'Dynamic Duo' (2028) - In 'Momo Animation'?

 

Warner Bros Pictures and another co-producer have in the works, an animation feature titled 'Dynamic Duo'. The story is a bit confusing to me. It is not about 'Batman' per se, but instead it focuses on the origins of his partner 'Robin'. Apparently, there are two 'Robin' characters?? Here is a clearer brief description >> Dynamic Duo - Robin Movie Explained

Swaybox Studios in the state of Louisiana (USA) will be undertaking this feature animated project. What is unique is that it will not be fully CGI animation, however, it will still use CGI special effects, as most current movies do. Swaybox has not yet completely revealed their methods. From what I can piece together ... The overall animation appears to have elements of real miniatures & models, real live-action puppetry (similar to 'Muppets'), and the facial animation to be done using 'performance motion capture' super-imposed over the real puppet rubber/silicone heads. So, the final facial animation of the puppet might be labeled as Cgi. Swaybox is calling their proprietary effects technique, Momo Animation.>> Dynamic Duo - Mixed Animation  

Some of the initial 'press releases' for 'Dynamic Duo' might have been unintentionally misleading, stating that it will also be using some Stop Motion. That is not correct. To quote Swaybox, they say, Dynamic Duo "... will use some 'practical effects' elements of stop motion". They are likely referring to the actual physical puppets which are handmade & real but they will be live-action controlled by the puppeteers.I am pretty much certain that the Swaybox puppets will not be stop motion hand-animated frame by frame.

Here is one of  Swaybox's earlier demo reels >> Swaybox 2017 Demo Reel Remember that this is not full CGI, but instead, using a combination of special effects mixed methods. Of course, the animation in their reel is more 'cartoon like'. I am certain that 'Dynamic Duo' will have more human realistic character designs.  After watching that reel, I cannot be convinced the rubber/silicone puppet heads are the actual heads that were filmed as the final version? The texture is too smooth and has an airbrushed Cgi aesthetic to it. Here is a more recent one >> Swaybox Studio's 2022 Superbowl Ad 

Behind the Scenes

If the below Facebook video does not work, here is direct link Swaybox Studio Interview Ignore and close the Facebook log-in box and you can still watch the video. Be sure to turn on the sound/audio (Un-mute icon button)

Below Swaybox Studio video was posted by someone and he thinks it is a mechanical controlled animatronic puppet. So far, the information about how this was done is not fully revealed by Swaybox. You take a look ... the face of the puppet does not have the realism appearance of a rubber/silicone texture. It looks like that it is heavily filtered or having an airbrushed soft appearance or it's a CGI face swap produced by the real time performance capture software.

This is how I think Swaybox's proprietary Momo Animation live performance motion capture works ... the actual puppet head is like a muppet hand puppet with the puppeteer's hand/hands (inside the head) controlling the puppets internal facial movements, then the motion capture technology via the recording camera, instantly clones the real puppet's puppeteer-ed facial movements with a Cgi face swapped version. This is all observed on a monitor and done in real time 'live'. Afterwards in post-production, the puppet Cgi head animation is maybe tweaked & refined. Take a look below how Swaybox performance face motion capture method might work. In this example, a real human is the reference performance model for the Cgi to clone & do the face Cgi swapped version. If I am wrong with any of this, in my assessment or guesstimate, please feel free to correct me!

 
Other special effects elements ... some of  the behind the scenes photos that I've seen from Swaybox's other projects shows that much Green Screen is used to composite/blend the real elements of the miniature sets & models, with the live-action puppets and I'm guessing, that also, 'motion tracking' of the the live action puppets entire general movements are then later  in post production, digitally combined & blended with the background scenes (miniature sets & models) Swaybox photos >> Behind the scenes gallery  

Dynamic Duo, is suppose to be released sometime in 2028.  Sheesh 😕... that is sure a long way off. I think, that I will not be on the edge of my seat or waiting with bated breath for this. I got other life matter things to do! 😀

Swaybox Studios >> Website

Swaybox Studios >> Instagram

 

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Mackinnon & Saunders: Beetle Juice 2, Pinocchio, & More

 With 'Beetle Juice, Beetle Juice' winding down its theatrical release, it appears that it is now in its digital release, available for online stream viewing. Perhaps later this November could be released on DVD & Blu-ray.  When BJ2 originally released just a few months ago, there was not much technical behind the scenes and a mystery for a short while about the authenticity of the stop motion effects.Warner Bros mostly showed online interviews with the actors. Well finally, here is albeit, a short behind the scenes specifically about the stop motion scenes. The Sandworm was the primary stop motion special effects, but there were also some other more minor, secondary scenes also using stop motion. Take a look ....

