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President Woodrow Wilson, Independence Day address, 1914

“The most patriotic man, ladies and gentlemen, is sometimes the man who goes in the direction that he thinks right even when he sees half the world against him. It is the dictate of patriotism to sacrifice yourself if you think that that is the path of honor and of duty. Do not blame others if they do not agree with you. Do not die with bitterness in your heart because you did not convince the rest of the world, but die happy because you believe that you tried to serve your country by not selling your soul. Those were grim days, the days of 1776. Those gentlemen did not attach their names to the Declaration of Independence on this table expecting a holiday on the next day, and that 4th of July was not itself a holiday. They attached their signatures to that significant document knowing that if they failed it was certain that every one of them would hang for the failure. They were committing treason in the interest of the liberty of 3,000,000 people in America. All the rest of the world was against them and smiled with cynical incredulity at the audacious undertaking. Do you think that if they could see this great Nation now they would regret anything that they then did to draw the gaze of a hostile world upon them? Every idea must be started by somebody, and it is a lonely thing to start anything. Yet if it is in you, you must start it if you have a man’s blood in you and if you love the country that you profess to be working for.

“I am sometimes very much interested when I see gentlemen supposing that popularity is the way to success in America. The way to success in this great country, with its fair judgments, is to show that you are not afraid of anybody except God and his final verdict. If I did not believe that, I would not believe in democracy. If I did not believe that, I would not believe that people can govern themselves. If I did not believe that the moral judgment would be the last judgment, the final judgment, in the minds of men as well as the tribunal of God, I could not believe in popular government. But I do believe these things, and, therefore, I earnestly believe in the democracy not only of America but of every awakened people that wishes and intends to govern and control its own affairs.”

Wilson, Woodrow, President, U.S. Address At Independence Hall, 4 July 1914.

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John Adams’s Salute to Independence Day

“But the Day is past. The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

“You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”

— John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776 [second letter]. Philadelphia July 3d. 1776. From Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 4 May 16, 1776 – August 15, 1776.

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Triumph of the Cosmic Mind

Michel Gagné’s professional career has spanned two-and-a-half decades, yet in all that time, and with all his accomplishments, he never won a major entertainment award.

Until this year.

Michel has finally won an Annie Award, and, an award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

First, let’s jump back to 2005. Michel’s Insanely Twisted Shadow Puppets, shown on Nickelodeon’s “Halloween Shriekin’ Weekend,” inspired him to further explore the concept into the realm of video games. In 2007, he met with Joe Olson, CEO of Fuelcell Games, to develop and produce Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet.

After months of negotiation, an agreement was reached with Microsoft to release the game on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet made its debut at PAX East in Boston, MA, March 11-13, 2011.

In the game, an alien scientist, riding a flying saucer, explores Shadow Planet. Can he survive its sinister shadow creatures and mechanical apparitions? His fate is in your hands. See here for the various promotional trailers.

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet has since won a slew of industry awards, but most notable are:

(1. An Annie Award for Best Animated Video Game. Upon accepting his Annie, Michel poured out a resounding, “Yesssssssssssssss!” To which I heartily concur.

(2. A 2012 BAFTA Award for Best Debut Game. He and his partner Joe Olson didn’t attend the March 16 ceremony in London, but here is the presentation of the award:

Looks like the presenter is traveling at warp speed, doesn’t it?

Michel’s BAFTA trophy arrived on May 12.

A comprehensive list of Michel’s awards and nominations can be found here.

Congratulations to the Cosmic Mind!

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Evolution of the Cosmic Mind

Evolution of the Cosmic Mind

In the early 2000s, American studios transitioned to from hand-drawn to cg animation—or they left feature animation altogether.  Warner Bros. Feature Animation wound down with Osmosis Jones, a live action/hand-drawn hybrid.  Michel Gagné had spent one-and-a-half years on the project, designing and supervising its effects, including the microbes in the opening title sequence.   Alas, the film tanked.  The artists had to seek employment elsewhere.

With the future uncertain in traditional animation, Michel had some options to consider:  Would he continue to work on a project-to-project basis for Hollywood studios, or would it be better to focus on his own projects, and try to make a living working for himself?

He decided to go independent.  And leave Los Angeles.

Michel and his wife Nancy moved to Bellingham, Washington.  He would continue publishing his books, and his Zed comic books.  Meanwhile, thanks to the Internet and his own industry connections, people started coming to him to illustrate or animate their projects.  DC Comics wanted him to write and illustrate a Batman story in his own style.  He called it:  “Spore.”   How did fans respond?  “Pretty much everyone agreed on one thing,” Michel said, “This was probably the most insane Batman story ever published!”

