Animation Station

With the nominations announced, two animated films, Up and Avatar, have been nominated for best picture by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (or the Oscars). This is only the second time an animated feature has been nominated for Best Picture (The first was 1991’s Beauty and the Beast).

While some will argue whether or not Avatar is animation (including James Cameron), with the film being nearly 90% CGI, it fits my definition of animation (see episode 6 for the debate) as-well-as the Academy’s.

Either way, congratulations to both Up and Avatar.

Part four of our review of the 50 greatest cartoons as selected by a panel of more than 1,000 cartoon historians and animation professionals from the book by the same name by Jerry Beck (1994). In this episode we take on cartoons 35-31.

The 50 Greatest Cartoons (35-31):

35) Ali Baba Bunny, Warner Brothers, February 9, 1957
34) You Ought To Be In Pictures, Warner Brothers, May 18, 1940
33) Superman, Fleischer Studios, September 26, 1941
32) The Cat Came Back, National Film Board of Canada, 1988
31) The Scarlet Pumpernickel, Warner Brothers, March 4, 1950

Our other podcasts:

Don’t Fear the Grape: www.dontfearthegrape.com
Crash! Bang! Pow!: www.crashbangpow.com

 

 Episode 7 [23:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (117)

After a twelve year hiatus James Cameron returns with the much-hyped film, Avatar. Was Avatar worth the wait? Does it live up to the hype? Is Avatar really a ‘game changer’? Patrick and I have a lively discussion about James Cameron’s latest gambit.

 

 Episode 6 [36:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (174)

An incredible fully CG piece by Alex Roman illustrating architecture as art.

The Third & The Seventh from Alex Roman on Vimeo.

Update: Everything you see is CG except for the photographer (shot on greenscreen), pigeons, timelapsed growing flowers, the flying airplane and sky backgrounds. Stunning realism, artfully done.

Part three of our review of the 50 greatest cartoons as selected by a panel of more than 1,000 cartoon historians and animation professionals from the book by the same name by Jerry Beck (1994). In this episode we take on cartoons 40-36.

The 50 Greatest Cartoons (40-36):

40) Peace on Earth, MGM, December 9, 1939
39) Little Red Riding Rabbit, Warner Brothers, January 4, 1944
38) Bambi Meets Godzilla, Marv Newland, 1969
37) Bimbo’s Initiation, Fleischer Studios, July 24, 1931
36) Feed the Kitty, Warner Brothers, February 2, 1952

Links mentioned in this episode:

Peace on Earth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8OYvHPpGDY
Peace on Earth: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xuiut_mgm-cartoon-1939-peace-on-earth_fun
Bambi Meets Godzilla: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAVYYe87b9w
Bimbo’s Initiation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFrBG4xyaF8

 

 Episode 5 [30:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (192)