Creative Juices

WTD?: Roose

2011-07-29T12:06:00.006-04:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was ROOSE (which is another word for praise). Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

Taryn Johnson

Keith Zulawnik

Renée Kurilla

Hannah O'Neal

John Lechner

Be sure to check back in a couple weeks for the next word.

WTD?: Scent

2011-07-15T11:17:00.000-04:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was SCENT. Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

Paul Capobianco

WTD?: Enclose

2011-06-24T11:00:00.005-04:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was ENCLOSE. Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

Paul Capobianco

* * * * * *

Enclosed:

A magical growing seed
Ten tiny toenails
Approximately three million revelations
A loud mess
A 9-month secret love affair
One hundred kicks in the ribs
Unlimited hidden potential
Two tiny knees
Three thousand “whys”
A re-chargeable battery
One magnificent adventure

a poem by Kate Cotter

* * * * * *

Tami Wicinas

Bob Flynn

Jordan Bach

Didi Hatcher

Taryn Johnson

Brian Grossman

Keith Zulawnik

Renée Kurilla

Play game in full resolution.
game by Ryan McNulty

Margarita Dekoli

Check back soon for the next WTD!

WTD?: Mucky

2011-06-10T11:21:00.001-04:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was MUCKY. Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

Tami Wicinas

Hannah O'Neal

Paul Capobianco

Taryn Johnson

Brian Grossman

Bob Flynn

Ryan McNulty

Renée Kurilla

Matt Bargar

Check back in the next couple weeks for the next WTD?!

Art Show a great success!

2011-05-26T17:26:00.011-04:00

The Creative Juices second annual art show was a great evening, with food, friends and fine art of all kinds. FableVisionaries created works in pencil, ink, paint, sculpture, digital art, yarn, fortune-cookies, interactive programming, and painted eggs. The title of the show was Outside the Box - A Visionary Art Show, and visitors were treated to a grand evening at FableVision studios.

Here is just a small sampling of the art on display. You can see a whole bunch more at the FableVision Facebook photo gallery. Many thanks to the many people who helped put this show together, especially Keith Zulawnik and Renee Kurilla who led the charge!

Artwork credits above: 1 Renee Kurilla & Keith Zulawnik, 2 Tami Wicinas, 3 Didi Hatcher, 4 Keith Zulawnik, 5 Taryn Johnson, 6 Jordan Bach, 7 Margarita Dekoli

Creative Juices Art Show!

2011-04-15T18:13:00.006-04:00

The creative folks behind FableVision are presenting our second annual art show, one night only. It will be Friday April 29th, 6-10 PM at our Boston studio. Featuring works by over 24 artists working in every medium imaginable, the title of the show is "Outside the Box - A Visionary Art Show."

You can find more information, including the list of artists, at the official exhibit website. You can also download your own Creative Juices art show sculpture and put it together, to help get your own creative juices going!

FableVision is a media company on a 200-year mission to move the world to a better place. We have artists, programmers and producers who are all creative spirits in their own right. This blog (and exhibit) is an expression of that creative spirit.

So, we hope to see you there! FableVision is located at 308 Congress Street, above the Children's Museum, in Boston, MA.

WTD?: Handrail

2011-04-01T09:27:00.011-04:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was Handrail. Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

John Lechner

Bob Flynn

Hannah O'Neal

Tami Wicinas

Renee Kurilla

During the first week of school, the building is still under renovation, unfinished from the summer, and students have been warned not to fraternize with construction workers. (“Fraternize” has appeared on the vocabulary list of each 9th grade English class.) The school is in flux. Every day, courtyards disappear, and hallways close up, then open again, angled in new ways. Lockers rearrange themselves during 2nd and 3rd periods. In the staircase between science and history, a handrail has begun to climb the wall, inching towards the ceiling.

a vignette by Jordan Bach

Didi Hatcher

Keith Zulawnik

Be sure to check back in a couple weeks for the next word.

Creative Juices: Outside the Box

2011-03-30T15:23:00.003-04:00

Save the date for our second annual Creative Juices show!

Friday, April 29!

FableVision Studios
308 Congress Street, 6th Floor
Boston, MA

WTD?: Rushing

2011-03-18T09:33:00.008-04:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was Rushing. Here's what we came up with.

Brian Grossman

Watch this animation in full resolution!
Peter H. Reynolds

Tami Wicinas

John Lechner

Bob Flynn

Hannah O'Neal

Taryn Johnson

Illustrated by Renee Kurilla
Animated by John Lopez

I could hurry up

And sleep when I am dead but,

Why would I rush it?

a haiku by James Murphy

Didi Hatcher

Be sure to check back in a couple weeks for the next word.

WTD?: Window

2011-03-04T09:25:00.006-05:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was Window. Here's what we came up with.

Hannah O'Neal

Bob Flynn

Renee Kurilla

John Lechner

Taryn Johnson

Be sure to check back in a couple weeks for the next word.

WTD?: Breeze

2011-02-18T09:22:00.010-05:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was Breeze. Here's what we came up with.

Tami Wicinas

Renee Kurilla

Taryn Johnson

Bob Flynn

John Lechner

Hannah O'Neal

Be sure to check back in a couple weeks for the next word.

WTD?: Daylight

2011-02-08T10:06:00.006-05:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was Daylight. Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

Renee Kurilla

John Lechner

Keith Zulawnik

Hannah O'Neal

Tami Wicinas

Peter H. Reynolds

Check back soon for the next word.

What the Doodle!? FV's Ocean Art Show

2011-01-17T13:54:00.002-05:00

This winter, in lieu of our biweekly What the Doodle! challenge, the FV team took a few months to complete artwork based on a theme. Collaboratively, we chose the theme: OCEAN!

Scroll down to see some imaginative, brilliant, and resourceful art made by the FableVision team!

And look forward to the return of our biweekly WTD postings!

All images above display the making of the collaborative META MAKI Sushi Showstopper. Brian Grossman, fearless leader and creative mastermind teaches some FableVisionaries how to roll sushi!

It might have started as a joke, but James Murphy's installation piece turned into quite the group project!

above artwork by: Taryn Johnson

above artwork by: John Lechner

above artwork by: Brice Norton

above artwork by: Tami Wicinas

above artwork by: Bob Flynn

above artwork by: Keith Zulawnik

above artwork by: Renee Kurilla

*My work was originally done for the Ripple Project headed by Kelly Light. (and a little James cameo in this photo as well!)

Thanks to Keith for taking all these oh-so-magical photos!

The Nutcracker - retelling a classic tale

2010-12-20T23:07:00.017-05:00

The Nutcracker is an unlikely classic that has taken many forms. It began as a dark tale by E.T.A. Hoffman, was sweetened by Alexandre Dumas, and turned into a ballet by Tchaikovsky and choreographers Petipa and Ivanov. Even then it wasn’t an instant success, and it took years for the ballet to become the beloved Christmas tradition it is today. (Check out this video to learn more about the ballet’s history.)

So why is it so popular? The ballet itself retains barely a hint of the original story, but enough to make an impression. The story seems to strike a chord the way the best fairy tales do, using fantastical situations to draw out our childhood dreams (a land of sweets) and fears (a wicked mouse king.)

Many artists have been inspired to reinterpret the story in books and films. Just this month saw the release of The Nutcracker in 3D, a steampunk adventure loosely inspired by the original story. The film has been unanimously panned by critics (it got a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes!) Other film versions have been more successful, but it isn’t easy to reinterpret a story that everyone thinks they know, as you end up trying to please all parties.

Book adaptations have fared somewhat better, perhaps because a single author or illustrator can bring more artistic focus to the retelling, as opposed to the layers of committee that steer large films. Here are just a few of the Nutcracker books that have been published over the years. It’s interesting to see the variety of interpretation, yet there are consistencies too, which is important in retelling a familiar tale. As the new movie version shows, a radical reinterpretation of a classic is indeed possible, but it's a hard nut to crack.

Illustrated by Gennady Spirin
~~~

Illustrated by Maurice Sendak
~~~

Illustrated by Susan Jeffers
~~~

Retold by Deborah Hautzig, Illustrated by Diane Goode
~~~

Retold by Stephanie Spinner, Illustrated by Peter Malone
~~~

Illustrated by Warren Chappell
~~~

Retold by John Cech, illustrated by Eric Puybaret
~~~

Illustrated by Julie Paschkis
~~~

Retold by Karen Kain, illustrated by Rajka Kupesic
~~~

Illustrated by Allison Jay
~~~

Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger
~~~

WTD?: Ricochet

2010-11-05T09:28:00.011-04:00

After a few months off, we're back! The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was RICOCHET. Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

John Lechner

Bob Flynn

Renee Kurilla

Hannah O'Neal

Taryn Johnson

Stop by in another few weeks for a new word!

Tasty Pizzamation!

2010-11-03T16:11:00.003-04:00

I stumbled upon this tasty tidbit on my search for global creativity... Why am I not surprised that the Japanese cooked this up? Imagine if your pizza toppings were actually weird living things? Wouldn't that make you hungry to devour a few slices? Well, here it is - a hot and tasty a slice of surreal Japanese pizza!

There Once Was a Dog

2010-10-31T21:28:00.003-04:00

There Once Was a Dog is an award-winning Russian animated film by Eduard Nazarov - made in 1983. Great piece of storytelling - very funny and touching.

What the Doodle!? FV's Candy Art Show

2010-10-06T12:51:00.001-04:00

This past summer, in lieu of our biweekly What the Doodle!? challenge, the FV team took a few months to complete artwork based on a theme. Collaboratively, we chose the theme: CANDY!

Scroll down to see some imaginative, brilliant, and resourceful art made by the FableVision team!

Balloon Candy by: Naomi Greenfield

Crocheted Licorice Sweater! by: Jordan Bach

artwork by: Jason LaCouture

artwork by: Taryn Johnson

artwork by: John Lechner

artwork by: Tami Wicinas

Candy Tangoes Game! by: Brian Grossman

Paul Capobianco created a delicious soundtrack of candy themed music which we listened to while playing tangoes and admired everyone's creativity.

Here's Hannah and Brian playing Sugar Tangoes:

We ultimately decided to make our own art with the homemade sugar shapes and some store-bought candy:

The group proudly displaying their masterpieces!

Photo credit goes to Matt Bargar and Keith Zulawnik for their timeless traditional and happening hipstamatic imaging.

What happened to Gedo Senki, Tales from Earthsea?

2010-08-24T00:14:00.007-04:00

When a new animated film from Studio Ghibli is released in the US, it usually comes with anticipation and excitement, if not from major media then from devoted fans of director Hayao Miyazaki. The film Tales from Earthsea (Gedo Senki in Japan), based on the Earthsea books by Ursula K. LeGuin, was released in limited theaters this month, with mixed reviews and practically no buzz outside the anime community. The likelihood of it getting wider release is doubtful, judging by reports.

What happened here? There were many unfortunate circumstances surrounding this film. It was originally to be directed by Hayao Miyazaki himself, but he became too busy, so it was given to his son Goro who had never directed a feature film before. The film did well at the Japanese box office, but got mixed reviews and made only half the earnings of Ponyo. Then its release in the U.S. was delayed several years because of rights issues, losing any momentum from the Japanese release. And to make matters worse, the author herself was critical of the film (though she was a bit more positive than reports suggest, you can read her detailed analysis here.)

It’s frustrating when a project with such great potential falls short. The original book is a masterpiece, Ghibli is one of the best studios in the world, the design and production of the film look amazing. And yet a film is more than the sum of its parts, it needs that extra magic to pull it all together. I’ve seen it happen with so many films that didn’t live up to their books, both animated and live-action.

Here are the film trailers for the Japanese and U.S. markets. The Japanese one is much longer and contains a bit more of the Ghibli magic. It makes you wonder what might have been, had the elder Miyazaki had a chance to direct it.

Jim Henson and why we make art

2010-07-21T22:29:00.004-04:00

This spring I attended a wonderful exhibit at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington MA, Jim Henson's Fantastic World. The exhibit brought together a treasure trove of rarely-seen photos, drawings, storyboards, puppets and films by Jim Henson and the Muppets. It gave an overview of his entire career in television and film, which really could have filled twenty such exhibits.

There were original puppets of Kermit, Ernie, Bert and others, original drawings and sketches, storyboards for commercials, proposals for early shows, and animated films. I came away with a greater appreciation for the breadth and variety of his talents, which went beyond puppetry to animation, illustration, design, writing, television production and more. Jim Henson could have made a career in any one of these areas, but his creativity and ambition were far beyond the scope of any existing career path, so he had to invent his own.

Another revelation that I took from this exhibit was the relentless amount of work and perseverance that continued throughout his career. Realizing his goals was not as easy as he made it seem, he spent years doing commercials and small works while pursuing his dream of bigger things. He also had many ideas and proposals that were never produced, that were turned down by the television networks, but he still kept on trying. If one idea didn’t work, he would try something else.

Seeing his prolific output and the many lesser-known projects that he created, you realize that his primary motivation wasn’t fame or money, but simply the love of creating. Even if he had not become a success, you get the impression that he still would have spent every day of his life creating art and telling stories, and I think this is an important lesson for artists everywhere. Certainly artists have to make a living and sell our work, but we should also have a little fun and do what is meaningful to us.

One of his most famous quotes is, “My hope still is to leave the world a bit better than when I got here.” That certainly turned out to be an understatement; but it shows that keeping things in perspective can help us focus on what is important. Follow your creative ambition and do something that makes you happy. And if you leave the world just a little bit better than when you found it, I’m sure Jim Henson would approve.

WTD:? Web

2010-07-09T11:49:00.004-04:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was WEB. Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

John Lechner

Tami Wicinas

Keith Zulawnik

Renee Kurilla

Hannah O'Neal

Thanks, everyone!

Lost and Star Wars: why some mysteries are better left unsolved

2010-06-27T21:33:00.007-04:00

The epic television drama Lost and the epic movie series Star Wars have much in common, and not just a devoted fan base.

Let’s get the obvious ones out of the way first: both are fantasy/science fiction dramas, which tap into classic themes of good and evil. They both draw upon existing mythology while inventing their own. Both have avid (rabid?) fans who are passionate in their praise and their criticism. Both have six “parts” (if you count each television season as one part.) Both use comic relief to break the tension while tackling issues of life and death. Both have been hailed and assailed by critics as game-changing forces of pop culture and melodramatic fluff.

So far so good, but both sagas are more than just the sum of their parts. The best fantasy uses its fantastic settings and characters as metaphors for our own world. Both of these epics did just that, though with how much success is still up for debate. At the heart of both stories is the struggle of good vs. evil. Other themes included family, friendship, loyalty, faith, and our own search for meaning.

Because Lost had so many hours to work with, the show could explore these themes in much greater detail and variation. Star Wars didn’t have this luxury of time, and instead used a broader brush to paint its big ideas. Although the story and themes of Star Wars were simpler than those in Lost, this was also an advantage, for the writers could polish their big concepts without getting bogged down in dozens of minor characters and sub-plots (can you imagine the complications that time-travel would have brought to the plot of Star Wars?) I would even say that Lost is more science fiction than Star Wars, because issues of science and physics were integral to its story.

But here’s the most interesting parallel, I think. Both sagas raised big questions in their early chapters, and both tried to answer those questions in their later chapters. The general criticism aimed by some viewers at the ending of Lost (and I partly share their assessment) is that the show did not answer all of the questions it raised, and when it did, the answers did not live up to expectations. My own criticism of the final three Star Wars films (Episode 1, 2 & 3) is that even though they did answer most of the questions raised in the earlier films (the origins of Darth Vader, the Clone Wars, etc.), the films did not inspire us the way the first trilogy did; the storytelling was somehow less satisfying.

To this I would say that some things are better left unsaid, and some mysteries better left unsolved. In the very first Star Wars film, we did not need to know where Darth Vader came from, his very mystery was part of his appeal. During most of Lost we likewise did not know the origin of the smoke monster, nor all of the other mysteries of the island, yet it was thrilling to watch each puzzle lead into another. I’m not saying that storytellers shouldn’t bother solving their mysteries or tying up loose ends – only that it’s okay to leave a little mystery, because that’s what keeps life interesting. And by letting your audience use their imagination to fill in the blanks, you are involving them more actively and making the whole experience more engaging. It expands the story in infinite ways beyond anything the writers could have imagined.

So here is a message for creators and viewers of genre fiction or any other fiction. Questions are okay if they make you think, if they stir the imagination. Not everything needs to be tied up in a bow; art is a conversation not an explanation. And if you're forced to use your brain once in a while, don't worry, it's good for you.

WTD:? Carat

2010-06-18T09:29:00.009-04:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was CARAT. Here's what a few from the FableVision crew came up with.

John Lechner

Bob Flynn

Tami Wicinas

Brianna Plaud

Hannah O'Neal

Thanks, everyone!
Check back in a few weeks for the next word!

WTD?: Highball

2010-05-21T16:48:00.006-04:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was HIGHBALL. Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

Laney Wunderli

Peter H. Reynolds

John Lechner

Tami Wicinas

Renee Kurilla

Brianna Plaud

Thanks, everyone!
Check back in a few weeks for the next word!

Robin Hood - fantasy vs. reality

2010-05-12T22:51:00.012-04:00

The story of Robin Hood is one of the classic tales in folklore, retold and reinterpreted for hundreds of years. Everyone knows the story of the noble outlaw who robs from the rich and gives to the poor, who is the best archer in the land and can split one arrow with another. Like any classic tale, it can be adapted many different ways to suit the times. A new film is coming out this weekend directed by Ridley Scott, who gives the story an epic, historical, action-packed telling, which is a great idea – I’m all in favor of reinterpreting classic stories for each new generation, and I hope there are many more Robin Hoods to come.

However, I just want to put in a plug for the non-historical, unrealistic, fairy-tale version of Robin Hood that many of us grew up with. It seems like over the last few generations, people have been trying to make the story more gritty and true to its medieval times. But to my mind, the essence of Robin Hood isn’t history, it’s not about a real person suffering the slings and arrows of an oppressive king – Robin Hood is a myth, an ideal.

