The hottest Animation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

In Flux with Robert Sahakyants

Animation Obsessive • 1345 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  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 Cartoon That Inspired 'Wander'

Animation Obsessive • 1255 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  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.

⬜ Studio Ghibli vibes vs. history

One Thing • 217 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  1. The film The Boy and the Heron by Studio Ghibli offers a fantastical, immersive experience for viewers of all ages.
  2. The movie carries historical depth, drawing inspiration from a 1937 novel addressed to counter militant nationalism in Japan.
  3. The director, Hayao Miyazaki, encapsulates profound themes through abstract storytelling and dreamlike elements, challenging conventional standards of ambition in art.
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TITAA #50: Slow Grey Mares Stuck at Exit 8

Things I Think Are Awesome • 196 implied HN points • 31 Dec 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  1. The post discusses the Welsh tradition of Mari Lwyd, a skeletal horse pranking people during New Year's Eve.
  2. Mari Lwyd is associated with village mummers in south Wales in the 1800s and is constructed of a horse's skull and a white sheet.
  3. The post also covers various AI art tools, including an AI animation artist called NiceAunties and AI-generated SVG from images.

The Making of 'Chie the Brat'

Animation Obsessive • 1166 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  1. The film 'Chie the Brat' by Isao Takahata is underrated but worth discovering.
  2. The movie is a comedy about a girl in Osaka and is immersive, low-key, goofy, and touching.
  3. Despite not being a major hit in theaters, the film was produced by a world-class team in a few months.

The Art of Animated Titles

Animation Obsessive • 986 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  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.

58. Mystery

The Line Between • 275 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  1. Ideas come in small fragments, like puzzle pieces coming together one at a time.
  2. Creativity involves listening to signals, experimenting with different styles, and being open to change.
  3. The creative process is about making time, capturing signals, and trusting that the pieces will come together.

Using Matplotlib To Create The 50th Article Cover Mosaic Animation (#50 Part 2)

The Python Coding Stack • by Stephen Gruppetta • 119 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Animation
  1. You can use Matplotlib to create animations, like a mosaic of previous article cover images, by following a step-by-step tutorial.
  2. Before starting the animation, ensure you have images ready and the necessary libraries installed like Matplotlib, NumPy, and Pillow.
  3. You can control how images are plotted, resize images in the animation frames, and save the animation as a movie file like an mp4 or an animated GIF using libraries like Matplotlib or PillowWriter.

How an American Changed Soviet Cartoons

Animation Obsessive • 717 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  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 • 1240 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🎭️ Culture 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.

TITAA #45: Haunted AI Houses Need Poets

Things I Think Are Awesome • 176 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  1. AI-run haunted houses in literature often present intriguing narratives and questions about space and identity.
  2. Poets and writers can explore unreal architectures and dream-like spaces created by AI tools to tell unique and engaging stories.
  3. Exploring the intersection of AI, art, and poetry can lead to the creation of cosmic narratives within the digital labyrinth.

27 Trippy Films to Spice Up Your Holiday Break

Tripsitter • 119 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Animation
  1. Explore a collection of trippy films and TV shows to watch during the holiday break, ranging from whimsical animations to mind-bending sci-fi series.
  2. Encounter unique storytelling and visually captivating experiences in movies like 'Waking Life' and 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,' each pushing boundaries in their respective genres.
  3. Dive into surreal worlds and existential conversations with TV series like 'The Midnight Gospel' and 'Russian Doll,' offering deep philosophical exploration in a visually striking manner.

TikTok as modern art museum

The Novelleist • 651 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  1. TikTok can be seen as a modern art museum showcasing a diverse range of visual arts and human ingenuity.
  2. Curation is key on TikTok, as it allows for a personalized feed of artists and creatives.
  3. The platform introduces users to a wide array of talent, from handcrafters and dancers to performance artists and digital creators.

