Comic Riffs: animation


Posted at 03:36 PM ET, 05/17/2013

NO MERIDA MAKEOVER? ‘Brave’ director Brenda Chapman on Disney princess and ‘sexing her up’
By Michael Cavna
NO MERIDA MAKEOVER? ‘Brave’ director Brenda Chapman on Disney princess and ‘sexing her up’

By Michael Cavna  |  03:36 PM ET, 05/17/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  animation, pixar films

Posted at 07:10 AM ET, 05/08/2013

RIP, RAY HARRYHAUSEN: Inspired as a child, the special-effects titan transformed fantasy on film
By Michael Cavna
‘Argonauts’ to ‘Titans,’ Harryhausen changed the nature of stop-motion.

By Michael Cavna  |  07:10 AM ET, 05/08/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  animation, film, special effects

Posted at 02:16 PM ET, 04/13/2013

Q&A with ‘SIMON’S CAT’ creator Simon Tofield: Living with cats is ‘endless source’ of inspiration
By Michael Cavna
Q&A with ‘SIMON’S CAT’ creator Simon Tofield: Living with cats is ‘endless source’ of inspiration

By Michael Cavna  |  02:16 PM ET, 04/13/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  animation, youtube videos

Posted at 02:35 PM ET, 04/02/2013

‘FINDING DORY’: Disney/Pixar lands Ellen DeGeneres for 2015 sequel to ‘Finding Nemo’
By Michael Cavna
‘Finding Dory’: Disney lands Ellen DeGeneres for 2015 sequel to Oscar-winning ‘Nemo.’

By Michael Cavna  |  02:35 PM ET, 04/02/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  pixar animation, ellen degeneres

Posted at 01:09 PM ET, 03/17/2013

ST. PATRICK’S DAY 2013: Celebrating great Irish animation: Tomm Moore illuminates story of ‘Secret of Kells’
By Michael Cavna
Great Irish animation: Tomm Moore illuminates the making of ‘Kells’

By Michael Cavna  |  01:09 PM ET, 03/17/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  st. patrick's day, animation

Posted at 03:20 PM ET, 03/13/2013

SXSW ANIMATION AWARD: The ‘ridiculous notion’: Belgian filmmakers wowed by win for poignant ‘Oh Willy...’
By Michael Cavna
SXSW award: ‘Oh Willy...’ animators said thought winning was a ‘ridiculous notion’

By Michael Cavna  |  03:20 PM ET, 03/13/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  south by southwest, animation

Posted at 10:30 AM ET, 11/13/2012

PETRAEUS SCANDAL DRAW-DOWN: 6 Eye-Catching Cartoons From the Satiric Front-Lines
By Michael Cavna
6 eye-catching cartoons from the satiric front-lines.

By Michael Cavna  |  10:30 AM ET, 11/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  david petraeus, robert ariail, steve breen, mike lucovich, jimmy margulies, steve benson, next media animation

Posted at 12:01 AM ET, 11/09/2012

AFI FEST WINNERS: ‘Belly,’ ‘Oh Willy’ receive animation honors
By Michael Cavna
‘Belly’ and ‘Oh Willy’ receive animation honors

By Michael Cavna  |  12:01 AM ET, 11/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  afi fest 2012, animation

Posted at 01:54 PM ET, 11/04/2012

BOX OFFICE: ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ sets Disney record with $49 million debut
By Michael Cavna
Disney film sets studio record with $49 million opening.

By Michael Cavna  |  01:54 PM ET, 11/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  wreck-it ralph, disney animation

Posted at 06:13 PM ET, 11/02/2012

ANIMATION OSCARS: And the year’s 21 feature-film candidates are...
By Michael Cavna
And the year’s 21 feature-film candidates are...

By Michael Cavna  |  06:13 PM ET, 11/02/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  2013 academy awards, feature film animation

Posted at 11:48 PM ET, 10/17/2012

OBAMA v. ROMNEY, ROUND 2: Love ‘em? Hate ‘em? Six Striking Debate Cartoons
By Michael Cavna
Love ‘em? Hate ‘em? Six striking debate cartoons.

By Michael Cavna  |  11:48 PM ET, 10/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  presidential debate cartoons, barack obama, mitt romney, candy crowley, bob gorrell, matt bors, glenn mccoy, mike luckovich, david fitzsimmons, next media animation

Posted at 02:12 PM ET, 05/15/2012

OBAMA on GAY MARRIAGE: The 8 Most Eye-Catching Cartoons
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  02:12 PM ET, 05/15/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  michael ramirez, mike luckovich, clay bennett, john cole, steve kelley, alex falco, steve benson, next media animation

Posted at 12:01 AM ET, 04/20/2012

(VICTORIA’S) SECRET SERVICE: The Six Most Eye-Catching Cartoons about the Colombian scandal
By Michael Cavna
Here are six of the most eye-catching editorial cartoons lampooning the steamy misconduct scandal in Colombia.

