Cel Therapy

New Cel Therapy - The LeBrons

2012-01-30T21:26:00.003-05:00

A new episode of Cel Therapy is here for your listening enjoyment. In this episode, I give my thoughts on The Lebrons. This is the cartoon series created by All-Star basketball player LeBron James. I know what you are thinking, but trust me, it is good. Very good in fact. There are a lot of references and throwbacks to old cartoons from as far back as the 50's. He really did his homework on this, so I gotta give him credit.
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The therapy session is featured on Episode 13 of the Alt Animation Podcast. Click HERE to download it. Do me a favor as well: Find Alt Animation on iTunes and leave them a 5 star review. They are kind enough to feature me on their show, and it is the least I can do to show my appreciation.
If you want to listen to the therapy session only, click HERE.

Swing of Change

2012-01-12T19:41:00.004-05:00

I ran across this amazing short called Swing of Change on cartoonbrew.com this morning. It is about a barber who overcomes 1930s racism through the power of a magical trumpet. I was floored by the quality and and creativity of this short, and just in time for the upcoming black history month here in the U.S. This was done by some students over in Fance's ESMA School of the Arts. One of the comments on cb's post put it best by saying that its messed up that the French have the courage to do a piece like this before Americans. It's true. Anyways, check it out, and show these guys some love.

Synopsis : New York 30's : Harry, a racist barber changes his mind at the arrival of a magical trumpet in his barber shop !
A Graduation Short Film Directed by : Harmony Bouchard, Andy Le Cocq, Joakim Riedinger, Raphael Cenzi
Music by Denis Riedinger
Jean Christophe Mentzer (trumpet), Stephane Fougeroux (percussion), Renaud Bernad (trombone), Sébastien Lentz (horn), Michael Cortone (tuba)
Music Record : Denis Riedinger, Studio Aquarium, Hoerdt, FR
Sound Design : Jose Vicente, Studio des Aviateurs, Montpellier, FR
Mix : Matthias Heimlicher, Keytastic! studios, Lommiswil, CH
Choreographer : Tony Style, Christiane Cilluffo-Marciano

swing-of-change.com

New Episode, New Format

2011-12-30T22:14:00.004-05:00

If you noticed on the Facebook page and Twitter, I decided to bring the podcast to an end. I had big plans for it, but due to scheduling, work, and lack of support, I couldn't continue to do the podcast by myself. Shortly after that, I was contacted by Josh Ryan of the Alt Animation podcast. He listened to a couple episodes and liked what he heard. Instead of letting Cel Therapy fall into the great void of the internet, he asked to have it as a short segment on the Alt Animation Podcast. I gave it some thought... they already have a huge listenership, with great response. It was a no-brainer really. I thought it was really generous offer and I accepted.
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Now, Cel Therapy takes on a new format as a 10 minute segment on the Alt Animation podcast. They talk about the saltier side of the animation industry, and also includes interviews with some alternative animators. It is an excellent fit for Cel Therapy because the therapy session will remind people of why we love animation in the first place... cartoons. I will provide a link to the full show as well as the therapy session. I encourage everyone to listen to the entire show, you will learn something. I have to give a huge shout-out and thank you to Josh Ryan and the Alt Animation Crew for being so generous as to have Cel Therapy be a part of their show. Do me a favor and leave them a five star review on iTunes.
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Click HERE to listen to Episode 12 of the Alt Animation Podcast, featuring Cel Therapy. If that link doesn't work, visit their WEBSITE, altanimation.podomatic.com and search for episode 12.
Click HERE to listen to just the therapy session.

Angel Vitamina

2011-07-04T16:23:00.002-04:00

This is precisely the reason why independent animation is so important to the industry. I don't even have the words to describe it. Imagination, Innovation, Color, Story... it just doesn't say enough. Check it out.

ANGELVITAMINA - TRAILER 2 / PILOTO from Diego De Rose / Wujoco on Vimeo.

Ninjamaica

2011-06-30T22:10:00.003-04:00

This is a trailer called Ninjamaica, done by House of Cool. I found it to be extremely creative and funny as hell. It has a jamaican cast, which is rare in cartoons. As I was reading through the comments, people were pretty harsh on it because of its cultural references. I can't stand it when people start nitpicking about language and stereotypes. I thought it was done extremely well. Here is what I had to say:

Wow. This is hilarious! Animation is well done, great story. I love the diversity. I see some of the comment are kinda harsh on the cultural references and language. I disagree. I mean honestly, who else is putting out content with a black/Jamaican cast? Certainly not Nick, Disney, WB, or CN. If we lash out at everyone who makes an attempt, then the face of cartoons will continue to look the same. This comes from an animator, and I'm black.

Meet the Medic

2011-06-25T19:00:00.002-04:00

Here is the latest animated short for Team Fortress 2. This one is called Meet the Medic. If you are not familiar with these shorts, they are basically trailers featuring each character from the online shooter, Team Fortress 2. They are done by Valve, the developer of the game. When I first saw these, I was absolutely stunned by the quality of animation. In many games, much of the animation is intended for gameplay, not for entertainment value. With Team Fortress 2, they use both. Seeing what type of personality the character has actually adds to the overall experience. From what I can tell, the 3d models are actually in-game assets. That makes it even more bad-ass. Who needs a Hi-res, multi-million polygon model to create an awesome short? Valve sure doesn't, and they prove it with the latest in the series.

The LeBrons

2011-06-16T00:28:00.003-04:00

When LeBron James first said he was doing a cartoon, I didn't take him seriously. However, after watching it, I have to give him credit. It is very well done. Broadcast quality animation on youtube.

Episode 7 has arrived!

