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Last Updated:
Mar 19th, 2008 - 07:43:02 |
Sketchy Artists
Spike & MIke's Sick and Twisted Animation Festival
Sick and twisted can sometimes translate to rich and famous. And
not just in the case of Gary Busey. For a point of reference, see
Beavis and Butthead creator Mike Judge, or look no further than Trey
Parker and Matt Stone, the brains behind South Park. All three debuted
work at Spike & Mike’s Twisted Animation Festival, a carnival of
cartoonish whimsy that serves as a forum for animators below the radar
and unable to keep their ideas rated G.
Now in its 15th year, the event provides a chance for talented — and
frequently deranged — minds to proffer their works to the world. Spike
and his crew (Mike passed away in 1994) turn a sharp critical eye to
submissions for the festival, which weeds out the garbage while
maintaining the spirit of the event — he doesn’t want cute, and he
doesn’t want boring. “We’ve been notorious for having an eye for great
films,” Spike says. “So many things have started with shorts, so it’s a
good format for launching careers.
“I take satisfaction that we have the ability to know what works.
People want to be a part of it. We’ve never had a level playing field,
yet we’ve developed a following. There are some very talented people,
and their stuff needs to get out there.” Brad Ableson had an ideal
submission for the festival. His piece Save Virgil involves a
foul-mouthed, disgusting little cartoon guy born to real, live people.
Virgil’s got a trucker mouth and, in his own words, is “hung like
Chilly Willy,” yet comes across as both entertaining and endearing.
Though Ableson, 30, already is a success as a storyboard artist on The
Simpsons, he wants to get his own work off the ground. “There are tons
of small Internet outlets, but this is the only widely expanded
festival for animation,” Ableson said. “You can expect them to filter
only the best stuff. The name’s been around long enough that people
expect outrageous work. Mike Judge and Trey Parker are my two biggest
heroes, so to be in a forum where they got their start is an honor.”
These days, animation isn’t just the stuff spawned by Steamboat Willy.
Traditional animation, such as The Simpsons or Family Guy, relies on
writing more so than the way it looks. Part of that is because the
field has expanded to computer-generated images (CGI), stop-motion and
that old-fashioned claymation. Good luck trying to top that with
frame-by-frame animation cells. Spike’s got no beef with all the
different disciplines. He thinks it only enhances the festival. “This
show will be one of the highest quality we have put on as far as
production value,” he said. “A lot more submissions, a lot more
computer-generated pieces ... there’s a lot of diversity and style —
very intelligent, funny films. Not just gross-out stuff.”
But the disgusting stuff is still out there. This year’s festival has a
piece that gives us the old See Spot Run tutorial in a salaciously
inappropriate manner. There’s also the cult fave Happy Tree Friends
back to show us that just because you’re a cute forest animal it
doesn’t mean your face can’t get ripped off by a faulty lemonade stand.
But Spike is right: there are some beautiful pieces of work. The Zit, a
cautionary CGI tale about the dangers of popping pimples, took creator
Mike Blum more than three years to complete. The finished effort is
gorgeous to look at and sick enough to make the cut at Spike & Mike.
Blum, 38, has worked at Disney the past 11 years and is the technical
supervisor for the upcoming Toy Story 3. But there’s a reason he toiled
so long to make a piece that spans less than 10 minutes. “I definitely
want to direct,” Blum said. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed that a lot
of people see it. This is a funny business. All it takes is one person
to see potential, and you’re off to the races. You just have to get
your work out there.”
Years ago, Nick Park got his piece to play at the festival. It featured
a clay guy named Wallace and his dog, Grommitt. Craig McCracken also
chose to debut at Spike & Mike. He’s the man behind the successful
Powerpuff Girls. Despite all he has done to launch young careers while
staying true to the format of the event, Spike feels there’s more to be
done. He would like: 1) The animation on TV to stop sucking, and 2)
Animators who have gone on to make big money to remember where they
came from. “People get successful and stop taking your calls,” Spike
laments. “That’s the most negative thing about it, and it’s kind of
sad. I look at the animation on TV and there’s some real crap out
there. It’s crap, but they hype it. I’d rather watch paint dry than
watch Daria.”
Ableson agrees, but believes riskier, visually pleasing animation could
make it big, given the chance. “When there’s that much animation on
television, the quality suffers,” he says. “There are two ways to look
at the work: visuals and content. The Simpsons, Family Guy and South
Park continue to be incredible, but none of the shows aspire to be
aesthetically groundbreaking.” | RDW
Spike & Mike’s Sick and
Twisted Animation Festival runs Monday, Dec. 26 through Friday, Dec. 30
at the Magic Bag. Each evening there will be two performances — doors
for the early show are at 7 p.m. and doors for the late show are at 10
p.m. For more info call 248.544.1991 or visit the themagicbag.com.
Jamie Cook isn’t that twisted
or all that sick, but he’d love to hear perverted thoughts from all
your dirty little minds. Send ‘em in
to letters@realdetroitweekly.com.
The Sickest of the Sick 2005
Learn Self Defense
A simple, yet hilarious, traditional cartoon that includes a sprinkling
of social commentary. Our protagonist finds that in today’s society,
you need to defend yourself. The tutorial helps turn him into a
homicidal cowboy wearing a badge. Oh yeah, his name is George.
Rejected
Don Hertzfeldt’s piece shows “rejected” commercials for the Family
Learning Channel and Johnson and Mills’ advertising. The visual work is
cookie-cutter, but the story content is brilliant. Makes us wish he’d
take over making commercials for Lifetime.
Dr. Tran
A royally fucked up Mexican-restaurant commercial that is one part
sensory overload, one part satire. Customers cram overly cheesy
quesadillas and other Mexican fare into their pie-holes ... don’t watch
on a full stomach.
Save Virgil
A real cartoon born to a biker and a retired porn star, Virgil realizes
it’s not much fun living in a world with asshole humans. The
foul-mouthed bastard spends most of his time trying to shack up with
fellow cartoon Viking Girl. Added bonus: An appearance by Gary Coleman.
Choke Spit Choke
“See Dick lick box. See Jane drain cocks. Dick and Jane have a fine
time trying sixty-nine. Smoke, Jane, smoke. Choke, Dick, choke. Jane’s
sick schtick is the cane Dick trick.” It gets worse from here … |
RDW
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