Worst Magic Trick Ever [.gif]

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He made his brother disappear!

How To Build A Smurf

From: http://blogs.wsj.com/
By: Michelle Kung

Sony Pictures Imageworks

A scene from ‘The Smurfs’

With their tiny bodies and solid blue coloring, the Smurfs would appear to be easy to animate. In reality, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Sony Corp.’s visual effects and character animation company, has been experimenting and working for nearly three years to bring the Belgian cartoonist Peyo’s creations to the big screen as realistic-looking 3-D computer-generated creatures.

After a standard Smurf was created, it was adapted into roughly 36 different models for the film — approximately a third of the 99 Smurfs originally identified by Peyo. Of the 36, only one was created specifically for the film and had no basis in either the original comic strip or cartoon: Gutsy Smurf, who is voiced by Alan Cumming in the film. The animators also give some of the older characters virtual facelifts. In the case of Smurfette, they toned down her stiff, poufy hair into a flatter, more contemporary ‘do.
Smurf designs in place, the team then used a 3-D copier to produce two kinds of Smurf maquettes, or figurines, to be used for rehearsal and framing purposes during the physical shooting of the film. To make the digitally-created Smurfs look more lifelike in the film, Imageworks used a newer technology known as HDRI — or High Dynamic Range Imagery — to accurately capture both the spatial dimensions and a 360 degree view of whatever set the lighters were working on. Specifically, they did so at 26 different exposure levels (f stops) of lighting. (The technique was also used on the film “The Green Lantern.”) To achieve this, the company used the SpheroCam HDR to automatically capture 360 degree spherical images and spatial data with a single scan.


Consequently, by applying that spatial data and lighting to the digital elements — namely the animated Smurf characters — the computer-generated figures are more smoothly integrated into the live-action film. The technology also helped speed up the workflow: instead of the usual three or four days usually needed for the process, it only took Imageworks about a day or two.

Check out a slideshow of the process in the above tab.

'Beavis and Butt-Head': 7 Things to Expect From MTV's Relaunched Series

From "Jersey Shore" to movie reviews, writer-creator Mike Judge offers a preview of what's to come.

by Lesley Goldberg
from http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/

"Beavis and Butt-Head"

 

Not much will have changed when Beavis and Butt-head returns to MTV in the fall after nearly 15 years off the air. But while the boys may still be clad in their AC/DC and Metallica shirts, they’ve got an whole lot of ammunition at their disposal when it comes to pop culture, including Jersey Shore and Twilight.

Writer-creator Mike Judge and executive producer Van Toffler offered a glimpse Friday at the Television Critics’ Association summer press tour at what could be expected from the animated hit.

1. Judge was nervous about including Jersey Shore in Beavis and Butt-head and watched MTV’s reality hit at Toffler’s recommendation. “It was paydirt,” Judge said, confessing that he’s now “hooked” on the Jersey crew. Toffler, meanwhile, doesn’t expect the housemates to ask for additional compensation when they appear in clips on the animated series. “I’d be scared to think of them with more money than they already have,” Toffler said, noting that he expects the gang to love being subjected to the Beavis and Butt-head treatment.

2. Time stands still. Judge said he wanted new episodes to be topical – Twilight and vampire humor is included in the new trailer – but that there won’t be a specific instance where the series acknowledges the nearly 15-year gap between new episodes. “I wanted to make it not feel too forced; to make it as seamless as I could to what it was how ever many years ago,” he noted.

3. There’s plenty of ammunition for the boys to riff on. Judge said targets in the new episodes include UFC fights, Internet stuff and ... movie reviews. “We have a think where they’re kind of like Siskel & Ebert,” he said.

4. The animation process has been updated. When the original series aired from 1993 to 1997, Judge noted that Beavis and Butt-head — like The Simpsons and King of the Hill – was hand inked and painted onto cells and shot on film. That’s all been digitized now. “It still looks crappy,” Judge joked. “But I like the way it looks.” “It’s high-def, there are some differences.”

5. The boys will still be watching music videos. MGMT, Deadmau5 and Tbaby’s “It’s So Cold in the D” will be among the artists Judge noted will be getting the Beavis & Butt-head treatment.

