If you haven’t yet seen the “Dock Ellis and the LSD No-No” on youTube, clear your schedule. You will watch it at least three times the first day that you see it. It’s the story of Dock Ellis, the pitcher for the Pittsburg Pirates, and his infamous no-hitter game in 1970 that he claims he pitched “high as a Georgia Pine” on LSD.

What I love about this animation, most of all, is James Blagden‘s artwork and its truly signature style, which he uses for a wide variety of things besides animation: magazine illustrations, advertisements, etc.

Conceptual drawing for Made Me Clothing by James Blagden

I also love that it’s a “dramatization” with some verite. It sounds like it’s Dock Ellis’ actual voice telling the story, but the animation going along with it just makes it that much more hilarious. It helps, of course, that the guy was a total character in real life as well.

WTF, Dock Ellis?

Another beautiful animation that I’ve stumbled across online is an animated video by Asa Arnehed for the band by El Perro del Mar. Like the Dock Ellis piece, the simple black lines and selective use of color and movement is really effective.