Well, peel my grapes. Nine 1-minute Funny Face shorts have been uploaded over on DailyMotion.com. Funny Face was originally launched in the 1960s by Pillsbury to peddle drink packets, and the brand is now being revived as a physical comedy aimed at tweens and teens. Here’s one episode from the series (25 x 1), which is being produced by Renegade Animation.
Last night’s One Plus Hub Flash Animation event was a huge success. Thanks to all who came out, the Formosa for hosting us, and the biggest thanks to Jill Gilbert, who organized and brought us all together.
We estimated around 175 people made it to the rooftop bar in West Hollywood to hear us celebrate the advances Flash has made in the animation industry in recent years. The speakers included the chiefs of the five major Digital 2D shops in Los Angeles:
Some of the themes that were touched upon included that while we all love what Flash can do, that it’s just a tool, and it shouldn’t define our world, or our budgets and expectations. Ashley wished that anyone on the hunt for the right studio approach the 5 Digital 2D shops listed above with an open mind, and let us suggest a solution. We all work with a variety of software options, production designs, artists and budget ranges, so nearly every conceivable look you may be after should be achievable. As Brendan pointed out – we Flash folk often find ourselves fighting off pre-conceived notions of what is achievable in the software. The best answer is – it’s whatever you want it to be, and for those in attendance in West Hollywood, it was a topic that helped get us all together for an amazing night.
Thanks to Heath Corson and Marianne Hayden for the photos.
What British book series that has sold over 100 million books has been turned into an animated TV series? For all I know Harry Potter may be headed to TV, but today we’re talking about Mr. Men and Little Miss. This children’s book series was created by Charles Roger Hargreaves, and had already spawned 3 animated series efforts – in 1975, 1983 and again in 1995. Now Cartoon Network and Chorion Ltd. have co-produced 52 11-minute episodes that begin airing in the US on February 4th at 9am ET.
This Flash-animated series is being physically produced by Renegade Animation, based in Glendale, California. Below you can see a clip from the series that is formated as “the first animated program to bring sketch comedy to young children.” More videos are available at the official website.
Darin McGowan, a talented animation director and series creator, has premiered his latest cartoon at theIllinois International Film Festival. Sausage Party was animated at Renegade Animation, and, according to an article at digitalartsonline.co.uk, the short is the first effort to emerge from the studio’s new development department.
I recently confirmed the production method behind the animated Prego TV commercial featuring Olive Oyl. Renegade Animation utilized Flash for clean-up, but as you’ll plainly see the spot was animated traditionally. According to a recent story on Cartoon Brew, director Darrell Van Citters referenced the Fleischer Popeye character model for the spot, and he and Scott O’Brien then brought her to life. Cathlin Hidalgo Polvani and Randy Sanchez joined the crew as assistant animators.
If you hadn’t already noticed, a new Popeye DVD has been released. Popeye the Sailor: 1933-1938, Vol. 1 came out at the end of July, and this 4-disc set includes 58 shorts. The collection features Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor (1936), a theatrical short which was nominated for an academy award.
