NYC show explores Japanese comic books, animation

NEW YORK — The gallery of the normally serene Japan Society has been overtaken by scenes of ruined cities, rocket travel, giant fighting robots, prostitution and teenagers in the throes of eating disorders.

The carnage and dysfunction are central to the elaborate fictional worlds of Japanese comics (manga), animated films (anime) and video games now on display in Manhattan.

On a recent weekend, two mothers and their kids huddled over a model of the 1980s video game Pac-Man, trying to get the yellow circle to devour all the dots in a maze without being killed by ghosts.

In another room, a couple of teenage girls crouched down to get inside a small tea house-like enclosure lined with hundreds of manga, some the size of telephone books.

Elsewhere, six anime were being simultaneously projected along a long wall in a room with cubicles where visitors could sit comfortably and watch the same excerpts on smaller screens. (The complete films are shown at scheduled times in the society's basement auditorium on Fridays through Sundays, free of charge with admission.)

The exhibition, "Krazy! The Delirious World of Anime + Manga + Video Games," has been drawing large and diverse crowds — young, old and in-between — since it opened March 13.

Last spring, the Vancouver Art Gallery launched a larger version of the show, aimed at exploring the connections between the pop world of comics, animation and gaming and more highbrow expressions of visual culture.

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Graphic novelist embraces dark side of animation

The 2007 film Persepolis reminds us that animated features need not be comedies for kids or fairy tales with familiar messages.

Nor need they be in English, in color or elaborately drawn on computers.

The feature, named for the ancient capital of Iran, is the coming-of-age autobiography of its creator, Marjane Satrapi, who chronicled her Iranian childhood in a graphic novel. She and French animator Vincent Paronaud adapted it into a feature, retaining its simple style.

The film, an Oscar nominee for best animated feature, is the next entry in the Ohio Wesleyan University Community Film Series at the Strand Theatre in Delaware.

The narrative recalls the excitement of Satrapi's family when the shah was overthrown in 1979, then the confusion of a restless young girl when Islamic fundamentalists took control and dictated that women cover their heads. The rock 'n' roll that excited young Marjane was driven into the black market.

As she matures, Marjane lives in Vienna, Austria, where she encounters the joys and pains of budding love, and longs to be reunited with her family.

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Animation BPO set for growth

Animation and gaming are seen as the next wave in Indias successful outsourcing story. However, there is a major change, this is a sector which has moved up from outsourcing to co production, a move up the value chain from low end, less creative work to higher creativity and advanced technologies, says Krayon Pictures director Namrata Sharma. She said that for India to catch the animation bus, it needed to quickly provide the required manpower since Nasscom had projected that both animation and gaming were multi billion dollar opportunities for India. The usual block, however, is the lack of trained manpower.

And those who do go to training schools offering such courses are not studio ready, industry veterans claim Industry is now trying to bridge the gap through an industry training institute co operation. MCCIAs Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture, animation and gaming committee, comprising a three member group of industry professionals, has devised a curriculum for a six month foundation course, which will provide the industry with studio ready professionals.

Additionally, the committee has proposed the formation of a loose alliance of all training institutes so that some facilities might be shared. This association will ensure that basic standards are maintained in the quality of training imparted at these institutes.

MCCIA committee co ordinator Cmde Anand Khandekar said the sector was more than just software. Being a multi disciplinary area, its manpower must be skilled at acting and the other performing arts. Lalit Kala Kendra of the University of Pune has, therefore, devised a course for applied theatre, where theatre can be used as a therapy by the industry.

Source : http://www.offshoringtimes.com/

3-D takes a giant leap into the future

Hollywood is looking at the future through tinted plastic glasses.

My Bloody Valentine, Coraline and the Jonas Brothers concert film were just warm-up acts. The attack of the 3-D movie revival begins in earnest next Friday when Monsters vs. Aliens, the latest computer-animated funhouse from DreamWorks, is launched into theaters.

At least 12 other titles will follow this year, including such milestones as Up, Pixar's first foray in the format; Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, a rare chance to see that disaster-prone Scrat get flattened in 3-D; and Avatar, James Cameron's return to feature filmmaking after a 12-year hiatus that will attempt to do for live-action futuristic thrillers what his Titanic did for sinking ships.

If ever a digital-age update on what was once an Ike-era novelty were going to take hold — and persuade more theater operators to invest upward of $100,000 to convert to the technology — it is now, with such already anticipated titles ready to give it a real workout.

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