New Year, New Layout!

As the dying roars of 2011 fade away and the great beast succumbs to extinction like its two thousand plus predecessors, it seems time for a facelift on the ol' Translation. Along with the new look will come a slew of new projects I will be updating you on. Stay tuned for a year of lusty sea shanties,  haunting campfire stories, and epic Scottish fairytales. We might even cross paths with a dinosaur or two.

59 days...

The Island Greeting That I Send To You...

Happy Channukah, Jolly Kwanzaa, and Wonderful Wookiee Life Day, too!

0 days...Merry Christmas!

Chades Challenge LXIV: Jolly Dragons

There's no better way to Santa-proof your house than a fire-breathing dragon with a taste for roasted reindeer.

Addendum 12/25/11 My mom's gift to her dog, Leia, just happened to be a dragon that looks exactly like my Chades design! It certainly made Leia a jollier schnauzer.

If you have any winter wyrms, let me know and I'll post them below. Otherwise, you can join in January 6th for:

CHADES CHALLENGE LXV: BANE

Nate "The Wreath Wraith" Wragg

Colleen "Mistletoe" Madden

2 days...

Hobbit Envy

TheThe Hobbit trailer (is that one too many the's?) came out last night. I'm waiting to see it on the big screen, but my DnD character, the pint-sized rogue Ilmare (who you may remember from posts such as these), says if they wanted a real halfling hero, all they had to do was ask.

Which trailer has you more excited: The Hobbit or The Dark Knight Rises? Or is it one of the myriad of films in the poll to the right?

4 days...

Merry Shirtmas!

Along with this year's BluRay exchange (which I walked away from with a brand new copy of Moon--yesss), the Dandies and I also had our first annual Shirtmas. Shirtmas is exactly what it sounds like a Secret Santa exchange limited exclusively to t-shirts. 

I was tasked with finding a shirt for Everett Downing. Ev just had his second kid, so I know he needs a nanny. And the best nanny I know of is the Avengers' personal governess, Squirrel Girl! 

For those of you who don't know, Squirrel Girl is the most powerful character in the Marvel Universe, having defeated Doctor Doom, Magneto, and Galactus. Ev's dream is to direct a SG movie starring none other than Toy Story 3's Kristen Schaal, so I drew this Shirtmas card for him. Kristen, if you're out there: Squirrel Girl--think about it!

I, in turn, got this fantastic H.P. Lovecraft shirt from my teaching partner, Paul Mendoza. I think I'll wear it to church Christmas morning!

Merry Shirtmas to all, and to all a plain white!

5 days...

Milquetoast & Cookies

Today is our 10th Annual DVD Exchange--sorry, 1st Annual BluRay Exchange at work. Can anyone guess what I brought?

6 days...

The Noodles Challenge

Being a toymaker has lost its luster since all any kid wants is an iPhone.

This is my contribution to my former student Fernando Brandi's Noodles Challenge. The idea is to do a drawing in the time it would take to nuke a cup-o-noodles (an animator's main source of nutrition).  This month's theme is "Your Elf Self". Mine is obviously obsolete and bored since I am so technologically inept. 

9 days...

The Joker and the Choker

That smoke in the background is probably laughing gas, which Batman has grown an immunity to over the years (much like Iocaine powder).

Speaking of laughs, I highly recommend a click on today's countdown link (below).

9 days...

Santa, Baby

If you're looking for a drawing challenge, here's a good one: illustrate a Christmas song! Santa, Baby always seemed rife with animation possibilities. Community certainly capitalized on the song's comic potential.

Emma Coats

Guillermo Martinez

Maggie Gevers

10 days...

School's Out II

See School's Out I here.

Paul Mendoza and I teach animation one night a week at the Academy of Art University. Last night was the last class of the semester, as evidenced by my whiteboard drawings:

As you may know from previous posts, I always leave a whiteboard drawing under the projector screen for the next class.

Today was special, because when I got to class, there was finally a whiteboard drawing waiting for me!

