Animation, Art, and Other Shiny Things
The Temple is the final installment in The Mind’s Eye and it’s the part of the tape I would wear out every time. Between the bleeding-edge animation (for 1990) and the (well-synchronized and most excellent) soundtrack, this track marks when I believed that 3D computer animation had finally matured past a nerdly diversion and into a mainstream entertainment medium.
You may recognize the surroundings and birds from the second installment, Civilization Rising, (or 03 per the video itself) as the animation between about the 50 second mark to a minute-twenty looks to be from just before this video.
I’ve collected the links to the videos from Beyond the Mind’s Eye and will begin posting them next week.
Love can transcend the most formidable of barriers – and it can show off some impressive computing power for 1990. (note how many things are moving independently)
[Thanks to Craig Reynolds for the link to the original version! Stanley & Stella in Breaking the Ice]
The fifth installment from The Mind’s Eye: A Computer Animation Odyssey
This video has it all; unique animation, a snappy 30’s-style tune, and a twisted, satirical bent.
From their bio:
EVELYN and EVELYN NEVILLE are a songwriting duo performing original compositions on piano, ukulele, guitar and accordion. The sisters are parapagus tripus dibrachius twins, sharing three legs, two arms, three lungs, two hearts and a single liver.
Born September 11, 1985 on a small farm on the Kansas-Colorado border, the Evelyns have traveled the greater part of North America performing with “Dillard & Fullerton’s Illusive Traveling Show”. Their unique musical style is inspired by their many eclectic influences – from 80’s music to showtunes, Joy Division to the Andrews Sisters.
The story is detailed within the Tragic Events tracks on their album. They were discovered by Amanda Palmer (of Dresden Dolls fame) and Jason Webley (a long-time Seattle busker) who invited them to record an album. (which they did. it’s most excellent)
Others insist that Evelyn Evelyn are actually Palmer and Webley dressed in connected garments.
There is also a book, which led me into a whole new digression into the art and artist that deserves a post of it’s own. (which is in the works)
You are in luck; no long-winded post today. (two are almost complete, just needing more wind…) So you get the next video from The Mind’s Eye early!
The Mind’s Eye: A Computer Animation Odyssey is a compilation of computer animated shorts set to an electronic music soundtrack. While it appears to be some pretty rudimentary computer work, back in 1990 when this was released, it was some seriously cutting-edge animation. I wore out several tapes and it solidified my love for animation and electronica.
Creation is the first chapter (of eight) from the video and begins the loose story of a world’s evolution.
Over the next few years a total of 4 Mind’s Eye videos were released (as well as a host of spin-off videos) with soundtracks composed and performed by the likes of Jan Hammer, Thomas Dolby, and Kerry Livgren (of the band Kansas). Although they’ve since been released on DVD, this first installment is still hard to find.
I’ll be posting the other seven videos from this first compilation, about one per week, and see if I can track down offerings from the rest of the Mind’s Eye series.
I’ve had this video kicking around my computers for six or seven years at the very least. At the time I picked it up, computer motion capture hadn’t hit Hollywood and, besides hair, character movement was a Big Thing in computer animation and MMORPGs.
The computer animation itself is excellent, but what really stands out is the direction; throughout the video you’ll see signature dance moves you recognize immediately.
Playgroup is a British ‘electroclash‘ band and the tune Number One was released in 2001. Electroclash is a mashup of techno, punk, and synthpop that gained popularity in the late 90’s.
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