HaHa Hustlers,
Fall's just around the corner and we've got something great for you to cozy up to. Tired of the studio re-runs on television? How about a little independent animation?! Uber comic creator, Mike Judge has released a collection of animated shorts, 'The Animation Show' and we want to share it with you!
Leave a comment with something you found funny recently and we'll pick three winners. The grand prize winner will receive 'The Animation Show' Volumes 1-3 on DVD, and two runners up will receive 'The Animation Show' Volume 3. Enter to win by 5 pm PST, Thursday, September 18, 2008! Good luck everybody!
NEW VIDEOS:
Let's Talk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApiLrFCHW1s
The Animation Show is back with an all new collection of incredible independent animation! This year Mike Judge has gathered together over two dozen of his favorite funny short films from around the world. It's a ground breaking program of eye-popping adult animation from tomorrow's next great animators. This isn’t a dirty “adults only” animation show but the program does skew towards a mature audience with some explicit language and adult subject matter.
This year the Animation Show has gone out to four incredible artists for some truly amazing new commissioned work. Kicking things off is the uber talented Joel Trussell with an epic viking Animation Show Intro. We highly recommend you head over to youtube to catch Joel’s sensational video “War Photographer” for a little background on our guitar thrashing plunderers. Australian animator Dave Carter debuts three new commissioned shorts with the hilarious “Psychotown”. Dave continues his collaboration with the comedy team ‘The Nice Guys’ here for a blend of cut out and stop-motion animation. Also featured is the stop-motion superstar PES who has been an Animation Show regular the last two tours and returns this year with the instructional cooking treat “Western Spaghetti”. This is PES’s most complex film to date and an instant classic! Finally we’re proud to feature the first commissioned short film from the commercial design team Smith and Foulkes (known for their award winning commercial spots for Coke and Motorola) with the CG tale “This Way Up”. The piece centers around two undertakers working hard to lay the dead to rest. All of these artists have won huge accolades in the commercial world and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to let them create and develop their own short film projects to share on the big screen.
Like past tours this new program is packed with festival favorites and premieres. This year we're proud to be the first to theatrically share the work of Steve Dildarian (New HBO series THE LIFE AND TIMES OF TIM debuting in September). Another highlight is the collection of films never seen in the US from the prestigious French animation college Gobelins featuring the shorts “Burning Safari”, “Cocotte Minute”, “Voodoo” and “Blind Spot”. Returning this year are animation greats Bill Plympton with the premiere of “Hot Dog”, Corky Quakenbush with the irreverent “Yompi” and Georges Schizgebel’s gorgeous “Jeu”!
FILMMAKER BIOS
Mike Judge – Currator of program and Executive Producer
Mike Judge is no stranger to successful comedy animation. Prior to KING OF THE HILL, he was creator and executive producer of the irreverent cable series BEAVIS AND BUTTHEAD Judge also provided the voices for Beavis, Butt-Head and the additional male characters, and wrote and performed the theme music for the series. Additionally, he wrote and directed the hit film BEAVIS AND BUTTHEAD DO AMERICA.
Judge's animation career includes creating the well-known series animation piece, OFFICE SPACE, which aired as a short film on cable and later as a recurring sketch on "Saturday Night Live." Two of his other short films, "huh?" and "The Honkey Problem," have appeared in the Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation.
A self-motivated talent, Judge taught himself to animate in 1991 with the aid of borrowed library books, a second-hand animation camera and a few cheap animation supplies. Previously, he performed music on the road.
In 1998, Judge made his live-action directorial debut with the film OFFICE SPACE, which he also wrote, for Twentieth Century Fox. In addition to serving as co-creator and executive producer of KING OF THE HILL, Judge is also the voice of Hank Hill and Boomhauer.
In 2007 Judge completed the live action sci-fi feature “Idiocracy” for Fox. In the Spring of 2008 it was announced that KING OF THE HILL will have it’s 13 season on the network as well. Judge and KOH executive producers John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky have begun work on a new animated sieres called, “The Goode Family” to air on ABC.
PES - “Western Spaghetti”
PES (born Adam Pesapane) is a director and animator of numerous short films and commercials.
