New Coloring Book Page

Thanks for all the great comments about the coloring pages. I've really enjoyed posting them here, and hope to keep it up for a while. (At any rate, it's nice to re-purpose artwork for my blog. I can be a little lazier and still post frequently.)

As everyone knows, D is for Duckling. It's also for Dog, Dolphin, Deer, Donkey, Dove, Dormouse, and Dinosaur. But I drew a duckling, so deal with it.

You know the drill... Click on the pic and print. Color with your box of 64 Crayolas. Stick on fridge. Repeat.

Illustration Friday: Craving

This week's IF topic is "Craving". In my mind, nothing says craving like a leopard seal hunting penguins.

One of the things I love to do is come up with a story for the pictures I draw. Whether or not I share the story, I feel it adds a dimension to the finished scene. (Plus, it's an easy way to visualize a film that's stuck in my head.)

If you haven't seen my previous penguin entries, here's a few of my favorites:

Springtime for Penguins
Penguin Halloween
Antarctic Romance

Springtime for Penguins and Antarctica

If you've been coming to my blog for a long time, you know I have a special place in my heart for penguins. It's been a little while since I've shown the little tuxedo-ed swimmers some love, so I decided to incorporate them in to the "Springtime" topic at Toon Club.

This premise caused some problems, as penguins, especially the chilly willies I like to draw, don't typically find themselves locales that experience a "Springtime". So, ever the optimist, I decided to work in global warming and show what would happen if the antarctic circle melted enough for a nice pansy to bloom. (I'm going to get google search results for "nice pansy", aren't I? Sigh...)

Contest Winner and New Free Coloring Page

Congrats to FLASHFOX for winning the "Name the X Animal" Contest. (Contact me through the email account on my profile with your address info so I can send your original drawing.)

As you can see, the winning idea was Xenops, which is a species of South American bird.

Thanks, Flashfox, for the great idea. And thanks to everyone else's great entries. I'll be holding another contest soon for a different letter, so stay tuned!

Click on the image to enlarge and print!

W is for Whale - Free Coloring Book Page & CONTEST

I had a lot of fun posting the last free coloring page, so here's a new one for you to enjoy! Click on the image and print!

I'm officially announcing the "Name the X Animal Contest". Since I'm having a heck of a time choosing a good animal to represent "X" in my alphabet coloring book, I'm leaving it up to you.

Here's how it's going to work:
1. Post your comments here with the name ideas. (I'll also count the ones on the previous post.)
2. On May 23rd, I'll pick my favorite. (If multiple people suggest the same animal, I'll put the entries in a hat and draw one.)
3. The winner will receive the original artwork for the "X" animal and my eternal gratitude.

O is for Otter - Free Coloring Book Page

I'm making a coloring book for my nieces and nephews. The theme is "Alphabet Animals". I just finished this page, so I decided I'd upload it here in case you have little ones who like to color. Click on the image to go to a print quality image, and enjoy!

P.S. Any good suggestions for X? Xylophone is NOT an animal.

Ric Estrada 1928-2009

I just received some very sad news. Ric Estrada, one of the most prolific comic book and animation artists in the industry, and a man that I consider both a friend and a mentor, has passed away.

I worked with Ric on a never-released direct-to-video series as his assistant director in the early 2000's, but he had previously worked on such classics as Johnny Quest, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Wacky Races, Captain Planet, and a plethora of others.

What I learned later is that he'd also had a profound impact on the comic book industry. Using his AMBIDEXTROUS DRAWING SKILLS, he cranked out literally thousands of pages for war comics such as Sgt. Rock, romance titles, and even brief stints on Batman, Wonder Woman, and the daily Spider-Man comic strip. At DC, Ric co-created the characters of Power Girl and Amethyst, among others. He received an Eisner Inkpot Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 2000 San Diego Comic Con.

Ric also had a rich personal history. A native of Cuba, he attended college at the same time as Fidel Castro. He moved to the United States on a sponsorship from Ernest Hemmingway! After traveling around the globe on many amazing adventures, Ric and his family finally settled in Utah for the remainder of his years.

By far the best legacy Ric leaves is his sweet, caring nature, his sincere concern and guidance toward those who needed it, and the lesson that life can be whatever you make of it. Thank you, Ric, for enriching me both personally and professionally. The things you taught me will never be forgotten, and I promise to follow the advice you once gave me: "Learn everything you can and pass it on."

When I go to Free Comic Book Day tomorrow, I'll be thinking of you.

Read more about Ric:
Wikipedia
Ponytailers
TwoMorrows
Comicyclopedia
Ric Estrada Movie

Just This Once, A Post About Cats

Here's a colored version of a digital coloring book page I created for IKeepSafe.org's Faux Paw series. If you've got little ones who surf the web, or if you'd like to know how to be safer online, this organization has some amazing and helpful resources you may want to check out.

I had a lot of fun with this little job, particularly as it was a chance to draw more cats. I love doing character design, and I've been fortunate to do a lot of it for the Faux Paw series. I designed Bella (far left), who is based on my own real-life cat, and Simon (far right), who is based on my parents-in-law's cat.

Thanks for allowing me to "show and tell" a bit, and thanks to everyone who has been following my blog lately! You guys are the greatest!

Don't Mess with the Alley Cat

Here's a congenial kitty left over from my doodles for Toon Club's "Cat" topic. Unlike my original feline, this guy's a bit more rough around the edges. Like any good alley cat, he's got a growly attitude, a couple of wayward teeth, and just a hint of what could be mange.

What other animal do you know who can not only survive, but thrive on the mean streets of the city? Living on fish bones and melon rinds, the alley cat is the MacGyver of the animal world. Add to that the cool factor of their penchant for jazz music, and you'll see the alley cat is worthy of our fear and grudging respect.

Unlike Sandra Bullock.

I Drew Pip!

Once in a great while I meet someone who reminds me why I love working in animation. Adam Koford is one of those people. I work with Adam at Disney Interactive, and our start dates there are only two weeks apart. It has been great to learn how to fit in at Disney with someone else who was going through the same process.

Other than the fact that he's one of the funniest and most humble people I've ever met, Adam's also an incredibly driven and talented cartoonist. He recently published his first big-time collection of comic strips, entitled "The Laugh Out Loud Cats Sell Out". I suggest checkin' it out. It's great.

One of the things I admire about Mr. Koford is how much fun he has drawing. He watches for inspiration in everything, and makes good use of it to push his ideas to the next level. I've recently rediscovered the joy of drawing for drawing's sake, and owe at least part of that to his influence.

I'm posting my thoughts on this here because I hope in someway it might inspire you to remember what you love about what you do. Take a little time to step back and enjoy what you're doing... And pass it on to someone else!

(The above drawing is for Draw Pip!, Adam's blog devoted to fan art of his characters.)

Desert Dessert

I intended to post a "Making of" video with this, put the video seems to not be working, so no dice. Hope you enjoy it anyway.

