Kubo movie review

I arranged for a team-bonding day with some of my gymnasts, for the movie Kubo and the Two Strings.


If you must blink, do it now!  (Or hit the replay button and re-read the post....)



Decent turnout (from the pool of gymnasts I have; turnout for the movie from the general populace apparently isn't as good as it deserves).  We killed some time with some origami and am thankful no security came over to scold us for throwing this over the balcony.

The movie has a decent story and message; but is probably too intense, serious, and heavy of a storyline for young kids to follow; and not get scared.   The parents seemed to all enjoy it.

I grew up liking traditional Japanese ghost stories; and this movie evoked a certain sense of that.

I do feel that this movie is a good promotional for generating interest in origami (even though much of it has to do with magic than strict paperfolding).

After the scene with the birds, I now kind of want to fold Jared Needle's bird, whereas I didn't have a great deal of interest before.

Focus Features Los Angeles Premiere of LAIKA "Kubo and The Two Strings"

Art Parkinson seen at Focus Features Los Angeles Premiere of LAIKA "Kubo and The Two Strings" on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, in Universal City, Calif. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Focus Features/AP Images)

 I wonder if any artists out there have the inclination to fold some of the characters from the movie, after seeing it?

The movie was made in stop-motion.  Not CGI.  This movie deserves respect.

POP Play

Today I taught Heinz Strobel's Surprise/Flipp Flopp model:




I brought with me a stack of leftover strips from cutting 8 1/2 x 8 1/2" squares out of astrobright letter-size paper.  I've been folding Strobel's model from 1 x 4 paper; but with the strips, I essentially did the 1 x 3 unit method (tucking away the excess paper).

IMO, this model is very accessible to beginners.

Bradley gave a rundown of Paul Jackson's workshop last weekend at the Japanese-American National Museum.



I had to leave early to catch the movie "Kubo" with my gymnasts.  We had postponed seeing it from last weekend.

Sunday Funnies

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Collapsible Cubes

I first learned a Kasahara version of this model (I believe it's in Origami Omnibus) from a Japanese lady at OUSA back in 2001 or 2002.  That version required glue.  This one doesn't:




Doris Asano described it to me.  Not sure I did it it "correctly", in that I think Doris said the pieces are in 3rds and you use 4 pieces for the walls (I used 2 1 x 4 unites).

I'll have to ask around for the author of this version.

This is more the Kasahara version, here:

Friedman Asian Elephant

Dollar Lily with Stem and Leaf

Seth Friedman Panda

Sunday Funnies

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Saturday Morning Cartoon: Paper Airplane Fight

The entire episode can be viewed here for $1.99.

Paul Jackson to Give Origami Workshop in Little Tokyo

Paul Jackson will be visiting from Israel this weekend, at the Japanese-American National Museum:

Above the Fold artistPaul Jackson will lead a hands-on workshop that gives participants a taste of the unique folding and cutting technique he used to create the works seen in the exhibition. Jackson will explain how the technique evolved, how he uses it, and some the many variations that are possible. Time will be allowed for personal discovery.

No origami experience is necessary. $20 members; $25 non-members. Museum admission included. Limited to 25 participants.

In conjunction with  Above the Fold: New Expressions in Origami, exhibit.

Hat tip:  Joel Stern

While you are down there, you can check out 500 of Jared Needle's 1100 birds he (with help from friends) folded for promotion of the movie, Kubo and the Two Strings (which I've arranged to see with a bunch of my gymnasts that same Sunday afternoon):

More here.

Paperfolding Game?

Just distract and sabotage by lobbing pillows at the folder:

Who wants a toilet paper hat?

That is one serious paper cut...

Paul Hanson has a new book out that features an origami sai from the movie, "Red 2":





I spent a lot of hours during the 90s training under Mark Mikita, Dan Inosanto, and many others.  At the time, my whole life seemed to revolve around martial arts.