Receiving a B.A. in English at the University of Virginia, PES migrated to film as a storytelling medium. His use of everyday objects and stop motion animation to create original material is instantly recognizable (and has spawned numerous copycats). His work has been recognized in the US and internationally, especially the iconic short film "Roof Sex" and the explosive "KaBoom!". In 2002, "Roof Sex" won the Best First Film award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival. PES explains his animation style in the "Making of Roof Sex" and the "Making of KaBoom!", both available for viewing on the director's website.
PES's most recent short film "Game Over" (2006) shows classic arcade death sequences (e.g. Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Asteroids, Frogger, Centipede) recreated with familiar objects including muffins, toy cars, insects, pizza and fried eggs. PES's very short (twenty-five second) "Fireworks" was included in the second theatrical tour of The Animation Show (2005) and "Game Over" is included in the 2007 theatrical tour.
PES's recent work also includes commercials for Sneaux (2007), Orange Telecom (2006), Coinstar (2005) and Bacardi (2005). The commercial for Sneaux, "Human Skateboard," appears to be the first time PES has animated human bodies, a stop motion technique known as pixilation.
PES's short film "Game Over" (2006) was one of five US films selected for the 2007 Annecy Animated Film Festival. His recent commercial for Orange Telecom, "Hide and Seek" (2006), was also selected for the 2007 Annecy Animated Film Festival in the advertising films category.
Smith and Foulkes – “This Way Up”
Smith & Foulkes graduated from the Royal College of Art animation course in 1997 and teamed up with producers Chris O’Reilly and Charlotte Bavasso at the Nexus studio.
They have gone on to develop a reputation as one of London’s top animation directors and their portfolio spans short films, music videos, commercials and film title sequences.
Credits include the film title sequence for THUNDERBIRDS and an animated ‘film within a film’ for DreamWorks and Paramount’s LEMONY SNICKET: A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS. They have also directed for the BBC’s animated comedy show MONKEY DUST.
Their commercial work has won them numerous awards and accolades including the Grand Prix Award at Cannes Lions, a Grandy at the Andys, an ITV Award for Best Commercial and two Golds at the D&AD awards. They were the most awarded commercial directors in the US and Europe in 2006.
Nexus Productions
Nexus Productions is an independent animation production company with an internationally acclaimed roster of directing talent.
Alongside their work with Smith & Foulkes, Nexus have produced a diverse range of work . Credits include the titles to CATCH ME IF YOU CAN and the first 3D PINK PANTHER for the recent DVD edition of the film (director: Kuntzel + Deygas), a Grammy nominated music video for Franz Ferdinand (director: Jonas Odell) and a diverse range of work in commercial, music videos, film and television.
The Nexus studio in London is home to a team of 3D animators, technical directors , CG artists and production staff who work together to create award winning and innovative animation.
For further work visit
www.nexusproductions.com
Joel Trussell – “Welcome Aboard”
Near the mystic hills of Dollywood lives award winning director Joel Trussell. Over the years Joel has worked in television, commercials and music videos since receiving his BFA in Drawing from the University of Tennessee.
Trussell has directed several music videos for the likes of M.Ward, Morcheeba, Coldcut and Jason Forrest. His music videos have appeared in over two dozen film festivals such as the Ottawa International Film Festival, Platform, Resfest and the Los Angeles Film Festival. They have also been included on StashDVD, OneDotZero's Select DVD, Pictoplasma's Characters in Motion DVD, and been featured on MTV2, MuchMusic, CMT, MTV Europe and more.
Trussell recently made his television directorial debut with three segments for Nickelodeon's "YO GABBA GABBA!", and directed animated commercials for Esurance and Nicorette.
Before his work as a freelance director, Trussell worked as an animation director in Seattle, animating online projects for clients including Disney, Naspter and Devo.
Joel has currently returned near to Dollywood's warm bosom in Knoxville, Tennessee with his lovely wife, his two vibrant young boys and his bitter old dog.
Dave Carter - "Psychotown"
Dave Carter's animations are what might have happened if Monty Pythons Terry Gilliam had been born in Communist Russia and grown up on subtitled Ren and Stimpy cartoons. Anarchic, subversive and bizarre, sure. But more importantly, very, very funny.
He has for the last two years devoted himself primarily to the art of cutout stopmotion, thriving on a DIY spontaneous approach. He has paired up with his immensely talented co-conspirator Nikos Andronicos and his hilarious comedy unit, The Nice Guys to create 'Psychotown'. Also he exorcised personal demons in making the dark family-friendly 'Let's Talk'. As a result, the Carter family life has never been better.
