The Last Post

Animation, animation, animation. It exists, really. You just don't realize it's there.

For example, in math class the other day, my ears pricked up to the words of peers:

"I have a Dopey shirt at home."

"I'm pretty sure I have a Grumpy one."

Plus 1 to the animation realm.

Or during lunch:

"Remember when my sister (really me) used to be super obsessed with Dora?"

"I KNOW! Remember, the Wiggles? I heard one of them passed away from a heart attack. I was really sad."

Plus 2. I deem The Wiggles animated characters.

And the most beautiful exemplification of the existence of animation is through my BFF, Laura. The following pictures reveal her consciousness to preserve her childhood memories and her zest to simply let loose to unveil her true self. Thanks, Laura, for being a great sport and a wonderful friend.

All photos are credited to either her, Karen or Isha.

Laura smiles in bliss, clutching her jar housing home-made cookies, during Visual Arts class. She dressed up with immense creativity as "The Cookie Monster" from Sesame Street for Halloween; however, unlike the selfish blue, she delightedly shared her cookies with her peers.

Leaping into the air, showing off her kung fu skills, Laura truly skulked into the skin of the character she masqueraded for a day.

Manifesting true friendship, the Cookie Monster stands with Sonya, portraying the crimson, fuzzy bundle of adorableness, Elmo.

During Spirit Week, Laura shows freshman pride and her devotion to The Incredibles by dashing faster than the speed of light.

Coat hangers...I like them, you?

Sally Brown, sister of Charlie Brown, a Peanuts character, questions her artistic abilities. What may seem a jumble a of coat hangers could in reality serve as a beautiful masterpiece in the eyes of another.

I love the arts amongst all my other courses. A passion resides within me for acting, visual art, and, to a smaller degree, music. Sometimes I wonder, however, to what level the arts are subjective.

Acting proves rather difficult to determine quality. The confidence one must bear, the poise, the delivery (relative to speed), breathing, the sheer hard toil of memorizing your piece, and the sound of the very words that escape your lips. But to what degree? To what level of confidence must one possess to not blend into the murky waters of arrogance?

Visual Art marks further difficulty. The analysis of one's composition involves balance, unity, contrast, and simply personal taste, leading to many groans from students. While working devotedly on the current hands-on assignment, I can incessantly hear from my Visual Art peers in the background, "I HATE Mondrian."

To me, I don't hate Mondrian. I appreciate his work really and truly. After working on this project, I can hardly believe the immense foresight a man possessed to define such restrictions to himself. I look at my diamond-shaped canvas, and although a layman would consider it rather similar to Mondrian's creations, it is similar yet different: the juxtaposition of beauty.

Animation captures this struggle in a rather vivid manner. With Neha Sabharwal's (12) spectacular portrayal of Sally Brown in the Student Directed Showcase held in January, these words come alive. Do not shudder this seemingly massive paragraph. It is embedded with the thoughts I myself fail to express with the words of my blog.

Sally: A 'C'? A 'C'? I got a 'C' on my coathanger sculpture? How could anyone get a 'C' in coathanger sculpture? May I ask a question? Was I judged on the piece of sculpture itself? If so, is it not true that time alone can judge a work of art? Or was I judged on my talent? If so, is it fair that I be judged on a part of my life over which I have no control? If I was judged on my effort, then I was judged unfairly, for I tried as hard as I could! Was I judged on what I had learned about this project? If so, then were not you, my teacher, also being judged on your ability to transmit your knowledge to me? Are you willing to share my 'C'? Perhaps I was being judged on the quality of coathanger itself out of which my creation was made...now is this not also unfair? Am I to be judged by the quality of coathangers that are used by the drycleaning establishment that returns our garments? Is that not the responsibility of my parents? Should they not share my 'C'? (SFX: the teachers voice is heard offstage [brief unintelligible squawk voice mixed with electronic static)) Thank you, Miss Othmar. (to audience) The squeaky wheel gets the grease! (exits)

Photo Credit: http://www.tomah.k12.wi.us/schools/ths/musical/Sally_Brown.gif

Sincere apologies...

