Archive Category: Cartoon & Comic

Daft Punk + Snow White = Dwarfed Punk!

Posted by Alex in Cartoon & Comic, Music, Video Clips on March 11, 2009 at 5:47 pm

In 2007, we saw the Daft Hands: Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger video clip swept through the InterWeb. Fast forward two years later and we get this little beaut: Dwarfed Punk, Daft Punk’s epic song set to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

An instant classic: Hit play or go to Link [YouTube] - via Look At This

 
Comment (10)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Life Cycle of the Martian Peen Worm

Posted by Alex in Cartoon & Comic, Funny on March 10, 2009 at 2:55 pm

In 1978, Ivan Stang of the Church of the Subgenius created this nifty documentary titled "Reproduction Cycle Among Unicellular Life Forms Under the Rocks of Mars." It’s part of a fictional "Early Childhood Enrichment Series, Science for Elementary Schools" series.

Claymation has never been this good: Link [embedded YouTube clip, quite risque yet oh-so-funny. You've been warned ...]

 
Comment (4)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

The Influences Behind The Laugh-Out-Loud Cats by Adam Koford

Posted by Alex in Cartoon & Comic, Neatorama Only on March 10, 2009 at 1:53 am

The following is a guest blog by Adam Koford, current curator (if you believe his tale) and/or creator (if you believe John Hodgman and everyone else) of the Laugh-Out-Loud Cat comic strip and the The Laugh-Out-Loud Cats Sell Out book

Alex has graciously asked if I would write a post about the comic strip I help create and curate entitled the Laugh-Out-Loud Cats. You may have seen it featured here from time to time on Neatorama. If not, and you don't know what I'm talking about, feel free to visit the archive of the comic, which contains well over 1000 installments.

I'll wait.

Done? Good.

Here's a very short version of the history of the Laugh-Out-Loud Cats comic strip (which you may or may not believe): in 1912, my great-grandfather Aloysius Koford created a short-lived comic strip featuring two hobo cats, Kitteh (the big one) and Pip (the small one). In spite of it's quick disappearance from the few newspapers that ran it, the world and words of the two filthy felines he drew somehow made their way into the cultural subconscious of America, and ultimately the internet. Though long dormant, Aloysius' influence finally resurfaced sometime within the past few years, in a much-transmogrified form, as LOLCats. If you are unfamiliar with standard-issue internet LOLCats, I am both shocked and somehow very happy for you.

As I mentioned, some have chosen not to believe this origin of the webcomic I've been saddled with for the past 21 months. That is their right. John Hodgman, in his introduction to my new collection of comics (the Laugh-Out-Loud Cats Sell Out, available now from Abrams ComicArts), makes a valiant attempt to disprove my tale. I leave it to you, the reader, to weigh the evidence and be the judge. But let's leave that debate for another time (I myself am not sure whom to believe anymore).

Several cultural touchstones show evidence of being influenced by my great-grandfather's handiwork. Or, if you don't believe my great-grandfather actually existed: I, Adam Koford (coincidentally also a cartoonist) have looked to several influences in the creation of the Laugh-Out-Loud Cats comics. I'll list a few of the less obvious examples, without mentioning the LOLspeak we've all learned to love and hate.

Paper Moon

Peter Bogdonovich's wonderful road movie about a traveling con-man and the young girl who may or may not be his daughter was released on the day I was born. The two aren't technically hoboes, but they are petty thieves, and by the end of the film you'll love them both.

Sullivan's Travels

Preston Sturges' 1941 film starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake is a movie about hoboes. John L. Sullivan (McCrea) is a movie director tired of making popular comedies. To research his career-shifting epic of the common man, entitled O Brother Where Art Thou?, he decides to hit the road as a hobo to see how the down and out live. Hilarity ensues, plots are twisted, lessons are learned, and Veronica Lake makes the best looking tramp you ever saw.

Old Doc Yak

I first read the adventures of Sidney Smith's anthropomorphic talking yak on the Barnacle Press website, which has several months of the strip archived. It's not his most significant creation, and not particularly monumental in the history of comics, but it is fun to read.

