CineSpace 2016

For the second year in a row, NASA and Houston Cinema Arts Society are inviting filmmakers around the world to participate in CineSpace, a short film competition that is inspired by, and utilizes actual NASA video footage.

Eligible submissions include short video, film, and digital-media works of 10 minutes or less. CineSpace is seeking films from all genres and styles including but not limited to: experimental, narrative, documentary, comedy, drama, animation, ambient, music videos, re-mix, sports, horror, and underground.

Prize Details: The total prize purse for this competition is USD 26,000. In addition to monetary prizes, winners shall receive tremendous exposure for their work.

Application Instructions: Last date for submission is July 31, 2016. No entry fee is required.

Guidelines/ Registration Link: You may visit the CineSpace 2016 challenge page to register and to check out last year’s winners and finalists.

LeSean Thomas

What is your name and your current occupation?
My Name is LeSean Thomas. I’m a TV animation producer/director currently back and forth between Hollywood and Seoul, South Korea.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I think working in-house as production staff for South Korean animation studio, JM Animation in Seoul for a year & and half. I was the only foreigner there. Many American artists/animators have gone to South Korea to work and oversee projects, but they’ve always been represented by giant, corporate funded network studios who funded their trips and stays, but my situation was the reverse. I sought out, hounded Korean presidents and quit my job at Warner Bros Animation to be the first, independent hire by a Korean Studio to be plucked from the states specifically & move to Korea to work there as permanent staff at the time. It was a wild ride and it took me forever to learn, navigate and figure things out. Thank you, JM Animation, haha.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I would say Adult Swim’s ” The Boondocks” (Co-Director/Supervising Character Designer) & NIckelodeon’s “The Legend of Korra” (Storyboard artist/Animation production) . For one, The Boondocks, because it was the first, black-created prime-time animated tv show to blend our hip hop culture and love of anime aesthetic with a political satire approach. Absolute genius. And it won a Peabody Award! Makes me very proud. Secondly, The Legend of Korra, because it was the first project i worked on living in Seoul South Korea. Working alongside the korean animators for long, we were like family. I was their little brother. It was a great experience & what we helped make in 2010/2011 was nothing short of magical and groundbreaking> And aside from Continue reading

Career Spotlight: “What I Do as a 2D Animator”

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu5TE6xAnMg

Lifehacker has an interesting article by Andy Orin who interviews Sketch MacQuinor, lead animator behind Adult Swim’s Squidbillies.

Mr Seed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEZvx9dQoNw

 

FastCocreate has an article up about the reasoning behind this short film Mr Seed which talks about GMO farms and a healthier food system.

“Mr. Seed” is a five-minute animated short starring comedian Pete Holmes as an organic seed who goes on a cuss-filled rant on why you should consider more research on organic seed and be a bit more wary of the “GMO bros.” Chances are you’ve never thought about the sensual side of replicating drought-tolerant traits, either. Created by Austin-based agency The Butler Bros, and animation company Buck, it’s an unconventional swing to get people talking about seed. The Butler Bros. founder and strategic chief Adam Butler says Seed Matters wanted to leaven the conversation around seed, and help it become more important among people already engaged in the conversation about our food system.

Read the whole article here.

11 SECRETS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT ANIMANIACS, PINKY & THE BRAIN, AND FREAKAZOID!

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Mtv has an interesting article up called 11 SECRETS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT ANIMANIACS, PINKY & THE BRAIN, AND FREAKAZOID!

Tom Ruegger, the 14-time Emmy Award winner, who also created Tiny Toon Adventures, Road Rovers, Histeria!, and is currently the showrunner for Disney’s The 7D, recently did a Reddit AMA to celebrate the fact that you can now stream Animaniacs on Netflix.

Having worked on Animaniacs, as well as Pinky and the Brain, I can say that Tom Ruegger was one of the most talented individuals I ever had the fortune of working with. Incidentally Tom Ruegger was kind enough to do an interview with us years back.

You can read the whole article on Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain and Freakazoid here.