Monthly Archives: September 2013

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Promote Yourself: FLYING BARK PRODUCTIONS APPOINTS MERCHANTWISE AS LICENSING AND MERCHANDISING AGENT FOR BLINKY BILL BRAND

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Flying bark

FLYING BARK PRODUCTIONS APPOINTS MERCHANTWISE AS LICENSING AND MERCHANDISING AGENT FOR BLINKY BILL BRAND

 

 

Sydney, Australia – September 30, 2013…

Flying Bark Productions today announced the appointment of Merchantwise as the licensing and merchandising agent for the Blinky Bill brand in Australia.

 

Merchantwise now represents the entire brand portfolio ranging from the original Blinky Bill property, Yoram Gross production designs of the characters and the much anticipated new imagery being produced by Greenpatch Productions in association with Flying Bark Productions.

 

Flying Bark Productions’ Managing Director, Jim Ballantine said “I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Merchantwise as the local Blinky Bill licensing and merchandising agent.  Blinky Bill is one of our very treasured properties and I am looking forward to working with the Merchantwise team to bring this much loved brand in all its incarnations to the Australian retail space”.

 

With an extensive and distinguished legacy as one of Australia’s leading entertainment producers, Flying Bark Productions is at the forefront of the animation industry, creating film and television content that delights and captivates pre-school, young adult and family audiences worldwide.

 

For all Australian licensing enquiries, please contact Kerryn McCormack, Senior Account Manager, Merchantwise on +61 3 9520 1000 orkerryn@merchantwise.com.au

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Promote Yourself: SLR PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCES CREATIVE TEAM FOR ‘CAPTAIN FLINN AND THE PIRATE DINOSAURS’

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Captain Flinn-Image (2) PRODUCTION ANNOUNCEMENTAPPROVEDSLR PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCES CREATIVE TEAM FOR ‘CAPTAIN FLINN AND THE PIRATE DINOSAURS’

 

image001SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013…

Australia’s SLR Productions today announced the creative team on the animated series ‘Captain Flinn and The Pirate Dinosaurs’ which was recently green-lit for production with local broadcast partner Nine Network along with international partners, ZDF Enterprises, Telegael and Top Draw Animation.

*Image attached for use

 

With Suzanne Ryan of SLR Productions as Executive Producer, the series will combine the creative expertise of Greg Ingram as Director, Jo Boag as Studio Creative Director, Yasmin Jones as Line Producer, Melanie Alexander as Script Producer and David Evans, David Witt, Cleon Prineas, John Armstrong, Tom Mason, Dan Danko, Rachel Spratt and Bruce Griffiths as the series’ script writers.

 

The 52 x 11 minute series is based on award winning picture books of the same name by internationally recognised and highly acclaimed Author/Illustrator duo, Giles Andreae and Russell Ayto and the television series will be developed by Jo Boag, Melanie Alexander, Steve Moltzen and Rachel Spratt.

 

“We have the very best of creative talents on board for ‘Captain Flinn and The Pirate Dinosaurs’.  Each of the team will bring their many years of experience and knowledge in animation to make the series irresistible to audiences locally and internationally” said Executive Producer and CEO of SLR Productions, Suzanne Ryan.

 

“The Telegael design team is super excited about ‘Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs’.  It has a unique style and will be a fun series to be part of.  I was aware of the books and am really looking forward to working with the creative crew to bring them to life” said Telegael’s Head of Animation, Yvonne Hennessy.

 

“This is the third series we’ve had the pleasure to collaborate on with SLR Productions and also with Telegael.  It’s a terrific team and a proven formula that guarantees a fabulous outcome.  As for Captain Flynn……his brand of irreverence and general silliness is right up our alley and promises some happy sailing ahead” said Managing Director of Top Draw Animation, Wayne Dearing.

 

“I am really looking forward to working with the creative team for ‘Captain Flinn and The Pirate Dinosaurs’.  Many of the creative crew have worked on SLR Productions television content in the past so it is a great opportunity to collaborate again on this fun and silly series for children” said Studio Creative Director, Jo Boag.

