Toon house Film Roman took home its first Grammy Award last week for animating Latin artist Molotov’s “Frijolero” music video. The award was handed out at the 4th Latin Grammy Awards held Sept. 3 in Miami. This marks the first time the 19-year-old Burbank-based studio has received a Grammy Award.
The Burbank-based studio, which produces such popular toons as The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Free for All and X-Men: Evolution has already won 18 Emmys. A majority share of Film Roman was recently acquired by IDT Media’s Digital Production Solutions.
“Frijolero” was directed by Paul Beck and Jason Archer and produced for Film Roman by Kathee Schneider and John Hyde. The video was entirely created using software created by Texas-based computer artist Bob Sabiston (Waking Life), which allows artists to paint over digital footage using interpolated rotoscoping. After the Austin-set live action sequence was completed, each frame was painstakingly animated to recreate the film’s depictions of the band members‚ their facial expressions and mannerisms, while still maintaining a pop cartoon flair.
