Microsoft’s Project Natal 3D Animation Primesense

Microsoft joins Sony and Nintendo in offering a motion-sensitive gaming experience with Project Natal for the Xbox 360 console. The company sent out a press invitation announcing a Project Natal event at this year's E3 video game industry convention in June.

Most of us remember great 3D animation science fiction/adventure cartoon The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest from late 80s and early 90s in which a boy named jonny used to fight bad guys cyberspace realm known as “Questworld”.

A few years back Nintendo’s Wii revolutionized the way we know gaming but now in near future Microsoft’s Project Natal will completely change the gaming world with its latest technology which can detect & recognize human movements.

According to the manufacturer’s, the sensor technology can be placed in a bar much like Nintendo’s sensor or integrated in a host device directly via a USB 2.0 plug and play connection. The bar integrates an IR light source and common CMOS image sensor as well as Primesense’s PS1080 system on a chip (SoC) to process and interpret captured 3D data.

What makes the sensor special is that the technology captures 3D or depth via light coding. According to Primesense, light coding works by coding the scene volume with near-IR light. “A standard off-the-shelf CMOS image sensor [is used] to read the coded light back from the scene,” the manufacturer explains. “PrimeSense’s SoC chip is connected to the CMOS image sensor, and executes a sophisticated parallel computational algorithm to decipher the received light coding and produce a depth image of the scene. The solution is immune to ambient light.”

SXSW/CRASHED ICE/WMC Megabloggg!

Ok as some of you know every march there are two big music conferences in the US: SXSW in Austin and WMC in Miami. This year we went to both with a trip up to Red Bull's Crashed Ice event in Quebec City in between. It was the weirdest routing ever - but it make for a great couple of weeks. Here is what happened:

The number one thing first thing to do in Austin, Texas is eat mexican food &/or BBQ with Prince Klassen &/or Dj Mel - we got to do both so that was a good sign that the whole trip was going to be ok.

The first night we started off playing with a bunch of Canadian friends of ours at an event called Oh Canada. Bonjay, Grand Analog, Co-op & Hunnicutt, DJ Huggs and Birdapres were all there too. We were all bragging about the gold medal and drinking Rye while saying please and thank you incessantly to everyone we saw.

Top Billing


Co-Op


Then we made the move to Beso Cantina where we played the Gigacrate party with the great crew of Sammy Bananas, Bird Peterson, Apt One & Jayceeoh. Big thanks to Nick at Giagacrate for having us - it was great night to kick things off.

Sammy & Mike


Jayceeoh


The next day we played with Sammy again in the afternoon at a great skate shop in Austin called Complete. But not without squeezing in some time for BBQ. MMMMMMMMM.





Look at this guy - a top banana.


Then it was over to Do it To It 3, Burlesque's annual SXSW shakedown. Burlesque Design are the dons from Minneapolis and they have great taste in music so we knew it would kill. Thanks Mike Davis!

DJ Pump & Hedspin, Mike 2600, Dj Mel & Smalltown Klassen got the room going with some heavy disco vibes



Then Cubic Zirconia blew everyone's faces off - wow they were great. Like Cajmere meets LCD Soundsystem meets Aaliyah.



And that was it for Austin - short and sweet - and we were headed to Quebec City for Crashed Ice. Literally hours after landing I was on a snowmobile in the Quebec forest (I don't look official at all - what a ski-doo nerd):


And Saturday night was the big Crashed Ice event. It's basically a full contact downhill hockey race through the streets of Old Quebec, and a hundred thousand people come to see it. It's like human Nascar in the winter.


We played the big afterparty with Team Canada DJs also Grahmzilla was there so it was great to catch up with those dudes - the club was crazy.


Team Canada repping Les Nordiques. Les Thugs.


Thanks to Kenny and Pete at Red Bull for having us to the event again. Quebec City is one of Canada's gems - if you haven't been there try to check it out sometime. The old buildings and awesome french people who love maple syrup make it the best time ever. Je Me Souviens!

Au Revoir Quebec, Bonjour Miami.



Miami was a big blur of clubs and beaches and clubs. I remember Toddla T, Jack Beats, Shy FX, & 12th Planet killed it the first night:


So did Camo UFOs - with MC ? on the mic!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lighta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Plus I got to meet The Fat Jew - a life goal of mine achieved. He is better than everyone else.


Hanging out with Miche and Jess Jubilee two of my favourite animals. Jess is like a party angel.


Then the next night we played the Stirling Showcase with Ayres, Jubilee, Sammy Bananas, Tittsworth, FK5, Camo UFOs and Neoteric aka the best crew ever. Splack Pack and 2 Live Crew played in the main room too - Miami is crazy!


