Couch gag from The Simpsons episode 553, "Clown in the Dumps," Don Hertzfeldt, 2014

You are probably already aware that The Simpsons has had guest directors and animators making the infamous "couch gag."

You have probably already seen this.

If not, you must watch it immediately, because it might just be the BEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED.

Les Maitres du Temp (Time Masters) Rene Laloux and Jean Giraud (Moebius) 1982

As many, if not all, of you know, Jean Giraud, aka Moebius and less often Gir, passed away yesterday. We are far poorer for his loss.

His work was delicate, precise, infinitely imaginitve, and utterly breathtaking. I was often struck most by his restraint - sometimes what he decided not to draw was as powerful as that which he included.

If you are unfamiliar with his work you could do far worse than to look here first.

This is the feature length film he made with Rene Laloux which you might be able to find on DVD if you are lucky.

I will also include here the Arzak, Rhapsody shortshttp://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B000FBFYP0/">which are also available on DVD

Elles, Joanna Quinn, 1992

Here, Joanna Quinn gives a short demonstration on how she animates (AWESOMELY.)



Remember, you have to do the sound effects, or else the magic won't work.

Nigel Tufnel Day Cartoon Special! 11-11-11 11:11:11

TODAY IS 11-11-11!

In fact, I have set this to post at 11:11 11-11-11.

You know I could not let this momentous occasion pass without note.

I was unsure if I would be able to find any Spinal Tap related cartoons, but lo and behold, apparently in 2009 there was a video contest, and The Internet stepped up to the challenge with their very best crude flash.

Youtuber puckgodz reinvents the band as South Park style characters for his vision of Stonehenge.


Marie Gugliemo imagines a version of Back from the Dead in which Jeanine gets her way and the band dresses as Zodiac animals.


Bonnie Rose's animation for Back from the Dead


Charlie Tantam's animation for Stonehenge:


This is unrelated to the contest, but young Beatnick13 made a video for "Cups and Cakes" with what appears to be some sort of game program.


Last, but absolutely not least, is an outstandingly gory interpretation of The Majesty of Rock that was apparently created with frickin' DOS in 1994 by Frank Stringini of Stringanime.



oh by the way (this is not a cartoon):

Spin Cycle, Jeff Scher, 2003

BREAD!





MOAR BREAD!

Still Loaf with Guitar, 2003

Oedipus, Starring Vegetables, Jason Wishnow, 2004

Bonus; Me and my Potato - the making of Oedipus, Starring Vegetables:


AND MORE - the storyboards for Oedipus, Starring Vegetables

Dental Hygeine Dilemma (excerpt from 200 Motels) Cal Schenken, 1971

Now you are relaxing in your post holiday refractory period, you know what you need?

You need to see a dude roll up and smoke a hotel bath mat. Yes. And some of Zappa's Comedy Music.




What the Hell, I'm still feeling generous. Here's a 1974 promo for Zappa's Apostrophe, also by Schenken.

Rotate the Completor #6, Emily Kaplan, 2010

I have been debating with myself whether or not I should post this here. I wouldn't necessarily presume to compare myself to the animators I post every day.

On the other hand, I worked my ass off on this. And this is MY BLOG.

I decided to compromise and make it a bonus feature today.

SO.

This is a video for song #6 from Rotate The Completors: Completed Rotations Of The... LP, available from Roaratorio.

I just finished it yesterday. Now I am going to.. I dunno, read a book or something. Try to regain my social skills.

Easter Yeggs, Robert McKimson, 1947

OH WHAT THE HELL. Here's one more.

Now here's something we hope you'll really like!

I had no idea, but today is the 50th aniversary of the TV debut of Rocky and Bullwinkle! OMG!

Here's a link to the first episode on Hulu.





Via Metafilter

ETA: I also discovered that today is Ivan Maximov's birthday. I have pretty much decided today is a holiday.

Mystery title animations, Edward Gorey and Derek Lamb, 1980 +more!

Everyone remembers the wonderful intros for WGBH Boston's series Mystery Gorey himself did the drawings, and Derek Lamb (of Sesame Street and The National Film Board of Canada) directed the animation. In an article for Animation World magazine, Lamb recounts the experience of meeting Gorey.




Gorey has captured the imaginations of many. A few people have taken it upon themselves to make animated versions of his stories.

The Tuning Fork, Sara Hasz, 2006
A very nicely done student project.



The Gashlycrumb Tinies, Matt Duplessie, 2007
The artwork of Edward Gorey, put through the stop motion treatment. The animation and sound is reminiscient Terry Gilliam.

Marble House, Chris Hopewell, 2006 and We Share Our Mother's Health, Motomichi Nakamura, 2006

Beautiful stop motion music video for the song Marble House by Swedish electronic band The Knife.




Another fascinating animated video for The Knife, We Share Our Mother's Health. Directed by artist Motomichi Nakamura.

Prince Amir-Hamzeh, Mad Mad Mad World, and Super Powers, Noureddin Zarrinkelk, 1977, 1975, and 1982

So when I'm looking for cartoons from around the world, sometimes I have a deuce of a time finding out what's going on, or who made the thing and when. I endeavor to get as much information as possible. (Google Translate is my friend.)

Sometimes it takes a bit of sleuthing, but when I find out about a great animator I would never have found otherwise, it makes this blog way more rewarding than I ever imagined it would be.

Noureddin Zarinkelk is the most prominent figure in Iranian animation. While earning his pharmeceutical degree in the late 1950's, he also studied the fine art of Persian miniature painting. He studied animation at the Belgian Royal Academy of Fine Arts, and went on to study with revered master animator Jiri Trnka.

Here is his film Prince Amir-Hamzeh, from 1977 .




And here are two anti-war cartoons, The Mad Mad Mad World(1975) and Super Powers(1982).