Comments on: Ted Rall posts first animated editorial cartoon http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/ The source for industry news for the professional cartoonist Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:54:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Mike Cope http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76570 Mike Cope Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:40:57 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76570 Considering the fact that this is a pilot episode, it was executed quite nicely. What's interesting to consider is the possibility that animations like these can actually support the need for traditional editorial cartoons to co-exist. A static cartoon can provide a sharp perspective on a timely topic, whereas an animated editorial asks the audience to invest more time to entertain broader ideas and issues. Of course, if you're expecting the audience to watch a 4 minute short, you'd better deliver!!! Although the timing was off on some elements in Ted's animation, the characters did seem to move with a personality that matched their visual design ... no rubber-hose limbs! But the use of 3D overlays (i.e., Hello Kitty flag) tends to stick out the same way that a static photograph does when editorial cartoonists Photoshop them into their cartoons ... usually because they just can't be bothered drawing the same image in a style that matches their work. Look forward to watching more. Considering the fact that this is a pilot episode, it was executed quite nicely.

What’s interesting to consider is the possibility that animations like these can actually support the need for traditional editorial cartoons to co-exist. A static cartoon can provide a sharp perspective on a timely topic, whereas an animated editorial asks the audience to invest more time to entertain broader ideas and issues. Of course, if you’re expecting the audience to watch a 4 minute short, you’d better deliver!!!

Although the timing was off on some elements in Ted’s animation, the characters did seem to move with a personality that matched their visual design … no rubber-hose limbs!

But the use of 3D overlays (i.e., Hello Kitty flag) tends to stick out the same way that a static photograph does when editorial cartoonists Photoshop them into their cartoons … usually because they just can’t be bothered drawing the same image in a style that matches their work.

Look forward to watching more.

]]> By: Tom Wood http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76568 Tom Wood Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:21:46 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76568 Keep in mind that there are other tools outside of Flash. A video editing program can bring a lot of new options in terms of transitions to move the story along. Leaving Flash behind completely, there are bitmap video paint programs that aren't being used effectively yet. For example, a digital version of the old stop-action sand on glass technique could be a fast way to do online cartooning. I'm not suggesting these are right for what you are doing Ted, but I don't see many people getting out of the Flash box. It will take a new approach to make fast production work. Story and dialogue will take first priority, and the visual part will have to become suggestive to the story rather than being so absolute as it is now. IMO. TW Keep in mind that there are other tools outside of Flash. A video editing program can bring a lot of new options in terms of transitions to move the story along.

Leaving Flash behind completely, there are bitmap video paint programs that aren’t being used effectively yet. For example, a digital version of the old stop-action sand on glass technique could be a fast way to do online cartooning. I’m not suggesting these are right for what you are doing Ted, but I don’t see many people getting out of the Flash box.

It will take a new approach to make fast production work. Story and dialogue will take first priority, and the visual part will have to become suggestive to the story rather than being so absolute as it is now. IMO.

TW

]]> By: Ted Rall http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76565 Ted Rall Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:49:28 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76565 Thanks to everyone for their comments--especially the negative ones. They're helpful. For the next one, top priorities are voices and editing. We ran long this time because we viewed it as kind of a pilot, but we'll go shorter from now on. Tom Wood, you bring up a fair point in general, but as a non-staff editorial cartoonist I have long been accustomed to drawing pieces that wouldn't be published for almost as long as a week. Besides, I prefer doing stuff with a longer shelf life--they're more fun to read in a book, for example. Animation is like learning how to cartoon all over again. It's daunting, but it's also fun to enjoy a steep learning curve (hopefully). Thanks to everyone for their comments–especially the negative ones. They’re helpful. For the next one, top priorities are voices and editing. We ran long this time because we viewed it as kind of a pilot, but we’ll go shorter from now on.

Tom Wood, you bring up a fair point in general, but as a non-staff editorial cartoonist I have long been accustomed to drawing pieces that wouldn’t be published for almost as long as a week. Besides, I prefer doing stuff with a longer shelf life–they’re more fun to read in a book, for example.

Animation is like learning how to cartoon all over again. It’s daunting, but it’s also fun to enjoy a steep learning curve (hopefully).

]]> By: Tom Wood http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76561 Tom Wood Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:26:26 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76561 Suffers from the same problem that afflicts Mark Fiore's cartoons. There's too much invested into the animation style and production, which forces the author to go with a broad subject because it takes so long to produce a single cartoon. Produce these regularly the day after a story breaks, and it's an animated editorial cartoon. Take a week or more to do it, and it's just 'me too' commentary. Yawn. Tom Wood Suffers from the same problem that afflicts Mark Fiore’s cartoons. There’s too much invested into the animation style and production, which forces the author to go with a broad subject because it takes so long to produce a single cartoon.

Produce these regularly the day after a story breaks, and it’s an animated editorial cartoon. Take a week or more to do it, and it’s just ‘me too’ commentary. Yawn.

Tom Wood

]]> By: Gary Swygler http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76499 Gary Swygler Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:04:25 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76499 More fun with animation (3D though).. Stars O'Reilly, Obama, Hillary, Bush, Cheney, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uj5uQqQ7Eo More fun with animation (3D though)..
Stars O’Reilly, Obama, Hillary, Bush, Cheney, etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uj5uQqQ7Eo

]]> By: Gary Swygler http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76498 Gary Swygler Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:02:27 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76498 By: Ted Rall http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76495 Ted Rall Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:28:52 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76495 Voices were supplied by an elite group of stand-up comics, veterans of "The Tonight Show" and voiceover professionals with decades of experience in TV, and a psychotic homeless warlord from South Ossetia. Voices were supplied by an elite group of stand-up comics, veterans of “The Tonight Show” and voiceover professionals with decades of experience in TV, and a psychotic homeless warlord from South Ossetia.

]]> By: Charles Brubaker http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76493 Charles Brubaker Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:53:14 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76493 Came out pretty good. Some parts dragged on, but otherwise, OK for your first try. Ted, if you're reading this, mind if I ask who did the voices? Came out pretty good. Some parts dragged on, but otherwise, OK for your first try.

Ted, if you’re reading this, mind if I ask who did the voices?

]]> By: Stephanie McMillan http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76492 Stephanie McMillan Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:48:49 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76492 It's hilarious! The bike lock made me laugh out loud, as did the song at the end! I can't wait for more. It’s hilarious! The bike lock made me laugh out loud, as did the song at the end! I can’t wait for more.

]]> By: Kelly McNutt http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76478 Kelly McNutt Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:31:39 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/09/18/ted-rall-posts-first-animated-editorial-cartoon/#comment-76478 Timing is everything. Cut this down to two minutes and it would stand a better chance... maybe. Of course, this is simply IMHO. Timing is everything. Cut this down to two minutes and it would stand a better chance… maybe. Of course, this is simply IMHO.

]]>