2011-05-22T23:05:00.003-04:00

Hello Fans, Episode 7 of Cel Therapy has arrived. In this episode, I talk about one of the greatest cartoons to ever get cancelled, Sym-Bionic Titan. I found out about the cancellation as I was recording the episode. It is old news by now, but definitely worth mentioning. Basically, ST was cancelled because it did not have enough toys connected to it. I read the story on Cartoon Brew. This story is a great example of how a lot of western cartoons have to have a huge marketing and merchandise strategy. Otherwise, the execs won't even consider it. Great content is no longer enough in this market. That is a shame because there are so many gems out there, waiting for a break, that will never see the light of day. *Sigh* I would love to see creative new ideas like Sym-Bionic Titan. Perhaps we can take a few notes from anime OAV's. Just release an entire series straight to video. ST has a huge following. I'd like to see it back on TV, or a full season release on dvd, given straight to the fans. I'm not sure if they can make money from bypassing TV altogether, but its a thought. CLICK HERE to download Episode 7.
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Discussed: Sym-Bionic Titan

Roomies ep.1 "Toiletpaper"

2011-03-06T18:00:00.001-05:00

It is my pleasure to present the first episode of Roomies. A lot of hard work went into making this happen. Some great artist worked on this, myself included. It feels good to finally see this come together in such a beautiful display of artistic independence. I must also give respect to all the people that supported Roomies. Take a look, leave a comment, and there is much, much more to come.
-Kev

Episode 6 IS HERE!

2011-02-18T21:53:00.003-05:00

Hello to everyone! It's a new year and a new year deserves a new podcast. I will be changing the format and shortening the show a little bit. We will see how that goes. In this episode, I hit on Golden Globes, Toy Story 3, and the overall format of an animated feature. DOWNLOAD THE EPISODE HERE and be sure to tell a friend.
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Discussed: Golden Globes, Toy Story 3, animated feature format

Episode 5 is Here!

2010-12-23T12:38:00.003-05:00

Episode 5 of Cel Therapy has arrived. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD. It took a lot longer to get this one out than I thought. Scheduling conflicts, work, all that jazz. This episode is all about the cartoons I've been watching, no news or therapy session. There is a little gem in there for you. It is a cartoon that I was pleasantly surprised by. Take a listen, and tell a friend.
Discussed: Simpsons, Animation Domination on FOX, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, Superman Doomsday, Firebreather

Honoring Black Animators

2010-12-06T23:45:00.003-05:00

I got this from Animation Magazine:

Veteran African-American animators will be honored Dec. 10 at a special opening-night ceremony for the 17th annual African-American Film Marketplace and S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase.

The event, to be held at the National Center for Democracy in Los Angeles, will honor the following animators for their contributions to the art form:

Lyndon Barrois
Jamaal Bradley
Frank C. Braxton, Jr. (1929–1969)
Lennie Graves
Dan Haskett
Keith Hunter (1966–2007)
Ron Husband
Floyd Norman
Ron Myrick
Bruce Smith
Leo Sullivan
Corey Turner
Marlon West
Titled “A Great Day in Black Hollywood, Part 4: Honoring Black Animators,” the ceremony kicks off the annual event, presented by the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center. The event presents three days of short films written, directed and produced by emerging African-American filmmakers. The films will be screened Dec. 11-12 at Raleigh Studios in hollywood.

The opening night ceremony begins at 8 p.m. and is followed by a reception. Tickets cost $25. Information on buying tickets can be found online at www.bherc.org, by sending an email to john@firstweekendclub.com or by calling (310) 284-3170.

Thought of You

2010-12-06T20:39:00.003-05:00

This short is so incredibly beautiful.... I .... I can't even describe it. I'm literally at a loss for words. Take a look below.

Thought of You from Ryan Woodward on Vimeo.

Chico and Rita

2010-10-19T20:13:00.002-04:00

From Apple's Movie Trailers:
Synopsis
Cuba, 1948. Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and romantic desire unites them, but their journey - in the tradition of the Latin ballad, the bolero - brings heartache and torment. From Havana to New York, Paris, Hollywood and Las Vegas, two passionate individuals battle impossible odds to unite in music and love. (end)
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www.chicoandrita.co.uk/press
Genre:Drama, Romance
Director:Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal, Tono Errando
Cast:Limara Meneses, Emar Xor Oña, Mario Guerra
Run Time:94 minutes
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WOW! This looks like it is going to be a beautiful film. I really don't know what to say about it. I saw the trailer and I am really excited to see more culture on the big screen. Not a whole lot of buzz for it though. I stumbled upon it myself. I would think that something like this would be the new hotness. I can only hope to bring some good attention to it here. Check it out.

Episode 4 Is Ready!!!!

2010-09-11T18:50:00.004-04:00

It is my great pleasure to bring you the fourth episode of Cel Therapy. The Therapy Session for this episode is called Cartoon Throwback. Can you remember any cartoons from childhood that were near and dear to your heart? Or ones that helped shape your personal character? I talk about a couple in this episode. You can download the episode by clicking HERE.
Discussed: Avatar: Legend of Korra, Toy Story 3, Futurama, Team Fortress 2, The Boondocks, Tom & Jerry, Robotech

Episode 3 is Ready!!

2010-07-20T23:21:00.002-04:00

Cel Therapy episode 3 is ready. I get a little wordy with one of the cartoons. Still cool though. No news segment this time. I go straight into the cartoons I've been watching, and the show topic (Therapy Session). The topic is 2D Never Died. I go on a small rant on the idea that 2d animation was on it's way out the door. Take a listen. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.

Airbender got Ruined

2010-07-07T00:00:00.003-04:00

If you haven't heard by now, M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender was an epic fail. I went to see it in spite of all the warnings from my friends. Part of me died because of his blatant disrespect for the cartoon and all its fans. It made some decent money in the theaters, but that is ONLY because people thought it would be good. I can't begin to express all the ways it missed the mark. It is a shame that the greatest cartoon ever made will have this stain of a live action movie to associate with it. This review by Amrit Maharaj does a better job of explaining the failure from a fan's perspective. Click HERE to read it.
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Want to see something ironic? The outcome of the movie was predicted in the cartoon itself. This is a clip from an actual episode, with a cool composite. A friend of mine sent me this link. Keep your eyes on the poster/scroll.

