The Nicktoons Network Animation Festival

Last night was our big Nicktoons Network Animation Festival Creator Day extravaganza at Nickelodeon Studio in Burbank. There was food, drink, shmooze, and a who lot of terrific shorts. All of the folks from Nicktoons New York flew in and it was great to see so many familiar and not so familiar faces. Creator Day was the last stop on a five-city mobile tour of the festival.

Some of the local filmmakers even came to the festivities! It was great to meet them, as well.

David Bazelon, a USC filmmaker and creator of “Libraryhead”, showed up for the party, and was treated to quite a surprise when it was announced that he won the Student Filmmaker Award for excellence in animation. He received a neat looking trophy, and a $1,000 prize. Congrats, David!

Thanks to everyone who showed up and made this event come to life. It was a blast!

Melissa

A certifiably sane Mad Scientist, and his assistant She-Gore attempt to transport him from point A to point B without sending him into outer space…

MYSH (Michael Rozanov), is a partner and the Creative Director at PIL Animation Studio, Tel Aviv.

He currently teaches atBezalel, The Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem (Visual Language course at the Animation Unit). Co-creator Oren Mashkovski, studied Visual Communications in the Holon Academic Institute of Technology. He is currently working as the Chief Animator at PIL Animation studio, Tel Aviv.

“The Mad Scientist Show” premiers on Episode 3 of the Nicktoons Network Animation Festival, August 27th at 10PM EST/7PM PST.

This is the story of a girl who wants to help a hungry giant. Really, it’s as simple as that, which is why I love Jiwook Kim’s films so much. She takes a seemingly simple story line, and endears you to the characters. Over the course of a few minutes, she animates a gradual, powerful transformation in a skeptical kitchen helper that will have you dancing along by the end of the short. Unlike many shorts out there right now that seem to take plot twists for pure shock value, Jiwook stays true to her story, and lets the characters lead to a more natural place.

Jiwook Kim completed this film as her senior project at CalArts. She “wanted to make something funny, not weird.” Jiwook’s short films have been featured in every Nicktoons Film Festival to date, and all have made it on to the festival Top 10 lists. In 2004 [Read more…]

He’s just a hunk a hunk a burning…toast? Things go awry when Elvis makes breakfast for his daughter.

Filmmaker Fonda Louie made this film during his final year at Vancouver Film School.

“Breakfast With the King” premiers on Episode 3 of the Nicktoons Network Animation Festival, August 27th at 10PM EST/7PM PST.

Melissa

Bad turns to worst as this Animation Test Pilot bites off way more than he can chew!

Brainstorming for his post-graduate degree film at the Digital Character Animation Program at Sheridan College, Brad Kinley was left with a bizarre notebook full of diagrams and descriptions of fiendish devices and situations. He decided to string the best of the ideas together in a series of challenges laid before a swaggering and bravado filled stuntman.

“Animation Test Pilott” premiers on Episode 3 of the Nicktoons Network Animation Festival, August 27th at 10PM EST/7PM PST.

Melissa

Our hero, Mr. Man, gets swept up on a reluctant journey, only to find himself in love with the abstract.

Steve Whitehouse’s goal was to incorporate the elements of abstract films he’s attracted to (colour, movement, music) into one of his own films without taking himself too seriously. He commissioned different composers to come up with their own interpretations of the visuals, and let the experiment begin…

“Abstract” premiers on Episode 3 of the Nicktoons Network Animation Festival, August 27th at 10PM EST/7PM PST.

Melissa

In the game of life, EveryGirl finds herself benched. She sulks as she watches life pass her by - until a curious cat awakens her courage.

Joanna Davidovich was born on Sept. 15th 1983 in Orange Park, Florida, but spent most of her youth in Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated in spring of 2005 with a BFA in Animation from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She now resides in Atlanta working as a freelance animator.

“Juxtaposer” was recently featured on Channel Frederator Episode 30. Thanks so much for all of your work Joanna! We love it.

“Juxtaposer” will be showcased on Episode 2 of the Nicktoons Film Festival at 10:30PM EST/ 7:30 PST.

Melissa

A Parisian girafe leads a sad and monotonous life. Things change when she decides to become a star thanks to a miraculous pill.

Claire Sabattie received her BA in 3D animation from Estienne School in Paris, and a BA and MA in Image Art and Technology from University Paris 8. She enjoys mixing digital techniques in animation with more traditional techniques such as line art, painting, and paper.

“La Tete Dans les Nuages” will be showcased on Episode 2 of the Nicktoons Film Festival at 10:30PM EST/ 7:30 PST.

Melissa

A silent comedian does his best to explain his punctuality, and encounters different events and people along the way to work.

Jay Edry recently graduated from Sheridan College’s Computer Animation and Classical Animation programs. He is a true believer that simplicity is key and he does his best to incorporate that idea in all his work.

“Late Night Comedy” will be showcased on Episode 2 of the Nicktoons Film Festival at 10:30PM EST/ 7:30 PST.

Melissa

Libraryhead is a whimsical look at how the world appears to a little girl when filtered through the books she places in her head. In her short animated journey, she not only gathers a bit of knowledge, but also learns the value of being able to write her own ending.

David Bazelon is currently working on his M.F.A. in Animation at the University of Southern California’s Division of Animation and Digital Arts. He loves cartoons, books, and his friend’s pet hamster.

“Libraryhead” will be showcased on Episode 2 of the Nicktoons Film Festival at 10:30PM EST/ 7:30 PST.

Melissa