Animation Guild

D E PA R T M E N T 25 KEYFRAME WINTER 2022 21 Feudal Japan meets the Wild West as a ruthless feline villain sets out to displace a village inhabited by cats so he can use the land to expand his palace. Unfortunately, the samurai appointed to protect them is a sad sack beagle named Hank who has no idea what he's doing. Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank is a martial arts satire that's loosely based on the Mel Brooks' classic Blazing Saddles (Brooks served as one of the film's writers). Art Director Sylvia Liu says the movie was also "a special opportunity to create unique designs centered around dog and cat themes." Animal lovers are sure to agree. The classic heist film gets a CG makeover in The Bad Guys, about a criminal gang of anthropomorphic animals led by the oh-so-cool Mr. Wolf. Director Pierre Perifel says that the movie is an attempt to push the envelope for animated films, both visually and narratively. "I like to think of it as a gateway for family audiences into the world of heist movies, a genre that has rarely been explored in animation," he says. "However, it is not just a stylistic exercise. It was important for us to truly explore what's at the core of our character's story." The result: a message about friendship, acceptance, and redemption cleverly wrapped up in an entertaining romp. On the surface, Luck seems like a fantastical story about an unlucky girl who stumbles into the Land of Luck and teams up with a magical cat in order to bring home some much-needed good luck for a close friend. But the story has depth rooted in reality, focusing on a lead character who grew up in the foster system and reflecting on the definition of family. Plus, how does "luck" affect the course of your life? "Sometimes when you're going through the worst bad luck ever, you step back and you think, 'Wait a minute! If that hadn't happened, maybe this wouldn't have happened.' So, maybe it was actually the best good luck ever," says the film's Director Peggy Holmes. It's this optimistic view that keeps you thinking long after the movie ends. The Bad Guys Paws of Fury: The legend of hank Luck WINTER 2022 25 Bad Guys images courtesy of DreamWorks Animation LLC. Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank images courtesy of Paramount Pictures. Luck images courtesy of Apple.

• Cover
• FROM THE PRESIDENT
• EDITOR'S NOTE
• ART & CRAFT Allison Perry's art illustrates her passion for painting reflections.
• THE CLIMB Two worlds unite in the eclectic artwork of Joseph"CHOGRIN" Game.
• STORY & VISION Entergalactic explores the nuances that make new love universal.
• AFTER HOURS The writing is on the wall for muralist Danny "kaNO" Kimanyen.
• THE LOCAL Meet TAG's new Officers and Executive Board.
• THE BIG PICTURES Once again TAG members have contributed their talents to numerous Oscar contenders. From Strange World to Puss in Boots,we explore their contributions to the craft of animation.
• AUTHENTIC VOICES An important element of representation is the authenticity it brings to story telling. In Spirit Rangers and Abominable and the Invisible City, creatives on these series share what it means to tell their own stories.
• TIS THE SEASONThe fifth annual Holiday Gift Guide continues to showcase crafts, artwork, and other unique products by talented Animation Guild members—this is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the season while supporting local artists and Union kin.
• SHORT STORY The politics of food gets animated in a short film by Chenglin Xie.