Channel Frederator Blog

Recently I had a sit down with one of my favorite people, multi-talented animator and director Sherie Pollack, whose body of work ranges from edgy primetime programming animating and timing on “The Simpsons” to directing “God, The Devil, & Bob” to the pre-K “Dora the Explorer” and “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.” I took the opportunity to discuss her journey into animation success and her upcoming lecture “My Career in Cartoons”. Here, in the second half of her interview, Sherie goes in depth about her lecture.

BD: In your lecture, what kind of things do you cover for aspiring pro animators?

SP: I basically want to share everything I wish I knew when I started. You know, how to get a union job. What is a union all about. What do I do if I’m not doing well on a job - how do I get my groove back? Carpal tunnel. Everyone gets it. Eye strain. How to [Read more…]

It is storming outside my window, so I think I’ll stay in my toasty apartment and contemplate superb snowy art today. First off, a sensitive and atmospheric Lexus commercial by Yves Gelyn. Called “Bow Farm”, it was greatly inspired by the nature illustrations of Charley Harper.

Since the YouTube version has embedding disabled, you must go here or here to watch the full spot.

See the work of Charley Harper at The Online Home of The Charley Harper Art Studio.

And here’s a young artist particularly adept at the depiction of inclement weather: Joey Chou. While frantically trying to cover the floor of New York Comicon in a brief afternoon visit, I came upon Joey’s table (which he was sharing with Grace Lee).  This duo was my big discovery of the day. Here’s an example of Joey’s work:

After the jump, something by Grace with a winter theme… [Read more…]

Steve Lambe is busy working on Fanboy and Chum Chum these days, but he still manages to find time (how?) to create his own personal work as well. I’m really loving his Golden Books inspired series, which perfectly captures the palette and texture of the classic illustrations, while adding a little extra-spicy weirdness to the mix.

For more, go to Lambey’s Log.

Too bad DIC Entertainment’s Little Golden Book Land didn’t do as good a job paying homage to the original books. This is from 1989:

—Anne D. Bernstein

PS: “Little Lamb” is a song from Gypsy. (FYI for all of you who were not theater geeks in high school.)

Masstransiscope has been restored! And if you ride the NYC subway, you should go see it.

Bill Brand’s Masstransiscope was installed in the abandoned Myrtle Avenue subway station in Brooklyn, New York in September 1980. It has been seen by millions of commuters for over twenty-five years. The 228 hand-painted panels are viewed through a series of vertical slits set into a specially constructed housing. The piece works on the principle of the Zoetrope, a 19th century optical toy.

Basically, it is a series of paintings that are animated by the movement of passing trains. Creator Bill Brand also makes experimental films and video. His site is here.

To observe the beauty, take the B or Q train from Brooklyn to Manhattan. The Masstransiscope will be visible between the DeKalb Avenue stop and Manhattan. (I enjoyed seeing it every day for about a year when I worked in a jewelry factory out in Sunset Park. That, [Read more…]

Another great group show is coming up in Los Angeles (it seems there’s always one going on!): LA MYTH at Meltdown Gallery opens this Friday night from 7-midnight. The show will be up until February 21st. “Over 50 industry artists gather together to share their Mysterious Creations, Urban Legions and Tweaked Visions of LA Mythology.” The gallery is located at 7522 Sunset Boulevard.

Above, a sneak peek of Jorge R. Gutierrez’s mythical and unattainable perfect burrito.

See this page for a full list of artists.

—Anne D. Bernstein

You’re just in time for the secret password, and it’s not Swordfish! Tomorrow night (Tuesday, February 3rd) Danny Fingeroth will be interviewing the fascinating and fearless cartoonist and writer Jules Feiffer at YIVO at 7 PM (15 West 16th Street, between 5th and 6th.) $10 tickets are available at the door if you whisper the word “Explainers”. Actually, I think you can say it in a normal tone of voice, if you so choose. This is quite a deal, as advance tickets are $25.

Learn how an angst-ridden, impoverished Jewish guy from the Bronx became an acclaimed cartoonist, playwright, animator, screenwriter, novelist, and author of children’s books, earning himself a Pulitzer Prize, an Obie, and an Oscar along the way. With pop culture critic and historian Danny Fingeroth. Q&A to follow.

For more info, go to the YIVO events page.

—Anne D. Bernstein

Thanks to Lou Brooks’ and his Drawger Blog for giving me some advance notice so I can make sure I don’t miss TCM’s airing of the original Artists and Models (1937) on Sunday, February 1, at 2 PM EST. Not only does it pair Jack Benny and Ida Lupino, but cartoonists Rube Goldberg and Peter Arno show up as artists in their only major motion picture appearance. Other now lesser-known illustrators are also featured: pretty girlie artist McClelland Barclay, Russell Patterson, Arthur William Brown, and John Lagatta. Who? Check out the links; I didn’t know who they were either.

For cartoonist cameos in a more recent film (direct-to-DVD), see Comic Book: The Movie! (2004), mostly shot at San Diego Comicon. The cast also includes top animation voice talent like Billy West and Tom Kenny. You will NOT recognize Mark Hamill!

—Anne D. Bernstein

The Screening Room was a public television program that aired in the Boston area back in the 1970s. Its purpose was to give exposure to independent filmmakers. It lasted ten years, and during that time, host Robert Gardner interviewed some of my favorite animators, back when they were dewy and young and full of enthusiasm.

In the past, it was very expensive to buy or rent copies of obscure programs like this. But now, in the age of digital downloads, the cost has come down to a reasonable level. It’s $6.99 for a 24-hour rental or $15.99 to buy an individual episode. So, on the verge of entering the New Year of 2009, let’s time travel back to the days of polyester shirts and cel-vinyl. You can watch a short sample of each show for free on its respective Amazon page:

George Griffin (1976)

John and Faith Hubley (1973)

Derek Lamb (1973 and 1975)

Caroline Leaf and Mary Beam (1975)

Jan Lenica (1973)

Suzan Pitt (1975)

John Whitney, Sr. (1972)

After the jump, a few screen grabs of AWESOME 70s fashion! [Read more…]

In 1952, the Tex Avery directed a short Rock-A-Bye Bear premiered. The short, written by Heck Allen and Rich Hogan featured a simple premise: Spike has a job running a house for a hibernating bear, who insists on quiet. Tex was strained by the amount of work, so he left MGM shortly after completing the piece (the film was actually completed in 1950, but not released until two years later due to the backlog of cartoon shorts).  In Tex’s absence, his unit was directed by former Walter Lantz director, Dick Lundy.

Tex returned to MGM in 1951,  where he took back his animation unit. He went on to direct eleven more cartoons. Most of these had a similar look to the UPA cartoons that were gaining popularity at the time. In March 1953, MGM closed down Tex’s unit, believing that 3D films that were quickly taking theaters by storm would end the [Read more…]

I heard today that one of our favorite CF contributors, Joel Trussell is doing his first solo gallery show. Congrats Joel! The show starts December 4th at the Grassy Knoll Gallery in Portland, OR. I so wish I had plans to visit Portland over the next few weeks, but alas, I do not. I hope that any of you Portland-based CF-ers that might attend will comment about the show.
If, like me, you can’t get to Portland make sure you stroll on over to “Joel Trussell’s Scribble Dumpster” where Joel blogs about the many things keeping this Tennessee-based artist busy. Joel goes way back with Channel Frederator. His cartoon, War Photographer was the fifth cartoon to ever air on Channel Frederator and since then we’ve shown a number of his films. He’s also a two-time Channel Frederator Award recipient.
Good luck Joel!- Carrie