Doggy

Happy Friendship Day

Pappu Can't Dance

The Visitor Returns

Once upon a time...In a not so far away land

Memsaab & Haathi ka Bachcha

The Visitor

Only Yesterday: Hand Drawn Emotions

As the credits roll past screen, ocean of memories from Taeko's troubled childhood unfolds, helping her come to terms with her own life.

One of the most heartwrenching moments I've ever come across in a film. What a rewarding film from Studio Ghibli! Absolutely terrific.



English lyrics for this achingly beautiful song "Ai Wa Hana" (The Rose):

Some say love, it is a river
that drowns the tender reed
Some say love, it is a razor
that leaves your soul to bleed

Some say love, it is a hunger
an endless aching need
I say love, it is a flower
and you it's only seed

It's the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance
It's the dream afraid of waking
that never takes the chance
It's the one who won't be taken
who cannot seem to give
and the soul afraid of dying
that never learns to live

When the night has been too lonely
and the road has been too long
and you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong
Just remember in the winter
far beneath the bitter snows
lies the seed
that with the sun's love
in the spring
becomes the rose

What Discovery Channel Never Showed You

Run Cheetah Run

Have been animating this using a Cheetah model available on the net.
Dedicated to a friend whose birthday falls today.





WIP

One from the Past

This one is from my starting days in traditional animation when we used to work under constant terror of our firangi supervisors, hehe.

Manali in Pastels

Have been playing around with pastels offlate. Painting is so much fun....Its so relaxing....just like meditation!





WIP

Shabnam: Ek Khilaona

Dil behlaane ki cheez.


WIP

Season's Greetings

New year wishes to everyone visiting or not visiting my blog. Be well.

Yesterday Once More

These paintings were done by me some 6 years ago, when I got my PC. Was always fascinated by Photoshop and all the wonderful work friends were doing in it. Too bad, the interest never went too far. So far, these remain the only paintings I ever did in Photoshop and, of course, it had to be my favourite subject - Mountains. I had tried painting two places I've been to then - the first one being Kullu Valley in Himachal, and the second one Kausani in Uttarakhand. Nevertheless, I still love Photoshop but prefer working with graphics. Maybe, someday I will return to painting (sigh!!), but certainly not with a mouse this time :O)

Constrains

Missing Leh

I got an opportunity to visit Trans-Himalayan region of Lahaul-Spiti and Leh earlier this month with a friend...and what an incredible time I had! Well, the most wonderful time of my life.....and I knew, it was just too good to last.

Life had come to a complete standstill for those two weeks. Now, I'm back in this big and crowded place called Hyderabad but I think I left my heart and soul back there. Wish I could've been there for some more time....Wish I could've been there forever.

I miss Leh ....and I miss my friend, one of the most wonderful people I've known.

Moom and the Idiot Box

Piggy

A Cow From The Past

This was Modelled and Rigged long ago when I was trying my hands at Max.

DVD Cover For Richard Willams' Unsung Masterpiece

This DVD cover is my tribute to this extraordinary and exceptional piece of art and also to the people responsible for giving this masterpiece the treatment it always deserved! My big thanks to Garrett Gilchrist for all the painstaking work! Great job, indeed! Thanks a million, guys!

Following text is taken from the The Thief and the Cobbler - Recobbled Cut Restoration Thread:

"Nearly 30 years in the making, a labor of love by a team of animation greats, this was to be the masterpiece of Richard Williams' career, perhaps the most ambitious independent animated film ever conceived. The film was the inspiration for Disney's Aladdin, which proved to be its undoing. After over two decades of work, the film was taken away from Williams when he couldn't meet his deadline. It was eventually bought by Disney, recut and destroyed. It has never been seen the way it was intended to be seen ... until now. Based on Williams' original workprint, missing scenes have been restored using storyboards and unfinished animation. Restored to its true form, this lost classic has finally been found.




The Recobbled cut is a fan created construction of the film, painstakingly restored, as Williams wanted it, or as close to as possible. Based on a workprint of the film from when Williams was nearing completion (shortly before the film was taken away from him), using the workprint, DVDs of the two officially released cuts of the film, and other related elements taken from various sources this Recobbled cut reveals the masterpiece that could have been."

Please be aware that The Thief and the Cobbler was released on DVD by Miramax in 2006 in a shabbily chopped, crappy fullscreen version which sparked a furore among the purists and fans. Stay away from it.

