On the morning of September 4th, 2007, James and Oliver Phelps, who play Weasley twins Fred and George in the Harry Potter films, visited the offices of "Adult Swim" over at Williams Street in Atlanta. The actors were in town over the Labor Day weekend at Dragon*Con 2007, the huge Atlanta Sci-fi, Fantasy, Comics convention, along with their co-star Matt Lewis (Neville Longbottom). So, on the morning before they were scheduled to head to the airport, an impromptu tour of the Adult Swim studios was put together for the Twins. They looked to be thoroughly enjoying themselves as I and fellow animator Darrell showed up to meet them. They were visiting Adult Swim Senior VP Mike Lazzo when we stumbled across them at William Street. The Twins are fans of Adult Swim, having seen some of the shows on the Bravo Channel in the UK. They didn't know "Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law" though, which is the show we worked on, or "Stroker and Hoop", another of ours, but they were still very pleased to meet us and talked with us for quite a while about the animation process.
They were snapping photos all around the studios, and the above shot is of us posing with a standee of one of our "Birdman" characters "Bear".
We ended up tagging along with their tour for about 10 minutes. It's not often we get to visit Williams Street ourselves, as we work at Turner Studios which is across the highway. They were given huge bags of swag, which included some "Birdman" DVDs as per my request, and then they were on their way.
I'm a big ol' geeky "Potter" fan myself and meeting these two super-nice fellows was a real treat. It's too bad Matt couldn't make the tour. He wanted to, but his schedule didn't allow for it. I did get to meet him at the Con, though. Hopefully there was enough swag in the bag to share.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
"Harry Potter" Stars Visit "Adult Swim"
Friday, August 31, 2007
Tomb Raider "Re/Visioned"
Turner Studios was recently tasked with production of four Lara Croft Tomb Raider shorts for Gametap.com, part of their ten-part "Re/Visioned" animated anthology series.
This "Re/Visioned" series is best compared to the "Animatrix". It's a group of cartoon shorts with various writers, story ideas, and design styles, with the only common thread between them being Lara Croft as lead character. They are unique in that they don't particularly relate to the original Tomb Raider video game, or to each other for that matter.
I was given the chance to Animation Direct one of the episodes, "Revenge of the Aztec Mummy". This episode is a cartoon romp, more like an episode of Scooby Doo than anything we've seen Lara in before. It was written by Brian Pulido with character designs by David Alvarez. All of the animation was done here in Atlanta at Turner Studios.
There was also a nice write-up about this episode over at Aaron Simpson's Cold Hard Flash, a great Flash animation blog.
The other episodes we did at Turner Studios are "Legacy", which has a great campy, late 60's action cartoon feel, and "Angel Spit - Parts 1 and 2" with a more traditional comic book look. I also did animation for both of these episodes, with the majority of my work on "Legacy".
Go to tombraider.gametap.com to watch these episodes, and the others in the Tomb Raider "Re/Visioned" series.
Monday, July 23, 2007
The Death of Harvey Birdman
Well, here it is. After 4 fantastic years of working on a show that I loved, the final episode is out there for all to enjoy. We really wanted to kick it up a notch and make sure that Harvey went out in style. I am so proud of the work we did on the series and all the accolades we've received. Enjoy the episode and buy the DVD on the 24th!
Harvey Birdman is dead... long live Harvey Birdman!
PART ONE
PART TWO
PART THREE
PART FOUR
Friday, July 06, 2007
The Shemp Meditation Tapes
Ahhhh, The Shemp Meditation Tapes. A must for any Shemp fan!