Top Ten Reasons Cats Rule

I am a cat person, and proud of it. Even while taking hits from my pal S.T. Lewis about it, I cannot deny my favoritism for pets of the feline persuasion. Here's my Top 10 reasons that cats rock.

10. Much like Sandra Bullock after a bad movie role, cats always miraculously land on their feet.
9. Retractable claws, just like Wolverine!
8. Sometimes, cats are born with six-toed paws!
7. Revered by Pharaohs in Ancient Egypt.
6. Can be legally given a catnip "high" for fun and amusement.
5. Equal parts friend and predator.
4. Some cat species need 18 hours of sleep a day. How do I get THAT job?
3. The fastest land mammal on Earth is a cat.
2. They use their whiskers to navigate through tight spaces. Try that, Wilford Brimley!
1. Cats have too much self respect to "fetch".

Thanks for hearing me out... I think the list is purrfect, and I'm glad you didn't go cat-atonic reading it!

Top 10 Animation Books

I have been asked quite a few times recently to recommend some books to people who are either trying to get into the animation industry or are looking for something to inspire them to the next level. This list isn't in any way complete or definitive, but these are the books I feel everyone should have in their library.

10. The Art of Animal Drawing by Ken Hultgren - Written and illustrated by a former Disney animator, this is THE book for studying animal anatomy and how it translates into appealing motion. A great Dover Classic release, so it's reasonably priced to boot!

9. Cartoon Animation by Preston Blair - A collection of two classic Walter Foster books (and including oodles of new goodies as well!), Cartoon Animation is a great overview of the art of animation. One of the great features of this book is the frame by frame breakdowns of several classic animated scenes, including the dancing hippos from Fantasia!

8. How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way by Stan Lee and John Buscema - Not technically considered an "animation" tome, but I've found this to be an incredibly vital resource for storyboarders. The information on composition and action posing can't be beat.

7. Animator's Survival Kit by Richard Williams - A great, more recent volume by the directing animator of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and "The Thief and the Cobbler." Williams is known for his attention to detail and for teaching the principles of animation as they are meant to be taught.

6. How to Write for Animation by Jeffrey Scott - Anyone who plans to delve into story, especially television and direct to video animation projects, should own this animation script bible by the prolific Jeffrey Scott. Scott has penned a dizzying number of classic episodes, and has even won an Emmy or two. (And he's related to Moe Howard of the Three Stooges. How cool is that?)

5. Producing Animation by Catherine Winder and Zahra Dowlatabadi - The most effective, informative, and comprehensive book I've ever read concerning the producer's role in animation. I recommend this to anyone who plans to be a director or producer... It will be your best friend when you have to make those tough production decisions.

4. Creating Characters with Personality by Tom Bancroft - Not only does this contain some sage advice about how to create appealing characters that fit your story, it's also chock full of assignments to help you hone your skills. Great, affordable book with tons of contemporary ideas.

3. Force: Dynamic Life Drawing for Animators by Mike Mattesi - Much of this book can come across as a glorified sketchbook, but studying Mattesi's drawings reveals the hidden power and force of human anatomy. A perfect companion for life drawing exercises.

2. Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud - Again, not necessarily intended as an animation guide, McCloud's analysis of the comic art form lends itself to storyboard work, layout, and animation. An interesting study of how our brains process sequential information.

1. Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life by Frank and Ollie - Since it's original release, this large and beautiful volume has been widely referred to as the "Animation Bible". No book before or since has quantified the magical pieces that make up a Disney animated film. Meant to be enjoyed and understood over a lifetime, this is the single most important book about the creation of animation.

So, that's my list... What books would you add? Any additional thoughts on what I've listed here? If I get enough suggestions from everyone, I'll do a follow up post with the Top 10, Part Two!

Stay classy, bloggers!

My Office Away From Work

Last year I moved into a new house. It's been an experience, to say the least. One of the highlights of the move is that I got my own office. I finally got things set up how I liked them, so I wanted to share the joy!
Here's my desk. As you can see, I've got the requisite faux-leather comfy office chair for all the hours sitting on my rear. I built some shelves for the desk to slid my lightbox under so I'd have room for my TV/DVD player. (All the better to watch Futurama while I work! Bwahahaha!) I've got my Cintiq all set and ready for scribblin', and enough hard drives running to heat a small country.

Here you can see some of my one-sheet movie posters, and the Wall-E poster that poetically sits atop the junk I haven't had time to organize yet. Fold-out couch by IKEA. They had purple and lime green, so I chose purple.


There's more of the couch, and the rest of my one-sheets. At the end of the couch is my monument to Window NT... An old non-working computer covered by Pixar and Disney plush toys. Somewhere in that pile is a Dory doll that starts talking for no reason at 2 in the morning.
My Little Mermaid Big Fig, plus one of my snowglobes and a water fountain ala "Kiss the Girls." I guess this is my mermaid corner. It's fun being a big kid!

Here's the overview... You can see my massive wall of DVD's and my other wall of books and snowglobes. I like to collect Disney snowglobes that capture a great moment from a film. The appeal for me isn't really the globe part, it's the music and characters combined to show a great scene. A couple of my recent favorite additions are a Pecos Bill globe and a Pete's Dragon globe.

Anyway, thanks for letting me share a little bit about myself! Have a great day!

Dalmatian

This week's Toon Club topic is "Dalmatian." (Often misspelled as "Dalmation", which we all know is the act of dalmating.) While I was deciding what to draw, I looked up dalmatian on Wikipedia. Turns out there was an ancient part of Croatia known as Dalmatia, and this brave breed was known as their guard dogs.

Apparantly, Dalmatians are known for their genetic disposition to deafness. Hundreds of years ago, dog experts thought Dalmatians were stupid and untrainable until someone figured this out. In hindsight, it was the dog experts who were one spot short of a pooch.

Doohickey Dilemma

Last year a group of us animated a 12 minute short for a company called Our Children's Friend. "The Doohickey Dilemma" follows the story of a little goldfish and a crab, and is geared toward the younger crowd. (It's a story about telling the truth.)

We recently made it into the 2009 International Family Film Festival, so I thought I'd highlight one of my favorite images from the film here. (This one's during the song number at the end.) All in all, I think it turned out pretty good and I'm excited to see how it's received.

Remember Me?

So... It's been a while. Between three very involved projects, the holidays, and my incessant need to get at least four hours of sleep a day, I'm afraid I've neglected my poor little blog. I'm hoping to start posting tons of new stuff starting next week. (Yeah, we'll see, Ropp. You've done this before, you flake!)

In the meantime, I do have a couple of exciting announcements. The fourth Faux Paw the TechnoCat book and film are completed and currently being duplicated/printed for February. Here's a few images from the book. Layouts, pencils, and color by me. Backgrounds by the irreplacable Bryan Beach and inks by the indomitable Ken Chandler.