Steve Dildarian – "Angry Unpaid Hooker"
Steve is a San Francisco based writer best known for his television commercials.
He is the co-creator of the Budweiser Lizards TV campaign, and has written many other well known ads for Little Caesars Pizza, Budweiser, Bud Light and Staples. His work has won all the top advertising awards, and is often included in many "Best Of" lists, including TV Guide's 10 Funniest Superbowl Commercials Ever, and Adweek's Top 20 Ad Campaigns of the Last 20 Years.
"Angry Unpaid Hooker," Steve's first animated film, was awarded Best Animated Short at the 2006 HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, and is currently being developed into a TV series for HBO.
ADDITIONAL PROGRAM LIST AND DETAILS
Welcome Aboard (2008)
Technique: Flash Animation
Country: USA
Running Time: 1:00
Welcome to the Animation Show! Vikings attack an elderly cruise ship in our rocking salute to the heavy metal gods.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written and Directed by Joel Trussell
Official Site - http://www.joeltrussell.com/
Psychotown (2008)
Technique: Stopmotion Animation
Country: Austraila
Running Time: 2:30
Three all new episodes of the bizarre hit “Psychotown” from Dave Carter and the comedy team The Nice Guys.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Directed and Animated by Dave Carter
Written and Voiced by The Nice Guys
Sound by Nikos
Official Site – www.thedavecartershow.com
Burning Safari (2006)
Technique: Computer Animation
Country: France
Running Time: 1:45
In Burning Safari, the aliens are on a photo outing. It is their misfortune to encounter a curious monkey just after landing. Chaos ensues, and as so often happens when worlds collide; things end extremely badly for all concerned.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Directed by: Vincent Aupetit, Maxime Maleo, Aurelien Predal, Florent de La Taille, Claude-William Trebutien, Jeanne Irzenski
Sound by: Clement Maleo, Anthony Maubert
Official site - http://www.burningsafari.com/index.htm
Operator (2007)
Technique: 2D Animation
Country: England
Running Time: 1:45
A man dials 411 and asks for the number for God.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written, Directed by Matthew Walker
Sound by Matthew Walker, Aimee Hibberd
Official site – http://worldofarthurcox.com
Usavich Episodes (2006)
Technique: 3D Computer Animation
Country: Japan
Running Time: 1:30
1962. Putin and Kirenenko are prisoners in Russia. This is the story of their happy daily life.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written and Directed by Satoshi Tomioka
Produced by mtv Japan
Official Site – www.usavich.tv
Mr. Schwartz, Mr. Hazen & Mr. Horlocker (2006)
Technique: 2D Animation
Country: Germany
Running Time: 7:00
Disturbed by his neighbor’s loud music, Mr. Schwartz calls the police but initially the officer can’t uncover anything…
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written and Directed by Stephan Mueller
Official Site – www.basementpictures.com
Love Sport Paint Balling (2007)
Technique: 3D Computer Animation
Country: England
Running Time: 2:00
Rival armies, guns ready to fire, camouflage vests, helicopters. Then explosions, ambushes, splatters everywhere. The most colorful game in the world goes awol.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written and Directed by Grant Orchard
Animation by: Phil Warner, Gideon Regal
Produced by QoobTV and StudioAKA
Official Site - http://en.qoob.tv/video/ricerca.asp
Yompi (2006)
Technique: Stopmotion
Country: USA
Running Time: 0:50
The lovable, little yellow Yompi likes to snuggle. Unfortunately, he's a crotch-biting sloup!
