ReBoot!

"Incoming game...incoming game..." If those words evoke a sense of excitement and computer-animated adventure, you probably also grew up with ReBoot as a staple of your Saturday morning routine. This pin-up is a contribution for veteran CGI artist Jim Su's upcoming ReBoot Artbook.

When I was invited to contribute a piece for the book, I knew it had to be the show's arch-villain, Megabyte. Since Megabyte is a computer virus, I thought I'd offer a glimpse at what hijinks he might be up to in today's world of epic technological fails.

Jim Su's ReBoot artbook will feature more fan art from folks throughout the animation industry, as well as actual ReBoot production artwork. The book hits shelves this Summer!

17 days...

TERRORDACTYL, page 3 of 11

Pictured in this week's page: Pteranodon, Eomaia, Rhamphorhyncus, Meganeura

Available this Summer in paperback through Afterworks III and digitally through the Whamix app. Next Monday, page 4: "The Primordial Sea"

While we're on the topic of sneak peaks, there's a new article at EW on Pixar's upcoming film, Brave. I just wrapped animation on Cars 2 last week, so this is the next project on my plate and I couldn'a be happier abou' it (as the Scots would say)! Alba gu brath!

20 days...

CHADES CHALLENGE XLVI:
CHEESY GRAVE-ROBBERS

"Walk this way."

When I hear 'grave-robber', two world class tomb-raiders come to mind: Indiana Jones and Igor. There's no where to go with Indy design-wise and Igor is definitely the cheesier of the two, so I went with the hump-back. Plus, it was raining cats and dogs when I sat down to draw, so I was in a much more of macabre mood.

Igor with the remnants of Abby Normal.

In hindsight: between Igor, Leper-Con, and the actual leprechaun posted earlier this month, there's a strong presence of ginger mutton-chops on this blog.

If you designed any cheesy grave-robbers (everyone is invited to contribute), leave me a comment with a link to your image and I'll post it below. If not, join us April 8th for:

CHADES CHALLENGE XLVII:
EVOLUTIONARY PARLIAMENT

Zane "Abby Normal" Yarbrough

Trip "RIP" Park

Guilherme "The Crypt Keeper" Verissimo

Tom "The Lost Soul" Soulen

Anthony

23 days...

TERRORDACTYL, page 2 of 11

Available this Summer through Afterworks III in graphic novel form and on Whamix. Next Monday, page 3: "Vine Voyage"

If you have any designs from last week's Chades Challenge (Cheesy Graverobbers), keep 'em handy, because I'll be posting this Friday.

27 days...

The Leper-Con, Pariah of Perdition

Not to be confused with the annual San Diego leper convention. Sketched this at lunch for my buddy Ev's blog, 365 Supers. Seems like a fun seasonal villain for a similarly cultural-themed hero like Captain America.

Scott Shaughnessy is an ex-IRA agent who, until recently, had been imprisoned at a maximum security detention facility in Northern Ireland. A mysterious contagion broke out, killing prisoners and guards alike, until Shaughnessy was the sole-remaining survivor. Warped by the necrotic virus, he became THE LEPER-CON: an anathematic antagonist empowered by the touch of death!

31 days...

Happy St. Patty's Day!


To all you artists who follow this blog,
Heed well my warning while sippin' yer grog!
To avoid a good pinch,
You should cover each inch,
With clothes green as the moss on a log!

According to last week's blog poll, you folks agree (or a majority of you, anyway) that The Green Dragon is the best St. Patrick's Day drinking song. So here it is for your viewing enjoyment!

And just so my fellow Scots don't feel left out on this uber-Irish holiday, Slainte mhor agus a h-uile beannachd duibh, cousins!

31 days...

TERRORDACTYL, page 1 of 11

Available soon in Afterworks III and on Whamix. Next Monday, page 2: "Mommy's angry!"

34 days...

Micro Rex Zoetrope

In case you missed my zoetrope at the Oakland Airport's Pixar Exhibit last Autumn, Trip Park was kind enough to assemble the images for a youtube clip.

Micro Rex is a character I created for the Super Big Micro Show and, despite being an installation for the Pixar exhibit, is not a Pixar-affiliated character.

It's not the greatest walk-cycle in the world, but not bad for being animated in photoshop without a pencil tester.

And now for something completely different:

Today is the last round of theatre sports for Pixar's improv troupe, The Improvibles. Our Improv-Dome tournament has been going on for quite a while. Rivalries have fostered, friendships torn asunder. Who will stand triumphant? The audience shall decide!!!

I always tell animation students that drawing (particularly observational drawing from life) is the key to growing as an animator. I'd say acting is the second most essential tool in the animator's survival kit. Improv is a great way to hone performance skills, delve into character motivations and scene structure, and gain on-the-spot brainstorming skills all while making a complete ass out of one's self.

Poster by Zombiesmith game designer and fellow dandy Jason Topolski.

37 days...

AFTERWORKS III


"Anyone else hear that? That's a, ah, that's an impact tremor, that's what it is....I'm fairly alarmed here." -Dr. Ian Malcolm

That's right, Dr. Malcolm, you should be alarmed. Because Afterworks III is coming. Starting this Monday I'll be posting a page a week, so stay tuned, dino-lovers!

39 days...

More Interstellar Tyrants

These were actually the first drawings of the character, who I'll go ahead and name, um, The Grand Galactar. Hey, that sounds pretty cool.

A good leader needs a single vision. That's why cyclopses make the best leaders.

The Grand Galactar doesn't look down on anyone. Well...he looks down on everyone equally.

This sketch predates the one in the last post, but I think this one's better.

Here's a contribution from Everett Downing, a man who knows a thing or two about galactic super-villains:

While we're on the subject, I hate to break it to you, but NASA did not discover extra-terrestrial life last week.

41 days...

CHADES CHALLENGE XLV:
INTERSTELLAR TYRANTS
I was strapped for time this week, so I jotted this interstellar tyrant on a complimentary notepad handed out at an educational conference earlier today.



It was a long conference, so I had plenty of time to draw.

Rest assured, I was listening the entire time I was sketching this guy.

The conference was in Sacramento, so I think I was channeling the former governator for this particular space fascist.

Here I am in the conference room with my old animation teacher, Shawn Sullivan. Thirteen years ago, Shawn gave me my first animation lessons at Sheldon High School. Now that I am a teacher myself, he's giving me my first lessons in the field of education...

...and power tools. Thaumatropes were handed out to everyone who attended our conference. Shawn never settles for the "ordinary" animation methods. This is his Power Thaumatrope.

If you designed any interstellar tyrants, leave me a comment with a link to your image and I'll post it below. If not, join us March 18th for Chades Challenge XLVI: Cheesy Graverobbers!

44 days...

Ugly Doll



An iPadimation based on my girlfriend's ugly doll:


45 days...

"And the Oscar goes to..."

"...Lee Unkrich for Toy Story 3!"

What a fantastic working experience. The original Toy Story has always been my favorite Pixar film, so to work on the classic characters was a real dream come true. Congrats to Lee, Nate, Adrian, James, and the rest of the franchise guardians who gave us some of the best material an animator could ask for!

47 days...