Little idea I've been working on...

Just some sketches. Not sure how to use these guys yet.

(My TekkonKinkreet post IS coming.)

Thoughts about Coraline

Warning: This review contains spoilers and the thought of someone who thinks about things too much.

Well, I just came back from seeing Coraline, and thought it would be fun to share my thoughts.

I don't really even know where to start. My overall opinion is, well, that this movie is fantastic.

Obviously, the movie is a visual feat above all. I admit that I did not see the movie in 3D, but I'm sure that's just some butter cream frosting on a triple chocolate cake. I have always been amazed with stop motion and a fan of Selick's work. Months ago, I saw an article where the author complained about Coraline being to "sterilized" for stop motion, and I couldn't disagree more. Many points in the film reminded me of blood, sweat, and tears that it's made of. The animation is always very smooth, but still has a feel that is hard for me to explain; twitchy but in a good way. Also, I specifically remember a point where the "camera" is zoomed all the way into Coraline's face. It was possible to see the marks of paint or colored pencil that made the color in her eyes, and it made me feel all good inside.

About the story and the script well..for me, there's a lot to talk about. The dialog struck me first, and reminded me who the movie was technically "made for". It's too bad that all writer's seem to think that kids need everything blatantly spelled out for them or they simply won't understand. I'm pretty sure that if a child sees someone sniff the air and smile, they do not need the person to say "Something smells good". At least, I would assume so. There were some other points that just felt oddly young. The ghost children talking to Coraline through there "eyes" kind of made me feel like I was playing a video game and they were leading me to my next objective.

For someone familiar with the book, there were obvious changes, though not necessarily bad ones. Some scenes were taken out or changed. My friend who was with me was especially upset at that brevity of the "tea party" between Coraline and the rescued ghost children ( I believe her exact words after was "Lamest tea party EVER.") Also, the meeting with the deteriorating Other Father was different, but, while maybe not as creepy as the book version, still effectively unsettling. Speaking of unsettling. The Other Mother. Period. Teri Hatcher was delightfully terrifying and I loved her during the entire transformation.

A big change was the addition of the character, Wybie Lovat. From what I had originally gathered, I figured that he was going to be basically unimportant to the overall story and simply there for comedic relief. Um..yeah, I was pretty wrong. The way he is tied into the story is actually very interesting, and in the end I thought that his inclusion made the movie a good separation from the book. And I have to admit, I really liked the portrayal of the Other Wybie. His ultimate fate was, for me, heartbreaking and I thought it was nice to have more of a theme of the Other Mother's destruction of hope with not only the treatment and destruction of the Other Father. Quick note: Wybie is in desperate need of a chiropractor..or something. He looked like Quasimodo.

Now, about Coraline herself. I knew I was going to be sketchy about her portrayal. Not that Fanning didn't do a nice job, I just felt it was a little hard to connect with Coraline at the beginning of the movie. Her Michigan "accent" seemed really jarring at some points (the word "saddled" seemed particularly painful), though it doesn't really ruin her for me. As the movie progressed, I really did come to really connect with Coraline and root for her. Though, it made me think, how stupid were those other kids? Coraline knew that, no matter what, buttons + eyes= BAD. One of the ghost kids even said, "We LET her sew button in our eyes". ...WHAT?

The best part of the whole night? Listening to parents squirm (Theatre scene anyone) and children giggle in fear.


So yeah, I really really REALLY enjoyed this movie. True, parts were a BIT juvenile, but the overall tone was pleasantly dark and moody. I'm so glad that Coraline started off my 2009 theatrical animation run.

P.S. I'm going to be giving my thoughts on TekkonKinkreet in a few days.

Woke up Wensday morning to....

Unfortunately, I also woke up to aches and chills so bad I couldn't move . Which later turned into a fever. Which eventually went away and evolved into a sore throat. So basically I wasted a snow day AND had to miss another day of school.

So during all my time in bed, I ended up looking up a TON of stuff Coraline movie. Which of course, isn't the best idea cause I probably ruined a few things for myself . Nothing major, no plot points or anything, but, you know, less to be surprised about in the theater. Though, now I'm epically curious about the knew "Wybie" character, and I will say no more.


My friend Brittany and I were discussing my bad habit and we decided that someday she will break me of said habit, cause it's not the first time of done this for a movie. Our convo turned into this....

Nothing great, and my scanner kind of killed the coloring.


I also have some bits of animation I've been working on for an assignment for IB art. It's Little Red Riding Hood inspired obviously (Warning: It's SUPER HARD TO SEE)

Portfolio fun

Well, I have FINALLY uploaded my Character Animation Portfolio.

http://sckportfolio.blogspot.com/

I sent this to some other schools to, but it was tailored towards CALARTS. There are a few pieces not there and I didn't scan anything from the sketchbook I sent in.

Besides that, here are a few pieces from CSSSA that I love.

My Resolution...

is to update this once a week from no on! No lie!

Okay, so I've been up to a ton lately and its all keeping me really busy.

I've decided to try and make this more of a sketch blog than i have been, but we will see


I thought I would start off with some 2112 sketches.

These are some of the MANY sketches i did of the main character. Obviously, the kid who played him in the show doesn't look like this, but if there I ever did an animated 2112, he would look kind of like this. There are also a few preist sketches in there too.

These are some sketches of the "Red Star Army" concepts that didn't make it in to the show.

Yes, I watch Superjail. Don't judge me.


And here are some other general sketches. The Little Red Riding Hood and Wolf are from an animation Project I'm doing for IB art. There rest are from when i saw "Happy Days the Musical", hence the terrified sketch.

Wow. I am REALLY bad at this blogging thing.

2112 premiered a couple of weeks ago and it was a hit!

Some pictures

For anyone who doesn't know, I directed the show and did all of the artwork seen on the projection screen. They were done with cut paper.


I was really lucky to get the cast I have. Actually, we are planning a Chicago show later in the year. Boo YAH.


Besides that, my Calarts portfolio has been sent in. I'm officially going to be the jumpiest person ever until March.

I PROMISE PROMISE PROMISE that I will upload some art soon.

Stuff

I really need to learn how to update more.

Well, since my last entry number of things have happened.

-I made it on to the Comedy Sportz team! I have to admit, I'm pretty darn excited. We had our very first all school workshop, down town, this Saturday. I rode with the rest of the team and we were a lovely 30 minutes late. Apparently, this is a school tradition, so the people at the workshop didn't really care. We have an awesome ceramic cat for a mascot.

- I've offically started applying for colleges. Right now I have applied/ will apply to NYU, Herron @IUPUI, Kansas City Art Institute, and of course, CalArts. Obviously, the CalArts applications haven't even been posted, and I will be working extra hard on getting that application to be good. I also have scholarships to apply for and the dreaded Extended Essay to finish.

-What's most important to me right now though is 2112. We are about 3 weeks in and it's going great. The singers are fantastic, and I'm amazed at how well my males singers are dealing with the intensity that is Geddy Lee's high notes. My band is also working well, and quickly. I am very close to starting to shoot the animation, which will be paper cutouts. I started painting the backgrounds today.
This is just some concept art.

I've also not forgotten to make time for my cartoons.