Think

For those who fear that computers will replace us all, fear not…we are still more than a sum of huge data sets. The creativity and unpredictability in our world may be that which is our greatest asset.

Many are in favor of trying to develop creative streaks and problem-solving skills within AI networks. “New artificial intelligence systems are using adversarial networks to develop creativity and originality by more fluidly mixing and matching real-world information.” – Chris Baraniuk for Scientific American.

GANs are able to use the information and source material fed to it by humans to create a lot of new material, but guidelines are established to assist in the decision-making process. So the next step is to train the network on when to follow the rules and when to discard them and follow their own path. Exciting / scary? I think some of both.

These recent ads by Anomaly London and Blink Ink (Alex Grigg x Joe Pelling) for Bulb (a renewable energy company in the U.K.) are lovely in their comedic timing and delivery, and the simplicity of line. It’s a serious business: making energy renewable, greener, cheaper…delivered in a form that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The fan made me laugh out loud:

This is so cool – a new approach to 3D printing.

The Replicator works like a reverse CT scan, translating a 3D computer model into a full series (to describes the 360 degree rotation around the object) of 2D images that are projected into a container of resin – the areas of strongest light becomes solid. Article and video here! More flexible than layered 3D printing, and smoother results too. For medical applications this could be especially useful. Here’s to progress and always moving things forward.

A few months ago, I started following the amazing Janelle Shane who works with electrical engineering, optics, and neural networks (AI weirdness)…there are some spooky / hilarious GAN images (it can really go either way), absurd character names, recipes (for disaster?), knock-knock jokes, and so much good info to follow on how these networks are trained and refined…the brilliant solutions they come up with and the mistakes they make. Some of the best fails end up here.

Also, I read the news and I’ve been thinking about how deep biases and specifically racist tendencies can go in humans, and how that might show up in AI. If we can refine those algorithms and decision-making biases in the neural networks (which are, after all, loosely based on human brain connections), maybe we can redirect some human malfunction too.

These quotes are from an article by Cassidy Curtis (of Oscar-nominated Age of Sail) about Spider Man: Into the Spider-verse makes me happy…here’s to all those who keep pushing things forward, through art or whatever your field…it’s so needed and so worth it:

I found myself looking through the screen, senses buzzing, at the amazing team of artists and technologists who made it, people who really get it: the idea that when you take the art seriously, when you use every step of the process to amplify that artistic voice instead of sanding off its rough edges, when you’re willing to break the pipeline and challenge “how it’s usually done”, that’s when you can make something special, unique, and meaningful. This movie is a triumph, and every single person involved in making it should be incredibly proud. I see what you did, I know exactly how hard it was to do it, and I see you.

Cassidy Curtis

I also hope this marks a turning point for the animation industry. Listen to your artists. Trust them. Let their work shine on the big screen the way they meant it to look. And don’t let anyone tell you what “can’t be done” with the look of your film. The non-photorealistic rendering community has been building the technology to do this, literally, for decades. Let’s use it!

Cassidy Curtis

For a limited time, many of the 2019 Oscar-Shortlisted animated shorts can be viewed online. Info and links on cartoonbrew.com, check them while you can!

Buster Williams: Bass to Infinity is an upcoming film from director Adam Kahan. Animated sections part 1 and part 2 (of 3) by Igor + Valentine are on vimeo…great music, v.o., and animation.

The great team at oddfellows created this fresh piece for Nike’s Battle-force,a day of hoops, street art, music, and dance. The theme was about process, so they “got to work and took a step out side of computer-comforts and spent the summer in scanner beds with spray paint and xacto blades.”

This is the exciting edge to me lately (maybe it’s just the old school in me) – make the magic happen offline, and use the computer to edit add those final touches and polish.

The always impressive Giant Ant made this 2017 series to honor milestones in LGBTQ history for Pride month. Some great moments in the series, especially 5-4 Pt.1 – playing with perspective and scale, clean quick transitions between very different scenes, and reducing the amount of info to just what’s needed. Visual storytelling that doesn’t just mimic the audio, but also fuels the message.

https://www.giantant.ca/spotify-pride-stories

Just saw this animation from BlinkMyBrain . . .lots of other good videos on the vimeo page, but this one for Marni’s new shop in Rome is especially good.
I’m digging the stylized figure and limited use of color (appears in the last twenty seconds) – great use of collage effects with bold shapes and motion.