this is a rough model sheet for a film idea I have been developing. The idea is this: I meet animators from around the world on my travels and I am always interested in meeting more. Animators make great people. I contacted about 25 of them from 9 different countries and asked if they want to make a film together. 24 said yes. I give everyone the same 'topic' (its a line really, no real theme or anything) and they can animate their interpretation of it. Any style, and medium, any 'story'. and each around 10-20 seconds long. I will then compile all of them and make a film of it. IF it all works and IF everyone comes through. This is my character. I will add some color really soon and post that as well. and most likely I  will post updates on the animation here as well. thoughts?

a second revision...what was I thinking with that last one??

a slight revision to a shot I am wrestling with......

preschool design

for a series idea I had been tossing around for a while....

more n' more

Image Dump

I finally got a chance to post some of the sketches I had piling up for the last several ( gulp!) months. Most of these are geared towards a younger audience, some are clearly not. and others not posted here, are for a different blog altogether.

'My Daughter is a Girl' leaves the nest!

My last film, "My Daughter is a GIrl" is officially done with the festival circuit. I always wonder about posting it, sending out, all alone, in to the cruel, cruel world; able to be downloaded and have all sorts of unspeakable things done to it, having to fend for itself. But then I think, "I have trained you well, you have to survive on your own" and off it goes. I think there is alot of controversy about putting your stuff out there for 'free'. Most of this comes from old-school folks who were always taught that this a bad, bad thing. I fell in to this group for a while. But now I see it as marketing. This film had a good life and if it brings any more work as a result of someone seeing it, it can have another great run for me. It does me or anyone else any good for it to see on a hard drive gathering dust, right? so I hope you enjoy it, feel free to pass it along to anyone you know! Here is the link to Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOhTBKLvb9g

Book Illustrations

Alright, so I have been pecking away at my diminishing free-time and trying to get this book thing to a point I can shop it around (so I can then get back to work on my film). I am not quite half-way through painting the characters. of course, I landed on a method that is neither fast or easy or consistent. so in order to see if I am off base with it, I am posting a work-in-progress on the 'look'. any thoughts?

ready...discuss

lately I have been pre-occupied with the concept of 'appeal' in design and animation. Some people know this word as 'quality' and even more people know this word as aesthetics. to me, its that undefinable concept of what makes a work of art 'good' a purely subjective term that in one sense, can't be defined. but that only suggests that it doesn't exist, when it does in every place we look. I try to get my students to recognize it, strive for it, make it a part of their work from the very start, but without being able to define it, how can I expect them to use it? It's a very complex and vexing situation for me. If anyone has any thoughts on this, let me know. as my train of thought travels down these rails, I will, undoubtedly, add more to this discussion.

cheers

some new backgrounds

and by 'new' I mean, of course, old looking. I did these for a recent job that wanted a limited style of animation. I like working in this manner, it makes me think hard about what is really important to the shot and how to compose it so each element retains its importance. When I add the characters to the shot they become graphic elements as well, and if it works, everything fits and the shot looks more 'populated' than it actually is. I suggest every animator study graphic design in their downtime, it does so much for your sense of space.

Book Art

SO I have finally found some time (how many of my posts begin with that?) to work on painting the illustrations for my children's book manuscript. I have been fiddlin' around with different applications, trying to keep it all digital, and found a process I am happy with. the textures are close to what I want, I think it needs some tweeking here and there, and my sense of color could use a cold, hard slap in the face, but I am on the right track. that track, by the way, is the one diverting me from my film, but I am also doing a little of the film now. more to come?

acceptance!

My film "My Daughter is a Girl!' has been officailly accepted in to two festivals so far! I am waiting to hear on one more. I kept the entries low, not expecting much. but if I had known I would get these ultra cool laurels sent to me, I would have entered anything that I could! can I wear this on my hat?

some early sketches

and here are a few early sketches in the design process. i am not posting all of them. I think I am pretty close on this dude, he may change a bit in the storyboarding process depending on how his acting affects his personality and his 'look'. these earlier ones he is a bit too fat, I think. yes?

latest film designs

so I am currently embroiled in the storyboards for my latest film, tentatively titled 'UnResolved'. but before i can get any of those done, I needed characters, obviously. The story is awesome, and the main character, who does not have or need a name, is kind of a milquetoast, wimpy, but curious dude. He needs to look submissive, but with a scent of wanting to regain control of his life. He is not a killer, not exactly a victim, but not aggressive either. The mosquito still has room for development, I think. He needs an eye at least, but his movement will do more to describe him than an expression will. I cant decide on the hat or any other clothing for him. any opinions?

Color Backgrounds

here are a few of the backgrounds for the Arctic Spot. I designed the background elements, and the very, very talented Jenny Kincaid (thanks Jenny!) painted them digitally.

Storyboard Work

some storyboard panels I did for a cool client. Just a few panels to sell the idea, not enough to really explain the whole spot. you can see these again on my storyboard post,

Layouts

so I've been working lately on some layouts for a NEW spot for Arctic Chiropractic in Alaska. I love the layout stage. I get to pay attention to acting, poses, composition, background design, aesthetic quality, character, and the animatability of the layouts (maybe they can be used as keyframes in some cases. The one with the 'three' bears are the 3 poses I did laid on one BG so you can see the progression of the action. the other one with the family fishing gives an idea of the overlapping and depth of the entire scene. enjoy!

new sketchbookery

These are actually some concept designs for a (let's call it a 'flawed') concept, as is most of my design work these days, tho not all of it flawed, but all of it is proprietary (sp?) so I cant really post images.

but here you go for now!

previous stuff

Just a few more from the (now dormant) Kerplunk site. Check back often for new sketches, designs and thoughts on animation in general and 2D animation, specifically.

Sketchbookery and Designs

As of Friday the 13th, Kerplunk Animation has merged with Mongadillo Studios! Mongadillo is an award winning studio where we will be working on commercials, short films, and developing a boatload of cool properties. I am the Director of Animation, I tried for 'Supreme Allied Commander' but that title is apparently taken.

here are some of the files from the previous version of Kerplunk. check out the Mongadillo link to see waht the awesome studio is all about!