Asian Girl

Tropical Dog

Skinny Man

Hipsters

Sadam the Stoner

W/Abreva

Happy Man

TV dog

Puss in Boots

One of the films I was not looking forward to this season was "Puss in Boots." I liked the first Shrek, but after awhile the franchise and characters lost their attraction for me. Then Jeffrey K decides to spin off what I think is one of the weakest characters into its own franchise!

Now I know America (and perhaps the world) is obsessed with felines, but this character is so ugly. It's like they motion captured a human then stuck on and ugly cat head and thought if they camouflaged the character with over-sized boots and a large floppy hat, then no one would know how poorly designed he is.

Also, the story is very weak. Lots of exciting chases that lead nowhere. I was not emotionally involved in the characters Jack & Jill, the female cat or Humpty Dumpty. I give it a C+.

Anyway, Happy Holidays and don't forget to check out our holiday card here!

Tom Penkins

Luncheon

One of the cool things about award season at the Academy is the opportunity to sit down and chat with a lot of the famous people who hope to get nominated. I just left one such gathering - it was a luncheon at the classy La Guenouille for both "Young Adult" starring Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt, and "Rango" with director Gore Verbitsky.

Patton Oswalt, me and Peter Riegert

I'd just seen a wonderful animated short using Patton Oswalt's standup rant, called "Christmas Shoes." So, naturally, after a few drinks I yellow out "Christmas Shoes!" Patton asked me my name, and when I told him he replied by singing "Your Face"! I joined in to form a nice harmony, and then he asked me all of these questions about the film. We bonded. He's such a comic genius I was so flattered that he knew all my shorts. To top it off, I sat at Gore Verbitsky's table, and HE knew my work too! Maybe I'm not so underground after all...

Gore Verbitsky and I

Unfortunately I wasn't able to chat with Charlize Theron - she was mobbed, but she sure looked great!

Men's Faces

Jerry Seinfield

Robot Sketches

War Horse

The Oscar blitz continues – I went to a screening world premiere of Steven Spielberg's “The War Horse” at the prestigious Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center.

It was the full Hollywood red carpet treatment – hundreds of paparazzi, the cast, and of course Mr. E.T. Himself. I said a few short statements and introduced the young cast. He stated that the sold out theatrical show was playing right next door in Lincoln Center, but he couldn't convince the horse “Joey” to appear at the premiere.

Then the film began – it was very beautifully shot, reminiscent of “Gone With the Wind” visually – black silhouettes against a red sunset sky. The acting was terrific, especially Joey the horse, but for some reason I wasn't entirely invested in the story. Perhaps it was made for kids, like “Black Beauty”, and a number of people I talked to thought it was a little melodramatic.

But I enjoyed the film and I give it a B-.

Happy #4

Gigante #3

Gigante #3

Ball Boy #2

Happy Feet 2

I realize that Happy Feet 2 can out a few months ago, and I'm a little behind schedule – But I was finally able to see the animated sequel by George Miller.

I saw the original film and thought it was full of charm and entertainment, even though it's not my kind of story. And it of course did great box office.

The sequel, however, is a mess. I was never sure what was going on – (spoilers to follow) there were all these strange references to moss taking over the terrain, then an evil read tsunami was approaching, and we follow two krill on some kind of lost adventure. Then we see the polar bears struggling, humongous icebergs floating about, and then humans on a trawler cruising about. And all these ideas never came to anything, except for one large iceberg that inexplicably traps thousands of penguins in an icy death valley and the only way to save them is by dancing that somehow builds a snowy staircase for their escape.

It's bizarre how Warner Brothers, once the great animation studio of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, can't seem to release an animated success.

I unfortunately give Happy Feet 2 a D.

Pointillist Miguel Endara..

“Hero” by artist Miguel Endara is a pointillist portrait of his father. Endara estimates he used 3.2 million dots to create the portrait (see the making-of video).

Giant 100,000 Dollar Bill in Chelsea..

Very appropriate work of art for our political climate. “The First $100,000 I Ever Made” by artist John Baldessari is a giant replica of a $100,000 bill installed on a billboard next to the High Line park in Manhattan. The installation is the first in the three part High Line Billboard art series. “The First $100,000 I Ever Made” is on display until December 30. The $100,000 bill does in fact exist.

Angela Cunningham Paintings/Drawings..

Good stuff From Angela Cunningham, Colleague of my studio-mate and epic painter Tony Curanaj from the Grand Central Academy.

Tin Can #1

MoCCA Master Class

I was one of the early champions of MoCCA (The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art). I believed that New York needed a focal point for all the cartoonists and animators that lived in this culturally rich city. Of course, I go to a lot of their wonderful events and openings, and always have a great time.

Well, now it's my turn to hold an event at MoCCA! On December 13^th from 7-9pm I'll be holding an exclusive master class on my career and new work. I'll be showing 3 new films – “Waiting for her Sailor”, “Summer Bummer” and a sneak peek at my brand new TV pilot work in progress, “Tiffany the Whale”. Also, I'll be talking about my career as an independent animator and creating drawings to illustrate my career. To top it off, everyone who comes gets a free Bill Plympton Christmas card and sketch! So bring your friends (it makes a great Christmas gift) and I'll see you there at MoCCA! I think there are still a few seats left.