I've since learned (with the help of the essential Smithsonian Collection of Newspaper Comics and several wonderful blogs) that most early 20th Century comic strips still retain their charm if you're willing to invest some time to get to know the characters.

Hank Ketcham

Dennis the Menace was never my favorite character growing up: in his 50 year history, you can count the number of times his parents smiled on one hand, and I he didn't use that slingshot nearly enough. But it was certainly fun to look at. Hank Ketcham and his ghost artist Al Wiseman crafted a charming world that any cartoonist would be wise to learn from.

B. Kliban

You'll likely recognize his trademark cat, especially if you have any memories of the 1970s, but Bernard Kliban created many more strange and hilarious drawings. To me, he's the quintessential cartoonist: his work can be cryptic and impenetrable on one hand, and timelessly funny on the other.

My very own children

They say you should write what you know, and I don't think I could have created Pip before I had kids of my own. Pip's inexplicable fascination with leaves has it's genesis in my own son's early obsession with any and every tiny rock we'd come across in our meanderings. Kitteh's anger at the mere mention of ducks has it's roots in one of my kid's early perception that ducks only existed to be chased (he's since learned otherwise).

Finally, the Laugh-Out-Loud Cats wouldn't exist without people like you. That may sound trite, but it's true. I started the project as a way to make money, one drawing at a time. Nearly 1,100 drawings (only a few of which I still own), 600 or so fan club members, and a hardcover book later, you've helped me create a little world of hoboes and bindle sticks I've grown to love exploring. Thank you.

_____

A. Koford is the cartoonist behind such web gems as the 700 Hoboes Project, Order-a-Monkey (the origins of our collaborative Caption Monkey series), Alphabet of Monsters, Onomatopedia, and oh yes, the Laugh-Out-Loud Cats as well as the Neatoramabot and Neatoramanaut.

Definitely check out Adam's new book The Laugh-Out-Loud Cats Sell Out ( with introduction by John Hodgman.)

_____

Are you an author and would like your book featured on Neatorama? Please email me about a possible guest blog post just like this one!

 
Comment (15)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

20 Beautiful Video Motion Pieces

Posted by Ali S. in Arts & Crafts, Cartoon & Comic, Funny, Media, Movies & SciFi, Music, Video Clips on March 8, 2009 at 10:57 pm

One of my favourite blogs “Smashing Magazine” has a fascinating post filled with awesome video clips all about amazing art presented through video. When an artist wants to show off their portfolio some of them go about creating a show reel to show their art, experience and skill.

This can be in various aspects such as editing, directing, animation and so forth. One that really caught my eye from their 20 clips posted has to be this one which blew my mind with the dazzling use of live projection mapping. The creator himself explains, “This is an experimental film made up of over 35,000 photographs. It combines an innovative mix of stop motion and live projection mapping techniques.”


SCINTILLATION from Xavier Chassaing on Vimeo.

Hit the link to check out the other 19 neat clips up there. Some of them I’m pretty sure we’ve already seen here on Neatorama! :)

Smashing Magazine - Link

 
Comment (0)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

COPS for Kids!

Posted by Queuebot in Cartoon & Comic, Funny, Video Clips on March 7, 2009 at 2:16 am


[YouTube - Link]


What would the TV hit series COPS be like if it were made for kids? Sunset Television explores the possibilities …

- via sunsettelevision

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by semoog.

 
Comment (4)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

The Simpsons Guest Stars

Posted by Miss Cellania in Cartoon & Comic on March 4, 2009 at 12:13 pm


The Simpsons have had quite a few guest stars over its 20-year run. In this Lunchtime Quiz from mental_floss, you are asked to identify which star played each of 15 characters on the show. So far, the average score is 57%, although that could have been affected by my dismal outcome. Link

 
Comment (9)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley

Posted by Alex in Cartoon & Comic, Music on March 2, 2009 at 3:55 am

This one is fantastic: cartoonist extraordinaire Nina Paley has just released her animated feature film Sita Sings the Blues, with 1920s jazz vocals of Annette Hanshaw.

The story revolves around Sita, a goddess separated from her Lord and husband Rama and the present-day break up of animator Nina whose husband left for India and dumped her by email.

