Friday, December 01, 2017

Net Neutrality

Ready to spend more, and enjoy it less?





Contact your senators and congresspeople

and the good folks at the FCC.


Ajit.Pai@fcc.gov
Mignon.Clyburn@fcc.gov; Brendan.Carr@fcc.gov; mike.o'rielly@fcc.gov

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Wild Wild West Star Trek Mashup

Surprised on one has come up with this yet.

(original copyright CBS)

With apologies to Robert Conrad, Ross Martin and Gene Roddenberry.

Sunday, October 15, 2017

#inktober Girlie Space Monster

Okay Inktober, here's a Halloween nightmare for you:

I give you-
SPACE GIRLIE MONSTER VENUS!
I told you it was weird.

Enjoy!


Thursday, October 12, 2017

#inktober Bear and Athena and the Falling Star

Slice of life on the planet Solstice-


#inktober Cubcake Vs Dragon_V02

And here is another Inktober offering, no real story here, except it could be a dream Herman Bear is having while he is stranded on the planet Solstice. 


#inktober Cubcake Vs Goopface

Hello Damsel Fans, and webcrawlers and 'bots too!

Here's a crack at "Inktober"-


Cubcake plays the role of a dashing aviator who accidentally gets an alien device attached to her left arm while battling a "melting man" type character.


Enjoy!

Tuesday, September 05, 2017

Mark Twain - Star Wars - Jedi Knight - Lightsaber

Hello blog, things have been hot and hairy in August, so here's a Halloween idea as we enter into Autumn:

(Light saber copyright Disney/Lucasfilm)

Some hastily done Photoshop bashing. 
With apologies to Mr. Twain, and the unknown photographer.
Enjoy!

Martin Landau - Artist - Cartoonist!

And a belated tribute to Martin Landau.

(Martin Landau hitting the inkpots! photographer unknown)

I didn't know the commander of Moonbase Alpha was also an artist!
The writers on these links really do him justice.

Rest in Peace Martin Landau, your presence on screen brought me hours of pure enjoyment.

Sunday, July 02, 2017

Falling Hare - 1943 - The Gremlin

Hello blog, it's been a busy spring and crazy June, so I haven't posted in a while. Finally having some time to muse, a stray thought struck a spark, which kindled a small, but revealing flame:

What happened to the Gremlin in Bob Clampett's 1943 Merrie Melodies "Falling Hare"? And is he still a trademarked character of Warner Brothers? I worked at Warner Classics in the 90's and I missed seeing his model sheets and other references around the studio. But a post on Facebook lead me to the fate of this cute little saboteur, and who owns him now:

(original copyright Warner Brothers)

According to this news, Steven Grossfeld of Gremlin Fine Arts Galleries in Vermont has secured his claim to the Gremlin back in 1990. Steven related to me that since this cute little stinker was used in a U.S. Army Film Corps propaganda short, he was never copyrighted. I didn't know that he was originally created by author and RAF pilot Roald Dahl.

Dahl's books were later used for animation with James and the Giant Peach and The Fantastic Mr. Fox. And you can't forget Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, (except for, maybe Tim Burton's version.)

To heap more shame on my ignorance, I learned that Disney wanted to use the little guy for a feature, even bringing in Walt Kelly of Pogo Possum fame. (I think Kelly was a Disney artist at the time). 
But when Disney could not secure the copyright, Warner's took over, and the Gremlin floated in legal limbo for years, until he was acquired by Steven.



According to Steven Grossfeld, Steven Spielberg was given the okay to use the Gremlin in a couple of  "Tiny Toons." I've never seen them, but nothing can beat "Falling Hare", 
and the "Gremlins from the Kremlin" short "Russian Rhapsody".

 (original copyright Warner Brothers)

So, for this Fourth of July celebration, try to laugh with the first seven notes of "Yankee Doodle", in spite of what is going on in Washington D.C. And remember, the Gremlin was the only character who ever got the better of Bugs Bunny. ("You know how it is with these 'A Cards' ".)

 (original copyright Warner Brothers)

Happy Independence Day everyone.

UPDATE:

Steven also mentioned that Virgil Ross was the key animator and character designer on the Gremlin. Ross told Steven in secret that working on the Gremlin was one of his most favorite projects. So keep it under your hats folks! Loose lips an' all that.


Saturday, June 10, 2017

R.I.P. Adam West

Well, whether it be comics, TV or animation, Batman always held my attention. I didn't get the campy attitude of the 1960's TV show, especially when the cliffhanger endings meant to me that the danger was REAL. My parent's chuckling, and rolling their eyes was lost on me. But here's to Adam West who kept a six year old in suspense every Wednesday night on ABC. To me, the Bat-Signal will never go out.

(Batman's symbol done in Maya. copyright DC comics)

Monday, April 17, 2017

Legend Quest - Netflix

Stumbled on Legend Quest on the Animation Scoop website. Netflix is putting out this new series from Anima Estudios. Looks like fun so far. The style and characters look like they took some inspiration from Gravity Falls and Star vs. the Forces of Evil.

(copyright Anima Estudios & Netflix)

The plot revolves around Leo, and his new friends as they challenge the evil schemes of Quetzalcóatl.

The story takes place in 18th century Mexico where Leo has encountered ghosts and demons as a child, and now must do so again with his new friends: Don Andrés, who is the ghost of an old conquistador, Teodora, who is a actually a hologram of a girl somehow transported from the 21st century, and Alebrije, a magical creature based on Mexican folk art.

Looks like it has a lot of fun and action, I hope it does well.




Thursday, April 13, 2017

Pinterest

Well, somebody at the Guild got me hooked on Pinterest.


What do you think?

Saturday, February 04, 2017

ASIFA-Hollywood's 44th annual Annie Awards

Watching the streaming of the 44th Annual Annie Awards from UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California.


(copyright Disney)
 


 (copyright ASIFA-Hollywood)


Saturday, January 28, 2017