on Ice returns

Disney on Ice: Treasure Trove - A Live Celebration of Disney's Animated Gems! will be at the Verizon Center from February 13-18th. $20-$75 for tickets. Save $5 with "Examiner" offer code.

Friday, June 08, 2012

Madagascar 3 voice actor article in today's Express

Page-Kirby, Kristen.  2012.
The Man Behind Melman: Schwimmer adds life to the giraffe in the third 'Madagascar.'
Express (June 8): 27

Monday, April 30, 2012

Meet a Local Animator: Neil Dittbenner


Neil Dittbenner was one of the local animators* at Gigacon at the Art Institute of Washington (which is actually in a lovely facility in the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington) this past January who kindly answered my usual questions.

Mike Rhode: What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

Neil Dittbenner: I am a Flash animator at Latman Interactive. I also do freelance work for animation studios in the D.C Metro area.


How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?

I enjoy experimenting with different mediums but, my tool of choice is Flash.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

I was born in Kansas City on May 31, 1986


Why are you in the Washington sphere now?  What neighborhood or area do you live in?
I moved to the area as a teenager and then attended The Art Institute of Washington. After school I stayed in the area working  as a subcontractor and freelance artist.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

Lots of television as a child and BFA from The Art Institute of Washington in Media Arts and Animation.

Who are your influences?

I'm a huge fan of Jim Smith and John K. They had a pretty big influence on my style and taste in humor.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?

I'm happy with where my life is heading right now. The path I choose may have been bumpy but it lead me to the right place in the end so, I don't think I would do-over or change anything.

What work are you best-known for?

I did some freelance work for PBS Kids through a local studio called Karptoons. It was a great project and the end results were really creative and fun.

What work are you most proud of?

I have a side project about carnivals, magic, and love that I'm working on that I'm pretty excited about. My personal projects give me a great sense of accomplishment.

What would you like to do  or work on in the future?

I'm really happy with the jobs I'm working currently but, I'm hoping to work on children's books or web comics in the future.

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?

I find that just taking a break from art for a couple minutes lets your brain relax. Once I'm relaxed ideas seem to come more easily because I'm not forcing creativity.

What do you think will be the future of your field?

The Internet is becoming the center of entertainment for a lot of people. It's cheaper and easier to watch things on Netflix and Youtube than it is on cable and with a lot of newer televisions becoming Internet capable online content is growing more important. I think short online animations are a good bet for the future.

What's your favorite thing about DC?

I think my favorite thing about DC has to be the National Zoo. It is a great place to sketch and people watch. Plus it's totally free which is a major plus.

Least favorite?

High cost of living and traffic are really awful here. I could easily live without either of those.

What monument or museum do you take most out-of-town guests to?
The Natural History Museum is always a big hit with out-of-town guests. The dinosaurs and animals never get old.

Favorite restaurant?

The Burger Joint chain is fantastic.

Do you have a website or blog?

www.dittbenner.com and these are some other goodies to check out www.latman.com, and www.Karptoons.com

 *Since he's an animator, you should definitely check out his website to view his cartoon work.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Meet a Local Animator: Todd Churn

Todd Churn was one of the local animators* at Gigacon at the Art Institute of Washington (which is actually in a lovely facility in the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington) this past January who kindly answered my usual questions

Mike Rhode: What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

Todd Churn: I am an animator that makes cartoons move.

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?

On my free time... a little bit of both depending what mood I'm in.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

I was born as a mid-late 80's baby in Richmond VA.

Why are you in the Washington sphere now?  What neighborhood or area do you live in?

Currently I live in Arlington but my current job is a commute over in Maryland. I am the lead animator for Latman Interactive, a mobile gaming company.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

Who are your influences?

I really enjoy a lot of the work Chuck Jones produced from Looney Tunes to The Dot and the Line. He could make some of the funniest facial expressions on a cartoon character.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?

If I could, I would jump back in time to tell my younger self in kindergarten to start on art... right away.

What work are you best-known for?

I have been given the great privilege to animate a duck for my current job at Latman Interactive. Basically, in our past games the duck runs into massive conflictions with a meddling goose.

What work are you most proud of?

Not too long ago I did a really fun gig through a sub contractor, Karptoons. We made these awesome music videos for PBS Kids and it was really cool to see it broadcasted on tv when we finished.

What would you like to do  or work on in the future?

