By April MacIntyre Dec 4, 2009, 2:30 GMT
IFC Original web series The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D. created by award-winning animator Dash Shaw premieres on IFC.com on Monday, December 7 at Noon.
Graphic novelist and cult comic book artist Dash Shaw's latest book The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D. is the source material of the webseries, set for release December 22, 2009 with the web series preceding it.
Premise:
The four-part web series chronicles Rebel X-6, a man who works for an anti-droid organization in a futuristic world where student artists can no longer draw the living human form.
A bonus fifth episode provides behind-the-scenes footage on the making of this series, which was drawn entirely by hand.
Challenging the convention of hiding the use of line in animation and using an intricate, organic drawing style, Shaw attracts attention to each frame as a complete illustration. With an uplifting, constantly evolving soundtrack that mirrors Shaw’s work, he uses surreal dreams and an achingly human touch to bring his characters to life.
The series’ animated human hero, Rebel X-6, sets out on a quest to initiate change in the 35th Century A.D. An artist guild that believes living people should model for live drawings instead of droids in art class hires Rebel X-6. Rebel X-6's assignment is to enter Art School 46 posing as "Model-Droid #343." He must appear life-like but take on the characteristics of standard model droids, which do not laugh, cry, swear or exhibit other human shortcomings. His mission is to subvert the school's ban on drawings of real humans by tricking the students into drawing him. His journey ends with a new compatriot and understanding of the humanity that surrounds him.
Background:
The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D. is Shaw’s first book since his breakthrough graphic novel of 2008, Bottomless Belly Button, which was named Publishers Weekly’s best graphic novel of 2008 and one of Entertainment Weekly’s top ten books of 2008, among numerous other accolades.
The book also collects Shaw’s acclaimed, genre-bending short stories from MOME, including Look Forward, First Son of Terra Two, Galactic Funnels, Outstanding Story, Satellite CMYK and Making the Abyss, a fictionalized story of a surreal film set filled with nuclear tanks, hot tubs, and blind ambition.
The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D. – EPISODE GUIDE
Episode 1:
Rebel X-6 works for a well-funded anti-droid organization. First he sucks a droid monitoring satellite into Galaxy Nine using the Black Hole Mouth. He then receives a mission to “pose” as a model droid for a figure-drawing class.
Episode 2:
Our human hero must remain composed while posing as a droid for long hours for humans to draw.
Episode 3:
Has someone discovered Agent X-6’s mission? Has the anti-droid organization been infiltrated? Fears that he will reveal himself in front of an all-female drawing class escalate until he faints and awakes in a new, strange environment.
Episode 4:
Our story must draw to a close. The mission is aborted and X-6 finds a new compatriot who changes his world view.
EPISODE 5: MAKING OF EPISODE
The making of The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D. featuring creator Dash Shaw, animator Jane Samborski and music composer James Lucido.
The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D. – Meet the crew:
Dash Shaw (direction/story/art/animation) of Brooklyn, NY.
He is the cartoonist of Bottomless Belly Button, The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D short story collection from Fantagraphics Books, and the web comic Body World which will soon be published in book form from Pantheon Books. More work and information can be seen at http://www.dashshaw.com.
James Lucido (sound/music) a native of Carmel, California. He currently works as an assistant recording engineer and freelance composer in New York City.
Jane Samborski (art/animation) of Brooklyn, NY.
In addition to collaborating on animations with Dash Shaw, she creates illustrations for The Health Central Network, and makes art for children’s books. Her work can be seen at http://www.jane.lamsam.com.
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