5 March 2023
The Art of the Japanese Manhole
4 February 2023
Urbex – The Art of Urban Exploration
The Strange Life Cycle of the Ladybug
These insects are the favorite of many children but behind the pretty exterior lies an eating machine of devastating proportions which will stop at nothing to get at its next meal and involves itself in some quite ghastly goings on in the shrubbery, even involving intraguild predation (cannibalism, basically).
Altogether it is quite a remarkable life cycle, going on right under our noses.
Take a look
Image Credit Flickr User Giles San Martin
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The Embroidered Zoetrope
We have featured any number of zoetropes, those amazing devices that produce the illusion of motion by displaying a sequence of drawings or photographs showing progressive phases of that motion, on Kuriositas. Now thanks to animator Elliot Schultz we can make good on that omission. The zoetropes featured were made for Elliot’s degree project at the ANU School of Art in 2013. I suspect he may have been awarded a high grade.
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Wojtek - The Polish Soldier Bear

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Yesterday's Tomorrow - A Portland Journey
In “Yesterday’s Tomorrow,” Uncage the Soul Productions brought their cameras to the same position and angles of their favorite Portland historic images. We wondered, what’s changed? What’s remained the same? This is not quite the ‘then and now’ video you might expect however – what makes it different is the fact that it is done through motion – plus there is a wonderful narration.
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The Test of Time
When Time and Space enter the ring for the title of ‘Fourth Dimension’ who can say who is going to win? This very entertaining animated extended metaphor (I think) is cleverly scripted and put together – not sure if I got all the references but I think I did!
The Test of Time was the graduation thesis film for Ringling College of Art and Design student Michael Ropple.
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15 January 2023
Elephant Trunk Hill – Guilin’s Legendary Protector
The Tortoise Beetle - Amazing Metallic Arthropods
Image Credit Wikimedia
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Dublin Time Lapse
Take a look at the Fair City in a different way. This time lapse by Richard Twomey (his first, believe it or not) captures the capital of Ireland beautifully.
The feeling of depth in many of the shots such as via clouds and stationary objects in the city shots paired with the camera movement is wonderful.
Although this will entrance you if you live in Ireland perhaps it is only fitting that we dedicate this to the Irish diaspora.
Wherever you are in the world I think this may fill you with homesickness!
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A Twirling Day
Someone’s spotted the zeitgeist. A Twirling Day is the latest short by ModernEye (a creative studio / director duo based in London) and it captures very well the sense of absurdity many people feel in this day and age about the decisions they have to take.
You know the ones, the ones which we have to make even though we know there isn’t really any possibility of us having any control over them whatsoever; the kind of decision that just seems to be fate playing another one of her practical jokes on you.
Directed by Jon Uriarte, and starring Alberto Rolan as the Everyman figure, A Twirling Day is not guaranteed to lighten your mood but I think a number of you may recognise yourself somewhere in here.
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The Ballad of Thaddeus Lowe
Have you ever heard of Thaddeus Lowe? No, I hadn’t but a quick check on Wikipedia verified that he did actually live and everything that you see here actually happened. It tells the little known story of Lowe - aeronaut, scientist and inventor who came to prominence during the American Civil War when he performed aerial reconnaissance on the Confederate troops on behalf of the Union Army – in a balloon. Unfortunately his endeavors were not too well received and he had to resign in 1863.
This very amusing animated short was written, directed, animated and narrated by Kelly Jones who also wrote the accompanying song which is probably going to be in my head all day now – for which I don’t know whether to thank Ms Jones or invoice her.
If Lowe’s civil war activities were not widely appreciated then a later invention was. He conceived the water gas process by which large amounts of hydrogen gas could be manufactured from steam and charcoal – his patents and ice making machines associated with this process made him a millionaire. Unfortunately he invested unwisely later in life and died without much to his name – financially speaking at least. We, of course, will always remember him for his services to his country as an aeronaut – not to mention his ballad… “Oh Thaddeus, Thaddeus Lowe… it’s too bad you’re still unknown”.
