Channel Frederator Blog

This weeks episode features “The Flower Lion” from animator Sehwang Heo. Here he tells us about the unique origin of the film’s premise, and why he won’t fight for his food.

Where did you study animation/film?

Sehwang Heo: I took a one year animation course in South Korea.

What inspired the story for “The Flower Lion”?

I traveled in India two years ago. I was joining a Vipassana meditation course. During the course, suddenly an image popped out from my head. That image was a lion with flowers. The story started from the image.

[Read more…]

Our 200th episode ‘toon is “The Owl and the Squirrel” courtesy of animator Nick Bachman. He graduated from MCAD in May and is now gainfully employed at PUNY Entertainment in Minneapolis. Woot! Read on for all you ever wanted to know about futzing with clay, Ticketmaster, and Pee Wee Herman!

We featured your stop motion short “Chocolate and Mices” earlier this year - what have you learned about animation or about yourself as an artist since then?

Nick Bachman: I think I’ve learned to take breaks from working more often. If you work on something constantly and think about it 24/7 without taking time for yourself, the quality of your work, health, and life will deteriorate and you will become a sad, lonely little hermit. True story.

The gags in “The Owl and The Squirrel” are Sylvester and Tweety-esque. What gave you the idea for the film?

NB: I was trying to write a story to [Read more…]

Our 200th episode is here!  It’s hard to believe we’re closing in on 4 years of Channel Frederator.  And to celebrate we’re shaking things up.  Episode 200 marks the debut of our one cartoon format, new host, and ongoing contest.  Anyone who is featured on our weekly Tuesday show from here on out receives $50.  At the end of the month, the animator with the most views in their debut week, wins $200.

But, why switch format?

With a one cartoon format, we can dote on each animator individually.  Which means shining a bigger spotlight on them.  And our viewers can do. For the first time, an audience can help reward an animator.  Like a cartoon?  Twitter it.  Facebook it.  At the end of the month, we’ll tally it up and reward the animator with the most views in their debut week.

Nothing would please us more than to see an animators’ work [Read more…]

Hey there, Channel Frederator Fans!

We want you to help us throw down for our 4 year anniversary with a slew of fantastic films for one big, bad episode! We’re looking for 4 second animations of what you think the Fredbot would do to celebrate his Happy 4th!

Upload your film to the submissions page. Please type “4 SECOND FREDBOT BY (your name)” in the title box. Best file size and type is 640×360 .mov Done and done!

Deadline is October 12th!

If you have other films you’d like featured on Channel Frederator, check out this article! We can’t wait to show your work, and in addition to interviews and hype for you - with our new format there’s cash available to anyone that gets their work shown!

Woo!

Have you seen the latest Channel Frederator ? If so, you’ve probably seen this week’s intepretations of the Fredbot. Now, it’s time to look at these bad boys: UP CLOSE!Feeling inspired? Submit your Fredbot today!

Nelson Boles’ Fredbot from Channel Frederator # 192 [Read more…]

Watching the latest Channel Frederator makes my day. But, checking out the Fredbots from our animators in this week’s episode….That makes my LIFE!Also: Feeling inspired? Submit your Fredbot today!Rui Gomes’ Fredbot from Channel Frederator # 191 (click to enlarge) [Read more…]

Our very first episode, November 2005, featured Pendleton Ward’s wonderful “Barrista.”

The other day, Frederator producer Carrie Miller saw this live action adaption on someone’s tumblr.

It’s a wonderful world.

–Fred

Channel Frederator’s company, Next New Networks, gets a profile in New York Times Magazine from Times TV critic Virginia Heffernan. Here’s an excerpt:

“In the end, inspiring the poignant fantasy of another life is the closest these videos come toward telling a bigger story. Like MTV in its heyday, Next New is proudly hit or miss. Viewers don’t go to it for any one video; they tune in for a sensibility, a lifestyle. The scene at Next New is techy, of course, but it’s also wholesome and nostalgic and low key and inventive and whimsical and frugal and enterprising.

“The kids in the Next New universe — like kids of hipster scenes immemorial — dress a certain way, talk a certain way, manifest a certain cosmology. You have to watch many videos to get the hang of it. But if it’s escape you’re looking for, and you can handle lots of ads for [Read more…]

There is a super extra special episode of Channel Frederator available today! This episode comes to us from our buddies over at Indy Mogul!

Indy Mogul host, Erik Beck is invited to visit the acclaimed Dreamworks Animation Studios to show you how the stunning animation in the new film Monsters Vs. Aliens was created.  The talented team at Dreamworks shows off new technology and techniques that were developed to achieve the animation and digital 3D images of the film.  From real models of the Golden Gate Bridge to the revolutionary, state-of-the-art 3D virtual camera, this episode of Hollywood FX reveals it all.

Check it out at www.channelfrederator.com and get even more at www.indymogul.com!

It’s that time again! Time to announce our March Cartoon of the Month. We had a really great variety of films that were contenders this month - bears, cars, ghosts, goldfish, narwhals, cupcakes and more. Honestly, though, in the end we all know that cupcakes RULE! So it’s really no surprise that Kirsten Lepore is taking home the totally sweet $100 prize-pack of exclusive Cartoon of the Month Channel Frederator merchandise for her film, Sweet Dreams.
Kirsten was Channel Frederator’s first featured filmmaker in episode #166. Our very own Bailee DesRocher did an awesome two part interview with Kirsten where she tells all about this great film. Make sure you check it out here, and here.
I also asked Kirsten what kind of advice she has for any of you creative filmmakers out there that want to win the Cartoon of the Month prize yourself. She says:

Story is key. Oftentimes you have to [Read more…]