Even all the fingers are perfect.

Satoshi Kon and his team like Shinji Otsuka below are such masters I reguarly referred to this movie while working on Death To Pachuco for Image Comics

Pencil test and final animation: Tokyo Godfathers (2003), dir. Satoshi Kon, Madhouse This sequence by Shinji Otsuka was the first animation test for Tokyo Godfathers, and it served as a reference for the rest of the team

Visual development art by Studio Piñata for Moominvalley (2019–2024), dir. Steve Box, Gutsy Animations

Visual development art by Studio Piñata for Moominvalley (2019–2024), dir. Steve Box, Gutsy Animations

Storyboard art for How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966), dir. Chuck Jones and Ben Washam, MGM Animation/Visual Arts

Character design work by Matthew Forsythe for Robin Robin (2021), dir. Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, Aardman Animations

From: Frosty the Snowman (c. 1950), dir. Robert Cannon, UPA

Finished animation cels from The Snowman (1982), dir. Dianne Jackson, TVC London

Tokyo Godfathers is one of the best films of this century. A key reason is that it portrays Tokyo with an almost overwhelming level of care and detail. Satoshi Kon and his team moved mountains to make this film's world feel real — as we explore today: animationobsessive.substack.com/p/satoshi-ko...

Concept art by Lou Romano for The Powerpuff Girls (1998–2005), created by Craig McCracken, Hanna-Barbera Cartoons

Concept art by Matt Nolte for Brave (2012), dir. Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews, Pixar

Background paintings by Sue Mondt for Dexter's Laboratory (1996–2003), created by Genndy Tartakovsky, Hanna-Barbera Cartoons

From: The Day I Quit Smoking (1982), dir. Nedeljko Dragić, Zagreb Film

Few animate with paint on glass. But Martine Chartrand wanted to do it. So, she flew across the world to learn from the best -- Alexander Petrov. He mentored her. In turn, she fought to revive his struggling career. We explore: animationobsessive.substack.com/p/two-artist...

Concept art by Meaghan Dunn for A Kitty Bobo Show (2001), created by Meaghan Dunn and Kevin Kaliher, Cartoon Network Studios

Concept art by Harley Jessup and Dominique Louis for Ratatouille (2007), dir. Brad Bird, Pixar

Bread, Milk and Butter (1972), dir. Jim Simon, Wantu Studios

The Mighty Grand Piton (2019), dir. Wesley Louis, The Line An impressive short film made to look like the trailer for an even bigger project -- a project that's on the way, according to the studio

A collection of storyboard art by Seung Eun Kim for The Boondocks (2005–2014), created by Aaron McGruder, Rebel Base Productions

Scott Wills paints a background for the first run of Samurai Jack (2001–2004), created by Genndy Tartakovsky, Cartoon Network Studios

From: Tchou-Tchou (1972), dir. Co Hoedeman, National Film Board of Canada

From: The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin (1981), dir. Janet Perlman, National Film Board of Canada

From: Black Soul (2000), dir. Martine Chartrand, National Film Board of Canada Chartrand spent over five years animating this film with paint on glass

Character design work by Tom Oreb for Disney's TV commercial division (c. 1955)

The sumo wrestling scene from Taro the Dragon Boy (1979), dir. Kirio Urayama, Toei Doga

Japan's best stop-motion studio isn't loud about it. But the quiet charm of its work speaks for itself. We're exploring the specialness of dwarf studios in this issue: animationobsessive.substack.com/p/inside-dwa...

From: The Demon (1972), dir. Kihachiro Kawamoto

Concept art by Hayao Miyazaki for Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), dir. Hayao Miyazaki, Topcraft

Self-replicating cars cause the apocalypse From: Automania 2000 (1963), dir. John Halas, Halas & Batchelor

From: La Peau de Chagrin (1960), dir. Ivo Vrbanić and Vlado Kristl, Zagreb Film

Concept art by Kevin Dart for Big Hero 6 (2014), dir. Don Hall and Chris Williams, Walt Disney Animation Studios

This is an extremely cool story

Last up today and one of the most exciting things on our radar... Our friends over at the #AnimationObsessive Substack (subscribe!) have broke the news about our work on what was essentially a lost film for a VERY long time, #RoyFromSpace (1983)!

Concept art by Chen-Yi Chang for Mulan (1998), dir. Barry Cook and Tony Bancroft, Walt Disney Feature Animation

Style development art by David Colman for Class of 3000 (2006–2008), created by André 3000 and Thomas W. Lynch, Cartoon Network Studios

From: One by One (2004), dir. Pixote Hunt and Dave Bossert, Walt Disney Feature Animation

Dan Haskett animation from Sesame Street: Let's Discuss This (1988)

Pixar designed Toy Story to be printed on physical film. The Disney renaissance movies were the same. Today, it's hard to see them as they were meant to be seen. The versions on streaming and home media aren't quite the same films that ruled the '90s: animationobsessive.substack.com/p/the-toy-st...

Building the highwayman shot from Over the Garden Wall (2014), created by Patrick McHale, Cartoon Network Studios Storyboards by Patrick McHale, animation by Nick Cross

From: MIMT (2024), dir. Ted Wiggin Full film: vimeo.com/952721889

Zagreb Film's YouTube channel is a goldmine of restored classics from the '50s onward

if you're like me and enjoy those videos of stickmen fighting, PLEASE give this article a read. it's really good!

A lovely write-up about one of the most influential artists of the 00s internet artpunk era

I remember when these stick animations started to make the rounds in the late 90s. Animation Obsessive, as usual, exposes the story few of us knew about Xiao Xiao, the inspirations, and complexities of a style that becomes a commodity. Check it out!

It wasn't deep. It didn't have much to say. But Xiao Xiao inspired millions to try Flash animation for themselves. A Beijing artist made this series -- and turned stick fights into a phenomenon. We're exploring why and how he did it: animationobsessive.substack.com/p/when-stick...

Character designs by Carter Goodrich and Annette Marnat for Hotel Transylvania (2012), dir. Genndy Tartakovsky, Sony Pictures Animation

Visual development art by Chris Appelhans and Jon Klassen for Coraline (2009), dir. Henry Selick, Laika

Concept art by Mary Blair for Alice in Wonderland (1951), dir. Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson and Hamilton Luske, Walt Disney Productions

12 seconds from 8 stop-motion films (1968–present) across the career of animator Yuri Norstein