Animated Discussions: Miyazaki and Giraud (aka Moebius)

Two "Greats" talk and give us an insight into the meeting of the European and the Japanese worlds of imagination and film-making. The late Jean Giraud, French comic book artist and animator  and Hayao Miyazaki.... the "Man" of Japanese anime... discuss the influence of each others work in the (previous post) video.

Animated Discussions: YouTube Interview with Hayao Miyazaki and Jean Giraud (Moebius)

Graphic Passions: Moebius & Jodorowsky's "The Incal"

So I do indeed grab me some Moebius comix as I did say I would in my Moebius post. I get hold of Jodorowsky & Moebius' sci-fi work "The Incal" (click here for the Guardian review.)

Now this is for Space Opera fans, you understand... galaxies and planets and monsters and multi-armed aliens and sooper-dooper trans-thingy beams and telepathy.... It's a space opera that is also filled with crazy 1980s New Age tosh... (You had to have been there.) In other words it's a real out of this world experience. There was a legal dispute between Jodorowsky and Luc Besson over similarities between "The Incal" and the film "The Fifth Element" which Jodorowsky lost. But you will see the territory we are in.

Graphic Novel publishers Self Made Hero have published a "restored and uncensored".. (that nudity thing)... edition which is a lovely thing to behold... and to read....

So here I am, drifting in space with the Moebius illustrations and travelling on beams of light ... and seriously contemplating acquiring a companion animal that I can call "Deepo" by way of tribute to P.I. John DiFool's own "concrete" bird......

Animated Discussions: Les Maitres du Temps

I did say in the previous post that I would say more about Moebius aka Jean Girard.

Because you know that I do like a bit of animation. And Moebius did work with French animator Rene Laloux on this film here.... "Les Maitres Du Temp" (Time Masters).

For modern animation fans it may look a bit dated cos it's made in 1982 before the "benefits" of CGI and so on. Don't get me wrong I don't mind a bit of CGI... but sometimes it do get in the way I think... a bit of a stylistic... "Oh No... Here we go again..."

I do have on my DVD shelf - a copy of Laloux's 1973 film "La Planete Sauvage" (Fantastic Planet). Cos I'se that kind of girl. This is perhaps even harder to view in terms of modern techniques but that ain't what it's all about.

Anyway. I just be reading the wiki stuff on Rene Laloux and love the idea that he got started animating by working with patients in a psychiatric institution. I wonder if any got over-excited doing the animating and had to be sedated? I'm sure I would. But then... if you cain't control the world out there.... get yourself a little world on your tabletop and animate it. That's what I say.

Graphic Passions: "Moebius" - Jean Giraud 1938-2012

A bit of a genius be Jean Giraud but now sadly died 10 March.

This is a trailer for a 2007 documentary about Giraud (aka Gir, aka Moebius) that I did see a year or so ago. As well as the "bandes dessinee" (comics) he worked on the costume designs for "Alien", input into "Tron" and influences upon other sci-fi films.

And Oh but I wish his collaboration with Alejandro Jodorowsky for a film of "Dune" had made it to the big screen.

First fame as Gir - with his anti-hero cowboy, Blueberry. Later he set up with others the magazine "Metal Hurlant" ("Heavy Metal") and explored sci-fi and fantasy. He also collaborated with Rene Laloux on his full-length animated movie "Les Maitres du Temps". About which.... more later.

For another YouTube tribute/taster try clicking through this link.

But me... I'm off to get me some of his graphics.....