Animation, Art, and Other Shiny Things
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.
It’s a bit long, but I like that it features just about every one of the muppets for at least a few seconds. (OK Go, while I like them, have a few too many seconds, imho)
I think this is one of the few times one can say that it isn’t over when the fat lady sings…
You could take a lot away from this video, but at a minimum you’ll find striking animation with an excellent trance track. I Won’t Stop by Faithless, animation by Paranoid Now
Haven’t felt all that well this week and perhaps that has been inhibiting my digressioning as of late. If not, it makes a pretty handy excuse and one that I believe I’ll stick with for the moment.
Rest assured that there is a couple pretty decent ideas sitting in the draft queue, but they’re the needs-another-page types that tend to get big and there’s little I can do about it. They drive me nuts, and I can only imagine what it must mean for you, the barely esteemed reader, as you get to read what passes as the culmination of the struggle I have between the curtness of generalized brevity and a pedantic digression into the weeds.
Anyways, to tide you over I offer a trio of Joe Bonamassa videos.
I came across this gentleman a few years back and have steadily accumulated a near complete discography. This is some of the best dirty blues I’ve heard since Stevie Ray Vaughan. Technically jaw-dropping and vocally wrenching, he makes you feel the blues.
He’s coming to Seattle in December, but tickets are rather pricey as, it turns out, I’m not the only one to be a big fan of this guy. Who knew?
[Edit: it appears that this is the 100th post. woo hoo!]
Two of my favorite things, together; science humor and cats!
I, for one, welcome our Chemistry Cat overlords…
Quickmeme.com has a bunch of ’em collected for our perusing pleasure and there are generators everywhere.
And this is a perfect excuse to post a great little animation of Tom Lehrer’s The Element Song. The man was brilliant and will have a digression of his own here one of these days soon.
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The Ruffled Crow 