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written and Directed by Corky Quakenbush
Angry Unpaid Hooker (2005)
Technique: 2D Animation
Country: USA
Running Time: 6:26
Tim wakes up with a cranky prostitute in his apartment. He can’t pay her, and he can’t explain to his girlfriend how she got there.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written, Directed and Animated by Steve Dildarian
Blind Spot (2007)
Technique: Computer Animation
Country: France
Running Time: 2:15
During a convenience store stick up a grandmother is shopping unaware of what's taking place. The evidence tells a different story.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written and Directed by Johanna Bessiere, Cecile Dubois Herry, Simon Rouby, Nicolas Chauvelot, Olivier Clert, Yvon Jardel
Produced: Gobelins L' Ecole de L'Image
Official Sites -
Par Johanna Bessiere - http://johanna-bessiere.blogspot.com/
Cecile Dubois-Henry - http://cduboisherry.blogspot.com/2007/10/blind-spot-le-film.html
Forgetfulness (2007)
Technique: Stopmotion
Country: Canada
Running Time: 1:45
A poem by Billy Collins exploring the inevitability of forgetfulness.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Directed by Julian Grey
Written by Billy Collins
Music by Tom Third
Produced by Sue Riedl
Official Site - http://www.headgearanimation.com/work/sundance_action_poetry_series
Prof Nieto Ep 1 (2006)
Technique: Computer Animation
Country: France
Running Time: 4:00
"Today we study a rare bug with an incredible ability"
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Writen, Directed and starring: Nieto
Produced by: Nieto and Nicolas Schmerkin
Official Sites - http://www.nietodvd.com/
http://www.autourdeminuit.com/
Voodoo (2007)
Technique: 2D Animation
Country: France
Running Time: 2:15
Three adventurers go to an island with the intention of pillaging an old temple. The local tribe has a secret that protects the temple and entertains the villagers at the same time.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written and Directed by Romain Baudy, Ludovic Bouancheau, Liane Cho Han, Yann Le Gall, Marietta Ren, Sebastien Wojda
Produced: Gobelins L' Ecole de L'Image
Official Sites –
http://www.pixelcreation.fr/graphismeart-design/formations/animation-au-gobelins/
John and Karen (2007)
Technique: 2D and Computer Animation
Country: UK
Running Time: 3:30
John the polar bear tries to apologize to Karen the penguin.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written and Directed by Matthew Walker
Voices by James Bachman and Emma Cunniffe
Edited by Ben Lole
Produced by Sarah Cox
Official Site – www.worldofarthurcox.com
Cocotte Minute (2006)
Technique: 3D Computer Animation
Country: France
Running Time: 1:45
In a restaurant kitchen, a chicken dreams of escape and freedom while trying to survive a poultry race organized by the team of cooks.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written and Directed by: Thibault Berard, Sylvain Marc, Loïc Miermont, Amandine Pécharman, Nathalie Robert & Romain Vacher
Produced by: Gobelins L’Ecole de L’image
JEU (2006)
Technique: 2D Animation
Country: Switzerland
Running Time: 4:00
A dizzying whirlwind that never ceases to amaze, from the countdown at the start to
the end that wraps up the film.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Directed by Georges Schwizgebel
Composer: Serge Prokofiev
Conductor: Philippe Beran
Sound Design: Olivier Calvert
Produced by The National Film Board of Canada
Official Sites
http://www.nfb.ca/webextension/jeu/en/presskit-en.pdf
http://www.nfb.ca/webextension/jeu/en/main.php
Key Lime Pie (2007)
Technique: 2D and Computer Animation
Country: Canada
Running Time: 3:32
Mitch’s life is driven by his obsession for key lime pie, in this spin on film noir genre.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written and Directed by Trevor Jimenez
Official site - http://trevjimenez.blogspot.com/
Hot Dog (2008)
Technique: 2D and Computer Animation
Country: USA
Running Time: 5:00
Our hero is back! This time man’s best friend comes to the aid of a fire crew.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written and Animated by Bill Plympton
Raymond (2006)
Technique: Computer Animation
Country: France
Running Time: 5:40
Raymond a lazy swimming pool instructor would like to discover the oceans. A team of scientists with a brand new solution offers to help him…
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Writen and Directed by BIF – Fabrice Le Nezet, Francois Roisin, Jules Janaud
Sound Design by Jean-Baptiste St Pol
Cinematography by Mathieu Plainfosse et Mahdi Lepart
Cast includes: Antoine Menard, Alain Choquet
Official Sites – http://www.bif-pictures.com
Western Spaghetti (2008)
Technique: Stopmotion
Country: USA
Running Time: 1:30
A PES ‘how to’ for cooking Spaghetti. Begin.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written and Directed by PES
Official Site – www.eatpes.com
This Way Up (2008)
Technique: 3D Computer Animation
Country: England
Running Time: 7:00
Laying the dead to rest has never been so much trouble.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written and Directed by Smith and Foulkes
Official site – www.nexusproductions.com