The legend itself is mostly fictional, an amalgam of different characters and tales which were combined and embellished over the years, in the true tradition of folklore. The reason it survives and flourishes is because it embodies one of the classic themes in literature: the downtrodden hero fighting against impossible odds, using his wits and skill to come out on top. Does this stuff happen in real life? Rarely, but we keep on trying, and stories like this give us hope. We all need a bit of fantasy to make us believe anything is possible.

So while a historical telling of the legend is great, the question of whether or not it is more “true” to Robin Hood is up for debate. Personally, I’d rather see an arrow split in two.

WTD?: Designated

2010-04-23T13:31:00.006-04:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was Designated. Here's what the FableVisionaries came up with.

Renee Kurilla

John McGowan

John Lechner

Thanks, everyone!
Check back in a couple weeks for the next word!

ideaPaint whiteboard

2010-04-05T09:44:00.002-04:00

We just finished installing an ideaPaint whiteboard in one of our offices here at FableVision. Posted here are a few shots of the outline a few of us worked on after the initial whiteboard installation was completed. This turned out to be a really fun little side project and the result is half piece of artwork, half whiteboard. If you have space where you can throw something like this up, by all means do.

Why you should see The Secret of Kells

2010-04-01T22:12:00.015-04:00

The Secret of Kells is a beautiful animated film that seemed to come from nowhere, leaping ahead of many major studios to garner an Oscar nomination this year. The film has been praised for its amazing artistry and refreshing style. If you're looking for a good reason to go see it, here are eight.

1. The backgrounds are amazing
Combining graphical influences from illuminated manuscripts with dazzling textures and a brilliant sense of composition, every frame is a work of art. From the lush forest to the jagged towers of the monastery, the film is a feast for the eyes.

2. The character design is brilliant
The modern trend in feature animation is realism, whether hand-drawn or CGI. Yet this film shows that graphically flat, stylized and exaggerated characters can have even more personality, and are just plain fun to look at.

3. The animals don’t talk
This isn’t Disney, or even Pixar. There is a cat in this film who doesn’t speak, yet has more personality than many human characters in other films. It’s a refreshing change from the wise-cracking sidekicks that we’ve come to tolerate in recent years.

4. Strong characters
Although the main character of Brendan suffers from being a bit too likeable, he is surrounded by a strong supporting cast who more than make up for it. The abbot is both kind and domineering, the scribe Aiden is both wise and silly, and relationships between all the characters are complex and unpredictable.

5. No celebrity voices
There’s nothing worse than watching an animated film and constantly conjuring up images of the celebrity actor in the sound booth. The voices in The Secret of Kells are perfectly cast and the actors give strong and nuanced performances.

6. The music is great
The musical score, composed by Bruno Coulais and performed by the Celtic band Kila, perfectly evokes the energy, wit, and historical flavor of the film, as well as the darker, more mysterious undertones. In the scenes where the decorations in the ancient book come to life, the music perfectly matches and propels the animation forward.

7. It makes you think
The basic story is simple, but like a well it runs deep. The film is about a boy growing up and finding his path in life, but it also deals with ancient mythology, the horrors of war, the beauty of nature, generational strife, and much more. Like an illuminated manuscript, the closer you look, the more you find.

8. It’s just a great film
More than just a visual feast, this is a unique film with more energy and cinematic flair than most major studio films. It shows just how beautiful hand-drawn animation can be, and how an original, unconventional story can still succeed if done well. It’s a film that puts art before commercialism, and storytelling above all else.

So what are you waiting for? Go see it!

A Visionary Art Show

2010-03-22T13:37:00.010-04:00

Announcing...

Creative Juices
A Visionary Art Show

Friday, April 9, 2010.
6pm - 9pm

FableVision Studios
308 Congress Street, 6th Floor
Boston, MA

(check back for updates and details)

(4/1/10) ...and here's one of those updates:

http://fablevisionstudios.com/artshow/

Our animated invite just went live.
Click link above, and tell your friends!

WTD?: Bellying

2010-03-19T13:36:00.004-04:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was BELLYING. Here's what the FableVisionaries came up with.

Keith Zulawnik

John Lechner

Renee Kurilla

* * * * *

The Pear: A Tale of Skewed Proportions

The bellying frame of the average pear
Is a subject that’s up for debate:
Has his curious swelling always been there,
Or was it just something he ate?
Is he sucking his gut in the hopes of a date
With an enviably skinny banana?
Did a bumbling grocer step on his waist
And cause him to bulge in this manner?
My guess is that clothing’s to blame for this riddle -
He couldn’t find pants that would fit ‘round his middle.
But the belt that he purchased to make him look slimmer
Squeezed him right into a pear-shaped dilemmer!
What can we learn from his mis-fit mistake?
What is the message we’re destined to take?
Don’t fret about fashion – just be self-aware,
And try not to go to the depths of this pear.

a poem by Jesse Bornemann

* * * * *

Tami Wicinas

WTD?: Foreward/Forward

2010-03-09T14:54:00.005-05:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was FOREWARD ...or FORWARD? Anyway, people did both—here's what a few FableVisionaries came up with.

John Lechner

Hannah O'Neal

Renee Kurilla

Watch this animation in full resolution
Taryn Johnson

WTD?: Ghostwriting

2010-02-19T13:10:00.006-05:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was GHOSTWRITING. Here's what the FableVisionaries came up with.

Keith Zulawnik

Watch animation in full resolution.
Ryan McNulty

Bob Flynn

John Lechner

Hannah O'Neal

Watch this animation in full resolution with sound!
Taryn Johnson

* * * * *

Etta

My Grandfather and I were fixing
a white closet door;
I propped and held and pushed as he hammered
and ho-hummed and pondered, until
he stopped mid-bang and turned to me: you
have my mother's hands, he said, and he took
them, held them, turned them over
in his strong, aged palms.

His mother was Etta, Etta Fisk until
Mark Munson sauntered in and swept her up
to the Berkshires, where her memories began as vividly
as mine, as my mother’s, as my grandfather’s:
clumpy dirt roads, the Westfield river
with its slippery rocks and sunfish, the wind
through the grasses, stirring up
the mosquitoes, the smell of chimneys and rain.

In the evenings, my mother, very young,
would beg Etta, beg
and plead to brush her hair, her long
long hair, longer than long.
And Etta would smile and her hands
would reach for her braids,
two of them, wound up
and around, every day.

Her fingers would unwind, unbind,
pour the softness so it fell like
water, and my little girl mother would run
through it, play peek-a-boo, pretend inside.
Then she would brush and brush and brush it,
until Etta, with her long fingers,
would tickle her away.

My Grandfather held my hands and shook
his head, smiled. I wanted to tell him that
I would wear them proudly, that I was honored,
that I would make a difference
with her hands, and he squeezed
them as if to press in love, as if to say only
one thing: Remember.

A poem by Kate Cotter

* * * * *

Check back in a few weeks for the next word!

Vintage Valentines from the 1970s

2010-02-08T21:44:00.019-05:00

If a child wants to buy a pack of valentines these days, their choices are limited and mostly uninspiring. They are nearly all designed around famous TV or movie characters (Harry Potter, Tinkerbell, etc) and usually follow the same format: rectangular, small, featuring a colorful scene of the character and some catchphrase. They seem less about expressing one's feelings and more about free advertising for Disney.

I was recently cleaning out some old boxes from childhood, and found these vintage valentines that date back at least to the 1970s. I was amazed at not only the range of characters, but the clever little concept behind each one, right down to the apple you cut out and put into the basket. I also scanned the back of some, which are great little one-color adaptations of the front.

Of course, as kids we also made our own valentines with construction paper and sparkles. But these were certainly inspiring for creative young minds – they sure don't make them liked they used to!

WTD?: Welcomed

2010-02-05T09:00:00.009-05:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was WELCOMED. Here's what the FableVisionaries came up with.

Bob Flynn

John Lechner

Renee Kurilla

Keith Zulawnik

Allie Biondi

Jay LaCouture

Watch animation in full resolution.
Ryan McNulty

Check back in a few weeks for the next word!

WTD?: Preparation

2010-01-22T09:29:00.009-05:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was PREPARATION. Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

Renee Kurilla

Bob Flynn

John Lechner

* * * * *

The Potato: A Poem About Being Prepared

There are infinite ways to prepare a potato.
Believe me - both Ireland and Idaho say so!
A quick boil will suit the no-frills spud eater,
Or a microwave zap, if you’re that kind of cheater.
Another fine choice is to peel it and fry it,
Though do this with caution if you’re on a diet.
(Your fries can be French, or, if you prefer, Freedom -
Makes no real difference after you eat ‘em.)
You can mash it with gravy, or throw it in stew
Whip it into a thick, sticky glue,
Cream it or steam it, bake it once - even twice
Stuff it into a samosa with rice.
If you’re constructive, build it into a gratin,
Or turn self-destructive and let it go rotten.
Sweet or unsweetened, bliss red or hash brown,
“Bangers and mash,” like in old London-town.
You might do as the Romans and sample some gnocchi;
For a Slavic approach, make your dumplings “pierogi.”
The flatter the better for a latke or chip
As an ale, it’s supposedly lovely to sip.
Curries, soups, salad - the list could go on
Serve the skins by themselves, when the insides are gone!

It’s fair to say, tater tots live with a curse:
As they grow up, they’re prepared for the worst.
You can look in their eyes…they all know that they’re doomed,
With so many methods for being consumed.
Perhaps, we should treat them - at least for one day,
Invite them to dine at our Sunday buffet.
And when they ask, “What’s the starch with this roast?”
Prepare to reply, “Why, a nice piece of toast!”

a poem by Jesse Bornemann

* * * * *

Keith Zulawnik

Taryn Johnson

Jay LaCouture

Watch animation in full resolution.
Hannah O'Neal

Check back in a few weeks for the next word!

FableVision's Top Animated Films of the Decade (2000-2009)

2010-01-13T22:45:00.008-05:00

A few weeks ago the bunch of us at FableVision decided to poll the company to see what everyone's favorite animated films were of the closing decade (limited to features). Most of us voted, and we tallied the results. Without further ado, here are our Top Ten in descending numerical order with write-ups from the crew:

10. Kung Fu Panda (2008)

DreamWorks SKG hasn't had the best track record for good movies. For example, Shark Tale and Antz, didnt exactly raise the bar for CG animation. When I heard that they would be making an animated feature film about a young panda that learns martial arts, called Kung Fu Panda, I was instantly reminded of those little awkward ant(z) voiced by Woody Allen and Silvester Stallone. In doing so, I instantly threw out any thought of buying a ticket to see this movie. It was wrong for me to pre-judge this movie and I am sorry Jack Black, for thinking you were just another gimmick celebrity voice.

