Amazing Alice in Wonderland Concept Art

I just watched Alice in Wonderland last night and was struck by how cracked out the March Hare looked. Now, I understand that the movie has had classic drug references through-out each rendition, Disney or not, but I never thought they would take it to a literal crack head. It looks like the rabbit was enjoying a little PCP/Amphetamine/LSD cocktail when some asshole, the Mad Hatter, must of stuck him with 500cc's of pure Adrenaline, I mean the dude was off the wall. Needless to say I thought it was the better part of the movie and it got me interested in finding the original concept art behind the characters.

Which brought me to Michael Kutsch, one of the artists themselves, who, along with Bobby Chiu and Kei Acedera helped translate Tim Burton's ideas into reality. If you can call it that. In any case this work is off the hook.

Michael Kutsche

"This is the actual drawing which got me the gig on "Alice".
At the time I did it, I wasn't even aware what movie and director it was for"
-Michael Kutsche

Looks like he impressed Burton, cause he ended up doing a bunch more pieces for the movie. I love this one.

While the March Hare stayed relatively close, it looks like they parted a little from the concepts for the Mad Hatter and gave Johnny Depp more of that oh-so sought after "heroin chic" look. I think they made the right choice, while these are great I'm not really digging the paint splatter or the steam-punk glasses.








The Caterpillar also changed a bit from first inception. I like it's evolution especially with such an important character.



These last pieces were done by the illustration dream-team duo, Bobby Chiu and Kei Acedera.

The movie did a great job of riding the line between creepy and humorous, Twiddle Dee and Tweedle Dum are great examples of this. The blue veins are a great touch that I wish had made it into the movie.




Did you know that the story of Alice in Wonderland may have been based around the new mathematical principals of the time? Check out the great article at the New York Times by Melanie Bayley.

Dynamic Type

Wow, this would make things fast. I wonder how easily you can control it? I don't think it can switch between serifed and sans but it is still a pretty amazing experiment. This could be a glimpse of the flexibility we may have with type in the future.

LAIKA from Michael Flückiger on Vimeo.

LAIKA was created by Michael Flückiger and Nicolas Kunz Hochschule.

Experience Typography's 5 Senses

Okay this video is probably the most amazing project I have seen come out this year! It's funny I am not even a motion designer but it seems like most of my recent post's have been based around motion graphics. It must be because I don't know how to achieve the same effects, the visuals are mystical and provoke me to think about how they could have possibly done that.

This video is a perfect example, I have no I idea how many of these shots were taken. There were no CG effects used in the production of this video! Some of it is so clean it's hard to believe.

Typophile Film Festival 5 Opening Titles from Brent Barson on Vimeo.

And wow, what I would do to get my hands on one of those RED One camera's. Only 13,000 for the body and another 19,000 for the lens package.

Temptation is tough

this video is awesome. If I can remember right this would have been pure torture!

Oh, The Temptation from Steve V on Vimeo.

via swissmiss

Visual Sound Board

This is a cool collaborative music/video/interactive project. 20 videos of individual musicians all playing in Bb major to create a harmonic ensemble accompanied by a great piece of spoken word, Information, read and wrote by Daniel Donahoo. And best of all... you are in control, like a visual sound board. Nice project, it's a must to check out. More info on the Site, in Bb 2.0

Another video with a similar twist was mentioned in the faq page of in Bb Major, I felt is was a must see as well, and one I can embed.


found via VIBE

Portfolio Update - New Projects Added

I recently added a few projects to my website along with a few other minor changes. If you have a minute, please take a look and let me know what you think.

Anyways you may have guessed, by my previous post and now this one, take I am now back on the market looking for a freelance gig. Give me a call if you are a small business looking for a memorable logo, eye-catching business cards, a beautiful brochure. I can help you connect with your customers through thought provoking designs strategically tailored to your companies core values.
Here are a few of the projects I recently uploaded check out my site for more information and the rest of my work.







Please check back soon for a bunch of photos of the printed pieces.

Top Ten Tips for Livin Laid-Off: #10!

this hit's home!

While it hasn't happened yet, getting dropped to 4 days a week, is making me feel like it's getting close. Yup, beening laid off. Sucks, right? Yup, but somehow through all the pain and humiliation of a jobless existence, Odd Todd has managed to stay positive and even slightly productive, in the form of a 'top ten tips for livin' laid-off' video series.

