Nine Old Men

Some very in depth advice here on animation, from two men who were masters of Disney animation.

Shadow dance

The next sequence I'm planning is a shadow-based animation, something like Lotte Reiniger's. With creatures, trapezes and silhouetted squeezes.

Inspiration

The Brothers Quay are such fabulous animators. Their attention to detail and touches of humour are just beautiful. If ever so slightly odd.

More cool animation

With paper, too!

*Sigh* I wish I had nine months to spare. And a glamorous assistant.

Soft Wares and Onion Skins

Isn't Open Source the most amazing idea?

Here's some free storyboard software. I expect I shall be more likely to scribble messy notes on the back of envelopes and sellotape them to the wall, but for those who are more plugged in, it may be useful.

Meanwhile, I am searching for software that will onion skin for me. This means that if your camera is hooked up to a computer, a ghostly afterimage of the last shot remains on the screen - so that positioning the next shot is much easier. It makes for smoother animations. I haven't used it much for my own animations, being of the bootstrap and homemade type of animator, but I think it may be worth finding one for this film.

Beautiful paper

*Sobbing with Jealousy*

Films and animations

Have you seen this? A lovely way to spend half an hour.

Sharmanka

If you're ever in Glasgow, it's worth venturing into the Trongate to find the wonderful Sharmanka.

Memories from long ago

Every time I visited London as a child, we would go to see the fabulous Cabaret Mechanical Theatre.

Animation inspiration

Watch and learn, voyagers.

Film by Ladislas Starevich. Via the fabulous Ubuweb.