For information, check out the site here: http://moccany.org/content/education

Art in our Real World.. MESA..

In his own words.. very broken English, but clear (Just a note.. I know nothing of the politics behind any of this.. I'm only admiring the art and context, and the artists contribution to beauty):

Artifariti 2011, students meeting
Great lived experience in the refugee camps in Tinduf. Thank you very much to the organization and all Saharawi´s families who welcomed us because I can,t never forget.
Is incredible the history of the Saharawi people who live since more than 36 years in exile. Fighting a peaceful way with projects as Artifariti. The Sahara, under hard conditions of life, living in the so called “desert of the deserts” a land that has no end, where time doesn’t exist. This mystic culture, full of magic is in a political conflict whose solution isn´t appropriate for many countries, including mine.
The old Saharawi’s villages that are found in the Moroccan occupied Western Sahara, have been and continue today being victims of crimes against humanity. Are separated from the liberated Sahara by “the wall of shame” a military wall, defended with large military forces on the front line, and protected with millions of land mines by the liberated part.
Say that art crosses borders, after seeing the reality I am proud to contribute mi little grain of sand, transmitting a message of peace and freedom

Free Sahara!

for more info, access MESA's photostram on Flickr here. Amazing stuff, really happy to have stumbled upon this.

50's couple

Frat Folks

Jan Svankmajer

I've been a fan of Mr. Svankmajer's surreal animation ever since I first saw a selection of his films in Annecy about 25 years ago. I particularly liked “Dimensions in Dialogue”, where all these everyday objects come in confrontation with each other and battle for domination.

Well, I was I invited to the prestigious Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, NY for the US premiere of “Surviving Life”, his newest feature. I don't know if he's getting tired in his old age or if he's running out of money, but the usual beautiful surreal images were replaced by cheap Photoshop paper cut-outs on black and white city photos that gave it a Terry Gilliam Monty Python look, but without the humor.

The story was actually pretty interesting, about a guy who falls in love with a beauty he discovers in his dreams, and his wife goes into his dream to get back at the temptress. Unfortunately, it was slowed down by weird excursions to his psychiatrist session – very boring!

The film was completed in 2010 and never released in the US (it was financed by a Japanese corportation) But if you want to see some animation that's pretty unique, or if you're a diehard Svankmajer fan, check out “Surviving Life”.

I give it a C+.

HipHop Couple

Happy Holidays from Plymptoons!

For 40 years I've been creating Christmas book stories as my Christmas card, but this year I've decided to make it animated! The whole Plymptoons Studio (all my artists) created a compilation of an animation. We chose "Deck the Halls" as our musical sing-a-long. They divided it into sections and each of us animated our separate scenes, so it's a nice festive variety of styles and techniques. Check it out!

The individual artists are Desiree Stavracos, Lindsay Woods, Sophie Kaars Sijpesteijn and Jonathan Rosen, with John Holderried doing the writing and singing direction.

So Happy Holiday to all of you from The Plymptoons Studios - hope our card gets you all in the holiday spirit!

Hippies

Pencils of Claudiu Cândea..

Wonderfully drawn and beautifully grotesque drawings from Claudiu Cândea..

 

Profile Man

Flying House Prize

While I was at the CTN event, I heard through Facebook that my Winsor McCay project “The Flying House” won the animation prize at the Williamsburg Film Festival. Wow – just think about it! Winsor McCay won a film festival prize! What a concept. 80 years after his death, one of his animations wins a festival award.

The earliest major film festival was held in Venice in 1932, only two years before his death, so he did not have much opportunity to have his work shown.

My hopes are that Winsor McCay is somewhere up in his surreal cosmos smiling down on me, happy from the fact that 90 years after creating “The Flying House”, his last film, the cartoon is finally getting the attention and respect it deserves.

Wow, a 90 year posthumous animation prize – let's hope that this will be just the beginning of more accolades for Winsor McCay and his wonderful “Flying House”. Also, be sure to watch for a DVD of the Flying House which includes both versions of the great film, plus expert opinions by the likes of Jerry Beck and Leonard Maltin, plus a few cool surprises – so check it out this spring!

Manhattan 9 pm

Funny Cars

Hugo

If you love the history of film, then rush out to see Martin Scorsese's "Hugo." It's a wonderful, imaginative, visual feast. I especially loved the Ben Kingsly (Georges Melies) part.

It's such a wonderful story of a dreamer and an innovator who created the whole world of fantasy film, and how he lost it all during World War I. In fact, his library of films was melted down to make lady's shoes!

The other part of the story is about a young orphan boy hiding out in a Parisian train station clock tower.

That part is not so interesting and unfortunately takes up a majority of the film. He romances and adventures with a young girl and visits a book shop... it just takes up time. I did, however, LOVE the Sacha Baron Cohen character.

In fact, he could have been enlarged because they added an important dose of humor and whimsey.

I give the film a B.