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28 December 2022
Gedi – Kenya’s Hidden History Revealed
Meanwhile in Kenya, East Africa, a group of enterprising people began to build a settlement which would endure for over three hundred years. Gedi, a sophisticated coral-brick built town belies the perception many have about this part of Africa - and its architecture - before the arrival of Europeans. Take a look at Kenya's hidden history revealed.
Birdboy
A terrible industrial accident changes little Dinki’s life forever. Now Dinki’s fate may ride on the wings of her eccentric friend, Birdboy, a misfit who hides in the dead forest lost in his own fantasies.
This is very grown up, allegorical animation and was written and directed by Pedro Rivero and Alberto Vázquez. Birdboy is strange, more than a little morose but quite compulsive - I am sure you will feel the need to see what happens to Dinki and Birdboy. It is a film basically about decisions. Can you identify with a character who dreams about learning how to fly rather than actually doing it? Perhaps, and so can many film festival goers who have given this film numerous awards. In fact after winning the Foyle Film Festival in Ireland last year it made the Academy Award short list.
Birdboy is based on a comic entitled Psiconautas written by Alberto Vázquez and published by Bilbao publishing house Astiberri.
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27 December 2022
Six New Online Casinos You Can Join Today
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Cities and Stadiums You Should Visit in Europe as a Soccer Fan
Football is not just a sport for fans. It is a lot of experience with thrilling joy and love for the players. They will go to the end of the world for footballers they love and adore. And part of the experience is visiting and seeing where the action takes place in real-time. You can even make Super Bowl picks during your visit.
There are many stadiums in Europe to explore and get a thrilling feel of the world of your favorite players that offer much more than watching them live on TV. Being able to experience this at least once in a lifetime can enrich a voyage immeasurably.
The joy of being present at these stadiums can sometimes be found in the fantastic atmosphere that the football stadium provides before, during, and after a game. Other times, it's all about the extra activities available in addition to watching your favorite sport.
Suppose you remove football rivalries from the discussion. In that case, you'll probably discover that even some of the clubs you've grown to despise have stadiums that contribute to the sport experience as a whole.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
The stadium is relatively new, as it was opened in 2019. With incredible architecture and top-of-the-world modern design, ensure that fans and viewers have the most breathtaking view of the pitch no matter where they are seated.
The bowl design gives room for a brilliant atmosphere, while the South Stand rivals Dortmund's Yellow Wall, housing 17,500 fans in a single tier. The stadium is built with the idea of being able to house American Football matches as well as Spurs games in mind, meaning that there are separate facilities for teams from the two sporting disciplines.
The Goal Line Bar in the South Stand is 65 meters, making it the longest in Europe and, therefore, well worth a visit for those who enjoy a pint at half-time. The Tottenham Hotspur stadium is an imposing and magnificent one true to the club's spirit, which is why it is a place for all lovers of football should explore at least once in their lifetime.
Parc des Princes, Paris
The first sound you'll hear from this place on game day is "Allez Paris," which can be heard around the Parc des Princes. The stadium was launched in 1972 and is home to Paris Saint-Germain of Ligue 1. The "Princes' Park" was once the hunting land for the royal family, but today, it is best known for its extraordinary and iconic exterior design and boisterous football supporters.
Allianz Arena, Munich
The home stadium for Bayern Munich is called Allianz Arena. It is intriguing to note that the stadium, constructed in 2005 to host the needs of the World Cup, failed to do so but is used for Champions League matches due to various UEFA regulations.
The Allianz corporation paid for the 30-year license to use its name on the stadium. Every game features extraordinary lighting and laser effects released from the stadium, making for a sensational show.
Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid
Although it was first constructed to host the 1997 World Athletics Championships, Wanda Metropolitano is now the home field of Atletico Madrid. Given that the household belonged to Athens, the 20,000-seat stadium was left without a use.