Show the guy who made this clip some love.

3D Celebrities

2010-06-19T13:26:00.002-04:00

When 3D models become celebrities.
Top row - Tony Rydinger from The Incredibles is Andy Davis from Toy Story 3.
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Bottom Row - Helen (Elsatigirl) Parr from The Incredibles is Ms Davis from "Toy Story 3.
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*this has not been confirmed, but definitely hasn't been denied.

Episode 2 is ready!

2010-06-18T12:22:00.005-04:00

Cel Therapy, Episode 2: Kissing More Frogs is ready. Thanks to everyone that gave some feedback. Still no iTunes yet. I don't know how to make it work. Until that gets going, enjoy the direct download. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Two Favorites Cancelled

2010-06-11T00:30:00.003-04:00

Just found out that both Wolverine and the X-Men, and Spectacular Spider-Man were cancelled. I'm more than a little late with that information. Still pisses me off though. Two incredible cartoon that the networks are not standing behind. If I'm correct they switched Spidey's time block three times. I guess they were trying to find the best spot for him. As for wolverine, it seemed like I could never tell when a new episode was coming. When I did miss one, I tried to watch it on their website. Bad part is, they were often two, three episodes behind. I guess that should have been a warning sign right there. My problem is that these were awesome cartoons. Spectacular Spider-Man featured the awesome character designs of Sean "cheeks" Galloway, which fit perfect for animation. Wolverine and the X-Men was ten times better than X-Men: Evolution, which got three seasons if I'm correct. So you mean to tell me that a much better cartoon gets cancelled? That's some ol' bullshit. Is television really THAT competitive? Ratings don't mean everything. I feel like both Nickelodeon AND Disney are shooting themselves in the foot by canceling some truly awesome cartoons.

Episode 1 is finally here

2010-04-28T02:03:00.005-04:00

I know its taken me long enough. I'm learning so much as I do this. The way I sound on audio, putting myself on the spot. It's wild. Episode 1 - Kissing Frogs talks about the controversy surrounding The Princess and The Frog. We also hit on a little news, then go into the therapy session with the cartoons I've been watching. I hope you enjoy the show. Don't crack on it too hard, I know it's my first effort at this.
Check it out HERE.
This will also be on Itunes soon. Having some technical problems that I can't figure out. Darn.... always something...

Watching Clone Wars Online

2010-03-23T01:29:00.003-04:00

Watching the Clone Wars online has been the worst viewing experience ever. The playback is absolutely horrible. It suffers from frequent stops, blank screens, and video errors. One time it said "the video is temporarily unavailable," and the audio was still playing. I'm watching this my home laptop, and though it's a few years old, it is more than capable to support streaming video. To run into these types of problems is unacceptable. The starwars website is the only place where this happens. I would think that someone would have tested this on just about any system. I was taught that great video should be accessible even on the weakest system. I guess that's not the case here. Sometimes, I forget to set the DVR. Sometimes, I'm not even aware that there is a new episode. Clone Wars is not available On Demand(brighthouse). When that happens, I expect the website to be the place where I can go. Starwars.com is the only place that can legally show them. Plus, I like visiting the site. But, when shit like this happens, what is a cartoon lover to do? Looks like I better stay on top of my game and make sure that DVR records when it's supposed to.

Almost There

2010-03-07T22:04:00.002-05:00

Over a year ago, I started on this journey to express my love for animation. With very little going in the way of animated employment, and a more than busy personal life, I have realized how hard it is to put out a show on your own. I give much respect to those that make it happen. So, what does that mean for me? What does that mean for Cel Therapy? It means I need to get off my lazy butt. I have recorded a little here, and a little there. Got skype and a headset mic. Got a mac, but the mic doesn't work right on it. I have done some research by listening to other podcasts that do their thang well. Even went so far as to make a spread sheet with show topics. In other words, it's like I've made a bunch of excuses with no product. I say to myself, either I love this thing or I don't. If the only way for me to express my craft is to talk about it, then I need to do it. I have enough material for the first episode, but no music, and some of the audio is bad. Maybe I need to send it out there with love and not worry so much about being like everyone else. Just a few thoughts. More later.

My "Avatar: The Last Aribender" Cast

2010-01-19T12:53:00.003-05:00

I didn't like M. Night Shyamalan's cast for The Last Airbender movie, so I chose my own. Here it goes.

Hama - Tantoo Cardinal
Ozai - Ken Wantanabe
Iroh - Togo Igawa
Jeong Jeong - Ken Leung
Combustion Man - Dave Batista
The Boulder - Dwayne Johnson
The Hippo - Akebono Taro
The Gecko - Rey Mysterio Jr.
Toph - Adora Svitak (child genius)
Jet - Rocky Liao (Shen Yun Performing Arts)
Longshot - Michael Fishman
Gyatso - Chow Yun-Fat
Azula - Crystal Liu
Zuko - Jeong Ji-hoon
Sokka - Curtis Dubuc (Native Celebs)
Katara - Q'Orianka Kilcher
Aang - Brandon Soo Hoo

I wish I could have added some more ethnicity in there, but what can I say, the cartoon is set in an Asian fantasy world. The cast would have to represent that. Some of the Earth Kingdom inhabitants are diverse. Also, the Sand benders and the water benders from the Swamp look as though they could have various ethnic backgrounds, but they didn't make the main cast in my version of The Last Airbender Movie.

What have I been up to?

2009-12-10T10:46:00.003-05:00

Whoa! It's been too long since my last post. Sorry bout that. I have been working hard though. I entered two back to back animation competitions in October and November for 11secondclub.com. That took up a lot of time. Also, I've been looking and new and used macbook pro's. My pc is really showing it's age.