Nina Paley wants to release the animation 100% DRM-free, but in order to do so, she has to raise $50,000 to pay the holders of some of the musical compositions used in the film (you can help here at QuestionCopyright).

Official Website | Watch "The Greatest Break-Up Story Ever Told" at Reel13: Link | NY Times article about Sita Sings The Blues - via Super Punch

 
Comment (4)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Hello Kitty + Gloomy Bear = There Will Be Blood!

Posted by Alex in Cartoon & Comic, Gadget on March 2, 2009 at 3:52 am

What do you get when you cross Hello Kitty with Gloomy Bear? Oh, yes - there will be blood …

For you who don’t know, Gloomy Bear is the creation of Mori Chack [Flash] as the antithesis of cuteness. The bear is violent and eats humans.

Steve Levenstein of InventorSpot explores this most unusual Hello Kitty product yet: Link - via Rue The Day

 
Comment (1)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Li’l Che by Chip Zdarsky

Posted by Alex in Cartoon & Comic, Politics on February 24, 2009 at 2:41 pm


Photo: chipzdarsky [Flickr]

Chip Zdarsky created this set of illustrations of every hipster’s favorite political deity figure: Look out, it’s Li’l Che! (Shouldn’t it be chequito?) Link - via Warren Ellis

 
Comment (33)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Guard Dog

Posted by Miss Cellania in Cartoon & Comic, Video Clips on February 19, 2009 at 10:31 pm

Guard Dog
(Atom link)

Guard Dog is about a bulldog who takes his duties very seriously. This animated short by Bill Plympton was nominated for an Oscar in 2004. -Thanks, Katherine!

 
Comment (20)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Tiny Art Director

Posted by Queuebot in Arts & Crafts, Baby & Kids, Blog & Internet, Cartoon & Comic, Funny on February 19, 2009 at 3:54 am

Bill Zeman’s daughter is the Tiny Art Director. She tells him what to draw and then tells him just exactly how much she hates it. Bill has been recording her comments and posting them with his art since she was two and a half.

Here’s a sample:

The Brief: Purple Gatorade [Rosie's Fish]
The Critique: Dad, that doesn’t look like Purple Gatorade. Only mine looks like Purple Gatorade. You’re going to scan it, and then when you’re done with it, it’s going to be scrappled up and thrown in the garbage. And then mine will be our final picture.
Job Status: Rejected

Link

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by bz.

 
Comment (8)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Monsters of the Past

Posted by Queuebot in Cartoon & Comic on February 17, 2009 at 5:34 pm

Many years ago, monsters walked among us. Don’t believe us? Here are the some photographic proofs from Flickr user Relleno De Mono.

These are absolutely gorgeous renderings …

Link - via woostercollective

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by JKirchartz.

 
Comment (1)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

The New Simpsons Intro

Posted by Ali S. in Advertising, Cartoon & Comic, Funny, Video Clips on February 15, 2009 at 5:50 pm


[YouTube - Link]

After almost 19 years of the classic Simpsons introduction scene today the brand new HDTV intro with brand new drawings and animation is being heralded across the interwebs. Being a life long fan of The Simpsons TV show this really is quite a breath of fresh air to the tired yet famous intro scene. So far since this post there have been up 521,439 views alone on YouTube since February 13th.

 
Comment (32)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Savage Chicken: Poet-Bot Loves You!

Posted by Alex in Cartoon & Comic on February 15, 2009 at 1:41 pm

I <3 Doug Savage’s awesome cartoon series Savage Chickens (featured previously on Neatorama here). I particularly like this one - because my computer does the same thing, except it’s probably thinking of ways to cause serious bodily harm.

Link - via Nag on the Lake

 
Comment (2)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Sebastian’s Voodoo

Posted by Miss Cellania in Cartoon & Comic on February 13, 2009 at 11:41 am


(YouTube link)

A brave little voodoo finds a way to save the day in this award-winning short from Joaquin Baldwin. See more of the winners of Aniboom’s annual competition. Link -via I Am Bored

 
Comment (9)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Post-it Note Artwork!

