Printmag.com interview
Academy Award-winning animator John Canemaker will be writing a monthly column about animation for printmag.com. This interview with Jeff about the upcoming BONE movie, is his first.
Canemaker says, “In my opinion, Bone’s Chapter Five, “Eyes of the Storm” is one the greatest 20 pages of cinematic storytelling in the history of comics”.
You can read the entire interview here.
The Bone movie’s going to be made in motion capture?! EPIC FAIL.
Comment by Liam Scanlan — March 3, 2010 @ 10:02 pm
You know I totally agree. I have used that exact section before to illustrate points about the power and ability of cartooning to reveal items and express emotion in a meaningful way. I love when my tastes are validated! Go Jeff!
Comment by William Hoffknecht — March 3, 2010 @ 11:25 pm
I’d like to see Brad Bird take this on as director. After Incredibles and Ratatouille, I think he’d respect Jeff’s style.
Comment by tb4000 — March 4, 2010 @ 3:39 pm
I couldn’t agree more! Especially those panels above-SO fantastic
Comment by Jarad — March 4, 2010 @ 10:05 pm
Motion capture? Yuck.
How is that even going to come close to catching how this exaggerated world should feel? Sounds more like someone is trying to do something for cheap.
I’m now disappointed.
Comment by Sean — March 5, 2010 @ 3:08 pm
Jeff smith why didn’t you goon after the book 9?the next book could of been the journey back to boneville then the next book could of been what happens in boneville then the next could of been fone bone trying to get back to where thorn was then the next could of been the journey then the next book could of been fone bone admits to Thorn the he loves her and then they fone bone stays there and then it starts all over again.(Phoney bone gets ran out of town then they have the journey to the valley) and the last book is when fone bone stays at the valley with Thorn but smiley and Phoney find their way back themselves.
Comment by LAS cats are cute — March 5, 2010 @ 9:44 pm
I know the Bone Movie with the Big War (third movie?) won’t come out anytime, but when it does, they should put the song “Barracuda” by Heart on their commercials.
Comment by wowhowcool — March 9, 2010 @ 7:47 pm
In comment 7 I meant to say “anytime SOON”
Comment by wowhowcool — March 9, 2010 @ 7:48 pm
That is my favorite Jeff Smith comic sequence. And I agree that it is one of the all-time best.
Comment by Kazu — March 10, 2010 @ 4:36 am
New fan on the block! And quite ironic that the Bone movie is being talked about, since that is what immediately came to mind while reading the comic.
I only hope that they go to the extent in making the animation close to that of Pixar’s Presto short. That technical knowledge of advanced blurring techniques combined with flexible models will really make Bone sing.
Good luck and wish all the best!
Comment by Haylee Herrick — March 10, 2010 @ 4:30 pm
My heart sank when I read it said the Bone movie would be done in Mocap. Honestly Jeff, if Nickelodean wanted Britney Spears songs in the movie and that didn’t happen and now it’s finally happening and Warner Bros wants to do it with Mocap don’t you think that would be a sign to NOT do it? If it’s not gunna be done right, please don’t let it ruin your book and what it means to your readers. I feel like there isn’t any sense in the world. It’s like someone looking at Donald Duck comics and thinking it needs to be done live action..
Comment by Clutch — March 12, 2010 @ 1:09 am
What’s the big deal about motion capture? Mocap, as you put it, isn’t like it was in the early days of Polar Express or Beowolf with stiff, puppet acting and dead eyes. It’s Avatar now. And I don’t think it will be all motion capture, just some.
Comment by Jeff — March 12, 2010 @ 12:05 pm
Avatar worked because the characters had animal eyes, not human ones. Cameron deliberately did that so there wouldn’t be uncanny valley issues and it worked. Mocap, (or mocrap as it’s called)is a creative letdown unless used properly. Avatar’s mocap worked for that design and that story. It was high realism. I don’t see high realism in the Bone book, the characters are just too expressive, there’s no exaggeration in mocap. Unless you look at Fone Bone and see him moving and acting like a guy wearing a Fone Bone costume. Sorry Jeff, it’s just my opinion.
