Optic Candy

Important Fact

amypeter — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:22:49 +0000

Peter: I’ve always wanted to graffiti something, and now I can say I have!

The Dead Woods

amypeter — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:55:44 +0000

Peter: It’s cold out there!

Happy Halloween!

amypeter — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:03:44 +0000

OIAF ’11 Wrap-Up

amypeter — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:14:42 +0000

Andy London+Peter Ahern

Peter: Just got back from the Ottawa International Animation Festival…and it. was. wicked!

This year had some films that really rocked my socks (see below), in addition to an excellent retrospective of Aaron Augenblick’s twisted work and a hilariously entertaining panel with Thurop Van Orman & Pendleton Ward (creators of the stellar The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack and Adventure Time on Cartoon Network). It goes without saying that the annual Animator’s Picnic, pumpkin carving contest and after parties were all rad as well, with Alan Foreman & Joel Frenzer’s renegade-hotel-room-bash worth a special shout out.

Our film Lil’ Aliens got an enthusiastic audiance response, with one reviewer even comparing it to candy! (I think?) “Andy London & Peter Ahern’s Lil’ Aliens (USA) shows us life on other planets in the way only little kids can imagine. It’s so cute you’ll rot your teeth, but who cares when it’s this good?” Nice!

As always though, the best part of the festival was the awesome company of friends, colleagues and like-minded enthusiasts from all over the world. Can’t wait to get back!

Of the 70+ films I managed to see, I give my stamp of approval to the following:

Chico and Rita (feature) dir. Javier Mariscal & Fernando Trueba

I’m Fine Thanks dir. Eamonn O’Neill

Moxie dir. Stephen Irwin

Intel: The Chase dir. Adam Foulkes & Alan Smith

One Minute Puberty dir. Alexander Gellner

Sticky Ends dir. Osman Cerfon

Made you Cringe (series) dir. Danny & Simone Dresden

Swimming Pool dir. Alexandra Hetmerova

The Renter dir. Jason Carpenter

Blanche Fraise dir. Frédérick Tremblay

Things You’d Better Not Mix Up dir. Joost Lieuwma

Guard Dog Global Jam dir. Bill Plympton & Desiree Stavracos

Down to the Bone

amypeter — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 17:48:46 +0000

Peter: Welp, it’s here folks - and just in time for Halloween! “Down to the Bone” is finally, FINALLY online. It was fortunate enough to be featured in dozens of festivals worldwide including SXSW, London International and ASIFA East, as well as receive a Student Academy Award nomination and cause several walkouts during a screening @ Martha’s Vineyard International (best compliment ever). In a way, those months of hunched isolation inhaling marker fumes and listening to Tom Jones were kinda, maybe worth it.

Click below to watch it in all it’s high-definition, inside-out, blood-soaked weirdness.

Written, directed and animated by
Peter Ahern ©2009

Featuring the voices of:
Kelly McCormack
Peter Ahern
and
Julie Crawford

Trouble in El Paso

amypeter — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 04:34:52 +0000

Wanted.

Ottawa Int’l Animation Fesitval

amypeter — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 01:51:53 +0000

Peter: My buddy Andy and I have, on occasion, co-taught stop motion workshops for kids through the NY Int’l Children’s Film Festival where we collaborate with young’uns in making short films. And sometimes…the films get into big animation festivals:

I’m proud to announce that Lil’ Aliens (below) will be screening @ the 2011 Ottawa International Animation Festival!

ZOINKS!

(made in a week by 10 year olds)

Party Monster

amypeter — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 05:00:57 +0000

Peter: Based on Arjun’s account of a rave (note importance of forearm stroking).

Actual quote.

Attack of the ‘staches.

amypeter — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:07:37 +0000

Peter: I found this little doodle while going through one of my sketch books…

The Dumbest Shit….

amypeter — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:20:19 +0000

Peter: I made this little short recently for the wicked awesome The Dumbest Shit I Ever Saw show that was put together by my friends Metcalf Loves You and Twins Are Weird. It was one of the best screenings I’ve ever been to – inspired, refreshingly self-aware and best of all….hilarious.