I have more news, but I'll wait until tomorrow to post it so there'll be two posts in one month!!!

My First Disney Project!

Today's an exciting day for me, as the first project I've worked on for Disney is out is stores! The Bolt game has a cool premise - It plays like episodes of the TV show seen in the film. It's a great looking game and has some fun moments.

Even though I only worked on the last stages of this game, I'm really proud to have my name attached to it. I've been working in the industry (film and games) for nearly 15 years now, and this is by far the biggest title I've worked on. Check it out if you get the chance. (And see the movie... It's fully awesome!)

Thanks for letting me share a little bit of my happy mood!

Halloweenies: Year Two

As promised, here's this year's addition to the Halloweenies family. Print 'em out, cut 'em up, and enjoy! Oh, and if you missed last year's quartet, you can find them here.

Look Before You Leap

Whew... It's been a crazy few months, and there's still a lot of work ahead, but I thought this little (big) guy was a perfect fit for the "Island" theme on Illustration Friday this week.

Thanks to those of you who've faithfully checked my inactive blog for the two plus months it's been this way... I promise, lots of cool new stuff in October, including some more Halloweenies!

The Tiberius Tiger Show

I'm a huge fan of the classic Hanna-Barbera designs. They were so deceptively simple, so well designed. Within the confined parameters of pre-computer limited animation, these cartoon design giants found ways to incorporate charming, appealling designs. H-B legends like Iwao Takamoto (who designed Scooby Doo and Hong Kong Phoeey) are among the biggest influence in my art style.

Here's my humble tribute to them. Tiberius Tiger lives in the City Zoo (naturally), and is always up to some wacky adventure... Much to the chagrin of Zoo Keeper Ollie Oxenfree!

I'm Such a Sell-Out

Artists are always being accused of selling out. What, are we concerts or something? Last I checked, no one was buying tickets to me. And what if they were? What's so bad about that? I've always found making a living to be something admirable.

Truth be told, those of us getting paid for utilizing our creative talents aren't selling out... We're buying in. And when you think about it, isn't that so much worse?

By the way... I know you're wondering. The top layer is mint chocolate chip and the bottom layer is bubblegum.

Forgotten Villains

From the lost archives of the police files comes the worst, least effective supervillain team that time forgot.

Devil May Care - Arthur J. Deville, former city safety inspector. A tragic anvil accident drove him insane. Now he runs amok, keeping library books past their due dates and shunning the social norms.

DanDruff - One time astronaut boyfriend of the superheroine Shampoo Girl, Dan Druph returned from a space mission with a disgusting new power. Tragically, their relationship could not withstand the opposing forces pulling them apart.

Kolonel Kindling - By day, he's the toast of society. By night, a pile of sticks. And he's got a MONACLE!!!

Salmon Rushity - He's a fish that runs fast. Yeah.

Coupon Clipper - Gertrude Grosher never dreamed her thrifty, frugal nature would lead her into perhaps the least successful career as a crime boss ever. After spending twenty years in jail for passing off fraudulent coupons, she's back with a vengeance. Buyer beware!!!

CHECK OUT THEIR GOODIE COUNTERPARTS HERE!!!

Illustration Friday: Homage

Here's my homage to John Kricfalusi, creator of Ren and Stimpy. The title of this piece is "Teacher's Pet," and I've done it in a style and humor vein that I think John K would have found amusing.

I was always the kid in school that kept out of trouble, did my work, and got good grades. I kept my trap shut, and I think that gave my teachers the idea that I'd be the perfect lackey. It seems every time a teacher would have to leave the classroom for a moment, I was the kid chosen to take the names of the kids who didn't stay on task. Well, the joke's on you, Teach! I just used the time to keep to myself and doodle! Ha ha!

Happy Easter!

Platy-Pie

Happy Valentine's Day

Well, here it is almost Valentine's Day and I haven't yet posted something for it. This, I have to say, is one of my most well-used designs as of late. I created these little otter kids for a non-profit organization in Texas who needed something for their youth program, for last week's Toon Club topic, and also for some Valentine merch on my zazzle store. I feel a little bad quadruple using my art, but I guess that means it's marketable, right?

Otters are quickly growing to be one of my favorite things to draw. I love their long weasel bodies. In fact, I've been drawing more of these little guys lately than I have penguins! Of course, this is only bad because I've set a goal of getting my Penguin Calendar done for 2009... I was about three images shy of a good one last year. Since it's only February, I may actually have a chance!

You "otter" know I really appreciate everyone who visits here and who leaves feedback... Sharing my work with you all continues to be a great blessing for me, and I've benefited from the advice, comments, and artwork that you have shared with me. I hope you have a great Valentine's Day!

Illustration Friday: Plain

Okay... I will admit. I pluralized the topic and went for "plains" instead.

Every time I go to Yellowstone, I wonder how bison actually hold their heads up... They're awfully top heavy. And, even though they could flatten me in about two seconds, they give the appearance of wise old sages.

So, for this drawing, I decided to explore the idea of the buffalo as the old grandpa storyteller of the Rockies. Granted, he is a wild animal, so he may gore these cute little ground hog kids if they get out of line.

Hey, and if you haven't seen 'em yet... Here's a couple of my other posts that are in the same vein:

Davy Crockett
Fat Squirrel

Davy... Davy CROCKETT

Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee. Greenest state in the land of the free. Raised in the woods, so he knew every tree. Killed him a bear when he was only three.

WHERE WERE THIS KID'S PARENTS?!!! I mean, c'mon! The neglect is astounding! And what weapons did he use? His bare hands (no pun intended) or some sort of hunting implement? I'm either to believe that he punched the bear to death or that Ma Crockett provided a hunting rifle to her toddler...

Paul Bunyon doesn't seem so improbable by comparison.

I Told You I've Been Busy! Part One

At long last, the t's have been crossed and the i's have been dotted, and this project has been finished. I have eluded to the fact that I have been busy lately, and here's why... (Well, there are other things still pending, but this is ONE reason. I still have another MAJOR project that will be done this month that I'm excited to share with you.)

Anyway, this project is called "Faux Paw Goes to the Games", and it's a book and DVD that are now being sold by iKeepSafe.org, a great organization whose mission is to teach kids and their parents and teachers about being safe on the Internet. This is the third book, and it takes place in Beijing, China during the "Great Animal Games". I think it turned out just great, and I'm proud to share it here. Make sure to check out the iKeepSafe website when you're done here so you can see what they're all about!

The real reason to show you these images isn't to highlight my work, but rather to showcase the talents of two wonderful friends that are the real art superstars on the book. Ken Chandler patiently cleaned up and inked my chicken scratch character art, and Bryan Beach added amazing depth and value with his unbelievable background work. My hat goes off to them for their skillful work. Thanks, guys! I couldn't have done it without you!

