The hottest Animation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Culture Topics

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.

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.

'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.

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.
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'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

A Masterwork by the Master of Mistakes

Animation Obsessive β€’ 4126 implied HN points β€’ 17 Apr 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Filmmaking Cinematography Cartoons
  1. Brigand Jurko (1977) is a unique animated film blending various genres and styles, created by director Viktor Kubal.
  2. Kubal's approach to animation focused on embracing mistakes and prioritizing content over form.
  3. The film Brigand Jurko is praised for its distinctive storytelling, blending serious themes with comedy and surreal visual elements.

Four Magical Minutes from Cartoon Saloon

Animation Obsessive β€’ 3498 implied HN points β€’ 05 Jun 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Industry Visual Arts Entertainment
  1. Cartoon Saloon created a visually stunning four-minute sequence in 'On Love' within the film 'The Prophet'.
  2. The project was made possible by a Hollywood production of 'The Prophet' without a screenplay or director attached, allowing indie teams like Cartoon Saloon to participate.
  3. The success of 'On Love' paved the way for Cartoon Saloon's larger projects, including 'Wolfwalkers'.

'Run, Melos!' Shows the Power of Animated Realism

Animation Obsessive β€’ 3677 implied HN points β€’ 08 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Realism Anime Director
  1. 'Run, Melos!' is a buried treasure of realist anime that breaks away from cliches like high school and superpowers.
  2. The film showcases the perfection of animated realism unique to Japanese animation, creating a solid, three-dimensional world with detailed characters.
  3. The production of 'Run, Melos!' involved a team of talented animators and artists who focused on creating realistic characters, backgrounds, and storytelling.

The Phantom Legacy of Errol Le Cain

Animation Obsessive β€’ 2780 implied HN points β€’ 31 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Visual art Anime
  1. Errol Le Cain was an influential illustrator and animator, known for his work on Richard Williams' films like The Thief and the Cobbler.
  2. He had a unique artistic process that deeply involved his personal experiences and cultural background.
  3. Animation in Africa is experiencing a significant growth, with projects like Kizazi Moto and Supa Team 4 gaining international attention.

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.

'The Old Man and the Sea' Is a Tremendous Spectacle

Animation Obsessive β€’ 3498 implied HN points β€’ 20 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Visual Arts Cinematography Storytelling
  1. The film 'The Old Man and the Sea' is a spectacular visual experience that sticks with you.
  2. Director Alexander Petrov used a unique 'paint-on-glass' animation technique, creating a massive, enveloping spectacle.
  3. The film faced controversy for drifting from the original story, focusing more on visuals than the narrative.

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.

'The Man Who Planted Trees' Was an Impossible Task

Animation Obsessive β€’ 3049 implied HN points β€’ 20 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Filmmaking Environmentalism Activism Influences
  1. FrΓ©dΓ©ric Back made a significant impact in animation through his film 'The Man Who Planted Trees'.
  2. The film, 'The Man Who Planted Trees,' took Back five years to make and was a labor of love that symbolized the good humans can achieve.
  3. The task of animating 'The Man Who Planted Trees' was a challenging and historic endeavor, showcasing Back's dedication and artistic brilliance.

'Quentin Tarantino Would Not Like It at All!'

Animation Obsessive β€’ 2601 implied HN points β€’ 24 Apr 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Screenwriting Visual art Music videos
  1. Screenwriting for animation is important and can influence the flow and feel of a project.
  2. Good storytelling is crucial in both live-action and animated films, but making a good animated movie is often harder due to the various elements that need to align.
  3. The indie animation scene in China is gaining recognition, with a viral music video highlighting the success of independent animators.

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.

The Summer Pitch Bible Part 1

slow motion multitasking β€’ 1091 implied HN points β€’ 30 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Character design World Building Storytelling
  1. The idea for the show was born from homesickness and a desire to celebrate platonic friendship.
  2. The pitch bible creation process involved developing main characters like Oscar while maintaining personal attachment to original designs.
  3. The pitch bible layout included sections on show overview, characters, world-building, and episode ideas.

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.

How an American Changed Soviet Cartoons

Animation Obsessive β€’ 717 implied HN points β€’ 08 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation History
  1. Lucille Cramer, an American, made a significant impact on Soviet cartoons in the 1930s by helping to industrialize animation in the USSR.
  2. Cramer's work in the Soviet Union led to the establishment of a lasting animation system that influenced classics like 'The Snow Queen' (1957).
  3. Cramer's journey and contributions to early Soviet animation showcase the global reach and influence of individuals in the field of entertainment.

A rant about children’s movies

The Common Reader β€’ 1240 implied HN points β€’ 04 May 23
🎭️ Culture Film Animation
  1. Children's films are often created with adult perspectives in mind, leading to moral shortcomings.
  2. Studio Ghibli movies prioritize realistic challenges and creativity in a way that Disney films do not.
  3. Studio Ghibli movies set a better moral example by portraying a world where hard work, creativity, and real-life challenges are valued.