If you’re like me, you need to sometimes get away from a screen. This cute book by Lane Smith sums it up nicely. I’ve included the trailer below.
It may also be a good way to introduce technology/social studies to younger kids or even be a good conversation starter for others. Someone has posted scans of the entire book on YouTube here, but that’s not a book.
Here’s a simple animation I created deconstructing basically 1 Illustrator file. If interested, I explain the process a little more on my other blog here.
Here’s a Japanese cartoon “explaining” the Fukushima situation here in Japan to kids by making comparisons to stomachaches and poo. Hmm…
Here’s a great music video clip directed by Lilfuchs for the short Flying Lotus cut “Zodiac Sh*t” from their excellent Cosmogramma album. You don’t really see animation like this anymore. It reminds me of that pinball counting video from Sesame Street, but with hallucinogenics. View the video below or via Adult Swim.
This blog has suffered of late as I am taking an online course that is eating up all my free time. I will try to post some relevant ICT stuff soon. In about a month, I will also start planning a new grade 7 unit on collage. To my surprise, I found this video via the excellent Modern Art for Kids blog, which I subscribe to. I love it when the universe aligns like this! Talk about coincidence. It’s a pretty good video and I recommend you check out the blog as well, especially if you teach elementary art.
Jeremy Messersmith – Tatooine from Eric Power on Vimeo.
This is my type of digital storytelling! (Thanks Tim B.)
Some interesting stuff I found surfing around and some via Twitter (I can’t remember what by whom, but thank you and sorry for not referencing):
Do you use Skype? Check out TinyChat. “Peer-to-Peer chat service that allows you to set up a one-on-one conversation with a friend in literally seconds. No plug-ins, no software, not even a username required. The only thing you literally have to do is pick a URL for your video on the p2p.tinychat.com domain.” (via Mashable)
TubeChop allows you to easily chop a funny or interesting section from any YouTube video and share it.
At fontcapture.com you can create a font from your very own handwriting. There’s no software to download and install, all you need is a printer and a scanner.
FrameByFrame “…lets you create stop-motion animation videos using any webcam/video camera connected to your Mac, including iSight. Just take some pictures and in a matter of seconds you’ve got your very own stop-motion Quicktime movie!” A freeware alternative to iStopMotion, but installation required.
If you subscribe to other art blogs, you have probably seen this already. Blu’s other video MUTO certainly made it’s rounds. I’m sure this one will too.
(video link here)
The new video for Coldplay’s Strawberry Swing (dir. Shynola) is a nice piece of animation. Eat your heart out Peter Gabriel!
DoInk (pronounced ‘Do-Ink’) is a place to enjoy art and animation, and make your own. Have a great idea, but can’t draw? No problem. DoInk brings two things to the table: a community of talented people, and all the tools they need to share their ideas. Once you’ve signed up, you can begin animating, drawing, and sharing. And to speed things up, you can re-use the work of thousands of other users.
Perhaps now I can get some elementary students to try Rotoball for next year!
DoInk Welcome from Aaron White on Vimeo.
