Despicable me 2- Three amazing facts

As Despicable Me 2 just had its premiere in Colchester we thought to bring to your attention some interesting facts about this American 3D computer-animated comedy film. 

1. Al Pacino

       In February 2012, it was reported that Al Pacino had joined the cast to voice the villain, Eduardo.

      On May 3, 2013, just a month before the film's premiere, it was announced that Al Pacino had left the film over creative differences about how his character should come to life. At the time of his departure, Pacino's character had been already fully voiced and animated. Chris Renaud, co-director of the film, commented on Pacino's departure: "So we don't want an unhappy actor, and we want something that is well-realized on all sides. If you don't see eye to eye, sometimes it's easier to (part company) and move on from there." Benjamin Bratt, who had already been considered before Pacino, stepped in to voice Eduardo. 

       Chris Meledandri, producer of the film, admitted that he was not "aware of any of the major animated films of the last 15 years that has brought an actor in at such a late stage." Due to the finished animation, Bratt had to match his timing exactly to the character's mouth movement. Initially, during his five-day recording, he tried to imitate Pacino's voice, but found it impossible, saying "no one can out-Al Pacino Al Pacino." He ended up only using Pacino as an inspiration, and resolved to go with his own interpretation of the character. His work was commended by Variety, saying: "You'd never guess he wasn't the filmmakers' first choice."

2. Kristen Wiig

         Kristen Wiig, on the other hand, who voiced Miss Hattie in the original film, voices Lucy Wilde, an agent of the Anti-Villain League (AVL) who recruits Gru to track and take down a tough, Mexican villain named Eduardo.

3.Despicablimp

      A blimp disguised as a Minion, named "Despicablimp," has been touring the United States since March 2013 in its six-month tour to promote the film's release. As one of the largest airships in the world, measuring 165 feet (50 m) in length, 55 feet (17 m) in height, and weighting 8,000 pounds (3.6 t), it will cross the country three times during its 20,000 miles (32,000 km) long tour, visiting hundreds of events, including the film's premiere in Hollywood. 

      The blimp, an A-150 model of American Blimp Corporation, can be tracked in real-time via GPS at the Despicablimp Command Center website, which also allows fans to post photos of the sightings, and compete for various prizes, including for a ride with the blimp.

If you’ve been to one of our Claymation workshops before, Claymation 2 workshop which is on 12th of August will take your animation skills to the next step. In pairs or individually you’ll be given your own MacBook and camera to work on so you can create your own short film from start to finish.

You can book online through our website (www.signals.org.uk booking fee applies) or you can save the booking fee and call Signals direct on 01206 560255.

Amazing Stop Motion Animations

Have you wondered what stop motion animation means? It is an animation technique to make an object seem to move on its own by moving the object in small increments between individually photographed frames. When put together as a sequence the frames create the illusion of movement. It is basically the modern version of drawing on the corner of your notebook sheets and then playing with it. 

Well, as a digital media organisation, we focus on technology, not on notebooks. :) 

Therefore two of our children workshops are based on stop motion. We have 'Claymation' for the younger, 7+ aged, kids, and 'Stop Motion Animation' for young people 12+ years old.

One of the most famous film directors has started developing his talent at the same age as our talented young filmmakers. Tim Burton was only 13 years old when he created the stop motion animation 'The Island of Doctor Agor' in his backyard on Evergreen Street. The significant animation Corpse Bride (2005) is his first full-length stop motion animation. 

Today we are going to show you three unique stop motion animations that have revolutionised the world of digital media. 

In 2010, a film about the adventures of a 9mm girl called Dot, living in a microscopic world, became the world's smallest animation at that time. New technology combined with a lot of creativity and imagination produced this amazing film.

The teeny-tiny movie is created by Sumo Science at Aardman and shot with a CellScope, invented by Professor Fletcher. For the purpose of the animation, 50 different versions of the main character were created with a 3D printer. 

If you are amazed by this animation, wait to see the next one. 

The researchers of IBM had entertained themselves at work by creating a movie made with atoms. Yes, you read it right! 'A Boy And His Atom' really is made by moving atoms and therefore it is now The World's Smallest Stop Motion Animation. It is so small that it can be seen only when it is magnified 100 million times. 

An animation called 'Entropy' made for IdN magazine by Physalia is created by shooting 2,000 photographs of different water drops and combining them in a video. 

You can learn more about the process of making it and see the video here. 

The team was inspired by Markus Reugels' stunning photographs of the Earth in water drops. 

We, Signals Media Arts Centre, also have quite a few animations to show off with. The children attending our workshop has amazed us with their creativity and talent. We are very proud of them! 

You can watch the animations made during our latest Stop Motion Animation workshop here and tell us what you think! : )  

www.signals.org.uk 

Signals is hosting the biggest short film festival - Future Shorts

Signals Media Arts Centre is giving you the opportunity to be part of the global community of Future Shorts. The film content presented is challenging, entertaining, stimulating and pushing the boundaries of how culture is consumed.

After the huge success of the Autumn Season Film Festival, which was screened in 42 countries and over 135 cities, Future Shorts is launching winter season from January 2013 to March 2013 featuring 7 of the best cutting-edge short films from all over the world.

The programme includes prize-winning films for every taste - everything from horror through love story  to animation.

A special highlight is the Sundance Jury Prize winner 'Fishing Without Nets' (Kenya, 2010) telling us the fascinating story of pirates in Somalia told from the Somalis' perspective.

Other featuring films are:

The colourful animation 'Marcel, King of Tervuren' (USA, 2012),

The Woodstock Film Festival Jury Prize Winner 'We're leaving' (USA, 2011),

The documentary-cum-horror film 'The S from Hell' (USA, 2010),

The surreal coming-of-age short 'Candy Girl' (UK, 2012),

The humorous love story 'Lovebirds' (Czech Republic, 2010) reflecting on the similarities between avian and human life,

and 'Seeds of the Fall' (Sweden, 2009) by the oscar nominated director Patrik Eklund.

You can get more sense of the variety of films by watching the Trailer.

It is an event that you cannot miss so we are waiting for you on the 5th February from 7pm at Signals.
There is no need to book so come along. You can find more information in our website.