Top 10 Animated Films

In an attempt to try and get more people to read my blog more often I am going to post again. Maybe it is my complete lack of writing ability that repels people away. But the matter of the fact is I enjoy posting things.

Today's post in about Cartoons...As many of you know I am a avid watcher of cartoons. I am also studying to become an Animator. But I do warn you I am a huge critic of them on many levels. I watch them for the Artwork, the story tell ability, the message and just the entertainment value.

So here it is....IMO the 10 best animated films of all time.

Honorable Mentions : Finding Nemo, Toy Story, The Batman, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Corpse Bride, Shrek,



10. Samurai Jack - an Emmy-award winning animated television series created by animator Genndy Tartakovskyy. I love this guy! His story tell ability is excellent. He also did Dexter's Laboratory. This show ranges from dark and epic to light-hearted and comic.



9. Afro Samurai - a Japanese manga series created by Takashi Okazaki. The anime series features Samuel L. Jackson as the voice of the titular character, as well as one of the co-producers, and also features Ron Perlman and Kelly Hu as character voices. This show is not for the faint of heart. It is and Adult Cartoon for Blood and Gore. It is one of the most original ideas for a show I can remember.



8. Cars - an animated film produced by Pixar and directed by John Lasseter and the late Joe Ranft. This film was very original and fun to watch. Great animation and a great production quality!



7. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002 TV series) - a modern remake of the 1980s series. This show use art techniques in its animation that are never used. Some of the ideas and theory in the artwork date back to the time of the masters. The use of temperature, color and harmony is awesome! The fact that they used them and did it very well makes any painter/animator proud to call it art!



6. Avatar: The Last Airbender - is an award-winning American animated television series co-created and produced by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. The reason I put his on the list and it made the top ten are as follows. The animation is good...now that being said most television series now days have horrible art (Sponge bob, Ed Edd and Eddie, Camp Lazlo, Ren & Stimpy) it is almost as if they just scribble something down on a paper and try to make it as different as possible to make it seen, and this is working and ruining the industry. I am tried of crappy artwork. But what makes Avatar shine is the fact that it is a good story and teaches kids good values and Morales. It does not resort to poop and fart jokes to make it appealing.



5. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker - Another one for the art work. The use of light and shadow and posterization makes this film shine. Also they are dead on when it comes to the perspective on the building ect. It was released with a PG-13 rating which was rare in the US. It shows violence and the side of the joker that most people don't see in cartoons. He truly is insane and the comic books are the only place you get the true feel of that. Great Film!



4. The Incredibles - a American Academy Award-winning computer-animated film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. This movie was brilliant on so many levels. It has a little bit of something for everyone and connects with the audience on so many levels. Also they touched on a original idea about superheroes and there role in society that has rarely been touched on before. Loved it!!!



3. The Nightmare Before Christmas - an animated musical film produced and written by Tim Burton, directed by Henry Selick and scored by Danny Elfman. The film was based on Burton's characters and original story. This film really opened up many doors for all type of animation. This movie marked the first time that a stop-motion movie had been attempted at this scale. The actual production of filming was a very slow and grueling process, taking over 3 years to finish. And the music is awesome!



2. Star Wars: Clone Wars - Genndy Tartakovsky was Director, character design, story, and producer with George Lucas doing characters, story, and executive producing. The original series consists of 20 three-minute installments for Seasons 1 and 2 (later known as Volume 1), and five 12-to-15 minute installments for Season 3 (later called Volume 2) This is a show I can watch over and over. It is awesome. The way Tartakovsky tells a story is second to none. I love his imagination and vision. He takes a classic story that everyone knows and loves and shows it in a new way.



1. The Lion King - a animated feature film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation. This was close to the end of Disney's Golden Years. I see this movie as the best that Disney has ever released. Every aspect of this movie left me breathless. All the actors did a brilliant job. This movie is 3rd on the list for most money made by an animated film under Finding Nemo and Shrek 2. That being said, all the numbers aside it is just a good movie. You will be hard pressed to find someone who did not like this movie even a little bit. There are always exception to the rule. It has made a huge impact on pop culture and defiantly will go down in history.