I did in fact watch Kung Fu Panda, and what I saw shattered the mold made by previous SKG movies. This was an honest to goodness original film, and best yet, it was BEAUTIFUL. Color Palettes to drool over, sweeping landscapes, and masterful lighting really stood this film apart from its predecessors. I think the only reason I can comfortably say this doesn't belong in the number 5 slot, is because of the first 10 minutes of the film. It was a jarring experience to go from what I consider some of the best 2D animation I've seen in a feature film, to transition over to 3D in the very next shot. A dangerous move that could have ruined the entire movie. However, it didn't and they managed to recapture my attention almost immediately.

skidoosh. —Keith Zulawnik

9. Shrek (2001)

If you were a squatter in the Bornemann kitchen, every so often you'd hear this exchange:

Jesse: Do you know....the Muffin Man?
Eric: The Muffin Man?
Jesse: THE MUFFIN MAN.
(pause)
Eric (in a squeaky pitch): You're a monster!

No, my husband and I aren't obsessed with nursery rhymes. We are, of course, quoting from Shrek, the 2001 DreamWorks movie chronicling one ogre's quest to save a princess and rid his swamp of annoying fairytale campers. Shrek is a bit of a lumbering oxymoron -- full of "inside jokes" that every Disney-literate individual (translation: everyone) can share; bursting with messages of self-acceptance voiced by picture-perfect Hollywood stars. But only a Grumpy Dwarf would take Shrek too seriously. The main character makes a candle out of his earwax, for crying out loud. —Jesse H. Bornemann

8. Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

This beautiful film from Hayao Miyazaki, Japan's master of animation, plunges into a complex and visually fantastic world of demons and sorcery. Based on a novel, it is about a mousy young girl named Sophie who is transformed into a 90-year-old woman by a witch's spell. Slowed by the pains of sudden old age, she goes on a quest to undo the curse and stumbles across the wizard Howl and his great magical traveling castle. As she unravels the answer to her own dilemma, she finds herself tangled up in the chaos that surrounds the conflicted young wizard and risks everything in her determination to save the man she loves. —Tami Wicinas

7. The Triplets of Belleville (2003)

With a quirky story spun around a stubborn old lady, her bicycle loving Grandson, a dreaming dog, double agents, gangsters, and a group of old-time frog-eating vaudeville musicians, The Triplets of Belleville is…something completely different. Subtle humor makes this film geared more for adults than kids; you may find yourself smiling through the entire film without knowing exactly what’s tickling you. Nearly void of dialogue and moving at a relaxed (yet superbly timed) pace, the film calls all attention to the animation itself. Keep an eye out for bits of CGI blended seamlessly into the highly stylized artwork. Well worth a spot in your Netflix queue if you missed it, Triplets is possibly the hidden gem of the last decade. —Ryan McNulty

6. Persepolis (2007)

This French film is a must-see for anyone interested in a culture besides their own. Persepolis mixes politics and growing pains to tell the story of a girl growing up in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution. Adapted from the autobiographical graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis tells its story with wit and emotion, and is a compelling and beautifully animated film. As the rebellious Marjane becomes a young woman, we get a glimpse of Iranian history during a time of upheaval and change. And though deeply personal, the universal themes of growing up and finding one's identity in the world help make film accessible to everyone.

Persepolis stands apart from other graphic novel adaptations by bringing Satrapi's drawings to life, rather than attempting a live-action portrayal. Satrapi's simplistic black and white drawings show that truly great story-telling can be achieved without embellishment or flair, and leave a lasting impression. —Taryn Johnson

5. Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Monsters, Inc. is an imaginative story about what's really on the other side of your childhood closet door. The characters are endearing and the cast and clever writing doesn't disappoint audiences of any age. However, what I remember the most about the experience of seeing this in the theatre, was how vividly detailed Sully's wavy fur was illustrated. There was definitely a "wow" moment there for me, further convincing me that Toy Story was just Disney/Pixar's tip of the iceberg, and to follow their creations for the decade to come. —Heidi Hall

4. WALL•E (2008)

We're now all but numb to computer-generated animation. It's everywhere—accounting for most of the animated films released each year beginning with the arrival of Toy Story in 1995. Go back a little further and you'll remember the Pixar short Luxo, Jr., which features the hopping desk lamp later incorporated into their logo. With WALL•E, Pixar comes full circle by returning to CG animation in its original form and advancing it. In this case, using technology to breathe life into robots and machines. They take full advantage of the strengths of the medium, not trying to mimic cartoony hand-drawn animation or to dazzle you with fully-textured, cute, wise-cracking critters. It is the embodiment of everything that is right about CG.

WALL•E boasts a realism unlike any of their previous features, and is easily their most daring film to date—opening with nearly 45 minutes of dialogue-free story-telling. In it's place, we get intelligent boops and beeps with a wordless comedic charm which draws comparisons to silent film stars Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. WALL•E and EVE are incredibly genuine and expressive robots, revealing a greater humanity than any of their overweight human counterparts. Combine this with more than a few nods to the sci-fi genre, mix in a love story, and you have a near perfect piece of film-making. —Bob Flynn

3. Spirited Away (2002)

Spirited Away is a towering achievement in animation. Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, it is the story of a young girl who becomes trapped in a magical world populated by spirits and demons. Chihiro faces many challenges, but her inner strength and spirit help her overcome all obstacles.

The meandering and sometimes puzzling plot is grounded by the strong central character, and the viewer follows her along through this strange world, discovering it with her. This film can be surreal and frightening at times, but also has moments of breathtaking beauty. The animation is stunning, the backgrounds beautiful, the musical score magical – an inspiring film from start to finish. —John Lechner

2. Finding Nemo (2003)

"Mine! Miiine! Miiine! Mine! Miiine!"

I can't be the only one who uses this squawking phrase at least once a week...and it's not the only quotable phrase from Pixar's 2003 release, Finding Nemo. Easily one if the best animated films of the decade, Finding Nemo has everything you could ask for: comedy, adventure, mistakes, rewards, tears, fears, colors, beauty...pivotal life changing moments, and "Bubbles! Bubbles!"

With an ocean of possibilities, Pixar has an easy cast of likeable characters from Clownfish to Anglerfish (i.e. cute vs. scary). The story starts on a sad note, but sets the tone for why Marlin is so protective of his son. (Pixar used this technique again with Up in 2009.) The rest of the story goes a little bit something like this: Nemo touches the butt with his gimpy fin and gets captured by Dentist, P. Sherman from 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney. Marlin pulls out all the stops to find Nemo, even though he starts off as a bit of a 'nervous nellie.' He meets forgetful Dory along the way and POOF! you have comedy. Wise fish, Jellyfish, and Mount Wannahakaloogie are only a few other reasons to watch Finding Nemo...

I won't give away any more, though mostly everyone has seen this movie. And, if you haven't...whether or not you want to believe it, you will love it. You need to SEE it, duuuude!

P.S. Why does John Ratzenberger have a part in every single one of Pixar's movies!? Likely, there's not really an answer, but I'm sure he'd respond to your silence by saying, "That's ok kid, don't hurt yourself." The best answer to this question is really...to not ask so many questions. —Renée Kurilla

1. The Incredibles (2004)

There are very good reasons for why enough people put this wonderful movie on their top 5 best-animated-features-for-the-past-decade list and caused it to win overall. And here are some of the reasons I feel made this the great feature that it is.

The Incredibles created a believable world without ever referencing real world events/people, or breaking the 4th wall. This is important to me as I come to see a lot of entertainment series and movies using these elements like crutches to propel themselves. But of course if the story is good enough, you don't have to do that. As well, The Incredibles successfully bring together every important aspect of a superhero story with weakness and conflict. And it makes the superhero genre more accessible by placing it in a family setting, with characters most age groups can relate to and enjoy easily. Again strengthening the story.

Character and set design are very successfully and takes lots of themes and conventions from superhero (every type of superpower shown in film) and popular action and sci fi films and comics (pulp mad scientists of early day comics, through James Bond villainy), but avoids being derivative and makes those elements part of it's own story. Not to mention lighting, effects and animation techniques were more advanced than other animated features at the time and still hold up as some of the best stuff today.

The momentum of the story in combination with Michael Giachinno's score show how important Brad Bird was in directing the movie, in collaboration with John Lasseter's sensibilities. You see, Brad Bird is a FANTASTIC director, but even the greatest directors can go overboard if not reigned in a bit (i.e. George Lucas, Steven Spielberg.) Brad Bird's original stories and ideas for The Incredibles were great but a bit convoluted. It took other minds such as John Lasseter to help smooth out the story and simplify things to create the strong clear story we have today.

It's also very important to note that The Incredibles was the first CG animated feature to have an all human cast of main characters. Pixar used caricatures similar to classical Disney movies like 101 Dalmatians, again distilling their characters and best traits to make them seem more alive and have a greater impact than realistic models, and probably the most appealing representation of stylized comic book heros. Think of the opposite being it's contemporary, Polar Express, and how creepy and distracting from the story the super realistic characters were. —Hannah O'Neal

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Finally, here's a list of the other films that received votes from the FableVision crew:

AH! My Goddess, Astro Boy, Cars, Chicken Run, Coraline, Corpse Bride, Emperor's New Groove, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Final Fantasy, Lilo and Stitch, Meet the Robinsons, Metropolis, Millennium Actress, Paprika, Ponyo, Ratatouille, Tekkon Kinkreet, Titan A.E., UP, Waking Life, Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Wonder Woman

We hope you enjoyed our list.
Feel free to leave your own in the comments!

WTD?: Tanning

2010-01-08T10:40:00.000-05:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was TANNING. Here's what a few of the FableVision crew came up with.

John Lechner

* * * * *