I found Shemp Meditation Tape #1 more than 10 years ago, quite by accident. A guy I worked with used to live in Northern New Jersey and was constantly spouting off about this great radio station he used to listen to back home, WFMU. So we looked them up on the web one day, found our way to their online catalog, and discovered this cassette tape for sale called "The Shemp Meditation Tape". The sound clip on the site was hysterical, so I ordered one. Here are the liner notes:
WINDEM SLIME TAPES PRESENT - THE SHEMP MEDITATION TAPE-
Recommended for new age nitwits and chuckleheads alike....scientifically mixed in SHEMP-A-RAMA for your enlightened casaba-banging pleasure. Soar the Horowitz Heavens and become One with Shemp's karma on the "HEEEEE BEEE BEEE BEEE BEEE side. Transhempify your mind and cook your chakras on the life-infirming "AHH HA HA HA HA HA" side. Produced under armed guard for WFMU by Mahavishnu Dave Thespazzyrama in the palatial Spazzintologist Compound.
These outrageous tapes are the brainchild of WFMU DJ Dave "The Spazz" from his "Music to Spazz By" Radio Program. I originally wrote about these tapes over on my Shemp website wallofshemp.com. Imagine my surprise when after about 2 months of having my Wall of Shemp webpage out there for human consumption, I get an e-mail out of the blue from "The Spazz". He told me about his latest Shemp Meditation #2 Tape. Needless to say, I begged him for a copy of it! Thanks again, Dave. Although the second tape is about half as long as the first, I think #2 is even funnier.
Once again, the Shemp Meditation Tapes have entered my life. I just found MP3s of all 4 Shemp Meditation tracks over on WFMU's "Beware of the Blog"! Here's what I found last night. A write-up and MP3s of Meditation Tape #2:
http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2007/05/more_shemp_than.html
And a link to Meditation Tape #1:
http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2005/10/the_shemp_medit.html
And a link to purchase the long unpurchasable tapes for you very own. But, with free MP3s available? Still, I bought one... you should too!
http://store.wfmustore.org/shmeta.html
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Multimedia message
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Real-Life Herbie
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Freelance - Flash Cartoons for Intel
Here's some freelance work I recently completed with my buddy Les Harper of Lightbox Studios for Producto Studios out in California. Producto Studios was commissioned by Intel to create this series of Flash cartoons to promote their new processor. Producto wrote the scripts and did the storyboards, created character designs, sound fx, and original music while Lightbox handled the animation. I had a great time helping Les out with the animation on these and I think all 4 of them came out fantastic and look great. Les did the majority of the work, building the Flash models and doing most of the animation himself, but since this is my blog, we'll only be concentrating on my meager contributions. Click the text links to view the cartoons.
Power and Performance - I did the animation of the Weakling.
Wireless Connectivity - I handled the animation of the 2 kids.
Manageability and Security - Animated the Security Guard except for this overhead wide shot where he first wakes up.
Energy and Efficiency - Did the animation for the office worker in her "frazzled" state.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Birdgirl Montage
Here's a montage of all the Birdgirl scenes I animated for the episode of Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law "Birdgirl of Guantanamole". This episode won an award for "Best Animated TV Series For Adults" at the 2005 Ottawa International Animation Festival. 100% of the animation was done in Flash.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Flash Sketch
Here's a new sketch I did in Flash based on one of my recent life drawing sessions.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Eric Larson - Disney Family Album
Over the years, Eric animated on such feature films as, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Fantasia," "Bambi," "Cinderella," "Alice in Wonderland," "Peter Pan," "Lady and the Tramp," "Sleeping Beauty," "The Jungle Book," as well as nearly 20 shorts and six television specials. Later, he served as a consultant on "The Black Cauldron" and "The Great Mouse Detective."
In the late 1970s, Eric expanded the Studio's Talent Program to find and train new and talented animators from colleges and art schools across the nation. This program, which still exists today, came at a crucial juncture in Disney's history, when many veteran animators were stepping down from their drawing boards. Subsequently, through his close work with young animators, Eric helped preserve the integrity of Disney animation for generations to come.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Woolie Reitherman - Disney Family Album
Woolie contributed to more than 30 Disney shorts including "Water Babies," "Mickey's Fire Brigade" and "Donald in Mathmagic Land." He also contributed his animation skill to such classic animated features as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Cinderella," "Peter Pan," "Lady and the Tramp," "101 Dalmatians," "The Jungle Book," and more.
