Ah, so lovely, both in the fleeting details (the shimmery Eiffel Tower that kicks off the animation) and in the big picture (the theme and the ending). Wonderful stuff from director Siri Melchior and Trunk Animation.
Monday Morning Smile: "New York City" - They Might Be Giants
The They Might Be Giants version of the song's been around for more than a decade, and even this video isn't particularly new -- it was originally made in 2006 by animator/designer Joshua Hester as a grad school project. But for those of you who are Readeez fans, and even those who aren't (though I'd have to wonder about you types), the detail here is pretty awesome. Everything in the video -- from the telephone cord at the beginning to the Brooklyn Bridge at the end -- is based on a typographical element.
They Might Be Giants - "New York City" (video by Joshua Hester) [Vimeo]
Monday Morning Smile: "When I Grow Up"
Sometimes you don't have to look very far to find a role model.
An animation from Jasmin Lai; as much as I dig the message of the animation, I love the style of animation even more.
Monday Morning Smile: "Elephabet"
Like elephants? Portmanteaus? The alphabet? Whimsical sculptures that are elephants and portmanteaus and alphabets in and of themselves? Then I would suggest the video below.
It's from Hilary Pfeifer, who makes whimsical sculptures at Bunny With a Toolkit. The video is associated with Elephabet, a book which Pfeifer successfully Kickstarted last year. (If you think that looks fun, you can join in on her new Kickstarter to bring the book to iPad and poster formats.) It's a little long (9 minutes), and takes a while to warm up, but when it gets going, there are some particularly inspired creations -- I like the "K" through "N" run especially.
Monday Morning Smile: "Whistleless"
Potato prints a little reminiscent of Ed Emberley. Birds that can and can't whistle. Animation courtesy of a co-production between Trunk Animation in London and Dansk Tegnefilm in Denmark
But you had me at "potato prints."
Monday Morning Smile: "Me and Paul Revere" - Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers
Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers originally released "Me and Paul Revere" as a single for the 4th of July 2011 -- an apropos date given the song's subject -- Paul Revere's ride told from the perspective of his horse. The song is a model of historical storytelling through song. This video from Rolling Stone feels a little odd, watching Brooklyn twenty-somethings nod appreciatively as Martin and the band hurtle appropriately through the story, but there's a definite energy to the performance that makes it worth watching.
Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers - "Me and Paul Revere" [Rolling Stone]
