The hottest Animation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Culture Topics

How They Made 'Where the Wild Things Are'

Animation Obsessive β€’ 627 implied HN points β€’ 06 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Animation Film Literature Art
  1. Gene Deitch was a skilled artist known for adapting children's picture books into animated films, particularly the beloved 'Where the Wild Things Are.'
  2. Deitch saw adapting Maurice Sendak's picture book as a monumental challenge, comparing it to climbing 'Mount Everest' in the literary world.
  3. The process of transforming books into films requires a unique approach and understanding of the source material to resonate with audiences.

A Weekend of New Animation

Animation Obsessive β€’ 7265 implied HN points β€’ 02 Dec 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Storytelling Cinematography Visual Arts
  1. The London International Animation Festival (LIAF) showcased many interesting animation films from around the world, featuring unique styles and stories.
  2. Some standout films included 'Adios', which explores a father-son relationship in a beautifully crafted stop-motion style, and 'The Girl with the Occupied Eyes', which creatively addresses modern issues using vibrant animation.
  3. There is a notable trend of children's films at festivals tackling serious themes, suggesting that animations for kids can also tell meaningful and thoughtful stories.

Animating in Present Tense

Animation Obsessive β€’ 6996 implied HN points β€’ 25 Nov 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Visual art Film Music Cultural Commentary
  1. Sasha Svirsky is a self-taught animator who values improvisation over traditional rules. He creates unique animations by following his feelings, resulting in lively and often chaotic films.
  2. His work touches on important themes like oppression and the impact of war, often reflecting real-world events. Svirsky's art resonates deeply with viewers and highlights pressing issues.
  3. In animation news, the European co-production system continues to produce noteworthy films, such as 'Kensuke’s Kingdom,' which is a nostalgic adventure tale with a memorable score that emphasizes emotional storytelling.

A Burning City

Animation Obsessive β€’ 8521 implied HN points β€’ 18 Nov 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Illustration
  1. Katsuhiro Otomo's short film 'Combustible' showcases his unique storytelling style, featuring a deep emotional core and a focus on the Edo period in Japan. It's a departure from his earlier work like 'Akira', emphasizing a personal and experimental approach.
  2. The animation in 'Combustible' combines traditional art styles with modern technology, allowing for intricate designs and details that highlight the beauty of the Edo era. Otomo aimed for a blend of history and contemporary techniques.
  3. Despite its compelling qualities, 'Combustible' remains relatively obscure compared to Otomo's more famous works. Nonetheless, it proves that he is a versatile director with a wide range of creative capabilities beyond just 'Akira'.

Pyrotechnics and Play

Animation Obsessive β€’ 1524 implied HN points β€’ 29 Nov 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Japanese culture Visual Arts Creative Process
  1. Atsuko Fukushima is a talented Japanese animator known for her unique and playful style in various anime projects, including well-known films like Akira. Her work shines with energetic and whimsical animation.
  2. Fukushima's notable projects include the opening sequence of Robot Carnival and the short film Genius Party, showcasing her dynamic approach to animation. Both works, while different in tone, represent her signature style of bright visuals and lively motion.
  3. Throughout her career, Fukushima has contributed to both mainstream and independent anime, illustrating her versatility and creative spirit in the animation industry.
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The Look of 'Over the Garden Wall'

Animation Obsessive β€’ 15786 implied HN points β€’ 04 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Animation Film Visual Arts Television Storytelling
  1. Over the Garden Wall is a special show that stands out for its unique visual style and storytelling. It mixes comedy, drama, and horror in a way that makes it feel like a timeless classic.
  2. The art team, led by Nick Cross, worked hard to create stunning backgrounds and designs using inspiration from old cartoons and paintings. This attention to detail made the show feel like an independent film on TV.
  3. Despite the challenges of making a short series, the team enjoyed a lot of creative freedom. This allowed them to take risks and try new ideas, which is something that’s rare in the animation industry today.