Additional thanks needs to go out to Sally Linford for writing such a fun story, to Chad Erekson and Kelly Loosli for developing the original Faux Paw short film, and Shane Lewis for the artistic influence he may not even realize he had on this project.

Happy Holidays! Now De-Lurk!!!

Wow, what a year! I've been so busy, I've barely had time to keep this blog going. While I am grateful that I've had so many wonderful projects to occupy my time, I sure wish I could have found a way to make more updates here... I'm making a goal of it for next year.

I originally started this blog as a creative outlet during a time of my life when I was feeling very stifled and boxed in. It's served its purpose and I'm doing just great now. I'm overseeing 13 episodes of a TV series, an animated feature, and several other projects that I can't quite talk about... just yet. I've been fortunate enough to have great creative friends and co-workers who have inspired me to grow and experiment with my art. And I've had a lot of great feedback and support from you, the viewer...

Which brings me to my point. I'd love to thank each and every one of you for stopping by from time to time. I hope you've found something of value on occasion. I'd like to invite you all to climb out of the woodwork and de-lurk. If you haven't spoken up here, do it now! I'd love to update my links list, as well as visit YOUR blogs!

So here ya go... I invite you to leave a comment on this post... Tell me what you'd like to see here next year, send me a link to your blog... Whatever you'd like. And have a great Holiday Season!

Well, It Happened...

I missed another complete month posting. But honest, I have a good excuse... Or, rather, some good excuses. I've been sick with the flu, a sinus infection, and strep throat. I took time off for Thanksgiving to help family. There are other, large issues percolating that I can't speak of yet, but they have sapped up the remainder of my free time.

So, if you're one of the 27 people who continue to come here on faith that I'll post, here's your validation.

For this post, I really had to look deep inside my elf, practice some elf discipline, and become more elf reliant. You know what they say, the Lord helps those who help their elf. Hopefully this entry isn't coming off as elf important or elf serving. I just couldn't help my elf.

The Halloweenies Group Photo

For those of you who don't like cutting around character shapes, here's a group photo. (No assembly required.)

Don't Grow Up!

Why grow up at Halloween? I like acting like a kid! I just love the whole concept of trick or treat! Who'd choose having their house egged over passing out delicious chocolate-y treats? Not me! To that end, I present the "Halloweenies"! Just print, cut out, and enjoy! That's how I roll!

Chillin' Halloween

Here's some penguins getting into the festive holiday season by sculpting a happy looking ice jack 'o lantern. I have always wondered why they are called jack 'o lanterns. Doesn't that mean "jack of lantern"? Wouldn't it be more appropriate to call them lantern 'o pumpkins? Maybe they're named after the Irish immigrant who first carved a toothy grin on a gourd. Here's to you, Mr. O'Lantern! Your creation will live in infamy!

Speaking of living in infamy, I now will since I can say I've met Mel. I'm not sure why he hasn't put the labels "nerd, weirdo, crazy" under the post of me posing with him. Maybe it's just because he's an incredibly nice and talented guy! Check out his web presences. (Prescenci?)

Mel Made - His coolio art blog.
Mel Meets - A photo journey through the madness of the animation industry.
Mel's Production Blog - I think you can figure out what you'll find here.
Toon Club - And, of course, you can find more of his great work on Toon Club!

The Overly Described People Eater

Halloween is drawing near! I love it! Here's a little guy I drew for Toon Club based on the classic song, "Purple People Eater." Does his moniker feature the word "purple" because he's purple or because the people he eats are purple? I find it a bit disconcerting that you have to describe him as a one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people eater.

And how the heck many kinds of these things are there? Run! It's a purple people eater! What? Oh, it's the two-horned kind? Three eyes, you say? It's earthbound? Whew... for a minute there I was worried. Plus I'm not purple, so...

Holy Cow!

Seven Reasons Why Cows Are Cool

1. One Mouth, Four Stomachs
2. Valuable enough to trade for magic beans.
3. Their one accessory, the cowbell, can be used as a delightful percussion instrument.
4. Manatees are known as "Sea Cows." Bovines need no qualifier. (No one ever says "land cow".)
5. Revered by many worldwide for a variety of reasons.
6. Eaten by many worldwide in a variety of flavors.
7. Can be used as dowry. (Okay, maybe that's a little out of date...)

September 19th is National Talk Like a Pirate Day, so zazzle.com has been holding a t-shirt design contest with that as the topic. I had a few free minutes on Saturday, so I decided to enter.

Here's my entry. You can click on the shirt to view it full size.

Illustration Friday: Wedding

Back in July 2006 I told you all about Bubba, our long departed black lab, and his relationship with the neighborhood goose.

Well, looks like there's been some new developments! Bless their little hearts!

While I have your attention... If you haven't been here in awhile, here's some of my favorites from the past few weeks:

Panda Design
Production Orphans
Alvin and the Chipmunks

Production Orphans - Buy One, Get Six Free

During the production of the "The Velveteen Rabbit", there have been many changes in character designs. In fact, my pal Shane Lewis and I used to have a "Horse Orphanage" section on the cork board wall where we compiled all of our unused drawings of the Horse character.

In the past three days I have redesigned several woodland creatures, and I decided to compile the unused ones here, with hopes of placing them in a good home. I like them enough that I couldn't bear to put them under a pile of papers on the Bermuda Triangle I call my desk. So here ya go... Homeless bunny rabbits and such. Remember, for just a few pennies a day, you, too, can feed a cartoon rodent.

Black and White

Here's a panda I designed for a freelance job that recently wrapped. All in all, I'm fairly happy with how he turned out, and it's always fun to work on something different. I'll post more from this project when I get the all-clear.

Sigh.. It's great to be blogging again.

Alvin and the Chipmunks Redux

Alvin and the Chipmunks were a lot more fun for me when I was growing up. I remember we had a couple of the records of their spoofs of songs. Particularly hilarious to my untrained senses was their take on the theme to "Chariots of Fire." They spent the whole song complaining about running and the length of the song. Such a touching tribute to Vangelis.

With all due respect to the creators of the new live action/CG Chipmunks movie, a part of me died inside when, in the trailer, Alvin eats a piece of chipmunk droppings. Have we become so lazy and jaded that we have to resort to scatological humor to update iconic cartoon characters for the 21st Century? And why do the chipmunks need to look photo-real? I'm getting old, talking about how cartoons were better in my day.

But they were.

Illustration Friday: Visiting

Illustration Friday: Geek

The geek in me jumped for joy at the prospect of realizing a classic moment from that 80's classic, The NeverEnding Story. Here, the Child-like Empress is telling Bastian that, "This grain of sand is all that remains of Fantasia."

I know there was an animated NeverEnding television show at one point, but I think it's a cool enough story to make into an animated feature. Anyone got eighty million dollars to invest?

Smurf Rejects?