 

“Our team of writers is incredibly talented and we have the most amazing stories in Giles Andreae and Russell Ayto’s picture books to draw from to create our television adaptation.  I am thrilled to work with each script writer in developing the storylines to be ones that children all over the world adore” said Script Producer, Melanie Alexander.

 

In 2011 ‘Captain Flinn and The Pirate Dinosaurs’ won Best TV Pilot and the prestigious Arlecchino Award for Best Book Based Work, an esteemed accolade of the Cartoons On The Bay Pulcinella Awards, International Television and Cross Media Animation Festival held in Italy.  The series also was selected as a nominee in the 2011 Banff International Pilots competition in the youth and children category and was shown at the 2011 Banff World Media Festival in Canada.

 

Pirattitude meets silly in these riotous tales of a jam-stealin’ Captain T Rex, Stig the stegosaurus, Dippy the diplodocus, Tricky the triceratops and Terry the pterodactyl and four adventure lovin’ kids Captain Flinn, Pearl, Tom and Violet who teach them a thing or two!
Irreverence, general silliness and flagrant disrespect for pirate dinosaurs wrapped around a message of simple empowerment: sometimes when you face your fear…you’ll notice it’s wearin’ a milk moustache (underneath that eye-patch…arrr).

 

SLR PRODUCTIONS

SLR Productions is one of Australia’s leading Emmy and multi award winning children’s entertainment companies, specialising in the creative development and production of world-class media content.  Established in 2002 by CEO, Suzanne Ryan, SLR is recognised for creating successful brands such as the internationally acclaimed preschool property, Guess How Much I Love Youâ„¢, the Australian comic book series GASP!â„¢ and the Emmy Award winning animated series I Got a Rocketâ„¢.   SLR’s passion is to make creative, adventurous, imaginative and exciting programmes for audiences worldwide.  The company has produced more than 100 hours of content sold in more than 150 territories worldwide.  With its highly experienced development and production divisions, SLR partners with major broadcasters, producers, distributors, publishers and creatives both locally and internationally to create hit shows with a truly global reach.

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Model Sheet Monday: Bugs Bunny

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WB-model-sheets_Page_24

Click the image to see the full -size pic.

 

It’s Model Sheet Monday again and this week we’re showing the biggest and the baddest. the master of disaster and the king of comedy, Bugs Bunny!

This particular model sheet was drawn by Bob Scott and cleaned up by Harry Sabin.

Who didn’t want to be Bugs Bunny? I mean come on! The guy didn’t run from guns, genies, lions, bears, hunters, wrestlers, rustlers, thieves, and opera singers. He had more guts that John McClain! Bugs Bunny was my hero as a kid and one of the my favorite characters in the Looney Tunes world and the few times I got to draw him were awesome. he was deceptively hard to draw and I often made his muzzle too big. That said, Bugs is pretty awesome!

There are many versions of Bugs Bunny design as you can see above and even one past this model sheet in the form of Jessica Borutski’s design for CN’s Looney Tunes show which I actually admire for it’s sheer appeal and draftsmanship (draftswomanship?).

We incidentally interviewed Jessica some time ago.

Personally I prefer the old Chuck Jones design the best and then if I had to choose a second it would be the Bob McKimson design after that but as far as drawing Bugs, Chuck ruled in my book. There was an appeal he had in the heyday of films like Wackiki Wabbit, The Case of the Missing Hare, and Water, Water Every Hare, which were just the epitome of Bugs Bunny and to me no one did him better than Chuck back then. The design had an appeal that I think got lost in the later days, especially once Chuck decided to Grinch Bugs up a bit.