By Michael Cavna  |  12:01 AM ET, 04/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  secret service, next media animation, steve breen, chip bok, chris weyant, mike luckovich, pat bagley

Posted at 12:01 AM ET, 03/16/2012

THE GREAT ‘DOONESBURY’ ABORTION-STRIP ROUNDUP: From animation to aberrations, here’s how things shook out
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  12:01 AM ET, 03/16/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  doonesbury, garry trudeau, pat bagley, next media animation, alan gardner, rachel maddow, lee salem, universal uclick

Posted at 11:49 PM ET, 02/23/2012

2012 ACADEMY AWARDS: As the Oscars celebrate Paris and cinematic past, who can win the Animation honor?
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  11:49 PM ET, 02/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  academy awards, oscars animation, rango, kung fu panda 2, puss in boots, chico and rita, a cat in paris

Posted at 12:18 AM ET, 02/04/2012

SUPER BOWL XLVI HUMOR: Our ‘Fave Five’ Giants vs. Patriots cartoons
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  12:18 AM ET, 02/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  super bowl, next media animation, jeff parker, drew litton, clay bennett, gary varvel

Posted at 02:52 PM ET, 10/29/2011

PICKS OF THE WEEK: From Jobs (Apple’s app satire) to jobs (those whopping D.C. salaries)
By Michael Cavna
Comic Riffs’ picks of the week range from the “Jobs” biography’s look at political satire apps to the Next Media Animation satire of Washington D.C’s “whopping” salaries.

By Michael Cavna  |  02:52 PM ET, 10/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  mark fiore, steve jobs, walter isaacson, next media animation

Posted at 09:00 AM ET, 10/17/2011

GoAnimate goes political: You can make and post your own election-season cartoons
By Michael Cavna
GoAnimate’s new app make it easy to create your own political animations.

By Michael Cavna  |  09:00 AM ET, 10/17/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  political animation

Posted at 01:40 AM ET, 10/12/2011

ART CLOKEY ‘GUMBY’ DOODLE: Google celebrates birthday of late clay-animation pioneer
By Michael Cavna
New “Doodle” logo celebrates 90th birthday of the late Claymation pioneer.

By Michael Cavna  |  01:40 AM ET, 10/12/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  art clokey, anthony scott, gumby, clay animation, google doodle

Posted at 09:30 AM ET, 09/30/2011

CHRIS CHRISTIE: The 7 Most Eye-Catching Cartoons
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  09:30 AM ET, 09/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  chris christie, next media animation, mike luckovich, nate beeler, rob tornoe, john darkow, jimmy marguilies, steve benson

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 08/31/2011

ALI FERZAT GALLERY: Eight eye-catching cartoons to support beaten Syrian artist
By Michael Cavna
The abduction and vicious beating of top Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat has spurred an artistic response from his global brethren at the drawing board.

By Michael Cavna  |  08:00 AM ET, 08/31/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  ali ferzat, next media animation, matt wuerker, bill day, nate beeler, tjeerd royaards, sherif arafa, rick mckee, giacomo cardelli

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 08/30/2011

DICK CHENEY’S MEMOIR: How to think (and satirize) like a cartoonist
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  05:00 AM ET, 08/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  dick cheney, mike luckovich, joe heller, rob rogers, ann telnaes, next media animation

Posted at 05:30 PM ET, 08/26/2011

STEVE JOBS: The Apple pioneer’s career in pictures
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  05:30 PM ET, 08/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  steve jobs, john sherffius, next media animation, bluewater comics

Posted at 09:53 AM ET, 07/08/2011

VIDEO SHELF FRIDAY: ‘Womanthology’ roars, ‘Batman’ soars — and News of the World is floored
By Michael Cavna
Womanthology raises more than $25K overnight via Kickstarter for new book featuring 140 women comics creators.

