the Monkey & the Maestro
Two friends have directed animated films coming out this month. Tony Stacchi’s THE MONKEY KING (on Netflix) & Jim Capobianco’s THE INVENTOR (in US cinemas).
READ MORE..Colleagues
My co-workers:
This Balanced Breakfast
An Apple Cinnamon Cheerios commercial, produced at Colossal Pictures in 1992.
READ MORE..STARTOONS
Before becoming coming a Saturday morning cartoon powerhouse, the STARTOONS studio was briefly located in downtown Chicago, where I worked for them one summer.
READ MORE..Pear Cider & Cigarettes
Robert Valley has recently completed a 35 minute animated movie that is the culmination of projects I saw him start back at Maverix Studios around 15 years ago; PEAR CIDER & CIGARETTES.
READ MORE..Phil Robinson
A beloved longtime member of the Bay Area animation community, has finally succumbed to pancreatic cancer after battling it bravely for over 3 years. Phil Robinson will be greatly missed by his loving wife Jennifer, and his many friends from around the world, me amongst them. Phil came to the Bay Area in the early … Read more
Ronald Searle’s Birthday
70 PIXAR artists recently sent RONALD SEARLE a 91st BIRTHDAY SKETCHBOOK filled with tributes; a project which I was honored to be included in.
READ MORE..FRIEND!
Here’s a BIRTHDAY (21st of April!) CARD for Mr Derek Thompson, honoring the fellow who introduced us many years ago; good old FRANKENSTEIN’s monster. It seems appropriate that my friendship with DEREKMONSTER should have begun on a MONSTER MOVIE. Though that project was never finished, I made many great friends on that crew, Derek being … Read more
Me and Mr, MISTER JONES
This charming gouache painting was just given to me by my pal MATT JONES. It may be a GOODBYE present for my departing the story crew we both worked on together, or perhaps it is a SORRY present, to make amends for the incredibly funny good-bye CARD he also did, depicting me in the depths … Read more
Power Lunch
Not so long ago Ronnie organised a re-union lunch for the story team that had worked on UP, where we were finally introduced to THE GOLDEN BOY. It was a very pleasant afternoon, reconnecting with some people I had not seen in ages and a wonderful way to commemorate the project that is definitely the … Read more
Rise of the LAIKANS
Working at LAIKA Studios in Beautiful Portland has allowed me to meet some wonderful artists. None of whom I had met before, but some who’s work I was already familiar with. VERA BROSGOL is incapable of doing an un-appealing drawing. Beautiful storyboard drawings simply SQUIRT from her fingertips (personally, I have to GRUNT mine out). … Read more