Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Monday, December 23, 2013
Christmas Comes But Once A Year (1936)
A creepy old man with a creepy laugh thinks it's a good idea to break into an orphanage on Christmas Day. That's not the way you're supposed to take it, but it's not untrue.
Dig the sneaky use of models at the beginning and end that look convincingly hand-drawn... until the camera moves, and you get a better idea of what you're looking at. Very innovative stuff.
Dig the sneaky use of models at the beginning and end that look convincingly hand-drawn... until the camera moves, and you get a better idea of what you're looking at. Very innovative stuff.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
Hardrock, Coco & Joe
Produced by Centaur Productions in 1956, this short, like "Suzy Snowflake" and "Frosty the Snowman," has become an annual tradition in certain regions.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Peace On Earth
This is a truly bizarre little cartoon disguised as family treacle: a deceptively sweet Christmas tableau with cutesy woodland creatures gives way to an anti-war statement by revealing itself to be set in a post-apocalyptic world wherein war caused the extinction of humanity. And it was released in 1939, when World War II was underway in Europe, but America had yet to become involved. Ballsy. Merry Christmas, humanity!
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Miser Brothers
Why leave well enough alone when you can, you know, not?
In 2008, the popular Rankin/Bass characters, the Miser Brothers, were revived for a sequel special. The original voice of the Heat Miser, George S. Irving, was still alive and returned to perform the character once again.
This modern special sought to recreate the original style of Rankin/Bass stop-motion animation and is largely successful, although improvements to the technology and techniques of stop-motion animation couldn't help but to have an effect on the finished look.
Here's the new rendition of the Heat Miser/Snow Miser song. (For the original version, click here.)
In 2008, the popular Rankin/Bass characters, the Miser Brothers, were revived for a sequel special. The original voice of the Heat Miser, George S. Irving, was still alive and returned to perform the character once again.
This modern special sought to recreate the original style of Rankin/Bass stop-motion animation and is largely successful, although improvements to the technology and techniques of stop-motion animation couldn't help but to have an effect on the finished look.
Here's the new rendition of the Heat Miser/Snow Miser song. (For the original version, click here.)
Monday, December 16, 2013
Suzy Snowflake
Preceding UPA's "Frosty the Snowman" by a year, Centaur Productions created this adaptation of the winter song in 1953. It has remained an annual staple in certain regions, particularly Chicago, ever since.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Snow Miser/Heat Miser
From Rankin/Bass's "The Year Without a Santa Claus" comes this beloved showstopper...
Thursday, December 12, 2013
"Winter's Feat" - Foxtails Brigade
A nice winter song, with animation and production by friends of this site.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
The first Christmas special
What you're about to witness is the very first Christmas special ever produced for American television. The success of the video below is why we have Rankin/Bass's "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "A Charlie Brown Christmas," and everything right up through "Prep & Landing 3." This is why every TV series does its obligatory variation of the Dickens standard. This is ground zero for the ever-expanding holiday subgenre of televised entertainment that dominates the month of December (and often leaks over into November). Everything we know about holiday specials can be traced back to this singular event.
Ladies and gentlemen... "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol"!
Ladies and gentlemen... "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol"!
Friday, December 6, 2013
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Friday, November 29, 2013
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
"Peanuts" creator Charles M. Schulz was born on this day in 1922! In honor of that and Thanksgiving, here's the Peanuts gang having their non-traditional meal from the 1973 special "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving."
You can watch the entire Charlie Brown special by clicking here. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
You can watch the entire Charlie Brown special by clicking here. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Monday, November 25, 2013
Friday, November 22, 2013
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Steamboat Willie
This all-time classic was released 85 years ago today! Noted not only for being the public debut of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, but also for being the first cartoon released with synchronized sound. Every single voice in the cartoon was provided by Walt Disney himself.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
Friday, November 8, 2013
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Monday, October 21, 2013
Lonesome Ghosts
A childhood favorite that, I'm happy to report, completely holds up! Definitely a classic.
