Informed Art - Comic-Con Revealed

Moderator Larry Loc introduces Tom Sito and Jorge Gutierrez.

As every year, ASIFA-Hollywood hosts the state of animation panel at Comic-Con. Moderated by Larry Loc, the panel featured Tom Sito (“Osmosis Jones”), Jorge R. Gutierrez (“El Tigre”), supervising animator Lennie Graves, Mattel creative director Aki Umemoto, and “Animation Magazine” editor Ryan Ball. Sito called working as an animator is like being a jazz player, where you get some good gigs and some bad gigs, and some last long and others are one-offs. All the panel members agreed that the industry is good for CG artists and not so good if all you want to do is 2D. Gutierrez said that for TV animation it’s a great time because there is more animation on television than ever. As for the secret of success, he quoted John Lasseter as saying that quality is always the best business plan.

Lennie Graves listens to Aki Umemoto introduce himself to the audience.

When asked about skills other than art skills, Sito mentioned that the business is a social community where he’s gotten more jobs over a sandwich at a party than pounding lobbies with his portfolio. Gutierrez said that time management was something that they never were taught in art school. His holy grail on “El Tigre” was to make a good show and remain friends with his crew. Graves added that humility is needed because then you’re always striving to be better. He also encouraged artists to live life and not be consumed by animation so they can bring themselves to their work. Umemoto added to that an animator needs to be an actor, as well as understanding timing. Ball continued by telling the crowd to be observers.

Loc then asked what films the panelists would recommend for animators to see. Ball recommended “Triplets of Belleville” for the acting. Umemoto and Graves went to the classics like “Citizen Kane.” Gutierrez said that “Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill, Kill” changed his life, but also recommended watching foreign films that did well in the U.S. to find films that transcended cultural barriers. Sito said to watch a film three times – first watching for plot then for cutting, and lastly for lighting. As for his picks he recommended Ford and “Lawrence of Arabia.”

Winder, Tucker, Gilroy and Filoni.

Comic-Con dedicates one day each year to “Star Wars” and this year Friday is the day. Head of fan relations Steve Sansweet kicked off the panel with two clips from the hotly anticipated game “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.” One of the clips that debuted at the Con featured the Emperor challenging Darth Vader to kill his apprentice. Sansweet quickly moved into “The Clone Wars” feature film and TV series. He brought out director Dave Filoni, producer Catherine Winder, co-writer Henry Gilroy and editor Jason Tucker.

When asked about how the feature film came out of the TV series, Winder said that when George Lucas first saw scenes from the series, he called it cinematic, and the idea was out there. Filoni said that when the feature was proposed he had to find a compelling single story arch for the film, which introduces viewers to Anakin’s padawan. Filoni said that it’s an honor to bring his own ideas to the Star Wars universe, but was nervous about presenting them to Lucas. Gilroy added to the sentiment that “The Clone Wars” allowed them to tell different stories within the Star Wars universe such as comedies and horror films. For the fans, they treated the audience with the first act of one of the upcoming episodes filled with action and introduced new characters to the universe.

King and her Spirit Gabriel Macht.

Last year at Comic-Con, Frank Miller introduced the audience to his vision of bringing Will Eisner’s “The Spirit” to the screen. This year he had cast members, the first theatrical trailer and two clips from the film. On stage the actors included Gabriel Macht (The Spirit), Samuel L. Jackson (The Octopus) and Jaime King (Lorelei Rox). Accompanying them were director Miller and producer Deborah Del Prete, who wanted to bring the comic book art look to the screen and felt that Miller was the man to do it after seeing “Sin City.” The stylish look of the film mixes pulp detective stories with screwball comedy. For the underwater scenes, which Miller said the technical term for in film is “a fucking nightmare,” were done for the film without water. Miller used the new super-slow-motion Phantom camera to simulate the flow of hair underwater. Because the Octopus villain in the comics was just a pair of gloves, Jackson worked closely with Miller to create the look of the character. Jackson complimented Miller for not having an ego allowing access and support for suggestions.

Del Toro, Blunt and Baker.

Universal is re-imagining the classic horror film, “Wolfman,” and they brought it to Comic-Con. Make-up effects master Rick Baker along with stars Benicio Del Toro and Emily Blunt. Fans were treated to the first trailer for the 2009 film, which utilizes make-up effects to transform Del Toro into the werewolf. Set in the 1800s, the film does look like a throw-back to classic horror with a tinge of Hammer Films terror. Del Toro was attracted to the project as a big fan of Lon Chaney and classic horror. Baker said that the classic gothic horror nature of the project made using practical effects very attractive to director Joe Johnston. He did reveal that for transformation sequences CG will be used. When asked about the recent passing of effects legend Stan Winston, Baker said that it felt like the end of an era. The two legends were friends and competitors.

Self-proclaimed jackass Billy Crudup plays all-powerful Dr. Manhattan in Watchmen.

The panel to kick off Friday was the highly anticipated “Watchmen.” Fans had been waiting out over night to be up front before the entire cast and glimpse more footage from the film. On hand were director Zack Snyder, original comic illustration Dave Gibbons, and actors Malin Akerman (Silk Specctre II), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Comedian), Carla Gugino (Silk Spectre), Jackie Earle Haley (Rorschach), Billy Crudup (Dr. Manhattan), Patrick Wilson (Night Owl II), and Matthew Goode (Ozymandias). Instead of showing the trailer, which debuted last week on the Net, Snyder had additional footage from the film to illustrate the faithful adaptation of the comic to the screen. In the footage, visual effects fans got a longer glimpse of Dr. Manhattan’s attack during Vietnam and a longer look at the moving ink blots of the mask of Rorschach. Additionally, the fans got the first look at the iconic image of the blood splatter hitting the smiley face pin.

The Watchmen Owl Ship from the convention floor.

Snyder confirmed that there is material new to the film that was not in the original comic. A fan asked about a rumor that the DVD would feature all the pre-production work from all the previous directors that worked on the film. Snyder said that it was the first time he had heard that but thought it was a great idea and challenged someone in the audience to do it. Crudup joked that it took some time to get over the embarrassment of playing a character who is a nearly naked, giant, omniscient blue man when he’s a 5’9” jackass.