In 2003, Genndy Tartakovsky recruited him to do special effects for Cartoon Network’s Star Wars: Clone Wars series.   Michel’s stunning effects would be recycled for Season 2.  Clone Wars won Emmy Awards for both seasons, in 2004 and 2005.  Tragically, while the key creative team—including the sheet timer—was honored, Michel was not included.

In 2005, Michel pitched a series of spooky interstitials using silhouetted animation to various studios. Nickelodeon loved the idea and commisioned the films for their 2005 Halloween promotion, “Halloween Shriekin Weekend”.  Insanely Twisted Shadow Puppets employed a new type of production, Flash animation.

Meanwhile, Michel continued his foray into visual abstracts with Sensology, inspired by a musical performance by piano maestro Paul Plimley.  The music caused Michel to have “an intense synesthetic experience.”  He listened to three of Plimley’s compositions from the album, “Sensology,” and illustrated its music.  For Michel, this was “a true spiritual and artistic journey,” which he talks about here.

The production of Sensology lasted four years, during which Michel juggled his many other projects.

A nine-second Sensology teaser was posted online in the fall of 2006—and seen by his friend Brad Bird at Pixar, who was working on Ratatouille.  Bird wanted Michel … to visualize taste, as dreamed by Remi and Emile.  How could “taste,” an abstract sense, be designed and animated?  Leave it to the Cosmic Mind to pull it off.

Finally, in July 2010, Michel completed his masterpiece of abstract expression.  Experience Sensology for yourself:

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Passion of the Cosmic Mind

Passion of the Cosmic Mind

If one superlative can be used to describe Michel Gagné, it would be “passionate.” That is, in everything he does, he does it with a passion. He will do whatever it takes to accomplish his goal. He is a perfectionist. He does not compromise. He pursues excellence. And he does not give up.

As a result, he keeps improving his craft. Prelude to Eden was a monumental achievement. How could he possibly top it? But he did, as one can see from his later works.

While supervising special effects at Warner Bros. Feature Animation, Michel pursued his own creative interests in his off-hours. In April 2000, I talked with him about his personal projects for Animation World Magazine, archived here.

Michel branched out into being a painter, a sculptor, and then, an author/illustrator/publisher of his own books. He released A Search for Meaning: The Story of Rex in 1998, published in black and white, followed by a color edition in 2002. Rex was an inquisitive little fox who, in his quest for the meaning of life, encounters many strange creatures and environments, as only Michel Gagné could depict. Curious Rex would later appear in a series of graphic novel anthologies called Flight beginning in Volume Two in 2005, ending with Volume Seven in 2010. That same year, the epic tale was compiled in a single volume, The Saga of Rex.

Michel’s second publication was The Mystery of He in 1999, followed by The Great Shadow Migration and The Bird, The Spider and The Octopus in 2000. Then in 2001 he published Insanely Twisted Rabbits, a series of drawings he began during his days at Sullivan Bluth.

The deformed creatures motif continued in later books, Frenzied Fauna: From A to Z in 2002, and Freaky Flora: From A to Z in 2004, compiled as Frenzied Fauna and Freaky Flora in 2008. Wildlife from the Hot Spots came out in 2008. As one can see from the illustrations, Michel’s artistry had progressed to more detail in both design and color.


In 2001 Michel decided to conquer another field: comic books. He published a series called Zed, involving an alien inventor, a megalomaniac, and cosmic-scale conflict. Issue #10, the finale, was published this year. Has Michel left Zed for good? Not yet. Perfectionist that he is, he is now revising the artwork and story and improving upon it. Zed: A Cosmic Epic, is slated to be published as a 250-page graphic novel. Zed was originally conceived to be an animated series. Who knows? It may yet happen.

Michel’s published work is documented online here.

His long biography can be read here.

More to come!

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Enter the Cosmic Mind

In the field of animation, one can work with the most amazing people—“amazing” in terms of talent, enthusiasm, generosity and vision.  Genius, even.  I am speaking of Michel Gagné.  I met him when I began working at Sullivan-Bluth Animation at their facility in Burbank.  At the time, the creative triumvirate of Don Bluth, Gary Goldman and John Pomeroy were hard at work on Rock-a-Doodle and A Troll in Central Park.  Twelve years after Star Wars, and eight years after Raiders of the Lost Ark, we were animating films about a rock-and-roll rooster and a troll who magically created tap-dancing pansies.  It was great training for us; we appreciated the opportunity to work for these experienced film veterans.  But we thought animation’s subject matter should be more compelling, more exciting.

