Flogging Molly's Float and Tales from Outer Suburbia

There were Contemporary Animation Presentations this morning, one of the presentations was 'Flogging Molly's Float' by Karni and Saul. The film is a balanced mix of CG, live action and stop frame in which a stick man, makes a laborious journey from urban, industrial jungle where he was created through increasingly scenic surroundings towards the sea. He collects along the way random objects he finds on the ground and drags them with him on his journey. I really like this film, the directing, lighting, environments and character were all superb.

After watching the film again I remembered a book I have 'Tales from Outer Suburbia' by Australian Illustrator Shaun Tan. There is a short story in this book that I find very similar to 'Flogging Molly's Float'.
'Eric' is about a curious little stick figure who collects things he finds on the ground. The character design is also similar. There is a moment in 'Flogging Molly's Float' when the character is looking at a leaf, the silohette between the two characters is mirrored here:

Another of the short stories in 'Tales from Outer Suburbia' - 'Stick Figures' - has a similar look and design also:

http://www.shauntan.net/

I really recommend Shaun Tan's 'Tales from Outer Suburbia' It's beautifully illustrated and imaginative.

Also, Shaun Tan's film 'The Lost Thing' recently won an Oscar for Best Short Animated Film.

Thought of You - by Ryan Woodward

This is the contemporary short animated film that myself and Sarah Rettie have been given to research and do a presentation about to the rest of the group. The film is called 'Thought of You' by Ryan Woodward. I'd watched it before and absolutely loved it! It's a very beautiful animation!

Deathly Hallows Animated Sequence

Was browsing the internet today and came across this interesting article about how the first animated sequence in a 'Harry Potter' movie came about:



http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/awards/2011/01/how-the-first-animated-sequence-in-a-harry-potter-movie-came-about.html

There is a rather nice quote at the end of the article by the animation director, Ben Hibon, behind the sequence:

"Animation is the art of smoke and mirrors, lights and shadows, and the team of artists behind this piece are true magicians."