The stadium was initially known as the Madrid Community Stadium. It later changed its name to the Madrid Olympic Stadium when Spain's bid to host the Summer Olympics was turned down.
As a result, the stadium was shut down in 2004. It was acquired by Atletico in 2013, though, after the club's new owner, the Chinese company Wanda, took over. Wanda made a significant financial investment in the stadium, which now seats 68,000 people and has a contemporary appearance. In September 2017, it was formally inaugurated.
Camp Nou, Barcelona
The Nou Camp is undoubtedly one of those places that football lovers must visit to get a feel of the pitch.
The 99,354-seat stadium in Barcelona made it to this list for its cultural importance. Popularly referred to as the "temple of football," this stadium attracts visitors from all over the world yearly due to its historic architecture and flair for cultural preservation.
There are chances that you know someone who has visited this place even if you have yet to explore it; yep, it's that famous and a favorite tourist place in Barcelona.
Anfield, Liverpool
Everton played there when Anfield first opened in 1884, but over time Liverpool, Everton's local rival, began to dominate its reputation. Due to Anfield's illustrious past, the Reds' current owners decided against constructing a new home for their footballers. The club's colorful background sets it apart from other structures despite lacking beauty or a smoldering mood.
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26 December 2022
School Portrait
That is, until one little girl comes along...
Comedy is difficult and comedy with children even more, so hats off to director Nick Scott for attempting this and succeeding so wonderfully. I paticularly like the little boy who says he hasn't filled out his tax form because I don't want to. Ah - if only life were that simple!
It isn’t often that a short film of less than three minutes in length can show a turning point in someone’s life so effortlessly. Despite its less than happy subject matter, School Portrait is a funny and affecting short film.
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The Chocolate Hills of Bohol
Skip
What happens when two very different characters from two very different movies get caught up with each other as their celluloid world slips and slides (and skips!) around them? This is the question posed by Skip, a very cool animated short by Sarah Jolley who made this short when she was a student at the Vancouver Film School where the standards are always of an incredible quality.
I love the look of this animation, the character design and the clever use of colors, not to mention the (ever so slightly) knowing take on the various genres of movies you see here. I suspect we have not heard the last of Ms Jolley!
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The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore - Academy Award Winner
I have to say, I was not expecting this, but The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore made me shed a little tear, such is its gentle loveliness. A natural but somewhat introverted bookworm, Morris is swept away by a tornado to a land where books can fly and he can help heal people through the curative power of storytelling.
Little wonder then that out of five animated short films that were considered for the 2012 Academy Award for Short Film (animated), this won! Congratulations to all involved.
This gorgeous Oscar winning piece of animation was created by award winning author and illustrator William Joyce together with Co-director Brandon Oldenburg via Moonbot Studios.
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20 December 2022
Nicholas Was... by Neil Gaiman - Animated Version
If you haven't been looking forward to Christmas and you think you are going to have a terrible time then spare a thought for Saint Nicholas. Father Christmas, Santa Claus - whatever name you use for him, consider this. Howe many centuries has this poor man endured his yearly task to take presents to the (sometimes ungrateful) children of the world?Not only that, he disappears before the children wake up and have a chance to thank him. Well, by way of thanks - or at least commiseration - here is a wonderful animated version of the Neil Gaiman poem Nicholas Was...
It is actually the creation of 39 Degrees North, a Beijing based animation studio and there way of doing the same thing. Don't have nightmares for poor old Santa...
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Waiting for Santa
Did you ever have a sleepless night on Christmas Eve waiting for you-know-who to arrive with your presents? This young man is certainly finding the land of nod a difficult place to reach but will his dreams of a new red bike be realised?
This charming silent short by J Palmroos answers that question but it left me with another! Who really enjoys Christmas the more – the child or the parent?
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A Dandelion Going To Seed - Carl Sagan on Space Travel
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The Titty Fruit – A Crop like No Udder
The Caterpillar with Penguins on its Back
Click on the links or the picture to read the full feature and see a host of other photographs of this remarkable creature.
Image Credit
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