6. Beavis, meet technology. With Beavis and Butt-head returning to a world that now features cell phones, Facebook and Twitter, Judge said he didn’t want to force “all the modern stuff on them,” but did tease to an upcoming episode where the boys work in tech support.

7. Daria might be back. MTV’s Toffler, an executive producer on the series, notes that the animated spinoff from Beavis and Butt-head that airs in reruns on MTV2 and Logo and has done well on both. “We’ve talked to the creators so there is not as long a shot as you’d think that Daria might be back on one of our channels.

Beavis and Butt-head premieres the first of its 12 new episodes on Oct. 27 at 10 p.m. on MTV.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit

Disney doppelgangers: The copy and paste guide to animation

From: http://www.stylist.co.uk/

We're not ashamed to admit that we're big Disney fans here at Stylist. Having grown up in the days before Pixar and CGI animation, classics such as Snow White, Robin Hood and The Lion King are a treasured part of our DVD collection. So we felt just a touch disappointed to discover not all of our favourite films were hand-crafted from scratch.

Given that it used to take around three years to make a traditional, hand-drawn animated film, Disney's team no doubt rellished the opportunity to cut a few corners. The easiest way to do it? The 'copy and paste' trick - copy a scene that works, draw in new characters, and hey presto: a "brand new" Disney film from an old clip. A seemingly easy win which went completely unnoticed by viewers - until now, as the YouTube video below of the most obvious Disney doppelgangers shows...

Scotty McCreery And 7 Other Musicians Who Look Like Cartoons

by Ryan McKee

from http://clutch.mtv.com/

As striking as "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery's deep voice is, it will never be the most striking thing about him. While Mad Magazine hasn't been relevant in at least 20 years, it is still impossible not to think of their mascot Alfred E. Neuman when laying eyes on McCreery. Calling the singer "Scotty McHotty" is like calling a huge bouncer "Tiny." However, his cartoonish looks didn't stop him from running away with the votes on "American Idol," and his Neuman likeness will not keep him from being a country star. Plenty of popular musicians look like cartoon characters. We found seven more, in fact. See the proof after the jump.

Cee Lo Green and Mushmouth

It's a rare sight to see "The Voice" judge and "Forget You" singer Cee Lo without his sunglasses. That's because he's trying to hide the fact he looks like Mushmouth from "Fat Albert."

Taylor Swift and Gadget

The smartest thing Chip and Dale ever did was start the Rescue Rangers, hire Gadget as their mechanic and introduce the world to the cutest mouse cartoon ever. Taylor Swift may be gorgeous, but she owes her image to Gadget.

Dave Navarro and Duke Igthorn

With the greasy goatee and eyeliner, Dave Navarro has always resembled a cartoon villain. It's tough to name which one exactly, until stumbling on Duke Igthorn from the short-lived "Gummi Bears" cartoon from the '80s.

Prince and Jafar

Aladdin becomes a prince at the end of the movie, but it's his evil nemesis Jafar who looks most like Prince. You've got the pencil-thin mustache, the way their lips curl and the fact they're both sorcerers who occasionally wear talismans and magic robes.

Jay-Z and Joe Camel

We're certainly not the first source to point this likeness out. There are a number of photo-shoots that appear as if Jay-Z is intentionally posing like a Joe Camel advertisement. Especially when Hova smokes a cigarette.

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony and Lion-O and Panthro

"Thundercats! Hooooooo!" When Marc Anthony stands next to his wife J. Lo, it's tough not to see them as the princess and the troll. Her beauty, the height difference...it's all too much. However, when their both seated and staring seriously into the camera, they are unmistakably one of the greatest duos of all time: Lion-O and Panthro from the "Thundercats." The catlike features, her big hair and his pointy ears make them nearly an exact match.