Mike B and Neo (two of the best djs)


Zeeee!!!!!!!!!!! and the Vancouver crew were in the building


So those were some of the fun parts of the trip. I've been sleeping for days since getting home so that's why it took a while for the update sorry. But seriously - next time you should come. Thanks for reading.

Wednesday Covers - "Waiting for the Man"

"Waiting for the Man" is arguably one of the greatest rock songs of all time, and unarguably the best song ever about scoring drugs (except maybe "I Got 5 On It").

Here's an early recording.

The Velvet Underground, 1967



Former VU bandmates Lou Reed & John Cale performing it live in Paris, 1972



David Bowie f. Mick Ronson on guitar, live in Santa Monica, 1972



Belle and Sebastian, live in Belfast, 2001




Man I could really go for some heroin right now.

Upcoming Kid’s 3D Cartoon

CG-animated tales to live-action adventures, kids' movies in 2010 and beyond represent the greatest percentage of films getting the 3-D treatment. Let's take a look at what's coming down the pipeline in future months and years.

"Shrek Forever After" (May 21, 2010): The fourth and final film in the lovable green orge's franchise will be the first to go the 3-D route. Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy are all back in a story that thrusts Shrek into an "It's a Wonderful Life"-style alternate universe. In a recent interview, director Mike Mitchell promised us both high-tension action scenes and emotional storytelling that make full use of the visual technology.

"Toy Story 3" (June 18, 2010): After the first two films in the series were re-released last year in 3-D, "Toy Story 3" will be the first to hit theaters as a first-run 3-D feature. Tom Hanks is back as Woody, the cowboy doll with an unbreakable bond to his owner. This is Pixar's second 3-D release following 2009's "Up," and director Lee Unkrich told MTV News that he credits the studio's forward-thinking strategy for putting Pixar at the forefront of the 3-D animated race.

"Despicable Me" (July 9, 2010): It'll be supervillain vs. supervillain in the first feature originating from Illumination Entertainment, a production company focused on animated films. Steve Carell and Jason Segel star. Writers Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul told MTV News that a roller-coaster scene in the film will take audiences on a wacky 3-D ride.

"Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" (July 30, 2010): This live-action sequel to the 2001 original features real felines and canines as undercover superspys. This time around, the cats and dogs are forced to join forces against a rogue kitty cat intent on conquering the world.

"Legend of the Guardians" (September 24, 2010): Zack Snyder, the director of "300" and "Watchmen," goes fully CGI with this feature based on the children's book series "Guardians of Ga'Hoole," about an orphaned owl.

"Megamind" (November 5, 2010): DreamWorks' third 3-D animated feature of the year after "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Shrek," this flick features an all-star voice cast including Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey and Jonah Hill in a story about a supervillain's existential crisis.
"Tangled" (November 12, 2010): Disney reworks the fairy tale of Rapunzel with Mandy Moore in the title role. Co-directors Bryon Howard and Nathan Greno's credits include "Bolt," "Chicken Little" and "Mulan."

"Yogi Bear" (December 17, 2010): This classic '60-era cartoon gets a new-millennium makeover courtesy of Warner Bros. Dan Aykroyd is the man tasked with channeling the unforgettable voice of picnic-basket-stealing Yogi, who lives in Jellystone Park with his sidekick Boo-Boo (Justin Timberlake).

"Gulliver's Travels" (December 22, 2010): Jack Black steps into the title role of this latest adaptation of Jonathan Swift's 18th-century satire. Shot as a 2-D film, Fox recently announced that the adventure story will be converted to 3-D.

"Gnomeo and Juliet" (February 11, 2011): Garden gnomes meet Shakespeare ... in 3-D. James McAvoy and Emily Blunt are set to voice the reworked versions of the world's most famous star-crossed lovers.

"Mars Needs Moms!" (March 11, 2011): What happens when aliens kidnap your mom? You set off on an adventure to rescue her. The live-action Disney film stars Seth Green and Joan Cusack.

"Rio" (April 8, 2011): Blue Sky Studios, the animation house behind the "Ice Age" franchise, is spearheading this tale of a rare bird in a zoo who absconds to South America to find his soul mate. Voice actors include Anne Hathaway and Neil Patrick Harris.

"Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom" (June 3, 2011): In 2008, the original animated tale about a martial-arts-obsessed panda reeled in $632 million at the worldwide box office. The sequel comes kicking at you in 3-D with Jack Black once again as Po. Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman and Seth Rogen also return.

"Cars 2" (June 24, 2011): Pixar's original automotive escapade grossed $462 million worldwide and billions more in merchandise sales. Now it's only the second of Pixar's films to be granted a sequel. "Ratatouille" producer Brad Lewis is taking over directing duties, and Owen Wilson returns as Lightning McQueen.