Top Ten Tips for Livin Laid-Off: #10!

This video is great, the voice is funny on it's own but it has content to back it up. Very funny piece, and maybe even helpful...

Check out his other videos also, they are all extremely funny.

http://www.oddtodd.com

WOW. it's been a while

but this demanded a dusting of the keyboard. can't say i'm a big fan of the music but this video is dope.

I have

Welcome to Heartbreak - Kanye West

Wow, this video off the chain!
While I'm not the biggest fan of this song, this video is something I have been dreaming about.

As long as it's not right before a game winning goal in a soccer game, I love seeing digital static. Whenever I have the chance I take screens caps of it but I haven't figured out a way to use the effect yet.

Then I saw this video...
wow, that's all I can say, they fucking nailed it.


KANYE WEST "Welcome To Heartbreak" Directed by Nabil from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

Artist: KANYE WEST feat. Kid Cudi
Song: Welcome to Heartbreak
Director: NABIL nabilphotography.com
Editor: Ryan Bartley
Post: Ghost Town Media
Producer: Kathleen Heffernan
Label: Island Def Jam
Production Co: Partizan

Here are a few static shots I found on flickr. I can't seem to find the one's I have taken...
















Oh yeah! ha, I remember.
I found one of the ones I have taken, this was actually a picture taken on an iPhone though, not video. The funny thing is that the photo, by sheer coincidence, was the 420th photo and was of me and my girlfriend smoking a joint. Not only that, but it seemed to crop in on my stoned eyes, the joint, and my lips blowing smoke out perfectly, while leaving other parts indecipherable.

Crazy Right?

The photos taken before this one and after turned out fine and I don't think there is a photo scramble function on the iPhone, although it may a good idea after seeing these results. Much like the pixelated scrambles from digital reception, I find the image rather pleasing.

But, I got a little curious, so after a little photoshop puzzling we can know see what the picture was supposed to have looked like.

2 Amazing Video Inspiration Sites

The first eye-watering inspiration source is Scene 360, a 9 year old online film and arts magazine that is a must bookmark. They conduct interviews and profile some of the best artists and filmmakers in the business, and they feature some crazy-dope videos. I found their video channel on Vimeo via Design You Trust.

Here are a few videos that have been featured recently.
This first video is an ad for ASICS shoes. It tells a story with origami about how the founder of the company used biomimicry to come up with the idea for suction cups on the soles of basketball shoes.

Origami In the Pursuit of Perfection from MABONA ORIGAMI on Vimeo.

and this one is just great all around...

Levi Weaver "You Are Home" from Paper Beats Rock on Vimeo.


The second site I want to highlight is Motionographer a motion design blog that is also a must bookmark. It has been one of my main eye-gasm inspiration sources for the last couple of years. They find the best motion graphics on the internet and give them to us with consice, well written blurbs about each.

here are a couple of their latest features

Capacity in LA just completed a huge rebrand of the Cartoon Network with a genius concept of using the new fad of customizable blank vinyl dolls juxtapozed with Mac like white space and focused color bursts. Just check out the video you will understand.

This next video is a powerful ad for Amnesty International and basic human rights. Another one you should just watch.
http://www.academyfilms.com/

Design Firm Friday - 2 - Sandstrom Partners vs. ID Branding

It's a showdown in the little town of Portland, Oregon. While San Francisco and New York get the most design press in the US, Portland's has been making a big splash for small fish. Wow, sorry for the rhymes, ha!

ID Branding
The first firm I want to highlight, ID Branding, has been around since 1979 yet I just recently found their award winning work plastered all over the internet and in design mags.







Sandstrom Partners
The other firm I want to showcase is the packaging powerhouse, Sandstrom Partners, they could be considered to be the king of Portland with amazing branding projects for Tazo, Converse Miller and more, but I haven't seen as much from them lately. Except for their cool monthly color scheme and this, St. Germain Packaging, wow, it's stunning! This may not actually be new but I am just now noticing it at least.























Of course you can't forget about Wieden and Kennedy, but because their website is so rad, I will just let you check out their work for yourself wk.com.