An hour presentation about Mackinnon & Saunders' work & history by Richard Pickersgill, Lead Puppet Maker Supervisor. This talk was before the release of 'Beetle Juice 2', so that movie is not mentioned here. Some rare behind the scenes images & a few videos about the construction of the stop motion puppets. M&S were responsible for the design & fabrication of a few of the lead  stop motion puppet characters, with focus on the highly engineered Pinocchio puppet character. It is a talk / presentation, so some of you might get bored, however the the true stop motion aficionado, it is rich with edifying stop motion making of information  .... 

Below are just a few examples of projects to which Mackinnon & Saunders has contributed:

The making of Frankenweenie (2012) ....

 

More ....

Making of Isle of Dogs (2018), Featurette 1 ....

 

More ... Featurette 2 ....

 

Website link ....

Mackinnon & Saunders

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Coraline (2009) - In Remastered 3D (2024)

NOTE: Reminder that you can view all videos here, and also click on full screen video icon/button

Since Coraline's original release in theaters in February 2009, I lost count how many times it was re-released thereafter to theaters again! The most recent ones, was the Re-mastered version this summer of August 2024 (a limited theater run), and now a newer 3D Re-mastered Coraline, again, to be re-released to theaters, October 31 &  November 2024. As far as I know, there are no new scenes. (link below)

The different re-releases of Coraline

The primary aspect of these re-releases are that they are re-mastered versions. This article also gives more details it better. (link below)

CORALINE Returns to Theaters for Halloween

Below ... a revisit of a few behind the scenes. This is 15 year old tech & methods but still cool for us stop motion nerd heads. Today, in high end stop motion features, the production pipeline is still basically the same with the continued emphasis on the "hand-made". In addition, currently there some more refined methods of printing puppet anatomical parts and also, there is much post production digital cgi combined with the stop motion.

Hand-Making Coraline - Laika Studio first Feature

The Stop Motion Puppets

Animator Eric Leighton's physical contortions doing Stop Motion

Hand Made in Stereo 3D

Henry Selick explains deleted scenes -Extra Features on Dvd (July, 2009)

BONUS

BONUS - BONUS

You can stream watch the original Coraline at the listed links below. Keep in mind that it may not be highest definition as in the re-mastered versions at theaters and you will not have the 3D immersion visual effect. Also, you will not have the experience of viewing movies in an actual theater with a live audience. Or what about missing the enjoyment of getting your tubs of heavily buttered popcorn and sugar-high soda pops?😁

Link > CORALINE on The Roku Channel - Free with Ads

Link > CORALINE on TUBI - Free with Ads

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StopMotionAnimation.com 1999 - 2024

Hot off the press! ....

"StopMotionAnimation.com in its current form, on the Ning platform, will be shutting down on 09/28/24. Be assured that I will be looking into other uses for the site. Since 1999, this website has been a important keystone in the Stop Motion Community. Thank you all for your participation over the years! Anthony Scott, Site Admin"

 _________________

SMA.com originally began online as one of the first Stop Motion Animation specialty discussion forums on April 22, 1999. Just think about that ... 25-1/2 years ago. Many of you were still in diapers or not even born yet! 😲

 

It was a close-knit (common, strong passion) community at SMA.com. Beginners & professionals gathered together to help each other and 'talk shop'. It really felt like a 'home'. However, as the years passed by, the 'Social Media' juggernaut began to take over the consciousness of the masses with the bombardment of endless distractions on the internet. SMA.com beginnings was before Yahoo Groups, Myspace, Facebook, Reddit, Youtube, Instagram, etc.. 