Also waiting for me: a delicious batch of cake pops! Thanks, Hannah!

Congrats to our students for a semester of fantastic animation!

11 days...

Reading Buddies

For the last couple of years, I've been participating in a program called Reading Buddies. Every Wednesday, we go down to the local Elementary School at lunch to read with the youngsters.

It's been an amazing experience watching my reading buddy, Domanic (seen with me on the top left), as his reading skills improve. I've even had a chance to teach him a thing or two about dinosaurs!

If you know of any programs like this near you, I'd highly recommend getting involve. Reading can change a kid's life, but you don't have to take my word for it!

12 days...

Chades Challenge LXIII: Explosive Stockings

Santa fills stockings with yummy chocolaty sweets,
But the Grinch prefers his packed with nastier treats.
"What surprise lays in store for little Cindy and Tom...
When they get a taste of my green tannenBOMBS!"

As always, everyone is invited to participate in the Chades Challenge. If you have any designs for "Explosive Stockings," let me know and I'll post them below. Otherwise you can join in December 23rd for...

Chades Challenge LXIV: Jolly Dragons! 

Colleen "The Rocking Stocking" Madden

Guillermo "Slim Dickens" Martinez

16 days...

"What If..." Part III

The final instalment of my "What if Hell froze over" series for the upcoming "What If..." Gallery Nucleus show. I call it "Hell's Angels."

The gallery opens this Saturday. If you're in SoCal, I highly recommend stopping by and perusing these and the humorous musings of other animation industry artists!

17 days...

iPad, too!

I finally broke down and bought an iPad2. This is my first drawing on the contraption, a nur-maid for my friend Nuritzi. It's no replacement for a sketchbook, but it's nice to be able to immediately play around with layers and color.

If you guys have any app recommendations, I'm all ears!

18 days...

House Topolski

I finally found a wedding gift for my friends, Jay and Sue Topolski! You may remember their Hawaiian wedding from a few posts back.

Jay and Sue hosted weekly Game of Thrones parties back when the show was on, so when I saw this Stark-esque chalice at the Dickens Fair (available online from the fine folks at Fellowship Foundry), the wedding gift question was answered.

Of course, I'm one of those people who, whenever they find a cool gift for someone, they have to buy one for themselves. As you can see, Jay if overwhelmed with joy:

If pewter chalices aren't your style (or price range), a cheaper Game of Thrones-themed gift is my "Iron Grill" apron, available here on Zazzle. 

This apron will make your food taste better, increase your sex drive and SAT scores.

It should be noted that Jay came up with the idea for this apron. I'll be keeping all the proceeds, of course.

19 days...

More Whiteboard Drawings

It seems I can't get near a dry erase pen without leaving my mark! This whiteboard happens to be at work, on my friend Neil's office wall. 

We like to put up a weekly brainteaser to keep the wits sharp. And being how it is a studio of animators, there's usually a cartoon to go along with said brainteaser. This one is an homage to my new favorite Batman actor (sorry, Keaton).

20 days...

"What If..." Part II

Part two of my three part series, "What if Hell Froze Over?" I call this one "Ice Laden."

Check out this series, and work from other animation industry artists, at the Gallery Nucleus "What If" Show next Saturday, December 10th.

21 days...

Funny Bunny

I know this is out of season, but when Steve Niles posted this image on Twitter, I couldn't help but imagine the next shot of the scene.

I've always thought Joker v. Superman was just as good a foil as Joker v. Batman, and this is eggsactly what I'm talking about.

22 days...

"What If...?" Part I

Gallery Nucleus is hosting a "What If...?" show next Saturday. My take on the theme was "What if Hell froze over?" Here's the first of the three part series, "Faust Bite."

It'll be a cold day in Hell before I paint another theme as fun as this one!

23 days...

Predator goes to an art auction

It's funny where your mind wanders during the morning shot review. 

Of course, Predator always gets what he's bidding for by replicating the voices of the other bidders and intimidating them to back down.

24 days...