Created by animator Prijent Vincent, Aniboom's newest 1 Million View-hitting Youtube animation is fan-favorite "It's Not Easy Being Green"!

Uploaded to Youtube a little over a year ago, Vincent's story of one pea's journey has delighted over a million viewers, garnered thousands of comments, and holds an amazing 4 1/2 star rating!  Congratulations, Prijent!

Check it out below:

We're startin' a new tradition here in Aniboom Blogland (yes, that did just link back to itself--so did "itself"--whoa, meta!), which will be the End of Week Round Up!

Just covering what we've covered, and maybe with a few asides...

So this week we looked at our History Competition Finalists!  We had interviews with everyone who made the Top 5--meanwhile we've started showcasing our Wildcard Submissions, and it's up to you to keep on sending in your work!  So come on and, as we say, make some history!

Below is Wednesday's Animation of the Day, a music video for hip hop band El Gremio--give it a listen and start your weekend now!

(Gabriel Aronson)

On our final day interviewing HISTORY Finalists, we reach Community Choice Gabriel Aronson, whose work "Opposing a Social Order" competes for the Grand Prize!  Let's jump right in!

Tell me a little about yourself:

I am an American-Austrian animator, with a background in puppetry and set design for theater. I recently completed a year in London where I studied at Chelsea College of Art and Design and worked on projects for the BBC. I am now living in New York, seeking my fortune!

Why did you decide to participate in The History Channel Competition?

I was intrigued by how appropriate many of the historical statements are to struggles in American politics today. In addition, many of the projects I've done in the past consisted of visualizing a piece of audio, so I felt comfortable with the format.

What did you like about the competition?

I really appreciated the freedom that was given to the animators in how they chose to visually approach the provided audio.

How did it feel to become a Finalist?

Needless to say it is a great honor, not only to be chosen as a finalist, but also to be the community pick! Many thanks go out to those who gave their feedback and support!

Who are some of your influences?

This particular piece was inspired by silent films that dealt with class struggles and the industrial worker, such as Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" and Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times".

What kind of technique do you like to use?

I enjoy incorporating real textures into my animations. The current iteration of my piece is completely computer animated, but for further development I'd like to introduce stop-motion animated elements.

What’s next for you?

We'll see what the future holds! I just moved to New York a few days ago and look forward to working in film production and theater!

Don't forget to check out Gabe's website, blog, and vimeo page!

Voting is now open for Aniboom's Marvel Motion Comics Competition!

The first stage is over, and Marvel is looking at entries to the Competition for Four Finalist positions.  One Motion Comic, selected by Aniboom users, will be the Fifth Finalist, as the Community Choice!

You can support your favorite Motion Comics anywhere on the web using our Embedded Player!

Check out these amazing Motion Comics now, and if you still haven't submitted, start pluggin' away on your Wildcard Entry, which will begin to be accepted October 19th!

(Antonio Nardella)

We continue our showcase of History Competition Finalists!  Today we have Italian animator Antonio Nardella, the creator of the incredible "Statement to the Court", which has taken Aniboom and History by storm!

Tell me a little about yourself:

My passion for animation began in childhood when I used to read a lot of comic books and watch all kinds of cartoons. I graduated in painting and then I attended a Masters in vfx in Rome. Soon after I started working both as a 3D Artist and as motiongrapher. Now I live and work in Rome and I feel really comfortable!

Why did you decided to participate in The History Channel Competition?

Because it’s a creative way for me to express with images simple words acted by great actors.

What did you like about the competition?

A competition is a good chance to show own works, so you can compare your ability with other people and improve yourself.

How did it feel to become a Finalist?

It's a great feeling, the number of visits to my video is greatly increased, and this is very gratifying for me.

Who are some of your influences?

There are many artists who influence me, first of all Chuck Jones, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. John Lassenter, Bruno Bozzetto, Andreas Hykade, Matt Groening, Ishu Patel, Koji Yamamura, Phil Mulloy, Hayao Miyazaki, Joe Sedelmaier, all of them are important influences for me.

What kind of technique do you like to use?

I like to mix 2D and 3D animations.

What’s next for you?

Soon I’ll start to create some graphics for a sequence of documentaries for an Italian network. Then I’ll teach compositing and motiongraphics in Cinecittà Campus.

(David Chen)

Aniboom and The HISTORY Channel's People Speak Competition continues to roll along (Wildcard Submissions Now being Accepted!) and now we're taking the opportunity to meet our Finalists!  Animators all over the world sent in incredible History Animations, animating original art over great speeches from History read by artists and actors including Matt Damon, Stacey-Ann Chin, Bruce Springsteen, and Josh Brolin.  Now, let's meet animator David Chen, whose animation "Patriotism For Scoundrels" has made big waves within the competition.

Tell me a little about yourself:

I studied in the animation program at the Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design (I guess now known as Emily Carr University of Art + Design) in Vancouver, Canada. After graduating, I somehow stumbled into the visual effects industry and have been working as a compositor / roto / paint / whateverpaysthebills artist on feature films, TV series, and commercials for the past 3 or 4 years...with the last two years working in China.