By Michael Cavna  |  09:53 AM ET, 07/08/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  womanthology, batman year one, sony issues, next media animation, news of the world

Posted at 06:44 PM ET, 06/06/2011

ANTHONY WEINER: The most eye-catching ‘Weinergate’ cartoons so far...
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  06:44 PM ET, 06/06/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  anthony weiner, nate beeler, steve breen, mike luckovich, next media animation, michael ramirez, adam zyglis

Posted at 09:47 AM ET, 04/01/2011

APRIL FOOLS’ ANIMATION: Taiwan’s NMA does ‘Toy Story 4’ [VIDEO]
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  09:47 AM ET, 04/01/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Next Media Animation, Toy Story

Posted at 09:27 PM ET, 03/22/2011

VIDEO OF THE DAY: Nick Pitera’s ‘One Man Disney Movie’
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  09:27 PM ET, 03/22/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  nick pitera, walt disney animation

Posted at 09:30 AM ET, 01/03/2011

'Riffs in Review: Top OBAMA cartoons from 2010
By Michael Cavna
Be they liberal or conservative or perched somewhere moderately between, political cartoonists of all stripes naturally keep 1600 Penn at the forefront of their mental address book: From any direction, the White House remains a requisite true-North for occupational...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:30 AM ET, 01/03/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Darrin Bell, Garry Trudeau, Jack Ohman, Jeff Stahler, Lisa Benson, Matt Wuerker, Michael Ramirez, Next Media Animation, Obama cartoons, Steve Kelley, Tom Toles

Posted at 01:45 PM ET, 12/06/2010

THE ANNIES: DreamWorks, Disney/Parker lead animation nominations
By Michael Cavna
In what could be a bellwether for the Oscars race, the Best Animated Feature contenders have just been announced for the 38th annual Annie Awards. In announcing all its nominations Monday, the International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood said the...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:45 PM ET, 12/06/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation | Tags:  Annie Awards, Brad Bird, Disney Pixar, DreamWorks Animation, Eric Goldberg, Matt Groening

Posted at 09:00 PM ET, 12/05/2010

ANIMATION OF THE WEEKEND: The "Simpsons"/FOX News brouhaha
By Michael Cavna
If Comedy Central won't hire the Taiwanese artists at Next Media Animation, then former "Simpsons" writer Conan O'Brien -- himself a recent target of their overseas spoofage -- certainly should bring them to TBS. For consecutive weekends, of course,...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:00 PM ET, 12/05/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation | Tags:  Fox News, NMA tv, Next Media Animation, The Simpsons

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 11/28/2010

When 'Harry' Met Rapunzel: 'TANGLED' debut edged by Potter at box office
By Michael Cavna
As lustrous as it was at the box office, the hair couldn't quite beat Harry. Disney's Rapunzel tale, "Tangled," trailed the seventh Harry Potter film by a whisker at the top of the weekend's domestic box office -- $49.1-million...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:30 PM ET, 11/28/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation, The Animation | Tags:  Disney Pixar, DreamWorks Animation, Megamind, Tangled

Posted at 04:45 PM ET, 11/15/2010

THIS JUST IN: Only 3 Oscar nominees for Best Animated Feature
By Michael Cavna
"Toy Story 3," it turns out, will have to top only two other nominees to win the Oscar next year for Best Animated Feature Film. The Academy has accepted 15 animated features for consideration, Oscars organizers announced Monday --...

By Michael Cavna  |  04:45 PM ET, 11/15/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation, The Animation | Tags:  Oscars animation, The Academy Awards

Posted at 03:00 PM ET, 11/14/2010

BOX OFFICE: Reigning champ 'Megamind' (and 'SNL' parody) derails 'Unstoppable'
By Michael Cavna
Blunted by the power of an animated Will Ferrell, the debut of "Unstoppable" proved, well, stoppable. "Megamind" -- featuring the voice of Ferrell as the blue-headed recidivistic villain -- grossed $30-million to win the top spot at the domestic...

By Michael Cavna  |  03:00 PM ET, 11/14/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Holly Word, The Holly Word | Tags:  DreamWorks Animation, Megamind, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell

Posted at 02:45 PM ET, 11/07/2010

Box Office: 'MEGAMIND' wins record-setting holiday kickoff weekend
By Michael Cavna
UPDATE: Megamind became the biggest blue character to hit the screen since the Na'vi, pacing a record-setting weekend. DreamWorks Animation's "Megamind" won the weekend by grossing $47.7-million at the domestic box office -- making it DWA's third film this...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:45 PM ET, 11/07/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Holly Word | Tags:  Despicable Me, Dreamworks Animation, How to Train Your Dragon, Megamind, Shrek Forever After

Posted at 02:30 PM ET, 10/06/2010

ANIMATION OF THE DAY: When Star Wars gets a new director's cut
By Michael Cavna
How To Get Picked as Comic Riffs's Animation of the Day (perhaps applicable to today only): Step 1: Work in charmingly lo-tech paper-cut animation (a la early-season "South Park"). Step 2: Indulge your whimsical fandom of the Star Wars...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:30 PM ET, 10/06/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation | Tags:  Eric Power, Jeremy Messersmith, Paper animation, Star Wars

Posted at 07:58 PM ET, 09/29/2010

ANIMATION OF THE DAY: We asked for it: Taiwanese talent takes on 'Obama's Wars' [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
Well, I suppose we all but asked for such treatment. Several weeks back, Comic Riffs wrote of the Taiwanese talent that is Next Media Animation: "We're on high alert: Now, apparently, no American newspaper is safe from these animators'...