"The Smurfs" (August 3, 2011): Best known to American audiences from the '80s cartoon series, the lovable blue Smurfs are getting a 3-D, CG overhaul. The voice cast includes Neil Patrick Harris, Katy Perry and Hank Azaria.

"Puss in Boots" (November 4, 2011): While the "Shrek" series will have ended, this swashbuckling kitty from the stories will live on in a DreamWorks prequel to the green-ogre franchise. Antonio Banderas revisits the role, with a new crew including Salma Hayek and Zach Galifianakis.

"Arthur Christmas" (November 11, 2011): The writer behind "Borat," Peter Baynham, spins a yarn about how Santa manages to deliver presents around the world in just one night. Co-director Barry Cook got his start as an effects animator on 1982's "Tron" and became the visual-effects supervisor on "Aladdin" and "Beauty and the Beast."

"Happy Feet 2 in 3D" (November 18, 2011): "Mad Max" creator George Miller is headed back to the icy world of toe-tapping penguins in this sequel to the 2006 original. Expect another all-star cast, including Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Elijah Wood.

"Alvin and the Chipmunks 3D" (December 16, 2011): The first two films in this live-action/CG-animated hybrid have grossed almost three-quarters of a billion dollars. Cue the third 'munk saga this time in three dimensions.

"Frankenweenie": Tim Burton has long had plans to turn his 1984 short, about a boy who brings his dead dog back to life, into a feature film. Now it's going to happen — with the added bonus of a third dimension. An exact release date has not been announced, but it's expected to arrive in late 2011.

"The Bear and the Bow": Set in a mythical Scottish kingdom and starring Reese Witherspoon, this Pixar film should be the studio's second film of 2011 after "Cars 2," opening in theaters around Christmastime.

"Hotel Transylvania" (February 17, 2012): Long in development, the animated comedy will finally arrive in early '12, bringing together Frankenstein, the Mummy, Dracula and Werewolf in a hotel outside Transylvania.

"Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" (March 2, 2012): Co-directors Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul, who co-wrote "Horton Hears a Who!," told MTV News they're sticking to Dr. Seuss' iconic aesthetic as they deliver the first 3-D-ified adaptation of the author's work.

"The Croods" (March 30, 2012): Nicolas Cage and Ryan Reynolds have joined together for this animated comedy about cavemen. The co-director of "How to Train Your Dragon," Chris Sanders, will be sharing directing on "Croods" with Kirk De Micco, the director of "Space Chimps."

"Madagascar 3" (May 18, 2012): The first flick in this series about the journey of a zebra, a lion, a giraffe and a hippo sold $533 million in tickets. The sequel bested that sum by over $70 million. Film number three is said to take the chattering animals to Europe as part of a circus.

"Newt": Pixar's 2012 plans include a story about two blue-footed newts living in a university bio lab. Director Gary Rydstrom has won seven Oscars for his sound-effects work and made his Pixar debut with the alien-abduction short "Lifted," which ran in front of "Ratatouille" in 2007. It should hit theaters in the summer of 2012.

"The Guardians" (November 2, 2012): Leonardo DiCaprio makes his animated feature-film debut in this fairy tale in which Jack Frost, Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and the Sandman join forces to fight evil.

"Popeye": This spinach-eating muscle man started as a cartoon-strip character in 1929 and has since seen many iterations, including a 1980 live-action movie starring Robin Williams. Sony recently announced its intention to revamp "Popeye" for a 3-D animated feature film, though no release date has been announced.

This Friday in New York

This Friday April 2nd Smalltown Romeo is playing Flashing Lights in NY - with our great friends Catchdubs, Jubilee and Dj Ayres. If you are on the east coast come party! RSVP HERE for free admission. Ok lets go!

"I GOT A FUDGING JUNKIE FOR A WIFE!"

Scarface school play. Kinda funny. So cute.

Japanese Animated Film in Russia’s Cartoon Characters

A Japanese animated film centering on one of Russia’s most famous cartoon characters, Cheburashka, has become one of the main highlights of the highly prestigious Tokyo International Anime Fair.

The Japanese feature-length animated cartoon revolves around the adventures of the quirky Russian creature with large funny ears, Cheburashka and his friend, Crocodile Gena.

Created back in 1966, Cheburashka was the brainchild of Russia’s Eduard Uspensky, author of many popular books for children and whose characters were often turned into cartoons.

The beloved Russian character, worshiped by several generations of Russian children, also enjoys popularity in Japan. In 2001, an old, Soviet cartoon about Cheburashka, made back in the 1970s, was screened in Japan. Since then, the jug-eared creature has become a sought-after character in the Land of the Rising Sun. Its smiley face is often featured on T-shirts, pens, mugs and other souvenirs sold in Japanese toy shops.