As far as cartoons are concerned, I have been watching three on a regular basis. The sunday night line-up of Simpsons, Cleveland Show, and Family Guy have been keeping me occupied. The Simpsons still holds up after all these years. With rumors of the show's cancellation in past years, I felt inclined to watch it more. Not a whole lot to say about it. It seems like Homer's intelligence has been turned way down in the past few seasons. Perhaps that was to compete with Family Guy. Watching it now, I enjoy Simpsons on a different level. I relate to more of the adult humor, so I get a bigger laugh out of the supporting characters instead of Bart. I'm sure that's because I'm older now.

Family Guy has become aware of itself. People have complained that the humor and flashbacks are predictable. As a result, the writers actually put that into the cartoon. The characters will make fun of themselves whenever they come across a situation that the show has been criticized for. That's a nice touch in my opinion. I feel like the writing is better now and the jokes have expanded. They even acknowledge the fact that Cleveland got his own show. It feels like two great cartoons existing in the same world.

On to the Cleveland Show... I love The Cleveland Show. I've said this before, but it makes me proud to have a great show starring a black family. There were only a few to premiere this fall (live action included). It's not on Disney, it's not on Cartoon Network, it's on FOX. That says a lot. I completely get the humor. They have done some great research into black culture and it works well in the cartoon. I am glad that they chose not to simply poke fun at black stereotypes and call it comedy. The dialogue is well done. It doesn't feel dated like a few other shows that use "urban" language or slang.
The Cleveland Shot gets a lot criticism though. Many people I have talked to feel like it's slow and they don't get the humor. Simply put, they are judging this one off of Family Guy's merits. That sucks because it is supposed to be a different show centered around Cleveland as a character. Almost all of the comments on Fox's website are negative. I hope Fox ignores them. The show is a throw back to the 70's. The next person may not get the funk references, the uptown white boy who thinks he's black, or dialogue like "let me get you a Jet magazine and some sweet tea." It completely works for me though. I will continue to support it. I do feel that they might pull it if the ratings drop. I know that's just business, but I would hate for hollywood to think black shows don't make money. Who knows how long it would be before we see another show of this type? Do your thing, Seth McFarlane. The show is awesome.

Afro Samurai's True Identity Revealed

2009-10-02T01:18:00.003-04:00

There is a striking resemblance here. Sho'Nuff, the shogun of Harlem from The Last Dragon, is really Afro Samurai. So Awesome!

Battle for Terra

2009-09-27T19:02:00.002-04:00

I watched Battle for Terra today. Unfortunately I missed this one in the theaters. It also didn’t help that the movie was not advertised until the week of the release. I was pissed, but its okay.
The visual effects were awesome. I like the environments and the character designs for the Terra natives. It wasn’t explained how they were able to hover though. Perhaps they wanted us to use a bit of imagination, but a little back story on that would have been nice. I thought the designs for the humans could have been pushed a bit more. 3D models got re-used with very few changes. That was most likely due to budget. A new character means a new 3D model, new textures, maybe a new rig, which is no small task to say the least.

I think the story could have been much better. The battle wasn't that big of a battle. The idea was awesome on a broad scale, but suffered in places that needed the fine details. If we were to relate to the lost humans, then more back story and character development should have been added. The culture of the Terra natives was not explained very well. By the time we get into the dynamics of the main character, it is time to fight and resolve the conflict. There were some deleted scenes that really should have been left in the movie.

Though I had my problems with Battle for Terra, I am proud to see the indie film go from the lab to the big screen. It will inspire more animators and directors to think bigger than senior projects and film festivals. (Don’t get me wrong though, I love film festivals) Awesome ideas like these will give the big dogs a run for their money.
-Kev

Disney's 'Princess and the Frog' Controversy

2009-09-26T03:30:00.004-04:00

I read this article about Princess and the Frog on AOL. People commented on the controversy and here is what I had to say:

Controversy or not, this movie NEEDS to be released and worry about the backlash later. There have been quite a few black disney characters over the years. This movie is important because it stars a black LEAD character. Kids might not pay much attention to it; they just want to have a fun time. As an adult, this means the world to me because of the social statement. I think this movie is long overdue because cartoons struggle with diversity just like hollywood does. More research could have been done to avoid racial stereotypes. They were blind-sided by criticism of how to properly display black love. Some people have been waiting all their life for this, like the first black tv show, tennis player, or president. If someone had the money and resources to release such a movie, then it would have been done already. That gives Disney the perfect opportunity to answer the call. I will be there opening weekend to show my love. I hope this movie inspires more studios to explore black lead characters.

Blokhedz Cartoon

2009-09-22T23:41:00.003-04:00

Hey, Has anyone seen Blokhedz? I saw it posted on the Black SuperHero Blog. I watched episode 3 and it looks pretty freakin' sweet. It is 2d animation in 3d environments. I love the character designs and it has a cool concept. It has a fresh take on hip-hop culture in a cartoon. Listen, don't let hot cartoons like these slip through the cracks on me. Does anyone know where I can find more new hotness?
-Kev

2009-09-22T15:01:00.005-04:00

In "The Spectacular Spiderman," the romance between Peter and Gwen is much like the one Peter and Mary Jane. They both had a secret crush, and now, Gwen is dating Harry Osborn. So, are we really getting something new? In the comics, Gwen Stacey is credited as Peter's first real love, which makes sense in the cartoon that she come before Mary Jane. Still, I would appreciate a little something different.

My Thoughts on 9

2009-09-14T13:23:00.001-04:00

I checked out 9 the day after it released. Wow... I can't say enough good things about this film. 9 is very imaginative and super creative. Awesome job, Shane Acker. It is much different from the mainstream fun we are used to. With other animated movies, we usually see a distressed protagonist and some sort of quirky sidekick for comic relief. However, 9 instantly takes you into an eerie world that can't be seen anywhere else. Each character is dynamic and draws a ton of emotion. The visual effects are nothing short of amazing. 9 does a great job of setting the stage for a world torn apart by war. Each object in the environment has a story to tell.

