Author Archives: Mike

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News: Wildseed Studios unveil first animation-NSFW

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbDS2djZmm0

Wildseed Studios’ ambition to become the home of British animation for grown-ups and female character comedy took a step closer today as they unveiled the first episodes from two brand new shows on their YouTube channel.

The next-generation content and talent incubator, co-founded by Miles Bullough, former Head of Broadcast at Aardman Animations and former BBC creative executive Jesse Cleverly, promises a constant flow of new content on their YouTube channel with new episodes released every week and a new project every month.

The first project to go live is an adult animation based on the comic strips of Ralph Kidson who has been drawing and contributing to underground comics as long as he can remember. “It was Ralph’s writing and irreverent, dry social commentary as much as his comic-man-ship that stood out.” said Cleverly. Wildseed Studios is making animations based on three of Ralph’s strips: Animal Job Centre, which features an unemployed squirrel trying to navigate the job market, God and Jesus where God explains his plans to Jesus for his latest miracle, and Battle at Serengeti where punchy and loutish animals launch into foul-mouthed tirades against each other at the slightest provocation.

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Jobs: DreamWorks Design Supervisor, CG-TV

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Dreamworks

DreamWorks Design Supervisor, CG-TV

Responsible for maintaining the creative look, style and design for a CG show in alignment with the Supervising Producer, TV or Executive Producer, TV vision. Oversee a team of designers to ensure the look of the show while aligning with the confines of the production schedule.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

 

  • Work with the Supervising Producer to review all scripts and storyboards in detail and discuss the visual elements required.
  • Responsible for working with the design team to create the style guides, model packets, expressions, character construction and turnarounds.
  • Ensure all deadlines are met while providing rough and clean designs as needed. Provide notes on an ongoing basis to local and partner studio while ensuring an efficient workflow. Ensure production staff are made aware of issues or changes.
  • Provide appropriate mentorship and guidance to design team.
  • May need to generate rough designs and retake materials as needed.
  • Cast work appropriately to design team and provide clear directives or specific design needs to both artists and production staff. Be available to address questions and concerns.
  • Review all designs with artist team. Ensure notes and changes are adhered to. Create designs as needed.
  • Mange the entire design process including tracking the status of assignments, questions and ensure all deadlines are met. Work with other creative department heads to review designs and layouts and ensure revisions are monitored.
  • Evaluate all designs against storyboards to ensure all elements are present and that continuity is adhered to.
  • Manage the Background Painters and Color Stylists to ensure all needs / requirements are discussed. Collaborate on all creativedirectives including style, palette and lighting requirements. Oversee changes and revisions through to completion.
  • May be required to participate in all color correction sessions.
  • Collaborate with Producers and Network as needed. Provide artwork and / or materials for promotions, press or special projects.

Qualifications

  • 3-5 years of experience needed.
  • BA in Fine Arts or equivalent training / work experience.
  • Significant painting and drawing experience necessary.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in style of show.
  • Understanding of all facets of the CG animation process.
  • Strong knowledge of color theory, lighting, staging and perspective.
  • Strong construction/mechanical skills.
  • Ability to multitask and work well under pressure.
  • Able to learn design software and hardware skills based on needs of the project
  • Solid time-management skills

How to Apply

Include a resume and cover letter. We require both for all submissions.

To submit your information, send your resume and cover letter to: jobs@dreamworks.com

Please put the position name (or code if applicable) in the subject line

We apologize that due to the volume of submissions we’re unable to personally respond to each applicant or inquiry. If your qualifications meet our needs, we will contact you.

Jobs: Visiting Assistant Professor: University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Dept comm arts

The Department of Communications Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks a Visiting Assistant Professor to teach two courses per semester: a course in 2D character animation, as well as a second course in Visual Effects, 3D character animation, Story Design, or area of specialization.

Appointment is for one year, starting Fall Semester 2014, but has the potential to be renewable. Either advanced degree or equivalent professional experience as an animator is required. College teaching experience is preferred (but not required). Candidate should have a strong portfolio of work (an online demo reel) that demonstrates expertise in character animation. In addition, the ideal candidate should possess a broad knowledge of animation history, as the media production program strongly emphasizes the connection between theory and practice.

Application deadline: February 20, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

A formal letter of application and CV should be sent to:

Mike Xenos
Chair, Department of Communication Arts
Vilas Hall, University of Wisconsin-Madison
821 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706

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Development 101 workshop: How to develop and pitch your concepts

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Development-101-workshop

Silver Drawing Academy
Saturday, February 22, 2014 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (PST)
Los Angeles, CA
SIGN UP NOW!

Got an amazing idea? The next Adventure Time or Sponge Bob? but don’t know how to put it all together? Want to develop your concept into a cohesive, sellable pitch? Then this is the workshop for you! We’ll learn what goes into putting together all the essential elements needed for a solid animated series bible. Topics covered include; creating your logline, springboards as well as character descriptions and personality interactions, all essential elements needed to pitch your idea to the networks.

We’ll develop a concept on the fly and do a mock bible so you can truly learn the steps it takes to get the job done and apply it to your own ideas! Come learn how to develop your concept for pitching and for graphic novels/comics!