I know a great group of animators around the area and I hope that one day, we can start create fun short films for people to see.

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?

If I feel like I've been burnt out on my daily schedule, I try to watch real low budget films on Netflix. They may not have the awesome effects, but they manage to be incredibly imaginative with some of their stuff. Whether it's believable or not is another case, but it seems to free up my art block pretty well.

What do you think will be the future of your field?

Well drawn 2D animation is something I believe will stick around until the end of time, no matter what other new dimension people manage to bring into the market.

What's your favorite thing about DC?

If I ever want some reference or information about something I want to illustrate, I just hop onto the metro rail to the National Mall and I'm set.

Least favorite?

Traffic.

Favorite restaurant?

Dunkin' Donuts.

Do you have a website or blog?

You can see the work I post on my blog at: http://dotanimations.blogspot.com/

*Since he's an animator, you should definitely check out his website to view his cartoon work.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Local papers split on "Chico & Rita" animation

Oscar-nominated jazz cartoon is too hot for kids
Kelly Jane Torrance
Washington Examiner March 16 2012
http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/movies/2012/03/oscar-nominated-jazz-cartoon-too-hot-kids/375321

Full-grown animation
By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post Mar. 16, 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/chico-and-rita,1215692/critic-review.html

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Truitt on Spider-Man clones, DC Comics launches, and Blade anime

A study in 'Scarlet': Spider-Man clone stars in new series
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 11 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-11/Scarlet-Spider-comic-series/52496322/1

DC Comics explores new worlds, old favorites with six titles
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 12 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-12/dc-comics-unveils-six-new-series/52504982/1

Seven things to know about DC Comics' new wave of books
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 12 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-12/Seven-facts-about-six-new-DC-Comics-series/52510592/1

Harold Perrineau bites into G4's 'Blade' anime series
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 12 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-12/Harold-Perrineau-stars-in-Blade-anime-series/52519544/1

Saturday, November 05, 2011

Chuck Jones in the area

Sadly, this was last night:

Top Ten Creations of Master Animator Chuck Jones
The work of Chuck Jones will be featured at the Washington West Film Festival in Herndon and Reston
    By Leslie Combemale
Herndon Patch November 4, 2011
http://herndon.patch.com/articles/top-ten-creations-of-master-animator-chuck-jones

...at least the film part of it. However, some of Jones' artwork is on display in the Art Insights gallery in Reston.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Kung Fu Panda II, for the record UPDATED

In today's Express, on page 2, there's a picture of Jack Black and children in panda costumes, naming the Atlanta Zoo's new panda "Po" after Black's animated character in the Kung Fu Panda movies. I don't know why the Zoo is doing that.

Here's a press release about it, but it still doesn't explain what the Romans phrased as "who profits?"

Friday, January 14, 2011

A mom on 'Cars' and a for the record item

Today's Express also has an article about a two-year old's love of Pixar's Cars, -
 
Kristen Page-Kirby
Express January 14, 2011, p. 29
 
Yesterday the Post ran a wire story on a Captain America educational comic -
 
Moore, Matt / Associated Press.  2011.
Suicide help is comic's aim.
Washington Post (January 13): C6

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Comic Riffs tracks down Yogi animator

The 'Riffs Interview: Animator surprised by virality of his 'BOO BOO KILLS YOGI' video
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog December 14 2010
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/12/yogi_1.html

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

'Tangled' reviews in local papers

Disney's 'Tangled' is fun for the whole family
 Sally Kline
Washington Examiner: 11/24/10
http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/2010/11/disneys-tangled-fun-whole-family

'Tangled': Disney's take on Rapunzel is as gorgeous as it is engaging
By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/tangled-in-disney-digital-3d,1158941/critic-review.html
 
Movie Review | 'Tangled'
Back to the Castle, Where It's All About the Hair
By A. O. SCOTT
November 23, 2010
http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/11/24/movies/24tangled.html

 

Friday, November 05, 2010

Friday, October 29, 2010

Post reviews Victory Comics in Falls Church

Falls Church neighborhood guide
Justin Rude, David Malitz and Fritz Hahn
Washington Post October 29, 2010

Here's a direct link to the part on Victory Comics. As an aside, across the street from Victory Comics, on the Maple Ave side, is the Galifianakis exhibit which is open on weekends.


The Post also reviews Howl and Eric Drooker did some animation for the movie.