It’s been a bit quiet this spring here at 4mations. We’ve just woken from a sugar-induced coma. We’re wandering into the kitchen. It’s a beautiful new day and once we’ve stretched our legs and put the kettle on we’ll tell you all about some exciting new changes we’re going to be making to the site.
Next month will see the launch of a brand new 4mations blog on www.4mations.tv. Every week, we’ll be covering animation news and reviews, as well as featuring new animation talent from the web, festivals and graduation screenings. You’ll be invited to send in your work for review, and the best clips will compete for a prize every month. All this and regular guest bloggers from the animation world.
From the 1st of June, any embedded links to 4mations will no longer work. We will be moving a selection of our best films onto our 4mations YouTube channel, where your delicious animated goodies will get more exposure, more traffic, and lots of weirdoes stumbling in after looking at sneezing pandas and awesome singing grannies.
So join us next month for a whole new animated experience at 4mations!
Do you have a passion for film?
Would you like to be a paid film trainee based at one of the UK’s most prestigious studios?
Are you 18 or over and want to be part of a new nationwide ground breaking training scheme?
If so, the ON THE LOT training initiative, might be for you………
Our contacts at Screen South are looking for a motion capture trainee to work for one year from September 2009 based at Pinewood and Shepperton Studios
During the year-long programme, the successful trainee will receive on-the-job training, specialist short course training, shadowing opportunities, e-learning, mentoring, networking and production based training (where appropriate).Through working with 5 host companies at the heart of the British film industry, trainees will be helped to develop up to date skills, contacts and the knowledge of how to pursue a career as a freelancer in their chosen field of work.
Huzzah!It’s that time of month where we can announce the lucky recipients of March’s reward fund.
Sadly, this is the last month of the reward fund in it’s current setup, but don’t despair – we’ll be back soon with a brand new hip and happening format.
So without further ado, March’s lucky recipients are as follows:
Festive greetings from the 4mations team! Since you’re probably sick of seeing chocolate eggs and cute furry animals, we thought we’d offer you some refreshing video and gaming alternatives hand-picked from the 4mations.tv vaults:
Psychedelic eggs bust-a-move in this sting made for E4:
Eggs from outer space could solve all our energy problems…
And finally, a little clip proving without a shadow of doubt, that you are what you eat
Button Mashing Fun! Have a go on some of these slightly-surreal (!) Easter games…
When a Giant starts crying chickens, there’s only one thing you can do…shoot them with your love! Click here to play ATAKACHIK »
Who’d have thought collecting Easter eggs would be such a dangerous task? Help keep the Easter Bunny safe from dogs, hunters and bear traps! Click here to play The Egg Hunt 2 »
And finally, a little something to re-gain your sanity. Anyone for a spot of Easter golf? Click here to play now »
Happy Easter 4mationites - steady on those Easter Eggs
This month we have launched 3 episodes of a brand new series called Jobs In Space, commissioned by the head honchos here at 4mations.
If you thought getting a job was difficult in the current economic crisis, spare a thought for extra terrestrials: it’s not easy when your CV includes inter-galactic war crimes, loss of sight from your only eye…and a GNVQ in Leisure and Tourism. Luckily for these guys, they have alien careers advisor Seymour Spence to help them find the perfect job match.
Liked the first episode? Thought you would. Check out the rest on 4mations.tv:
Sadly March will be the last month of the reward fund as we currently know it. But never fear – the 4mations team are cooking up some exciting new plans as we speak, so be sure to keep checking the blog to find out more over the coming month…
Congrats to all February’s winners and best of luck to March’s entrants!
Valentine’s day comes but once a year - if you’re in a relationship no doubt you’ll be showering your loved-one with endless gifts and fancy nights out, or if you’re single perhaps you’ll be getting drunk and singing “I will survive” in the streets at 2am with your mates. Come on, we’ve all been there….
Whatever your plans for Valentine’s Day this year, the 4mations team have put together a collection of must-watch clips to keep you entertained over the coming weekend…
To kick things off, a tragic case of ‘you are what you eat’ affects the sacred bond between man and woman in this short animation:
Not got a date this Valentine’ Day? It could be worse, at least you’re not a zombie….
Dating numerous men at the same time can become confusing, so make sure you have a reliable housemate who can cover your back:
Looking for something a bit more artistic? Check out this visually stunning tale of unrequited love and Wurlitzer organs:
And for something completely different, the beautiful story of the love between a woman and her water melon! Hmm….
(WARNING - THIS CLIP CONTAINS SCENES OF A SEXUAL NATURE)
Finally, for you gaming fans out there, why not try a Valentine-themed platform game! In “Loved Up” you must collect chocolates, fight off mysterious creatures and find your girlfriend who is lost at the end of the rainbow! Heart warming stuff. Play Loved Up now »
Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most popular user generated pieces of content on 4mations so far has been Day with a Devil (DanStirrup), having been rewarded cash for ranking amongst the highest viewed films for several months.