Under the microscope: 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure (PlayStation)

Rings of Saturn • 58 implied HN points • 23 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Animation
  1. You can find cheat codes in the game 101 Dalmatians II, like a code for 100 lives. It's fun to explore these hidden features!
  2. The game shares a lot of code with E.T. and even with Dora the Explorer, showing how game developers reuse ideas.
  3. There are interesting Easter eggs and similar cheat codes across different games, which can lead to discovering more secrets from the same developers.

The first generation of programming directors

Brick by Brick • 54 implied HN points • 18 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Animation
  1. Programming is changing from writing lots of code to directing and guiding AI tools. Instead of typing everything, future programmers will help manage what machines produce.
  2. Just like animation adapted to computers, programming will also evolve with new technology. This means that while the number of programmers might decrease, more companies will start creating software.
  3. AI could make creating software cheaper and easier, leading to more demand and new kinds of applications. Companies that couldn't afford custom programs before might start using them because of these advancements.

The hardest part (so far) of my plan | #49

The Pole • 59 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  1. Trying too hard can hinder progress. Sometimes overthinking and overcomplicating things can lead to procrastination.
  2. Focusing on the essence of a task, rather than its intricacies, can be more beneficial. This means understanding the core purpose and working smartly towards it.
  3. Balancing fun and profit in pursuits is a challenge. Finding the sweet spot between enjoyment and profitability requires introspection and strategic planning.

Under the microscope: ReBoot (PlayStation)

Rings of Saturn • 58 implied HN points • 26 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Animation
  1. ReBoot was a groundbreaking TV show in 1994, famous for its 3D CGI animation, which felt futuristic at the time.
  2. The PlayStation game based on ReBoot includes several cheat codes, some of which were discovered by examining the game code more closely.
  3. New cheat codes like 'Rainbow' and 'Long Camera' can change the visuals of the game, making it more colorful or giving a top-down view.

Ex-Riot developers are making “Breath of the Wild with friends”

Updater, Shannon Liao's gaming newsletter • 117 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Animation
  1. Former Riot developers are creating an open-world game similar to 'Breath of the Wild' with a focus on playing with friends
  2. The game studio secured $55 million in funding and aims to create a world characterized by optimism and worth fighting for
  3. The developers emphasize creating a rich player experience and aspire to build a media universe around the game, including an animated TV show

2025 in AI Video (Featuring My Top 10)

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 11 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Animation
  1. AI video technology made big leaps—better avatars, movement, and native audio—but it still struggles with longer, coherent storytelling because clips are short and audio, voice, and motion aren’t yet consistently coordinated.
  2. AI is reshaping creative work and UX by automating many UI tasks and enabling highly personalized content, which pushes designers toward higher-level roles like orchestrating experiences and guiding AI outputs.
  3. Creators need to adapt by focusing on real engagement metrics (like retention, not just clicks), ensuring character and audio consistency, and building human skills such as judgment and persuasion to work effectively with AI.

Can we digitally clone ourselves with AI?

Mythical AI • 98 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Animation
  1. Creating a digital clone with AI involves capturing content, voice, likeness, and movement.
  2. Potential problems with AI clones include consent and ownership issues, problematic responses, and scams.
  3. There are tools available to create parts of an AI clone, but building a full AI clone is a complex process requiring integration of various technologies.

Two More AI Animation Videos

diabolical • 98 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Animation
  1. The AI-animated videos are described as silly, but still remarkable and improving over time.
  2. Uploading custom audio files to D-ID for animation saves time and hassle compared to dubbing.
  3. The potential of having AI animate lip movements based on recorded audio could be a useful time-saving tool.

Can the Superhero Era Ever End?

The Bottom Feeder • 509 implied HN points • 21 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Animation
  1. Superhero era might be coming to an end as big budget action movies are slowing down.
  2. Recent big franchises are struggling with too many characters and storylines.
  3. Innovative visuals and animations can bring a fresh perspective to movie franchises.