I found that the story was interesting, but we have heard it before. Man makes machine, machine rises up, and mankind bites the dust. What remains are these 9 hand-made creations with the heart and soul of the human race. They have a big problem of their own that threatens their survival. In comparison to the short film, the original short film did not have any dialogue. Much of the story was left to the imagination of the viewer, which was cool with me. It made the short film more fun. Much of the look and feel remained the same from short to feature length film. Although Tim Burton's name is slapped on it, (which doesn't have to be a bad thing) 9 is still very much Shane Acker's baby.

On a personal note, 9 is a real inspiration to me and other indie artists. It shows that a short film can compete with the big dogs and do better. To start with an idea, an original set of characters, and have it gain momentum until it reaches the eyes of someone like Tim Burton, would be a dream come true. I look forward to more incredible stories from indie artists, myself included.
-Kev

Stuff I Missed

2009-08-17T23:21:00.002-04:00

There was a lot of good stuff I missed out on. I'll name some. Batman Beyond - I have the uncut version of the movie. I kept up with season one of the cartoon series, but I missed the others. Part of that was because I didn't have cable for a while when it was on the air. After that I was working so much that I didn't even know what time stuff was coming on. I missed a lot of Static Shock. Though some of the dialogue was cheesy, I like how it tackled social issues. It's in syndication now, so that's a good thing. Spider-Man Unlimited - I had no idea this series even existed until I saw some reruns on Disney XD. I was like "What the hell is this?" (Not in a bad way though, just sucked that I never saw it.) I saw a few episodes of the He-Man remake. I could never figure out when it came on. A lot of people hated on it, but it seemed promising to me. X-Men Evolution - I was absolutely going to watch this series. Now that I am catching the reruns, I see that I didn't miss much. I missed Shorties Watching Shorties on Comedy Central. I hated on this one for a while. I couldn't get with the art style. Now that I look back on it, it had a great formula. Each one like an animated short, but if the live comedy sucked, then so did the cartoon.

As far as movies are concerned, I missed Delgo. I should be mad at myself for that one. Two of my teachers worked on Delgo, and I applied for job there at Fathom Studios. According to Yahoo movies, It had the worst release ever. That sux. They had been working on it for over a decade. I didn't see a commercial until the week of the release. The same thing happened with Battle for Terra. Can I see a commercial or something? By the time I got around to seeing either of them, they had already been pulled from theaters.

Comment on some toons or animated movies that you missed.
-Kev

Show some Brave And Bold love

2009-08-09T22:08:00.003-04:00

The Batman: The Brave And The Bold cartoon took a while to grow on me. I think it's a lot of fun now that I have taken the time to watch. It's just Batman, no Bruce Wayne. They take the time to develop the lesser known heroes such as The Cat and Blue Beetle. They let other heroes shine instead of it always being about Batman.

Iced Out with Ice Age

2009-07-24T00:33:00.002-04:00

I give much respect to Blue Sky for an awesome job on Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. This is the third movie in the Ice Age family and it holds up just as well as the first two movies. The animation was excellent. I feel like their skill and artwork improved over the course of the three movies. I like how the herd keeps growing. It contradicts the idea of extinction.
I predicted a bit of the story though. Without even knowing specific plot elements, I knew they were going to walk from point A to point B, then back to point A again, this time with a baby and a LOT of Scrat the squirrel in the middle. There was much more Scrat in this movie than the previous ones. I can’t hate. It’s their formula. However, it makes me wonder how long, or how good the movie would have been without the Scrat cut scenes. It also makes me wonder if I am getting a new experience. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the cut scenes. The problem is that Scrat almost outshined the movie that people paid money to see. They could be setting up a full length Scrat feature though. If that happens, you heard it first here on Cel Therapy.
I think they should stop right here at the third Ice Age. Any movie with two successful sequels is a milestone. Any more and it might go into Land Before Time territory. Don Bluth already hurt the dinosaur gig with 13 installments of Land Before Time. (And that’s just the ones that are numbered) That might be a bit of a stretch, but I had to say it anyway. Blue Sky is in the perfect position now to start up another original property and build on their now solidified reputation of excellence.
-Kev

My Thoughts on Pixar’s “UP.”

2009-06-25T11:40:00.002-04:00

From start to finish, UP was simply amazing. It is an instant classic in my book. Pixar remains on top of the game and have never disappointed me with a movie. UP has the most emotion and depth of any of their films, possibly the most of any 3D film to date. WALL-E made a very clear socioeconomic statement, but it was hidden beneath the fun and adventure. Up comes straight at you with powerful, tear-jerking themes and imagery that are contrary to the typical Disney film. You won’t find any royal families with a handsome prince courting a beautiful princess. Instead, you find a widower who wants to keep a life long promise. There are no comedic one-liner sidekicks either. You find a boy scout and a dog, both from broken families, in search of acceptance. Though they do indeed come together to form a cohesive unit, each character is a complete, dynamic, and standalone character.

This film proves that western animation is not just for kids. It is long overdue for the industry to grow and eliminate that stigma, and Pixar is just the studio to do it. Adults and children can enjoy UP in a variety of different ways. I congratulate Pixar for always breaking new ground in animation.

The creativity of UP takes me back to the computer lab in college. It reminds me of short film ideas conjured up while staying overnight in the lab to make sure no one stops my render. You can almost feel the creative process and a writer or animator asking, “What can I do to make this new and different?” That question alone is what separates Pixar from others.

