Animato: Fashionation

[@syketherocker]

Part of his disappearance is that he's been taking care of his very ill mother since something like 1999. My sister and brother in law dropped in on them a few years ago (we're family, our grandfather's - his on mom's side - were brothers) and he's doing ok, but nothing about getting back into the business.

[@Ratravarman]

This is a sledgehammer of awesomeness. I remember way back in 1978 seeing this at a local sci-fi con in DC and the image of this and other short features that this underrated pioneer created are still with me to this very day. Clark herself gave her blessing on this and it is one of Mike's personal proud moments. Bravo!

[@nelipotfootfree]

Back in the 1980s, the only place you could see Jittlov's short films was in the screening room at Sci-Fi conventions. The energy in the room would soar, the crowds would cheer, and the chant was always "JITTLOV! JITTLOV! JITTLOV!"

[@Ratravarman]

I met him in person at a Midwest con in 1994 where he was GoH. He brought up wistfully the amount of work that he said he had either inspired or some had ripped off. Point of fact, one of his interns was one Steve Johnson, who went on to fame and fortune doing award-winning high rotation videos for Talking Heads ("Road To Nowhere") and Peter Gabriel ("Sledgehammer" "Big Time"). He vowed never to do that again.

[@rarler3333]

Fabric pattern models. I love it. It’s so genuine.

[@danieldb631]

This is some brilliant stuff. I almost wonder if Cyriak was inspired by this man.

[@rlcarreiro]

I wish Jittlov would find the time and/or money to produce a CD of all his short films.

[@Clownboy15]

Two other things I can think of off the top of my head that Mike has done was the animation and voices of the demons who take Willie and Carl to Hell in "Ghost" and as the voice of Han Solo in an early Flash animated short from about twelve years ago.

[@VinnieBartilucci]

All hail the madman in the green jacket.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

I have a 16mm reel with this, Time Tripper and The Wizard of Speed & Time spliced together!

[@comelovesleep]

Surely you mean he IS a genius.

[@Ratravarman]

The full length version of "Wizard of Speed & Time" is an expose of the travails of the profession a la "Hollywood Shuffle." A self-taught prodigy, he had more practical experience in production than most film school graduates. Unfortunately, the films school and so-called unions function more as a guild system that shuts out outsiders and the system got so exclusionary that it was directly responsible for the proliferation of independent filmmaking in the 90s. He's had to freelance like hell.

[@Shaden0040]

I first saw this at Boscon 1981.

[@Yngvarfo]

It's great to see it with its original music. Some of it is in the Wizard of Speed and Time movie, but cut down and with the music replaced, probably because of rights issues. I get worried by you saying he *was* a genius. I hope he's fine, but I haven't heard a peep from him in years, and I sent him him a few emails.

[@bergmanf]

As of fall 2016 the wild-eyed animator is still out there. Matchbox Cinema had some contact with him about a showing of his film and he sent them a selfie. You can find it on their Twitter.

[@ejourneys]

@rlcarreiro I do, too! I hadn't seen this one since the 1970s, until now. His films drew standing ovations at science fiction conventions. The other short of his that I love is set to Copland's "The Red Pony."

[@syketherocker]

Regarding Mike's failure in the industry: If the man has any shortcoming in life its that he's as poor in business as he is genius in animation. "Wizard of Speed and Time" had the distribution rights contracted to sharks (to put it mildly). When the contract was written, he got the usual theatrical rights, but never check about video. The movie showed in something like one theater for a week and went immediately to video, cutting Mike out completely.

[@seatspud]

I wonder what Mike would think of the animators of today? Particularly of the internet variety, such as Cyriak?

[@Erydanus]

I loved this clip when I saw it in college. In fact, it made me run out and buy a cd of Petula Clark's greatest hits. (Talk about justification for fair use!)

[@MobiusBandwidth]

hey kids, no computers were using to make this film, which was shot on film. one frame at a time.

[@bergmanf]

Note to self, use 1:58 as lock screen wallpaper.

[@CountBifford]

Even as a freelancer, shouldn't he have a more substantial resume?

[@Starfodder]

Me too. It was edgy in 1981

[@hermanessences]

Is this an alternative recording of "I know a place", or is it just sped up?

[@howardbeatman2820]

It's the original recording - not sped-up but up-pitched, probably to avoid copyright challenges.

[@CountBifford]

Looking at Mike's IMDb page, he hasn't done a lot of professional work. What did he actually do for a living? Was film-making just a hobby? I have the feeling this guy did little films as a hobby and tried to launch a professional career but failed.

[@TheEudaemonicPlague]

What's with this talking about him in the past tense? Unless you know something I don't, the man is still alive and kicking. Aside from that, those are questions I'd like to know the answer to.