The Animation Pimp

Best short animation of 08.
#1 –by a mile
I am So Proud of you, Don Hertzfeldt

like watching the world through the eyes of a fly. Absurd, tragic, hilarious, poignant depiction of identity, family, life.
No particular order for the rest of the mortal lot:
Chainsaw, Dennis Tupicoff, Australia
Letter to Colleen, Andy/Carolyn London, USA
Drux Flux, Theodore Ushev, Canada
Skhizein, Jeremy clapin, France
Seemannstreue, Anna Kalis, Germany
Cattle Call, Mike Maryniuk and Matt Rankin, Canada
Presto, Doug Sweetland, USA
Muto, Blu, Italy
The Comic that Frenches the Mind, Bruce Bickford, USA
KFJG No 5, Alexei Alexiev, Hungary

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2009 should be an interesting one with new films expected from Chris Landreth, Wendy Tilby/Amanda Forbis, Priit Parn, and a few other heavy hitters. ‘Course, they could all suck too.

Animation lost a pal late last night…and more than that the world lost another good person. And I don’t mean that in a glib, he’s dead so let’s say only nice things sorta way. Emru Townsend was truly a good person. He was compassionate, sharing and positive to the point of making me uncomfortable (hey, that’s just me. It’s easier to be cynical). We weren’t buddies, pals, chums, bros, but we did know each other for about 12 years. I am forever grateful to Emru for being the first person to publish my writing on animation. It was in his beloved magazine Fps. I submitted a piece just for the heck of it and was quite pleased when Emru accepted it. It gave me confidence as a writer and told me that, hey, maybe this is a path I want to explore. So, selfishly, I thank you for that Emru.

What’s with animation losing good young people lately? Helen Hill. Wendy Jackson Hall. Emru Townsend. I guess the gods above, below and beyond don’t like the toons. Assholes. It’s not fair. It sucks.

Meantime… I send all things good to Emru’s family…and especially to Vicky, Max and Tamu.