Michel worked his magic in the special effects department.  In his off-hours, he developed a short film called Origin, inspired by a Japanese-animated work called Planetbusters (aka Birth).  Otomo’s newly-released Akira served as another inspiration.  Animé appealed to us because of its creative staging, its kinetic action, its ability to dazzle the senses.  Michel wanted to apply that dynamic to his short.  He wanted to show that animation could be more than tap-dancing pansies.  And so, he labored on his short, gathering attention as he showed the pencil tests of his work-in-progress.  “Build it and they will come,” Michel said, referring to a line from Field of Dreams.  And come we did.   Bluth’s artists were swept into Michel’s vision.  We didn’t mind devoting our spare time to a project that was really exciting.  My input involved suggesting dynamic staging in some shots, and in cleaning up/in-betweening key drawings in a few scenes.

Origin eventually developed into Prelude to Eden.  Michel teamed up with Cambridge Animation Systems.  They would allow him to use their new Animo software to color and composite his film.  In turn, Michel would help make the software more “user friendly” to artists.  The finished Prelude short would be used to market Animo.  It was perfect timing.  Michel needed to color his film; Cambridge needed a film to promote Animo.  A win-win situation for both.

Bluth’s studio shut down in 1992 and we migrated to other studios.  By the time 1994 rolled around, Michel had finished the visuals for his short and was working full-time at Rich Animation on the movie, The Swan Princess.  Michel hired me to work as an effects animator (tones and props) in his department.  At that point, he needed sound effects and music for his short.  Danny Elfman’s theme to Batman was used as a temp track.  “Why not use Shirley Walker?” I suggested.  “She’s been scoring Batman: The Animated Series.  She’d be perfect.”  Lo and behold, Michel contacted her, showed her the short, and she was jazzed enough to provide the score.  She used an orchestra, which played for a big-budget film in a recording session, followed by a recording of her music for the short.  Sadly, Walker passed away on November 30, 2006.

Completed in 1995, Prelude was a mini-masterpiece.  Michel used it as his demo reel to get employment at various studios, first on The Swan Princess in its pre-music state.  The completed film led to his gigs as head of effects on Quest for Camelot, The Iron Giant and Osmosis Jones.  Animo would be used in The Iron Giant, The Prince of Egypt, Eldorado, Space Jam, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Osmosis Jones, among other films.  In 1996, Prelude was nominated for an Annie Award in the best animated shorts category.

Prelude to Eden was Michel’s take on the “Big Bang.”  What caused it?  This was his answer:

Michel tells how he accomplished his work here.

And he discusses working with Shirley Walker here.

I am grateful to have worked on this pivotal film.  And more than that, grateful to have met Michel, whom I consider to be a great friend.

To be continued.

P.S.  Michel graciously illustrated the cover of Apatoons San Diego Sampler #3, featuring one of Prelude‘s robotic life forms, which you can see at the top right of the page, and here.

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What’s the little bunny saying?

In the Bugs Bunny cartoon, “Rabbit’s Kin,” a hyperactive little bunny is on the run from Pete Puma (voiced by Stan Freberg).

http://youtu.be/FNqXmIiqGik

What’s the little bunny saying?  Find out below:

“Rabbit’s Kin” is directed by Robert McKimson, who does another “How many lumps?” gag in “Sock-a-Doodle-Doo,” released the following year, 1952.

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Space Battleship Yamato 2199, Chapter Two!

Here’s the trailer for Space Battleship Yamato 2199, Chapter Two!

Pretty exciting, isn’t it, folks?

Warping its way to Japanese theaters June 30, 2012.

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SCTV Commercial Parodies

SCTV excels in lampooning the media.  Here’s a video that features commercials for Bon Jour Jeans and Brenda Vaccaro plugging Playtex Tampons, followed by SCTV‘s “homage”:

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Advice for Villains

Why do villains lose?  Is it because the heroes are more clever, daring, and resourceful?  Or could it be the villains are careless or even stupid?

Several online essays offer much-needed advice to the Oil Can Harrys of the world.  Here they are:

Open Memorandum to Future Disney Villains.   Discussion in ‘Animated Flicks‘ started by Ernest_Rister, Apr 1, 2001.

The Evil Overlord List by Jack Butler.

The Top 100 Things I’d Do If I Ever Became An Evil Overlord by  Peter Anspach.

 

 

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