Hormone monsters

Continuing the second season of Intimate Animation – the Skwigly podcast in which Laura-Beth and I explore, discuss and interview the talents behind animation that deals with adult themes of love, relationships and sexuality – we welcome Netherlands-based director Dario van Vree of Studio Pupil, whose film Tabook was released online this week to coincidence with Face Your Fears Day.

As well as his creative work at Studio Pupil, Dario was one of the original founders of the KLIK! Amsterdam Animation Festival and teaches animation at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam. Using TVPaint to combine digital 2D character animation with hand-crafted sets and a touch of CG, his film is a warmhearted tale of overcoming one’s inhibitions and moving past fears of what others may think of our natural impulses.
Also discussed in this episode: Animation sexploits at the New York Museum of Sex (including work by Polly Nor, Michael Sullivan and the 1929 animated ‘stag’ film Buried Treasure) and the surprisingly on-point new adult animated Netflix sitcom Big Mouth.
Stream below or direct download:

Leaves of Autumn

Another batch of joint outings for Boris-Noris and Klementhro ahead, this time at the Cinemagic Festival in Belfast. In all candour my brain is still a bit fried and jetlagged from the honeymoon so I'm not 100% sure I get how this one works but I think Animated Antics is essentially a programme that tours schools throughout the city between October 16th and November 17th. Boris-Noris is part of the primary school competition with Klementhro included in the 15+ shorts showcase that kicks off a little later (October 23rd). As far as specifics go you can keep up to speed at the festival's official site and Facebook page.

Speaking of Ireland, which we sort-of, tenuously were, I'll be headed to the seventh edition of the Dublin Animation Film Festival at the end of next week as part of the Student Film Jury team, so if you're in the city October 20th and 21st that'll be a fun one to check out too. See you there, possibly maybe!

In Russia, raft paddles YOU

Following last month's Russian tour it seems the nation can't get enough of our paddlin' pal Klementhro. This month and November will see it play in Moscow for the Big Cartoon Festival, a big festival of cartoons I would assume, or very possibly an average-sized festival of big cartoons. Probably the former as my cartoon is not especially big. The screenings will kick off on my birthday (which also just happens to be International Animation Day - coincidence? Well, yes). Full info as follows:

• October 28th - Karo 8 Atrium, 8pm
• October 30th - Moscow Cinema Fakel, 7pm
• November 4th - Karo 11 Oktyabr, 10pm
• November 5th - Documentary Film Center, 7pm
• November 5th - Karo 11 Oktyabr, 8:30pm

The film will also screen as part of a mini-tour through Saint-Petersburg, Kazan and Ekaterinburg after the festival but I don't have all the specifics for those screenings just yet. So hang tight, comrades.