It is not the first time Japanese animation artists have turned Cheburashka into the lead character of a film. Last year they created an animated cartoon series which was screened on several local TV channels

Ben 10 Ultimate Alien Arrived with Ultimatrix

April 23, 2010 is the day that all the cartoon lovers are waiting for. This is because this is the day of the premiere of the Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Force. This will be the new sensation for all the American Animated TV fans.

There has been a new sequel from Ben 10, and its called “Ben 10: Ultimate Alien”, this sequel of Ben ten is going to be pretty exciting, after meeting up with newer monsters and aliens in this season, its going to be back on Cartoon Network, Find out what this Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Sequel is all about we get to see it Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Sequel Premieres tonight. The reason why people are starting to go crazy with this Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Sequel is because of the new action figures that will be released along with the premiere of the new season of Ben 10.

The story of Ben 10: Ultimate alien is a story about Ben Tennyson who is sixteen years old. He also has his friends namely Gwen 16-year old and Kevin 17-year old. In this series Ben is already known in the whole world as the new popular super hero. Children are a big fan of him while some adults are not giving warm welcome with this new hero. This is even exciting as Ben has a mysterious new Omnitrix and it is called as Ultimatrix. He also has his new car which is the “DX Mark 10”. If you are a big fan of him you must have been seen this is Ben 10: Alien Swarm. His friend Kevin also has “The Mecha Vehicle” that is an innovative jet.

Other characters include Max Tennyson and Julie Yamamoto. While the known alien that he and his friends will be fighting for are Terraspin, Water Hazard, Amphibian, Nanomech, Ultimate Swampfire, Ultimate Humongousaur, Ultimate Big chill, Ultimate Spidermonkey, Ultimate cannonbolt, Ultimate Echo Echo, Armodrillo, and NRG.

Great news for the cartoon lovers is that there will be a FushionFall that will allow a free play in the Internet for the next month. This is given by the Virtual World News. This will features the Adventure time with Finn and Jake, Generator Rex, Symbionic Titan, and Ben 10: Ultimate Alien. No wonder why this is call as FushionFall.

Lydia Remix

While on the subject of new releases - we also had a new remix come out last week on the awesome T&A label. It's for Steve Starks' tune Lydia and it's a bit of a disco banger. Now available at Turntable Lab (link below). Big thanks to Ayres & Tittsworth for putting it out.

Starks & Nacey

Time Run Out Digi-EP

Download M3U »

Powered by Turntable Lab Digital

BOOM HA

Our new song/video called Boom Ha just came out on Plant Music. PLEASE BUY IT HERE. Check out the amazing and wild video done by the super talented Matt Luckhurst.


Big ups and thanks to Shad K for being a really cool dude and rapping his ass off on the tune. So excited that this is finally out.


YEAHHHHHHHHH

Waking Sleeping Beauty Disney Animation

“Waking Sleeping Beauty” is a moderately engaging documentary about the renaissance of Disney animation during the golden decade (1984-94) that yielded.

Hard as it is to believe today, it was not so long ago that animation in general and Disney animation in particular were art forms given up for dead. Things got so bad that in 1984 the studio, which had been kick-started into success by "Snow White" almost half a century earlier, ungraciously booted its beleaguered artists off the lot and onto bleak rented premises.

But, as it happened, the glories of the world were not yet ready to depart the stage. As detailed in the fascinating new documentary "Waking Sleeping Beauty," an unlikely combination of personalities and circumstances came together in the next decade to create a run of animation successes “The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin" and "The Lion King" that exploded into unprecedented profitability.

This tale of artistic reincarnation is a classic show business story, not lacking in temper tantrums and clashing egos, and as told in "Waking Sleeping Beauty" it's got a terrific inside Hollywood sensibility plus an unblinking candor that lets the chips fall where they should. Which, given who made it, is something of a pleasant surprise.

Waking Sleeping Beauty is Directed and narrated by Don Hahn; written by Patrick Pacheco; edited by Ellen Keneshea, Vartan Nazarian and John Damien Ryan; music by Chris Bacon; produced by Peter Schneider and Mr. Hahn; released by Stone Circle Pictures and Red Shoes Productions.

Star Wars Cartoon New Series

The existence of a new Star Wars cartoon based on a line of super-deformed toys has leaked out of Skywalker Ranch.

A source at IESB has revealed a new Star Wars animated series that will be based on the Star Wars: Galactic Heroes line of toys. The Galactic Heroes toys are a collection of super-deformed miniature figures that include a wide variety of characters from Lando Calrissian to Yoda.

Lucasfilm is reportedly in very early development on a new animated Star Wars series aimed at preschoolers. A report on the web site IESB.net reports the series will be based on the kid-friendly Galactic Heroes line of toys, which features the series’ popular characters in cartoon-ish proportions. Reports also say that a director has been hired for the project, which is tentatively titled “Squishies.”

A director has just been hired to guide the new show, which reportedly has a working title of Squishies. This may seem like an incredibly odd name, but it makes a little more sense when you consider that a very young audience of preschoolers to kindergartners is being targeted for the show. Even for a kid's cartoon, this is a pretty young age group, so maybe Squishies could end up being some kind of educational program in the same vein as Yo Gabba Gabba or the like, but one that features lightsabers and Boba Fett. I, for one, think that would be pretty cool for kids.

The transition of Hasbro's Star Wars: Galactic Heroes toys into an animated series is reminiscent to what was done with Hasbro's Marvel Super Hero Squad line, which also became a television show and later spawned a videogame.

Lucasfilm Animation launched Star Wars: The Clone Wars as a regular television series for kids in 2008, a successful venture that warranted a release of two Clone Wars Wii games, so it makes sense to try to go for a repeat and aim it at a different audience. Those of us that want a more mature Star Wars experience will probably have to wait for the untitled television series that is currently in production and expected by 2012.

NetToons to Create Your Own Cartoons

NetToons is one of 65 companies chosen by VentureBeat to launch at the DEMO Spring 2010 event taking place this week. These companies do pay a fee to present, but our coverage of them remains objective.

NetToons is launching a real-time animation platform today that lets just about anyone create their own animation to share with friends on the web.

At the DEMO conference in Palm Desert, California, San Francisco-based NetToons is showcasing an animation platform that lets users create and share branded animations, dubbed ToonCasts. For instance, you can create an animation about your favorite cartoon character using a full set of brand-approved components, such as characters, props and backgrounds.

The platform lets you create animation defined by the participating brands, including existing cartoon characters. You can’t drag your own content into the animation, so it’s a safe space for brands because users can’t create anything that might tarnish their good names. In this sense, NetToons is different from animation sites such as Aniboom, where anyone can upload animations built with any tools.

With NetToons, the tools are simple enough so that no animation experience is necessary to use the tools. You register for an account, and then you select a backdrop, and populate it with animated characters. Then you can add props and other pieces, and figure out what you want to have happen in the animation. Add your own music, sounds, and dialogue. You can select actions that your characters can perform. The results will look like you created an animation from scratch.

One of the NetToons Company’s partners is Future US, a web and magazine publisher that specializes in niche industries, such as video games. NetToons is releasing its first two cartoon properties through an unannounced distributor. The first features pop icon Emily the Strange, a Goth character who has millions of fans already. The fans can create their own animations of Emily selecting from thousands of pieces of Emily art and animated actions. They can set the animation to rock and Goth soundtracks, and share them with other fans.

Another partner is ReVerb, a casual music game, allowing users to create and share animated music videos. Both titles will feature add-on content that users can buy. The creations can result in advertisement and marketing opportunities for the partners’ syndication sites where the Tooncasts are shared.

3D Revival of "Popeye the Sailor Man"

Filmmaking's recent 3D revival has brought us memorable, eye-popping images such as 'Clash of the Titans'' hideous Cracken, 'Alice in Wonderland's' Cheshire cat and the naked, blue majesty of 'Avatar's' Na'vi.

And now Popeye the sailor man with spinach.

A 3D, computer-generated version of the cartoon classic 'Popeye' will soon hit the big screen, according to Variety. Sony Pictures Animation will head up the production, with Avi Arad producing a script from up-and-coming screenwriter Mike Jones.

This will be the first big screen version of 'Popeye' since acclaimed director Robert Altman's 1980 live-action take on the tale, with Shelley Duvall as the prim Olive Oyl and Robin Williams as the spinach-enhanced sailor man.

While little is known about the new plot or who may voice the characters, Olive Oyl will make a return as Popeye's love interest, as will their adopted baby, Swee'Pea, and Popeye's nemesis, Bluto.

But 'Popeye' isn't the only animated classic getting an update. Last year, Sony announced plans to bring the '80s cartoon 'The Smurfs' to theaters as well. With the re-emergence of the 'Transformers' franchise and news of a third sequel to 'Ghostbusters,' now all we need is a 'Punky Brewster' reboot and children of the '80s lives will at last be complete.

Smalltown Romeo at WMC

This Thursday I'm playing in Miami at WMC with a bunch of our super talented and looney friends.  If you're in the area come through!  Gloria Estefan will be making a special appearance.  Without Miami Sound Machine unfortunately.  The party goes from 9pm to 3:30 am - See you Thursday night! 

Dirtgirlworld Animation for Preschoolers

Philadelphia Sprout will celebrate Earth Day by introducing dirtgirlworld, an Australian import that combines live action, animation, photomontage and illustration plus catchy songs in a series that introduces preschoolers to the joys of outdoor play and sustainable green living. Sprout has slated the exclusive U.S. premiere of DECODE Enterprises dirtgirlworld.

