Published by Joe on 03 Dec 2009 at 03:06 pm
December 3, 2009
Sketch pad page from a vocal record for the Lazlo pilot. I was trying to nab Tom Kenny’s body language when he did Lumpus. ( Thats supposed to be Lumpus jutting his hips and stomach out, not an overly excited Lumpus.) I was also inspired by Jeff Bennetts read of Raj for this scene where he’s climbing into the boat.
Sometimes perceived failures are just stepping stones on a fruitful journey.
While I was giving one of my talks on Monday to the animation classes, I was describing my repeated attempts in my late teens and early twenties to get a comic strip syndicated. I must have come up with 5 or 6 different features that all met with rejection. Back then you were expected to submit about a months worth of dailies and Sundays to show where you can go with the idea. Each submission I feel got better, and I was usually sent a personal letter of encouragement from the editor of the syndicate along with their rejection. The last one suggested I try animation instead, but at the time I wasn’t ready to listen.
All I could see was the big “L” for loser on my forehead.
It was shortly after that I decided to stop chasing something and do whatever I loved doing. And that’s how I found animation.
But the big “A Ha” moment came when I was talking to one of the classes about it, is that those rejected comic strips I produced gave me so much practice and insight into what makes a character work, how they interact with each other and such, that it helped me attain skills for animation and doing my shows in television.
And if I had gotten syndicated, I maybe would have never found animation, which has been my true calling and the perfect place for me to combine all the things I love: Story, character, movement, music and sound!
I think if you look deeply you can find the light in the darkest places. And sometimes it hits you at the oddest times.
sarah on 03 Dec 2009 at 5:15 pm #
that’s very interesting. i had no idea you were actually a comic artist before an animator. so maybe you don’t need years of knowlage to be good at animation? or do you? i am a comic artist, even though i feel i seem to have more of a general interest in animation than comics (eg. i read and watch both, but i seem more fascinated with animation) however, i don’t have the patience to be an actual animator.
i’ve always wanted to be a story board artist in particular, because personally my drawings are more about expressing character and movement rather than er…looking good/professional. but i always thought that you needed to know your stuff, like, be a real big expert on the tecnique of animation. maybe it’s not the case for a story board artist?
sorry to rant/pour my guts out, hahaha! gotta say thank you tohugh, this blog always teaches me something everyday- it’s like we don’t need to go to your tlsaks, you’re kind of just being a teacher right here!
Matt Stevanus on 03 Dec 2009 at 5:45 pm #
I agree with Sarah, in a way, I feel you’re like one of my professors at AIP, which I love because I always take what I learn in my animation or drawing classes home and share them with my family and friends and mostly anyone that is interested in learning how to draw or animate.
That’s what I like about you, you’re not the average cartoonist, most of them think they’re better than everyone, but you share your experience and your wisdom, which I highly respect you for and I want to do the same when hopefully, my day to be a cartoonist professionally, arrives.
After all, I believe everyone is equally capable of anything they work for and I’m certainly no slacker when it comes to animation! Keep up the good work and thank you for all your wonderfully insightful tips and advice you give in these journals!
Jim Boismier on 03 Dec 2009 at 10:02 pm #
I remember that time well, and how frustrated you were. I’m glad you never gave up. I’m going to keep checking back with your journal. I like it.
Jeff on 04 Dec 2009 at 6:14 am #
I watched my first few episodes of Lazlo over the last 3 months, (it’s been airing on free to air tv here in Australia), I was pleasantly surprised by the choice of music, especially the one with the sad singing clown doing a part from Pagliacci.
Joe on 04 Dec 2009 at 12:07 pm #
Thats true Jim. You had to live through all of that. Thanks for the support you gave during my moments of despair.
Tommy on 06 Dec 2009 at 1:16 pm #
Will CN air the Camp Lazlo x-mas Special?
& can you show us the Red Panda’s I suggest you make?
Arturo on 15 Dec 2009 at 6:30 pm #
I also started in animation by writing and drawing comics when I was like ten or twelve years old. I had a big inspiration by Dav Pilkey, I don’t know if you know him but he meld animation within his comic books with something called flip-o-ramas. That’s a very easy way of animating on two frames in paper by fliping them in the comic books, and it’s also very fun to do. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one called from comic books to animation. Is it the charm in watching your characters come to life?