Live from BCFE Animation Graduate Showcase at the IFI

With four of its former animation students nominated for Academy Awards earlier this year, the spotlight is firmly fixed on  Ballyfermot College of Further Education.  This week the colleges current animation graduates held their Animation Graduate Showcase 2010 in the Irish Film Institute and the Comic Cast was there to report on the event. We talk to students Nicola Hyland, Ray Johnson and Leo Crowley as well as Gareth lee, the head of the animation degree course. We also meet up with storyboard artist Stephen Byrne who graduated from the college last year to see the life of a graduate one year on. Enjoy!

Download Show: The Comic Cast BCFE Animation Special

Also available through itunes

The above image is from Aoife Doyle‘s hilarious short ‘Nana’s Strawberry Preserve’ which was screened on the night.

Comic Cast Mixtape #2

Its the Comic Casts second mixtape and this time round we’re joined by artist, photographer and DJ (not to mention keen comics fan) Loreana Rushe. The brief – to only choose songs from comic-book, illustration and animation related movie soundtracks. Load cassette. Rewind. Play!

Download Show: Comic Cast Mixtape #2

Flash link: to listen online

Re-Writing the Book of Kells: An interview with Tomm Moore

This week the Comic Cast talks with Tomm Moore, the director of  a very exciting and beautiful new Irish animated film The Secret of Kells (in cinemas March 6th). Tomm studied classical animation in Ballyfermot College in Dublin before co-founding the Cartoon Saloon animation studio in Kilkenny. We ventured down there to discuss the making of The Secret of Kells, writing and illustrating two comic books that will act as prequels to the film as well his work as artist on two Irish langauge comic books of An Sclábhaí and An Teachtaire. The comic books of the movie of the book? And you thought Tristram Shandy was confusing! Enjoy.

Download link: The Comic Cast 17/02/09

Show Links:

The Secret of Kells trailer

Tomm Moore’s Blog

The Blog of Kells (fascinating and honest production blog for the film)

Cartoon Saloon

The Secret of Kells official website

The cast of The Secret of Kells do The Last Supper

Tristram Shandy?

Something to get animated about

Chocolates. Give her chocolates. And if you want more sound Valentines advice from the men who know then this weeks Comic Cast is for you! We review Chris Ware’s Acme Novelty Library #19, his DVD/book collaboration with Ira Glass on Lost Buildings, Gerward Way’s The Umbrella Academy, Peepshow: the comic diary of Joe Matt, Tim Lane’s Abandoned Cars and Jim Kreuger’s Earth X. And to celebrate the release of Tomm Moore’s animated film The Secret of Kells (interview in 2 weeks) we discuss some of our favourite animated films from the likes of studio giants Disney and Ghibli as well as reviewing The Powerpuff Girls 10th Anniversary Box-Set. And all because the lady loves . . . comics.

Download Link: The Comic Cast 09/02/09

Show Links:

The Secret of Kells trailer

Lost Buildings by Chris Ware (Ebay)

Main Theme from ‘Basil the Great Mouse Detective’ by Henri Mancini

Joe Hisaishi (famed Studio Ghibli composer) conducting a breathtaking performance of My Neighbour Totoro