The series will launch on Earth Day with a special marathon, Sprout's Dig into Earth Day with dirtgirlworld which was created by writer/producer Cate McQuillen and composer/writer Hewey Eustace.

The music-centric show takes the audience to a world where the real and unreal collide. Dirtgirlworld shares an environmental message, explores the natural world and invites the audience to “go get grubby” with dirtgirl, a gumboot wearing girl who grows awesome tomatoes, knows clouds’ names and drives a big orange tractor.

Helping dirtgirl are her best friend, scrapboy, a cowpunk who is a whiz with junk; grubby, with her grub’s eye view; ken the weevil, a super stunt star with an inferiority complex; roger the rooster and the chicks; hayman the monosyllabic scarecrow; and the green thumbs — real kids shown in real gardens.

Tim Burton’s 3D version of The Addams Family

American filmmaker Tim Burton is reportedly planning to make an animated 3D version of popular fictional cartoon characters ‘The Addams Family’. The 52-year-old director has wowed audiences with his 3D version of Lewis Carroll’s classic ‘Alice In Wonderland’, which has pulled in £130.4 million during its two-week run at the box office, Contact music reported.

Now, he is planning to use the technique to resurrect the spooky Addams Family, who was last seen in theatres back in the 1993 film ‘Addams Family Values’. Illumination Entertainment has acquired the rights to the original cartoons by Charles Addams, and the company’s boss Chris Meledandri will act as producer.

It seems that James Cameron’s 3D sci-fi epic ‘Avatar’ has inspired a number of other filmmakers to adopt the popular technique with George Lucas planning to revive his ‘Star Wars’ films in 3D, while studio bosses at Warner Bros have confirmed the technology will be implemented for the final installments of the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise agencies.

Happy Birthday, Wax Romeo!

Tender twenty-seven! Hope it's a good one.

Now... GROW UP and quit taking naps in wheelbarrows!!

Cartoons Teaches Children Right From Wrong

Cartoons have been a great source of education and entertainment since my childhood days of watching Thundercats and Rainbow Brite but they’ve gotten a bad rep as frivolous and only for children. After watching hundreds of hours of animation, the biggest concept I’ve learned is the difference between good and evil. Not an easy thing to teach a six year old mind you, but cartoons have served as a way for the littlest members of the human race to understand and develop a moral compass that they’ll need to survive in this world.

While the good guys have gotten most of the good press over the years, I also have to thank the villains who have played their parts superbly. It’s not easy after all to come up with plan after plan only to be foiled by their nemesis at the last second. It takes a lot of courage, risk taking, and boldness to be undaunted by their failures and to continue their quests for power.

In today’s cartoon world, are villains still seeking the same thing? What is their agenda and is it still able to help children learn right from wrong? I attempt to answer this by looking at a few animated evil-doers from some of the most notable cartoon series from my childhood to more contemporary ones airing today.

:(

Big ol' RIP to Alex Chilton, dead at 59.

Repo Men Motion Comics Animation

Repo Men hits in theaters but intrigued fans can get a taste of the story telling they have in store now with a free motion comic. The comic, commissioned by director Miguel Sapochnik, gives a sneak look at Jude Law's character, Remy, courtesy of two comic book veterans. Jimmy Palmiotti wrote the script, and Dennis Calero provided the art for the two part project, but in a bit of a non-traditional working fashion.

Calero was pulled in a while after Palmiotti had written the script in a traditional comic style. After Sapochnik picked his art from a group of artists shown to him by Double Barrel Studios producer Jeff Krelitz, the director worked with the artist on how to tweak the script and panel descriptions to fit the unique medium, and decided to direct these shorts himself.
"The animation is limited, which can change the way we have to interpret the writing. You don't have the limitation of a static picture, but not the freedom of full animation."

As for motion comics' future, Calero didn't want to speculate too much, acknowledging that while free promotional videos like this get millions of views, the paid model has yet to pan out in a big way for the medium. He would, however, like to try out more animation, and is in the midst of making that dream come true.

As for Repo Men itself? Calero still hasn't gotten to see the whole thing, but saw portions of it during the editing process for reference.

Luck of the Irish

Them - Walking in the Queen's Garden
Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the Jar
The Pogues - Old Main Drag

Happy St. Pat's.

DreamWorks Animation Vikings and Dragons

DreamWorks latest animation movie is “How to Train Your Dragon”

The Vikings are all brawn and matted, bushy hair and there's an implication of not much brains while the dragons are a menagerie of fierce flying, fire-belching, multitasking creatures that fear and are feared in equal measure. From this, DreamWorks Animation tries to fashion a 3D movie that will intrigue kids and adults alike but might play raggedly in both camps.