In 1963, Woolie became the first animator in the history of the company to be given the directorial reins of an entire animated feature, beginning with "The Sword in the Stone." He also directed the cartoon featurette "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day" which won an Academy Award® in 1969.
After Walt Disney's untimely death in 1966, Woolie helped unify the Studio's stable of egos and talent. As fellow animator Frank Thomas recalls, Woolie was a "very strong leader" during that unsettling time. After nearly 50 years with the Studio, Woolie retired in 1981.
Milt Kahl - Disney Family Album
In June 1934, Milt applied to The Walt Disney Studios and was hired to work as an assistant animator on such shorts as "Mickey's Circus," "Lonesome Ghosts" and "The Ugly Duckling," which won an Oscar® for Best Animated Short. Over the years, Milt contributed to such Disney features as "Melody Time," "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad," "Cinderella," "Lady and the Tramp," "101 Dalmatians," "The Jungle Book," and "The Rescuers," among others.
Because Milt was so good at his craft, he was often assigned the toughest of Disney tasks: animating human characters, such as Peter Pan, Alice of "Alice in Wonderland" and the Prince in "Sleeping Beauty." He was just as adept at animating animal characters, as well, including Bambi, the snooty Llama in "Saludos Amigos," and Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox and Brer Bear in "Song of the South."
Monday, February 12, 2007
Marc Davis - Disney Family Album
Marc joined Disney in 1935 as an apprentice animator on "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and moved on to story sketch and character design on "Bambi" and "Victory Through Air Power." Over the years, he animated on such Disney classic features as "Song of the South," "Cinderella" and "Alice in Wonderland," as well as shorts, including "African Diary," "Duck Pimples" and "Toot, Whistle, Plunk, and Boom."
He later transferred to Disney's design and development organization, today known as Walt Disney Imagineering. As one of Disney's original Imagineers, Marc contributed whimsical story and character concepts for such Disneyland attractions as the Enchanted Tiki Room, It's a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion and The Jungle Cruise.
Ollie Johnston - Disney Family Album
On January 21, 1935, Ollie joined The Walt Disney Studios as an apprentice animator, working on such early Disney shorts as "Mickey's Garden" and "The Tortoise and the Hare," which won an Academy Award® for Best Cartoon. He went on to work as animator and directing animator on more than 24 feature films including, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Fantasia," "Song of the South," "Cinderella," "Alice in Wonderland," "Lady and the Tramp," and "Sleeping Beauty," among others.
An avid train enthusiast, in his spare time, Ollie created a backyard railroad at his home and was instrumental in helping stir Walt Disney's own personal interest in trains.
Frank Thomas - Disney Family Album
Over the years, Frank worked on nearly 20 animated features including, "Pinocchio," "Peter Pan," "Sleeping Beauty," "Cinderella," "The Jungle Book," and "101 Dalmatians," as well as numerous shorts. He also accompanied Walt Disney and a select group of artists on a goodwill tour through South America, in 1941, on behalf of the American Government, which inspired the animated features "Saludos Amigos" and "The Three Caballeros."
In his spare time, Frank played piano with the internationally famous "Firehouse Five Plus Two" jazz band, along with fellow Disney artists, including Ward Kimball.
After nearly 45 years with the Studio, Frank retired in 1978. He went on to co-author four books with life-long friend and fellow animator Ollie Johnston, including the definitive "Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life," "Too Funny For Words," "Walt Disney's Bambi: The Story and the Film," and "The Disney Villain." He and Ollie were also the subjects of the 1995 documentary "Frank and Ollie," which chronicles their unique friendship, which began at Stanford, and creative relationship at Disney.
Ward Kimball - Disney Family Album
Ward Kimball joined The Walt Disney Studios, in 1934, and contributed to most all of its beloved animated features up until his retirement in 1972. Among the many memorable Disney characters he brought to life were Jiminy Cricket in "Pinocchio," Tweedledee and Tweedledum in "Alice in Wonderland" and Lucifer the Cat in "Cinderella."