Very gradually, I saw that activity on SMA.com was becoming less & less. IMO, I believe it was the onslaught of all the social media 'candy' out there. Even myself ... I was unintentionally drifting away from SMA.com. I'm sure many of you also see how social media can be a 'mental stressor' especially if you partake of it too much. Many people are so addicted via their smart phones & computers ... but I digress!  

Some of you may not know who is behind StopMotionAnimation.com ... his name is (click >) Anthony Scott, a very seasoned animator. My path first crossed with Anthony in 1988, on (click >) 'Gumby Adventures', which was produced in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is hard to believe that I have known Anthony for 36 years! During those years Anthony worked on so many projects and I was privileged to contribute to some of them.

25 Year Reunion 'The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)' in 2018. Photo - Mike Belzer, Lionel Orozco (me), and Anthony Scott

With regards to StopMotionAnimation.com ... Anthony says that he is not calling an end to it, and describes it as a 'Hiatus'. He has a powerful website brand name and he totally owns it! No one else can use that website name. So it appears that Anthony is undecided yet what direction or other format for SMA.com. It seems like it would be so much work to attempt to archive SMA.com, specifically all the message board conversations. 

Just an idea for Anthony ... to have SMA.com as a 'front page' with specific links, to his Youtube channel, Instagram & Facebook, so that the followers/people can still be in touch with Anthony. Again, we do not know what Anthony will decide later, about what to do with SMA.com. Feel free to private message him and suggest any ideas!

Thanks Anthony for your dedication and your passion for the Stop Motion Animation Art & Craft and contribution of the Stop Motion Animation message-board/forum website!👍

Note - You might be wondering why the SMA.com logo is a Skull & Crossbones? Anthony has used it for many years. I suspect that the 'skeleton' is symbolic of the jointed metal armatures used inside the stop motion puppets ... also, it kind of has a Jack Skellington vibe!💀

StopMotionAnimation.com

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NEW 'Brisk Iced Tea' Ad

Just released, a new 2024 version of a Brisk Iced Tea commercial in the style similar to the classic ads from back around the mid to late 1990s, when they first appeared on TV. If you do a (click >) Search of this new ad, apparently, the ad agency & almost everyone else is referring to it as (click >) Claymation?  Well, the 'Animation Puppets' are NOT Clay! 😠 The correct description is 'Stop Motion Puppet Animation'! Those classic early Brisk ads were stop motion caricatures of well known or iconic celebrities. This Brisk ad features 'Doja Cat'? 😲 I have no idea who that is and so I looked it up ...(click >) she is a 'Rapper'. Hmmm ... I assume someone that appeals to the Gen Z'ers. Sigh 😕... not like the old school days of the Brisk Tea ads.

Here it is ....

It appears that 3D printed replacement faces were used. With most of the publicity press releases, they did not mention who actually did this work. I did find it ... Peter Sluszka is credited as the Director. Here is the website page link where you can see all the credits ....

 BRISK - ENCHANTED FOREST

I also see that  the studio, (click >) Standing Figure Studio is credited. Someone who I have known for a long time, a veteran in the Stop Motion sphere ... Patrick Zung who is one of the studio team members. He is an inventive engineer, machinist,  creative designer, problem solver, etc., not only Stop Motion but just about anything that has to do with the 'Mechanical & Gadgeteering'. 

___________________________________


TIME TRAVEL ... Brisk Iced Tea History

Compilation of some of the Brisk commercials ....

Making of Frank Sinatra Brisk Tea ad.  At video time stamp 3 minutes 14 second you will see some of the stop motion puppet fabrication details by (click >) Mackinnon & Saunders ....

Making of Danny Devito Brisk Ad. I think (click >) Loose Moose Productions, a UK based studio did the stop motion work here, including the older original, black & white versions of the Brisk ads ....

The Way of the Brisk - MMA Champ, Chuck Liddell. The puppet armature by (click >) John Wright Modelmaking, the intricate head mechanism by (click >) Ron Cole, and I think, (click >) David Bell or his studio did the puppet fabrication. David and (click >) Tatia Rosenthal did the hands on stop motion animation ....