I used to think Snorks were just Hanna Barbera's attempt to widen the Smurf franchise. Just recently, I found out that Snorks were actually a Belgian comic book before they became animated. Who knew?

Purple Fish Lady

I thought I'd break my self imposed ban on new drawings and post this little beauty.... A fish of questionable genus, but I do believe she's of a salt water nature. I designed her for a feature script I am working on... Maybe someday you'll see her on the big screen.... If you do, contact me immediately! It means someone stole my idea!

You see, I specialize in working on films that never seem to be released. Well, at least not in the U.S. I think my company feels it will drive up the demand if we just finish a film and shelve it for five or six years. It is my fervent dream to one day work on a project and be able to tell my parents they can BUY a copy of it at Target. So, is making art it's own reward? For me.. No. I want people to ENJOY something I created!

Why am I on this rant? Maybe I need a glass of milk or something. Who knows. Take care, everyone! See you next time!

Illustration Friday: Suit

Chim Chum Comic

Sorry for the lack of updates lately... I actually have a huge stockpile of stuff I want to post, I just haven't had much time to think of any pseudo-witty commentary to go with it. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

Redhead Mer Boy

Here's a piece a did a couple of weeks ago for a story I'm developing. Basically it's a pre-visualized version of what a scene in this movie might look like. I had a lot of fun designing the seahorse, but, boy, are those things ever weird.

At any rate, enjoy... Thank you so much for your support and comments, they are always appreciated and keep me trucking along!

Remembering the Olden Days

Check out this week's Toon Club post here.

King Kong

ANT-icipation

Today I realized I've never drawn an anteater. Wow, what a freaky animal!

Toon Club Updates

Here's a bunch of my recent Toon Club entries. I decided to post them all at once here so I can't just get lazy and use them as an excuse not to do some new drawings here. Enjoy!

The Frog Prince

Walt Disney Animation has a particular ability in making their versions of fairy tales the "definitive" animated versions... I suppose there is room to argue there, but generally speaking, I don't think anyone is considering making a better version of "Snow White", "Cinderella", or "Sleeping Beauty" in animated form. Why isn't there more wiggle room for others to make their own version?

I think there is a sort of timeless, magical quality to some of their films. It's almost an indescribable factor. When you care so much about the characters, have drawn yourself into the fantasy of their world and situations, you want to believe in it. You aren't watching a film... You are living a story. And accepting that it's not the only version means accepting it's not real to begin with.

I haven't seen a lot of scenes from "Meet the Robinsons", but I am encouraged that Disney is getting back to this magical place where they once were. Where the impossible seems likely, and your dreams are just a song away. I am very hopeful that the best is yet to come... Especially since I'm pretty sure no one will want to fund my Frog Prince movie once "The Frog Princess" comes out!

It's Burgertime!

Last week's topic on Toon Club was "1980's Video Games". With a little inspiration from Bryan Beach, I came up with this entry.

They just don't make games like they used to... Evil hot dogs that can only be vanquished by dropping giant hamburger patties on them? What do you have to be smoking to come up with that idea?

Hot Diggity! A race!

Here's the character design of my tortoise from last week's "Tortoise and the Hare" topic from Toon Club.

I wasn't thrilled with how the rest of the picture turned out, but I am pretty proud of this little guy, so I thought I'd share him here.

Illustration Friday: Crash

I know it hasn't been very long since my last post, but when I saw that this week's Illustration Friday topic was "crash", I knew the portly samurai and that rascally Chim Chum would have something to say on the subject. So here you go, a brand new Chim Chum comic made especially for IF! Have a nice weekend!

Top o' the World, Ma-aaaa-aaaaaaaa!

Longhorn sheep are experts at perilously hopping across loose shale and tiny outcroppings along the side of a mountain. I read somewhere that, while plummeting off a mountain is a top cause of death in their lambs, the adult longhorns rarely lose their footing. I suppose it's the years of learning just how to jump and what kind of stance is required for balancing on different types of surfaces that make them so carefree and unfazed by their way of life.

I'm directing my first feature right now, and while I've directed smaller projects in the past, I still feel a bit like the little longhorn sheep learning his footing. Once in awhile, and I try not to do this as much as possible, I look down and get a little dizzy. But mostly I am hopping from ledge to ledge, making my way up the mountain toward my goal.

It's been a crazy journey for me. I've faced my share of proverbial mountain lions in the past year and a half. It seems like the higher I've climbed, the more dangerous and determined the mountain lions have become. As long as I trust my instincts and patiently work on perfecting my jumps, things seem to go pretty well. The problem now is that I'm nearly to the top of this mountain, and the movie's behind schedule, and there's forty mountain lions waiting for me at the summit, and one of my hooves is sprained, and I'm really bad at mixing metaphors.

The higher I climb, the further I can fall.

But the older longhorns keep telling me how beautiful the view is at the top.

You Never Know When Love Will Sprout

The penguin and the leopard seal. Two of natures most bitter enemies. But what happens when love is blind and the only thing you have to talk about is your mutual love of seafood? Sadly, I don't think they're gonna make it.

I've done so many penguin posts, maybe I should change my blog to Toon Penguin. But that doesn't rhyme, so I probably won't. Anyway, you can check out ALL my penguin posts by clicking here!

UPDATE: Just to give you a little peek inside my brain, here's a page of doodles that became the model sheet reference for the leopard seal. I was trying to explore the feline elements of seals as much as possible, so you may notice a little bit of "Lucifer" from Cinderella influencing the design.

The Walrus and the Carpenter

Here's the composited final picture for this week's Toon Club topic. I had a lot of fun with this one, and I was humming "The Time Has Come" from Disney's Alice in Wonderland for most of the week.

I'd also like to send a hearty thank you to Michelle Lana, who is featuring my blog on HER blog this week. Michelle's a very sweet and generous illustrator, you should go check out her blog now! Make sure you bookmark it, she updates all the time!

Here's some related posts you might also enjoy:

Ice Fishing
Tiki Mermaid and Penguins
The Old Man and the Sea
Cheshire Cat and the White Rabbit
Bully Fish

Illustration Friday: Gravity

Why, oh why, can penguins not fly?
They've got feathers and wings, it's not right.
Is it too much to ask
Is it too big a task
To grant fat little sea birdies flight?

Walrus Detail

I don't usually do this, but here's a detail of my entry for this week's Toon Club. I've got a long way to got until it's finished, especially since I haven't even drawn the carpenter to go with this walrus, but I was pretty happy with how this design came out, so I thought I'd post it here.

Incidentally, my good ol' pal, Shane "S.T." Lewis has a great, rambling tutorial of the whole pseudo-paint process he uses to color his incredible artwork. It's basically the same method I use, just with Shane's great art instead of my, er... art. If you're a cartoonist who likes to paint digitally, it's worth a look!