Friday, October 18, 2013
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Friday, October 11, 2013
Mickey Mouse in Ghoul Friend
In case you've been missing it, Disney has been releasing a series of new Mickey Mouse shorts. With character designs modeled on '30s-era Disney, backgrounds inspired by the '50s and '60s, and storytelling harkening back to the silent era, these are unmistakably modern cartoons with vivid colors and sharply defined details.
Enjoy Mickey's newest Halloween adventure!
Enjoy Mickey's newest Halloween adventure!
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
Here's the theme song from the rarely-discussed animated spinoff of the b-movie parodies.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Treehouse of Horror XXIV
The introduction to this Sunday's "Simpsons" Halloween special. The 24th one, folks!
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Jason and the Argonauts
This animation from 1963 is incredible! The only thing that doesn't hold up is the live-action end.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Let's Build a Media Center [Friendship All-Stars of Friendship]
Ira Glass and Garrison Keillor collaborate on new studio space... when their personal quirks don't get in the way.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Bless This Mess [Friendship All-Stars of Friendship]
David Bowie and street artist Banksy improve on each other's work.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Hawaiian Shirt-Off [Friendship All-Stars of Friendship]
Luis Guzman and John Lasseter debate who has the best Hawaiian shirt collection.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Sunglasses [Friendship All-Stars of Friendship]
In case you've been missing it, the folks over at Stoopid Buddy Stoodios have been doing a parody stop-motion web series about various celebrity roommates who all happen to live in the same apartment building. Here's the first episode, where director Guillermo del Toro receives a gift from his "Hellboy" star, Ron Perlman.
Monday, September 16, 2013
The Scarecrow
Technically a commercial, this is a fantastic piece of animation, and a great cover of "Pure Imagination" by Fiona Apple.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Bakerman & The Bunnymen
Friend of the blog Scout Raskin writes and directs this demented take on 1920s-style animation.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Jacking it in San Diego!
As the eyes of the world turn to San Diego for opening day of Comic-Con 2013, let's take a moment to remember what always ends up happening...
( And just in case you've forgotten why, click here for a friendly reminder... )
( And just in case you've forgotten why, click here for a friendly reminder... )
Monday, July 1, 2013
"Weasel Stomping Day" by "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic has stated that Weasel Stomping Day falls on June 31st every year. That's today! Sort of.
With animation from the folks over at Shadow Animation, here's "Weasel Stomping Day."
With animation from the folks over at Shadow Animation, here's "Weasel Stomping Day."
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
T-Rex Go-Motion - Jurassic Park
Before committing to CGI, Steven Spielberg commissioned stop-motion test animation from Phil Tippett (or rather, the "go-motion" process Tippett pioneered). Here is Tippett's rendition of the T-Rex paddock attack.
Jurassic Park opened 20 years ago today.
Jurassic Park opened 20 years ago today.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Friday, May 10, 2013
Micro Mayhem!
Excellent car chase sequence, shot on the micro level, by the Stoodio that brings you "Robot Chicken."
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Maker vs Marker
An artist's hand squares off against its creation in a "Mortal Kombat" style fight. And it's really cool!
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Two Chips
If you're going to get drunk and tell your husband a lame joke, make sure he's not an animator...
Saturday, May 4, 2013
BONUS! The Robot Chicken Team's Simpsons Couch Gag
Airing on Sunday, May 19 at 8/7c on Fox, the animated comedy has commissioned Seth Green's Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, which produces the cult favorite stop-motion series Robot Chicken, to create a special stop-motion couch gag for the episode. "The Simpsons have been opening that up to a bunch of different artists and a bunch of different content creators to put their spin on The Simpsons couch gag," Green says.
Click through to see VIDEO!
via TV Guide
Friday, May 3, 2013
Thursday, May 2, 2013
A Boy And His Atom: The World's Smallest Movie
And you thought Dot was small...
The folks at IBM created this movie by moving around individual atoms!
Here's a little about how the movie was made:
The folks at IBM created this movie by moving around individual atoms!
Here's a little about how the movie was made:
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
Friday, April 19, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Good Morning, Mickey
The Disney Channel launched 30 years ago today, at 7 AM eastern time. And for the people who were watching, this is what they saw...