Time lapse of one the later versions of the Brisk Tea commercials and the stop motion animator is (click >) Webster Colcord ....

 

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BeetleJuice 2 (2024) - Where is the Stop Motion?

So, BeetleJuice 2 boasts much 'Practical' ('real', not Cgi) special effects. In general with today's big box office movies, they will always use Cgi. My observation with BJ2, although the practical effects which includes, prosthetics, animatronics, rod puppetry, etc which of course, they are present in the film ... however .... in the film crew credits for BJ2, there is Zero, Zip, Zilch, Nada attribution to traditional Stop Motion Animation. Therefore at this time, I can only conclude that there was NO Stop Motion in BeetleJuice 2. In a few of the teasers, you briefly see the Sandworm creature. I am fairly certain that appeared to be CGI.

Here is my evidence Click > BeetleJuice 2 (2024) CREW LIST / IMD  Do you see any screen credits for Stop Motion Animation? I have not yet seen BJ2. IF there was Stop Motion, why was there no screen credit?

I then see this contradictory information which was part of the early media hype for BeetleJuice 2 Click > BeetleJuice 2 to feature Stop Motion

It just grinds my gears 😠 ... a major motion picture that devotes their huge budget for A list actors, all the set builders, practical effects, post production, CGI crew, etc. etc ... but they excluded  & dismissed Stop Motion special effects as used in the original BeetleJuice. Why? You would think the production would pay homage or tribute by using Stop Motion ... but NO. 

"Ladies & Gentlemen of the Jury, I rest my CASE!" 😎

UPDATE, SEPTEMBER 9, 2024:  I just received confirmation from (click >) Jim Randall that Stop Motion was included in BeetleJuice 2. I posted on Instagram, then Jim notified me that the UK company Mackinnon & Saunders were responsible for the Sandworm sequence done using classic STOP MOTION!!
👍😎  

Take a look here at this link ...

Mackinnon & Saunders - Sandworm

Okay, that was my short tirade. Moving on  ... perhaps you might enjoy re-visiting some of the original BeetleJuice (1988) scenes. We have the iconic Sandworm creature which was actual stop motion animation and some other scenes which I will post videos below ... ALL Stop Motion.

 Sandworm

 Deleted Hanging & Sandworm scenes

 BeetleJuice as Snake creature

Adam & Barbara, head transformation

Testing head transformation from unfinished documentary

Delia Deetz Sculptures come Alive - The Wedding Scene

Click > Artist Tom Spina, restores Stop Motion puppets 'Delia Deetz Sculptures'

Click > Behind the Scenes Photos, Original BeetleJuice


BeetleJuice 2 is  premiering in theaters, September 6, 2024
in the USA & UK --  I do not know the schedule for
other countries, so you need to research that

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Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)

Just a reminder to 'you all' .... the title of this Blog is 'Stop Motion Works & Retro FX'. The 'Retro FX' = Old school general special effects (not just stop motion)! This 1959 film is based on the Jules Verne novel, 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' (1864). Perhaps, this movie is  now a forgotten old classic in the science fiction genre. As an action & adventure story, I enjoyed it as a youngster and now re-visiting, it brought back good memories and I still LIKE it very much! For that time, this movie was long at 2 hours! Great performances from the earlier days of Hollywood  ... Click > James Mason, Pat Boone, Arlene Dahl, & Diane Baker. Also, especially, the powerful musical score by ... Click > Bernard Herrmann.

If you want to temporarily escape the current mind numbing news & social media bombardment, perhaps you might want to consider watching.  During the movie, near the end, at time stamp about 1 minute, 40 seconds .... my only small criticism was ... Where was Ray Harryhausen when this movie was made? The studio could not afford him? LOL 😆

It was a bit difficult finding the full movie, however, I scored these few and you can see which works for you. For best viewing: Your computer screen monitor (full screen) or hook-up your laptop to your large TV screen using HDMI cable and you will somewhat get the cinema experience! 📽️ 🍿

 

OR

 

Click > Production info / Cast & Crew IMDb 

Click > This is a Movie Review at Youtube (spoilers)

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