By Michael Cavna  |  07:58 PM ET, 09/29/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation | Tags:  Bob Woodward, Next Media Animation, Obama's Wars

Posted at 06:30 PM ET, 09/08/2010

ANIMATION OF THE DAY: Stop the presses -- Taiwan TV takes on American newspapers
By Michael Cavna
Well now they've gone and done it. Last month, Comic Riffs suggested that Comedy Central hire the artists who work for Taiwan's Next Media Animation television, whose celebrity-driven, scandal-happy CGI animations make for great campy fun. Well, this week,...

By Michael Cavna  |  06:30 PM ET, 09/08/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation | Tags:  Next Media Animation World Edition

Posted at 09:25 AM ET, 08/05/2010

An Open Note to COMEDY CENTRAL: Here's your next surefire cartoon hit:
By Michael Cavna
MEMO TO: The biggest suits, cheeses and kahunas at Comedy Central. And Sumner Redstone. FROM: A longtime constituent. RE: Your next big thing. Trust me. Can't miss, babe. Comedy Central, we have your next animated hit. It's got everything:...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:25 AM ET, 08/05/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation | Tags:  Animation, Comedy Central

Posted at 12:45 PM ET, 08/04/2010

If you can't get enough 'SCOTT PILGRIM': Animated short comes to TV next week
By Michael Cavna
When it comes to "Pilgrim's" progress, Bryan O'Malley's boyfriend fighter is punching his way onto yet another platform. The highly anticipated Edgar Wright film starring Michael Cera opens Aug. 13, as if you didn't know. And the marketing assault...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:45 PM ET, 08/04/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation, The Animation, The Animation, The Animation | Tags:  Adult Swim, Bryan Lee O'Malley, Cartoon Network, Scott Pilgrim vs. the Animation, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Posted at 10:40 AM ET, 07/24/2010

COMIC-CON 2010 Interviews: MAD magazine artists 'excited' about TV show for a new generation
By Michael Cavna
MAD magazine legend SERGIO ARAGONES has attended 34 of the previous 40 San Diego Comic-Cons and increasingly, he's found that the convention-going helps introduce MAD to a whole new generation. Now, he's about to get a big boost in...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:40 AM ET, 07/24/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con | Tags:  Kevin Shinick, MAD magazine, Peter Girardi, Sam Viviano, San Diego Comic-Con 2010, Sergio Aragones, Tom Richmond, Warner Bros. Animation

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 05/23/2010

BOX OFFICE: 'Shrek' 4 opens a little less green with $71M debut [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
DreamWorks Animation UPDATE: "Shrek Forever After" was tops at the domestic box office this weekend by earning $71.3-million, according to studio estimates -- but not even new villain Rumpelstiltskin could spin the franchise's first 3-D film into record gold....

By Michael Cavna  |  01:30 PM ET, 05/23/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Holly Word, The Holly Word | Tags:  DreamWorks Animation SKG, Iron Man 2, Marvel/Paramount, Shrek Forever After

Posted at 02:01 PM ET, 05/21/2010

The 'Riffs Interview: 'SHREK' animator Walt Dohrn steps into the oh-so-green limelight
By Michael Cavna
Rumpelstiltskin and Shrek (DreamWorks Animation) A young aspiring animator -- let's call him "Walt D." -- comes to Hollywood with big dreams in tow. He wants to write animated films. He wants to create cartoon characters -- talking animals,...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:01 PM ET, 05/21/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation | Tags:  CalArts, DreamWorks Animation SKG, Eddie Murphy, Mike Mitchell, Mike Myers, Rumpelstiltskin, Shrek Forever After, Walt Disney, Walt Dohrn

Posted at 10:30 AM ET, 03/26/2010

The 'Riffs Interview: 'TRAIN YOUR DRAGON' directors enter a new dimension
By Michael Cavna
Hiccup, dragon trainer. (DreamWorks Animation SKG) The modern Hollywood animator is accursed with a burden that never bedeviled Walt Disney, Chuck Jones or even the '80s Imagineers who framed each shot of Roger Rabbit. In the era of "Avatar,"...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:30 AM ET, 03/26/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Interviews With Cartoonists, Interviews With Cartoonists | Tags:  Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois, DreamWorks Animation, How to Train Your Dragon, Jeffrey Katzenberg