The Grape: A Tale of Transformative Tanning

No pills or powders aid the grape
In slimming down its rotund shape
Instead, it basks au natural
On every beach in Southern Cal
And when its tanning session’s done
It puts on shades to shield the sun
Joining in a sleek quartet
It struts and sings a Motown set
But shrugging at its purple skin,
Its friends still say, “I knew you when.”

a poem by Jesse Bornemann

* * * * *

Bob Flynn

Check back in a few weeks for the next word!

SiteInspire

2010-01-07T10:10:00.002-05:00

I just picked up a wholesale shipment of creative juices from siteInspire.net. Inspirational websites archived by category, go ahead and check them out!

WTD?: Recombined

2009-12-04T10:58:00.006-05:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was RECOMBINED. Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

John Lechner

Adam Ziskie

Bob Flynn

Tami Wicinas

Renee Kurilla

Thanks, everyone!
Check back in a few weeks for the next word!

Donalds Tire Trouble (1943)

2009-12-03T00:15:00.006-05:00

Such a weird concept. If you tried to write it, it wouldn't work: Donald has car trouble...Antics ensue. How would you pitch that? It's all visual comedy—all storyboarded (little dialogue, most of which you can't even understand). Loren loved it as a kid—she just had me watch it.

Toot, Whistle, Plunk And Boom (1953)

2009-12-02T23:25:00.004-05:00

Educational animation at its best, folks! Ward Kimball, at his best.
Can be viewed bigger over at Youtube.

WTD?: Interbreeding

2009-11-06T11:14:00.002-05:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was INTERBREEDING. Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

John Lechner

Bob Flynn

Adam Ziskie

Allie Biondi

Jay LaCouture
(drawn on an iPhone!)

Thanks, everyone!
Check back in a couple weeks for the next word!

WTD?: Espouse

2009-10-23T10:25:00.005-04:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was ESPOUSE. Another tricky one. Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

Renee Kurilla

Allie Biondi

Bob Flynn

Keith Zulawnik

John Lechner

Check back in a couple weeks for the next word!

Doug TenNapel

2009-10-22T21:37:00.010-04:00

Back in the 90's, gateway computers had a cool game pack that you could get with your computer, including one game in particular called "The Neverhood". I'm sure everyone at FableVision knows about it now, since a. I think I casually bring it up in conversation once every 3 months, and b. I have it proudly perched next to my computer at work.

The game is fantastic and I recommend anyone who can get their hands on it, BUY IT! You wont be disappointed. It's the perfect combination of humor, logic and story. -plus the fact that they created everything out of clay!

I realized one day, I never really looked into who made it. I just always played it for what it was, an awesome game. So I found his name, it being Doug TenNapel. I had a flurry of excitement when I started uncovering that the same guy who did this game, also did Earthworm Jim (another obvious favorite from the nineties) and Skullmonkeys.

I found that Doug has definitely been keeping busy. He currently has about 8 comics under his belt (or more), and doesn't sound like he's going to be slowing down any time soon. So to keep a long story short, I immediately bought one online that day.

I purchased Earthboy Jacobus, and I have to say, it is probably one of the best books I've bought in a long time. The thing that struck me about his comic, is the raw brush work. It just felt very hand made. I think it may have something to do with the fact that I create almost 100% of my art on the computer now, but it instantly reminded me of what exactly we are doing as artists. Creating art. Yes you have to think about your audience, the story, etc. etc. At the end of the day tho, you are still just making your mark, no matter what kind of story goes along with it. I think spending so much time away from traditional materials, I've become a bit disconnected. Instead of sitting down with my trusty Isabey watercolor brushes, and just letting myself be creative, I have to be pained with a program riddled with bugs. But that can all be resolved very easily. I just need to pick up my brushes again! ha.

Which leads me to my next point. I've been following Jake Parkers" Inktober", which by the way, check out his blog, awesome stuff. Yesterday he posted a sketch that had a similar vibe to Mignola and TenNapel. Long story short, I was pointed to this video of TenNapel doing a quick demo, inking one of his comics. It's just always great to hear someones point of view, their process, and to actually SEE it happening, super cool. Which is actually the entire reason for me posting.

Check it out the following video, I hope it inspires you, I know I was!

Critter Crunch

2009-10-21T13:47:00.003-04:00

Also on Boing Boing today, a very in-depth look at a game available for PS3, Critter Crunch, made by Capybara Games. You can watch that trailer super large in HD if you click on over to Vimeo.

Here are a few samples, but read the full Boing Boing review for all sorts of concept art, too.

Machinarium

2009-10-21T13:24:00.004-04:00

--> Play Machinarium

Amanita Design, the creators of Samorost and Questionaut, may have outdone themselves. The point-and-click gameplay is similar, the world equally impressive, but now you collect an inventory of items. And only grab items within reach. Fun to play so far.

Also of note, Boing Boing featured a post detailing a comeback of sorts of point-and-click gaming. Check it out here.

Different

2009-10-07T14:49:00.004-04:00

via LineBoil

"Here’s a cool new animated spot for Girl Guides of Canada titled Different. The character designs were handled by Nathan Jurevicius and Andrea Kang, while Eric Makila and Anthony Burns took care of the animation and compositing. Production was run by Alchemy."

A great combination of stop motion, set creation, and digital compositing.

Here are some production stills (courtesy of the Alchemy website)

On Moving On

2009-10-05T13:16:00.002-04:00

by FableVision artist and animator Allie Biondi

"This was my degree project from college. Made in 2005."

You can watch more animation by Allie on her YouTube channel.

The Next Lesson

2009-10-05T11:57:00.004-04:00

by FableVision artist and animator Didi Mitova

"This is my senior project / thesis film. It was inspired by my frustrating experience studying art as a youth in Bulgaria, where schools teach tedious, precise representational art without getting to the essence of the subject."

You can watch more animation by Didi on her YouTube channel.

WTD?: Pelagic

2009-10-02T09:19:00.016-04:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was PELAGIC. Which left a few of us scratching our heads. You can look it up on your own, but the general gist is something pertaining to the open sea, or the fish inhabiting the upper layers of the ocean. Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

Tami Wicinas

Allie Biondi

John Lechner

Bob Flynn

* * * * *

The Watermelon: A Sweet and Sour Tale

The watermelon’s fate is tragic –
Despite its name, it’s not pelagic.
All day it lies with rooted plants,
Dreaming of the sea’s expanse.
It sees itself in sailor gear,
Spitting seeds from ear to ear.
A pirate of the bravest kind,
With parrots perched upon its rind!

When twilight falls, with one swift motion,
It breaks from land and joins the ocean.
With glee, it plunges o’er the dock
…and sinks more swiftly than a rock.

Sad but true, it failed to note:
All that’s “water” does not float.

(Though you might think this tale is gory,
There’s a moral to this story:
As you tear off on life’s pursuits,
It’s never bad to check your roots.)

a poem by Jesse Bornemann (@JesseACH)

* * * * *

Renee Kurilla

Hannah O'Neal

Taryn Johnson

Check back in a couple weeks for the next word!

Genevieve Kote

2009-09-23T09:22:00.006-04:00

Wow! Genevieve just looked me up on twitter and I've been flipping through her blog and flickr photostream since. She draws remarkably expressive and varied characters without being super cartoony. She also manages to somehow organize a ton of people on a page while juggling a lot of colors. I mean, just look at this beach scene! Really cute kids, too. Just thought I'd share :) Here's her website.

WTD?: Trace

2009-09-18T09:35:00.010-04:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was TRACE. Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

John Lechner

Didi Mitova

Adam Ziskie

Bob Flynn

Keith Zulawnik

Tami Wicinas

Allie Biondi

Brian Grossman and Samantha Oliver

Watch animation in full resolution.
Matt Bargar

Check back in a couple weeks for the next word!

Ponyo - A Beautiful, Bizarre Masterpiece

2009-09-12T00:20:00.010-04:00

Legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film was released in the United States this summer, generating much discussion about its visual beauty and unusual story. Reaction from critics here has been mostly glowing, while reaction from viewers has been mixed between those who adored it and those who found it confusing or strange. As a longtime fan of Miyazaki, I had my own expectations going into this film, only to have them torn away one by one, leaving a film which is so different than other films of its kind it almost defies analysis.

We all go into a film with expectations, and every film also creates its own in the opening scenes. Miyazaki’s films are known for their visual beauty, strong characters and epic storytelling, and the first half of Ponyo contains all the ingredients of a classic fantasy adventure – a magical world, plucky heroes, a dangerous wizard, and potential threat to humanity. And yet this is not an adventure film (despite the many epic scenes); it is a film about two young children becoming friends, despite the many forces bent on keeping them apart. Seems simple enough – though this film is far from simple. Besides the themes of friendship and love, the film touches on the environment, humankind’s place in the world, relationships between parents and children, growing up, growing old, and life itself. Miyazaki has said that he wanted to make a simple film for children, but I suspect there are so many ideas thrashing around in his head, he can’t help but let them slip out and populate his films like fish in the sea.

Nothing about this film is typical, it takes unexpected turns and leaves you both breathless and puzzled – it's a film that makes you think. It is interesting to observe the many different reactions to this film from young and old, positive and negative. My own reaction was mixed. I was confused by some plot threads which were not explained very clearly (at least in the dubbed version) and a resolution that seemed to fall short. Yet at the same time I was overwhelmed by the sheer force, the cinematic exuberance of the film, embodied in one of the strongest young heroines ever, Ponyo herself. In casting his net for something big, Miyazaki may have pulled in a few stray tires, but he also pulled in a true gem, one that outshines the murky depths and lifts the film to greater heights. Ponyo the character is literally a force of nature, and deserves a separate analysis and celebration of her own.

This is an amazing film in so many ways. Like its title character, it is at once childish, headstrong, awe-inspiring, and impossible to pin down. It operates by its own rules of storytelling – there is no clear villain, no story arc, subplots are not followed through – and yet for all that, it is a true work of art, worthy of discussion and debate for years to come. A simple film for children? In many ways yes, it cheerfully operates on the level of a small child. Hopefully someday I’ll be young enough to appreciate it.

WTD?: Extinguishable

2009-08-28T09:07:00.011-04:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? was EXTINGUISHABLE. Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

John Lechner

Adam Ziskie

Bob Flynn

Katelyn Walsh

Allie Biondi