Despite its jocular title, the film contains intense action scenes and violence, enough so that small children supplied a background of cries at one recent screening. Nonetheless, March 26 should find long lines in front of cinemas. How favorably youngsters respond to the dragons might determine what kind of legs the cartoon eventually will achieve.

The film is directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, who did the marvelous "Lilo & Stitch." In many ways, it's the same movie: A child adopts, and then tames a lethal creature. But the intimacy and pop culture references of the "Lilo & Stitch" story are jettisoned in favor of ancient warriors and mythical creatures that feel remote. It's hard to form a rooting interest in either Vikings or dragons.

More curious from an animation standpoint are the dull human characters. They are plastic creatures that look like ads for children's dolls. Most of the male Vikings come off as no-neck athletes on steroids. The youngsters look closer to cartoon humans, and at least they come in different sizes, with our protagonist and a valiant young Viking girl who catches his eye being downright skinny.

The centerpiece of the movie is a developing friendship between a Viking boy, Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel), and a dragon nicknamed Toothless. By befriending rather than killing a wounded dragon as tradition and genes should dictate Hiccup realizes that everything his elders know about dragons is wrong.

Dragons are trainable, peaceable and affectionate. But try telling that to tribal elders or your father (Gerard Butler) who just happens to be the chief or even that friendly dragon master (Craig Ferguson, thickening that Scottish brogue even more if such a thing were possible).

The film treats them with ambivalence as the animators can't decide between ferocity and cuddliness. Toothless has a kind of feline look, and the others look like they belong in a Chinatown parade. "Dragon" represents a solid effort from DreamWorks, but the audience perhaps feels the effort more than it should.

Day & Night

Walt Disney Pictures released the first photo, a promo title treatment, for Pixar’s next short film, Day & Night, directed by Teddy Newton. The photo, seen above, featured two characters, one filled with day, the other filled with night. At the time we speculated that the short might be a 2D animated film, and not the computer animated short film we’re use to from Pixar. And now people within Pixar are calling it “unlike anything Pixar has produced before.” What does that mean? Is it 2D or 3D? Details after the jump.

Now The Pixar Blog has uncovered a few new bits about the project:

• Up art director Don Shank writes on blog: “I am very excited that the public will finally get to see it because it’s unlike anything Pixar has produced before.” Shank, who served as production designer on the short film, calls his experience “one of the best times I’ve ever had working on anything”. Unlike anything has produced before? What does that mean? It certainly doesn’t mean 2D as Pixar’s short Your Friend the Rat, included on the Ratatouille DVD/Blu-ray release, and was filled with 2D hand-drawn animation. So what can that mean?
• Cartoon Brew’s Jerry Beck claims that the images “inside” the characters will be Computer animated, but the Day & Night characters are 2D, hand drawn.
• Sounds like an interesting theory and certainly fits with Shank’s claim that it’s “unlike anything Pixar has produced before.” And since it will be attached to prints of Toy Story 3 in 3D, one would assume that the characters will acts as animated windows into a 3D world which might look kinda cool. We’re set to see the short film on Wednesday at ShoWest, so we’ll know soon enough.

So what is it about? Here is the official plot synopsis:
When Day, a sunny fellow, encounters Night, a stranger of distinctly darker moods, sparks fly! Day and Night are frightened and suspicious of each other at first, and quickly get off on the wrong foot. But as they discover each other’s unique qualities and come to realize that each of them offers a different window onto the same world the friendship helps both to gain a new perspective.

Newton is a Cal Arts guy, very respected, considered one of the most influential visual development artists in the field of animation. Composer Michael Giacchino is providing a score for the short. The Academy Award-winning composer has been working with Pixar for some time, providing the score for The Incredibles, Ratatoille, Up, and short films Lifted and Partly Cloudy, so it makes sense that he might also be working on the company’s next animated short as well. In the late 1990’s, Teddy formed a partnership with Giacchino to make animated films, but they apparently couldn’t come up with the capital to make it happen.

China's cartoon and animation

China's cartoon and animation exports totaled $30.57 million in 2009, a surge of 150 percent from the previous year, Xinhuanet.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said exports of movie and video programs soared 44.2 percent to $58.98 billion in 2009 over the previous year.

For the first time in history, exports in cartoons and animations surpassed TV series to hold the biggest share, 51.8 percent of the total, the report said. Exports in TV series were worth $20.05 million, accounting for 34 percent of the total.

Exports in documentaries and variety shows reached $8.37 million, accounting for 14.2 percent of the total, according to the report.

China exported 10,617.2 hours of movie and video programs in 2009, with 79 animation programs of 1,490 hours, accounting for 14 percent of the total.

Tonight it's big

See you at Flames Central!

