Not Quite a Movie Review: The Art of Pixar at the Science Museum, London
I have been remiss in keeping my reviews up to date. I am trying to go to the cinema once a week and given that it usually takes longer than that for me to sit down and write a review... I'm slacking behind!
First things first - The Art of Pixar exhibition at the Science Museum in London.
For the record - I love Pixar's work. I cannot find a bad word to say about them - apart from the fact there seems to be an ebil delay between films opening in the States and in the UK.
I think it's about seven weeks for Cars. Part of that might be to do with the World Cup (Soccer/Football - yawn!) but it's still too damn long!
Other than that - complete and total fangirl here;)
So when it was announced that the Science Museum would be hosting an exhibition of their work - over it like white on rice. Even the high price of the ticket (£9) didn't put me off.
Mainly because I knew it would be worth it. The amount of detail that goes into their films is just gobsmacking; not only that but they have the *right* idea about their films. Story first - everything else second.
It's why they have won the Animated Oscar two years on the trot ('Finding Nemo' and 'The Incredibles'). Quite a feat for an award that's only been given out five times.
It didn't disappoint.
There were pre-production designs from each of the major movies that they have created. Showing the character's development from the original idea, to the one we see onscreen (Sulley from 'Monsters Inc' was especially illuminating!). Not to mention the models used as part of the computer modelling process. Like for example there were head/shoulders models of Bob/Mr Incredible (from the Incredibles) pulling all kinds of faces - which would have been scanned and their information fed into honkin' great computers to create the visuals.
Talking of visuals - part of the exhibition was taken up with works called colourscapes.
These are yard long sheets of paper, about 3-4 inches tall; which are covered in art for each of the films. Bit like production artwork, but in this case, they help to set the mood of the film.
Be it the great barrier reef, Monstropolis, a young boy's bedroom, city/suburban skylines. And they were all beautiful.
The 'Finding Nemo' ones were simply gorgeous. Done in pastels, they showed the whales, the minefield and the shipwreck, the play of sunlight on the water. Hell, you have to see them to understand how beautiful they are. All organic shapes and fluid lines.
Whereas the colourscapes for 'The Incredibles' were more Modern - all sharp angles and strong lines. If you've seen the film, the kind of thing I mean is used for the end credits. Please excuse - librarian, not an art critic!
Dare I say that I wanted to take half the art home with me? Despite the fact that it's beyond priceless? For honesty's sake you understand;)
Other stuff that stood out - a zoetrope featuring characters from Toy Story 2 (including my heroes - the 'claw' aliens!), not recommended for those who hate strobe lights but beautiful to look at.
A picture of Flik ('A Bugs Life') in the style of Da Vinci's most famous sketch... the title of which I cannot remember!.
The transition of Cow to Tractor for 'Cars'. Picture one: Head of 'Daisy' (all cows are called 'Daisy', all Robins are called 'Alfred' and all ginger cats are called 'Jones' - natural law!), Picture two, 'Daisy' is starting to look more mechanical. Picture three, a tractor! They're all mad, crazy geniuses - I swear!;)
The only downside was that there wasn't more stuff to see. Designs for the Aliens, for Mike, for Syndrome's lair, for... get the picture?;)
Even so, highly recommended and it also had a guide/catalogue too. Which just had to come home with me:D
First things first - The Art of Pixar exhibition at the Science Museum in London.
For the record - I love Pixar's work. I cannot find a bad word to say about them - apart from the fact there seems to be an ebil delay between films opening in the States and in the UK.
I think it's about seven weeks for Cars. Part of that might be to do with the World Cup (Soccer/Football - yawn!) but it's still too damn long!
Other than that - complete and total fangirl here;)
So when it was announced that the Science Museum would be hosting an exhibition of their work - over it like white on rice. Even the high price of the ticket (£9) didn't put me off.
Mainly because I knew it would be worth it. The amount of detail that goes into their films is just gobsmacking; not only that but they have the *right* idea about their films. Story first - everything else second.
It's why they have won the Animated Oscar two years on the trot ('Finding Nemo' and 'The Incredibles'). Quite a feat for an award that's only been given out five times.
It didn't disappoint.
There were pre-production designs from each of the major movies that they have created. Showing the character's development from the original idea, to the one we see onscreen (Sulley from 'Monsters Inc' was especially illuminating!). Not to mention the models used as part of the computer modelling process. Like for example there were head/shoulders models of Bob/Mr Incredible (from the Incredibles) pulling all kinds of faces - which would have been scanned and their information fed into honkin' great computers to create the visuals.
Talking of visuals - part of the exhibition was taken up with works called colourscapes.
These are yard long sheets of paper, about 3-4 inches tall; which are covered in art for each of the films. Bit like production artwork, but in this case, they help to set the mood of the film.
Be it the great barrier reef, Monstropolis, a young boy's bedroom, city/suburban skylines. And they were all beautiful.
The 'Finding Nemo' ones were simply gorgeous. Done in pastels, they showed the whales, the minefield and the shipwreck, the play of sunlight on the water. Hell, you have to see them to understand how beautiful they are. All organic shapes and fluid lines.
Whereas the colourscapes for 'The Incredibles' were more Modern - all sharp angles and strong lines. If you've seen the film, the kind of thing I mean is used for the end credits. Please excuse - librarian, not an art critic!
Dare I say that I wanted to take half the art home with me? Despite the fact that it's beyond priceless? For honesty's sake you understand;)
Other stuff that stood out - a zoetrope featuring characters from Toy Story 2 (including my heroes - the 'claw' aliens!), not recommended for those who hate strobe lights but beautiful to look at.
A picture of Flik ('A Bugs Life') in the style of Da Vinci's most famous sketch... the title of which I cannot remember!.
The transition of Cow to Tractor for 'Cars'. Picture one: Head of 'Daisy' (all cows are called 'Daisy', all Robins are called 'Alfred' and all ginger cats are called 'Jones' - natural law!), Picture two, 'Daisy' is starting to look more mechanical. Picture three, a tractor! They're all mad, crazy geniuses - I swear!;)
The only downside was that there wasn't more stuff to see. Designs for the Aliens, for Mike, for Syndrome's lair, for... get the picture?;)
Even so, highly recommended and it also had a guide/catalogue too. Which just had to come home with me:D