What was your favorite Bugs Bunny design?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyQ4EntAyhc

Sorry for the lack of quality on this last one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW2URR3ESzg

By the time Chuck got to Barbary Coast Bunny, I wasn’t a fan anymore.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xcczyr_barbary-coast-bunny_shortfilms

Here’s some more info on Bugs Bunny via our friend Wikipedia:

Bugs Bunny is a funny animal cartoon character, best known for his starring roles in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of theatrical short films produced by Warner Bros.during the Golden age of American animation.[2] His popularity during this era led to his becoming a cultural icon, as well as a corporate mascot of Warner Bros. Entertainment. Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray hare or rabbit who is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality, a pronounced New York accent, his portrayal as a trickster, and his catch phrase “Eh… What’s up, doc?” (usually said while chewing a carrot). Bugs has appeared in more films (both short and feature-length) than any other cartoon character and is the ninth most-portrayed film personality in the world.[3]

According to his 1990 “biography” Bugs Bunny: 50 Years and Only One Grey Hare, Bugs was born on July 27, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York in a warren under Ebbets Field, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers.[1] In reality, he was brought to life by the animators and staff of Leon Schlesinger Productions (later Warner Bros. Cartoons): including Tex Avery, who directed Bugs’ early definitive film A Wild Hare (1940); Robert McKimson, who created Bugs’ definitive character design; and Mel Blanc, who originated the voice of Bugs.

…and you can read the full write up of Bugs Bunny here.

 

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Jobs: Karrot Animation is looking for Editors & Storyboard Artists

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Karrot

Karrot Animation is hiring! The makers of Sarah & Duck for CBeebies are currently looking for artists to join our London team for upcoming TV productions!

We’re keen to hear from Editors & Storyboard Artists, preferably with series experience, plus Designers/Builders & Character Animators with strong portfolios/showreels (CelAction software experience a big bonus). Please contact both Jamie Badminton and Eleni O’Keeffe with your applications and please do alert anyone else you think we should be speaking to! Thanks very much!

jamie@karrotentertainment.com & eleni@karrotanimation.com

Karrot Animation, The Studio, 11 Morecambe Street, London, SE17 1DX

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Promote Yourself: Anime Midwest gets Frenchy and the Punk, and Chris Patton

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Anime Midwest gets Frenchy and the Punk, and Chris Patton
Minneapolis, MN - September 27, 2013 – Anime Midwest in Chicago is excited to announce two more guests will be joining them in 2014: steampunk musicians Frenchy and the Punk and voice actor Chris Patton. Frenchy at the Punk will be part of Anime Midwest’s epic concert series headlined by Steam Powered Giraffe. Convention attendees can see both FnP and Chris Patton in numerous panels, autograph sessions, and events throughout the weekend convention.
Chris Patton is an exceptionally well-known voice actor, particularly for roles such as Sousuke Sagara in Full Metal Panic!. He has has been acting professionally for well over fifteen years, with over twelve of those years dedicated to voice acting and anime, including work for ADV Films, FUNimation Entertainment, Sentai Filmworks, and OkraTron 5000. Some of his other more well-known roles are Greed in Fullmetal Alchemist and Brotherhood, Asura in Soul Eater, Akuto Sai in Demon King Daimao, Keima in The World God Only Knows, Ikki in Air Gear, Sho in Guyver, Fakir in Princess Tutu, Nishi in Gantz, and Turles in Dagonball Z: The Tree of Might. Other Anime credits include: Inu x Boku S.S., Phi-Brain – Puzzle of God, Hajime in Ghost Stories, Ayato in RahXephon, Daley Wong in Bubblegum Crisis 2040, Ranmaru in The Wallflower, Eiji in Gravion and Gravion Zwei, Haruka in Tactics, Graham Spector in Baccano!, Komyo Sanzo in Saiyuki, Gintoki in the Gintama movie, Hiroki in The Place Promised in Our Early Days, and tons and tons more! Chris is also a stage performer, a music freak, a horror film nerd, a roller coaster guru, and a huge fan of Sharon Needles, Freddie Mercury, and Aleister Crowley.
When trying to picture Frenchy and the Punk, imagine Django Reinhardt, The White Stripes, Johnny Ramone, Siouxsie Sioux and Edith Piaf jamming together at an event hosted by Deepak Chopra. This is what it might sound like. A sultry French-born singer, percussionist and a fiery punk rock guitarist from the golden days of the hardcore scene blended their diverse talents to form Frenchy and the Punk in 2005. The unlikely pairing has since released 6 full-length CDs and have performed all across the U.S. and in Europe. In May 2012, Yahoo Music called them one of the top 25 duos in the US. Their show is a carnival of two that will take you from Paris to CBGBs and back again. A rollicking flapper folk punk cabaret with cleverly crafted songs, Taiko meets Rio de Janeiro pounding drum instrumentals and true DIY attitude.
The duo’s music, magnetic stage presence, charm and exhilarating performances have attracted a consistently growing and loyal fan base around the world. The new CD Elephant Uproar released in March 2013 highlights the duo’s rabid drumming instrumentals. Be sure to check out their earlier releases, the frenzied fun of the Hey Hey Cabaret CD (2012), and their breakthrough 2010 CD release, Happy Madness.
The duo’s extended bio can be found at http://www.frenchyandthepunk.com/about.html
The full guest list can be found at http://animemidwest.com/guests
Anime Midwest is happening July 4-6, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare and Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, in the Chicago suburbs. The convention brings some of the biggest voice actors, concerts, and events together with nearly 10,000 fans to celebrate Japanese animation and nerdy culture. Attendees can buy tickets to attend now at http://animemidwest.com/register
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News: Tom McLaughlin: R.I.P 1957-2013