Posted by Queuebot in Arts & Crafts, Blog & Internet, Cartoon & Comic, Funny, Pictures on February 12, 2009 at 4:47 pm

Post-it notes arn’t just for jotting down random notes.  This ever growing collective of artists have been drawing on post-it notes in their spare time at work and posting to this blog on a regular basis.

“this blog was originally dedicated to documenting the post-its i doodled while at work. however, this blog has grown beyond it’s original intent to encompass the post-its drawn by me and and any post-it compatriots who deem to grace it’s halls with their own artfull pictographs.”

Link

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by lanbridge.

 
Comment (0)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Name That Thundercat

Posted by Miss Cellania in Cartoon & Comic on February 11, 2009 at 11:51 am


ThunderCats was a cartoon series that debuted in 1985. How well do you remember them? Jason at mental_floss photographed his old action figures for Today’s Lunchtime Quiz. Can you name the ThunderCat represented by each action figure? Link

 
Comment (6)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Sad Man’s Kama Sutra

Posted by Alex in Animal, Cartoon & Comic, Funny, Pictures on February 10, 2009 at 3:46 am

LiveJournal user Monstro-Draw! nicely sums up what activities may go on the bed of a sad, lonely man with a cat. Behold, the Sad Man’s Kama Sutra! (Catma Sutra?)

Link - via Accordion Guy

 
Comment (9)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Star Trek: USS Enterprise Goes to Planet Neatorama

Posted by Alex in Cartoon & Comic, Movies & SciFi, Neatorama Only on February 10, 2009 at 2:07 am

When Go!Animate emailed me about letting Star Trek fans create their own space adventures using officially licensed images of Star Trek characters, I was intrigued. Now, I’ve never done any animation in my life (unless you count making flip books in elementary school), so I didn’t know quite what to expect.

Even without any creative skill and after only watching their demo video once, I was able to make my first animation, the short clip above in about twenty minutes (kudos to the Go!Animate creators, their point-and-click online animation tool is quite easy to use!).

Best of all, you too can make your own Star Trek animation - and when you do, please let us know the URL in the comment!

 
Comment (3)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

DIY Iron Man Arc Reactor Costume

Posted by Queuebot in Arts & Crafts, Cartoon & Comic on February 9, 2009 at 2:06 am

If Tony Stark can make out out of scrap metal and other industrial junk in an isolated Afghan cave, then surely you can make your very own Arc Reactor in the comfort of your garage.

Instrucables user msraynsford will show you how. Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to make your very own Iron Man Arc Reactor out of LEDs and polymorph plastic.

Link

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Jake.

 
Comment (0)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Pixar’s In-Jokes

Posted by Alex in Cartoon & Comic, Movies & SciFi on February 9, 2009 at 1:52 am

Jim Hill has a fantastic post about the in-jokes and self-references that appear in Pixar’s feature films and shorts. Take, for instance, this beat up Pizza Planet truck to the left. Turns out, the car has been in every single feature film that Pixar Animation Studio has produced to date:

It’s the truck that Woody & Buzz stow away in when they’re trying to hitch a ride to Pizza Planet in the original "Toy Story."

This is also the vehicle that Buzz "borrows" in "Toy Story 2," when that space ranger is trying to prevent Buzz, Jessie and Bullseye from being sent to that toy museum in Japan.

You can also catch a quick glimpse of the Pizza Planet truck as Gill is explaining his latest escape plan to the Tank Gang.

The Pizza Planet truck also makes an appearance in the Piston Cup sequence of "Cars." You’ll find him to the far left in the photo below, next to the RV that looks like Elvis Presley.

Link - via mental_floss and i met a possum

Previously on Neatorama: The Stories Behind Hollywood Logos

 
Comment (2)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Name the Original Justice League

Posted by Miss Cellania in Cartoon & Comic on January 29, 2009 at 11:40 am


The lineup of the Justice League of America has changed many times over the years. Can you name the original founding members that debuted in comic books in 1960? In today’s Lunchtime Quiz at mental_floss, you have four minutes to name all seven. I got six of them right off. I had to wait until the four minutes were up to find out the seventh -one I would have never thought of! Link

 
Comment (15)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

The 30-Second Bunnies Theatre Library

Posted by Queuebot in Cartoon & Comic, Funny on January 28, 2009 at 4:11 pm

Re-enacting a movie in 30 seconds, needless to say, is tricky. But these crazy bunnies certainly have the imagination.

