The Lost Thing based on a book by Shaun Tan

This post originally went up in September 2010 and was re-posted in January 2011. In January the news was that "The Lost Thing" has been nominated for an Academy Award.

Well it won.

The achievement deserves a re-posting of this article among the other things like a gold statuette.

Artworks is a good place to point one's ears. Today they talked about Shaun Tan. He is an illustrator and story teller.

Shaun Tan, like Tim Minchin (who voices the film) and author Tim Winton, are from Perth, Western Australia. So am I. So my ears get particularly crinkled when the limestone dust and salt is stirred in my soul. Shaun now lives in Melbourne.

The Artworks program reminded me of an email that I had from Michelle earlier in the year with reports of Australian animation success at the 2010 Annecy Festival. Animators will note that Michelle talks about Passion Pictures in the UK on her blog. They develop the Gorrilaz music video clips. They also co-produced "The Lost Thing" with Screen Australia.

There is an interesting post and link to a video interview on the Ozanimate site about Shaun and the success at Annecy.

Which brings us back to Shaun Tan and the film "The Lost Thing" animated by Leo Baker

• June 2010: Cristal Award for Best Short Film at the 34th Annecy International Animation Festival - the world's largest animation festival, in Annecy, France.
• June 2010: Best short animated film at the 57th Sydney International Film Festival
• August 2010: 'Best Short' (not best animated film!) award at the Melbourne International Film Festival
• February 2011: Academy Award, Best Animated Short

I'll hand it over to you to research some more. Second years may find it interesting how Shaun presents himself online with the design of his web site. How many EAPS did you count in that animation trailer?

Pixar Animation Studios - NY Times video

From Michelle B's 3 Strange Angel's blog. Thanks Michelle!

Pixar - Animated Logo - Animato

Second year animators are working on the "Animato" project in their Create 3D Digital Animation subject.

The "Animato" project is where the animators form the word 'Animation' from letters modelled by 7 different studio teams for the Create 3D Digital Environments subject.

It will be a 5 to 15 second animated clip that can be used as a base design for an animated logo to attach to their animated work.

Some animators are struggling to find their animated logo. The minimum requirement is a bouncing ball and being able to clearly see the word "Animation".

The Pixar Studios animated logo lasts 13 seconds, has a bouncing character, displaying the animation principles, interacting with the letters in the environment. It should serve well as inspiration.

Glen Keane insights into character design

Lady and the Tramp pencil test - Frank Thomas

The pencil test is attributed to Frank Thomas. He did animate this sequence in the film. First years in particular should note that name.

Today we had a collaborative class where 1st and 2nd year animators worked together on the concept of ideas. We also looked at animation examples from the Lady and the Tramp (1955).

The first years looking at the film from a historical perspective, in particular taking notes on how the ideas for the story may have developed.

The second years, who will be developing storyboards, looked at how the story was pitched in the 1950's using storyboard panels pinned up on a wall. Taking note of the loose but communicative drawing style of the boards.



Wheren (a new word) animation students get their ideas:

• In the shower
• At the edge of sleep
• Sugar rush
• Mushroom risotto
• After eating
• Swimming
• Walking
• Camping
• When ill with a fever (apparently if you catch swine flu you may think you are a planet)
• On public transport
• Music: listening or playing
• Dreams (if you remember)
• Being out in nature alone
• Inspiration from other artists
• Staring at something
• Eavesdropping/ hearing something said
• Brainstorming in a group

Superman Classic - Robb Pratt

Watch Robb's "how to" clip at the end of the film. The second years will learn some storyboarding techniques taught to me by Robb. Robb is a Disney traditional 2D animator who moved into a career as a storyboard artist. It is a pathway that can be considered by animators who love drawing, or love film making and storytelling (via storyboards).

Brisbane Animator Wins 11sC - Damian Pin

Heads up (student) animators. The winner of the December 11 Second Club animation competition is Damian Pin from Brisbane.

Local Characters - Ben Redlich

Second years are developing their concepts for their major projects. Part of that is character design. Check out Ben Redlich's blog.