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
Li'l Abner - Kickapoo Juice
"Li'l Abner" was a newspaper comic strip created by Al Capp, reputed for being the foundation of most of the world's perception of the American South.
This short from 1944 doesn't feature much of Abner himself, but demonstrates the caricature of the South that the strip traded in.
This short from 1944 doesn't feature much of Abner himself, but demonstrates the caricature of the South that the strip traded in.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Gorillaz - 19-2000
The design and animation for this "virtual group" is by "Tank Girl" creator Jamie Hewlett.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Friday, April 5, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
My Name Is David
Today is Autism Awareness Day. This is a speech delivered by a 14-year-old with autism, rendered in stop-motion by a "Robot Chicken" animator.
Monday, April 1, 2013
I'm Here
Tomorrow is Autism Awareness Day. This short represents the loneliness often experienced by those on the autism spectrum.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Foster's Home - Mac Daddy
Craig McCracken's birthday is this Sunday. Let's celebrate with Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends episode "Mac Daddy," which introduces the character of Cheese.
FHIF - 2x07 - Mac Daddy P1 by kingofcommons
FHIF - 2x07 - Mac Daddy P1 by kingofcommons
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013
Fresh Hare (1942)
I watched this one dozens of times growing up. Turns out there's a racist tag at the end that I didn't understand when I was a kid.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Calvin and Hobbes
Professional animator Adam Brown whipped up this loving tribute to Bill Watterson's beloved comic strip.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Ha Ha Ha
Predating "Duck Amuck" by almost 20 years, this Betty Boop cartoon depicts Betty interacting with her creator, "Uncle Max" Fleischer.
Some of the material in this short is a recycling of Koko the Clown's "The Cure," which similarly showed characters interacting with their creators nearly three decades before "Duck Amuck!"
Some of the material in this short is a recycling of Koko the Clown's "The Cure," which similarly showed characters interacting with their creators nearly three decades before "Duck Amuck!"
Monday, March 18, 2013
Koko the Clown, The Cure
Predating "Duck Amuck" by nearly three decades, this is an early experiment with cartoon characters interacting with their creators.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Paperman, cont.
Thanks to the folks over at College Humor, we now know what happens immediately after Disney's Oscar-winning short "Paperman" ends.
NOTE: Not for your children.
NOTE: Not for your children.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Adam and Dog
This richly-colored animated short is nominated for an Oscar. Tune into the Academy Awards tonight to find out who wins!
Click here for more award-worthy shorts to keep an eye out for.
Click here for more award-worthy shorts to keep an eye out for.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
The Longest Daycare
This short from "The Simpsons" is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short. Tune into the Oscars tomorrow to see who wins!
Click here for more award-worthy shorts to keep an eye out for.
Click here for more award-worthy shorts to keep an eye out for.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Fresh Guacamole
This movie is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short this year. Tune into the Oscars this Sunday to see who wins.
Click here for more award-worthy shorts to keep an eye out for.
Click here for more award-worthy shorts to keep an eye out for.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Paperman
An Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Short. Tune into the Oscars this Sunday to see if it wins.
Click here for more award-worthy shorts to keep an eye out for.
Click here for more award-worthy shorts to keep an eye out for.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Head Over Heels
One of the excellent Best Animated Shorts nominees for this year's Academy Awards. Tune in this Sunday to see who wins!
Click here for more award-worthy shorts to keep an eye out for.
Click here for more award-worthy shorts to keep an eye out for.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Flea & Fly in "City Trouble"
Definitely got the throwback style down, with some modern wrong-ness thrown in.
Monday, February 18, 2013
The End of the World
In honor of the recent Russian meteor, I'm reaching back to a decade-old web video that I still love. Ladies and gentlemen, the end of the world...
Friday, February 8, 2013
History of Greed
A treatise on the evolution of learning. Or just a light joke to send you into the weekend.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Moon Rock
A stream-of-dream-consciousness trip from George Dunning, following his work on The Beatles' Yellow Submarine.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
How many licks does it take to get to the center?
The world may never know.
This Tootsie Pop commercial was an institution for several generations, but I believe has faded away over the last couple decades.
