News Flash 2022

Welcome to the New Year of 2022, a lot has been changing and even though we haven't added any new "WatchCat" episodes to this blog, we are amazed to see that people are still popping by to look at it from time to time.

Covid changed life for everyone, but a few good things came out of this terrible situation for us.

Greg has become the manager of a bar/videogame retro arcade called "Player One". He and his co director are still working on finishing their feature film, "Noir". They are in post production, get the visual effects worked on by a small team of pros who have done work the Marvel films. Its been a slow, but steady process which we hope will be completed this year, fingers crossed.

As for myself, I was working part time for AAA as a driving instructor while teaching part time animation. This was a great Summer job situation for me, but it ended when the Pandemic began. A freelance job popped up where a friend of a friend needed some 2D animation. In the film, the main children actor would be drawing a tiger while in class. As he does so, the drawing suddenly comes to life and plays with the kid's pencil like a kitten.

It was a great experience to return to animating 2D again and I later learned that the film starred Dennis Quade and Queen Latifah. 

I also began teaching my animation classes again but online since the University had closed their campus and sent students home. It was difficult at first, but I believe it also showed the world that it is still possible to work from home. A lot of my friends working at major studios like Disney, moved their equipment to set up their new offices into their homes or apartments.

I also got another online opportunity to teach as a 2D mentor for an Australian based school called CG Spectrum.  I gave it a try and discovered I really like teaching there because its not based on grades. Students take the lessons online and are given a weekly critique of their work from a mentor. I review their work and give them personal feedback to help them improve the projects they are working on.

As well as teaching online, I am continuing to work on building my YouTube channel oddly called, Animateducated (pronounced animated educated) I interviewed more interesting artist, including another Jim Richardson who is a well known National Geographic photographer and his work is awesome! And also I contacted Winsor McCay from the great beyond in my Halloween episode of 2021. Click the photo below to see these interviews from 2021.

 

So there you have it, if you would like to subscribe to Animateducated to help build my YouTube channel. Or you can click on the ads of this blog and show your support for Watchcat. Every ad click generates extra income to the blog, so make sure you click the ads a few hundred times each time you visit.

Thanks again and Happy New Year!

The Oscars: Who Cares?

What's up with the Oscars this year? Find out from this recent episode!

Did you enjoy this episode? Give us a tip in our digital tip jar by clicking on the blog ads!

Lee & Greg Talk

Lee & Greg Talk is a brand new podcast on YouTube that you'll want to listen and subscribe to! Here's a recent episode about the loss of the Arclight movie theater!

It's always fun to hear what other filmmakers think about watching the latest films that are coming out. If you are a big of King Kong or Godzilla, then you will really enjoy this podcast!

If this blog post was helped and enjoyable, please leave a digital tip in our tip jar by clicking on the blog ads a few times. Each click, let's us know you enjoyed the posts and let's us make make more.

Leprechauns do exist

 We have obtained actual photographic proof that Leprechauns do exists.

Animated Oscar Winners 2020

Its been an interesting year for animation with the return of a more traditional hand drawn look with films like Klaus and shorts films as well. Two animated shorts, which are in competition for this year's Oscars Short Film(animated) catagory are "Hair Love" and "Kitbull". 

Both are in color and are traditionally animated. Both films are sponsored by movie studios; "Hair Love" with Sony Picture Animation and "Kitbull" with Pixar SparkShorts program.

I had seen Hair Love and was sure it would win, however after seeing Kitbull, Hair Love has found its competition.

I'm going out on a limb here to make a prediction, Hair Love is a human film about love, hair and the black community, but its more of a universal story with appeal. Its has a lot of strong storytelling inside it, as well as a message of hope. I am predicting that "Hair Love" will win the Oscar!

If it does, please take a look/listen to this recent interview with the directors of the film. https://youtu.be/7CPvoVOooPk  

Now, don't get me wrong, I like Kitbull too. The story is about a small abandoned kitten who meets an abandoned Pitbull. We learn that the Pitbull wants to play, but is chained up and used in a bad way by his owner. 

The animation of the kitten is great and like Hair Love its colorful, traditionally animated and told with music. Kitbull also is a story of hope, where the two animals finally find a better home together.

I know there is not much time before the Oscars begin on this wet and rainy Sunday, but please leave a comment below. Which film did you like like the most?

Dear Basketball, a remembrance of Kobe Bryant

I never got the chance to meet Kobe Bryant , but I did have the opportunity to see him at an animation awards show for his film, “Dear Basketball,” which won an Oscar for best animated short in 2018.

I watched this kid grow up on television and we both came to Los Angeles the same year, 1996. He always wanted to be one of the greatest basketball players that ever lived, even better than Michael Jordan. And after 20 years with the the Lakers, five NBA Championships, two MVP Awards and two Olympic gold medals, he did just that.

I always had the upmost respect for Kobe as a basketball player, even though I would sometimes root against him. I really appreciated his "Mamba Mentality", as he liked to call it. His incredible work ethic pushed him to be even better than anyone ever thought he could be.

The tragedy that happened to him, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven other people on that fateful helicopter flight is unimaginable. Our hearts and prayers truly go out to their families.

And although Los Angeles is feeling the pain and grief, I would like to take a moment to reflect on one aspect of his life which I had the privilege to be a part of.

My animated short film, “Watchcat,” was selected to be a part of the animation festival which meant competing against “Dear Basketball.” I had the opportunity to meet the film's director, legendary animator Glen Keane, at the premiere and it was all so truly amazing!  In Kobe’s own words, "It’s a love letter to basketball," a poem on his love of a sport that, even as a child, he believed he could be a part of. The animation was amazing and the music by John Williams was nothing less than spectacular.  It was deep, personal and moving.

I would like to share this short gem in remembrance of Kobe and Gianna Bryant, and the rest of the people on that helicopter.

RIP Black Mamba

 

 

Where's Watchcat?

Why have we stop posting updates to this blog? Where is Watchcat these days? Let's just say, Watchcat has the ability to time travel, just like you do!

You can review past posts of this blog to see where we've been and when Watchcat returns, you will be able to see where he is going now.


Along your journey into the past, you can click the ads on your favorite posts and help Watchcat return to find your present. 

Does Watchcat have a future? Let us know in the comments below.