tripping on LEGO

Someone once said, LEGO is the world's only legal brain stimulator. I agree. For the LEGO lovers out there... Swedish guys Daniel Larsson and Thomas Redigh present their 8-BIT TRIP.

Chicha and Bear are going to flip when they see this!

aesthetics, imagination and some science

Okay, I officially love film students, animators and graphic artists.

2007 Animation Showreel

The Royal College of Art

Thanks to Graham of We Love You So, I came across some great animation from graphic designer Johnny Kelly. Graham, referring to Kelly's stop-motion short The Seed: "Why is this not on Sesame Street? It seems just like the type of arresting, unusual animation that would provoke a lifetime of unconscious aesthetic influences for children.... " Yes. Yes! In other words: sparking their imagination with some cool shiz.

This is one of the things I hope to achieve when you-tube-bonding at home. That would be the kids and I enjoying and sometimes "dissecting" snazzy film shorts on the web: old school Sesame Street shorts, new school Yo Gabba Gabba, some Terri Timely, and lots more actually. I see future posts coming for you and your kids' 21st Century viewing pleasure and some unconscious aesthetic influence. Hope you tune in!

Happy to report that the kids at home do enjoy alternatives from the usual Nick Jr. and Disney fare. Case in point is this stop-motion short Graham was talking about. Johnny Kelly attempts to encapsulate the cycle of life in two minutes. Behold his genius in The Seed.

And here's a very cool way to introduce a big word to little people. Procrastination is Kelly's grad film for MA in animation at The Royal College of Art. Kids and I had fun watching this. Enjoy and do some procrastinating yourself! Some good ideas hit us in those moments....

Happy procrastinating Sunday!

attack of the post-its

I'm in the midst of back to school mayhem - parent's orientations, school visits, staggered schedules, school shopping, N1H1 school protocols, etc., etc.. So lately I've been cutting closer to my writing deadlines, which is why I'm totally feeling this stop-motion short by Bang-Yao Liu. He explains on his you tube page:

This is my senior project at Savannah College of Art and Design. Where my idea comes from is that every time when I am busy, I feel that I am not fighting with my works, I am fighting with those post-it notes and deadline.

Yup. Exactly. Nana, with your million-and-one projects I'm sure you can relate. Funny too... when I was pregnant with Bear, I was addicted to the Royskopp song he used as his soundtrack. Now go ahead, take a bit of a break and watch this piece of coolness.