Mike Milo is a 2 time Emmy award winning,  6 time nominated animator, director, writer, producer and designer. He has worked for most of animation’s major studios including Cartoon Network, Disney, Nickelodeon, Titmouse, Renegade, Warner Bros, Universal, Sony, Film Roman and Hanna Barbera. In addition he has had 9 development deals and 6 pilots to date and hopes to add to that this year. Most recently Mike finished up writing and drawing for Disney TV’s Phineas & Ferb as well as directing the new Disney show Randy Cunningham, 9th Grade Ninja at Titmouse. Last year ago he launched Animation Insider a site devoted to interviewing animation artists.
During all that time he has managed to co-produce two wonderful daughters, which are his best work to date.

Supplies you will need:

If you have a laptop or iPad so you can access the internet that will be great.

A ream of 8.5×11 paper

Pencils, pens.

See you there!

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Model Sheet Monday: Powerpuff Girls/Dexter’s Lab

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Today’s Model Sheet Monday art comes from the very famous shows Powerpuff Girls and Dexter’s Laboratory. Both were great shows that broke new ground back in the early 90’s and paved the way for creator driven content which is still prevalent today. Many of the industry’s top talent came out of these shows such as Genndy Tartakovsky who recently finished up Hotel Transylvania at Sony and is rumored to be doing the sequel as well as helming some sort of animated Popeye project at Sony, Craig McCracken who is heading up his new show called Wander Over Yonder,  and Paul Rudish who’s now in charge of the new Mickey Mouse shorts at Disney. Many more industry vets who make the shows you love got started on these two productions and many more shows aped their distinct style.

From Wikipedia:

The Powerpuff Girls is an American animated television series created by animator Craig McCracken and produced by Cartoon Network Studios for Cartoon Network. The show centers on Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, three girls with superpowers, as well as their “father”, the brainy scientist Professor Utonium, who all live in the fictional city of Townsville, USA. The girls are frequently called upon by the town’s childlike and naive mayor to help fight nearby criminals using their powers.

McCracken originally developed the show in 1992 as a cartoon short entitled Whoopass Stew! while in his second year at CalArts. Following a name change, Cartoon Network featured the first Powerpuff Girls pilots in its animation showcase program World Premiere Toons in 1995 and 1996. The series made its official debut as a Cartoon Cartoon on November 18, 1998, with the final episode airing on March 25, 2005. A total of 78 episodes were aired in addition to two shorts, a Christmas special, a feature film, and a tenth anniversary special. Additionally, the series has been nominated for six Emmy Awards, nine Annie Awards, and a Kids’ Choice Award during its run. Spin-off media include an anime, three CD soundtracks, a home video collection, and a series of video games, as well as various licensed merchandise. The series has received generally positive reception and won four awards.

Dexter’s Laboratory (commonly abbreviated as Dexter’s Lab) is an American comic science fiction animated children’s television series created by Genndy Tartakovsky for Cartoon Network. The series follows Dexter, a boy-genius with a secret laboratory filled with his collection of inventions. He constantly battles his sister Dee Dee, who always gains access despite his best efforts to keep her out, as well as his arch-rival and neighbor, Mandark. The series’ first two seasons contain additional segments: Dial M for Monkey, which focuses on Dexter’s pet lab monkey-turned-superhero, and The Justice Friends, about a trio of superheroes who share an apartment.

Tartakovsky first pitched the series to Hanna-Barbera‘s animated shorts showcase World Premiere Toons, basing it on student films he produced while attending the California Institute of the Arts. A pilot aired on Cartoon Network in February 1995, and in August viewer approval ratings convinced the network to order a half-hour series, which premiered on April 27, 1996. By 1999, 52 episodes and a television movie had been produced, and Tartakovsky then left the series to begin work on his other projects, Samurai Jack and Star Wars: Clone Wars. In 2001, the network revived the series under a different production team at Cartoon Network Studios, and after 26 more episodes, the series ended on November 20, 2003.

Dexter’s Laboratory received high ratings and became one of Cartoon Network’s most popular and successful original series. During its run, the series was nominated for 4 Primetime Emmy Awards, 4 Golden Reel Awards, and 9 Annie Awards, winning 3 additional Annie Awards. The series is notable for helping launch the careers of several cartoonists, such as Craig McCracken (The Powerpuff Girls, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends and Wander Over Yonder), Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy, American Dad! and The Cleveland Show), Butch Hartman (The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom and T.U.F.F. Puppy), and Rob Renzetti (My Life as a Teenage Robot, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, and Gravity Falls). Spin-off media include a series of comic books, DVD and VHS releases, music albums, collectible toys, and video games.

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News: Amazon’s HardBoiled Eggheads

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Amazon has just released an animate short for the 7-11 crowd which i was fortunate enough to work on!
Hardboiled Eggheads  is about two boys; Miles and Kelvin are regular kids…who happen to be classified special agents. The two brainiacs suit up to correct the mistakes of science battling monsters born of toxic waste, Martians lured to Earth, or even killer vegetables!

While I did do storyboards, timing and animation for this film,  I still think it’s cool because of the potential implications for the animation industry insomuch that content is being created outside the Big Three; Cartoon network, Nickelodeon, and Disney and THAT’S a GREAT thing for animation as a whole.

Here’s a clip from the pilot.

http://www.myblogstorage.net/milowerx/movies/00.HBE_ep101-Clip-ZomBeeEvilPlan-H264-Social.mov

and here’s another one.

http://www.myblogstorage.net/milowerx/movies/HBE_ep101-Clip-SuzyBeeSting-H264-Social.mov

All of the new pilots will be available for free for 30 days for anyone to watch, rate or review and I urge you to do all if only to support endeavors into animation.

Click here for a  direct link to the short pilot.

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