Ward also directed two Academy Award®-winning short subjects including, "Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom," which was the first CinemaScope cartoon, and "It's Tough to Be a Bird," which featured both live-action and animation combined. During the 1950s, he produced and directed three one-hour space films for the "Disneyland" television show.
Walt's Nine Old Men - Disney Family Album
I'm currently in the process of posting on Youtube all of the Disney Family Album documentaries relating to Walt Disney's fabled "Nine Old Men". The Disney Family Album series aired on the Disney Channel in the eighties and included documentaries on 7 of the 9. There's much on the net about Frank and Ollie, Marc Davis and Ward Kimball. There's precious little about the remaining five. Milt Kahl, Eric Larson, and Woolie Reitherman all were subjects in the Family Album series and it's a joy to hear from these gentlemen, in their own words right from their own mouths, about their lives and careers. Les Clark and John Lounsbery had passed away before this series.
Each episode is 30 minutes long and is split into 3 parts. Frank's and Marc's were previously posted by someone else, along with parts 2 and 3 of Ward's. I posted the missing part 1 of Ward's, along with the complete 3 parts of Milt's, Woolie's, Ollie's and Eric's.
Ward Kimball
Frank Thomas
Ollie Johnston
Marc Davis
Milt Kahl
Woolie Reitherman
Eric Larson
Another episode I have posted is on Ken Anderson, Disney Art Director, Character Designer, and Imagineer.
Ken Anderson
Enjoy!
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Animation Show 3 - Atlanta Screening
This year's Animation Show was in Atlanta at the Carter Center on Friday and Saturday February 2nd and 3rd. The Show is the brainchild of Mike Judge (of Beavis and Butthead fame) and Don Hertzfeldt.
A group of us from the Studios hit the Friday night showing at 9pm. I wasn't originally keen on attending since I thought last year's show was a bit underwhelming, but Mike Judge was in attendance this time around and was doing a Q&A afterwards, so I went along.
I must say that I really enjoyed this year's show. It was a solid offering of entertaining animation. A few of my favorites: "Dreams and Desires" Directed by Joanna Quinn, "9" Directed by Shane Acker, "Game Over" Directed by Pes, and "Rabbit" Directed by Run Wrake.
So after the show and before Mike Judge's Q&A, they had a quick trivia contest to give away a couple of Animation Show Box Set DVDs. The final question was prefaced with "Now here's a question that no one in any previous city that we have been to has gotten correct". Hmmmm, must be hard. So the question is "In Animation Show 1, we showed a clip from the Disney Short "Mars and Beyond". Who created this short?" which of course I knew the answer was Ward Kimball, even without ever having seen Animation Show 1! So I shout out the answer, but was a split second too late as I hear "WA..." just as I shouted the same! It turned out that the guy who beat me too the punch was my fellow animator Mike who I work with at Turner, so I wasn't too upset. But, the MC was so flabbergasted that TWO people knew the answer, he hooked me up with a poster! Sweet!
Mikey with his DVD and me with my poster! Thanks to Darrell for the photo!
Then Mike Judge came out for a short Q&A, some photos and autographs. It was a really great evening.
Today, I decided to check the Animation Show website to see just which cities they had been to previously and to marvel at them for not knowing this answer. And here they are:
Santa Barbera, CA, Seattle, WA, Boston, MA, Portland, OR, Tucson, AZ, New Brunswick, NJ, New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, Berkeley, CA, Hartford, CT and Washington, DC.
For shame!
Friday, December 29, 2006
In Celebration of the Year's "End"
I know, corny. Still, here are a few of my favorite recent "rear view" life drawing sketches. Enjoy!
Happy New Year!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Moe's Monsters
These are some Monster characters that my Wife designed for an idea that we had for the Moe's "Burritos for Life" video contest. 
She drew them on a napkin while we were eating and talking about the idea. I took that napkin drawing and redrew them in Flash. I kept them as close to the original doodle as I could. Every time I strayed or tried to improve it somehow, they didn't look as good.
Can't improve on perfection.
