Video Sunday: Oscar Edition

Tonight, if you’re anything like myself, you’ll be cuddling up to a big bowl of popcorn to watch the Academy Awards get handed out.  This year the animated short films are where you can find the most familiar name in children’s literature.  First and foremost would have to be Shaun Tan (of The Arrival and Tales from Outer Suburbia) and the filmed version of his picture book The Lost Thing.  Haven’t seen it?  Well thanks to Dan Santat’s detective skills, now you have.  Failing that you can just locate the newly printed version of this and two other tales as published by Arthur A. Levine this year.  Go wild.

The other nominated children’s book adaption is a title that is inescapable in Britain and virtually unknown (or known to a relative few) here in the States.  The Gruffalo was recently featured on Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, where Jules managed to track down not just the trailer but also the Making Of.  Watch, behold, and then be better prepared for placing your Oscar votes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdvpGfLg8fo&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uFld7yatGo&feature=player_embedded

Speaking of England, here are some reasons to live in London.  #1: You get to live in London (so there’s that).  #2: You have access to The National Theatre and their new production of Frankenstein starring everyone’s favorite Sherlock Holmes: Benedict Cumberbatch.

This next one was a cool idea.  Illustrator/animator Pete Whitehead recently wrote of this one, “This animation was created for the Young Writers Contest held by The Reading Reptile Bookstore, here in Kansas City. Local illustrators get the opportunity to read through hundreds of stories and poems written by kids, ages 5 thru 12. We each choose a winning story and create an original piece of art which is presented to the young author at a public library event. Last nights broke records for attendance. This is always a meaningful night for the illustrators involved.  This animation was my winner this year.”  Well played, Paul.  It’s a nice piece.

Thanks to Bridget Heos for the link!

The most blogged/tweeted/Facebooked video of the week in the literary community had to have been this one on organizing your bookshelf.  As a kid I carefully alphabetized the family books, particularly in the dining room.  Then I went to college.  When I came back, I found that my little sister had reorganized them . . . by color.  I may have to send this link to her.  It’s like my own personal nightmare set to snappy music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFnuP9niRUg&feature=player_embedded

Thanks to 100 Scope Notes for the link.

And for the final off-topic video, I confess my weakness for this faux trailer.  I’m convinced that they actually got Henry Thomas to film those scenes, though if someone can locate the films they were lifted from I’ll bow my head accordingly.  WARNING: May be scary for young kids (ironically).

Filed under: Videos