Mario Seinfeld - A Parody About Nothing by Esquire Bob Animations

I am always down to watch a quick animation clip, especially one that involves my favorite plumber of all time. But throw in a tie in to the greatest sitcom ever, and you got my two minutes. Animator Esquire Bob has a very well stocked Youtube page loaded with cool ass shit, but his Mario Seinfeld clip has got to be the crown jewel in the crown. Its great.... specifically because the casting is spot on. George would definitely be Toad, and Kramer is a great Luigi. But the best casting choice of all: Newman as Bowser !!! Your princess is in another borough !!! Lol. This is really funny. I hope to see more of them in the future. Check out the full clip after the jump...

What If 'Wicked' Were A Disney Animated Film? Artist Minkyu Lee Shows You What It Would Look Like...

I recently took the wife to see 'Wicked: The Musical' on Broadway, and I have to admit that I think I left the show more enthralled than she was. I read the original book by Greg Maguire around two years ago and I really enjoyed it. I have long wanted to see the stage show, and my wifey's bday gave me an excellent excuse to get it done. It seems that I wasn't wrong with my lofty expectations, as the show was amazing! It really blew me away, and the story came to life on the stage. But with the fan friendly subject matter (a prequel to the Wizard of Oz??? Who doesn't want to watch that?) and excellent song book, it seems that it is a no brainer for a company like Disney or Pixar to come along and scoop this puppy up for animated adaption. Nothing is in the works yet, but one animator from Disney is taking a bit of initiative for the sake of his portfolio by coming up with some great prototypes for the key characters in the play... and it is exactly what a fan would hope/expect to see from Elphaba and the rest of the Wicked crew. Animator Minkyu Lee has worked on The Princess & The Frog and and Frozen, so the dude is qualified. Very good stuff, and even more proof that this adaption could work. Check out the first series of pics he has released of his Wicked prototypes after the jump, and check out his Tumblr for even more animated goodness by clicking here...

'A Gotham Fairytale': An Excellent Storyboard Batman Film From Mauricio Abril

I very rarely hate anything that involves the Bat, especially something that is original and someone works extremely hard on for a significant amount of time. 'A Gotham Fairytale' is exactly that kind of ambitious project... and by default I immediately adore it. Illustrator Mauricio Abril always loved Batman and especially Batman: The Animated Series, so he spent the better part of a year constructing a story board masterpiece in dedication to the Bat cartoon he admired so much. The result is a dark and brooding 6 and a half minute opus in which Abril captures the dark essence of Gotham and the noir style of Batman that I always loved.    Enjoy this fun little film after the jump, and make sure you check out much more of Abril's work over at his blog by clicking here...

Stanley Kubrick: An Animated Tribute by Deadly Puppies

I don't know where the animation team Deadly Puppies came up with their name, but boy is their work fantastic. Their name not so much... but their work, priceless. In their latest incarnation they tried to take on the mastery of Stanley Kubrick and his iconic filmography. Kubrick is my favorite film director by a long shot, and seeing his movies being brought to life by the unique style of the Deadly Puppies is a thing of beauty. My favorite had to be the use of Dr. Strangelove... done quite perfectly. This one is short and sweet, so give us two minutes of your time and honor the greatness that is Stanley Kubrick after the jump...



 

The Simpsons: The Longest Daycare

I have been hearing about the Oscar nominated Simpsons short ''The Longest Daycare' for a few weeks now. I have yet to track it down, but thanks to my main man Jedi Rob Martin and his wonderful Facebook account I have remedied that situation. I love short films, especially animated one, because they can get a very cool message across in a relatively short amount of time and usually don't require massive funding to get off the ground. Some of the best sci-fi and animated movies of the past year started out as short films that were made to highlight just what a great idea could be. This is a great format to see a classic property like The Simpsons other than a typical 30 minute Sunday night episode, so I am all in. Check out the video after the jump...

Kevin Smith Might Be Retiring From Directing... But That Doesn't Mean He Is Retiring From Everything!!!

As a true teenager of the 90s I am an absolute Kevin Smith fanboy. I make no apologize for that. I have been on board the Jersey Express ever since Clerks, and after seeing his last movie Red State I don't plan on going anywhere. I even enjoy his mis-steps, like Jersey girl (C'mon, it had George Carlin and he is great in everything. Plus a sexy ass Liv Tyler). But when I attended the road show type screening of Red State last year (click here and here for the details of that screening) I was treated to some terrible information by the king himself. Apparently Smith had planned on doing one or two more films and is going to retire. Retire? What the fuck Kev? You are like barely 40. You can't retire. But then he explained a bit more. He said he was going to retire, but from directing only. He would still blog, podcast, and most importantly PRODUCE TV shows and movies. He wanted to help younger, more inexperienced film makers to get their vision out there, and he had the money/power in the business to do just that. It is bittersweet. But then I get information about a new Jay & Silent Bob Cartoon movie coming out and I am super excited. How excited? Check after the break...