Have a great one!
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Fat Squirrel

Why should bats be the only overweight rodents on my blog?
Disney animation cartoons art Walt Disney animated film movie cartoon comic funny humor animals hand drawn director animator artist portfolio adrian ropp don bluth animation animated portfolio character design production art storyboards

Jabba the Hutt

One of my favorite cartoons of the 21st Century so far has been Genndy Tartokovsky's Star Wars: Clone Wars. The style's so slick, and the character designs are just spot on, especially Yoda. If you've never seen Clone Wars, I suggest you check it out. Both volumes are on DVD, and volume to ends at exactly the beginning of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. You'll see some really cool anime influenced design, staging, and storytelling.

While I don't claim my Jabba's as cool or well designed as Genndy's stuff, I had fun caricature this very bombastic and iconic Hutt.
Disney animation cartoons art Walt Disney animated film movie cartoon comic funny humor animals hand drawn director animator artist portfolio adrian ropp don bluth animation animated portfolio character design production art storyboards

U. Otter

Otters are cool. They slide in the mud on their bellies, and don't subscribe to the heinous work ethic of their beaver cousins. This fella to the left is named Ulysses Otter, or U for short.

As in...

U. Otter... check out Toon Club's Star Wars entries!

U. Otter... make your way over to Avalanche Software's art blog! (I love those guys!)

U. Otter... watch the first episode of my friend Will's online TV show! He's so cool, even for an old guy!
Disney animation cartoons art Walt Disney animated film movie cartoon comic funny humor animals hand drawn director animator artist portfolio adrian ropp don bluth animation animated portfolio character design production art storyboards

Fat Bat

I would assume that most bats are not obese, but when I started sketching out this fella, I realized that his sonar-equipped ears were so large that he was probably really good at catching his prey. How many moths does a typical bat have to eat each day to pack on the extra pounds? Don't ask me... I draw cartoons.
Disney animation cartoons art Walt Disney animated film movie cartoon comic funny humor animals hand drawn director animator artist portfolio adrian ropp don bluth animation animated portfolio character design production art storyboards

Outfoxing the Weasel

Foxes and weasels, two mammals who share a common bond. Their names are sullied every time we humans claim someone is "crazy like a fox" or "weaseling their way out of something." Who do we think we are, applying less than glowing traits to some of nature's most noble and intelligent creatures? Poor fox has enough trouble on his hands explaining to people that he's in the dog, not the cat, family. And weasel... Well, let's not even get into the slander lawsuits he's got pending over at Disney.

Instead, I suggest we leave poor fox and weasel alone and focus our attention on more important matters. While we've been busy piling our contempt on these beautiful mammals, the reptiles have slowly been infiltrating our blogs. They've been very sneaky about it, too. At first, they sent in their spies to assimilate into large groups. Then, they began their "accidental" attacks on mammalian kind, just to keep us in check. And finally, they've started to appear out in the open, even on blogs that are named after primates. Can you believe the audacity? Can you?

It's time we stop this madness and send those cold blooded cretins running! We have to stop belittling other members of Class Mammalia and face the task at hand... Saving our blogs!

After all, are we men or are we mice?
Disney animation cartoons art Walt Disney animated film movie cartoon comic funny humor animals hand drawn director animator artist portfolio adrian ropp don bluth animation animated portfolio character design production art storyboards

I Am the Terror That Flaps in the Night!

My favorite Disney cartoon of the early '90's was Darkwing Duck. The basic premise of Darkwing was a spoof on Batman and other superhero franchises. D.W., along with his sidekick Launchpad McQuack, spoofed everything from "Justice League" to "Twin Peaks".

It was a crazy ride, there was even some movie talks happening during the Disneytoon Studios days. Sadly, nothing further ever gelled, and I had to wait until last year to get my Darkwing fix. (I won a trivia contest on animated-news.com for the first season boxed set.)

Here's my tribute to Darkwing Duck, and all the cool Disney toons of my youth that helped keep my imagination bubbling long enough to pursue my career!
Disney animation cartoons art Walt Disney animated film movie cartoon comic funny humor animals hand drawn director animator artist portfolio adrian ropp don bluth animation animated portfolio character design production art storyboards

Illustration Friday: The 80's

The '80's?

Hmmm....

How 'bout....

"Miami Ice"
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Fat Dogs are Fun!

Aren't fat dogs great? They're all lazy and happy, and it seems like they never gain any of the weight in their legs.

I drew this happy chappy for Toon Club's "Man's Best Friend" topic, and thought I'd post him here as well, as I haven't had an entry in a bit.

To be fair, I'm really more of a cat person, as you can probably guess from my past entries. But I don't have anything against dogs... I just seem to have an aversion to slobber, which pooches have in abundance.
Disney animation cartoons art Walt Disney animated film movie cartoon comic funny humor animals hand drawn director animator artist portfolio adrian ropp don bluth animation animated portfolio character design production art storyboards

IF: Santa Doesn't Need Much Help This Year

Call me grouchy, but it seems like when I go Christmas shopping, there are an overabundance of unruly, apparently parent-less kids running through the store, screaming and leaving a trail of destruction.

So, I got to thinking that maybe Santa's "Nice" list has been getting a little smaller each year. In fact, most elves have probably been downsized. I don't know why Santa looks so upset in this picture... I'd be happy if I got Christmas Eve off.

More Christmas Goodies
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Three French Hens

Three French hens? Hmmmm.... Well, when I decided to draw them for Toon Club, the only thing I could think to do to make them look French was to give them attitude.

Now I'm thinking that on the third day of Christmas, my true love should give to me a Nintendo DS instead. I don't want to spend the remaining nine days of Christmas laughing throatily and watching Jerry Lewis movies.

Remember, kids! Buy American... Hens.

Sketchy Penguin

What is it about penguins that make them so darned appealing to Hollywood nowadays? "Happy Feet" is killing at the box office, "March of the Penguins" is one of the most well received animal documentaries of all time, and "Surf's Up" looks very, very promising.

Things like this seems to come in tides. Anyone remember Antz and A Bug's Life premiering so close together? Or Volcano and Dante's Peak? Or Deep Impact and Armageddon?

Are we all somehow connected in a strange psychic-creative way? It makes no difference to me. All I know is, I drew a sketchy penguin, and I wanted to post him on my blog.

I call dibs on the next penguin movie!

Some Gesture Drawings

I did these very quick gestures for my portfolio a couple of weeks ago. In the interest of keeping new content flowing on my blog, I've decided to share them with you!

Have a nice day!

Last Minute Shopping Ideas....

Just in case any of you might need some quirky ideas. :) Have a great one and thanks for all your wonderful support. The last two months have been rough and your comments have really brightened my mood.

Illustration Friday: Might

Do mermaids live with penguins in the Arctic? Do they search for hidden treasure, led by a magic tiki necklace?

I don't know, but they might.
Disney animation cartoons art Walt Disney animated film movie cartoon comic funny humor animals hand drawn director animator artist portfolio adrian ropp don bluth animation animated portfolio character design production art storyboards

I'm Back?

