Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Adventure Time Appreciation Post




Adventure Time Appreciation Post

Although I'm not an avid fan of the cartoon show Adventure Time I really do enjoy it from time to time. It has great characters, a lot of humor, gorgeously detailed art, and overall interesting stories. What's there not to like? I mean some episodes are a complete mind trip. Others have a really interesting plot. I really love that some episodes focus on side characters rather than Finn and Jake, who by the way are awesome. The characters are pretty well done. Finn is an adolescent boy that loves adventure and spending time with his bros. Jake is a twenty-six year old dog that loves chilling with Finn or hanging out with his  girlfriend. 


Other characters include the evil Ice King, the intellectually smart Princess Bubblegum, Marceline the Vampire Queen, Lumpy Space Princess, and more. The characters make this show. Their interactions are downright hysterical at times. This show's design is so beautifully done as well and the plot is easy for children and adults to love. The best part is some of the things it can get away with because of this broad spectrum of watchers. Plus they use one of Kate Beaton's characters in one episode. What's not to love? 




Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Kate Beaton Appreciation Post



Kate Beaton Appreciation Post

Kate Beaton is the love of my life. She essentially takes two of my favorite things in the world to make one beautiful baby. These two items are cartoons and history. Not only does Kate write witty stories, her art engages the audience and makes the experience all the more enjoyable. Her subjects expand upon a large content of not only history, but literature and other aspects she's interested in. The comics are really funny and I feel like you can learn something. Sometimes she creates comics over historical figures and gives a quick bio of them in her comments. It leads me to learn more about these people. So in a round about way I learn something new.


Also, her comics are so original. It's just such a great mix of her own style and humor that have made her comic series titled Hark! A Vagrant so successful. They are funny enough for non-historians and historians alike to find amusement. In a world where web comics are currently become more and more detailed, Kate Beaton's stands out. It's simple. She doesn't go overly detailed and lets the jokes tell themselves. I hope she continues to do this for years to come, because I'm a huge fan. 

Thursday, April 18, 2013

The Croods Appreciation Post


The Croods Appreciation Post

A few weeks ago I went and saw The Croods with some friends. Although I give the plot a three out of four stars, the animation was five out of five. The characters were so well made. I loved how the character Eep didn't have the basic female shape and looked like a cave woman. This showed off her strength and abilities. It made me enjoy the film so much more since the characters didn't necessarily fit the average body stereotype.The backgrounds and environment were also very well done. Everything was so vividly colored, detailed, and texturized. As the family journeyed over this new terrain, the vivid environments attracted my eyes everywhere. You could tell a lot of thought was put into the design of this film, but the best part was the character's expressions and mannerisms. 


Eep's character had constant curiosity and this fueled her desires throughout the film. Her curiosity was also well-developed within her character. She would sniff things and move about all inquisitive of various objects that surrounded her new environment. It truly made her character more endearing to me. Also, the humor was spot on throughout the film. At one point the small reptile like dog named Douglas learns to roll over and falls out of a tall tree. After this incident it cuts to the next scene without telling the audience what has happened. It was really a funny moment as the audience realizes what happens. The story is a bit thin, but I really enjoyed the humor, art, and overall design of this film. It not only brings advanced visual development, but breaks societal molds of body shapes. 





Tuesday, April 16, 2013

My Cardboard Life Appreciation Post





My Cardboard Life Appreciation Post

My Cardboard Life is a webcomic by Philippa Rice. It's about the main protagonist Cardboard Colin and his array of crafted friends. Each comic is made using actual paper, cardboard, or whatever Philippa feels like using to get her story across. This experimentation has given her comic a completely unique and individual style. Also, her comics are very witty and cover a variety of subjects.
They are beautifully drawn and designed, their simplicity is what makes them so attractive. Her stories are interesting and sweet. I also love the fact that she lie in the U.K. it makes her stories and characters all the more endearing. When I read Philippa's comics I have an overwhelming sense of coziness and nostalgia. Her comics relate to anyone's childhood to whimsical fantasies. She also wittily plays with aspects of her manipulatable world. 