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Tom

My good friend Thomas Mclaughlin passed away last week. Some of you may have known him from the old Warner Bros days and others from his days at Cartoon Network. Tom, if you knew him was like an M&M, he had a hard shell but was all soft and sweet inside once you got past his Brooklyn bravado. Most only knew him as a sheet timer but he was much more than that being a talented painter and designer as well.

Tom was a superman to many of us. He was never afraid, at least outwardly, and he would truly take a bullet for you, never mind have your back in a bar fight or any trouble you might be in. In his early days he was a lifeguard and avid surfer and surfed regularly up until he died.

Tom had so many stories when you hung out with him and he was so funny that it was like watching stand up comedy. He a great sense of timing and delivery which is rare and a true gift for storytelling.

I met Tom on my first job about 25 years ago working on Broadcast Arts in NYC as I animated a Honey Nut Cheerios commercial and he would drop by my desk to chat and offer advice on my drawings. At the time he was coming off working on Pee Wee’s Playhouse and he had a development deal for a pilot back in ’87 to do a short called Jackie Bison for I think ABC. I was amazed that one guy could make a show. He had so much confidence and really inspired me with that one piece of film. He got another development deal at WB around 1999 about a kid who could travel through dreams and I was fortunate enough to be asked to board it for him. He had a million ideas coursing through his head and sometimes when you talked to him he would speak SO fast you had to decipher what he said. My wife and I still quote things he said 10 years ago.

Tom was a good dude and was about to embark on the next chapter of his life as he cruised into the digital age. The animation business he was in is very transient, you move from one job to the next, spending every day with people for years and then suddenly losing connection and as such for a short time Tom and I lost touch. He would occasionally text or email me and call me an ass. I’d call him Asshole, and he’d text back in true Tom fashion. “That’s Mr. Asshole to you.”

Last year, I reconnected with him and we spoke often. Towards the end he was taking my Storyboard Pro class at Studio Arts every Wednesday and I looked forward to seeing him each week. The night before he died I missed the class and cancelled it due to a bad back. The last thing he ever said to me was “You’re a retard for missing storyboard class. Love, Tom.” in an email. That was Tom in a nutshell. He is survived by his wife Brenda and his three children. I will truly miss him.
This fund is being set up for the McLaughlin family and the hole Tom left when he past away. My hope is that this money you all generously give might go towards his burial, and the trip that Brenda will take as she journey’s back with Tom’s ashes to let his lifeguard pals take him out to the ocean and spread his ashes there which was Tom’s wish. Please give generously, and if you have a special Tom story you’d like to share, please do so in the comments. We are trying also to get together some sort of memorial and perhaps might read them during the memorial so check back here regulatory for updates. –

YouCaring-Fund-For-Tom

You can donate to his fund here.