Why did you decided to participate in The History Channel Competition?

I thought the content was interesting, haven't seen a lot of competitions that focus on these types of subject. Or maybe I've just been out of the loop. Also because working in the industry has pretty much drained all my creativity, I figured it would be a good way to get my brain up and running again.

What did you like about the competition?

Again, the content of the speeches. I think it's worthwhile to listen to all of them. And to see everyone's own interpretation.

How did it feel to become a Finalist?

Like finding that glazed donut you had forgotten about sitting in your back pocket, exciting and well worth the effort. There were a lot of submissions that had really great ideas and techniques. So really didn't think I would become a finalist. 

Who are some of your influences?

There's way too many. My biggest influence would probably be Japanese anime and manga.  It's something I grew up with, though I tend to avoid that anime look. But everything from their ideas, timing, to their sense of humor has had a major influence on the stuff I do. It's also hard for me to sit through anything too serious, so I guess that also goes for my own work. 

The whole hip hop culture also had a big impact. It's partly why animation and motion graphics intrigues me so much. They both have a similar type of flow and rhythm.

In the case of the History Channel Competition, my main influences came from airplane instructional pamphlets, some old infomercials, etc. It was kind of random for me to choose these things. I figured the images looked pretty...and would probably make a nice contrast to the speech.

The music was really influential in the creative process as well. Finding music that I felt worked with the speech made the whole process more organic. This applies to pretty much any project I work on.

What kind of technique do you like to use?

Traditional animation...on singles...with white sand under my feet, and the South China Sea to my right. But I've been doing a lot of digital stuff since graduating, which I also like a lot. Mostly compositing or motion graphics. 

What’s next for you?

Ideally, I'd like to go back to school and learn some more hands on stuff. Like woodwork or something of that sort. Also have a few personal animation projects that I want to start working on. If all fails, I'll resort to drawing on cardboard boxes.

(Avi Graiver)

Aniboom and The HISTORY Channel's People Speak Competition has found its Finalists!  Animators all over the world sent in incredible History Animations, animating original art over great speeches from History read by artists and actors including Matt Damon, Stacey-Ann Chin, Bruce Springsteen, and Josh Brolin.  Today (and over the next week), we'll sit down with one of our Finalists and talk about process, inspiration, art, and animation!

Today, we speak to Avi Graiver, whose animation "The Low Road" has become a fast fan-favorite entry.

Tell me a little about yourself:

I have been drawing for as long as I can remember, constantly accumulating piles on piles of sketches. After studying fine arts in high school and serving as a graphic designer in the Israeli Army, I studied Visual Arts at the Bezalel Art Academy in Jerusalem, and later worked in the world of interactive media for more than four years. Today I am a freelance animator and graphic designer.

Why did you decided to participate in The History Channel Competition?

I heard of the competition while working on Foxy Santa, my short animated film for AniBoom and Fox.

I decided to participate because it seemed like a great opportunity to work with one of the world's most interesting and prestigious television stations, and a chance to prove my skills and receive recognition. But more than that, what grabbed me and motivated me the most was the speech of Stacy-Ann-Chin, which provoked emotions within me and a strong will to add my own interpretation and expression to the piece.

What did you like about the competition?

What I liked most about the competition was both the challenge as an animator and the fact that the competition was accessible for all. I liked the fact that it was not based on existing animations but required fresh and original content to be made especially for it.

I liked the provocative subject and the freedom given to express it, and of course I enjoyed the ability to assemble for my film the most brilliant intellectuals and artists of our period, presenting sharp and uncompromising text.

How did it feel to become a Finalist?

When I heard I was chosen as a finalist I was ecstatic and extremely satisfied to know that my work is being appreciated. It gives me more motivation and will to keep on creating, growing and developing my work and art as an animator.

Who are some of your influences?

My list of influences is long and arrives from many cultural aspects. In the animation industry I would include the directors Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Hayao Myazaki and Production I.G. from Japanese anime, Peter Chung (Korean creator of Aeon Flux), Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy) and American studios like Pixar, DreamWorks Animation and Disney.אלימות בקולנוע היפי, וליאור גלר שעובד על הפיצ'ר הראשון שלו על-בסיס סרטו הקצר "דרכים" נושא הפר

What kind of technique do you like to use?

The techniques I like to use are 2D with 1-frames / 2-frames, occasionally I like to merge 3D and composite everything with post-production software.

For The History Channel Competition the People Speak I used 2-frames animations with characters and backgrounds in Flash software.

My workflow is usually: script, storyboard, animatic, keyframes and in-betweens.

What’s next for you?

I will continue participating in various animated competitions hoping to further develop myself as an animator, maybe find a place in an animation studio I look up to, and one day hopefully direct an animated feature of my own.

Featured Animation Angst is nearing 1,000,000 hits on our Youtube Channel, and we want you to help make it happen!

