'Animation Portfolio' page added

So much has happened since I have been MIA on the blog that I feel the need for a bit of recap before I move on to more current posts. In that spirit, I have added a couple of pages above, 'Animation Portfolio' and 'Photography Portfolio'. The former is now live, latter to follow soon.
Here is a promo for Sons of Ram, the current animated feature film that I am working on at ACK as writer/producer/director. Coming to theaters Sep 28th 2012

Blog Resurrection 2.0!!

Where Phoenix Doodle = Blog

Hell yes, its happening! Blog Resurrection 2.0 ...or is it 3.0? Who cares...those keeping  tabs have probably moved on anyways! Still, excited to give this a shot anyways, damned be Facebook. Rejigged the look, noticed a few dead links -will work my way slowly through them to fix them. Hopefully the blog will not be reduced to  a series of resurrection posts .

Watch this space...will be back in a couple  of  years  days! :)

Wanderings & Meanderings: Fine Art Photography by Kushal Ruia

Join up here:  http://artist.to/kushalruia/
For Fine Art Prints / Greeting Cards : http://kushalruia.imagekind.com

A selection of fine art photography from 2008

See The PIctures,Read The Story And If You Like, VOTE!

My first attempt at writing for a magazine. Last week I was at the peace march in Bombay in regards to the terror attacks on 26/11.
Took a few pics and have put together a photo essay.Check it out, and if u like it please VOTE a "Yes".
Thanks!

In Print!

Excited excited excited! I never thought i would end up being a published photographer when i bought my first DSLR camera a year ago! Could be beginner's luck, but here I am with my first ever picture to be printed in a photography magazine.

Am printed in Issue 19 of JPG Mag,under the theme of Faith.You can browse the entire issue online by clicking on the page showing my pic ("Holy Shiv",the hermit with the Shiva frames in the background).
My pic appears on page#35.

You will also find there the links to see all the dazzling pics printed in the issue along with how u can purchase a hard copy or subscribe to this awesome visual publication.

(All the pics look even more spectacular in print)

The picture by itself is....

Sneak Peak Featurette for "Coraline"

Teaser For Disney's "The Princess & The Frog"

This was a pleasant surprise! The movie is more than a year away, and they have a teaser out already! Needless to say...am totally excited about this return to hand drawn animation.Fingers crossed for its commercial success..as for the teaser..i love it!

"Kung Fu Panda" 2D Opening Sequence

Gotta love this! Even the end credits were so much fun!

'Kung Fu Panda' Exclusive Video: Opening Dream Sequence

Chasing Thunderstorms

Last Sunday,I went on a little adventure chasing a thunderstorm.I was hoping to catch a lightning, unfortunately, that did not happen.However i did end up with some sights that i had never before seen, and will probably never seen again.
A rainbow...and how!





Another panorama i shot.However does not stitch up too well...but does give a complete picture of the view in front of me!

A "Wall-E" Sneak Peak

Animator's Survival Kit Trailer

I guess this is trailer for the DVD version of Richard William's book maybe. I LOVE it!
I would get the DVD too, it was really interesting attending the class in school.
Now if only get the DVD signed like the book!:)

Pic Of The Day: "Clandestine Conclave"

My First Ever HDR Image

Been meaning to try out HDR (High Dynamic Range) for the longest time.At first i had no idea why what made an HDR image look so surreal. When i found out, it seemed like insane amount of work and time for just ONE picture.
Anyways...here i am..with my First HDR. It's kinda scary, it might be difficult going back to the normal single exposure photography!

Sunset Romance

Sunset Romance
Originally uploaded by the_anim8r

Taken last weekend from the Toronto Island.

UV: "Eggspression"

I just realized i have quite a few unposted clips of my animation from Urban Vermin...so here is one more...

The End Of An Era: RIP Ollie Johnston (1912-2008)

"The Jungle Book" was a landmark movie in many ways. It was the last movie that was in production under Walt, and was finished and released after his death.The future of Disney Animation rested on the success or failure of that movie.

It was also the pinnacle of Ollie Johnston's and Frank Thomas' work as character animators.They took Mowgli and Balloo where no animated character had gone before.
And one more thing...it was the first movie I remember seeing in the theaters as a child at the age of around 5-6.

You would understand when I say that the world has a little less magic today.

Very rarely am I so inspired by people whom i don't really know personally.Who are not my family & friends.There are very few exceptions, and Ollie Johnston was one of them.
To say he was a legend, is an understatement.It's like growing up in the times of Picasso /Da Vinchi or Michaelangelo...who's works and lives would give birth to an art-form that you spend your inspire you to pursue their arts to begin with.

So how does one express the feeling of passing away of such a master/pioneer.This isn't a new feeling for me because in the last decade we have witnessed the demise of some of the greatest minds and pioneers in the art of animation (arguably the last TRUE art form to be born).But the passing of Ollie is a lot worse.Why? Because he was the last one.We are done here. The dinosaurs are finally extinct.He was last of the legendary Nine Old Men.There are simply no more.

Don't get me wrong, there are geniuses out there..but everyone at the end of the are just students of the generation that Ollie represented.
Walt Disney along with his brilliant animators created the animation and elevated it to the art form that it is today.

Here is a 3 part "Disney Family Album" featuring Ollie Johnston.






Ollie's personal contributions are not limited to the work he did for the big screen. He with his equal partner in crime ,Frank Thomas (who expired a few years earlier), found ways to share their wealth of knowledge and wisdom through various formats.A must for any fan/admirer of the arts in general and animation in particular.

One of the best documentaries ever, something that inspires me every time I see it ( I see it at least 2-3 times a year), Frank & Ollie
The bible of animation.If there is only ONE book you ever need to understand animation , it would be this one. Aptly titled, The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation

Though I never had the opportunity to meet him or any of them personally, I feel honored to have lived in the same day and age as these masters.
Am very sad today , but I feel very thankful too because I JUST don't know what would I do without animation in my life. So,thanks Ollie for giving me my passion. You will be missed!

SNAP:"Through The Looking Glass"

Through The Looking Glass
Originally uploaded by the_anim8r

Taken this week from Skypod, the very top of the CN Tower

WDCC:"Malevolent Magistrate"

Frollo from makes his WDCC debut this year .Featured in his chair from the Festival of Fools as he sits and watches with condescension, the gypsy Esmeralda and the other festivities.This would have been a very challenging character to sculpt, with his bony face and wrinkled skin, but Patrick Romandy-Simmons , the sculptor has done commendable job!

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Sarah @ One Night Live

Been lazy about putting these up...here are a few of them...

World On Fire


Fallen


Ice Cream

One Night Live Concert

Now that was a concert. I went primarily for my fav artist, Sarah McLachlan, but the presence of Bryan Adams, Jann Arden & Josh Groban did not hurt either.
Sarah sang TEN songs, including duets with Jann, Josh and Bryan!
Here r some pics i took: