A Brief Insight from The Coup

I saw The Coup earlier on Skwigly, it is a comedic commercial short with classic slapstick humour content that reminds me of The Grand Budapest Hotel which is a film by Wes Anderson. The quirky background music also resembles those classical action films like The Man from U.N.C.L.E and Mission Impossible. What a nostalgia! Films might be different from animation, however in these film the actors act like characters in old-school cartoons as they make a lot of exaggerated movements.

I am amazed by the directors of this film as they creatively incorporate what is not real into the realistic world with no budget. The ease of access of technology that is used in the present animation and film industry gives hope for anyone to start making their own independent films and animations.

The Coup

The Grand Budapest Hotel by Dir. Wes Anderson

Kitty-in-Boots

Source: Beatrix Potter story Kitty-in-Boots discovered after 100 years

Totally unrelated to animation, but this news really got me excited! The raw manuscript of Kitty-in-Boots by Beatrix Potter were found just recently, and it has been decided that the production of this book will resume as Quentin Blake, a children book illustrator, is keen to illustrate the book.

Quentin's Illustration in Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr Fox

I am really passionate about Quentin Blake's work mainly because he made illustrations with ink and watercolours, which are my favourite drawing media. Some of my illustrations are heavily influenced by Quentin Blake's rough drawing style as I love the spontaneity in the practice. As I did more research, I figured that the process was much more complex than just immediately scribbling on a paper, inking and colouring as Quentin wants his drawings to be consistent from one page to another. So, he made roughs, then did a few proper ones on a watercolour paper until he is satisfied with his drawing. In this sense, illustrating storybooks is similar to animating.

Quentin Blake: How I Draw

This inspires me to make gif animations that are illustrated with ink and watercolours like Quentin Blake's or Beatrix Potter's books which I might do during my spare times. I feel like starting small because I know the process will not be easy as it is hard to keep the lines and fills consistent in different frames with traditional media.