animation – The Comedy Bureau

HBO Max & WarnerMedia Access to Highlight Underrepresented Animation with “Animated Shorts Program”

October 5, 2021

animated shorts program, animation, diversity initiative, hbo max, warnermedia access

Even as far along as we are in 2021, there is still wide gaps in representation when it comes to animation. Sure, there have been things like Persepolis and Tuca & Bertie, but those are more rare gems than a common occurrence.

So, it looks like HBO Max and WarnerMedia Access are looking to fill in some gaps that very much need filling in with their Animated Shorts Program. They’ll offer mentorship with handpicked folks to produce an animated short that’ll get screened on HBO Max.

Hopefully, that’ll lead to more ACTUALLY diverse animated cartoons and the like. In case you didn’t know, there are many animated programs that purport to be diverse via the stories and characters, but they are often not written or created by people from those communities/backgrounds (note the lack of women in writer/animator roles in all of Love Death + Robots).

If you’re interested in the Animated Shorts Program, they’re taking submissions from now until Oct. 24th. Get more details/submit here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 69: Luke McGarry & No Straight Lines

July 21, 2021

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

animation, bo burnham, cartoonist, festival supreme, illustration, julio torres, luke mcgarry, mary tyler moore, tenacious d

Prolific cartoonist/illustrator/animator/musician Luke McGarry, who has done all sorts of wonderful comedy and music posters and art (including for Festival Supreme and MAD Magazine), joins in for this week’s TCB Field Report. Luke runs us through his winding path to being one of the go-to illustrators, especially when it things get imaginatively silly, and the wide, wide, very wide myriad of projects he has coming up (graphic novels to tour art to much much more). Also, “hot” takes on Julio Torres’ A24 movie, The Mary Tyler Moore Show doc, and Bo Burnham’s Inside getting a theatrical run.

Follow Luke @lukeymcgarry on IG and at lukemcgarry.com

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

Pick of the Day: Picture This! 5/9

May 7, 2020

News

animation, brandie posey, comedy show, irene tu, live animation, mike l mayfield, paul danke, stand up comedy

One of the LA comedy scene’s most unique and marvelous shows has been, for quite awhile now actually, the live-animated comedy show, Picture This. For those unfamiliar or those so distanced from what happened in the before times, comedians perform and, in real time, animators would draw/sketch/animate based on their set.

We’re so thankful to hear that Picture This is coming to the comedy live-stream realm and, given the way Zoom is set up, all the comedians will likely have a better eye on the animator (as opposed to standing facing away from the screen where the animation is projected). Also, having another line-up including many of the best animators and illustrators in comedy paired with the comedy stylings of Kate Willett, Paul Danke, Irene Tu gets pretty damn close to putting on the show you would have gotten to see in LA or in several places along the comedy festival circuit.

So, look forward to having quite the Saturday afternoon this weekend with a brand spankin’ new edition of Picture This! Go get your tickets for $10 before they sell out!

THIS SAT 5/9 2p PT / 5p ET
LIVE ANIMATED COMEDY IS COMING TO A DESKTOP NEAR YOU ON @zoom_us with @Brandazzle @katewillett @Jason_Chatfield @MikeLMayfield & more!

$10 at https://t.co/9hZ7UEapTK OR https://t.co/EFdm8fkQxg
Include "Picture This" and your email in the payment note pic.twitter.com/aNwEBvrFHc

— Picture This! ? ? (@PictureThisShow) May 6, 2020

Please Enjoy Joey Clift’s Short Film/PSA “Telling People You’re Native American When You’re Not Native Is A Lot Like Telling A Bear You’re A Bear When You’re Not A Bear”

November 11, 2019

Uncategorized

animated short, animation, cultural appropriation, joey clift, native american, native american heritage month, psa, short film

While it’s Native American Heritage Month right now and it’s pretty opportune timing to post something like this, Joey Clift’s animated short film “Telling People You’re Native American When You’re Not Native Is A Lot Like Telling A Bear You’re A Bear When You’re Not A Bear” is pretty damn great during any time of year.