-Kev

Phineas and Ferb

2009-06-04T01:24:00.002-04:00

I have been watching a little Phineas and Ferb lately. I am really impressed with this cartoon. At first, I thought I wasn’t missing much. I’m more into action cartoons and adult humor. After watching it, I found that it is a fun cartoon. I love the story behind it. The “summer break” element of the story grounds it with both and kids and adults. It takes me back to a time when I was searching for new and exciting things to do when I was on summer break. It also brings back the song and dance that cartoons used to have. I haven’t seen that in a long time. I didn’t know what to expect when I first saw the singing. I was pleasantly surprised as it is done very well. It proves that the “feel good” cartoon with a moral message is long from gone. My taste for action is somewhat satisfied with the side stories about Perry the Platypus and Dr. Doofenshmirtz. It doesn’t have huge explosions, or glass shattering punches, but there is the tension of evil plans getting foiled at the last minute. Other “feel good” cartoons that I think of in comparison are Hey Arnold, The Wild Thornberrys, and Recess. I could take it back even farther and compare it to Muppet Babies as they have a huge adventure right before Nanny enters the room.
Every time I watch Phineas and Ferb, something weird happens. I say to myself, “This is what Class of 3000 should have been.” I gave CO3K all of the support in the world. I felt like it was doing some great things with music, morals, and the “feel good” theme that I mentioned earlier. I felt that it left a little to be desired with the dialogue and writing. Others I talked to said that they didn’t quite get it. Also, it could have used a stronger protagonist, and a clearly defined antagonist. Phineas and Ferb completes that formula. I wish that Class of 3000 could have used some of that formula and gone on to see more success.
Phineas and Ferb is definitely worth checking out. It is great for all ages. I recommend finding episodes of Class of 3000 and comparing the two.

Iron Man: Armored Adventures Review

2009-05-13T00:06:00.000-04:00

I just checked out the first episode of Iron Man Armored Adventures. The predictions I mentioned from watching the trailer are spot on. We get a very generic version of Tony Stark. He is a teen genius out to prove himself. There is absolutely no grit or swagger that we know from the comic or that some were introduced to in the live action movie. So it very well could have been any teenager in a flying metal suit. The animation left a lot to be desired, though I realize that a lot of corners have to be cut in order for a 3d series to be successful. Since so much goes into 3d production, it looks like they will keep it localized to a few friends and a few enemies. I also mentioned that the characters reminded me a lot of the Spider Man series on MTV, but I totally forgot about about Skyland, another 3d cel-shaded series from Nick. There are a lot of similarities from there too. I expected the look of Iron Man to be a bit more original, to set itself apart its cel-shaded siblings. Rhodey is cool. He coaches the missions much like Wade from Kim Possible. Pepper can be a little annoying. I'm sure that is what they were going for though. I do wish that they could match the animation to her personality. If they could add some quick, quirky gestures found in Anime, I think it would help her character a lot. Overal, Iron Man is cool, nothing to write home to mom about. I expected more from the story and design. I will check back in with Iron Man periodically. This could be one of those series that progressively gets better as the feedback comes in. I do like robots and mech armor though. Can't go wrong with that.
-Kev

Priest, Rabbi, Minister cartoon

2009-04-17T12:11:00.005-04:00

From Crackle: A Priest, A Rabbi, and A Minister Walk Into a Bar

So here is the link for a cartoon I worked on at Radical Axis called "Priest, Rabbi, Minister". I did some animation and all of the backgrounds except for outside shot of the bar, the cruise ship, and the bathroom! Lemme know what you guys think!

http://crackle.com/c/A_Priest,_A_Rabbi,_and_A_Minister_Walk_Into_a_Bar/A_Priest_A_Rabbi_and_A_Minister_Walk_Into_a_Bar/2463039

From the hoop

2009-04-12T21:54:00.003-04:00

I was cruising the 3d sites today and I found a gem of a short film. It's called From the hoop, done by Remi Dessinges, Guillaume Fesquet and Anthony Arnoux. The story is widely inspired by the life of Earl Manigault, one of the greatest basketball players of his generation who lost everything to drugs.
This is an excellent film from start to finish. It shows that black characters and issues are not the sole territory of black artists. I know we have talked a lot about race issues in the recent posts, but I keep finding great examples that add depth to the conversations. Plus, I wasn't able to do the black history blowout that I wanted.
From the hoop is really inspiring well beyond its content. Please check it out.
-Kev

Movie on official website : http://www.fromthehoop.com
Vimeo direct link : http://vimeo.com/3992998

Directors : Anthony Arnoux, Remi Dessinges, Guillaumes Fesquet
Music : Dasoundesigner

HOTSPOT PLAYED MY COMMENT ON THE 03/24/2009 SHOW!

2009-03-28T11:38:00.002-04:00

As some of you may know by now, the video game Resident Evil 5 ignited a lot of discussions about race in video games. The game is set in Africa and features some imagery that critics say is offensive and racist. The HotSpot staff, among many other video game podcasts, did a show about it on March 17. (Please see my post on 3/10/09 about Race and Ethnicity in Games) I called their voicemail line to give my two cents AND THEY PLAYED IT ON THE 03/24/2009SHOW!! THAT'S HOT! They got to their voicemail portion of the show and there I was, sounding goofy as hell.
I said that I don't have a problem with the game. I'm glad that game is being diverse and the developer needs to stand by their product.
They disagreed with me in a way, which is cool because they brought up some points that I didn't think about. They mentioned a couple of spots in the game that had stereotypical imagery and situations in order to make the citizens more scary. Imagery such as skulls, slaughtered animals, tribal masks and such. They also mentioned that perhaps the developer should have done more research, especially here in the U.S., where racial depictions are a huge issue. (I'm paraphrasing a lot of this, so please check out the HotSpot podcast.)
That made me think for a sec. Y'all remember Tarzan? Not the cartoon, but the live action show from the 80's? I watched and enjoyed that show as a kid. Now that I look back on it, their racial depictions were completely F'ed up! So, has my perception been jaded? Should I be more pissed about RE5? I just don't want developers to see this as a reason NOT to go there again. I agree with HotSpot, do the research, and come correct. That's all we can ask.
-Kev

