12.January.1999
Space Shot
"Space Shot" is one of four Bulbo cartoons on the Internet today--with more to come. According to the animator, "Bulbo is a neo-retro alternative universe hallucination tip-o-the hat to the fabulous and quirky black and white animation of the 1920s."
Animator:
Xeth Feinberg
Music sampled from:
"Eccentric"
The New Orleans Rhythm Kings, 1923
Stills from "Space Shot"
Images resized to fit screen
Xeth Feinberg is an independent animator and cartoonist working out of New York City. In 1998 he single-handedly created eight animated shorts for MTV's "Cartoon Sushi" anthology show. He has also churned out about half a dozen other original animated shorts, some of which he manages to show at assorted festivals and screenings. Other projects include creating animations for the internet and generally trying to keep up with advancing technology without going absolutely mad and/or broke.
New Venue:
What is the appeal of digital filmmaking?
Feinberg:
A few years ago I realized that instead of sitting at my desk drawing obscure cartoons and "mini-comics" I could sit at my desktop computer and create animations that could potentially be foisted upon the entire unsuspecting video-watching world.
New Venue:
How do you take into account the constraints of the Internet?
Feinberg:
The early 20th Century design seems oddly appropriate to the practical limitations of late 20th Century internet technology (anyone without a high-speed modem knows the truth of this!)
New Venue:
What technology did you use?
Feinberg:
Macromedia Flash 3.
New Venue:
Cartoons are often violent. Why aren't your cartoons violent?
Feinberg:
Actually in the back of my mind I wanted to avoid the hip-cliche "violent ending" that crops up so much in short cartoons, especially on the Internet. I like Bulbo being a bit "kinder and gentler", if maybe just stupider. Call it "Hyper Lame".
New Venue:
Where else can we see your work?
Feinberg:
My animation is featured on MishMashMedia and you can see what "neo-retro" is all about on the Retro Future site.
View this movie.
You can find out about other digital flicks in the New Venue Archives.