The interviewer's question asking about "the origami thing", "Can that actually work?", reminds me of improvising a rolled up newspaper as a weapon (after all, what is paper, really, but wood, in a sense?).  Fast forward to 22:01 

Sunday Funnies

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Messages

LaFosse Art Deco Wing Attacks Gymnastics Coach!

I've posted before on Michael LaFosse's Art Deco Wing. 





Reaction was priceless!

Last week was origami week at my gym, during summer camp; and I was recruited to come in to teach origami all week (I normally only teach team, these days).  It was fun.  I may post a couple more video clips that may give teachers out there some ideas on how to bring entertainment into the teaching.

FOLD-EASE®: RIdiculous or Ingenious? Useful or Unecessary?

Has anyone ever tried using a FOLD-EASE®?

FOLD-EASE® is a patented paper and card creasing tool, which prevents friction burns/cuts, speeds up folding and creates a better fold appearance.

Speeds up folding.
Better fold appearance.
Prevents friction burns and cuts

Dermot sent a link to the Origami List.  Looks like it was featured recently on some show called Dragon's Den.




 A "pointless pitch"?




I am almost 100% sure I saw this product at an OUSA convention, around 2005 or so.  I vaguely remember someone in the hospitality area using it; or promoting it.  It's been out of sight out of mind, since; and it took clicking on Dermot's link to make me recall having seen it a decade ago.

Okay, on this page it says "founded in 2011".   Hmm...

Can't believe this product has survived and kept in business, if I in fact did see it years ago. The reason why I think it's been that long ago, is until 2015, I had stopped attending OUSA conventions around 2007 (aside from maybe a PCOC here or there).


Anyone can back me up on this or know anything more?

Marti's 1st Sunday and Yami Update

Small turn out at Marti's yesterday.  I could count the number of folders on one hand. 

Marti, herself, was out of town, visiting Japan. 

I perused (as I usually do) some of the books I don't have, in Marti's vast origami book collection:

Folded various dividers (OUSA Convention book 2012) for the traditional masu box after folding Kasahara's "happy box" from a recent issue of NOA, brought by Hisako (I finally figured out how to renew my own subscription through the internet.  For years, I used to receive my issues through Kinokuniya- no longer).

After the meeting, I swung by Marukai to pick up bacon fried rice and fruit for Yami.  Saw this at the checkout:

Notice the sign at the top and then the "WARNING" sign on the right?  Mixed messages, anyone?! 

Yami doesn't answer his phone so there's no planning ahead and warning him beforehand. 

He was very receptive and responsive yesterday.  He's not always like that these days and I'm not sure if it's due to any personality changes related to his stroke(s), his current situation, medication, sugar, or just plain mood. 

Pam Miike did a beautiful job with organizing Yami's cards and origami gifts he received through the mail by OUSA & worldwide origami friends and well-wishers.  She put them all into books. 





I arrived in the middle of his dinner (which I thought looked yum!); and he eagerly devoured the bacon fried rice.  Left him a small bowl of grapes as he said he couldn't finish all the ones I brought. 

I will eventually post photos and/or video from Yami's birthday party at the end of last month.

Hello Cutie Cat!

Backcoating Panel Workshop at Centerfold

Never used mc?  Never tried back-coating your own specialized paper for those museum-quality, complex and supercomplex folds?  Didn't make it out to Ohio?  Then this might be for you:

Kubo

This was from last Monday night.  After a long day at work.  I lasted until only 1am and then I called it a night.  Helping Jared Needle who was commissioned for a project involving hundreds of folded birds (his design based upon a model from the movie).  It was insane that he took this on, given he was at Centerfold that weekend; and then they moved the initial batch due date to Tuesday (from Wednesday).

Downtime with Chewbacca

Sunday Funnies

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July POP

Yes, I'm behind in my blogging activity:




Photos here.

Feeling froggy

Brought out a few frog models to show at last month's POP:

Classic munching frog by Teruo TSUJI:

Pokeball

Stefan Delcat's Dollar Shirt & Tie

NOA August Issue #492 Review