This week in “Thanks, Internet” — David Bowie gets jazzy, Trent Reznor gets quizzed, an Australian conquers the Uncanny Valley, a stick figure conquers his creator, andJimmy Fallon has a little too much fun.
David Bowie dropped a new song this week. Now, he dropped an entire album last year — but this tune sounds a lot more interesting than that full-length. “Sue (or In a Season of Crime)” will be featured on the master’s upcoming compilation album, Nothing Has Changed. Theseven plus minutes of big-band jazz won’t feel out of place alongside “Rebel Rebel,” “Ziggy Stardust,” and “Fame,” and that’s saying a lot.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have been making arresting music for David Fincher films for years now. Not to knock their Oscar-winning work, but sometimes the scores do bear a resemblance to household appliances in a bad mood. A quiz from Vulture, “Is This a Clip From a Trent Reznor Score or a Household Appliance,” presents samples fromGone Girl, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,andThe Social Network soundtracks alongside sounds of fridges, vaccuum cleaners, and microwaves. Trent, who seldom tweets, voiced his approval.
A freelance animator in Australia may have solved a problem Hollywood effects houses still haven’t: how to animate humans realistically without creeping us out, the effect known as the Uncanny Valley. Chris JonesmadeEd, and Ed is still just a head, but what a head! Can’t wait to see how the rest of him turns out.
Thanks, Eric!
Technology is going to turn on us — it’s just a question of when. AnimatorAlan Beckerhas already fallen prey to one of his own digital creations. He drew a stick figure that came to life and infiltrated his computer monitor, iPhone, Facebook, and animation interface. Enjoy your popcorn, for now.