Feast for Animation Fans
A number of items came to my attention this week that provided sustenance to my animation tastes.
The Ovation TV Channel has been running a week-long series of programs devoted to the theme of animation. This has included Chuck Amuk: The Movie, a look at animator Chuck Jones known for his legendary work on Looney Tunes and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas; Tex Avery: King of Cartoons, a look at career of Charles “Tex” Avery; Ub Iwerks: The Hand Behind the Mouse, that details the contributions of Ub Iwerks to the Disney legacy in animation and film technology; and showings of Spirited Away, the Japanese anime masterpiece. See the Ovation Channel schedule for a listing of programming.
And a visit to my local Barnes and Noble and a perusing of the latest sci fi, fantasy, and horror magazines informed me of the forthcoming Batman: Gotham Knight, a series of six interlocking animated stories that are strongly influenced by anime and The Animatrix. This project will be released on July 8 on DVD and BlueRay in connection with Batman: The Dark Knight film. These cartoons look very promising in delivering good stories, great visuals, and involving the work of a number of noted anime directors. Previews and lots of goodies are available on the official website.
