KUNG FU PANDA!!!
GO SEE THE AWESOMENESS!!!! After a long wait, it's finally out! It's almost surreal to think that I worked on this film and now it's out for everyone to see. I am so incredibly proud of everyone who worked on this film. Each department from Layout to Editorial to Lighting to Animation and so on, just did the most AMAZING work. It quite possibly is the best film DreamWorks has done to date. I kid you not. Currently posting an 85% on Rottentomatoes.com.
So ok... anyway... breathe Ben breathe... MAN I'm just too excited! ok... breathe again... breathe
To let you know... James Baxter Animation did the opening 2D dream sequence. Pure AWESOMENESS.
Oh and I wasn't particularly happy with the trailers for this film. They don't do it justice.
Now, there are a 3 things I wanted to touch upon in this post. They are as follows:
1. The shots that I worked on for KFP
I have listed a few of my shots from the film on my site. It doesn't include everything that did, so mainly just the one's I am most proud of. You can visit the page here: LINK.
Also, watch the credits all the way to the end. There's one last little shot that's worth checking out. :)
2. The Art of Kung Fu Panda Book
I highly recommend picking up this wonderful book. If you were ever looking for a collection of works by Nico Marlet... this is the one. I am just in awe of everything he does. Go here to purchase it on AMAZON for a great price: Link to AMAZON.com
Also, if you want to see a few images from the book you can check out HERE (a really great blog) and HERE (ALSO a great blog, and it even has a link to an interview with Nico.
3. Personal note about animation and critics
Well, where do I start... :)
With Kung Fu Panda being my first film, I am now starting to truly understand what it means to produce a work of art and put it on display for the whole world to see. People will love what you've done, others will hate it. Some people may not be moved at all. I can understand someone not liking Panda. I can handle someone not feeling much from it. And for sure I can get someone liking the film. :)
But here's what I don't get. I don't get the complete distain that some have for this film without ever seeing it. I feel sorry for those who can't relax and enjoy a good time at the movies. If it's not "indy" enough it's no good. If it's not "edgy" or "dark" it's not worth my time. If it's not Pixar, it's pop culture garbage. I'm tired of the cop-out that it's just "another furry animal pic."
Kung Fu Panda is something special. It's such a solid, well made film. And it's a positive film, with a positive message. Isn't that worth something?. I believe this film is important. I believe many artists and animators will study this film in the future and will continue to be inspired by it's beauty. This movie does have soul.
I feel bad for those who can only enjoy animation in certain forms. Good animation is good animation and a good film, even a CG one with talking animals, is still a good film.
Sorry to use so many BOLD words. :) ...and smiley faces in one post.
|Ben
P.S. Just to clarify, if there was ANY confusion what-so-ever... I love Pixar's work. As Po says, "I'm SUCH a big fan!". I love Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo and so on. Toy Story made me want to be an animator. I must have frame-by-framed all of The Incredibles. Not that my mention of Pixar above was used in any form as a diss; I just want to be clear. :)