The chilling story of a boy named Andre who was bothered by the wind is directed in vivid chiaroscuro animation.  Directed by animator Emiel Penders, Angst is an incredible work of short film cinema, and definitely worth a viewing (or two, or three...).

Help send Angst into the 1,000,000 club!

Every child--at least, every male child--is taught to fear three things: strangers, getting grounded, and Lorena Bobbitt.  In this awesome, hilarious, and downright disturbing animation from rising star animator Gabriel Aronson, the story of the frightening Mrs. Bobbitt is told through vivid, gorgeous animation that'll make you laugh...and cringe.  This is an animation not to be missed!

And check out our Creator's Spotlight with the man himself, Mr. Gabe Aronson!

FEATURED CREATOR - "Meet Tobias Stretch", talking about THE MAKING OF "Blood and Thunder"


An incredible animator and filmmaker with a truly unique aesthetic.  Using vibrant colors, awe-inspiring puppetry, and innovative animation techniques, it's no wonder Tobias Stretch was one of the winners of our Radiohead Competition. We sit down with Tobias to pick his brain on his techniques of animation and get to know him as an artist.


Where does your style come from, and how did you develop it?

I would say that my style was born out of a sense of wonder for the world that hasn't changed much since childhood. Writing, drawing, painting, and reading comic books were things I did growing up, as well as running through the forest imagining monsters and battles taking place.  When I hit thirty, I decided to combine everything I'd learned ‘til then into the ultimate art form, which I consider to be animation.  I still enjoy drawing and painting and I believe that these are essential tools that make any director better at what they do.


What are your influences? Not just in animation and art, but what literary, social, and/or theological themes inform your work?

My influences range across a pretty wide spectrum, and I think that most of them share a religious-like devotion to their work that is bigger than they are.

• Animation:  Ladislaw Starewicz, Jan Swankmajer, Jiri Barta, Nick Park, Ray Harryhausen, Winsor McCay, Georges Melies, Henry Selick, Jiri Trnka, Hayao Miyazaki, Brothers Quay.
• Fine Artists:  Vincent Van Gogh, Francis Bacon, Henry Darger, Adolf Wolfli, Oskar Kokoschka, Janko Domsic, Robert Gie, Theo Jansen.
• Film:  Carl Dreyer, Robert Bresson, Jim Henson, R.W. Fassbinder, Terry Gilliam, David Lynch, Friz Lang, Emir Kustirica, Werner Herzog, Jean Vigo, Andei Tarkovsky, Harmony Korine, Charlie Chaplin, Terrence Mallick, Victor Fleming
• Literature:  Robert Walser, Raymond Roussel, Isidore Ducase, Danil Kharms, Antonin Artaud, Mary Maclane, Gilles Deleuze, Franz Kafka, Daniel Paul Schreber, Afred Jarry, Arthur Rimbaud, Knut Hamsun, Gerard De Nerval
• Music:  Gorecki, Arvo Part, Roscoe Holcomb, Erik Satie, Beethoven, Albert Ayler, Blind Willie Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, Skip Spence, Karlheinz Stockhausen, The Beatles, Captain Beefheart, Nick Drake, Raymond Scott, Fleet Foxes
• Comic Books:  Fletcher Hanks, Jason, Winsor McCay, Alan Moore, Jim Woodring, Rory Hayes, R. Crumb, Cyril Pedrosa

Artists as influences are very important but so are athletes for their ferocious discipline and competitive spirit, and humanitarians who give of themselves for others--but none of these are nearly as important as your own life experiences, internal influences that come from your own soul.  I have experienced some wild, some crazy, and some ordinary things in my life--all of the stuff I have just mentioned gets thrown into the pot and stirred up to make art.

What has life been like since you won the Radiohead Competition?

Life has been real interesting to say the least since that contest.  I have been able to sustain myself on low budget music videos since then which has been real nice since it has allowed me to make my own schedule and go wild with my ideas.  Being able to develop a larger, better portfolio with my time has probably been the biggest reward. I'm convinced that if I stick with it that I will eventually be doing bigger, better projects.  Hollywood, here I come!

What is your feeling on the place of competitions in the world of the creative arts?

A competition is a great thing if you feel you have a shot or not because you don't have to worry about who you know or how you do in an interview.  It’s all about how good it is. Even if your work isn’t up to grade it’s good to compete, especially against yourself, because it's human nature to want to get better, and a contest is one way of forcing yourself towards deadlines honing your skills on the run. One bit of advice to artists in contests: don’t get depressed about losing--get pumped, slap yourself in the face a bunch of times, and then get better, just like an athlete would.

What is your ultimate goal as a filmmaker and animator?

My ultimate goal is to be happy.  Next to that would be to do a bunch of epic feature length films that would address all of my best ideas and techniques, most of which have never been seen before in the history of cinema.  Although it is a struggle to pay the bills, I feel tremendously blessed to be alive, and healthy doing animation for a living. Good luck to all the young struggling animators out there.  Never ever give up on the dream!

Tobias, it was great chatting to you, look forward to seeing you around Aniboom.