Flick through our latest selection of animations
In the digital era, there’s almost an infinite array of tools that creators and makers have at their fingertips, enabling them to bring characters, objects, places, spaces and more to life. With the flick of a switch, entire worlds can magically evolve into existence before our eyes.
From multimedia mash-ups, hand-drawn lines, good old fashioned stop-frame or increasingly advanced computer-generated graphics. The art of telling stories has developed into a captivating experience for both makers and audiences alike. Making masses of pixels move has never been more exciting, as behind each series of frames lies a meticulous amount of effort.
Through the blending of traditional techniques with cutting-edge technology, the results can really transcend both language and culture, as whole universes teaming with creative energy and ideas explode into life.
Continuing our animation series – cartoon corner, we’ve picked out some recent works that caught our eyes, and have lit the imagination. We hope you’ll appreciate the level of effort and love that goes into these seemingly short pieces, as we focus on a selection of animated fun from creators hailing from the UK and beyond.
Death Cab for Cutie – Stone Over Water
Death Cab for Cutie’s ‘I Built You A Tower’ LP marks the band’s return to their independent roots after 20 years of being on Atlantic Records, marking a moment of new found liberty after a long haul.
Renown for their melodic sound that blends indie, pop and alt shoegaze – there’s a sensitive charm to their music which animator and director Juliet Bryant neatly captures in this charming official lyric video.
A flowing sequence of hand drawn postcards, echoing the flow of the song lyrics, the result is both compelling as it is enduring.
Max Cooper – Bass Mosaic
Cooper has been building pieces of music for light structures in his live shows, using multiple layers and semi transparent surfaces for quite some time now. Interested in the feeling of concrete cityscapes and brutalist architectures, he chatted to Marcus Fernandez Diaz about bringing this particular idea to life.
Together, they embarked on making the visual endeavour work in harmony with the rhythmic structure of his track ‘Bass Mosaic’ – a deftly composed slice of acidic chicago jack beat that’s sets the mind to cycle. Diaz takes up the challenge and plunges us into a dark, brutalist environment — imposing architectural space gradually transforms and evolves alongside the music to maximum effect.
Actress – Paris
Taken from his new LP ‘Radical Frame’, Actress aka Darren J Cunningham explores the notions of ‘black avant-garde’ existence and the oxymoron it presents – as if black on the one hand, and avant-garde on the other, each depend for its coherence at the exclusion of the other.
The minimalist ebb and flow of ‘Paris’ from Anna van der Velde plays heavily with stylized visuals, CGI and stark contrasts. Focusing on what seems to be a writer, sat at his desk as sheets of paper flow back and forth. Whatever you make of Cunningham’s intent, there seems to be an element of homage to the city which gave sanctuary to key figures during the growth of the civil rights movement if you look carefully enough.
Lines
Directed and animated by Martin Schmidt, this slice of genius depicts an aggressive battle unfolding between red and dark blue. As the borderlines between the colors vibrate with tension, they fight for their lives.
LINES is a personal visualization of tension and panic attacks, inspired by the minimalistic abstract films of Norman McLaren and Oskar Fischinger. Exploring the breaking point of conflict and how the collapse of rigid boundaries can finally lead to peace. EPIC !
Sleaford Mods feat. Aldous Harding – Elitest G.O.A.T. (The Prodigy Acid Thunder Remix)
Released ahead of their album ‘The Demise of Planet X’, Elitist G.O.A.T. sees Sleaford Mods blend minimalist beats and anger with Aldous Harding’s light guest vocals.
Illustrated by Jacob Taylor (Snakenub) and brought to life by animator Jayla Smith. The cover artwork gets a full imagining into being thanks Jayla’s vision and what it all means.
Both disturbing and brilliant, there’s something uncanny and playful here that won’t let you go.
