hi everyone, it's somehow been …nine years…? since the last time we did this. it was raining a lot last week but now the summer heat's starting up and people are beginning to drape themselves across different types of furniture. sometimes there are birds that sound like frogs. how are you?
i've made a few new things, including "world of tomorrow episode three", "on memory", and "ME"… "it's such a beautiful day" was also rereleased to theaters a couple of years ago and finally had a proper run. here's where to find everything: http://bitterfilms.com
and a little while back, i finished a new animated short called "paper trail" that premiered at sundance and is now in theaters and streaming on-demand: http://vimeo.com/ondemand/papertrail2026
please note: it's an easy film to spoil, so maybe tread lightly below if you haven't seen it yet
i'll be back to answer questions: TUESDAY MAY 26 at 3:00 ET
❤︎
by donhertzfeldt
31 Comments
No questions. Just here to say your humor and animation are a very core part of who I am and my own art. Thank you so much.
Go gauchos!
It smells like dust and moonlight!
Is your spoon still too big?
Hi Don! Is it weird that I’m thinking of your work whenever I am eating cereal or need a colonoscopy? Thanks in advance!
Love your films, was a joy catching the rerelease of “beautiful day” at the Alamo. I’m curious: how do you earn a living generally? I’d love to live in a world where your films are incredibly lucrative but that doesn’t seem like the world we live in.
Holy heck! You are seriously such an inspiration to me and my art (though I have a VASTLY different type of output)
My question is this:
Do you have any idea how REJECTED ended up on P2P site programs (Kazaa etc)?
Just wanted to thank you for “beautiful day”. It means a whole lot to me and my fiancé who introduced me to you and your animations. Wonderful work that inspires and fills us with joy.
This is awesome, I like how I constantly run into real world “memes” of your work. I was at a post apoc event where one unknowing person had a huge spoon as a weapon, they were unaware of your work. I must have heard “My Spoon is too Big!” yelled at them at least 4-5 times.
Hello Don. Is anything bleeding today?
I hope your anus has stopped bleeding
What was it like to direct a Simpson’s couch gag, and how did they reach out to you about it?
Oh I love Rejected! It’s such a surreal experience. Were there ideas that you wished you added to it but for whatever reason just couldn’t fit in?
Also the Simpsons couch gag is very Meta, what was it like to work with the show? How did that collaboration come to be?
I am a consumer whore
I quote Rejected Cartoons daily. What is your favorite one that you came up with?
your films always make me cry in the most beautiful way and i still think about “it’s such beautiful day” like every few months
I love your work. You’re a fucking genius, I love ‘It’s Such a Beautiful Day’. It’s amazing how it addresses so many of these existential questions and feelings. It’s melancholic, but it makes me really excited to enjoy life to the fullest.
You are such an incredible creative and so underappreciated. It seems like it is largely because the medium you create with seems to struggle with mass appeal. How do you stay motivated and creative when your pieces can struggle to find the audience they deserve?
my SPOON is too big!
Don, such a huge fan. Paper Trail is one my favorite works of yours, and it feels like such a new direction. I have a few questions!
1. How much of the material for Paper Trail was made by you vs. made by others/donated to the cause?
2. Do you miss working in a mostly analog domain? Is it freeing to utilize new technologies or are you experiencing any loss of connection to the material?
3. How has it been working on upcoming collaborations? What’s been the biggest learning curve? Anything you can spoil about the Ari Aster project?
Thanks for the years of inspiration and giving me beautiful films and comics and books to show my friends.
Is there anything in the course of your career that you regret doing or not doing; that you feel could have changed your experience of life for better or worse?
No questions, just complete adoration for your work. Thank-you for everything you’ve put out there for us to enjoy.
World of Tomorrow is a masterpiece and pivotal part of my youth. Thank you.
As an animating legend, what kind of advice can you offer for aspiring cartoonists trying to tackle today’s industry?
I got to see It’s such a beautiful day at the Little theater in 2024.
My mom died last December after three years of struggling with dementia-like symptoms caused by a rare cancer.
Is the ending many worlds/quantum immortality? I always thought it was but now I think I don’t want it to be that, weirdly.
What’s something you’ve always wanted to do but never yet got the chance to?
Don! Love your stuff. Billy’s Balloon is one of my favorite things ever. And now for my question: What are your favorite books? Do you find the time to read as much as you’d like?
Part of me feels like you should do an entire Simpsons episode in that couch gag universe lol
I quote Rejected almost daily. Do you find children falling over in real life funny? I laugh like crazy, but this has lessened as I’ve become a parent. But, as my kid started to walk, I kept visualizing your gag with the baby and stairs in Rejected. Thanks for bringing so much creativity and humor to my life.
Hi Mr. Herdzfeldt! *It’s Such a Beautiful Day* is one of my all-time favourite films.
Question: What other media have you been enjoying recently? Any film, television, books, music etc. you’d like to encourage others check out?
Is your spoon in fact too big ?