"Angry Birds" + a trip to Montauk

First of all, I'm not an "Angry Birds" fan.  I've never seen them on my computer - since I don't watch stuff on my computer.  Yet I have a 3-year old son, and I"m trying to introduce him to the cinema/popcorn/coke habit - so we went to see "Angry Birds".

I liked the idea that an angry creature is the star of a film - any angry creature in a film, even a  human, would be refreshing.  I thought that it was a novel way to tell a story - I also like the evil pigs and their evil machinations.  They kind of reminded me of the evil penguin in Nick Park's "The Wrong Trousers".

However, to me the plot included too many characters - I got confused and the character design was a little too flat and crude.  And to the audience, there really was only one big joke - and honestly, now I can't remember what it was.  (I know, I should have written this immediately after the screening - but hey, I'm not a reviewer by profession, I'm a friggin' animator...)

So for me, it was a mildly entertaining film, but my son Lucas didn't like it at all.  Hmm, he's a tough critic.  So I give "Angry Birds" a C+

Also, I want to remind everyone that we're having the world premiere of my mockumentary "Hitler's Folly" at the SVA theater on 23rd St. in Manhattan, on Wednesday, June 1 at 7 pm.  All are invited and the admission is free - you just have to send an RSVP by e-mail to:  follyrsvp@gmail.com

So, if you want to see what Adolf Hitler would have been like as a cartoonist, check it out.  And if you don't live in the NY or NJ area, tell your friends about it, and you can watch it for free on my Plymptoons web-site, starting June 3.

Finally, last week I got together with my Scribble Junkies partner, Pat Smith, at his sprawling Montauk mansion.  It was a wonderful reunion, we talked animation and relaxed in the lap of luxury.  Here are some photos:

--Bill Plympton

"Hitler's Folly" premiere, June 1

I want to announce to everyone that we're having the World Premiere of "Hitler's Folly", my brand-new mockumentary on June 1, 7 pm at the SVA Theatre, 333 W. 23rd St. in New York City, and it's FREE!

I got the idea for this mockumentary when I read an article about Adolf Hitler that said he was obsessed with Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" - and the idea that the most evil man in history was laughing at Doc, Happy, Dopey et al. seemed like the most surreal concept to me - I had to make a film about it!

Two years later, the result is a movie called "Hitler's Folly" - a re-imagining of history, since we all know that the infamous German dictator was a failed artist, this film positions him instead as a wanna-be cartoonist.

The film is a combination of old WWII footage, new footage of actors portraying historical characters (Hitler is played by Nate Steinwachs), and cartoons and animation supposedly created by Mr. Hitler himself.

I'm not the first person to use Adolf Hitler as a comic character, filmmakers like Walt Disney ("Der Fuhrer's Face"), Tex Avery ("Blitzwolf"), Charlie Chaplin ("The Great Dictator") and of course, Mel Brooks ("The Producers") did it way before me.  So, I hope people who see the film have a sense of humor - if not, they probably shouldn't come and see it.

Since the film has a lot of photos, film clips and music from the internet, I was afraid of lawsuits if I release the film, as I just plain don't have the money to pay for a copyright lawyer and all of the fees to use the images and music - so what I decided to do is release "Hitler's Folly" for free on the internet, and if some kind viewers like my humor and want me to continue making films like this, they can send a donation to my studio.  That way, hopefully I can make more crazy wacky films like this in the future.

So, be sure to tell all your friends about my new feature, and if you want to get tickets, send an e-mail to:  follyrsvp@gmail.com   and if you can't make it to New York, then check it out online at www.plymptoons.com  a few days after that.

Thanks for your support!

--Bill Plympton

The world premiere of "Hitler's Folly" will take place at SVA Theatre on Wednesday, June 1 at 7:00 pm. After the screening, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Bill Plympton will be handing out drawings to all attendees.

This screening is FREE and open to the public and all of Bill’s fans. RSVP is required for admittance via: follyrsvp@gmail.com. Seating is strictly on a first-come, first-served basis.

A merciless satire from Academy Award nominee Bill Plympton, HITLER'S FOLLY explores what might have happened if Adolf Hitler's art career had been more successful and instead of becoming an evil dictator, he was inspired to become an animator like Walt Disney.

Using World War II footage, Hitler's early artwork and Plympton's signature animation, this dark mockumentary re-imagines history and explores Hitler’s unfulfilled animation career in the spirit of "The Producers" by Mel Brooks.  The film stars Dana Ashbrook of "Twin Peaks", Mike Sullivan of Robert Downey's "Greaser’s Palace" and Nate Steinwachs as Hitler.

HITLER'S FOLLY IS DIRECTED, DESIGNED, ANIMATED, AND WRITTEN BY BILL PLYMPTON.

See more at: http://svatheatre.com/events/hitlers-folly-new-york-premiere/

Roofdeck Birthday Party

It's been a crazy two weeks, with editing work on "Revengeance" and a trip to Spain, but somewhere in there, I had a birthday! And a LOT of my staff and interns had birthdays in late April, too! So the Friday before I left for Spain, we went up on my roof deck and had some beer and wine, a couple of birthday cakes, and some hot dogs and "not dogs".

Thanks to everyone who stuck around on Friday night, and also thanks to everyone who sent me birthday greetings via Facebook and Twitter! -- Bill Plympton

Cortoons Festival

A bunch of years ago - too many for me to remember - I was invited to a film festival in Italy run by Alessandro d'Urso.  I don't remember much, except that I had a great time.

Well, just a few months ago, Alessandro contacted me again and that the Italian economy was shitty and the government was corrupt, and that he was very happy to be moving his Cortoons Festival to Spain.  Gandia, to be exact, and he wanted to know if I would like to come.  Well, I'm a big freak for Spain, and Gandia is a famous resort town on the Southern coast, near Valencia - I said, "Get me a ticket, I'm coming!"

I was met at the Valencia airport by Alessandro and two chicas (my guides) on a rainy afternoon last week, just before the festival's outdoor opening ceremonies, which obviously then needed to be moved to inside City Hall.  It wasn't a great start for what was supposed to be a sun-drenched festival.

Alessandro's programming is unique, he only shows animation and it's not a competitive festival, it's only films that he loves.  So I saw a great Betty Boop show, and a Tex Avery and Bob Clampett show.  Plus the best cartoon shorts from around the world.

The other amazing thing is that the whole damn festival is free to the public.  What?  Free to the public?  How does he do that?  Is he some kind of rich film mogul?  No, he says that he makes money doing photography work, and relies on a lot of volunteers.  He's got a magnetic enthusiasm that just seems to draw people to his festival.

There was a night of Bill Plympton, with a shorts program and my feature film "Cheatin'" - then a Master Class on Saturday that was packed, even the mayor was there. That took place on my birthday, so I was really happy that so many people came out to the event.

A little bit of weird trivia, they put me up in the Hotel Borgia, right near the Borgia Castle, and I came to find out that the evil Borgia family started out in Spain before moving to Italy.

                                  I met Angel and his wife, who had recently commissioned
                                     some caricatures from me.  Glad they could make it!

By the way, after two days of cold and rain, the weather cleared up, and I was able to go swimming in the Mediterranean and eat seafood paella by the shore.

 

I give the Cortoons Festival a B+

--Bill Plympton