All right, let's get real and bring things down to earth. The internet has become the new cool kid's block where artists are turning into stars overnight, charming the socks off folks online. But then, there are those artists who are so legendary they don't need the internet's spotlight to shine. They're like the cool, quiet neighbors who've been there, done that. I'm talking about Keith Lango and Mark Oftedal – names that might not ring a bell for everyone, but in the animation world, they're pretty much royalty, especially among those who were around when 3D animation was just starting to take off.
So, here's the scoop: Keith and Mark hadn't met in person before they both ended up at ANOMALIA at a UNESCO castle in Litomyšl (CZ), even though they knew of each other. It's like finding out two comic book heroes you've been following forever actually exist in the same universe. Keith is this incredible guy who jumped into creating online tutorials for animators when that was a novel thing, all while doing some serious good in Brazil, like setting up water filters for folks in remote areas. Meanwhile, Mark made his mark (pun intended) at Pixar, known as a top-tier animator and the supposed inventor of eye darts – though he's too humble to admit it.
I got a little sneaky with their travel plans to make sure they'd bump into each other at the event. Why? Because it felt like it was about time these two met in the flesh. It was pretty cool, like orchestrating a meet-cute for legends. After the last group of artists headed out and we were prepping for the newbies, it was clear this wasn't just any weekend. It was a reminder of how grounded and real these icons can be, and how a simple meeting between them could feel as epic as any animated adventure. And that's the lowdown on how an ordinary weekend turned into an unforgettable meet-up, proving that sometimes, the most awesome stories are the ones happening right in our backyard.
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Legendary animators Keith Lango and Mark Oftedal themselves meeting for the first time at ANOMALIA at UNESCO castle in Litomyšl
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