CHADES CHALLENGE LII: TEXAS CURLING SHARKS

If Texas had a curling team, and if that curling team had a mascot...

These animals have proven perfectly capable on the ice in other sports, so I figured why not curling? He's a bit cheerier than the San Jose mascot which reflects most sharks' true temperament (all those attacks were accidents, they swear).

As always, if you have your own designs, please let me know and I'll post them below. Absolutely everyone is invited to join in on the Chades Challenge, and I will post all submissions. If you don't have time to participate in this week's Chades, you can join in July 1st for: 

CHADES CHALLENGE LII: SUPER 8

Zane Yarbrough threw down this awesome challenge. I don't know about most of you, but the Super 8 creature is not what I imagined he'd be. What were you picturing before the big reveal?  Submit your design and contribute to the monster menagerie!

Megan "Megalodong" Dong

Zane "Open Water" Yarbrough

7 days...

Happy 91st Birthday, Ronald Searle!

Okay, so my birthday wishes are a few months old (Mr. Searle's birthday was March 3rd), but the reason I'm late is because I wanted to make sure ol' Ronald got our gift in the mail before I spoiled it on this blog.

You see, a few Pixarians collaborated on this birthday sketchbook. The volume contains original sketches and paintings from 70 artists including Teddy Newton, Ronnie Del Carmen, Erik Benson, Josh Cooley, Bill Presing, Emma Coats, Victor Navone, Mark Andrews, Enrico Casarosa and Pete Docter!

The watercolor-logged tome found its way across the Atlantic and now resides safe and sound in  the home of Mr. Searle, who sent us a lovely thank you note in return.

The note, along with the rest of the Pixar Searle tributes, will be posted on Matt Jones' blog. Enjoy, and once again: happy birthday one of the world's greatest illustrators!

11 days...

Kilt Fridays

At the end of each week, it's kilt or be kilt in the Brave anim department. I don't know if you can see the subheading, but that's the Revised 3rd Edition of So You're Going to Where a Kilt. It's important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends, y'know.

In other Pixar news, Disney just released this image from  a scene I animated in Cars 2, introducing Luigi's relatives: Mama and Uncle Topolino!

14 days...

Dynuhsahrs

14 days...

Shadowrun

Took a break from Brave animation tonight to play Shadowrun with our gaming group, the Dandies. Everett Downing ran an amazing campaign, which Emma Coats and I did our best to capture on nearby sketchpads. Here is some of the ensuing madness.

My character was a dwarven hacker named Wolfman Jack.

Ev's friend Peter played the smarmy "face" (that's Shadowrun speak for conman) Iceman. This character turned out to be an FBI informant who gave us all up to the cops at the end. Nobody likes a rat, Peter.

Emma played an old character of hers, the physical adept Burgamont.

The good-natured Erick played the ill-tempered orc gangster Urk.

Perhaps my favorite character of the session was the glam-rocking combat mage Bo Jareth. My fellow game designer Jason played this androgynous wonder.

Drawn by Emma Coats

Finally, our pal Rossi played the punk samurai, Mags. Sweep the leg, Mags.

Drawn by Emma Coats

Early on in the game a transient made the mistake of asking our orc, Urk, for some spare change.

Burgamont and Bo Jareth did very little to prevent this.

 

Drawn by Emma Coats

Later, Burgamont decided it was a good idea to drop a severed head into my character Wolfman's lap while he was driving their getaway van.

Drawn by Emma Coats

Ever the consummate professional, Burgie took the wheel while my character lost his proverbial shit.

Drawn by Emma Coats

Allinol, Ev ran a fantastic session and, though our characters ended up in the clinker we all had an amazing time and came away with some memorable scenes. Who knows, maybe the old blood-soaked-head-in-the-lap gag will show up in a future Pixar film!

18 days...

CHADES CHALLENGE LI: JON SNOW

As always, if you have your own designs, please let me know and I'll post them below. Absolutely everyone is invited to join in on the Chades Challenge, and I will post all submissions. If you don't have time to participate in this week's Chades, you can just join in June 17th for  

CHADES CHALLENGE LII: TEXAS SHARKS CURLING TEAM

Okay, that one might need a bit of explanation. Design a mascot for a curling team called the Sharks, based in Texas. You can thank Vi-Dieu for that one.

21 days...

Happy 30th

It's my buddy Ant Ward's 30th birthday (that's 210 in dog years, man). He's running the new Ninja Turtles show, and he would hate it if you went to his blog, here, and left a comment bugging him to update about the progress of the show, and wishing him a happy 30th. So whatever you do, don't go to this blog, sign up to follow him, and demand regular updates.

26 days...

Welcome to Camp Grizzly

Days at camp without accident: 364

My friend Jason and I have been working on a slasher-themed board game. We're still about a year from release but we'll be beta testing the  in-progress version this weekend at Kubla Con. If you're there, swing by the Zombiesmith booth and give the game a kick in the tires.

That is, if you're not scared...

29 days...

La Luna

 

Last night was the wrap party for La Luna, the latest Pixar short from the imagination of Enrico Casarosa. I was excited to meet Phil Sheridan, whose voice I knew all too well from animating his character, Nono. Phil let me in on the secret of great voice acting: take out your dentures for a signature sound.

The story is still top-secret, but what I can say is the folks at Annecy International Film Festival will be getting the first look. Lucky frogs.

29 days...

Madison's Monday Mesozoic Musing

Imagine how fun a prehistoric MMORPG would be. Get on it, Double Fine!

31 days...