Missing Key Update

The Missing Key motoring along, having recently picked up a few more awards like; this one, or this one, and most recently, this one!

I had the pleasure of attending the Inside Film awards in Sydney, and whilst feeling desperately out of place amongst the pretty folk of Australian screen, I had a blast. Being held at Luna Park however, I was a bit dissappointed that the dodgem cars weren't in action... after all what could be safer and more fun than electric battering rams at the disposal of a party sponsored and supplied by Jameson whiskey?! An opportunity missed, I say.

Carnival rides (or lack thereof) aside, the main excitement for me was having The Missing Key  nominated along side "Polo's Robot" (by the tremendous Pete Lowey), and "Nullabor" (by the delightful Lampshade Collective) in the "Best Short Animation" category, let alone to have the film called out as the winner! Thanks, Inside Film voters.
Then, after some bright lights, photos, and chatting to folk, it was off to the after party... huzzah! In all, a fantastic night spent in great company.*

Some guy who didn't know it was a collar-and-tie affair, Garth Nix, Jonathan Nix, and Anna Macfarlane. All looking rather chuffed. (photo courtesy of if.com.au)

*on that topic, special thanks to Pete Lowey and Alistair Lockhart!

Posts Pending

Been rather busy of late, which in itself isn't a bad thing, but it does eat in to one's blogging time. So in lieu of content, here are a few sketches instead (kind of like a test pattern... or not).

All of these were done using a Copic multiliner, and in some cases a Pentel brush-pen.

Crossing the Border

I'm off to Sydney this weekend for the Sydney International Animation Festival. Alongside Jonathan Nix, I'll be taking part in a panel discussion about the making of The Missing Key, on the Sunday at about 3.30. Whilst I'm not sure what to expect, it does sound like it will be a lot of fun (and if it isn't I'll just start to cry on stage and make it awkward for everyone!). Hope to see yous all there!

Random Pics

Well, I finally got around to breaking out the watercolours again. After a few very busy weeks it was nice to declare a monitor-free* weekend, and indulge my Luddite tendencies. Here are some of the results.

A vase

Two other vases (and bricks)

A series of creatures that I framed distributed amongst small children

Despite my complete lack of practice and technique, it was great to once again play with such rich colours in such a user-friendly medium... I should do this more often!

*For the pedants out there, I mean "monitor", not "Monitor". Confuse the two at your own peril.

The Missing Key

Well, "The Missing Key" has been released in to the wild, and is making its way in the festival circuit.
It's all a bit exciting to see it up on the big screen, as well as being a little strange to watch three years of work (just in my case) compressed in to half an hour!

Taking about seven years in total to complete, the film has been a monumental undertaking by Jonathan Nix (the Director) and the gang at Cartwheel Partners. From the hand-painted backgrounds, to the wonderful original score, and everyting in between, The Missing Key is a remarkable piece of work.

As an animator, working on on a project of this scope with real pencil on real paper (woohoo!) has been an absolute blast... oh, and I should mention, a very steep learning curve. Having been trained largely in 3D production, I found myself thrust back in time (so to speak) to animate, as a friend of mine put it, "the hard way."

Whilst I am as excited as the next animationist by current, and developing digital work-flows, there is something about the hand-drawn approach I find quite visceral and playful. Not to mention lunatic... I mean really! Who decided that drawing a film one frame at a time would be good idea?! And who would have thought it would be so much fun?

It is great to come out the other end of this production and, like others (and others) who have seen it, love the film, and be even more excited by animation.

Image coutesty of Cartwheel Partners.

These aren't the droids you're looking for... move along, move along!

Hi,
Nothing to see or say here yet. I know, I know... boooring! Well its just until I figure this thing out.
Cheers, B.