Sorry folks for my silence yesterday. With teachers cramming tests in every nook and cranny to end quarter three with a bang, I appeared rather melancholy and pensive this whole week...which doesn't quite suite me, I have to admit. BUT NEVER FEAR! L.YAU IS HERE! With the cooperation of said L.Yau, I shall have a super duper amazing post tomorrow to make up for my absence yesterday. Really, it will be quite a treat. And subject to many laughs. L.Yau is a great sport, so it's all good. :)

Bear

http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/images/upload/Baloo%27s-%27Death%27-web.jpg

Amidst the jungles of India lies a lone bear, drenched in the rain. Wide awake, his conscience skulks from his slumped body. Flashes of red and orange entangle to produce a fiery beam that penetrate his mind's eye. Through these flames a face appears. Eagerly unveiling its pearl white teeth, a malevolent tiger grins.

The fury subsides. A child floats into the picture. With a blend of curiosity, astonishment, and fear encompassing his eyes, he frowns. He loved him so much that every minute, every heartbeat, every breath he wanted to protect him.

I squirmed into the bear skin and looked through his eyes. I imagined further than my observations. More than ever could I realize the feelings of a bear. Feelings that I could hardly imagine - the complexity of attachment, the beauty of friendship, and the love for another. These qualities of a bear surprised me and taught me a beautiful life lesson.

"Baloo, get up. Oh, please wake up."

The rain pours harder and thumps of droplets confront the sodden ground.

“Greater love hath no one than he who lays down his life for his friend,” Bageera said. “Whenever great deeds are remembered in this jungle, one name will stand above all others… our friend, Baloo the bear.”

Animation is...

the single bud of innocence among bloomed flowers.

a path into the unknown, waiting just waiting to be discovered.

My very OWN animation character

Ta-dah! It's my very sweet and adorable guinea pig, Twinkle. Unfortunately, guinea pigs don't appear very often in animation...well, with the exception of "Wonder Pets" but that's a little too "kiddy" for my blog. Ron from "Kim Possible" did have a naked mole rat. But why not a guinea pig? Their fur, which naked mole rats obviously lack, is so rich and fine and clearly, guinea pigs are far more beautiful. Shall we compare...

VS.

http://www.rochuswolff.de/weblog/archiv/img/kim_possible_nacktmulle_10.jpg

Well, so it's a tough call. The tenacity and gungho of the naked mole rat vs. the pure bliss of innocence of the guinea pig (although she might not be as innocent as the picture portrays).

Conclusion: Rodents are CUTE. I shall blog about rodents and their influence in animation next. Stay tuned!

SiMpLiCiTy

Friday.

That one word produces excessive joy and sheer happiness. Without the avalanche of homework (well, I'll defer it to the weekend), I can truly enjoy television, especially in a peaceful and relaxed manner. After watching the last bit of Oprah in which my beloved Kelly Clarkson appeared, I flipped the channel as usual. People tend to hate watching TV with me since I can never decide on a single channel and always continue the "flipping ritual." But today marked a change. I gravitated towards KQED where I became hooked for a splendid half-hour, watching Arthur.

Yes, you laugh, but I received a chance to remember my childhood first-hand. Today's episode described "Binky," the band, not the crazed ballerina. Remember the "wee-o, wee-o, wee-o, wee-o, wee-o?" Or "Crazy bus"?

Personally, I don't think it's a "kiddy" show. Believe me, It's far from that. Possessing some core principles to govern one's life in a beautiful way, Arthur shows me simplicity in the world, which we make so overwhelmingly complex.

Just now I watched a segment of News with Jim Lehrer. We all think the problems we possess is the worst, right? But a video created by students in South Carolina reveals how students cannot pursue their dreams since they're more concerned about whether they would have food everyday or even sleep in their one-room house, which they consider a blessing.

Think. Just stop and think. Don't we make life complex? We're so fortunate...and yet, it's hard to see, sometimes. And I think Arthur is that marvelous looking glass into who we are and what we believe in.