Hope, Small but Strong

Animation Obsessive β€’ 7355 implied HN points β€’ 11 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Art Film Animation Media Storytelling
  1. Michael Sporn created unique animated films that told important stories, even if they were often overlooked. His work was heartfelt and showcased real human experiences.
  2. The film 'Champagne' tells the story of a girl living in a shelter, highlighting her struggles and hope for the future. It's well-made and received awards despite being lesser-known today.
  3. Sporn's animation style was creative and personal, using improvised techniques that added warmth and charm to his films, showing that art can thrive even under tight budgets.

Then and Now: Stop Motion

Animation Obsessive β€’ 1973 implied HN points β€’ 22 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Animation Art History Film Media
  1. Stop motion animation has been around for over a hundred years. It involves taking photos of objects in small movements to create the illusion of motion.
  2. The '50s and '60s were a golden age for stop motion, and we're seeing another rise in popularity in the 2010s and 2020s.
  3. People appreciate the handcrafted look of stop motion compared to digital animation. It has unique qualities like texture and imperfections that make it special.

Who Killed 'Fraidy Cat'?

Animation Obsessive β€’ 9328 implied HN points β€’ 28 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Animation Film Art History Storytelling
  1. The story of 'Fraidy Cat' was about a cat named Oscar who was wrongly accused of swallowing a bird. The film went through many changes during its development and was influenced by Hitchcock's style.
  2. Piet Kroon, the director, faced a lot of studio politics and creative conflicts while trying to bring his vision for 'Fraidy Cat' to life, which included several writers being brought in to make changes.
  3. Despite the project receiving praise and momentum at Disney, it was ultimately shelved when the studio decided to close its Florida branch, which contributed to 'Fraidy Cat' never being completed.

Dreaming and Fighting

Animation Obsessive β€’ 5112 implied HN points β€’ 08 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Art Animation Storytelling Social Issues Creativity
  1. Art isn't just a way to escape problems; it can inspire change and make a difference in the world. It can connect people and provoke thoughts about important issues.
  2. Artists throughout history have fought through tough times to create meaningful work. Their stories remind us that creativity can thrive even in challenging circumstances.
  3. The process of making art can be just as valuable as the final product. Different ways of telling stories and sharing ideas can open new paths for inspiration and understanding.

Japanese Legends and Their Favorite Animation

Animation Obsessive β€’ 15158 implied HN points β€’ 14 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Animation Cultural influence
  1. Japanese animation, or anime, has heavily influenced global animation styles, including character design and storytelling. Many famous animators around the world draw inspiration from this unique art form.
  2. Japanese animators have a wide range of favorite works that include not just Disney movies but also lesser-known international films. Their choices reveal a deep appreciation for diverse animation styles and storytelling.
  3. The impact of specific films, like 'The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep,' shaped the perspectives of Japanese animators. Such films were pivotal in inspiring them and pushing the boundaries of their own work.

Animating Out of Spite

Animation Obsessive β€’ 8700 implied HN points β€’ 21 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Cultural Commentary Visual Arts
  1. Fyodor Khitruk created a 50-second animated film called Othello-67 as a response to a contest requirement that frustrated him. It humorously condenses Shakespeare's play into a fast-paced experience.
  2. The film critiques the idea of simplifying complex art into quick bites, showing that lots of meaning can still fit into a short time frame.
  3. Despite being a small part of Khitruk's body of work, Othello-67 stands out for its creativity and humor, proving that even short animations can leave a lasting impact.

Being Unrealistic

Animation Obsessive β€’ 1524 implied HN points β€’ 15 Nov 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Visual Arts Cultural Studies Creativity
  1. Cinema Fantasma, a stop-motion studio in Mexico, started with a big dream and little money. The founders had to get creative, making their own animation tools and props from scratch.
  2. The studio began on a rooftop in Mexico City, showing the dedication of the Ambriz brothers and their family. They transformed their home into a workspace to achieve their goal of creating a top-quality animated film.
  3. The making of 'Revoltoso' was a learning experience for everyone involved. The animators were new to the craft but worked hard to develop their skills for this project.

What Didn't Get In

Animation Obsessive β€’ 1614 implied HN points β€’ 25 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Illustration Art history Film
  1. Katsuhiro Otomo is well known for his detailed storyboards, and many of his early works are now available to view online for the first time.
  2. Mary Blair's seldom-seen artwork related to Disney films has been shared, showcasing her unique style and contribution.
  3. An interview with animator Tony White reveals more insights and stories from his work in animation, adding depth to understanding his projects.

A Visual Tour of Karel Zeman

Animation Obsessive β€’ 1435 implied HN points β€’ 18 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Film Animation Art History Technique
  1. Karel Zeman was a talented Czech filmmaker known for his unique style in animation and special effects. He used innovative techniques that mixed live action with animation.
  2. He was passionate about the technical aspects of filmmaking and often experimented to create his own artistic identity. This made his films stand out during his peak years.
  3. Zeman was part of a group of influential animators in Czechoslovakia, but he developed a distinct approach that included combining different forms of animation and special effects.

Films About Flies

Animation Obsessive β€’ 627 implied HN points β€’ 01 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Film Animation Horror Art Literature
  1. Flies are often seen as symbols of death and decay, especially in horror movies. Their creepy presence adds to the unsettling atmosphere.
  2. Two different animations titled 'The Fly' were made in the 1960s and 1980s in Yugoslavia and Hungary. Both films are considered horror, but they explore deeper themes beyond just the fly.
  3. The first 'The Fly' was nominated for an Oscar, while the second one won. This shows the artistic impact and recognition these films received in the animation world.

After Three Years, What's Left?

Animation Obsessive β€’ 10943 implied HN points β€’ 15 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Newsletter Content creation
  1. The Animation Obsessive newsletter, even after three years, remains a small team passionate about sharing accessible stories on animation.
  2. Reader support has allowed the newsletter to grow into a full-fledged career, without ads or sponsorships with companies.
  3. The team highlights the continuous thrill of learning and discovering new aspects of animation, striving to keep delivering interesting content to their audience.

When Japanese Animation Cracked the Oscars

Animation Obsessive β€’ 6099 implied HN points β€’ 11 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Creative industry Influence
  1. Japanese animation made a significant impact at the Oscars when 'Spirited Away' won in 2003, marking the full acceptance of Japanese animation into Hollywood's mainstream.
  2. Koji Yamamura's film 'Mt. Head' brought Japanese independent animation into the spotlight, showcasing a unique style and storytelling approach that influenced a new generation of animators globally.
  3. The animation world mourned the passing of Akira Toriyama, a legendary manga artist known for 'Dragon Ball,' whose work has had a lasting impact on global animation and storytelling.

Masterpieces on the Cheap

Animation Obsessive β€’ 7175 implied HN points β€’ 22 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Creators Storytelling Industry
  1. Animation masterpieces can be created on limited budgets, showcasing that money doesn't guarantee a great film.
  2. Artistry, vision, and talent are key to creating successful animated projects, sometimes taking risks can lead to unique and impactful films.
  3. Japanese anime industry often achieves expressive movement with small budgets, emphasizing creativity over financial resources.

The Nominee You Didn't See

Animation Obsessive β€’ 6189 implied HN points β€’ 29 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Sound design Storytelling
  1. The film 'Funny Birds' is a remarkable CΓ©sar nominee with rich realism and attention to detail.
  2. The creation of 'Funny Birds' involved deep research, natural sound recordings, and a documentary-like approach.
  3. The animation process of 'Funny Birds' focused on capturing spontaneous energy and specific performances from real-life sounds.

The Origin of a Master Painter

Animation Obsessive β€’ 5471 implied HN points β€’ 05 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Documentary Painter Director
  1. Background painter Nizo Yamamoto rose to prominence in Japanese animation industry and played a key role in iconic films.
  2. Yamamoto's journey into animation industry was filled with twists and turns, from attending vocational high school to becoming an art director.
  3. Animating for documentaries involves speed, character design, and efficient teamwork, as seen in the making of 'May the Lord Watch'.

