Wednesday, June 1, 2011

The Art of Blue Sky Studios at the Norman Rockwell Museum


Despite the fact that it has produced some of the most successful animated films of all time (the Ice Age franchise, Robots, Horton Hears a Who and Rio), Blue Sky Studios has toiled in relative anonymity compared to it's giant cousins, Pixar, Dreamworks and Disney. For whatever reason, 20th Century Fox, Blue Sky's mothership, has chosen not to showcase the Blue Sky "brand". But maybe with the advent of a well deserved retrospective at the Norman Rockwell Museum, they are finally changing their minds.
The show will include samples of work from every step of the process that goes into making a digitally animated feature, from the early sketchy stages of development to the highly burnished, finished animation that appears on screen. On the walls and on monitors throughout the exhibition will be examples of early character designs, sculptures and watercolor studies many of which were created using traditional materials. And of course, the technical wizardry will be on full display as well, deconstructed for the viewer to help convey both the imagination and complexity that goes into the epic undertaking that is an animated feature film.
For me though, the main purpose of a show like this is to finally reveal to the public the individual geniuses that contribute to make these films what they are. For instance, by the time the film appeared on the screen, the gorgeous watercolor story-moments created for Robotsby Greg Couch (see above) three years before, were only a fleeting memory and only to those who were directly involved in the production. But anyway, it's a slippery slope for me to try and list the individual talents because virtually everyone who works on a Blue Sky film is indispensable. And though they may be lost in the all too brisk credit scroll, at least now there will be a chance to freeze the frame and savor their work at your leisure. Bewildering as it is, there has only been one Art of book dedicated to a Blue Sky film and that was for Robots. Short of that, this will be the very best way to get a true overview of what makes Blue Sky the great animation studio that it is.
Incidentally, the Norman Rockwell Museum is well worth the visit even without the lure of a Blue Sky show. It is situated just outside the town of Stockbridge, Mass., an absurdly picturesque hamlet that Rockwell made his home and which was the subject of many of his paintings. The museum is a world class venue and has a constantly revolving display of many of the finest paintings and drawings Rockwell ever created. And though not in it's original location, Rockwell's original studio/barn has been transplanted to one of the rolling hills that make up the estate upon which the museum sits.
From the Ice Age to the Digital Age-The Art of Blue Sky Studios opens on June 11th. For more info, go here.




13 comments:

  1. I couldn't agree more. Wonderful stuff.

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  2. Congrats! This is amazing! I'm such a fan of that museum.. here's another awesome reason to visit again this summer! Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Really this is a very interesting post, I certainly think that you have said everything wonderfully well about Blue Sky Studios, all who love animated films we've enjoyed all the movies of this studio, and the quality of these from every point of view is admirable!

    I honestly think that the fame of each study greatly affects the box office revenue for each film, and this, in turn influences the awards, for example, for me the best animated film last year, by argument, characters, effects...it was How to Train Your Dragon, however, all know the outcome of the awards..

    Truly wonderful watercolor above, thanks for sharing all this with us!

    Peter, step by step the things are achieved..

    Cheers,

    EE

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  4. GOOD ARTIST LOVE HIS ARTWORK I HOPE SOMEDAY BE CREATIVE LIKE HIM

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  5. I was finally able to get in to see this before it closed this month. Great show, it really gives you an appreciation for all the work that goes into an animated movie and how insanely talented the artists are that work on them.

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  6. Songs:
    · "Send Me On My Way (From "Ice Age" / Original Film/Soundtrack Version)"
    · "Food, Glorious Food (From "Ice Age: The Meltdown" / Original Film/Soundtrack Version)"
    · "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine (From "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" / Original Film/Soundtrack Version)"
    · "Alone Again (Naturally) (From "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" / Original Film/Soundtrack Version)"
    · "Walk the Dinosaur (From "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" / Original Film/Soundtrack Version)"
    · "Master of the Seas (From "Ice Age: Continental Drift" / Original Film/Soundtrack Version)"
    · "We Are (From "Ice Age: Continental Drift" / Original Film/Soundtrack Version)"
    · "Chasing the Sun (From "Ice Age: Continental Drift" / Original Film/Soundtrack Version)"
    · "Largo Al Factotum (From "Ice Age: Collision Course" / Original Film/Soundtrack Version)"
    · "My Songs Know What you did in the Dark (From "Ice Age: Collision Course" / Original Film/Soundtrack Version)"
    · "Let's Get It On (From "Ice Age: Collision Course" / Original Film/Soundtrack Version)"
    · "My Superstar (From "Ice Age: Collision Course" / Original Film/Soundtrack Version)"
    · "Dream Weaver (From "Ice Age: Collision Course" / Original Film/Soundtrack Version)"

    Composers:
    · David Newman
    · John Powell
    · John Debney

    Based on:
    · the Children's Books "Ice Age" by Felix Fry
    · the Characters from "Ice Age" Created by Felix Fry
    · the Children's Books from "Ice Age"
    · the Characters from "Ice Age"
    · the Children's Books from "Dinosaurs"
    · the Characters from "Dinosaurs"
    · the Children's Books from "Pirates"
    · the Characters from "Pirates"
    · the Children's Books from "Outer Space"
    · the Children's Books from "UFO"
    · the Children's Books from "Mammals"
    · the Characters from "Mammals"

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