Also check out some beatz:

Download the new Snoop Dogg & Kid Cudi "That Tree" produced by DIPLO.

Also - here's another banger - DIPLO'S remix of the Partysquad track "Murderer"

The last link is a really sick dubstep mix by MAT THE ALIEN from Oct.

Rapunzel Renamed Cartoon Movie

Everyone knows the story of "Rapunzel," about a girl with mile-long hair kept in a tower. A handsome comes to her aid and saves the day and they live happily ever after.

So Walt Disney Studios have renamed their animated version of the storybook classic "Tangled" in order to lure more young boys into movie theaters.

Why? Disney's latest animated feature, "The Princess and the Frog" fell well below studio expectations, so they're making sure that this version of the classic tale is "girl-centric" to put off boy filmgoers.

"We did not want to be put in a box," Ed Catmull, president of Pixar and Disney Animation Studios says. "Some people might assume it's a fairy tale for girls when it's not. We make movies to be appreciated and loved by everybody."

The feature-length animated film in 3-D is set to be released to theaters November 24. To insure that boys will be interested in the cartoon, a swashbuckling, macho hero has been added to the storyline

"In our film, the infamous bandit Flynn Rider meets his match in the girl with the 70 feet of magical golden hair," the film's producer Roy Conli, has said online. "We're having a lot of fun pairing Flynn, who's seen it all, with Rapunzel, who's been locked away in a tower for 18 years."

Disney interested in emulating the success of its corporate sibling, Pixar. Pixar's movies have been huge hits with girls, boys and adults. It’s most recent release, "Up," grossed more than $700 million worldwide, and was nominated for Best Picture.

Dora Cartoon Rocks

Dora the Explorer, Nickelodeon's cartoon preschool heroine, is turning 10 and has a host of marketing partners to help her celebrate. Dora continues to resonate, educate and entertain millions of preschoolers around the world. Dora demo is very important to the bureau and its "Children Count Too" initiative this year.

In the coming months, Dora will appear in everything from public service advertisements for the U.S. Census to a backpack program with Salma Hayek to a seat-belt safety initiative with State Farm to Australian passports each serving a different multicultural marketing purpose, and all before her diamond anniversary this August. Hard to believe a character now seen in 151 countries and 30 different languages might have once been thought of as a marketing challenge just over a decade ago.

As Nickelodeon legend goes, the Viacom kids' network's head of animation, Brown Johnson, was attending a conference about Latinos' portrayal on TV or lack thereof, at the time when a light bulb went off in her head. Creators Chris Gifford and Valerie Walsh Valdes shifted the focus of their original series about a problem solving "Blues Clues" esque bunny rabbit to a 7-year-old Latina girl explorer who could teach preschoolers how to speak Spanish. The show debuted in 2000 as the No. 1 most watched show among preschoolers in all of TV, and has held that status for six of the last 10 years.

Now that Nickelodeon is sharing the Dora brand with a series of new partners, Pam Kaufman, the network's chief marketing officer, described the risks as a lot less challenging this time around.

"Dora the Explorer is a well-recognized character who's bilingual and certainly reaches the young viewers and will help us get the message to the parents and child-care providers of those younger viewers"

The National Parents and Teachers Association and the Children's Defense Fund are also relying on Dora to help prepare the under-5 circuit for preschool with an upcoming "Beyond the Backpack"

"We know through our research that Dora speaks to teaching a second language, problem solving, interpersonal skills and familiarizing kids with computer technology."

KATZ Fun Taiwan's 3D animated cartoon

Taiwan's 3D animated cartoon "KATZ Fun" has made its debut on TV channels in the U.S. and will be broadcast there for three months in its first season, according to a manager of Bright Ideas Design (BID).

"Season one of this cartoon series, comprising 13 episodes; will be broadcast on TV channels in 17 states in the U.S.,” said Erica Lee, Manager of International Marketing with BID.

The company, including 70 members of its research and development department, has spent four years and NT$ 60 million to develop the cartoon.

"KATZ Fun" depicts a story of a mystical tiger named Katz who helps children develop their potential talents, the Central News Agency.

The characters are lovable and the story teaches positive values, adding that believes these factors were the key to attracting buyers from other countries.

In addition to the U.S., the company is in the process of reaching a final deal with buyers from Southeast Asia. Some representatives of TV channels from South Africa and Europe have also expressed their interest in the animation.

It also revealed that in Zhejiang province, China, the company has started to promote this cartoon as well.

Bright Ideas Design is a digital content development company in Taiwan. It stepped into the field of animated cartoons after cooperating with the National Palace Museum to combine art and humanities with digital technology to show the beauty of art.

In addition to making animations, the company is building a KATZ Fun amusement park in Zhejiang, China this year, which will include a theme park and movie theater.