This Tootsie Pop commercial was an institution for several generations, but I believe has faded away over the last couple decades.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Friday, February 1, 2013
Dick Figures: Kung Fu Winners
This cartoon is nominated for an Annie Award in individual achievement: Directing in an Animated Television or other Broadcast Venue Production. In this case, the venue would be web video.
Annie Awards winners will be announced Saturday, February 2. Check here to see who won.
Annie Awards winners will be announced Saturday, February 2. Check here to see who won.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Eyes On the Stars
This Annie Award nominee for Best Animated Short is based on a true story from the life of astronaut Ronald McNair, who died in the Challenger shuttle explosion which happened 27 years ago today. This story from McNair's childhood is told by his brother Carl.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
BONUS! Animated Shorts to keep an eye out for
Many of the Annie Awards nominees that Animation of the Day would like to share are not available online. Here's a rundown of some of the best. Keep them on your radar. If you ever find yourself with an opportunity to see them, we strongly encourage you to take the time to do so.
A lonely young vampire seeks to live a normal life and play with other children. This short has a strong, unique visual style.
A compelling look into the conflicted mind of a creative individual. This short makes smart use of the stop-motion medium to represent the internal fragmentation caused by fear and creative stifling.
A colorful, musical, irreverent, classic-Warner Bros.-esque take on the knight-saves-princess-from-a-dragon fairy tale.
Based on a true event, this beautifully-animated short follows a Japanese-American internee at the Tule Lake segregation camp during World War II as she tries to bring a bit of joy to her family in the midst of grim circumstances. Conceived and directed by a descendent of the movie's subject.
A lonely young vampire seeks to live a normal life and play with other children. This short has a strong, unique visual style.
A compelling look into the conflicted mind of a creative individual. This short makes smart use of the stop-motion medium to represent the internal fragmentation caused by fear and creative stifling.
A colorful, musical, irreverent, classic-Warner Bros.-esque take on the knight-saves-princess-from-a-dragon fairy tale.
Based on a true event, this beautifully-animated short follows a Japanese-American internee at the Tule Lake segregation camp during World War II as she tries to bring a bit of joy to her family in the midst of grim circumstances. Conceived and directed by a descendent of the movie's subject.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Bill Plympton Couch Gag from "Beware My Cheating Bart"
This "Simpsons" couch gag, by animation hero Bill Plympton, is a 2013 Annie Award nominee for Best Animated Short.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Head Over Heels
From now through the night of the ceremony, Animation of the Day will post nothing but Annie Award-nominated shorts. Check back each weekday to see one of this year's nominees.
Kicking things off is this gem of a movie. Unfortunately, the full version is currently unavailable online. But this is such a great one that, in order to spread awareness, just the preview will be posted here. If you ever have the opportunity to watch the full short, take advantage; you'll be happy you did.
Kicking things off is this gem of a movie. Unfortunately, the full version is currently unavailable online. But this is such a great one that, in order to spread awareness, just the preview will be posted here. If you ever have the opportunity to watch the full short, take advantage; you'll be happy you did.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Drinking Out of Cups
Stream-of-consciousness randomness from Dan Deacon, animated by Liam Lynch.
NOTE: If you're sensitive to language, you'll probably want to skip this one.
If you need a bit more of an explanation, click here.
NOTE: If you're sensitive to language, you'll probably want to skip this one.
If you need a bit more of an explanation, click here.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
I Live in the Woods
My self-declared "Tree Week" continues with this crazy little number. This short has its flaws, but they pale in comparison to its anarchic energy and indelible imagery. Absolutely insane and -- WARNING TO SENSITIVE VIEWERS -- gory, this stream-of-consciousness piece is completely unpredictable. Filmmaker Max Winston went on to have a hand in many of the stop-motion shows you've seen in the last few years.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Out of a Forest
I found a bunch of forest-related cartoons, so I'm declaring this TREE WEEK! Kicking things off is a nice little stop-motion animation about rabbits.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Slimtime
Monday, January 7, 2013
Friday, January 4, 2013
The Man Who Could Sit Anywhere
From the folks at "Cyanide & Happiness." If you're not already reading that comic, you're missing some of the funniest stuff on the web. Check it out!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
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