By popular demand, we’re adding a 9pm* sneak preview screening of Sita in New York on November 17. Please RSVP with “Sita NY 9pm” in the subject. You can also just show up; if we run out of room at 7 (and we probably will) we’ll put you on the list for 9, which should be less crowded. If you’ve already RSVP’ed, you’re in, no worries.

*The 9pm show may be DVD only, as we might not have time to show “Battle of Lanka” on 35mm.

Postsecret + LOLcats = LOLSECRETZ. Motto: “INTRNT DUN NOW THX”

Here’s an excerpt of I video I worked on (I did the animation, duh) for the amazing, wonderful feature film Loins of Punjab Presents. Lucky viewers in India will get to see it in theaters later this month. We sadly deprived Americans will have to wait until after its festival premiere October 3rd. Well, I’m not sadly deprived - I saw it, and it’s awesome!

Via Two Can Anne, the amazing cat photography of Mr. Lee:

Mr. Lee’s human attached a tiny camera to his collar, yielding fascinating new insights into the secret life of cats. Blow your mind with the whole story here.

There’s also a cat cam user in Los Angeles:

Wow. Hooray for the internets!

Reader and fellow animator John Weldon has just made a new song called PETA Gals. I figured after my ALDF post, it was especially relevant. Listen to John’s other songs too!

Via Two Can Anne.

Sita Sings the Blues was recently rejected for a small government grant. Their review comments included “not engaging,” “nothing new,” “doesn’t speak to artistic growth and development” and “pretty but not groundbreaking.” At first I didn’t fully understand, but then today I learned a film exactly like mine has been done before:

Look at the similarities: the story is told from a white Western female perspective, it uses animation, and it only discusses Rama and Sita, omitting Laxman. Not only that, it was made by four-to-six-year-olds, which explains why the organization also called my project “standard” and “too easy.” I wish I’d known about this before I tried to “reinvent the wheel.” (via waiting for kalki)

Today’s Diesel Sweeties has my number.

Thanks to tipster Mike for turning me on to the most advanced digital graphics tools:

More Cat News here.

My pal Gordon suggested checking out Coney Island before it’s eaten by condo developers. Since I hate crowds, we chose today - a Tuesday - to pay our respects to this historic neighborhood. Click here to see the 144 photos I took.

I don’t like beer, and I don’t like to party, but I like Party With Beer:

Apparently some people were offended by “Heinrich Stämmler”’s (I love how a Norwegian cartoon features German English) cartoon wee-wee. It’s part of Norges Televisjon’s animated talk show project, which postulates TV talking heads don’t wear pants, since they’re (supposed to be) shot from the waist up, behind desks. Some Youtubers were so outraged by the flappin’ flaccidity, that Stämmler issued a video response:

Finally, NRK cleaned up their act with this Family-Friendly Version:

Some comments indicated “Party with Beer” is a parody of the band Scooter, which I’d never heard of, but after seeing their videos I have to agree - a brilliant parody at that.

Now I want to move to Norway.

While in Portland I had the pleasure of hangin’ out with Jennifer Shiman, the genius behind 30-second Bunnies. Haven’t seen 30-Second Bunnies? Go.

The Platform Animation Festival was a big success, classy from start to finish. The Sita Sings the Blues work-in-progress screening went exceptionally well. The theater was beautiful, the projection system outstanding, and the audience was exceedingly kind and generous. I sampled some fine films, hung out with old friends and colleagues, and met some very cool people for the first time. And now I must get back to work!

You know what I hate? People who think they’re better than they are. Except for me. I really am better than I am.