As such, we thought we’d shoot our lasers in his direction, shine those beams of interrogation and here’s what he came back with…
Dan, tell us about who you are? What you do? What job you do?
I am an animator, artist and musician based in New Cross, London. I currently work part time as an arts/theatre technician in a specialist arts school, whilst developing several projects of an animated nature.
How long have you been in the industry?
Since graduating in 2004. I started out as a freelance mural artist, and have since branched out into animation and puppet making, as well as working within the arts in education.
Name a few of the projects that you’ve worked on in the past…
I have been animating since the age of 13. In 2006 we shot ‘Day with the Devil‘, a music video for ‘The IRS’ which was my first large scale project. It was an independent production, on which I collaborated with old school friends Tom Aizlewood and Robin Crowley. On it’s completion I was offered the role of lead animator on ‘Summerton Mill’, a stop-motion kids show first aired on the BBC. We completed the second series in August last year, and it has been shown throughout Europe and beyond. In February this year I turned my hand to 2D animation for ‘The Culture Show‘, producing an introduction to feature on New York songwriter/cartoonist Jeffrey Lewis.
Do you have any future projects planned?
Yes, I have been working on a number of ideas with my ‘Day with the Devil‘ collaborators. We have a real passion for stop-motion, and great ambitions in regards to our future productions. Our current projects include a black comedy film noir, a family friendly tale of a troll that happens to be a disillusioned romantic poet, a satirical fable set in an apocalyptic future London, and a retelling of the creation myth featuring an animation technique that, to the best of my knowledge, has never been attempted.
What prompted you to move into a career in animation? How did you go about pursuing it?
When I first became interested in making films, the first thing that really grabbed me was the set-pieces and production design of films such as ‘Alien‘, and their ability to make you believe in this fantastical other world. I was inspired to attempt my own films, stop-motion being an ideal medium for someone with limited space and resources. It was then that i first experienced the delight of bringing the inanimate to life, something I never tire of. Ten years on I decided I wanted to pursue it professionally, and I was faced with the choice between taking an MA course in animation, or spending the equivalent time and money making a film in an attempt to get my work noticed. I chose the latter, and made ‘Day with the Devil‘.
Where do you take your inspiration from?
Everything, really. I see a lot of wonder in even the smallest things, and trying to reconcile this with the less desirable aspects of life is always a good place to start.
Which animators do you particularly admire?
I’m a big fan of stop motion greats such as Ray Harryhausen and Henry Selick. They’ve both been instrumental in the development of the medium, and have inspired so many people to follow in their footsteps.
What animation software package do you prefer to use? What would you recommend to a beginner?
I use Stop-Motion Pro, it’s a programme that’s suitable for amateurs and professionals alike, as it comes in several different versions. It’s very intuitive, and gives you the ability to play your work back immediately. I wish we’d had a copy when we made ‘Day With The Devil‘!
What is the most important thing for an (aspiring) animator to remember?
Stick with it, and keep believing in your work.
We’d like to say a big thanks to Daniel for sharing his thoughts and insights. If you think you might have an animation that could be rewarded the prize fund for months in a row like Daniel - be sure to upload it. The sooner you do it, the more eyeballs are likely to get to see it.
Veteran children’s TV presenter, Tony Hart has sadly passed away, aged 83. Tony had suffered two strokes in recent years and passed away quietly in his sleep.
Tony is best known for being an inspirational artist and presenter but his career actually started off on a completely different track. When he left school, he joined the Indian Army and served as an officer in the 1st Ghurka Rifles. After the war, he was told that the low-ranked British officers would be replaced by Indians when India became independent and it was at this stage that Tony decided to leave the Army.
Once out of the Army, Tony went on to study at Maidstone College of Art (now the Maidstone campus of the University of Creative Arts) before going on to present Playbox, Titch & Quackers, Vision On, Take Hart, Hart Beat, Artbox Bunch and Smart Hart. Tony is most famous for appearing alongside the plasticine stop-motion character Morph, which was created by Aardman Animations.
Very few people know that it was Tony that created the original design of the Blue Peter badge, which is now also the programme’s logo. During his time, Tony received two BAFTA awards, the last of which was a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Tony inspired a whole generation of children and brought art and animation to the masses. Hartbeat often attracted 5.4 million viewers and Hart’s mailbag varied between 6,000 and 8,000 per week. His contribution to British television and art will not be forgotten.
Our thoughts and well-wishes go out to Tony’s family and friends at this sad time.
You cast your beady eyes over the animations on 4mations and played those ever addictive games. Some took your fancy more than others and it’s the most popular that have been rewarded December’s reward fund.
Fancy a piece of the pie next month? Find out more about our monthly reward fund and how we pick the winners in our terms and conditions.
It’s been a bit quiet this spring here at 4mations. We’ve just woken from a sugar-induced coma. We’re wandering into the kitchen. It’s a beautiful new day and once we’ve stretched our legs and put the kettle on we’ll tell you all about some exciting new changes we’re going to be making to the site.