Images: Getty, Mad Magazine, Camel Cigarettes, YouTube

Alice in Wonderland Demonstrates Various Drug Use

Published by Paul Tassi
From http://unrealitymag.com/

So you all remember last week when I brought you a series of GIFs demonstrating various mental disorders via Winnie the Pooh characters. That was from artist Matthew Wilkinson (warning graphic content on site), and he’s actually done another series that I think is even better.
Everyone has always thought of Alice in Wonderland as some sort of allegory for a super ridiculous drug trip, but these GIFs demonstrate just how many substances are actually covered in the story. Granted, some weren’t even invented when the story was written, but it’s hard to unsee all of these once you realize they’re there.
Check out the full GIF gallery below, and Matthew, I look forward to seeing what your next project like this will be.

Winnie the Pooh Demonstrates Mental Disorders

Published by Paul Tassi
From: http://unrealitymag.com/

GIF artist (yes, there is such a thing) Matthew Wilkinson has animated this series of images to show different mental illnesses, as acted out by Winnie the Pooh characters.
I’m not sure how I’ve never seen this before, but they really do align with all the various Pooh characters, and it makes my childhood memories just a shade or two darker.
Besides Christopher Robin hallucinating talking animals as a way of coping with his abusive father, check out the rest of the disorders below:

41 Jiggling ‘Jessica’ Animated Gifs (Jessica Simpson, Jessica Biel & Jessica Alba)

by Neal - Johns Hopkin

from: http://coedmagazine.com/

Ha! You said Jif instead of Gif, didn’t ya! Jif’s a tasty peanut butter, brosephina. What are you, a choosy mom? ‘Cuz only choosy moms choose Jif. Speaking of choosy moms, Jessica Alba chooses to never accept a role that requires nudity, yet pics of her nude preggers body leaked on the internet this week. They were great but they were missing… movement. Luckily, COED has assembled the following gallery of jiggling Jessicas featuring the expectant Alba along with Jessica “Needs To Dump JT” Biel and Jessica Simpson. Anyone have a craving for Jello?

(click banner or gif to view all of Jessica Simpson’s GIFs)

(click banner or gif to view all of Jessica Biel’s GIFs)

(click banner or gif to view all of Jessica Alba’s GIFs)

The Presidio's New Walt Disney Family Museum

Sneak Peek: The Presidio's New Walt Disney Family Museum

By Tim Wagner

Tim Wagner

​The Walt Disney Family Museum is gearing up to open its doors in early October after several years of meticulous planning and lobbying by several of Disney's children and grandchildren.

Tim Wagner

​The museum will tell the story of Walt Disney, who raised animation to an art and transformed the film industry, leaving one of the world's largest entertainment companies as a legacy.

Tim Wagner

​The museum's collection of three historic San Francisco Presidio buildings are renovated former military barracks, a gymnasium and a supply shed. The buildings house 10 linked galleries, a 114-seat screening room, learning center, museum store and cafe.

Tim Wagner

​An exact scale model of Disney's Epcot and Pirates Bay.

Tim Wagner

​Samples of original pigments used to color animation keyframes.

Tim Wagner

​An original two-story camera that allowed Walt Disney unprecedented control of depth of field in his animations.

Tim Wagner

​Executive Director Richard Benefield heads the new Walt Disney Family Museum.

Tim Wagner

​Some of the Academy Awards Walt Disney won over his career (including his specially-made one for Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs).

Tim Wagner

​David Rockwell heads the museum's interior and exhibition design.

Tim Wagner

​Models and sketches for Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs.

Tim Wagner

​Staff at the new Walt Disney Family Museum.

Tim Wagner

​Another look at the interior.

Tim Wagner

​Sketches of the landmark animation "Steamboat Willie."

Tim Wagner

​Diane Disney Miller, daughter of Walt Disney, and Walter E.D. Miller, grandson of Walt Disney and president of the Walt Disney Family Foundation at the structure's preview.

Tim Wagner

​The world's most famous mouse.

Tim Wagner

​Posters for Disney movies at the new Walt Disney Family Museum.

Tim Wagner

​Architect Jay Turnbull from Page & Turnbull coordinated renovating the former military barrack, gymnasium and supply shed in San Francisco's historic Presidio into the three building Walt Disney Family Museum.

Tim Wagner

​A close-up of one of many texts on display.