Lotus Pond, Here I Come

See, that's the advantage of having a place like Lotus Pond in front of your office....whenever you feel bored or exhausted, take a walk amidst its lush surroundings and feel rejuvenated!

New Year Wishes

Wishing everyone a great and fruitful New Year, filled with loads of happiness & success! Here's an old and dumb animation, from my starting days...if anyone cares :O)

An Unfinished Landscape

Alright...So here comes a post after ages. Been a little busy and a little lazy for sometime. Started this landscape sometime ago but cant forgive myself for leaving it unfinished. Anyway, I'm going to finish it as soon as I get back into the mood. BTW, the image isnt quite crisp since it was taken with a cellphone. I would also like to thank each and everyone visiting my blog.




Loads Of Love
Jafar

Mei

If I could reach the stars, I'd pull one down for you

A New Beginning

Thank you everyone for visiting my blog and for all the encouraging words and comments. Right now I'm on a vacation in Bangalore and all the trees in the city are in full bloom...Looks like they are all set to welcome the new season! This pic was taken just few hours back by me using the camera of my dear friend Jesu. This is indeed a common sight in Bangalore these days...and this tree, undoubtedly, remains my favourite and one of the most beautiful trees I've ever seen!




HERE'S WISHING EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A JOYOUS AND FRUITFUL NEW YEAR!!

Take Care

My Cow Rigged :O)

Ok...So as I had mentioned earlier, I rigged my cow recently and also did some animation bits which looks not bad. Feels good to see my own character in action. I really like the udders which squashes and stretches...looks really funny!

This is just a pose I did to check the rig. Later on, thought of adding some environment to get the same feel of the concept I had long ago. Images from the concept can be found in my earlier post here.

Mommy Remastered

Alright, I can't quite create magic with photoshop the way Andrei or Grigory and quite a few others do but then recently, I tried coloring a very old pic of my mom taken during her wedding. It was in black-and-white and kind of worn out. Now, the color version does'nt look too bad to me...Hehehe....



Anyway, it will be a surprise to her when I visit home next week and I'm sure she would be glad to see a remastered herself! Yes, I'm on for a vaction home :O) BTW I would also like to tell you that last week I finished rigging and skinning my cow model. Feels so good to see my own character in action! You guys take care!!

My Cow (WIP) :O)

Here's another model...Just started it for fun and to learn a little more about modelling....Lets see how far it goes! Who knows someday, I may even rig it, as well :O)

Shinobi

Inspired by the beautiful Japanese film............

Old Man And The Sea : The Most Beautiful Animation I've Ever Seen!!

I was blown away while watching Alexander Petrov's animated version of Hemingway's classic recently! Alexander Petrov did more than 29000 paintings using his fingers on glass plates with slow drying oil paints and the result is absolutely breathtaking! It undoubtedly deserved all the acclaim and awards, including the Oscar, it won. Its such a shame, an exceptional film like this, is not widely available and is extremely hard to get. Really envy all those who saw it in IMAX....Nevertheless, I got a chance to watch and own it finally!! For those who havent seen it, go buy it, rent it, borrow it...watch it anyway you can!! To me, its the most beautiful animation I've ever seen!!

Anyone interested in knowing a little more about this incredible film can checkout the AWN and BBC articles which were done at the time of its release!

Old work in a new post

Here comes another old work.... At least, its better than not posting at all :O) BTW the Doggie has just cracked a joke and Moti just cant stop giggling!!! The best of friends....Forever!!!

TOTO and TEDDY

Characters from an old project which never went beyond storyboard stage......

Gotcha!!!

Hi Everyone,

These were done in Photoshop using only "Elliptical marquee tool" and nothing else! Sometimes just one tool can give you so much, specially when you are not sure of other tools in the software...HeHe :o)

Regards

A welcome break from animation :o)

Indeed......Whenever I'm not animating, i can be seen trying my hands at modelling these days! Its so much fun when you model something you've always loved and adored...like "TOTORO" :o) My tribute to this exceptional, cute little film called "My neighbor totoro"!!!

I did the texturing for it as well :o) though not very sure how good or bad it actually is! Went on experimenting till it looked kinda okay to me...... and i stopped right there :o)

Geisha

Was watching a Japanese film "In the realm of senses" few days back. While the film was a disaster, it at least inspired me to do a sketch of the actress who had slightly odd teeth!

