Framestore: AT&T “Up & Up”

Supported by Framestore, Peter Thwaites takes the 2010 Winter Olympics to infinity and beyond with Up & Up. (Shot by Joost, Chopped by Akiko @ FCNY)

The History of Animation: Part 1 and Part 2

It’s time to hit the books. Brush up on animation history by watching The History of Animation: part 1 and part 2.

Modern Rebel: Alberto Mielgo & Pinkman.tv

Alberto Mielgo is an artist’s artist. It is a particular distinction, suggesting not mere talent, but a quality of rebelliousness, one whose appeal is contingent upon his unique role as both a painter and animator — refining his style as an art director, but most importantly, an artist.

You’ve seen his work before, but may not know it. The influence of Mielgo’s style can be detected in the production design for The Beatles Rock Band cinematic, where he was given creative freedom to channel his trademark style, and produce color keys and layout for the first (2D) half of the masterwork, directed by Pete Candeland. Licensed with a gift for painting, today, Mielgo has earned himself legitimate entry into the ranks of art direction for the animation industry, but in truth, it didn’t start out that way. Originally a 2D animator, Mielgo struggled to find his niche when most studios disavowed pencil and paper for CG. With his back against the wall, Mielgo —self-taught— began to paint, creating concept art for the commercial and film industries before hitting the gallery circuit, and when push came to shove, making a living off of his painting.

By any measure, Mielgo’s work is restless, graphic and defiant — the work of an artist entering into a sophisticated maturity — one who has earned such a command of painting that he feels the dogged urge to break the rules, and in the artists case, return to form.  Today, Mielgo is striking out on his own, thumbing his nose at CG, and coming home to animation in Pinkman.tv.

The school of thought behind Pinkman.tv is simple: a laboratory to explore 2D animation through fine art and traditional methods. In other words, less emphasis on computers; more emphasis on what is handmade. With the launch of Pinkman.tv, Mielgo has served up a cluster of experimental shorts that set the painters sentiments into motion. Each piece deconstructs reality into blocks of color — extracting the chromatic details of everyday life into something rich and lurid that, depending on the piece, can be subdued or explosive. Either-or, the result is undoubtedly potent. This flexibility in style speaks to his mastery of color, while the frenetic brushwork and unabashed construction lines create an agitated balance that, when animated, tremble in motion. The result is intense, fierce, nearly feral.

In the four experimental shorts below: Pill, Kill Your Stress, 女孩陰毛, and PINKMAN, Mielgo maintains a rigorous connection to materials, and in the ethos of Pinkman.tv, keeps CG at arms length — the defining tenet of his artist-code. The first video —a Making-of— exposes the modus operandi of the artist, as well as a short Q&A that sheds light on Alberto Mielgo and the rebelisms behind Pinkman.tv.

Making-of and Q&A with Alberto Mielgo

Pill

Kill Your Stress

女孩陰毛

PINKMAN

For even more on Alberto Mielgo, check out AlbertoMielgo.com and his personal blog, AlbertoMielgo.blogspot.com.

Kanye’s West’s “Coldest Winter” Directed by: NABIL

Kanye’s West’s “Coldest Winter” Directed by: NABIL

FINK, Paris Launches (formerly Sowatt)

Sowatt Studio based in Paris is now known as FINK. Check out their dreamy launch ident.

Nexus Launches Digital Wing

Nexus joins the herd and launches a digital wing, Nexus Interactive Arts

Local Natives’ Airplanes by Mark Waring

Local Natives’ Airplanes by Mark Waring (via Promo News)