Hidden Gems on the Internet

Recently, like most people in the world, I was procrastinating doing my work by surfing the internet. Fortunately, since my major is TV-R sometimes watching netflix or videos on YouTube can help with my major. Recently I found a YouTube channel that posts videos by animation students at a school in Denmark. One of the videos that I really enjoyed was one called "The Saga of Biorn".

Not only does the animation style remind me a lot of "How to Train your Dragon". But I thought the humor was very well done in this short. Especially in the ending, you can't help but feel bad for Biorn, I guy where just nothing seems to go his way...

Well I have now been watching videos by the YouTube channel Animation Workshop for a while now and some of them are very well done. Especially as far as storyline goes. It is very difficult to make the audience have a invested interest in a character in under 10 minutes, yet some of these videos are able to pull it off. Here is another video which I thought was very amusing entitled Captain Awesome.

I thought this was a great take on how Superheroes never seem have time to take a break from their job (not even to take a number 2). There are dozens of other animated videos on this YouTube channel and I recommend some of you guys check it out.

How to Train Your Dragon

I can't remember if I've already posted about this movie- it's entirely possible, because every time I listen to the score I get re-obsessed with it. I realize it's a kid movie about an adorable dragon and Vikings and fire, but: it's a kid movie about an adorable dragon and Vikings and fire. I mean, you can give me some leeway, right?

But seriously, the score is absolutely fantastic. I think it got nominated for an Academy Award, John Powell's first (I think). Powell worked on Ice Age, The Road to El Dorado (w/ Hans Zimmer- anyone remember this movie? I remember liking it), Shrek, Robots, Horton Hears a Who!, and PS I Love You. So my recommendation is to either listen to a few of the tracks from the score (like Forbidden Friendship, Downed Dragon, and See You Tomorrow) or just go see the movie. It's a legitimately fun movie, really. I promise.

AND THAT DRAGON IS SO CUTE.

I mean, ahem. What was I doing? Right: intelligent conversation about the composer. Ahem.

No really, just please listen to the music or see the movie. It's a fun time all around.