'Catnapped' Is Weird and Wonderful

Animation Obsessive β€’ 4215 implied HN points β€’ 04 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Director Film Anime Character design
  1. 'Catnapped' is a unique and imaginative anime feature that is often underrated but holds a special place among fans.
  2. Director Takashi Nakamura's journey from being a core animator on 'Akira' to directing his own films like 'Catnapped' showcases his evolution as an artist with a distinct visual style.
  3. The making of 'Catnapped' involved a team of talented animators, art director, and composer who brought Nakamura's creative vision to life, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in animated filmmaking.

Computation using Fractions, Shader Based Journeys, and Remembering Lillian Schwartz

Generative Arts Collective β€’ 79 implied HN points β€’ 18 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Generative Art Creative Coding Digital Art Animation Visual Effects
  1. Lillian Schwartz was a key figure in computer-generated art, known for her innovative techniques that combined art and technology. Her work at Bell Labs helped shape the world of digital expression.
  2. Fractran is a unique computation method based on fractions, using prime numbers for calculations. It's a creative way to explore new ideas in both math and art.
  3. Theatre.js is a helpful animation library that allows artists to create detailed animations without needing advanced coding skills. It's great for those who want to add motion to their creative projects.

A Nigerian Tale on the World Stage

Animation Obsessive β€’ 4574 implied HN points β€’ 16 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Visual art Film Design
  1. The animated film 'Moremi' tells a sci-fi version of the Nigerian Moremi Ajasoro tales, using a unique mix of 2D and 3D animation.
  2. Director Shofela Coker and art director Wian van Bergen collaborated to maintain a visually rich aesthetic, blending Nigerian motifs and traditional painting techniques into the film.
  3. The film's unique visual style was achieved through a custom compositing workflow, blending 3D characters with 2D backgrounds seamlessly, along with incorporating striking neon 2D special effects.

A Master Animator's Masterwork

Animation Obsessive β€’ 4126 implied HN points β€’ 19 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Awards Artists Technique
  1. Art Babbitt, a renowned animator, considered his best work to be an animation sequence in a lesser-known UPA cartoon called 'Grizzly Golfer'.
  2. Babbitt's animation style for the bear chase scene was a blend of Disney's fluidity and UPA's limited animation approach, showcasing his technical skill and creativity.
  3. The UPA animation style, including 'limited animation,' was a deliberate artistic choice that differed from Disney's constant motion approach, providing a unique aesthetic to animated scenes.

Animating by Candlelight

Animation Obsessive β€’ 3318 implied HN points β€’ 12 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Community Industry Filmmaking History
  1. During the aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union, animators faced challenges adapting to life under capitalism with reduced state funding and support.
  2. Some animators, like Yuri Norstein and Priit PΓ€rn, expressed struggles and concerns about the impact of financial censorship in the capitalist system on their artistic work.
  3. Countries like Estonia benefited from renewed state support for artists, resulting in a thriving animation community that continues to produce award-winning films.

An Introduction to UPA

Animation Obsessive β€’ 4664 implied HN points β€’ 07 Aug 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Design History TV Comics
  1. UPA studio revolutionized animation in the 1940s and 1950s with modern art influences and unique storytelling.
  2. The UPA animation style focused on emotion over anatomy, leading to groundbreaking visuals and storytelling.
  3. UPA's work extended beyond well-known films like Mr. Magoo, encompassing TV commercials, series, and experimental shows.

'I Love Lilith'

Daily Dreher β€’ 1297 implied HN points β€’ 19 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Animation Streaming
  1. A new adult cartoon series called 'Hazbin Hotel' has debuted on Amazon.
  2. The show features Lilith, Queen of the Demons.
  3. Viewers are encouraged to watch the first few minutes to experience the unique visuals and sound.

