Rich Johnson

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Features

A Grand Return: A Cracking Set Visit to ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’

Rich Johnson - December 23, 2024

Introduced in 1989’s A Grand Day Out, the cheese-obsessed British inventor Wallace and his ever-suffering canine companion Gromit have come a long way since...

Features

Noel Time Like the Present! Unwrapping ‘That Christmas’ with a Visit to London’s Locksmith Studio

Rich Johnson - December 2, 2024

'I love the fact that Locksmith has allowed us all to make such an intimate movie; that we can enjoy the ‘little’ stories packed...

Shorts

‘The Pink Phink’ Turns 60: A Look Back at The Pink Panther’s Oscar-Winning Debut

Rich Johnson - November 15, 2024

“The key to the Pink Panther is simplicity and identification. And there’s something else that goes along with it too, and that’s sophistication.” — David...

Features

‘Fantastic Planet’ at 50: Revisiting René Laloux’s Cult Classic

Rich Johnson - December 6, 2023

“Animation is an art form that’s removed from reality.” — René Laloux Simple yet complex, fantastical but real, savage and gentle — René Laloux’s award-winning...

Features

Poultry in Motion: A Set Visit to ‘Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget’

Rich Johnson - December 6, 2023

Aardman's pitch-perfect Chicken Run — the beloved Bristol-based studio’s first foray into feature films in 2000 — received terrific reviews and became the most...

Features

Oil & Toil: ‘The Peasants’ Directors DK & Hugh Welchman Detail Their Second Ambitious Painting-Animated Feature

Rich Johnson - November 24, 2023

This year’s Toronto International Film Festival saw the premiere of The Peasants, the latest oil-painted masterstroke of animation from Hugh and DK Welchman. The...

Features

Camp Horror: Zach Passero’s ‘The Weird Kidz’ Pays Homage to B-Movies and Coming-of-Age Classics

Rich Johnson - October 5, 2023

Horror and animation are still a rare hybrid, especially outside the realms of anime. Having received its European premiere at London’s FrightFest back in...

Features

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman: How Pierre Földes Infused Music and Meaning into His Murakami Adaptation

Rich Johnson - March 13, 2023

“Among the many values in life, I appreciate freedom most.” — Haruki Murakami Freedom was a “most generous gift” given to artist and composer Pierre Földes...

Features

Exclusive: How Chris Williams’ ‘The Sea Beast’ Took to the High Seas

Rich Johnson - July 1, 2022

***This article originally appeared in the 35th Anniversary Issue of Animation Magazine (June-July '22, No. 321)*** Big Hero 6 director Chris Williams is no stranger...

Features

Out of Afghanistan: Michaela Pavlátová on ‘My Sunny Maad’

Rich Johnson - October 29, 2021

***This article originally appeared in the December '21 issue of Animation Magazine (No. 315)*** Animation aficionados will recognize Czech director Michaela Pavlátová as the acclaimed...

Features

‘Satoshi Kon, The Illusionist’: Anime Auteur in the Spotlight

Rich Johnson - August 30, 2021

***This article originally appeared in the Sept.-Oct. '21 issue of Animation Magazine (No. 313)*** "Animation doesn't have to look real, it has to feel real."...