You may have caught wind of a new company launched by Passion Pictures called Strange Beast. Like Psyop’s Blacklist, Strange Beast has built a roster of (mostly young) international talent that’s hard to fit into existing categories. Their initial lineup is strong: Encyclopedia Pictura, Amautalab, Lorenzo Fonda, The Blackheart Gang, Takeo, James Price—
Wait a tick! Back up. Was that The Blackheart Gang I saw? Indeed it was!
It’s been about a year and a half since we posted TBG’s Hieronymus Bosch-inspired mini-opera, “The Tale of How.” After hearing nothing about them since that time, I’d assumed they’d disbanded and sold their souls to commercial interests. But it appears I was too hasty.
Not only is the merry bunch still around, they’re planning an epic sequel entitled “The Tale of Then.” Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. More information can be found on their blog.
Their site holds further gems in the Work section, where you can review what the Gang has been up to since their big debut. Their projects are satisfyingly epic, odd and charming—often at the same time.