Scott Wenner: New York Times “Modern Love”

Zena Barakat‘s talent for commissioning touching, thoughtful, low key motion work based on the urban relationship narratives found in The New York Times’ Modern Love column continues uninterrupted with the release of this insightful three-minute piece by director/animator Scott Wenner, aka the CD at motion504 in Minneapolis.

Scott Wenner: “The challenges were the aggressive schedule (approx. 4 weeks total) and finding unexpected ways of complimenting the VO instead of just illustrating it. The biggest challenge was the daunting task of having complete creative freedom: which you always think you want, until someone gives it to you.

“With the days ticking down and panic setting in, I went down multiple roads and had many false starts before finally landing on a look and feel. I even spent some significant time on a photorealistic route until the final cut-down of the audio interview made it clear that it was the wrong direction.” [Watch]

Preview Stash 107: Released this Week

Issue 107 adds another 1.5 hours of inspiration and insight to the Stash Permanent Collection of over 4,000 outstanding animation, VFX and motion design projects including behind the scenes features and exclusive interviews with the talent behind the brilliance. [Watch]

Genndy Tartakovsky: Popeye Animation Test

Director Genndy Tartakovsky‘s animation test for Sony’s upcoming Popeye feature pushes the physical comedy he brought to Samurai Jack, Dexter’s Laboratory and Hotel Transylvania to a crazy new level with some of the snappiest timing and extreme exaggeration since Tex Avery.

Tartakovsky’s revealing intro and the BTS scenes of him cracking up his team as he narrates animatics are also well worth your time. [Watch]

Mill+: The Fableists “Epic Thread”

This vibrant and frenetic animated short from Mill+ thru Brothers and Sisters agency gently reveals the good-for-all corporate values of children’s eco-fashion brand The Fableists. Narrated by UK comedy goddess Jennifer Saunders

Mill+ animation director Ivo Sous: “We gathered as much inspirational material as possible. This was followed by a real hands on approach creating character designs, mood boards, style frames, storyboards and animatics.

“Style frames were drawn up in Photoshop, the character animation was drawn frame by frame in Flash, with other elements being completed in Cinema 4D before the whole piece was composited together in AFX and Premiere.” [Watch]

Iggy Steps Up for Brazen Animation

Feel-good self-promo from the “audacious gathering of artists, animators, scientists, writers, designers, producers, and marketers” who formed Brazen Animation in Dallas in 2013 to work on commercials while they develop their own feature projects.

The fluid, monochrome, one-minute romp follows the character-hopping exploits of studio mascot Ignatius. [Watch]

Strangeloop + Shintaro Kago: Flying Lotus “You’re Dead!”

SoCal hyper-visualist Strangeloop whips original artwork by Japanese guro manga legend Shintaro Kago into a crazed “shamanic pilgrimage into the psychedelic unknown of the infinite afterlife” in this promo for Flying Lotus’ upcoming Warp release, a jazzified concoction featuring Herbie Hancock, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Thundercat, etc.

EPILEPTIC WARNING. [Watch]