2 good weeks- And Films Ahead

Hey Guys!

Line shot of the week-

this is from the montage sequence{No real compositing work yet}.....Dober and Flea cross paths as they draw out their latest territories

....I cant wait to get back on the film ....me and shel got to talk about it some more this weekend...and I cant wait!!!

The family just came up for 5 days and Shamus went to check out some Portland colleges.

He is now 18 and that is 2 boys who are officially adults. Yowzers.....Hes looking to go to school up here....and I thinks hes found the one too....completely surrounded by forest- How cool is that.....there were Deer on the campus

.... Sweet!!

Shamus also got the LAIKA tour as did my Daughter Aedon for the second time....{very cool}.....and we had fun exploring in the rain of Portland....

Classic ARCADE room Downtown-

Powell's Bookstore-3 hours of fun

Sushi and Omsi museum.

Speaking of rain.....Its starting to change to more of what I expected of Portland and LAIKA

.....its been raining pretty much straight for a week....and its a more realistic view of what working and possibly living out here will be like....makes you think??

I feel like rainy days outside actually make it very easy to focus during the days in stopmotion.

Its an interesting thing....back in LA....I always have to force myself to stop motion animate during the day time. It feels unnatural in my body. Unfocused....and torn by the life in the world and sun in the sky.

At Night though....the house is quiet - the city is sleeping - I feel so in the zone and able to dial in.

So as far as working in stopmotion....Portland is perfect ..

Times a Flying...and I am still animating the weekends away in cg trying to get that new reel together....its so nice to sit down and animate on the computer now that I have the experience of a full time standing job....I forgot how nice Undo -easily adjustable poses and timing- and how just plain Comfortable it is ...ha!

rest those Dogs-ahhhhhh

Laika News-So In the last couple of weeks I have done 4 new shots.....and had some very interesting challenges.....as only stopmotion provides.

I animated some feet and earth reacting and cracking - cool

I got to animate a Big scary pair of hands.....attacking a character-

and a bunch of Physics based action shots tossing characters all over the place....

I am now at 34 approved shots deep....and stacking up the shots for my new reel...

I just now ended the week with a finished rehearsal and NEW Contender for my personal

BEST shot EVER award....It will be a very hard shoot{rigs galore}{and Ill be animating it sideways??}.....but if I can pull it off....it could be a big ole dose MAGIC.

talking Paranorman-

Every Friday we have weeklies at work. We get to watch all of the weeks finished and approved shots - sequences in the theater while sharing some drinks and conversation....they have a dollar lottery...and somebody always wins a free massage.

-Lately I have been making sure to get there because its such a Adrenalin shot right in the Vein...

looking into the future....We were talking about the other animated films we will be competing with when Paranormon releases...

and comparing strengths weaknesses-in our Forcast of How Paranormon is going to do financially..........and....... how this Incredible film will be received by the World Audience....???

There is Puss In boots -

October 2012- from Dreamworks-{This will probably be our nearest- biggest direct competetion} it has a BIG name and following -it releases in October - although I have to say....I wont be rushing out to see it....I really dislike the character designs that make up that universe....But I am sure It will make a bunch Of money....on the strength of the license.

Frankenweenie-

October 2012-from Disney-which I will be Sprinting out to see

....but not sure how mainstream audiences will respond? I have a feeling that kids will like the name and concept- but the black and white could hurt its chances on a HUGE $$ pull. It does have Disney Marketing though...so it has a great start there.

Brave-

June 2012-from PIXAR-I will be running out to see and I am feel confident that it will be fantastic-{Love the images I have seen and the subject matter is very appealing and cool}This one is a Guaranteed HIT- Gajillions will roll in and audiences will I am sure love it-

Ice Age Continental Drift-

July 2012-from Blue Sky - I am a fan of this series but am tired of it and I am sure I will wait till DVD....

PARANORMON-The Poster Will be out soon

Aug 2012- We think LAIKA's second film has a HUGE chance at success -

First off - Its FUNNY-and the story is solid -good start....

.......... the characters designs and technique are completely unique in feature animation - And that will make it Stand out Quite a bit In itself.....it ooozes quality and people should recognize that.

Because so much of the animated films out there FEEL the same visually ...this should be a Fresh taste.

its got a lot of COOL things in it- Animated Zombies = Coooooool!!!

and it manages to capture that Goonies-Monstersquad feel that I am so fond of from my childhood.

Kids on an adventure.

Did I mention its Funny. I have the Highest hopes that this film could be BIG and successfull at the Box office. I think the first trailers and teasers are coming in November....so Ill post them here when it releases....

jriggity