Falling Down The AI Rabbit Hole

diabolical • 78 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Animation
  1. Artificial intelligence can be used for creating elaborate and emotional art pieces.
  2. AI technologies like animation and voice synthesis are being combined to create unique videos.
  3. There is a democratization of art and creation happening with AI tools, leading to a potential shift in the creative industry.

Bigtime Cutaway

NOW IS GOOD • 78 implied HN points • 29 Sep 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  1. Bigtime Cutaway is a publication focused on interviewing interesting people, with a recent conversation with StrataCut animator David Daniels.
  2. StrataCut is a unique form of clay animation that involves slicing blocks of material to create animations, known for its intricate details.
  3. David Daniels discusses the evolution of his StrataCut technique, the challenges of showcasing his work in a changing technological landscape, and his exploration of augmented reality and virtual reality for future projects.

Forté #8

SJF • 58 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  1. Discover new inspirations from music, animations, and books.
  2. Appreciate the value of mindfulness in reading at places like the British Library.
  3. Improve personal growth and writing skills by practicing the art of noticing small details in everyday life.

How I Spent my October

Fireside Chat Logs • 39 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  1. The creator made a short animated video with heavy metal music for a D&D group that involved using Blender 3D program. Despite challenges, he managed to finish the video in time.
  2. After the initial creation, the creator took the time to improve the video by boosting render settings, animating textures, and enhancing particles, among other upgrades.
  3. The experience of revisiting and improving the video reminded the creator of his art school days, where he didn't always have time to polish his work. This inspired him to redo old school work and focus more on writing and creating content to share with friends and family.

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

Generative Arts Collective • 79 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  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.

Apple Animation Through the Ages: 2007

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 218 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Animation
  1. In 2007, Apple introduced Core Animation, revolutionizing how animations were implemented on Mac OS X.
  2. Core Animation streamlined animation implementation by providing a declarative framework that leveraged the GPU for smooth transitions.
  3. Developers could easily create animations with Core Animation properties like frame, border, filters, and opacity.

FoodFight!: The Story of a Cinematic Abomination

Off-Topic • 244 implied HN points • 24 May 23
🎭️ Culture Animation
  1. _Foodfight!_ is a disastrous film with an extensive backstory of production troubles.
  2. The movie featured inappropriate content and bizarre creative decisions, including anti-semitic undertones.
  3. Despite its failure, _Foodfight!_ continues to hold a cult-like curiosity for some audiences.

Logan Bruni: Heatmap

Do Not Research • 19 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  1. The video features 3D scans of clay sculptures, digital art, and AI-generated content, with unique audio creation methods.
  2. The themes touched upon in the video include human subjectivity in digital space, online culture, and references to historical government involvement in digital infrastructures.
  3. The visual elements include a clay figure interacting with images, and a floating head narrating haikus and poetic monologues about digital culture.

Disney at 99

Jon’s Newsletter • 99 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Animation
  1. Learning from failure is important. Walt Disney faced setbacks but used them to grow and succeed.
  2. Taking risks can lead to great rewards. Disney's gamble on making Snow White paid off hugely, even when it was a big financial risk.
  3. Embracing new technology helps companies stay relevant. Disney saw opportunities in TV and new tech, allowing it to thrive over the years.

Emoji that Can Dance 🪩

Did Someone Say Emoji? • 166 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation
  1. The latest Noto Emoji update includes 300 animations like a throbbing pink heart and a dancing G.O.A.T.
  2. Emoji serve as important elements in online communication, helping to convey emotions and build connections.
  3. Animated emoji should be designed carefully to maintain their original communicative functions and ensure consistency across platforms.

What I have been so busy with

Basta’s Notes • 81 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Animation
  1. The author built a website with a bold and animated design that may not please everyone, but aimed to excite their target audience of podcasters.
  2. The website underwent significant development, transitioning from a DOM-based approach to using Canvas for animations, like with a globe section featuring looping videos.
  3. Challenges were overcome by techniques such as using Perlin noise for wiggling animations and rendering inline SVG images via React for intricate visual elements.