Iron Man: Armored Adventures Trailer

2009-03-24T23:17:00.004-04:00

I just watched the Iron Man trailer. Well......ummm....... yeah... I am not too excited about this one. This looks like yet another cartoon to piggyback off the success of the movie. The visuals look decent. There is nothing that really knocks your socks off though. It's all CG with cel shaded characters. This looks EXACTLY like the Spider-Man series that aired on MTV in 2003. Some of the models even look the same. The production crew might be the same, but I couldn't find any information on it.
I like that the cartoon will bring in some giant robots. I haven't seen that in a while. (Yes I am intentionally skipping over Transformers Animated and Transformers Armada) Rhody is in it. I think they should give him a cartoon, though I highly doubt Nickelodeon would air a cartoon called "War Machine." Mandarin looks like The Shredder from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
HERE IS MY GRIPE:
The trailer portrays Tony Stark as this humble, teenage hero the comparable to Peter Parker or Ben 10. If so, then that is some straight up BULL. Changing his personality completely craps on the core audience. Tony Stark is a jerk to say the least. He is not some loveable teen. If that were the case, then his character could have been any person with a flying metal suit. I know that there are certain themes that you can't have in a Nickelodeon cartoon, but at least they could have kept some of his grit and swagger. It's true that the audience will shift once you change the medium from comic book, to movie, or to cartoon. However, you need to keep some of the key ingredients for the crossover audience. Fans of the cartoon will pick up the comic book and find a VERY different Tony Stark. They may add some of the character elements once the cartoon hits. It looks like I will have to check out the premiere and see what it do.
-Kev

Race and Ethnicity in Games

2009-03-10T01:23:00.009-04:00

The guys over at the ReAnimators Podcast did a show about Race and Ethnicity in Games. It is Episode 19 - The Race is On! of the ReAnimators Podcast. People, it was awesome. You MUST check out this discussion. It was balanced, objective, and had plenty of questions that needed to be asked. I think this also relates to cartoons, which will be a future topic here on celtherapy. Please listen to the podcast and show these guys some love. Seriously, go listen to it.
-Kev
ADDITIONS TO THE DISCUSSION
The guys over at Rebel FM also had an awesome discussion about race in games. It is Episode 11. Please check it out and show these guys some love.
The staff over at The HotSpot talked about it on their March 17 2009 episode. Really in-depth discussion. Be sure to check them out as well.
The 1UP staff talked about it on the March 20, 2009 episode of Listen UP. Also an in-depth discussion with some personal perspective.
Check all of these shows out. Tell them Cel Therapy sent you!

Note: If you know of any more shows that talked about it, let me know.

Wonder Woman

2009-03-06T12:03:00.003-05:00

Well I recently watched the new Wonder Woman animated movie and I have to say I was very impressed. This was animated by the same studio that did Justice league series and Superman Doomsday movie. They have a style that is very clean cut and easy to recognize, unfortunately, that can be a bad thing sometimes. The animation on the characters seem to look exactly the same throughout each movie (if not recycled). Superman's punch looks and feels the same as the Hulk punching something. DC has developed some great characters with simple powers and I think you have to find a new way to display those powers in every new movie. How many times do I need to see superman shoot the lasers from his eyes? Why not try using it a different way, instead of cutting through walls with it. How about using it to create a canal and redirecting a river. Show me exactly how powerful this man really can be. With all that said WW is refreshingly new. The animation is absolutely beautiful. The fight scenes are top notch (no more super heroes punching the camera then cut to the bad guys reaction). In fact the fight scenes can be a bit gruesome. There are a couple of decapitation and impalement scenes that left my jaw dropping. WW is a well developed character as well. They never had a problem with the stories though. Even the character designs are bit different this time around. They sill have that Bruce Timm feel to them, but this time all the characters don't look like they're made from the same mold. Overall this is a movie worth getting. Top notch animation, story is excellent, characters are well developed, perfect movie!

MegaCon '09

2009-03-04T11:49:00.003-05:00

Here are a couple photos from the Orlando MegaCon. It was a lot of fun. It seemed waaaayyy smaller than last year though. I'm sure that it has to do with the economy. I was out there promoting Cel Therapy and talking with some indy artists and writers. I will give them some plugs once I go through the bag of stuff I brought back.
-Kev

Looking forward to The Cleveland Show

2009-02-12T22:44:00.000-05:00

As you all probably know by now, The Family Guy is getting a spin-off called The Cleveland Show. The cartoon stars neighbor Cleveland and is set to air this fall. If you keep up with The Family Guy, you know that Cleveland's wife, Loretta, was made to be this really controlling person. Another neighbor, Quagmire, sleeps with Loretta which eventually leads to the couple's divorce. (Pretty deep when you think about the context of this cartoon) The Cleveland Show follows Cleveland as he reunites with his childhood sweethart. She has a daughter and son from her first marriage and Cleveland brings along his son from The Family Guy series. They will combine some very unique personalities.

I am really looking forward to this new series. I am a huge Family Guy fan. I love the writing with its witty humor and flasbacks. I hope that they will introduce some new ideas with The Cleveland Show. They have to now that I think about it. Though it is a spin-off, it must have its own flare. Otherwise we would be getting more of Family Guy. Look at the success of King Of The Hill. Technically, it was a spin-off of Beavis and Butthead, but it went in a different direction. To add a bit of irony to that example, The Cleveland Show will be replacing King Of The Hill.

I am also looking forward to this show because it stars a black character. I know there are plenty of cartoons out there that have black characters in the cast. (I could list a bunch of them now but that will be a good topic for a podcast) They are usually the supporting character that adds some extra flavor to the cartoon. I don't have a problem with that as long as it isn't corny. It is nice to see another LEAD character though. That's what I feel is missing from a lot of cartoons. There is so much more that directors and producers can bring to the table by branching out a bit. I have some high expectations for this series. I am expecting some side-splitting humor mixed with some dead wrong. There is a strong team behind it (Seth MacFarlane, Rich Appel and Mike Henry) and I'm sure they want to see the cartoon succeed as much as I do.
-Kev

