Web Animation Watch: Multiplex 10, Dead End, Study Me and More
Welcome to another edition of AFA's longest-running regular feature Web Animation Watch. This time we say goodbye to an old favourite, discover a supercool music video and look back at a web animation that spawned a popular comic and a forthcoming animated series! It's a strong week, so we've got the first-ever joint pick of the week!
Are you an animator who has made something that would be at home here? Or just a fan who's found something you think we should see? Drop us a line today!
The Path, An Ionian Myth | Spirit Blossom 2020 Animated Trailer
The League Of Legends video game has led to some great animation over the years its been running, and you don't need to have played a game in your life to appreciate them This latest promo is in the form of a beautifully made and atmospheric 2D short that's clearly influenced by anime and far-eastern iconography. Created in partnership with European animation studio Sun Creature.
Zutomayo | Study Me
★PICK OF THE WEEK 1 ★From Japan, this music video channels several different retro anime styles to create an incredible heady mix of audio and aesthetic. It's largely using an 80s or 90s influenced look (given an extra retro sheen through VHS-style video effects) but also features retro game style, kaiju fights, neon-soaked sci-fi scapes and martial arts movies. It's like the best anime intro to a show that never was. Animation and illustration produced by Koudai Watanabe and Yotube (yes that spelling is right).
Dead End
Netflix recently announced animated series Deadendia, based on the graphic novels by Hamish Steele. The series started life in the form of this short which Steele made for Frederator's Cartoon Hangover channel, back in 2014. If you've not sampled the comics, this will give you a good taster of what to expect when the series arrives next year. Funny, oddball and with a lovable cast, it has us excited for Steele's next big step!
Batman & Superman
A very cute and funny take on the relationship between DC's biggest heroes in these short vignettes by animator and artist Deekay. The video compiles Deekay's animations which were originally made for Instagram (hence their length and formatting).
Multiplex 10: The End
★PICK OF THE WEEK 2 ★ After the original animated short, 13 episodes and several review episodes, the final curtain is falling on Gordon McAlpin's fantastic Multiplex 10. In the final episode, we catch up with the modern-day and like real-life cinemas, Multiplex 10 has found itself shuttered indefinitely due to the pandemic. How are Kurt and Jason coping? How do you think? We will miss it, but it's a damn fine send-off, and we wish Gordon and crew all the best for whatever they do next! It's been a blast!
