UFO_HOMER!

A blog post discussing the animation we watched and talked about…

First, I found the Brooklyn Subway Zoetrope really interesting. I’ve taken the N train from Brooklyn to Manhattan and passed that station so many times. But I always thought that was just a mural on the wall, like some cool art the city put up to make the tunnel less depressing. I never realized it was actually a moving animation created by the motion of the train. 

Second, I really enjoyed watching Steamboat Willie, 1928. To be honest, I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. It’s in black and white, there’s no dialogue, and it’s super simple compared to what animation is today. But somehow, it has this energy and charm that makes me laugh. What really stood out to me was how playful it was. The way Mickey turns the whole boat into a musical instrument—banging on pots, using animals to make sounds—it was kind of wild and creative in a way that felt really alive. And knowing it was the first cartoon with synchronized sound effects just made it more impressive.

Third, watching Hertzfeldt’s work on Blu-ray hit me in a way I didn’t expect. His style is so raw and simple—stick figures, minimal backgrounds—but when you watch it on Blu-ray, every little scribble, every twitch of a character’s eye in the line feels intentional. 

Lastly, what I liked most about Alien Afterlife was how it used 3D animation in such a strange and creative way—it felt like stepping into a living video game dream. The bright colors, weird creatures, and glitchy textures made the world feel chaotic but fascinating. I loved that it didn’t try to be realistic; instead, it created its own rules, like anything was possible. The way everything moved—unpredictable and offbeat—made it feel alive in a way that was totally unique. It reminded me that animation isn’t about copying the real world, it’s about inventing new ones.

Audio Remix

Photoshop 1 – Homer Simpson

Photoshop 2 – Faceswap