I can't fucking wait for this. First of all, I loved the Clerks cartoons from back in the day. Second, Kevin is backing Steven Stark on his first full length directing gig.If you are familair with Smith's Smodcasts than you know Starks work on the Smodimation shorts that litter Smith websites and hundreds of affiliate shows. Third, we get Smith & Mewes doing Jay & silent Bob, and we don't have to see them old. That is so key! I want more of Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, sure. But do I want to see thoe guys at over 40 years old doing that schtick? Not really. The cartoon version makes them 20 somethings forever, and that is how I want to remember them. Here is the blog post that smith made announcing the project and then there are two posters  promoting the films release:

 Something filthy this way cums, when the legendary best buds from Jersey return to dispense weed and wisdom IN CARTOON FORM! In April 2013, I’ll be touring the world with another flick – just like I did with RED STATE. But this time, the flick’s an animated movie produced by none other than Mr. Snootch-to-the-motherfuckin-Nootch himself – 

From first-time Director STEVE STARK - the Canadian Animating Genius behind SModimations and the SModCo Cartoon Show! Starring the voice talents of JASON MEWES! RALPH GARMAN! ELIZA DUSHKU! JON LOVITZ! BEN GLEIB! NEIL GAIMAN! The STARS OF THE SMODCAST NETWORK! and lots more surprise guests! More details after the 1st of the year!   

God damn! I said God DAMN! Starks killer animations, production by Smith himself, a crazy voice cast, and a road show type screening experience similiar to what they did with Red State? Yeah, i'm in! Lets go!!! I am sensing a CCD road trip for this one. Here are the posters:

See you guys in April!!!!

This Work In Process Tie Fighter Animation Makes Me Want A Star Wars Anime Really, Really Bad!!!

I am kinda a Star Wars fanboy... when I say kinda, it's because Star Wars has started to lose its gleam for me because of lack of interest. With announcements for Episodes VII, VIII, and IX and the current partnership with Disney I am beginning to get interested again. But then I came across this fantastic work in progress piece of animation that makes me long for another Star Wars cartoon. The Clone Wars is fantastic, but I want something dealing with the second generation characters (Episodes IV, V, and VI) and the universe they live in. For now enjoy this two minute plus clip from Otaking7707  after the jump and lets hope the Mouse House has something in line for us!!!!!

Rated G - An Animated Art Show By Justin White

Gallery 1988 is back at it again... well, they have been back at it since November 16th and I am just a bit late to the party. Justin White is running an art show at the Gallery entitled 'Rated G' in which he imagines some of his favorite movies as if they were animated classics. There is only problem... these are not the kind of movies that lend themselves to the animated format. They are gore filled, action induced, crazy ass cult flicks that look even freakier when they are animated. You can see most of the art work and even purchase some of the original pieces and prints from the show by clicking here, and you can see my faves after the jump. This is a world I would love to live in...

'Ninja Turtles: An Animated Tribute' by Malcolm S

I love me some Ninja Turtles, and it seems that animator Malcolm S loves them too. How do I know? Because he created a bad ass animated tribute to the 4 green machines and their rat mentor Splinter that gets back to the roots of the characters (for one thing there are no face bandannas... like the first comic book). All in all a fun little piece of well done animation. Check it out after the jump...

Pregnetheus by James Lee

Prometheus is a polarizing film... probably the most polarizing film of the summer. Some love what Ridley Scott created, others really hate it. Either way, there are some really cool scenes in the film that people of both opinions probably like. One of those scenes has to be the surgery/abortion scene, in which Elizabeth Shaw excises a certain alien baby squid from her stomach in a surgery machine. It is epically brilliant, but animator James Lee thought he could amp up the action in it a bit. So he created Pregnetheus. Yup, I just typed that title!!! Check out the cool animated short after the jump whether you liked the film or not....

Country Goes Geek: Check Out The Zac Brown Band's Newest Video That Is Directed By Mike Judge!!!

