Added some new art to my Illustration page.

“In the right hands, even a lackluster story can be told with such charm and verve that everyone in earshot will give it their attention. The ability to captivate and entertain has less to do with the words on a page, or the beats of a story, as with the performance itself..”

AWN – The Secret of Pixar Storytelling

More on storytelling from UpcomingPixar.

Part 1 – Introduction
Part 2 – Bugs Life
Part 3 – Toy Story 2
Part 4 – Monsters
Part 5 – Nemo
Part 6 – Incredibles

>> Part 7 – Cars << Just added

*update* I was just reading through some of the comments made on the above articles and the writer (Tyro) is getting pretty scrutinized for voicing constructive criticism on some of these films. I agree that these are all great films and it does seem like he’s coming down pretty hard on some of them, but grow up people! Nothing gets better from praise, criticism is what can make a difference. Even if you don’t agree with his over all opinion there’s still TONS to take away from these articles.

Upcoming Pixar has a great article on the formula behind the story of the Incredibles. Check it out for some great tips on story telling.

I saw Happy Feet last night and I gotta say I was pleasently surprised… in a weird way. As an animator, I naturally frown on any mo-cap movie that comes out, so maybe that’s why I had low expectations. Plus I was a little peeved that it won “best animated feature” when it wasn’t really “animated,” it was mo-cap’d. But whatever… I don’t really care much for the “look” of the penguins either, but there was some good freakin cg on the seals, elephant seals, whales, etc.

think the point that really got me interested (spoiler, stop reading if you haven’t seen it and still care to) was when the little guy go put in the glass display, and started losing his mind. Catching fish from the sky, and just standing with his head against the wall. I don’t know if anyone has seen penguins in glass displays, but some of them do that! It’s the creepiest thing, like they lost there mind or something. Then they go and put live action humans running around on cell phones, something I would normally consider blasphemy! But because it so unexpected I liked it. I also enjoyed the ending, they all danced for the humans and won there fish back

My roommate Jeremy made a pretty good comment describing the pacing of the film:

There’s some excellent action in this demo reel by TJ Phan. Great poses, weight, and timing.
http://tjphan.com/assets/multimedia/TJ_GameReel_2006_640.mov 

website:  http://tjphan.com

If you haven’t got around to seeing 300 yet then stop reading this and go to the theater immediately! It was fantastic, slightly better than what I expected. That being said, I’m always slightly disappointed when something meets my expectations,” but I think the exaggerated story and style of the film are more than enough to push it over common expectations. I almost wish I hadn’t seen any previews or “making of” journals online. i always think a film is better if I’ve gone to it blindly then if I’ve already seen the best parts in the previews.

Of course it’s excessively violent which normally bothers me, but it’s so stylized it looks just like a combination of photoshop brushes speckled accross a canvas.

Great pacing, great story, and best of all great art direction. I don’t know how this movie slipped down to a 62% on rotten, I would give it at least a 90. The critics must not understand comic books…

My coworker. This dudes reel cracks me up

Here is a really nice short directed by Alban Lelievre.

Love the snappy animation.

[youtube]EnlCz1P95WM[/youtube]