Well, I've been out of commission and out of the country for about a month now. Thank you to all of you who continued to read my blog anyway. :)

I still don't have something new to post here, so I, with great hesitancy, will post this instead. It's some character art I did earlier this year for a book called "Faux Paw Meets the First Lady". Faux Paw is the darker orange cat, and her cousin, Ernie, is the lighter one. I designed Ernie.

Hope everyone is doing well, and I promise I'll start posting less irregularly now that my jet lag has ebbed. To all those who wondered where I've been, I say "Thank You , Seth."

Illustration Friday: Quiet

Toon Club: Merlin

Pigs is Pigs

Here's a DVD cover that was just approved for one of the projects I'm currently directing. The artist was just not getting anything to gel, so they let me take a stab at it. I drew all the character elements, and the background elements are Photoshop retouches of three separate backgrounds we have in our growing stock. It probably seems a bit bare in the middle of the shot, but that's where the titles will go.

This particular project is called "Pig Tales," and is a 13 episode, 22 minute animated series that we've been working on for several years. I'm really proud of the series... For it's price, it's a really high quality, hand drawn series. The series is going to be seen on TV in the U.S., but we're beginning to release the episodes, two at a time, on DVD to European markets.

Thanks for stopping by!

Bullyfish

If I ever had a chance
To make a little wish
I'd keep the hooks
I'd keep the sharks
And leave the bully fish.

Pepe LePew

Here's my first attempt at Pepe LePew and Penelope. I suppose I shouldn't be deathly afraid of skunks, but I have Chuck Jones to blame for that. C'est le vie!

Illustration Friday: Change

Blind dates can go horribly wrong.

Paul Bunyon

This week's Toon Club topic is "Tall Tales". I thought it'd be fun to show Paul Bunyon and Babe at the North Pole after they retired. This is an alternate coloring of the post, the original can be found at Toon Club.

And, Lo, The Dog Did Lie Down with the Goose...

Way back in July, I promised you more information about the Dog and Goose picture I posted for Illustration Friday. Well, my dad came through with a photo, so here you go.

Bubba was our old black lab. Due to a couple of past leg injuries, he put on a lot of weight and wasn't very fast on his feet. Apparently, the neighbor's goose was feeling some maternal instincts and, having no goslings to take care of, decided to adopt Bubba as her child. That goose would follow him around wherever he went, and was very protective of him. If the goose was around, you couldn't pet Bubba. Sometimes the goose would even sleep outside of his dog house.

Bubba's not with us anymore, but I'll never forget what a wonderful, gentle dog he was. And it makes me think... If a dog and a goose can be friends, why can't we?

Here's the photographic proof, once and for all:

Remembrance Day

On that autumn morning five years ago, I was following my usual routine, driving to work. As I turned on the radio, I was disturbed to hear our local talk radio host announce that, apparently, one of the World Trade Center towers had collapsed. Then, just as he was starting to recap what was known about the situation, the other tower fell. I was concerned, saddened for the people in the buildings who would have obviously lost their lives. I wasn't horrified, however, until a half hour later, when the reality of the attack started to sink in.

I remember what those first hours were like. We all went home early from work to be with our families. Jennifer and I were glued, torturously, to the television, drinking in the happenings, wondering if there were other planes out there, somewhere, that might cause further damage. We were scared, confused, angry. We confirmed that everyone in our family was okay. Jennifer's parents were on vacation out of state, and we confirmed they were safe. They were able to rent a car to make their way home, since the planes were grounded.

I still have questions about the attack, I think most people do. I'm sad that our world has changed so much since then. I wish I could erase that extra bit of fear I feel every time I have to fly. But you can't turn back time, and innocence shattered cannot be rebuilt.

So I move forward, like so many of you, trying to compensate for the changes in our world. I cling to the fact that I love America. I love the United States with all of my heart, and I am proud to honor the memory of all the wonderful things this country was created to stand for.

My grandfather, who passed away two years ago, instilled so much of this in me. He spent a LIFETIME in pain from the World War II shrapnel that coursed through his body. And in 30 years, I never heard him complain about it once. He was a patriot and a hero. I would dishonor his memory if I did not stand up and speak of my love for this country that he gave everything for.

God Bless America.

To my international viewers, please know that I respect you and your beliefs, and this post is not meant to insult you. We will all be better off when we learn to live together, find common ground, and accept each other for the goodness in our souls. Thank you for your kind comments and support.

Felines... Nothing More Than Felines...

Here's a compilation of some of the cats I've been doodling lately. If you're not a fan of kittens, you should probably just move along now.

Illustration Friday: Farm

You can also check out some alternate farm drawings:
Hog in the Mud
Chicken Sketch
Toon Club Animal Farm


Return to Toon Baboon

Our cat, Isabella

Not necessarily the attitude that my cat usually has, but here's a drawing I was commissioned to draw by my beautiful wife, Jennifer.

Isabella has two modes... Nice mode for when she's around us and nasty mode when she's around company. We don't invite people over very often.

Have a nice weekend!

Why I Do It

These are my nieces, Taylor and Jordan, and they are wearing brand new t-shirts that Grandpa (my dad) ordered them from my zazzle.com shop. Dad sent me this picture that he took soon after giving them the shirts. The looks on their faces made my day, and I just had to share it with you!

In animation, we have one of the greatest tools ever created to make positive changes for our world. Uplifting stories of sacrifice, love, friendship and peace find their targets easily when accompanied by endearing animated characters. The real world dissolves away to reveal magical locales, beautiful princesses, just kings, brave knights and noble animals. Fairy tales aren't just stories when seen through the eyes of a toddler. They're palpable. They're real!

It would be naive of me to think we can shelter the next generation from the turbulent road we face as a race, but think of the advantage we gain in giving kids wonderful, honorable characters to emulate. And what if we show them that stories can have happy endings... That it's worth hoping, and working hard, and following your dreams?

I'm not in this industry for money, though making a living is definitely the only way I can continue. The reason I drag myself out of bed in the morning, the reason I push along on projects that seem neverending is because I believe in my heart that the work I am doing is going to make a difference in the lives of children, with their eyes filled with wonder and their luminous smiles. Somehow, some way, I know that drawing cartoons and creating stories that teach the values I hold so dear will have an impact on our future.

P.S.-
Tayler, Jordan, Sadie, Shantelle, Barrett, Joslynn and Tyler... Thank you for helping me to be a better uncle, and a better human being. I hope I can return the favor. Uncle "A" loves ya!

Hey, while I've got you here, here's some selected blog links from the kind people who visit my blog. Thanks for all the great feedback, everyone! (You can also find these links under the "New Discoveries" section of the sidebar.)

