Welcome to the Good Old Days
Has there ever been a better time to be a creator of visual content? With the exception, perhaps, of being active in Florence in the days of the Medici. Content creation tools continue to provide unanticipated capabilities (Photoshop Extended, anyone?), there's a solid and growing market for fresh work, while the net places creatives just a few clicks away from potential clients.
Yet another manifestion of the latter is the recently-launched MyToons.com site, described by Rusty Mills, five-time Emmy award-winning animator and the site's Director of Animation, as having a mission "to develop the premiere online destination for uploading, viewing and sharing everything animated." Members are provided with the now-familiar MySpace-like ability to add info about themselves in their own customizable area and upload their animations for the general delight and edification of their fellow members and casual visitors. Also familiar is the ability for members to comment on and rate animations, with the potential to hit the Top 10 spot and perhaps even briefly shine as the coveted Featured Animation.
If you're breaking into the competitive field of commercial animation or are established and simply trolling for more clients, displaying your best work on MyToons.com is pretty much a no-brainer, since there's no cost involved. And if I was on the prowl for hot new talent, I'd be keeping an eye on the Top 10 spot. Since I'm neither, I just drop by from time to time to indulge my love of all forms of animation, of which there is no shortage. You'll find everything from test clips to polished shorts. One of my current favorites is Hallucii, a tale of a marginal individual trapped in an Escher-like nightmare world.
MyToons.com is also involved in some interesting offline events, such as hosting the DRAW traveling art exhibit from March 9 to 31, 2007, at Gallery Lombardi in Austin, Texas. Originating with New York's Fuse Gallery, the current installation is running in conjunction with the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) Film/Interactive and Music Festival, with the DRAW exhibit featuring works from animation artists, musicians, graffiti artists, tattooists, fashion designers, skaters and comic book artists. The show includes such notables as HR Giger, Clive Barker, Moby and Ron English, and will be making stops in London, Osaka, Moscow and Beijing.
Chris Dickman
Editor, Graphics.com
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