Hunyuan-Large, AI model for open-world games, X-Portrait 2 for realistic character animations, FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra and Raw, Magentic-One, Hume AI App, action model for GUI agents and More

AI Brews β€’ 15 implied HN points β€’ 08 Nov 24
πŸ•Ή Technology AI Models Gaming Animation Software Data science
  1. Tencent has released Hunyuan-Large, a powerful AI model with lots of parameters that can outperform some existing models. It's good news for open-source projects in AI.
  2. Decart and Etched introduced Oasis, a unique AI that can generate open-world games in real-time. It uses keyboard and mouse inputs instead of just text to create gameplay.
  3. Microsoft's Magentic-One is a new system that helps solve complex tasks online. It's aimed at improving how we manage jobs across different domains.

Learning From the Best

Animation Obsessive β€’ 1614 implied HN points β€’ 19 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  1. The post discusses how a master director learned from another across different cultures and languages.
  2. It highlights the meeting between Kihachiro Kawamoto and JiΕ™Γ­ Trnka in the 1960s.
  3. Kawamoto sought out Trnka in communist Czechoslovakia to learn and study at his studio.

Writing 'Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends'

Animation Obsessive β€’ 4036 implied HN points β€’ 12 Jun 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Writing News Industry Culture
  1. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends was a script-driven animated series with a personal touch from the creators.
  2. The animation news highlighted 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' success globally and updates from various countries.
  3. The writing process for animation, such as the scripting, revisions, and voice recordings, is crucial for creating successful animated series.

The Cartoon That Inspired 'Wander'

Animation Obsessive β€’ 1255 implied HN points β€’ 23 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Influence
  1. Professor Balthazar, a cartoon series from the former Yugoslavia, inspired Craig McCracken, the creator of The Powerpuff Girls.
  2. The series ran from 1967 to 1978 and made a significant impact by influencing popular modern animations.
  3. The episode discussed in this post sheds light on the link between older cartoons and the creative inspirations of modern animators.

In Flux with Robert Sahakyants

Animation Obsessive β€’ 1345 implied HN points β€’ 02 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Surrealism Psychedelic
  1. Robert Sahakyants was an influential animator known for his surreal, psychedelic, and stream-of-consciousness style.
  2. He was unique in the Soviet animation scene for coming from Armenia and not the more common regions like Russia or Ukraine.
  3. Sahakyants creatively employed transformations in his work to create effects that were ahead of his time before the advent of computer animation.

How 'Chicken Run' Stayed Aardman

Animation Obsessive β€’ 3857 implied HN points β€’ 22 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Hollywood Character design
  1. When creating 'Chicken Run,' Aardman faced the challenge of maintaining their unique style amidst growth and Hollywood partnership.
  2. Nick Park and the Aardman team worked hard to preserve their quirky, British humor while collaborating on 'Chicken Run.'
  3. The film 'Chicken Run' is considered a successful example of balancing creative vision with external influences, retaining the essence of Aardman's work.

The Art of Animated Titles

Animation Obsessive β€’ 986 implied HN points β€’ 15 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Design
  1. The post discusses the art of animated titles during the mid-century era, particularly focusing on the animated movie titles of that time.
  2. The newsletter references Saul Bass's title sequence for Bonjour Tristesse (1958) and how it inspired elements seen in modern films like Pixar's The Incredibles.
  3. There's an invitation to subscribe to the Animation Obsessive newsletter for a 7-day free trial to access more content on animated titles and their history.

Animating 'Almost There' from 'The Princess and the Frog'

Animation Obsessive β€’ 4215 implied HN points β€’ 10 Apr 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Collaboration International
  1. Disney's 'Almost There' sequence from 'The Princess and the Frog' stuck closely to its concept art
  2. The team behind the sequence had to experiment with a unique animation pipeline to achieve the desired look
  3. Collaboration among artists and a large team were crucial in bringing the imaginative sequence to life