In fact, it just wrapped up a great festival run and even got to screen at the Smithsonian.

So, enjoy, listen to, learn from, and enjoy some more of “Telling People You’re Native American When You’re Not Native Is A Lot Like Telling A Bear You’re A Bear When You’re Not A Bear” here.

August 9, 2019

Uncategorized

animation, animation history, cartoon, el segundo, old cartoon

Every so often, El Segundo’s treasure of a revival theater, the Old Town Music Hall, will do a run of classic cartoons with their occasional Vintage Cartoon Festival.

This particular edition is fascinating as it’ll feature Pre-Code (an era of film that got away with being more graphic and explicit because the big Hollywood studios had not really enforced any sort of obscenity code yet) cartoons. All of these cartoons definitely came well before the adult animation of BoJack Horseman or F Is For Family or Rick and Morty and it ought to be fascinating to think the connection between those Pre-Code cartoons and our aforementioned modern ones.

Also, renowned cartoon historian Jerry Beck will be hosting the entire evening.

This Vintage Cartoon Festival will happen:
Aug. 16th, Friday 8:15PM
Aug. 17th, Saturday 2:30PM & 8:15PM
Aug. 18th, Sunday 2:30PM

Tickets are $10 at the door ($8 for senior 62+). Get more info here!

January 25, 2019

Uncategorized

animation, hollywood, titmouse

Renowned (just look at those credits above) animation house Titmouse is having their annual let-the-animators-do-whatever-they-want night next month at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. It’s truly beyond your wildest imagination especially because of the short-form nature of all the ideas.

Tickets are $12 and you can (and very much should) get them here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, screenings, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

October 23, 2018

Uncategorized

animation, cartoons, chinatown, free, lincoln heights, los angeles, on the horizon, outdoor screening, short film

An inflatable screen, a DIY picnic area outside of an animation studio, and a bunch of wondrous, as stated, “messed up cartoons” is what makes Let’s What Messed Up Cartoons a pretty damn memorable evening (perhaps, one of those only in LA sort of happenings?).

In any case, it should be one of the stops on whatever you’re doing this Halloween weekend. Get more details here.

Comedy Central Opens Their Doors for New Animation Ideas and Talent Via Their New Animation Shorts Program

October 1, 2018

Uncategorized

animation, open call, submissions

Comedy Central Opens Their Doors for New Animation Ideas and Talent Via Their New Animation Shorts Program

If you’ve got a funny animated short (and if you’re reading this, we’re guessing you either do or know someone who does), this might be a great opportunity to take advantage of and potentially end up animating over at Comedy Central.

The open call for submissions just started today and you can get more details and submit here. By the way, it’s free to submit.

Heads up to everyone who does @loopdeloop-blog!

Season 2 of HBO’s Animals Gets a Teaser with Plenty More Critters That Have Human Problems

February 27, 2017

Uncategorized

animals, animated, animation, dramedy, hbo, teaser

While the anthropomorphizing of animals isn’t anything new, it’s usually reserved for children’s tales.

However, the last few years has brought plenty of great animated dramedy that tangle with more nuanced adult issues such as existential despair, complicated relationships, etc.

Phil Matarese and Mike Luciano’s Animals on HBO is one such show and the teaser for their second season looks like it’s promising more exquisite examining of the human condition in the absurd framework of animals both big and little.

Also, the voices of Emilia Clarke, Ice T, Jason Alexander, Kim Gordon, Big Sean, Dan Harmon, Killer Mike, Andy Richter, Mark Duplass, Judy Greer, Fred Armisen, and Jon Lovitz will be featured this season.

If you’re on board, mark your calendars for the season premiere on Friday March 17th at 11:30PM on HBO.

February 25, 2017

Uncategorized

alice wetterlund, amanda seales, animation, brandie posey, cheap comedy, free comedy, hollywood, live comedy, los angeles, luke mcgarry, mike hollingsworth, mike mayfield, picture this, sklar brothers, stand up, tv taping

Picture This!, the comedy show that includes live, real time animation is getting a special taping next week.