Comment by Clutch — March 12, 2010 @ 12:49 pm
I would LOVE to see the Bone movie done with classically/ 2D animation technique the same way that Asterix and the Vikings or even the Secret of Kells was done. Asterix in particular shares the same cartoon heritage as Bone and the final film was amazing and it would be AWESOME if Bone was done the same way. But if it has to be Mo-cap then at least its in the hands of Animals Logic who brought the world Happy Feet so I am sure they will do a great job with. I will love the movie regardless how it is made because I love Bone.
Comment by Charlie — March 12, 2010 @ 9:17 pm
No need to apologize, Clutch. You may be right. I’m not that hip to animation techniques anymore. I hope that the kind of eye animation that Pixar uses could be layered on top of a mocrap (I kind of like that name) character. But I don’t know at this point. I don’t even know if Animal Logic intends to use any motion capture, I just assumed that they will since they have used it in limited ways in the past.
Comment by Jeff — March 13, 2010 @ 11:28 am
I agree with Charlie. In fact, there’s even a little bit of a resemblance to Asterix.
masterymistery at cosmic rapture
Comment by masterymistery — March 14, 2010 @ 1:21 am
After reading everyone’s feelings on the motion capture talk, I would like to also put in my two cents on the matter (for what it’s worth).
Since I’ve come to fall in love with this comic the time this is being taken into production at Animal Logic into 3D, it feels appropriate to give a word of concern. Jeff, in all respect, please follow your instinct if this production doesn’t seem to feel or resemble Bone. It would be awful to see it flop and leave many of us looking for compensation. It deserves the utmost attention to every detail, and the team working on it should also embody your vision of the world of Bone and it’s story.
Once again, on another note, you are an amazing inspiration. So, I’m sure you have these thoughts already on the matter. :]
Comment by Haylee Herrick — March 15, 2010 @ 10:14 pm
Have you thought about using non-photorealistic rendering? Take a look at the first image on this page:
http://www.dgp.toronto.edu/~todd/isophote/
and this animation:
http://www.dgp.toronto.edu/~todd/isophote/videos/bone.ink.gif
These are computer-generated renderings.
Comment by Aaron — March 18, 2010 @ 2:42 pm
I love Bone. It’s the first book I have ever reread. Can anyone tell me where to find the answer to this question: If the Red Dragon and the Hooded One can enter the dreams of other people, is it possible for Thorn and Fone to be taught to do the same, so then they could still see each other whenever they wanted?
Comment by Jacqui B. — March 20, 2010 @ 5:33 pm
Although I love pixar and admire their work in Rataouille which reminds me of stop motion animation (my favorite
Bone would be better suited for traditioanl 2D movie. It would be more in keeping with the simple non ementional style of the books. The black and white art work is so impactful you don’t need that extra depth. However the movies would be in keeping with the coloration of the scholastic books.
Comment by Jeanette — March 24, 2010 @ 3:21 pm
If I am not mistaken the animators at Animal Logic are responsible for Zack Snyder’s upcoming Legends of the Guardians (Guardians of Ga’Hoole) and judging from the two minute trailer that I’ve watched 12 times, their animation is gorgeous and would work beautifully for Bone. The backgrounds border on photorealism, yet have a surreal feel at times.
I don’t think the people freaking out about motion capture are thinking about all the great performances that implement mo-cap(i.e. Gollum, King Kong). Like Jeff said Polar Express is far behind us, besides I don’t think that they’re going to strap little green balls on Warwick Davis to get Fone Bone’s movements. My guess is that the Bones will be mostly animated Pixar-style.
No, instead you should all focus on balancing the Dreaming so that there is a chance in Hades that this movie is as wonderful as it has the potential to be. If it isn’t, I will go home and cry, then procede to read all 1332 pages in one sleepless evening before crying again.
Comment by Houston Hughes — April 9, 2010 @ 12:13 pm
Hey Jeff,
Do you know if the animation will be done in the style that Aaron posted up there? Or will it be more of the typical computer generated stuff? I’d personally (and I think many/most of the fans) would rather it not be like the game. I like how Asterix turned out, though. It would be my dream come true for the Bone series to turn out like that. I would feel like the story came to life just like it does in my head when I read it…
Comment by Justin Fowler — November 22, 2010 @ 4:49 pm