Tami Wicinas

Renee Kurilla

Thanks, everyone!
Check back in a couple weeks for the next word!

Happiness in 3:23

2009-08-27T21:07:00.003-04:00

I wanted to share TMBG's latest video- it's for their song Electric Car, from their new cd that's coming out September 1st.
I don't think I need to elaborate on how much I love this... it is a dream to make videos like this. I want to make the music, and bring visual life to the song.
Someday FVers, it'll happen :)

Electric Car!

—Thanks, Allie! I embedded the video. -Bob

How James Sugrue makes cartoons in Flash

2009-08-26T09:33:00.004-04:00

via Cartoon Brew

A couple things to note. James starts with 7 drawings (his boards, essentially). His animation builds upon those drawings with more drawings (James likes drawing). And he uses a good mix of reuse and redraw. Just because its Flash, doesn't mean it has to tween.

Thanks, James!

Furry Puppet Studio

2009-08-26T00:08:00.003-04:00

I recently discovered the funnest furry fellows around! Furry Puppet Studio is based out of NYC. The company's new website features some interesting animations and entertaining gallery photos! I personally enjoy their tweets about starting up the sewing machine everyday. Another fun company to add to the list...not above FableVision, of course. ;) I mean..come on!

The Great Flu.com

2009-08-18T22:16:00.003-04:00

I haven't had a chance to play it because I think the site's servers are dealing with an epidemic of their own, but here's a game that teaches through simulation and play. Pretty great design, too.

via Kotaku

"While it might not actually be Swine Flu: The Video Game, a flash game created by Dutch researches aims to raise the awareness of similar outbreaks by having the player control the deadly Gamers Flu.

The Great Flu casts the player as the head of the fictional World Pandemic Control. Pick a strain of flu based on difficulty level, and use your budget to help stop the spread of a potentially deadly disease. Should you distribute masks to the public, or broadcast public service announcements warning of the potential update? Should you start manufacturing vaccines, improve research facilities, or bring in a group of specialists? Even at the lowest difficulty the game delivers a sense of just how difficult it is to handle and contain the spread of a dangerous virus."

Play here --> The Great Flu.com

also, a write-up on Fast Company.

Boom Boom Pow in an Apple Store

2009-08-17T00:43:00.006-04:00

This is one way to shoot a video. Gotta give him credit! Use the tools you have available—even better when they're free.

via Boing Boing

"YouTube user nicholifavs is using the Apple Store as his own, personal A/V studio and audition space. So far, the little dude's shot dozens of lip sync videos including this one of the Black Eyed Peas' 'Boom Boom Pow.'"

Negative Space in Balloon Shapes

2009-08-16T21:27:00.011-04:00

Matt Bernier of Comic Tools lays out a great tutorial on the dos and don'ts of lettering in comics. A lot of it applies the common sense rules of typography and positive/negative space to word balloons. These are all really good ideas to keep in mind whether you're lettering by hand or using a font.

Read here --> This week: Balloon Shape.

He points out that while some examples of poor negative space are the result of the ease of computer lettering, even comics greats like Bill Watterson and Winsor McCay had bad lettering habits.

Also, in the comments, a brief discussion comes up about using hyphenation to break up words, which I've always considered a big no-no. But I love how Matt puts it:

"...breaking up a word with a hyphen to make it fit is like breaking your kid's feet to get him into smaller shoes. He'll fit, but he ain't gonna run too good any more."

It's a long thorough read, but a good one—with lots of doodles and samples to go along with it. HIGHLY recommended.

WTD?: Stubble

2009-08-14T10:13:00.003-04:00

The word that came out of the random word generator this week for What the Doodle? is STUBBLE. Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

Adam Ziskie

Didi Mitova

Bob Flynn

Keith Zulawnik

Renee Kurilla

Katelyn Walsh

Allie Biondi

Brian Grossman

Nick Sherman

Watch animation in full resolution.
Hannah O'Neal

John Lechner

Check back in a couple weeks for the next word!

Tami Wicinas: Wooden Rose

2009-08-10T19:27:00.013-04:00

We thought we'd try something new on Creative Juices—a Q&A format.

Fablevisionary, Tami Wicinas, has been working for the better part of this year on her webcomic Wooden Rose. Here's what she had to say about it:

What inspired you to begin writing a web comic?

I have always enjoyed telling narratives through my illustrations. I had been toying with the idea of drawing a comic for a while, but my friend Martzi planted the idea for Wooden Rose. While wandering around San Francisco we joked about writing a Jane Austen style webcomic together and the idea stuck with me. The Victorian era is a visually beautiful and romantic historical period. I love it for its lavish dress and gothic settings, the repressed emotions and the manners and courtesy with which people addressed each other. I wondered why there were not more Victorian style comics out there and I thought it would be fun to make one myself. After that the story started coming to me. I began it in January and wrote in a kind of frenzy, thinking of little else for two months. Martzi was a huge help to me – serving as my advisor and editor and cheering me on along the way. Once I had the story mapped out the visuals came naturally.

Who are your influences (writers and artists)?

The only other Victorian webcomic I knew about was The Phoenix Requiem by Sarah Ellerton. It is so well done I could not help being influenced by it. I attempted to write my story in the style of a 19th century romance novel. Wooden Rose has a lot in common with Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, which I admit I used as a starting point, but I added some of my own fantastical plots twists. I also drew elements from old Irish folk and fairy tales, and probably some other stories that have become ingrained in my subconscious.

As for the artwork, I am largely influenced by art nouveau, specifically Alfonse Mucha. I think Japanese anime also plays a big role in my style – the flat outlined figures against the painterly backgrounds is a style contrast I borrowed from animation.

Describe your process. Are you writing as you go along, or do you already have the story mapped out?

The story is already completed. The first half of the script is polished and ready to be drawn, but the latter half is still very rough and needs more work. As I slowly work my way through new ideas come to me for the second half that I can add to it.

What tools are you using? Do you work on paper at all, or is everything digital?

Though my story is completed, I do not have it all storyboarded because I know that I will be making changes to the second half of the script. I plan out about three pages at a time. I sketch them out roughly by pencil to figure out the layout, composition and pacing of each page. Sketching by hand for me is faster and more natural than sketching on a computer. I then scan the sketches into photoshop to trace the outline and color.

Could you describe your approach to color? It seems to play a large role in setting the atmosphere and mood of the story.

I pick a dominant color for each scene and work my palette around that color. I try to keep the range of colors to a minimum, sometimes using a complimentary color and light and dark for contrast. I try to capture the dark moody atmosphere I like from the time period – the dark deep colors of the walls and wood of the old houses, lots of candle and firelight for the interiors and filtered forest light for the outdoor scenes.

How many chapters can we expect?

I do not know yet since the second half is not finalized and I do not have it all storyboarded. It completely depends on how much I add to the ending and how I decide to pace the scenes. My rough estimate is about 8 to 10 chapters total.

* * * * * *

You can read more about Tami's work on her blog.
And she's also on Twitter @tamiwicinas.

Elevator redesign

2009-08-10T13:48:00.006-04:00

The addition of the movie poster boxes has really taken our hallway to the next level. Kudos to everyone involved in recognizing the opportunity there. Now onto our next challenge - figuring out how to get the museum to allow us to redecorate the elevator boxes with our artwork as this company from Antwerp has:

Original photos taken from here .

WTD? Vehicle

2009-07-31T10:16:00.014-04:00

The word this week for What the Doodle? is VEHICLE.
Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

Allie Biondi

Katelyn Walsh

Ryan McNulty

Watch animation in full resolution.
Matt Bargar and Naomi Greenfield

John Lechner

Hannah O'Neal

Watch animation in full resolution.
Created by Peter H. Reynolds for TJ Shay
(using FableVision's Animation-ish software)

Check back in a couple weeks for the next word!

UPDATE: 8/4/09

Renee Kurilla

We Think

2009-07-29T19:48:00.007-04:00

Peter just passed this on to me. It's a video/trailer for a book by Charles Leadbeater that puts into perspective the potential of the Web and how it continues to bring like minds together and spread ideas so effectively. That's definitely one of the primary goals of Creative Juices. It begins "Welcome to the world of We Think"...and continues "The Web gets really interesting when people pool their ideas...then they start to be really creative." It proclaims that where the 20th century was about Mass Production, the 21st century will be about Mass Innovation. Also, instead of you are what you own, it becomes you are what you share.

...an interesting way of communicating the message in its own right, too.

Here's a link to We-think where you can download and read the first 3 chapters.

Plukart!

2009-07-28T00:42:00.000-04:00

How's that for doodling? Jim "Plukart" is on Flickr.

Lots of cartoony, weird, crazy drawings.

Sesame Workshop's Spike and Bubbles

2009-07-26T23:43:00.004-04:00

via Cold Hard Flash

"Check out this beautiful short produced at Dancing Diablo. Lineboil.com contributor Dan Forgione was the animation director on the piece, which was produced for Sesame Workshop. It’s titled Spike and Bubbles."

I love this simple little narrative, which basically teaches kids about sharp things, bubbles, friendship, and teamwork. The characters are wonderfully bizarre and it's great how the background not only changes as characters pass through it—paint blotches even follow them around. The music is spot on, too....notice there are no words or dialogue.

Creative Juices on Facebook!

2009-07-26T09:19:00.005-04:00

Howdy, Creative Juicers and Fablefolk! Allie's previous post was our 200th post! (This is 201) Not bad since we started the blog almost 2 years ago. There's a bit of activity going on behind the scenes as we continue to spread inspiration and creativity. We recently launched a Fan Page on Facebook.

If you frequent Facebook--> Join here!

You'll get Creative Juices updates in your news feed. This was on a suggestion from CJ contributor Naomi (thanks!).

We're also working on a new look and feel. Here's a little guy I conjured up.

And some possible logotype treatments.

Thanks for staying with us this long. And if you're a new reader, welcome aboard! There's lots more to come!

How to pick an idea.

2009-07-25T23:31:00.002-04:00

Do you ever feel like you have so many ideas swimming around in your head, that you don't know which one to go with?
This plagues me, most of my time. Aside from having a gazillion artistic interests I want to follow through with, there's always a part of me saying "hey, your a musician too, remember?! That rock opera isn't going to write itself."
Sometimes I feel like this holds me back from doing anything at all because I want to do it all. At the same exact time. Yet I just can't seem to grow those extra arms I could use.