Well that is my list. I have thought about this more than a sane person should. But the matter of the fact is I LOVE ANIMATION and LOVE CARTOONS.

Another Chile Day

8 years ago today I flew to Chile. One of the things that stood out in my mind more than anything else was after about 13 hours on the plane we were almost there. We flew across the Andes mountains and when the sun peaked over the mountains it was the most Brillant Red light beamed through the windows of the plane. It was like pure red....it was really cool. Almost like Lasers trying to fry off peoples heads...that is a nice visual.

Anyway I will be wear my Chilean Jersey again in celebration. Also I went to the Chilean Deli here in town and ate Compeltos and Lomitos...yummy. Well Happy Chile Day one last time this year. I will think about when I rode a Llama...awe those were good times!!!!

Adventures of a Desperate Painter

As many of you may now I am back to school, back to school to prove to Grandma Shepard that I am no fool. (Steph I am referring to grandma at Carmelle) And while this has been an awesome experience for me it also adds a little bit more stress in my life and quite a bit more adventure. I am also happier when I feel like I am using my creative talents.

Lets start from the beginning...

I had a painting due Tuesday right after spring break and because of the work load of this class I was unable to start it until spring break started this week. So I have set a goal for myself to paint every night so I don't have to bare through a 24 paint session Monday night. Tuesday night I started the painting on a piece of Masonite board left over from days past. It was primed and ready to go. It seemed the right size and so I took some scrap (artist term for reference material) and started painting. I was having a lot of trouble getting going. Somedays you just have an off day so I shrugged is off after a few hours and went to bed. The next day I got home from work and between a full day of work and a late session the night before I fell asleep on our couch so I did not work at all. That night I laid in bed and asked for help from Lena and Heavenly Father to give me strength to get some done. At this point I needed all the help I could get. Lena later commented that she prayed for the same thing. Funny how that works out. Let me continue before this gets to spiritual.

So I started painting, painting and painting some more, the more I painted the more I got angry. The paint would slide of the canvas, or board in the case. I would lay down a layer of paint put a little water on and it would slide right off with the water. So my only conclusion is that this board must have been primed with OIL base gesso. Think of putting oil in a glass of water...they do not mix.

So I tossed the painting across the room jumped in my car and went to Micheals to spend way more than I wanted to on a pre-built, pre-gesso'd canvas.

To make this long story shorter. I got 3 times the work done in the time it took to paint the previous painting. It looks really good as well I am happy with how it turned out.



I just had it framed and put it in the student show of at Redwood High. Maybe someday I will get around to posting the painting here.

name meaning

What Nik Means

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

If you write in the blog! It will come to past!!

They Listened to me! OH the power of the blog!!!

Happy Mission/Chile Day!!!

As many of you may have not realized today in the year of our Lord 2000 on this very day was they day I entered the MTC and embarked on an adventure that will never be forgotten. Today I always wear my Chilean Soccer Jersey in Tribute. 

When I left to the MTC is was a bitter sweet day! There was a lot going on in our family during that time. So it was hard to leave but yet I knew it was the right thing to do. 

My mothers favorite story to tell is about when we finished the orientation. We had all adequately moistened our faces. We all went to our separate exits, one out one door the rest out the other. Right before I went out the missionary door to not see my family for another 2 months (at the airport). I jumped onto a chair high above everyone else and waved goodbye one more time.  Good times!

Tired of TV

Can I just say that I am extremely tired of the Writers Strike and horrible Television. It has come to the point that I flip through the channels and there is nothing to watch so I flip on the ol' xBox and a play game. I am so tired of Reality Television whether it be Flavor Flave looking for love from a bunch of Huchies or someone getting a make over for free. It just gets too old to fast. There is nothing new to bring to the table there for it is just so boring. I need my mind to be challenged to be entertained.

Writers I am proud of you for fighting for your rights. But please please please come back so I can enjoy TV again. Bring me back The Office, My Name is Earl, Heroes ect...

I will love you forever if you do!