Observations from the Window 2.26

Paperman, the mixed animation film from Disney that I love, won the Best Animated Short Film award at Sunday night's Academy Awards. If you haven't seen it, or if you saw my post after the video went private, I updated my original post with a new embed/link and you really need to see it. Besides, the little story I'm about to tell you will make much more sense if you do.

Paperman director John Kahrs accepted the award as Kristina Reed, the film's producer, began throwing paper airplanes with kisses on them from her seat on the balcony. As paper planes tend to do they didn't fly well at all but dove straight down into Hollywood's finest. While the crowd didn't seem to notice, or understood the planes meaning, security wasn't thrilled at all with the 'stunt' and Reed was evicted from the auditorium. After ten minutes of protest the party pooping guards allowed Reed back to her seat with a slap on the wrist.

Consider this a warning, if you ever win an Academy Award don't even think about confetti, noise makers, or any other form of celebration other than some polite clapping. It may be the night of your life but proper decorum will be displayed at all times.

Observations on Art 1.31

It was said that Pixar had killed traditional animation with its computer generated imagery. This simple fact was proved when Disney bought Pixar in a deal that made Steve Jobs Disney's largest shareholder. But somebody forgot to tell traditional animators that there art was dead.

Paperman mixes traditional and computer animation using a new software called Meander which was developed by Disney software engineer Brian Whited. While still 'secret' Meander allows CGI animation to be finished with traditional drawings to add detail. The process gives the finished film the look and feel of drawing but the stability and smoothness of computer generation. Paperman director John Kahrs said "There is something so primal and expressive about drawing, and our hope was to get it back into the CG animation process."

The short was first shown at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in June and is nominated for the Best Animated Short Film in next month's Academy Awards. Disney released it to all on Tuesday.

It's pretty damn awesome.

link
disneyanimation
Uploaded on Jan 29, 2013