How does a person satisfy so many interests with also finding time to exercise, wash their dishes, and make non microwave food?
I was wondering how other folks deal with this.

SpongeBob is Everywhere

2009-07-25T09:01:00.015-04:00

You may have noticed that SpongeBob has been popping up even more than usual over the past few weeks. It's because the show recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Say what you will of the yellow sponge, but you can't deny his popularity. People (kids especially) LOVE SpongeBob. VH1 recently debuted a documentary special "Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob Squarepants", Nickelodeon aired a 50-hour marathon last weekend, and Nick Mag currently has an "Ultimate SpongeBob Issue" on news stands. The Atlantic also recently published a great article called SpongeBob's Golden Dream which I think does a unique job of putting everything in perspective.

I posted some spongy thoughts on my blog as well. And I wanted to take this post to highlight some great SpongeBob art.

Sherm Cohen is an amazingly talented cartoonist who worked on the show in the early days as a writer, storyboard artist, and director. His artwork frequents the covers of Nick Mag, and he's one of the best SpongeBob artists around in my opinion. He just posted a bunch of illustrations he did for the Village Voice (posts 1 and 2) a few years back that are some of the best SpongeBob imagery I've seen outside of the show. Here are a few favorites:

And then there are the often sick and twisted drawings of Robertryan Cory. About a month ago he started posting production art from the show on his Flickr account and he keeps adding to it. He seems to be tasked with the more elaborate, exaggerated, grotesque, and cartoony drawings needed in the show. They are some of my favorite drawings PERIOD as of late, and definitely worth your attention.

You may be annoyed by his laugh, you may be tempted to label the shows overly hyper-active, and you may be sick of all the merchandising (I love this camera), but now that the show has been on for over a decade, I think it's a good time to reflect on the phenomenon that is SpongeBob. A character like this only comes around once a generation (once a century, even—I would easily qualify SpongeBob as the new Mickey Mouse). From The Atlantic article:

...the SquarePants writers are interested in stories, even in lessons. Again and again, a kind of innocence triumphs—over fear, over snobbery, and over skepticism.

Trotting along bright-hearted, laughing his spray-on headache of a laugh, he will not succumb to complication. His corner of the world is all levity. Embrace him, drained adult. Where you see his little yellow flag, salute it; it’s a sign of life.

Here's to that!

SpongeBob © 2009 Viacom International Inc. All rights reserved. NICKELODEON, SpongeBob SquarePants, and all related titles, logos, and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. SpongeBob Created by Stephen Hillenburg.

Stop Motion!

2009-07-24T11:00:00.009-04:00

Hear Ye Hear Ye!
Fable Stop Motion is a Go!

This morning I set up the brand spanking new stop motion stand. Here's a few pictures of the progress. This is just the beginning!

And here's a little test I did to make sure the camera and computer liked each other.
And they do.

Interactive Muppet Map

2009-07-22T14:52:00.003-04:00

Check this out:

http://www.nationalpost.com/muppets/index.html

Everything from H. Ross Parrot to Captain Vegetable to the Yip Yips to Ernie and Bert!

Amazing to think about how many of these muppets were actually the same base but just with noses and eyes swapped out, and yet they still each had character on their own.

My Influences, by Dan Meth

2009-07-21T12:53:00.002-04:00

My Influences from Dan Meth on Vimeo.

This is some kind of fantastic trip down cartoon lane...all sorts of cultural and visuals references clipping by at a fun pace. Blissful, really :)

via Drawn

WTD? Publicity

2009-07-17T16:20:00.009-04:00

The word this week for What the Doodle? is PUBLICITY.
Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

Keith Zulawnik

Renee Kurilla

Bob Flynn

Allie Biondi

Jay LaCouture

Hannah O'Neal

Check back in a couple weeks for the next word!

WTD?: Razor

2009-06-26T11:52:00.008-04:00

The word this week for What the Doodle? is RAZOR.
Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

Watch animation in full resolution.
Ellie Moreton

Bob Flynn

Allie Biondi

John Lechner

Renee Kurilla

Check back in a couple weeks for the next word!

UPDATE: 7/2/09

Keith Zulawnik

Just when you thought you knew your colors...

2009-06-25T10:07:00.004-04:00

..Color Theory (how your brain perceives color) comes and kicks you in the butt.

How many colors do you see here?

Hint: the answer is less than 4, greater than 2.

Greater hint: what appears to be blue and green are really the same!

An explanation.

Wayne Gilbert

2009-06-25T00:04:00.002-04:00

From my author pal, David Smith:

"There is a person I think you would be interested in talking with.

His name is Wayne Gilbert.

He has worked with Electronic Arts and Industrial Light and Magic, among other companies.

His website has a lot of info about him; here's a link to one of his best animations:
http://www.anamie.com/anamie_let_go.html

Another cool one:http://www.anamie.com/anamie_cpu.html.html

Clearly, very gifted."

Creepy much?

2009-06-23T11:55:00.003-04:00

Incase you haven't had any nightmares latley, Tim Burton's taking care of that.
If you couldn't gather from the image- he's making a new Alice In Wonderland. Well, it was either Johnny Depp playing the Madhatter, or A fancily dressed Carrot Top. I'm guessing on the first. IMDB backs me up on that. Due out sometime next year, I'm sure it'll be enjoyable (as long as there's no disco type songs with Oompah Loompahs singing...)

Fun with paper scraps!

2009-06-18T15:21:00.003-04:00

I found this fantastic website by tiny building builder Sharon Mount.

Tiny Buildings!

So if you have a ton of little scraps of paper (or 'out of date' buisness cards)- Here's a fun thing to do with them!

Select EVERYTHING

2009-06-17T17:29:00.005-04:00

*Disclaimer: This post has nothing to do with anything, really!*

A few months ago I was animating a storyboard in Flash and I had to move every keyframe up and to the left just a little bit. What happened visually when I selected every single keyframe at once blew my mind:

To take it even further...if you change every layer to "color outline mode" it's equally as awesome:

Being the Flash nerd I am, I took screen shots and saved them only to find them months later and post them on this blog. Anybody else got some random Flash visuals?

John Martz's IE6 denial message

2009-06-17T10:45:00.005-04:00

It has already made it's way around the blogosphere (that word still doesn't sound right), but in case you haven't seen it, here's John Martz's IE6 denial message for Momentile.com. I also thought it was somewhat related to the previous post on the fold, where I griped about IE6. He just released it under the Creative Commons license for use on your own site, too! Also, a bit of process work on his blog.

Where's the fold?

2009-06-15T14:31:00.005-04:00

This is gonna be a more tech-specific post (sorry, no pictures). Everyone in web design knows about that little bugger called the "fold." Simply defined: the point at which you need to scroll your browser to see more content on a web page. It's a horizon of sorts, in the vertical dimension of your website. So, where's it hanging out these days? Our designer extraordinaire, Samantha Oliver, pointed me to this great article which places the fold between the 570px-610px range (on a 1024x768 monitor). The author of the post, John Ellis, asks if designing to the fold is even relevant anymore—if it's given more weight in web design than it deserves. It's a good read, no matter which side of the fence you happen to be on.

I also thought I'd check in on the latest browser and screen specs of web-users from w3schools.com:

Screen
As of January 2009, 36% of users are at 1024x768. 57% are at higher resolutions. Last year 1024x768 was at 48%, so i suspect the number will be in the low 20s in 2010—hopefully being phased out a few years from now.

Browser
Firefox currently has the lead at 47.7% as of May 2009, with IE7 at a distant 21.3%. IE6 is stilling hanging in there at 14.5% (oh, how we can't wait to see you go, for .png adoption alone).

I suspect the fold will be around as long as we have a minimum screen resolution to design to. The thing is, solid standards like 1024x768, 800x600 and 640x480 don't really exist anymore. A quick survey of my Sitemeter stats shows 16 different screen resolutions, ranging from 320x396 to 2048x1152!

For now, you can pretty safely say the fold exists at around 600px. I guess time will tell.

WTD?: Justification

2009-06-12T11:03:00.006-04:00

This week's What The Doodle? word is Justification. Here's what a few FableVisionaries came up with.

Allie Biondi

Bob Flynn

Ryan McNulty

Samantha Oliver

Thanks for playing!

A Loaf of Bread, a Container of Milk, and a Stick of Butter

2009-05-27T00:48:00.003-04:00

A memorable Sesame Street animated short for sure (how could you forget?!) But seriously folks, check out this walk cycle. Here's a perfect case of the way a character talks and the way a character moves completely defining the character. It's also a perfect case of coming up with a great cycle (which definitely took time to create), and then getting a ton of use out of it.

According to YouTube, this was produced by Jim Simon's Wantu Enterprises, the same company that made equally distinctive animation for The Electric Company and Vegetable Soup.

WTD?: Plot

2009-05-22T13:02:00.009-04:00

The word this week for What the Doodle? is "PLOT."
Here's what the FableVision crew came up with.

Renee Kurilla

Keith Zulawnik

Bob Flynn

Allie Biondi

Watch animation in full resolution.
Ryan McNulty

John Lechner

Doodle 4 Google

2009-05-11T16:43:00.003-04:00

"Welcome to Doodle 4 Google, a competition where we invite K-12 students to play around with our homepage logo and see what new designs they come up with. This year we're inviting U.S. kids to join in the doodling fun, around the intriguing theme "What I Wish for the World."

VOTE HERE

Above doodle by Johnny Zuk, Age 6!

My doodle, "Music Brings Joy to Doodle" is what I wish for the world because music makes everybody happy. In the world, all kinds of different people have a favorite song because there is so many different types of music.

FITC

2009-05-08T15:49:00.004-04:00

Hi Everyone! If you have a chance, read Renee's notes about our trip to Toronto for the Flash in the Can- once you're done with that, read mine if you'd like :) And enjoy my doodles.

WTD?: Vinyl

2009-05-08T13:33:00.015-04:00

A bunch of us in the FableVision studio thought it would be a good exercise to pick a completely random word and create a visual representation of it. We're calling it WTD? (What The Doodle?) The random word generator we used spit out VINYL. At first we were all like, huh?...wtd? But I think the results are fun. This is something we want to keep doing, so check back for more (and maybe give it a try yourself!)

Bob Flynn

Allie Biondi

Keith Zulawnik

Ryan McNulty

Tami Wicinas

Renee Kurilla

Samantha Oliver

Be sure to visit everyone's sites, too!

FITC Toronto 2009

2009-05-08T09:15:00.017-04:00

On Monday and Tuesday of last week, Allie and I attended the FITC (i.e. Flash in the Can) Conference in Toronto. The presentations were about an hour each and continued from the early morning until the evening. Surprisingly, many of the presentations I saw were not even about Flash and concentrated more on the theme of "Outside the Lines."

Twitter: @FITC
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?sid=9f2f1c061ad372d6a614ff92664dbcc0&gid=4259426660&ref=search
Website:
http://www.fitc.ca/

