With Respect to Dennis DeYoung...

with the Oscar ceremony last night, the war between Dreamworks and Disney/Pixar has subsided for now. Wall-E took the top animated feature award over Kung Fu Panda and Bolt. i'm going to make some "bold" predictions about next year. yep, i'm calling the nominees right here RIGHT NOW:




daring predictions, i know. but i'm gonna say that Dreamworks gets shutout, even with the double threat of Ice Age 3 and Monsters Vs. Aliens...



and perhaps more endearing, Kunio Kato won for Best Animated Short Film over the computer animated counterparts with his earthy La Maison en Petits Cubes.

he ended up thanking animation, pencils, and finishing his speech with "Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto." seems like a very humble and fun guy. not to mention talented. some videos of his Oscar-winning short have been popping up (and been taken down) over the internet. check it out while you can:



its a wonderful trip through memory that i think most people can appreciate. the score, as well, is noteworthy and touching, yet simple. his series of episodic adventures entitled "The Diary of Tortov Roddle" is a much different tale -- its as enigmatic as it is fantastic. his world is almost as if Miyasaki sat down to do a lush children's book.



perhaps even more obscure is 2003's Fantasy Story in which Kato weaves incredibly short, but poignant slices of life in a young girl