ITS SPRINGTIME HERE!!!

ANOTHER OLD SKETCH

WELCOME TO LOTUS POND!!!!

Hi everyone,

Let me take you to the beautiful lotus pond which happens to be right in front of the studio i work in. Take a walk amidst its lush surroundings or just sit and relax! Let nature purify your mind and soul!!

Love
jafar

An old sketch

IN LOVE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAYAO MIYAZAKI!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quote from Venice Film Festival director Marco Mueller:

"Hayao Miyazaki is the giant who pulled down the walls which had been erected to contain Japanese animated films... "Miyazaki's energy combines romanticism and humanism with an epic take on story-telling, a touch of visionary fantasy which leaves one open-mouthed. The sense of wonder his films convey, awakens the child who sleeps within each of us."




HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR MIYAZAKI!!!

SAVE ME :o)

Hello everyone,

These images are from an old project "save me".
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A GREAT NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!

Regards

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICK PARK!!!!!!!!!!!

Have been an ardent fan of Nick Park and of all the films showcasing his exceptional talent in the painstaking art of claymation. I can never forget the day I saw Wallace & Gromit and Creature Comforts for the first time, many years ago. I barely knew anything about animation back then but the impact it had on my mind was everlasting. Ever since, Nick park and his amazing films have been a constant source of inspiration in every stage of my career. Wallace & Gromit remains one of my most favourite and most watched discs ever. My love and respect for the film and its creator has grown over the years.

Thank you Mr Park for being an inspiration.

TOTORO WITHOUT CATBUS!!!

"My neighbor totoro" undoubtedly remains the most heartwarming and cutest animated film i've ever seen!! My tribute to the film : )

AN OLD CHARACTER

Dont know what was running on my mind when i drew this, maybe it just had to happen!

MY FIRST JOURNEY TO THE HIMALAYAS!!!

Ever since i was a kid, i always had the fascination for mountains and snow capped peaks. I always used to dream of such places and imagine how it would be to touch the snow and frozen ice. My dream came true in 1997 when i planned a trip to the north Indian state of Himachal. After staying in Manali for a couple of days, i headed towards Rohtang pass, one of the highest himalayan mountain passes in India at the altitude of around 14000ft from sea level. I was left completely dumbstruck by the amazing beauty of the place. It was like walking on a bridge on top of the world. The mighty Himalayan ranges were much bigger than my imagination. Surrounded amidst ice and gigantic snow clad peaks, i felt being in heaven. It was an out of the world feeling and an experience to behold. Here are a few pics i took in Manali and Rohtang pass though i feel no camera can ever capture the sheer grandeur of Himalayas or even the untouched beauty that lies there in abundance. You've got to see it to believe it!!

Regards everyone

CELEBRITY WOES!!!

Hi everyone,These stills are from my old short film "celebrity woes". It is about a celebrity kiko and how his life is turned into a living hell by paparazzi!!

CHARACTERS FROM AN OLD PROJECT!!

Watched some really great stuff this weekend. Frederick back's incredibly emotional and deeply moving "the man who planted trees", "the mighty river" and other films. I wish everyone gets a chance to watch "the man who planted trees" at least once in life! It was unlike anything i've ever seen or experienced before.
I was also blown away by Pedro Almodovar's academy award winning masterpiece "All about my mother". I'm absolutely falling in love with spanish cinema. These guys are really amazing and their films wonderful! Also watched "The color of paradise" and "Taste of cherry" from Iran. Very sensitive and beautiful films indeed!!
Anyway, these characters are from one of my old shorts "Oooh...what a day"!!!
Regards everyone

Hi guys,

Here's one in full color from "song of the spring"!!

Regards

Hey Guys,

Thanks everyone for visiting my blog and for all those lovely words!! I'll post more from "song of the spring" and other stuff as soon as i get sometime from my work!

Take care
jafar

Hi,

Here's another one from "song of the spring"!

Regards
jafar

Hi everyone,

Welcome to my blog. Posted here, is a piece of concept art from the short i'm currently working on named "song of the spring"."Song of the spring" is about a blind girl trying to rediscover herself in spring. I'm still working on the concept and will keep posting more, as i proceed. Feel free to throw in your comments and suggestions.

Love
jafar