Happy Father's Day

Merry Christmas!

Graphic Novel Sneak Preview

Okay, so some of you may be aware that I'm in the very slow process of producing a graphic novel. It's been in the works long enough now that I've decided to share a (tiny) taste with you.

Of course, as you may have expected, it features penguins. I've removed the dialogue from this half-page of art, as it contains key plot points. As it stands now, the graphic novel will consist of 120 page and a cast of about thirty, most of which aren't penguins. I'd originally planned this as an animated feature, but I think I have a much better chance of realizing this as a printed adventure first. Since I work on this in my free time, there is no telling when it will be finished. It's really a labor of love and I don't plan on rushing it.

Showing Off Doesn't Work

If this was a reference to my personal experience, you'd see the giant ice pillar the penguin's about to run into.

I hope I'm back in the saddle again and going to be posting a lot more regularly. I already have this year's "Halloweenies" figured out, so you can at least expect something before October.

Thanks for sticking in there!

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...)

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!

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.

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?

Illustration Friday: The 80's

The '80's?

Hmmm....

How 'bout....

"Miami Ice"
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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!

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.
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Illustration Friday: Quiet

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...