Crowd Shot:

Grafitti Wall:

FITC '09: Graffiti Wall from Andrew Procter on Vimeo.

Designer/ Print Material - Joshua Davies
http://www.joshuadavis.com/

The presentations I attended:

DAY 1:
1. Flash Interfaces and Console Games
2. Ins and Outs of CS4
3. Digital Creative Agency - Big Spaceship
4. Pretty Pictures
5. MTV Jackass on AIR

DAY 2:
1. Life. Work. Philosophy.
2. There is No Box
3. Things I Learned About being Creative
4. Bridging the Gap Between 2d and 3d in Flash
5 Technology and Storytelling
6. Sound Visualization in Nature and Code

I thought about how to sum up my experience and eventually chose to do it in one sentence:
What I learned most at FITC is that FableVision should be presenting at these conferences as well as attending them! I propose we do a proposal:http://www.fitc.ca/proposals/

Observations: -twitter, flickr, facebook = HUGE

------------------------------------------
DAY #1

Flash Interfaces and Console Games
Scaleform.com, BIOWARE, and developer Grant Skinner

XBOX Creds: Mass Effect, Fable II Pub Games, Uno Rush, etc.

Image: Fable II Pub Game

-usie the Unreal Engine / flash inside 3d environments
-described GPU tessellation and 3D render targets
-putting flash in 3d engine allows high resolutions up to 6000 pixels wide at 30-60 fps
-optimized playback
-showed flash video playing in 3d environment, vector and 3d together
-UNO Rush uses Flash as main interface with 3D on top

Game artist/ developer job inquiries: Gamasutra.co, IGDA.org

Grant Skinner (master developer):
http://gskinner.com/blog/
http://www.gskinner.com/site2_5/
@gskinner

Ins and Outs of CS4
with Richard Galvan of Adobe

-CS4 now applies animation to an object and not a keyframe - delete the object - the animation PATH stays
-to extend your animation but NOT the timing hold shift and drag color box to end of timeline
-don't hold shift to extend entire animation time
(audience was ooo-ing and awww-ing...but I know that CS4 is buggy like nothing else :)

This applies a tween to a symbol using code:
fly.addTarget(butterfly2);
(motion present)addTarget(symbol name);

IK Fun:
-properties > runtime - publish - you can drag a bone symbolized objects arms and legs around

Digital Creative Agency
Big Spaceship, Brooklyn, NY Twitter: @bssmot / @bigspaceship

This company RULES.
http://www.bigspacship.com

Quotes to remember:
-"everyone is creative" - they don't use the word "creative" in their titles
(NOTE: Presenter, Joshua Hirsch's title is Minister of Technology)
-"don't hire assholes"
-"fun begets quality"
-"experiment constantly and not just for clients"
-"no DIY - DIWO (Do it With Others)"
-"don't use stock images, make your own"

Check out:
-Pretty Loaded (http://www.prettyloaded.com/) FUNNY!
-Hope Vs. Despair (Twitter project) REALLY FUNNY!!!!!!!
(Note: used Python instead ActionScript bc the developer thought AS would be too easy!)
- Big Spaceship Intersticial (modeled after the HBO logo from the 80s)
-30 Days of Night Website

30 Days of Night from Big Spaceship on Vimeo.

-Royal Carribbean 100suitcases.com

Pretty Pictures
Adobe Illustrator Artist Presentation

Marcos Chin
http://www.marcoschin.com/

MTV Jackass on AIR
Be on the lookout for this new Facebook compatible APP. "Superpoke on Steriods"

Note: I received a T-shirt that says "Poo Grenade."

-AIR applications that integrates with social networking sites
-play pranks on your friends (poop on them, pee on them, do other things I can't mention to them)
-video with transparent bg on your desktop
-Johnny Knoxville wearing a bread suit, gets eaten by giant pigeon
-created a liquid engine they called "fecal dynamics" pee, puke, blood, poo
-made it so you could splatter AND smear
-"pull my finger" you pull someone's finger and poop splashes on the screen (mm hmm)

Note: Gross.

------------------------------------------
DAY #2

Note: EVERY SINGLE PRESENTATION today used the word "hello" in their powerpoint or keynote.

Life. Work. Philosophy
HelloHello.bz
DoctorHello.com

Image: Dr. Hello, himself

Observations: Starting the day off on a light note. (I hope you can sense the sarcasm) Ambient music. Deep. Good thing I have coffee.
Blah Blah Blah...he talked about Socrates and Plato. Interesting stuff...but at a Flash conference?

Notes Dump: -What guides me when I make a decision? -Every action is a reaction to something. Sight > Draw Hear > Write Touch > Dance Taste > Sing Smell > Cook -We are driven by love and fear. -"Fear is Contagious"

Dr Hello Quotes himself:
"There is no such thing as fearless, however, one can work to become fear free."
"What does a creative individual has?" (Has, I swear)
"Passion is Love in action."
"To imagine is the first step to reaching new possibilities."

There is No Box
http://thereisnobox.ca/
Jason Theodor (logo designer/ professional brainstormer)

Presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/jted/jason-theodors-creative-method-and-systems

CrEaTivIty and BrAinStOrMiNg help-
This guy has been putting together his presentation for YEARS. Not kidding. It's his on going project and the slide show is supposed to soon be online.

"Creativity means not copying."

(Note: He used a wii remote to flip through presentation!)

Notes dump:
-QUANTITY!
"Ideas are like rabbits, write them down."
-Brainstorm in short bursts, you can't expect people to be creative for one solid hour and that's it
-Distraction is OK
-Don't try to be smart
-Use whatever is available
-Pretend you're a (dog, child, tree, clown) and write it down
-Look around, use the environment
-Lose your ego, come up with your worst idea

Example( Looking for a baby name?) Look around.
You're at: A grocery store/ GO:
Apple, Chex Mix, Banana, Cookie Crisp, Cranberry, etc.

"On beyond zebra..." Dr Seuss

- Use brainstorm tree to dig out childhood memories

Things I Learned About Being Creative
Mikey Richardson
http://www.amoebacorp.com/

- Don't bring pizza to a brainstorm meeting, everyone gets distracted by pizza and you spend the first 20 minutes talking about pizza
- Eat the broccoli first!!! ( do the boring/annoying stuff first)
-Make gold out of crappy opportunities

Design Firm
Designed Pop Shoppe Website: http://www.thepopshoppe.com/flash_site/main.html

"No Canadian presentation is complete without a photo of Wayne Gretskie"

And there he is.

Bridging the Gap Between 2D and 3D in Flash
Firstborn Media
http://www.firstbornmultimedia.com/

Some of their sites:
XM Radio
http://www.wildridexm.com/
M&Ms
http://www.jointhehunt.ca/

3D Engines-
Papervision 3D: http://blog.papervision3d.org/
FIVE3D: http://five3d.mathieu-badimon.com/

code I learned: var.mySprite:Sprite3D=newSprite3D();

Technology Paving the Way for Storytelling
Matt Lambert
1st Avenue Machine, NY, NY

http://blog.fitc.ca/post.cfm/technology-paving-the-way-for-story-telling

Discovery Channel: Footprint

Sound Visualization in Nature and Code

Jared Ficklin -Rubin's Tube (This is amazing)

Image: Jared Ficklin!

Foul Owl Karaoke (This is also amazing)
http://www.foulowl.com/

Creative Thinking: Make It a Habit!

2009-05-06T13:30:00.003-04:00

Dr. Oliver, a geophysicist, has some thoughts on creative thinking.

Read the article --> here

Some highlights:

There is something mysterious about creativity. We can describe it, admire it, strive for it and experience it, but we can never understand just how or why a certain innovative idea springs up at a particular time in the mind of a particular individual. Indeed, most people never expect to understand or master that process. Let's hope we do not, for our world would be far more dreary if we ever fully harnessed the creative process and learned to produce results only on schedule or on demand.

Force your mind to see things differently — in a new light, from a new angle, from another scale of time or distance, or from the perspective of someone with a different background. Explore beyond the bounds of your expertise — you may have the exact perspective needed by a colleague in another field.

Schedule regular times for creative thinking. I walk to and from work daily, about 35 minutes each way. After many years of following the same route (sometimes I do vary it!), the journey is routine, but I've dedicated the walk as a scheduled time for free, creative thinking, for dreaming, for envisioning what might happen, for devising imaginative solutions. I jot down my ideas immediately after reaching my destination.

On that last note, our morning and evening commutes are very routine times when you could easily shut off the iPod or radio and just let your mind wander once a day.

I picked up this link from a tweet by animator Mike Geiger (@mikegeiger)

Mike Rauch on Talking UP to kids

2009-05-01T09:26:00.004-04:00

Mike Rauch is a New York-based animator heading up the Rauch Bros Animation Studio. Here's what he says about children's media:

"Outside of entertaining the audience, the most important purpose of film for children and their families is to inform them and encourage them to think about the outside world and themselves. Media for kids should engage and respect them as intelligent people. This tells children that their thoughts, their ideas, and their lives matter. It shows parents and adults that listening closely to what kids have to say is one of the most important things they can do."

Great thoughts! I would say right in line with our philosophy here at FableVision.

Here's a teaser of the film "Q&A" that Mike and his brother Tim have submitted to the Chicago Children's Film Festival.

"Q&A" teaser from Rauch Brothers on Vimeo.

FableVisionary Hidden Talents

2009-04-19T17:02:00.006-04:00

You betcha, that's a mini Etch-a-Sketch right there...and holding it is the super talented Ryan McNulty (developer extraordinaire at FV). Ryan spent many long hours (20 minutes) slaving over this piece. It took him several days (2 minutes) to render the delicate detail in those little crawfish eyeballs. Ryan attended Harvard satellite Etch-a-Sketch School at a very young age and trained with the masters (no he didn't and that doesn't exist).

Oh whatever - he's AWESOME and he drew THIS still life on an Etch-a-Sketch! Now THAT'S a hidden talent.

Links:
I think this guy's got some competition!
Make your own Etch-a-Sketch. (This is for Gary)
How it works.

Scarygirl Game

2009-04-15T16:00:00.009-04:00

Scarygirl Game Trailer from Touch My Pixel on Vimeo.

So, the game landed on the web yesterday. I only found about it today (thanks Brian Romero), but I can guarantee you word is spreading. The fact that the site is currently pretty bogged down supports that. Catch the trailer above, then head on over to play the game at:

--> www.scarygirl.com

Where to begin? This is a Flash-game, folks. Not unlike the games we make at FableVision (see Lure of the Labyrinth). The visual impact is probably the most striking. It's practically like dancing around in an illustration. I haven't had a chance to become fully immersed in the game, but Keith dove in and I was impressed with what I've seen so far. Very responsive controls, great sound design...you name it. Load time is a bit cumbersome right now, but I suspect that will improve.

I'm first reminded of Crappy Cat, and then Poptropica. But the presentation here exceeds both of those games. How are they getting this level of performance out of Flash? First off, I measured the gameplay window: only 750 x 480 (give or take a few pixels). When was the last time we designed a game that small? You don't even realize this because they've designed a smart html shell around it with even more beautiful artwork that doesn't distract from the gameplay. Also, they have an impressive parallax working in the sidescroll part of the game. None of this appears to slow anything down. The mixing of vector and pixel is seamless, but definitely intentional for optimization. They've figured out how to pull it off (they being: Touch My Pixel).

I keep posting stuff like this to inspire everyone to think big. I know we can create something this fabulous.