Not only will you get to see The Sklar Brothers and Dana Gould do their brilliant comedy, but you’ll also get to watch amazing animators like Mike Holliingsworth, Luke McGarry, and Natasha Kline drawing along with their jokes and stories as they’re being told.

The taping is free to attend and will be at The Actors Company. More details here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, and maps can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Mike Judge Will Be Receiving a WGA Lifetime Achievement Award For Animation

December 14, 2016

Uncategorized

animation, beavis and butthead, king of the hill, lifetime achievement, mike judge, wga, writers guild of america

Mike Judge Will Be Receiving a WGA Lifetime Achievement Award For Animation

Mike Judge has done so much post-animation with Idiocracy and Silicon Valley and this WGA Lifetime Achievement Award for Animation is a great reminder that Judge also brought King of the Hill and Beavis and Butthead to TV during the animation period of his career.

This is probably the first of multiple lifetime achievement awards that Judge will receive in the years to come.

And Now We Give You “The Horse Raised By Spheres”

March 6, 2015

Uncategorized

animation, david o'reilly, jon daly, short film, the horse raised by spheres

Jon Daly “voices” an incredibly eloquent, but insecure horse in this animated short film from filmmaker David O’Reilly.

Other than that, we don’t want to say anything else and let you revel the wonder that is The Horse Raised by Spheres.

Superego’s Fremont City Council Meets/Strikes Again

October 13, 2014

Uncategorized

animation, comedy podcast, dan hartshorn, jeremy carter, mark mcconville, matt gourley, paul f tompkins, superego

Certainly, there are plenty of oddities that take place during a city council hearing that has the floor open to any and all residents of that particular city. However, none are as great as the Fremont City Council meeting as done by Superego.

Kick off Monday correctly and watch an animated version (animation by Dan Hartshorn) of the Fremontians reconvening for pretty much anything besides actual town business.

Help David Huntsberger Make His Animated Stand-Up Special

September 2, 2014

Uncategorized

animation, comedy special, david huntsberger, kickstarter

David Huntsberger who we’d you would know from his stand-up and the podcast he co-hosts Professor Blastoff is going to do his first stand-up comedy special, but is intending to really emphasize how special it could be.

You’ve probably seen clips of stand-up or funny stories animated, but Huntsberger wants to have through animation throughout his whole special, but can only do so if he raises $25,000 over the next month on Kickstarter.

He’s at $1,585 as of this post being written and has 28 days left, so please make sure this extra special comedy special comes to fruition.

Delightful Myq Kaplan Bit Gets The Animation Treatment

February 10, 2014

Uncategorized

animation, myq kaplan, wizard of oz

The “Axes and Brains” bit from the very funny Myq Kaplan’s comedy album Meat Robot is already great, but now gets the animation treatment from Robert Potter, which, given Myq’s style of comedy is a perfect fit.

Give it a watch here!

Nerdmelt Showroom Expands To Have Nerdist School to Teach Comedy, Animation, Writing, and More

August 14, 2013

Uncategorized

animation, improv classes, los angeles, nerdist, nerdmelt, storytelling, writing classes

Nerdmelt Showroom Expands To Have Nerdist School to Teach Comedy, Animation, Writing, and More

The live venue run by Nerdist Industries, The Nerdmelt Showroom, is further legitimizing itself from the numerous accolades and achievements it has gotten from being the site of the some best comedy shows in LA to seeing its flagship show, Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, become a Comedy Central series to now having a school. Joining in the ranks of some of the more established venues in town like the Upright Citizens Brigade, there will soon be classes, for improv, sketch, writing, animation, storytelling, and more.

It was the next logical step for them to take after getting working A/C for being a venue in the back of a comic book store.

Watch Superego Podcast Get Animated at Adult Swim and Ask James Bond “How British Is M?”

July 10, 2013

Uncategorized

adult swim, animation, james bond, superego

Adult Swim has done us all a huge favor by bringing some of the unbridled hilarity of the Superego podcast by giving a visual element to it through animation.

Just take a look at a classic scene in which James Bond, Agent 007, is asked by M how British he is.