Books by Joe Murray

Creating Animated Cartoons with Character

Creating Animated Cartoons with Character

A Guide to Developing and Producing Your Own Series for TV, Web or Film

Written by Joe Murray. Published in 2010 by Random House/ Watson Guptil

This book is one creators approach to creating and producing an animated series. Packed with details and lessons learned from producing Rocko’s Modern Life and Camp Lazlo, along with many side anecdotes.

Also included are interviews with the late Stephen Hillenburg (Spongebob) Craig McCracken ( Powerpuff girls) Tom Kenny ( voice of Spongebob and Heffer), and many more professionals discussing their craft.

The book has since gone out of print, and many resellers are taking advantage of a wanting audience by selling copies at an immense profit. I have received many letters from those who cannot afford these prices and feel they could benefit from the information here. Even though some of the streaming and broadcast information are a bit out of date,( and Lets Go Luna is not included here) much of the info is still relevant.

So I am offering a digital copy for you as a free download. As payment, maybe you can donate to a food bank, or simply pay it forward somehow.

I am working on a new book about story and character for animation. We will see how it goes.

I hope this book can be of service to you. Enjoy!

Who Asked the Moon to Dinner

Written & Illustrated by Joe Murray-Tallfellow Press

In between Rocko’s Modern Life and Camp Lazlo, Joe Murray produced a couple of childrens’ books with the same warped bend as his animation. The first of these was Who Asked the Moon to Dinner, and remains Joe’s favorite.

When Issac invites the moon over for dinner, he, his Aunt and Uncle Snog get more than they bargained for. Who would have guessed the Moon would destroy the house and juggle the cats. Alas, it’s up to Issac to restore some order.

Written and Illustrated by animator Joe Murray, with whimsical paintings and lively text. Add a glow in the dark “moon glow ” cover, and this book delights all.

Mr. Sticky
Moon Stuck
New Moon Illustration
The Enormous Mister Schmupsle

The Enormous Mister Schmupsle!

Written and Illustrated by Joe Murray-Tallfellow Books

Another book of the “Issac Series”, Issac and his cousin Trixie agree to watch Mr. Rumpskin’s huge fat cat, with the agreement that they will not allow him to eat anything. But Issac and Trixie are supposed to be studying their alphabet. If Uncle Snog and Aunt Faye come home and discover that they avoided their assignment, they will surely have to eat some of Aunt Fayes meatloaf. But when Mister Schmupsle starts eating again, they realize that he is eating through the alphabet. The Enormous Mister Schmupsle! is a great way for kids to learn the alphabet AND to watch this fat cat eat his way through town.

Mr. Schmupsle - table
Mr. Schmupsle - wagon
Mr. Big