NEW! Zara Illustrates
NEW! Michael Ryan
NEW! Tyler Stott
NEW! Potato Farm Girl
NEW! Christopher Bennett
NEW! Kenneth Anderson
NEW! Sweet Pea
NEW! Salma H.
NEW! Jarrett Young
NEW! Anthony Price
NEW! Joe Bling
NEW! Samuel Rapp
NEW! Andre Barnwell
NEW! Seo Kim
NEW! Todd Oman
NEW! Garth Bruner
NEW! Vern Mercado
NEW! Doug Jones
NEW! Michelle Lana
NEW! James Elston

Illustration Friday: Safe

It's no secret that I love cats. However, even I must concede that one of their main traits is trying to get away with stuff that they shouldn't. Curiosity killed the cat, you know.

Oh, but don't worry, little pup. You're safe!

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Hairy? Scary.

Here's a detail from my Toon Club entry for the week. The topic, chosen by Mr. Jed Henry, was "If Monkeys Ruled the World." As you probably guess from the name of my blog, I have a love of all things monkey. I love Planet of the Apes, I love Tarzan, I love MONKEYS!!!

I think I got too excited, because I started thinking of all these ideas to draw, and they weren't really that focused. I just wanted to draw some monkeys.

So, I was explaining to my loyal pal, Joe Fowler, that my concept was to have humans and monkeys reversing roles... (i.e., monkeys doing scientific tests on humans, monkeys training humans to appear as extras in films...)
Joe had what I consider a genius thought. Make a Monkey Organ Grinder with a dancing human.

The only thing I changed from the original concept Joe gave me was that Joe thought it would be funny if the human was standing on the organ grinder, and I felt too much compassion for the monkey to do that. Anyway, it was a prime example of brainstorming with trusted, talented peers to find the best solution for a gag.

If you want to see the complete picture, background and monkeys and all, click here.

Click here to return to the home page.

Sketchy Cat

I had a few minutes tonight, so I thought I'd post this cat sketch I did last night. It got me thinking about some of ways I've been influenced as a cartoonist.

I love the Disney movies of the 60's and 70's that used the Xerox process to print their animation cels. You can really see the power of the animator's pencil strokes, especially in Aristocats, Robin Hood, and The Rescuers. In the age of DVD technology, there's no reason a budding animation artist can't take advantage of the masters' techniques.

I've had such wonderful opportunities to work with and be mentored by such incredible talents as Mark Swan, Ric Estrada, and Bob Simmons, whose influence can be seen in much of my work. I hope in the future I can learn more from them. Studying their work has added value... They're available to explain the why's and how's of what they've done.

Then there are my contemporaries, those in my generation who have found success, whether creatively or financially or both, in the animation industry. I can't look at a Shane Lewis animal sketch without marveling at the appeal, I'm constantly amazed by Seth Hippen's strong draftsman approach to art, and Jed Henry is fearless when it comes to incorporating non-traditional styles into his cartooning.

What I've learned is this... You're never going to be a better Ollie Johnston than Ollie Johnston is. You're never going to out-Milt Kahl Milt Kahl. But you can take some cues from them and add your own person flair to it. No artist has ever been exactly like you and no artist ever will be. You have an opportunity, if you are determined to succeed, to show the rest of us something we've never seen before.

Have a great day!

Proposals, Etc.

Proposing to a girl is nerve-racking. Nine years ago this month, I proposed to my wife, the lovely, funny, smart Jennifer. Even though we picked out the ring together and planned the date for the proposal, and even though I knew her answer would be "yes", I was so emotional and stressed that I thought I'd blow the whole thing. Luckily, I didn't have to ask for consent from her Uncle Rat. Even though I love Jennifer with all my heart, I'm a chicken, not a froggy.

Here's details from this week's Toon Club entry, "Froggy Went A-Courtin". You'll notice that Mr. Froggy is wearing an ascot. That's because there seemed to be a running gag among the Toon Clubbers about Froggy wearing a tie, and I was late posting. The only tie choices that hadn't been used yet were bolo tie and ascot. I chose the ascot route, which, combined with the drawing, seems to have given poor Froggy a "Mr. Furley" feel.

By the way, this week's topic was from the mind of Seth Hippen. Seth was an animator on Monster House, which I checked out this weekend. If you haven't seen it yet, I suggest you do. It's one of those films that needs to be seen on a big screen. The team over at Sony has really improved their methods of enhancing motion capture to make an appealling product. In addition, it's a cleverly written story with great performances. Well done, Seth and Sony!

On the Hunt for a Good Film

I remember back in my younger days, when 2D animation was considered "the bomb", I read an article in a movie magazine about Don Bluth's upcoming "Romeo and the Rockhopper." It seemed like a cool idea for a buddy movie, and I was really excited by the concept. Due to many sad circumstances, it was finally completed as "The Pebble and the Penguin", and was a critical and financial bomb. What a waste of a great idea and the talents of hundreds of people.

I get frustrated sometimes. So few animated films ever make it to the greenlit phase, it's a shame when someone in the production gets antsy and doesn't take the time to develop the ideas properly. One of the reasons I think John Lasseter is so successful is that he understands this concept... Story is King!

If your story isn't working... Fix it or move on! If your pacing is awkward... Don't be afraid to change things! If your storyboards don't work... Don't start animation!

It's so important to learn these principles, especially for an independent studio. How much more difficult is it to get funding for your animated film when the money men look at how badly the last cartoon bombed? Careless animation DEFINITELY has an effect on the industry, and there are too many talented folks working out there for us to ruin the industry with impatience.

Well, that's all. Thanks for letting me rant. Hope you enjoy the above penguin drawing, which I drew to make a wraparound mug for my new zazzle print shop. Had a blast doing it, too!

By the way, 2D is still "the bomb". Some people just forgot for awhile.

Illustration Friday: Match

One of these things is not like the other... One of these things is not the same...

Buttercup Waits

This week's Toon Club topic was "The Princess Bride." I decided to draw a moment with beautiful Buttercup waiting for her Westley to return.

I'm presenting here an alternate version which I think I actually prefer. I think this Buttercup has a little more storybook illustration feel to her. But you can decide for yourself.

Have a nice weekend!

Some Character Design Stuff

Here's some more character designs from that proposed feature pitch I've been working on. It's been a great challenge for me, as I haven't done that much work designing distinct humans like this. I'm fairly happy about the outcome. I'll post more as it is completed.

What Happens After the Capture?

I love the old Bugs Bunny cartoons in which Bugs pretends to be dead, prompting Elmer Fudd to completely change his attitudes toward rabbit hunting. Since last week's Toon Club topic was "Swamp Critters", I decided to pay homage to this classic gag with a critter known for playing dead.

It occurs to me now, however, that he might be TOO good of an actor.

Illustration Friday: Opposites

Yes, this is a dog and a goose sharing a quiet afternoon together. Don't judge them!

(Based on a true story, which I will tell as soon as I can find the photos to prove it!)