Iconic Synesthesia

giant_step
Giant Steps (10.7MB, 1:46 min.)

audio: john coltrane. animation: michal levy.

slim_return
Slim

I Made You A Balloon


Joseph Mann – I Made You A Balloon (2008, 3.6MB, 1:37)

Lovely little animation piece from Joseph Mann.

Ingredient X – Tales of Mere Existence

pot
The Times I Have Smoked Pot (2005, 1.3 MB, 1:50 min.)

horney
Horny (2005, 1.9MB, 1:21 min.)

A guy named Lev makes these great videos from his comics.
From Ingredient X Productions.

By Mica.

Gabriel Shalom – Beardbox


Beardbox (2009, 24.8MB, 2:44 min)

We’ve featured work by Gabriel Shalom here before.
Deft, witty and involving it was then & so it is here too.
Shalom is also public spirited and has just started up this
interesting looking blog
for ‘Both theoretical & practical dialogue
about the future of the cinema’.

This combination of some serious thinking with high level technical chops
promises more of interest in the future -we’ll be watching.
For the moment, more here.

Gerben Kruk – 2 Movies


Vogels (2003, 3.5MB, 1:01 min)


Overdrive(2003, 4.5MB, 1:12 min)

Two 2003 pieces from Dutch artist Gerben Kruk.
I like the way the quite in-your-face soundtrack in both cases
sets the tone for & structures our response to the visuals.
There’s a curious contradiction between the bucolic content of Vogels
and the sheer noisiness and velocity of it.
(AND NB THOSE SENSITIVE TO FLICKER SHOULD PROBABLY NOT
ATTEMPT TO WATCH IT) .

Two from Monkmus & Kid Koala

basinstblues
Basin Street Blues (2003, 11.3 MB)

fenderbender
Fender Bender (2000, 3.9 MB)

Couple of collaborations between artist & film-maker
Monkmus and turntablist Kid Koala found on the
generously-stocked-with-goodies video page of the
Ninja Tune site, these tracks are pure aural & visual delight.

Xologola – Michael Robinson


Xologola (2007, 49.3MB, 1:18 min)

DeK, from no fat clips!!!, recommends this piece by Michael Robinson
with sound by Bish.
It’s undeniably skilfully made & pretty though I can’t help wishing
more happened.
There’s a moment, about 1:06, where we seem to be gearing up
for some visible variation in tempo & geometry but the moment
passes & the piece ends.
Nonetheless one can’t help but admire the process:
… made up of scans and pictures of branches,
broken and scratched glass, and digitally painted textures…

Simon’s Cat


Simon’s Cat – “TV Dinner” (2008, 8.8MB, 2:35)

Award-winning sketch (Best Comedy at British
Animation Awards), of the several available,
this is my favorite video. Each is equally
endearing, and I’m particularly fond of the
amusing vocals.
From London’s Tandem Films

Muto by BLU


BLU – Muto (2008, 30.7MB, 6:54)

Fairly surreal wall painted graffiti animation from BLU,
shot in Baden and Buenos Aires over the past two years.
Always pleasing to see street art legitimized, this piece is
particularly fun and feels much shorter than its run time.

Sondheim – Swirl


Swirl (2008, 21MB, 1:05 min)

Regular visitors will be aware of how little excuse we need
to post work from the formidable Alan Sondheim.
So…it’s Wednesday… – here’s one of his recent Second Life
pieces.
His accompanying text appears below.

Jennifer and Julu: Clean yourselves, you dirty boys!
Jennifer and Julu: Clean yourselves, you dirty girls!
Julu: Hello Nikuko, you are looking wonderful this very morning.
Nikuko: Hello Julu, why you are looking odd I do think!
Julu: And my leg too hanging by a thread! Nikuko, where are you?
Nikuko: Oh dear you are half-blind Julu!
Julu: And you are All-Blind-Nikuko!
Julu: Can you see anything here? Can you see anything at all?
Nikuko: I hear your voice!
Nikuko: You do not, Julu, you do not have anything!
Julu: Maud, you must move slightly to your left, thank you.
Julu: Maud, you are not looking properly or you would move!
Nikuko: I am looking just fine, thank you!
Nikuko: I am so, I’m trying as hard as you are!
Julu: Adjust yourself!
Julu: You are adjusting yourself in a very wrong way!
Julu: It is 10:30 and you have just lost your head!
Nikuko: Ha ha ha I have lost my head over you!
Julu: And hello Nikuko, and how are you?
Nikuko: Now we will Swirl and Change.