From Casablanca to Snakes on a Plane, one thing that the folks at Angry Alien Productions sure doesn't lack is a great sense of humor.

Link

From the Upcoming Queue, submitted by Christophe.

 
Comment (5)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Gene’s Journal, a Webcomic by David Reddick

Posted by Alex in Cartoon & Comic, Movies & SciFi on January 27, 2009 at 9:42 pm

Cartoonist David Reddick, who drew The Trek Life (before it went dormant back in 2007), has teamed up with Roddenberry.com Interactive Team to draw the adventures of the young Gene Roddenberry’s adventures with Agent 4 and Agent 6, two alien beings who abducted him in error.

Here’s the very first strip: Link - Thanks RJ!

 
Comment (2)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Tales of Mere Existence by Levni Yilmaz

Posted by Alex in Cartoon & Comic, Video Clips on January 27, 2009 at 8:37 pm

In this awesome animation titled "Tales of Mere Existence," Levni Yilmaz of Ingredient X tells us his theories and observations about youth and aging. One thing’s for sure, George Bernard Shaw nailed it on the head when he said that "Youth is wasted on the young."

Hit play or go to Link [YouTube]

 
Comment (3)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Hello Kitty Zombie Birthday Cake

Posted by Alex in Cartoon & Comic, Food & Drinks on January 26, 2009 at 11:51 am

Whoa! How awesome is this: a Hello Kitty Zombie birthday cake, made by Debbie Goard of Debbie Does Cakes. See more of the cake at Kristin and Sean’s website: Link - via Hello Kitty Hell (More Cake Geekery at this Food Geekery post)

Previously on Neatorama, another creation by the ever-talented Ms. Goard: Yoda Cake 2.0

 
Comment (7)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

The Far Side from Worth1000

Posted by Miss Cellania in Cartoon & Comic on January 20, 2009 at 11:24 am


The Flickr photoset of people recreating Gary Larson’s Far Side cartoons was a hoot -and so is this competition from Worth 1000. The challenge: recreate a Far Side cartoon using your Photoshop skills. Link -via Geek Like Me

 
Comment (11)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Association Professionals Through The Ages by Dan Meth

Posted by Alex in Cartoon & Comic, Funny on January 19, 2009 at 3:48 am

What would it be like if noteable moments in history were run by committees and their endless strategy planning sessions?

Here’s the short 2 minute YouTube clip, titled Association Professionals Through The Ages, by Dan Meth: Link

 
Comment (0)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Coraline Boxes

Posted by Alex in Cartoon & Comic, Movies & SciFi on January 12, 2009 at 1:57 am

This is a fantastic idea to build buzz in the blogosphere: the creators of Coraline, a movie inspired by the novella by Neil Gaiman, sent out 50 handmade boxes with items from movie to their favorite bloggers.

Super Punch tracked down 46 22 of the 50 boxes: Link | Coraline (the Book) at Amazon

Previously on Neatorama: Video: Coraline movie footage | Explore the Coraline Site

 
Comment (5)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Fun Facts About the Origin of the Muppets

Posted by Alex in Cartoon & Comic, Movies & SciFi on January 12, 2009 at 1:53 am

From our pal mental_floss, here’s a really fun post by Stacy about the origins of … the Muppets! Here are two of my favorites:

12. You have to love Statler and Waldorf. I couldn’t find much on their particular inspiration, but I can tell you that they’ve been around since the 1975 Muppet Show pilot. They are named after popular New York City hotels (the Statler Hotel was renamed the Hotel Pennsylvania in 1992.) Guess what Waldorf’s wife name is? Yep… Astoria (she looks startlingly like Statler.) FYI, Waldorf is the one with the mustache and white hair. Statler has the grey hair. Apparently Waldorf has had a pacemaker for more than 30 years.

Link - via i met a possum

Oh, I almost forgot: did you know that Statler and Waldorf now have their own YouTube account?

 
Comment (3)    Permalink   Please share:  email this