I am not really a huge fan of country music, but working at The Irish Haven (my buddy Matt's bar in Sunset Park, Brooklyn) over the past year has exposed me to a few artists I kind of like. Toby Keith, Allan Jackson, and others are now on my radar thanks to the awesome jukebox we have there... but my favorite song on the whole jukebox has to be 'Chicken Fried' by The Zac Brown Band. It is a great song from a talented band, and since I was exposed to them I have gotten into their music. But now the gang has taken an even bigger step towards ingratiating themselves with nerds like me. Their newest video for 'The Wind' is an animated masterpiece that features something called "Robo Redneck" and is directed by Mike Judge, the creator of Beavis & Butthead!!! Throwing axes, backwoods distilleries, trucks with oversized tires... yup, all the redneck staples are here!!! This is epic. The animation style is cool, and I really like the song as well. Check out the clip after the jump and try to expand your musical horizons....

Super Golden Friends by Kevin Bapp

I was over at Topless Robot (wow, Rob does run a great site!) and I seen this awesome animated trailer that mashes up Super Friends with the Golden Girls. I honestly didn't wake up this morning ever thinking that I was going to type a line like that... but running a blog like CCD makes things like that possible! I love quirky videos like this, and you gotta love the character choices. Superman as Blanche is probably the funniest...  It seems the animation was rotoscoped over the actual opening credits of the show ala A Scanner Darkly/The Polar Express (I am fairly certain that the Superman/Blanche sache and Robin/Sophia at the front door were exact scenes from the opening scene) Check out the video after the jump!!!

Evil Dead: An Animated Tribute

The Evil Dead franchise is one of the most important sets of films in my cinematic life. The reasons are actually quite complex. The slapstick style of the horror presented by Sam Raimi in the three films made the horror genre much more accessible and easier to accept for me as a youngster. Also, it introduced me to the wonderful work of Sam Raimi, and would lead to the genius eventually making the Spider-Man trilogy. And finally it allowed me to fall in love with Ash, one of the greatest heroes ever portrayed by the one & only Bruce Campbell!!! Olly Moss (the one above) created an cool poster for Mondo back in 2010, and that poster helped inspire this unreal minute & a half animated clip from Daniel Kanemoto that commemorates all three films in the series. This one will take fans of the series back down memory lane!!! See the clip after the jump...




EVIL DEAD: AN ANIMATED TRIBUTE from Daniel Kanemoto on Vimeo.

'SubWars' by Sean Soong

I love me a good fan film, especially an animated one. Sub Wars is just that. Sean Soong takes a packed Tokyo train and uses it for the setting of an old man Jedi who wants to teach some of these rude people some manners. The results are not very Jedi like... watch the full video after the jump. Gosh, this dude looks a lot like Obi Wan Kenobi, no?

Disney's Newest Short Film 'Paperman' Gets A Poster

Disney has been making some killer short films to compliment their cinematic releases in the past few years. There have been a few Toy Story ones as well as the very cool Day & Night that was attached to Toy Story 3. These shorts hearken back to the old days of going to the cinema and seeing a bit more than just the main feature. Well the crew over at the Mouse House are at it again, this time delivering 'Paperman' in front of Disney's upcoming feature 'Wreck It Ralph'. The short is made in black & white and has a rough feel to it that intrigues me. An official poster has been released, and it gives us a glimpse as to what to expect in terms of the look of the film. I personally can't wait to see it. Click after the jump to see the poster...

Thanks to/Film for the tip...

Jim Henson's Long Lost Short "Robot" Finally Available For Public Consumption!!!

Who doesn't love Jim Henson? Seriously... not everybody may be crazy over the Muppets, but does anybody really hate them? Henson's characters have provided smiles to the faces of adults and children for over 40 years and there contribution to entertainment is past the part of quantification. Yet everybody has got to start somewhere, right? Well, here is Henson's first foray into live action short films featuring non human characters. It is called "Robot", and was made for Bell Systems to show at a conference back in the late 60s. It is only 3 minutes long and features basic techniques and actions, yet it is hard to deny some of the Henson magic that was present in bringing inanimate objects to life. Enjoy the clip as well as a detailed explanation for it after the jump...






Here is the explanation via the Youtube page:

Jim Henson made this film in 1963 for The Bell System. Specifically, it was made for an elite seminar given for business owners, on the then-brand-new topic — Data Communications. The seminar itself involved a lot of films and multimedia presentations, and took place in Chicago. A lengthy description of the planning of the Bell Data Communications Seminar — sans a mention of the Henson involvement — is on the blog of Inpro co-founder Jack Byrne. It later was renamed the Bell Business Communications Seminar. 

The organizers of the seminar, Inpro, actually set the tone for the film in a three-page memo from one of Inpro’s principals, Ted Mills to Henson. Mills outlined the nascent, but growing relationship between man and machine: a relationship not without tension and resentment: “He [the robot] is sure that All Men Basically Want to Play Golf, and not run businesses — if he can do it better.” (Mills also later designed the ride for the Bell System at the 1964 World’s Fair.) Henson’s execution is not only true to Mills’ vision, but he also puts his own unique, irreverent spin on the material.

