Home Movies
by After a long day of tapping the keys, there’s nothing quite like unwinding on the sofa with a glass of New Zealand white and an episode, or two, of Home Movies. Brendan Cannon from Broken Social Scene first put us onto it, and now it’s become an addiction. This episode is probably my favourite.
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Beatles cartoons for lazy 80s kids
This cartoon brings back so many memories of camping out in front of the tele as a music obsessed kid, listening intently to the Liverpudian accents of the animated Fab Four and singing along a little too loudly to their many timeless hits. Back then it was all about undercooked pancakes and sweet, sweet Popper juices and the ever-present sound of Saturday morning crickets chirping the break of dawn amidst the smell of lazy pre-pubescent hedonism. Take me back! The Beatles’ cartoons were a staple of every weekend morning. And they stand now as a reflection on just how much the music industry has changed in the decades since. Somehow I doubt they’ll be rushing out to cobble together a Coldplay version for the kids of today.
If slapstick, violence and sex get you off, you’re going to love this. It’s not so much a social critique as social terrorism, with every viewpoint and ideology attacked. Highlights are plentiful and spoofs of old cartoon series’, like He-Man, the Smurfs and Voltron, are standouts. Also watch for when Saved by the Bell is combined with Jigsaw from the Saw movie series. Forget plot, recurring characters and political correctness, this is sketch comedy starring plasticine figures and stop-motion photography, so anything goes, including sex, murder and suicide. Each ten-minute episode covers extensive ground, keeping the laugh quotient high and making this ideal viewing while devouring a burger or kebab after a big night out.
More manic madness from Salad Fingers creator, David Firth. In Firth’s own words, Pulch is ‘about a giant Pulch that grows in order to cheer people up’. But of course, like all of his animations, it comes with a dark twist. Or three.
Also by ZOLTON
Maths explains the origin of superhero characters
I love the colours and simple reasoning in this clever series by Scottish illustrator Matt Cowen, which uses basic maths equations to explain how certain pop culture icons came to be. Read more
Star Wars Uncut: a fully crowdsourced version of Episode IV
The project of creative technologist, Casey Pugh, this full length version of the George Lucas masterpiece was created from multiple 15 second segments recreated from the original movie and submitted by thousands of Star Wars fans, which were then spliced together by editor Aaron Valdez to form the final product. Genius, as both a commentary on contemporary pop culture trends (there are references to LEGO, stop motion, memes and the like) and on the power of tapping your audience for quality material.
Filmmaker creates LEGO stop motion to propose to girlfriend
Now, this is one for the ages: back in 2010, Atlanta film-maker Walter Thompson created a jaw-dropping LEGO stop motion to propose to Nealey Dozier, his girlfriend of four years. The video took 22 hours of shooting and some 2,600 pictures to splice together, a small sacrifice to pay for years of happiness together. Right? Right! Oh, and she said yes. Bonus.
YOU'RE SAYING (1)
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Using a lot of colour blocking, there’s a certain kind of sauciness to the works of French born, now London-based illustrator Malika Favre. Her oevre of vector-like pieces use mostly primary colours to depict racy little scenes between friends, lovers and hybrid animal-lady things. Wallpaper Magazine quite likes her stuff, and so do we. Read more
Canned fish is a staple for me on the road. High in omega-3s, high in protein, and generally low on cost, sardines, mackerel, and wild sockeye salmon out of a tin help keep me healthy when I don’t have access to a kitchen. In the States, I prefer the Bar Harbor brand of canned seafood. If I ever tour Sweden, I’ll have to try Garant based on their label design alone.
Oh man! If I was twenty again, a jumble of nerves and a well of electric energy, I’d be in the front row for every damn MGMT gig. Read more
The young architect Junya Ishigami is pushing the boundaries of the weightless aesthetic stream of architecture. Here, for the Kanagawa Institute of Technology, he has designed a glass and steel pavilion with a roof that floats on a sparse forest of thin steel columns or ‘flats’. Read more
When I first heard about The Eight Principles of Fun, I thought it sounded frighteningly close to being a self-help service ad. Read more
Black Eyed Dog is the project of Fabio Parrinello, a singer-songwriter from Varese, in northern Italy. His second album, Rhaianuledada (Songs To Sissy), brims with a brooding intensity, referencing the best British folk ballads of the past. Rhaianuledada (Songs To Sissy) was recorded at Vicolo Recording Studio in Sicily by Fabio Genco and was mastered by Luca Martegani in Varese. Listen to the track Honeysuckle Gal.
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Creating modern-vintage inspired by 1950s Australian housewives and rock’n'roll style pin-up glamour, Peta Pledger has been producing one-off, made-to-measure or small-run garments and accessories since 2003. Her love affair with the sewing machine began in 1988 when — like many lovely ladies — she couldn’t find any clothing that flattered her figure. Read more
WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST
Never ever, ever, ever, ever park here
Some friendly advice for the neighbours, who simply don’t get it, or street art? You decide which one it is.
Christoph Niemann illustrates a nightmare flight
New York Times illustrator Christoph Niemann has created a brilliant visual diary outlining the peril and pitfalls that beset the everyday passenger based on his recent experience flying from New York to his home town of Berlin. Read more
Mathematics? Leave me out. Fashematics? Now you’re talking! This gem of a site is a runway equation that adds up to a whole lot of wonderful.
Communication prosthesis by Sascha Nordmeyer
This ‘communication prosthesis’ by designer Sascha Nordmeyer is hilarious and awesome. I want to wear one to a job interview.
Matthew Dear’s Black City album totem
Our friends at Ghostly International are releasing Matthew Dear’s Black City album as a limited edition ‘totem’. A what? A totem – a limited edition metal bar used to access a private music chamber. Cool! Read more
Fourth is King make limited edition unisex t-shirts, printed on 50 percent polyester and 50 percent cotton construction, with custom embroidered tag on the left sleeve. Read more
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guy said | 17 September, 2008
‘Brendan Canning’