Afro Samurai: Resurrection Review

2009-01-28T13:07:00.004-05:00

I watched the new Afro Samurai movie on Spike, and it was off the chain. It was literally action packed from beginning to end. I was a fan of the cartoon series and this movie does not disappoint. It picks up right where the cartoon ended. Like they quote many times throughout the series, the cycle of bloodshed for the number one headband never ends. While on the path to number 1, you might just piss some people off (the ones that are still alive). Those pissed off people might come after you. So, guess what? Someone who was real pissed off at Afro came after him and so the cycle continues. The movie is an artistic masterpiece. The painted backgrounds really draw you in to the environment. There are great camera angles and cinematics as well. Afro still doesn't talk much though. And I felt that his imaginary friend and supplemental characters kinda held my hand a bit. You very seldom know what Afro is thinking, which is how the creators like it. But you have to be careful about how you tell the story through other characters. Some of it is cool, but some of it is really cheesy. If I can't tell what Afro is thinking, then how can the other characters? However, since Afro is very notorious in the cartoon, maybe they already know what the deal is when they see him. The movie does show a bit of a deeper side to Afro. They don't solely focus on his bad-assness (I know that's not a word). As a matter of fact, he really gets his ass kicked in this one. There is a really nice little twist at the end, some backstabbing and betrayals. My complaint is that they dont have any greater conflict than revenge. It kinda limits how deep you can get with the story. I think it works for this movie and the series. If they were to continue with more of Afro Samurai, I would be looking for a little more than "hey, you pissed me off, I'm coming to get you" over and over again. And yes, they did leave room for more Afro in the future.
-Kev

Avatar: The Last Airbender CONTROVERSY

2009-01-25T19:35:00.007-05:00

For those that doin't know, my favorite cartoon of all time is Avatar: The Last Airbender. I love the art, love the writing, and I love the concept. This isn't the first cartoon to have elemental based powers, but I do think it used elementals in the most creative way. I'll do a more in-depth review later. Here is the controversy. I read an article on AWN.com about the beef going on about the casting for the live action movie. It looks like they have an all white cast to play asian characters. This gets a great big WHAT THE F*CK ?!?!? from the folks here at CeL Therapy. I'm a black man, and I like for hollywood to come correct with the casting and the representation. If they don't, then raise hell until they do. Black hollywood is small, and I'm sure that asian hollywood is even smaller. However, that does not mean that there is a lack of talent. The talent is there and perhaps they should work harder to find it. Go to a highschool in the middle of nowhere if you have to. Maybe they think the current casting will make the film more marketable, which is bull sh*t ofcoarse but that's the way that some people think. Here is the thing though: AVATAR FANS ARE HARD CORE! With the following that the cartoon has, it would be best to keep the profile and the rich culture of the cartoon. Now, these are just a few of my thoughts, but you MUST check out these two sites for more information. Please check out the CARTOON BREW website for information on how to protest, and Derek Kirk Kim's blog for a very detailed post about the issue.
-Kev

Wolverine and The X-Men Review

2009-01-24T16:25:00.003-05:00

I watched the premeire of Wolverine and the X-Men, and this looks like it will be their best effort yet. I know I was hatin' on it from the last blog post, (to a point I still am) but I did enjoy it and will continue watching. This series has a broken up team, a missing Professor X, and a missing Jean Grey. All they have left is Wolverine and Beast to pick up the pieces. The story takes on three of the hottest story lines in the X-Men Universe: The Sentinels, Mutant Registration, and Genosha. That's an ambitious move. There is enough material there to last them a long time. I'm sure they are going to cut a few corners here and there, but I think it will keep the new fans and comic fans happy; as long as the comic fans realize that it is a combination of both. They brought back some favorites: Shadow Cat, The Blob, Domino, Quicksilver, Angel, no word on Gambit though. The beef they have with Senator Kelley is going to be pushsed even farther in this series. On the last post I said I couldn't see Wolverine in the forefront, and they addressed that in the cartoon. Wolverine himself said that people won't come back if he was the leader. They took his questionable nature and used that in the cartoon. It's kinda like taking a disfunctional family and having them save the world, which makes it all the more interesting. In hindsight, it makes sense to have Wolverine there as sort of a makeshift leader. He has no clue what to do and niether does the rest of the team. On this show, something is either Limpin' or is Pimpin', and sofar Wolverine and The X-Men is officially Pimpin'. I will check back in on this series midway through the season.
-Kev

More Wolverine?

2009-01-22T11:12:00.006-05:00

Soooo..... Wolverine returns with the new series Wolverine and the X-Men. This series looks promising. I liked the last X-Men series. Character design was tight, loosely based on the movie for a new generation of toon heads. I don't want to sound like I'm hatin', but putting Wolverine at the forefront is not something I'm crazy about. Yes, he is a bad-ass character, an awesome idea that can't be duplicated. But, for those like myself that know a bit of his reputation in the comics, he's not really a good guy. Have we forgot that he tried to kill Cyclops to get with Jean Grey? (I think it was the Ultimate story line) He almost succeeded. EVERYONE thought Cyclops had died. Did Wolverine actually think that Jean was just going to walk right over into his adamantium-laced arms? Hello? She's a freakin' psychic! Cyclops comes back, Wolverine lets himself get blasted, then he's back on the team like nothing happened. Gimmie a break. But, I digress. His character sells shows, and books. I'll watch this new series. Just know that I don't buy in to the good-guy image. I think he would make a much better villain.

"The Powerpuff Girls Rule"

2009-01-20T12:44:00.024-05:00

The industry celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Powerpuff Girls. I watched the new episode "The Powerpuff Girls Rule," and I liked it a lot. It took me back to when I first saw the series and said "This is hot!" I thought it was classic Powerpuff with plenty of action and cute humor, which is the same stuff that made it famous in the first place. They made the professor a lot more humorous in this episode. My only gripe about it was they were talking so fast. I was like "huh? What the hell did she just say?" Maybe they were trying to fit a lot in one episode. Classic Mojo-jojo, with a nice little twist at the end. I won't spoil it for you. Just watch the freakin' episode for yourself and see why this cartoon got six seasons and still remains the highest rated premiere in Cartoon Network's history.