Description
While graphic novels have been accepted in the mainstream book world, independent animation still fights for an audience. Television (at least in North America) doesn’t have room for short films. Cinemas gave up on short films long ago. Certainly, artists are reaching new audiences through the internet, dvds, and mobile technology, but festivals still remain the primary exhibition place.
For most people, animation is defined by characters (Mickey Mouse, Powerpuff Girls, Bart Simpson) or by studios (Pixar, Dreamworks, Disney). However, if you ask these same people to identify John Lassetter, Mike Judge, or Stephen Hillenberg, they’d likely have no answer.
Animators Unearthed will introduce you to a selection of international independent animators so that you can learn about who they are, what they’ve done, and why they do it. The book profiles 20 animators including: Skip Battaglia, Pat Smith, Don Hertzfeldt, Michaela Pavlátová, and Joanna Quinn. Animators Unearthed fights the stereotype that animation exists for kids and laughs, and spreads that message to introduce these incredible artists to a wider audience.
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
Introduction
1. Skip Battaglia: Skip Man Motion
2. Aaron Augenblick: Last Exit to Brooklyn
3. Chris Landreth’s Psychorealism
4. Jib Jab: Re-Defining Toons
5. PES Play
6. Patrick Smith’s Twisted Catastrophes
7. Visions of Joanna Priestley
8. Barry Purves: The Puppetmaster
9. Michaela Pavlátová’s Carnal Carnival
10. Theodore Ushev: Man Called Aerodynamics
11. Bob Sabiston: The Unanimator
12. Bruce Alcock: The Storyteller
13. The Tricks, Flies and Timing of Konstantin Bronzit
14. Suzan Pitt: Dollhouses, Magic and Sexy Asparagus
15. In the Dust and Moonlight of Don Hertzfeldt
16. Chris Shepherd: Who he is and what he wants
17. Run Wrake ain’t no Meathead
18. The Dreamworlds of Mait Laas
19. John Canemaker: Confessions of an Animator
20. Joanna Quinn: Beryl, Britannia and Bum wiping Bears
Acknowledgments
Author(s)
Chris Robinson,
A noted animation commentator, curator and historian, Chris Robinson has been a director of the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) since 1994. His previous books include Unsung Heroes of Animation (John Libbey & Co., 2006), Estonian Animation: Between Genius and Utter Illiteracy (IUP, 2007) and The Animation Pimp: AWN Official Guide (Course Technology, 2007).