CHADES CHALLENGE XIII: MEAN ORCS

For those of you unfamiliar with the challenge, see rules. All are welcome, post next Friday!

Chades Challenge XII: Hairy Gods, Week 2

It is a little known fact that Mars, the god of war, was a kitten.

More hairy gods from these mighty immortals:
Flaviano
Vi-Dieu Nguyen
Moro Rogers
Bobby Pontillas
Josh Billings
Leo Matsuda

In other news, the first round of Rock'n'Poll tallies are in, looks like there were some last minute steals.

Greatest oldies rock'n'roll song: Elvis Presley's Hound Dog

Greatest heavy metal song: Iron Maiden's Run To The Hills

Greatest psychedelic song (tie): Iron Butterfly's In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, The Rolling Stone's Paint It Black

Thor was pretty enraged that Immigrant Song, Led Zeppelin's ode to the Norse gods, was snubbed.

If these titles enrage you, make sure your voice is heard in this week's polls (make sure to choose one each): hard rock, progressive rock, and glam metal.

The Greatest Rock and Roll Song of All-Time
OR
ROCK'N'POLL

I've been talking with Nate, Rob, and Vi about what constitutes a great rock'n'roll song. Specifically, what constitutes the GREATEST ROCK'N'ROLL SONG OF ALL-TIME. So for the next six weeks, I'll be polling to find the greatest single song of each of the seventeen rock genres.

There are eighteen rock genres, and seven songs per genre. Swing on by every Monday and choose your favorite song in each of three weekly contending polls.

I admit that my rock knowledge is shabby at best, so the last genre will be fan favorites. This will include tour de forces that I have either forgotten, or that you have insisted that I include in the battle.

At the end of the six weeks, the champions of each genre (eighteen total!) will contend in an ultimate battle of the bands. May the best song win.
(art by Sebastian Krueger)

Chades Challenge XII: hairy gods

I'm not sure if Medusa's powers work on gods, but for the sake of this drawing, let's say they do. More heavenly hirsuteness at these fine blogs:
Leo "Thunderballs" Matsuda
Vi-Dieu "God-o-War" Nguyen
Bobby "Loki Pokey" Pontillas
Next week: more hairy gods!

Votes Tallied, Astromech Wins By Restraining Bolt!
Wow...another close poll, but you've bestowed the title of Coolest Robot Ever upon the diminutive yet daring droid, R2-D2. Wisely chosen.


Poll results
R2-D2 34%
Bender 31%
The Terminator 17%
Optimus Prime 6%
Data 6%
HAL 9000 3%
Futura 0%
Pimpbot 5000 0%
Thanks for your votes, and don't forget to weigh in on this week's poll!

Behold, the twelfth and mightiest of the Chades Challenges:
HAIRY GODS!

Again, everyone is welcome to join the challenge. Post your drawing/story/engraving next Friday (May 2nd) on your own blog and let me know so I can put up a link.
Sketch greatly!

Can't have the Joker without green hair. Nuff said.

Addendum 4.25.08
The new Dark Knight poster just came out. Not only does Joker look like the crow, but now he's burning the Batsignal into things. As long as Iggy Pop doesn't make an appearance, I guess we're still safe.

Every once in a while, you just want to draw something cute. Today is not one of those days.

Chades Challenge XI: Sweaty Bikers (Week 2)

Other Chades Challengers:
Josh "Boss Hog" Billings
Moro "Full Throttle" Rogers

No new Chades Challenge this week. The Afterworks deadline looms ever closer...

Ollie Johnston (October 31, 1912-April 14, 2008)

Any animator worth his salt owns at least one copy of Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston's The Illusion of Life. The book offers the wisdom Ollie collected over the forty-three years he worked at Disney, creating some of the world's most memorable characters (including two of my personal favorites, Merlin and Baloo). More importantly, The Illusion of Life reveals the importance of fellowship, and learning from your peers. Over the years, the names Frank and Ollie have become almost inseparable. These two embody the golden age of classical animation and, for me, childhood in general.
My favorite animated scene of all-time is their squirrel sequence from Sword in the Stone. Within a few minutes (and hundreds of Ollie's gorgeous drawings), we are taught about having the faith to leap, the courage to fail, and we are introduced to the most powerful force on Earth...even more powerful than gravity.
At Frank Thomas's request, the sequence was played at Frank's memorial. So here it is again for old Ollie. Frank and Ollie's squirrel sequence
And for those of you unfamiliar of the man that helped invent animation, here's his story.
Thanks for the magic, Ollie!

Addendum 4.18.08
Disney's Farewell to Ollie
The Disney Company on Ollie Johnston
Brad Bird on Ollie Johnston