Embroidered animation

Have you seen this?! Aubrey Longley-Cook has made what is probably the first animation done with embroidery. Having done some embroidery myself, I have an idea how much work must have been involved in this. Amazing. I really like the reverse side, as it reminds me of Bill Plympton's work.

Embroidery animation by Aubrey Longley-Cook

Thanks to the guys at the Alt Animation podcast for bringing this to my attention!

---

Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Mary and Max

There aren't nearly enough stop-motion animated features out there. And, although Talk Like A Pirate Day is less than a week away, Aardman's The Pirates! Band of Misfits won't be out for another six months. But I'm temporarily satiated after stumbling upon Adam Elliot's Mary & Max, which I seemed to have missed two years ago. Although the themes are similar to those in the director's previous works ("Uncle", "Brother", & "Cousin"), this film is neither creepy nor depressing. It's a little bit quirky, and absolutely charming. Check out the trailer:

Instead of spoilers, I'd like to share one of my favorite little details from the film: The Noblets. It's an animated cartoon that both Mary and Max watch on television. I'm always fascinated to see animation depicted within animation. How do animators pull that off? When it's done right, an audience can distinguish between "real life", "live-action film", animation, and even fantasy sequences -- all within an animated world. It's amazing to see so many distinct styles gel together in a single piece. Mary & Max may only employ the two styles, but I think they pair very nicely.

---

Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Full of Awesome

"There was a time when you were five years old, and you woke up full of awesome," blogs Melissa Wardy on Pigtail Pals.

You don't have to be a girl to appreciate the sentiment. No matter how hopeful, carefree, and energetic we may have been once upon a time, somewhere along the path to 'adulthood', most of us have lost touch with our inner awesome. But you can get it back. I did.

During a particularly rough week making my student film, I found myself drowning in doubts and fears. What was I thinking? What on earth had I gotten myself into? How was I ever going to get through it alive? And then I had an epiphany; It occurred to me:

"I'm in animation school... Fuck yeah!"

Thank you, Amelia, for reminded me of that feeling.  It's one I'd like to remember more often. So I hereby declare: I'm full of awesome!

Are you full of awesome, too?

---

Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.