Her characters are also well-developed. They feel like people you actually know in life. Paper Pauline is a snobby, selfish girl, but you still love her. Cardboard Colin is a pushover that's too kind for his own good and the Polar Bear is just a mean jerk with no real reason to be mean. Her comics have this fluidity that I love, they can either be intensely detailed or very minimal based upon the plot. Overall the design, story, and characters make Phillippa Rice's My Cardboard Life a comic to remember. On this last note I leave you with a video of her making one of her comics...





Thursday, April 11, 2013

Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies Appreciation Post





Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies Appreciation Post

When Walt Disney founded his animation studio, the animation industry was just starting out. So he devised a plan for his workers to make animated shorts to help improve their animation skills and develop a variety of styles. They were titled 'Silly Symphonies' and told various stories like the Cookie Carnival. These shorts enabled the animators to discover new ways to animate. The shorts were retired after Disney created their first animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarves in 1937. This film heavily relates to the Silly Symphonies through its flow and style. Although this style began to change as the studio made more and more animated films. Although the Silly Symphonies aren't revered as much as Disney's animated films, it shows the start to a greatly influential animated studio. 

Besides this, the Cookie Carnival short is my favorite. The story is of all the sweet delights getting together for a carnival. One young cookie girl is deeply sad over her appearance and is unable to go. Through a variety of circumstances she becomes the queen of the cookie carnival and a king must be found. It's quite a cute little short and shows the potential for detail that was so well known in earlier Disney films. All in all, I really love these shorts. 

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Project Summary





Project Summary


This project brought about new challenges for me. From having to use a bandsaw to really
thinking out my design, the vessel project was not the easiest. It made you utilize my time
more wisely. The common shop was only open at specific times so I had to work around their clock.That wasn't easy, especially with work added to the mix.Yet the overall process of making my vessel was a lot of fun. For the first time in a while, I stepped out of my comfort zone and experimented and it actually worked. I also discovered a new found liking for wood working. I loved sanding and cutting. Smooth, soft wood is like catnip to me. After all the hard work I put into this box, I'm glad I'll be able to enjoy it for years to come. Design has challenged me in both good and bad ways. It's nice to say that I really liked this project at the end of it. Although I sometimes question the purposes of certain projects, it's always a joy to discover a new talent or hobby. I definitely would like to work more with wood again sometime, when I'm not so busy. More for fun and less for a grade. 

Friday, April 5, 2013

Gravity Falls Appreciation Post




Gravity Falls Appreciation Post

I don't watch very much television. Primarily I will watch cartoons from time to time, but Gravity Falls has become my new favorite cartoon show. The characters are well developed and easy to relate to. Their everyday shenanigans are very interesting and a joy to watch unfold. As well as the gorgeous animation and art. I mean have you seen the intro??


This show was definitely made by people brought up in the eighties. The humor is well done to make it enjoyable for both adults and kids. Did I mention they have supernatural adventures? In many ways this show reminds me of the Goonies and other eighties films. Although it does remind me of other things, Gravity Falls also has a heart all its own. Mable Pines is me in a lot of ways. I relate to her character so much even though she's only twelve years old and her voice actor is Kristen Schaal! My favorite comedian. The overall design of the show is beautifully done. Little aspects change or are repeated in each episode. An example would be Mable's change of sweaters and the continuity of the episodes. Unlike other children's shows, Gravity Falls recalls past episodes and experiences rather than forgetting everything that happened next episode. So if you're ever looking for a show that has a mixture of Cartoon Network humor and Disney heart, I highly recommend Gravity Falls. Plus did I mention the beautiful animation? 

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

David Pye Reading Reflection





David Pye Reading Reflection

I really liked Pye's opinion on the fact that our skills as craftsmen have made us often adapt a cheaper way to make things. He also mentions that we still bend to the will of the materials. We as a society have no apparent true way to adapt materials. Pye later on mentions that design aids in humanity's happiness. By creating pieces of work that we as society can both love and use or admire. Although war has been throughout civilization, so has art. Pye tells about the benefits of art being produced during times of war. They have given us an opportunity to learn from the past. Also the economical/cheapness of our society is constantly at odds with our desires. This causes a rift between them. Yet if mankind set aside tools or economical ideas mankind would not be as advanced as it is. This is a valid point and Pye's overall idea of aesthetic rules also provide clarity to the nature of design.