The robot narrator used in this film had previously starred in a skit for a food fair in Germany (video is silent), in 1961. It also may be the same robot that appeared on the Mike Douglas Show in 1966. Henson created a different — but similar — robot for the SKF Industries pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair. This film was found in the AT&T Archives. Thanks go to Karen Falk of the Henson Archives for providing help and supporting documentation to prove that it was, indeed, a Henson production.

Adventure Time by No Sleep Jinx

Cartoons nowadays don't have shit on the cartoons of the 80's... I'm not trying to be a curmudgeon or anything like that, but it is just true. The recent generation (post 2000) of cartoons have been lacking in originality and fun, but as in any case there are exceptions to the rule. Adventure Time with Finn & Jake happens to be one of those exceptions. It is a great show that has just started it's fourth season and hearkens back to the good ole days of 80's cartoon bliss. The animation is cool, the characters are fun, and it has just the right level of obnoxious humor and subliminal messaging that makes an adult feel OK about watching it. With over 100+ episodes in the books it is safe to say that Finn & Jake are going to be remembered for a long time. Check out artist Tara Billinger (NoSleepJinx on Deviant Art) as she takes on the crew, even including some of the extended characters from the show such as my personal fave The Ice King!!!! See the full size pic after the jump...

If You Never Watched Anime Before, The New Lupin the 3rd Feature Is A Good Place To Start...

Back in my college days of the early 200's I watched an awful lot of Cartoon Network. Dexter's Laboratory, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, and many other animated titles filled the airways. But this era is mostly known for the anime comeback that was taking place on the network. Ghost In The Machine, Cowboy Bebop, Fist of the Northstar... all of these series were gaining new life and new fans across America. This is where I fell in love with Lupin the 3rd, the anime about the gentleman thief. Lupin comes from a long line of thieves, and he is so good he often tells his victims AHEAD of time he plans on robbing them. Lupin was the basis for the Night Fox character in Ocean's 12 & 13. Lupin and his gang of misfits travel the globe pulling heists and having fun. It is truly a great show. In April, Japanese network Toho announced a new 13 episode prequel series entitled Lupin the 3rd: The Woman Called Fujiko Mane which will flashback to the beginning of Lupin & his crew and their earliest jobs. The trailer doesn't have a whole lot of animation, but it is super retro and I love this series so I am posting it anyway. If you want a good time watching anime, dig up the older versions of Lupin. You will not be disappointed. Click after the jump for the full trailer...



 

Lost Animated "John Carter of Mars" Footage From The 1930's Is Blowing My Mind Right Now....

Ya gotta love Youtube and the rest of the magic that the 'Net brings to our fingertips. Just yesterday I wrote a post about the upcoming John Carter film from Disney and how I have high hopes for the franchise. But I couldn't help but wonder how a book series that has been around for almost 100 years and has a very famous author (Edgar Rice Burroughs also created Tarzan) has taken so long to formally hit the big screen. So I did a bit of wiki research and found out that legendary Looney Toons director Bob Clampett wanted to do an animated version of the Burroughs series because both he and the author felt that a real life version would have been just to expensive and not actually possible to pull off.

Please continue reading after the jump...

Frank Frazetta's legendary rendering of John Carter (Got Frazetta up twice in one week... sweet!)

Clampett even planned to use rotoscope technology and had Burroughs son as a co-collaborator on the project. But at the last second MGM pulled the project because they didn't think people wanted Science Fiction. A year later Flash Gordon hit the screen and was a hit, and the rest is Sci-Fi history. The test footage was thought to be lost for years, until it was unearthed by Burroughs grandson Danton back in the 70's. Enetr Youtube, where I found the footage. Now I bring it to you. Here are a few examples of test footage from what would have been the John Carter animated film... which if it would have came out would have beat Snow White as the 1st animated full length feature to receive a theatrical release. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

On a side note, I was shocked at the recent false starts on the franchise in the past few years. Robert rodriguez and John Favreau were both attached to this film at some point, and Rodriguez only left the project because of the whole beef he had with the Director's Guild after crediting Frank Miller as Co-Director. Can you imagine if he would have done this movie???? Wow! Thanks to Wikipedia for all teh information... read the John Carter article here.

*KI-YAH! Stop Animation Ninja Duel!

A short stop motion film about an old fashioned ninja duel.



Ninja from Olivier Trudeau on Vimeo.