Channel Frederator Blog

I’m a big fan of the music of Jonathan Coulton, a musician who actually encourages people to make their own video versions of his songs. (For example, there was this contest to create a video for “I Feel Fantastic”.)

A guy who goes by the name Spiff has created a slew of these videos using World of Warcraft. His Machinima videos (that’s animation made using video games) are very entertaining. He also has a page on his site with detailed explanations of how to make them—featuring two methods: easy and hard.

Here’s an interview with the man himself from Nerdabout New York (a Discovery Channel blog).

The video above is for the song “Codemonkey”. After the jump, his latest: “Tom Cruise Crazy”. [Read more…]

The Bran Flakes are an “experimental music project employing a variety of found samples and sounds”. You can also call their output sound collage, high-concept sampling, mighty fine mashup, or sweet musical melting pot. The primary members are Otis Fodder and Mildred Pitt. (I used to know Otis Fodder’s real name, but I have completely forgotten it, so it shall remain a secret!)

These days, they are also producing odd animated videos to promote their new release I Have Hands (out and about February 24th.) The short above goes along with the song “Do You Want Salad With Your Taco?” Animation by Susan DeLint aka Plogo aka probably-some-other-amazing-pseudonyms.

Here’s a second colorful and trippy one called “What’s It All About?” (by Mildred Pitt).

For all their vids, past and present, see their YouTube page.

—Anne D. Bernstein

Yes, this video has been around for a while, but after watching the recently posted interview with Fred, and thinking about the early days of MTV, this video’s visuals popped into my head.

Directed by Ace Norton, this video for the band Death Cab for Cutie has many elements that remind me of early MTV promos.

Much of Ace’s work has a similar feel, from his other work with Death Cab for Cutie (an homage to Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer“), to his newer stuff (like this Coke commercial).

With so much slick CG stuff in front of us all the time now, I really enjoy seeing animation like this. What do you think?

-Floyd Bishop

When I wrote about the new Kanye West video for “Heartless” earlier this week, I wondered what Ralph Bakshi was thinking about the fact that his feature American Pop was cited as the source of its inspiration. Well, I received an email from Bakshi and it seems that he is definitely pleased:

First of all I absolutely loved the video for its color, strength, and music. I appreciate your writing about it, and the honesty of its original inspiration. We are all so excited about Obama, I am doubly proud that West also did the Obama song.

You can watch the trailer for American Pop on this page, which is part of the official Ralph Bakshi website. The site features an extensive store, where you can buy DVDs, production art, T-shirts, and even original clown paintings.

After the jump, a link to “The Obama Song” mentioned above (I think!)… [Read more…]

Kanye West got my attention this week because his latest video is animated and greatly influenced by Ralph Bakshi. Also, The Jetsons make a cameo appearance.

This statement is from Kanye’s blog:

“This video was rotoscoped. We recorded real people and then had 65 animators in Hong Kong hand draw over every cell. Inspired by the movie American Pop. Hype [Williams] showed me the movie and I was sold.”

The question on every animation fan’s mind is, of course, did he also show him the controversial Coonskin? And what does Bakshi think about this tribute? Did they throw any bling his way?

(For more on Bakshi, check out the comprehensive book Unfiltered: The Complete Ralph Bakshi by Jon M. Gibson and Meathaus publisher Chris McDonnell.)

—Anne D. Bernstein

Moose A. Moose (Noggin mascot) sings about his vehement hatred of an innocent tri-colored treat. You can also watch an official Noggin version here.

His voice is by Paul Christie, who also provided the voice for Louie the Lizard in the Budweiser “frog” commercials. Lyrics by Matt Perreault.

Moose A. Moose was designed by illustrator Melinda Beck.

Candy corn also makes a cameo appearance in Western Spaghetti by PES:

—Anne D. Bernstein

Thanks to Mark Mayerson for pointing out the presence of two George Pal shorts at Europa Film Treasures, an online archive of important European films. (Mark’s blog Mayerson On Animation is highly recommended, so check it out!)

The first film is “La Grande Revue Philips” (”The Great Philips Revue”). Made to promote the Philips brand of radios, this sassy, stop-motion extravaganza was produced at Dollywood Studio in Holland (where he worked with art director Joop Geesink). (Note: The portrayal of Harlem residents is definitely un-PC.)

Philip funded at least ten Puppetoons. The George Pal Site rounds them up here. (The information on the Pal website leads me to believe that the short on Europa is a combination of footage from “The Little Broadcast” (1935) and “The Big Broadcast of 1938″ (1937). Any experts out there to clear that up?)

Anyway, watch the film here and read more about it on this page.

The other Pal film posted for your viewing pleasure is “Tulips Shall Grow” (1942). It was made for Paramount after Pal fled WWII-era Europe for New York City. The evil Screwballs Army attacks a delightful, cheery, windmill-loving blond couple in a not-so-subtle bit of anti-Nazi animation propaganda. The hardware heavies are ultimately defeated and hardy flowers bloom. YEAH!

Watch it here and learn more on this page.

After the jump, a commercial from post-Pal Dollywood where coffee beans speak in a foreign tongue! [Read more…]

Floyd Bishop posted the other day about Dustin McLean’s recent parody of one of the most famous animated video of all time: A-Ha’s “Take On Me”. Who can forget its sketchy rotoscope stylings and corny comic book love story?

(You can go to Dustfilms to find out more about the parody creator, btw.)

This made me curious about the folks who worked on the animated portion of the original video. I found some additional info:

The animation was done by married couple Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger. Patterson studied experimental animation with Jules Engel at Cal Arts and worked for many years at Rhythm and Hues. You can see his award-winning student film Commuter (1981) here–this is where he developed the techniques he put to good use in “Take On Me” (1985).

Patterson and Reckinger were also responsible for the animated portion of Paula Abdul’s “Opposites Attract” video, which was inspired by the Gene Kelly/Jerry the Mouse [Read more…]

While the video is nothing new, this YouTube version is quite funny. They replaced the song with one which explains what is literally happening on screen.

This was a-ha’s only #1 hit in the United States. The video, directed by Steve Barron, was inspired by the animated short “Commuter”, created by Michael Patterson. The video also draws from the film “Altered States”.

Steve Barron went on to direct the live action “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and “Coneheads”.

-Floyd Bishop

There is no nudity in this video by The Brighton Port Authority. The censors have black barred all of the “naughty bits” and middle fingers. The people in the video are aware of this however, and are using the censor’s black bars to create simple animations.

The video was directed by Keith Schofield.

It’s a great idea, a fun video, and a pretty decent song as well.

-Floyd Bishop