Review : Muto

After watching this,the first word that would come to mind is "UNIQUE" . The animation was a bit choppy but it blended well with the flick's overall theme. If there was a story to this, I'm afraid that it has eluded me, however, the animation is still enough to captivate the audience's interest.

Review : Polar Bear Holiday

I was wondering why this was awfully familiar until I heard the trademark scream that made me get goosebumps. Yet again, the choppy animation can only be supported by sub par slapstick humor. Though the plot may have somewhat improved, I feel more pity for the character rather than enjoyment for the animation itself.

Review : The Fountain

The Fountain sort of reminds me of the Mr. bean Animated series. It's incredibly simple yet presents itself in a deep way. It roughly tells a story of a bird and a boy in their quest to take a drink from a water fountain.

I especially admire the minute details of this animation. Everything from the background, to the effects of the water, to the weathering on the fountain seem to have been thought out thoroughly which gives 'The Fountain' its unique appeal.

Review : Love Letters

I was amused by the fact that people actually make use of animation to do serious things like this. My usual perception is that animation can only be used to entertain people by tapping in to their inner child. Basically, this animation was a very cute and amusing marriage proposal.

Accordingly, the director hired roughly a hundred animators to do this. No wonder the animation was incredibly smooth. The music was also very appropriate to what he was trying to convey. Overall, the animation is a great homage to creativity.

Review : Something Fishy

Not exactly the most brilliant of works but it actually has some very strong points. I commend the makers of this film for trying to imitate the actual underwater environment by incorporating light on the seabed . The extra effort on it made the allure of the animation more prominent and strong. I also admire the smooth movements of the characters as they interact with one another.

Review : Origami Animation

I actually erred on this particular piece of work as it was unclear to me whether this actually is animation. No matter, since the title said so , why the hell not. Honestly this video came across as annoying and wierd. Personally , it would've been better if the hands were not included in the video. The choice of music was also very puzzling to me as a few minutes of that song would be enough to make anyone writhe in agony.

Review : Insanely Twisted Shadow Puppets

Another unique peace of work, Insanely Twisted Shadow Puppets doesn't really present a clear and concise story. Rather , It is a bunch of short clips presenting a situation independent from all the others. Even so , the somehow gothic and creepy theme aids in making the clips converge to produce a certain theme.

The animation in each clip is really fluid and beautiful. The clever use of blacks and other dark colors create a mysterious and interesting effect on the entire animation which makes ITSP a uniquely inspiring piece of work.

Review : Undine

Undine, according to the description, depicts the emotional aspects of a child's trauma. The story revolves mainly around a little girl that ventures forth in a surreal and bizarre dream plane in her pursuit of longer hair.

Though not one of the most astounding pieces of work, Undine showcases a very creative and rich visual narration style. The sheer uniqueness of this animation is its saving grace as the story seems incredibly vague and wasn't visibly present in the course of the entire film

Review : Oktapodi

Probably one of the most adorable things you will ever see, Oktapodi tells us the story of 2 octopi who, under a difficult circumstance, finds ways to be together.

The animation was really fast-paced which adds to the drama and the gravity of the events that they wish to portray.The sounds they used were also appropriate for each situation they presented.The level of detail on the characters and on the background were also quite impressive overall.

Review : Heavenly Sword Animated Shorts

From the makers of Heavenly Sword for the PS3 comes this, highly stylized and dynamic animated short. The Animated story is designed to tell the history prior the game's in game story. The film is a great contrast to the overall feeling of the game.

Though the stylized animated short greatly complements the game's unique storyline, being part of a game for the graphics heavy console, the PS3,they could have made something more unexpected and unique. I believe that they could have better utilized the PS3's capabilities.

Review : Ida's Luck

Ida's Luck tells us the story of an orphaned girl who seems to be followed by horrid luck. Story-wise, the plot is incredibly imaginative and unexpected. The animation style also complements the overall gothic theme that the series conveys.

A truly remarkable thing about the creator,crookedsixpence, is the fact that even with the deep and dark appeal of the animations, emotions like hope and love are still conveyed thoroughly.

Ida's Luck Part 2

Visit Katy Towell's(crookedsixpence)website, Skary.net

Recap : 1st Week

Here are the first 5 reviews:

Running Machine
Krapooy
Ode to Summer
Shoo Fly
Animator VS Animation

Review : Running Machine

Aside from the animation being really choppy, the over use of slapstick humor just drowns you in a sea of guilt and pity for the character. Sad, cause the animation could've done something better with the story to make it more appropriate.

On the plus side, I admire the effort put into the details of the background. At the same time the voice was so-so in the emotion department and thus could have done better.

Side Note: The scream was really creepy. >.<

Review : Krapooy

I was lucky to have stumbled upon this gem of an animation. It conveys a certain surrealistic and abstract appeal that just grows on you. The plot sort of travels to the very definition of evolution.

The story's humor is quite astonishing. It does not necessarily make you laugh, rather it just makes you want to say "awwww". The inclusion of a 2d animated sequence also adds to its mysterious appeal.

Review : Ode to Summer

This animation's oriental feel is what initially attracted me to it. The overall aspect of it is of utter calm and serenity. I was amazed at how smoothly they transitioned the 2d drawings to 3d models.

This is a good example of a good animation without an overly elaborate script. The animation's charm merely comes from its sheer elegance and style, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Review : Shoo Fly!

Shoo Fly by *JohnSu on deviantART


Possibly my favoritest( XD don't worry, i know it's not really a word) flash animation. I absolutely adore the simplistic yet detailed style of the artist. The randomness of this, and his other works just shows how creative and wacky this character is, which is precisely what every good animator needs to be.

I also applaude the artists determination and hard work as it truly shows in all of his works. His use of mickeymousing on the project was simply amazing due to his drawings' innate ability to actually convey movement and match with the musical score.



Enjoy the version with sound here

Delight oneself with more of his animations and games here

or just enjoy JohnSu

Review : Animator VS Animation Series

The Animator VS Animation series, created by Alan Becker, is one of the most unique and eye-catching animation series you can find on the web.Basically, the plot is centered at an animated stick figure trying to seek revenge on its tormentor, the animator, which is simply illustrated by a mouse pointer.

Though the art style isn't typically my cup of tea, it blends beautifully with its plot. The animation is also smooth and seamless. Aside from these, the story, in all its simplistic glory, is very compelling, which could make it survive a few more years in the World Wide Web.



Try the Animator VS Animation Flash Game here.