” Characters are like people, but they are drawings, and as drawings they live in the real world. You find them in books and papers, on TV screens, in the digital world. But above all they live in the world of the imagination. They are like letters from a universal alphabet. They are part of a language that is used by people from all over the world to communicate with each other.”

  -Mariscal

Characters have always been my life blood. From the moment I could draw they filled my pages and gave me ways for a shy young kid to say things I could’nt say otherwise.

They are the actors when I could’nt get on stage. Spoke their mind when I felt too timid. They have always been my voice.

As the kids who grew up with Rocko come of age and enter the real world, I’m finding more and more of them expressing their appreciation for the characters that shared their childhood. It’s strange. But the world I created became their world. We all shared it. I didn’t create it for them. In that sense I was extremely selfish. And yet, maybe for that reason, these characters resonated.

Sometimes I feel they are merely nostalgia. But I think it goes deeper than that. And the sense that they are not mainstream, gives us a group and a nod to each other for a shared joke , or a moment when the world seemed to glide smoothly for all of us.

They are definitely not my characters.

If there one thing that gets drummed more and more into my head as my artistic life goes on ( and especially these days) is that, consistency and determination are foremost allies in the life of an artist.

Creating an animated show for a network raises you status a bit, and puts a bit of money in the bank for a short time ( unless you are Steve Hillenburg or Seth Mcfarland, then it’s a little longer and larger). But for the most part, any project you work on that is owned by someone else is ephemeral. The plug is pulled at any time. Your life as an artist goes on.

What I find again and again, from independent webtoons done by my friend Arin Hanson at Egoraptor, to indie online comics or hard copy comic books, strips , music, blogs, photography, jewelry art and design..etc…

Is that putting out product consistently and diligently, wins the people over the long run.

Dedication to your craft. Dedication to a schedule of output. Also dedication to quality, but not to the extent it keeps you from ever finishing something or putting it out there consistently.

Hazel Dooney , a fine artist in Australia , consistently has put out new paintings on her website that are snatched up by collectors, some even before she finishes. It wasn’t always like that. And that’s what artists, animators, filmmakers need to remember, the beginning is the true test. Can you get over that hurdle where money and support seem to be invisible? Can you believe in what you are doing to follow it through? To put aside brand name , ego building but ephemeral jobs to focus on something that you could very well keep doing until you die.

I can’t keep doing Rocko’s. I can’t keep doing Camp Lazlos. Not to take anything away from those experiences.

And I know it’s a bit ironic for this post to come on the heels of posts about Kaboing coming to a stand still. But course correction and soul searching is good too.

It’s been said that if an artist can build a tribe of “1000 true fans” ( in Arin’s case its more like 470,000, with 87 million views) an artist can find their niche, their place. Arin didn’t start out that way. But over time, his audience found him.

Consistency and dedication. The ability to be frugal and find your legs in those tough early times. Build on something that can keep going if you want. You can stop if you want.

I was just made aware today of a news post on a major animation site that joyfully announced the demise of Kaboing TV. ( along with some negative comments about myself and the site).

Well, you are not going to get rid of me that easily ( or Kaboing).

I mentioned on my blog that we were in a grey area. Not kaput!

We are not giving up. Sometimes it takes some major kicking when I’m down to get me back up fighting again. ( Quiet Samurai, the fight must not come from a place of anger).

We have some new approaches planned, and maybe the adjustment of lower expectations at the start will help us.

I’m not working or making entertainment for the industry or the people who read that other site that like to dwell on negativity. I’m making it for the animation fan. The ones who appreciate the medium and don’t see a need for knocking someone else down who is merely making a contribution. Anyone who makes animation, to me, deserves my respect. It’s a difficult and time consuming medium. I’m interested in approaches to improve the craft, but also to support distribution and showcasing that side steps the gate keepers of the major conglomerates. But I’m not going to keep talking about it.  It needs to be seen.

As Gandhi said: ” First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.”

We will keep going. I have many projects going on. It’s never fun to trip and fall in public. But that is what I signed on for. Keep the punches coming. I can take it. You can like my work or not. But I’ll keep on making it, and supporting others who want to make it.

Fight on.

Helping Each Other

Some may criticize the blog world, but where else can I spill my guts ( not unlike Gutzy) about the trials of an independent life, and find such a great outpouring of support and advice. I’m grateful for those who wrote back both on this block and my in box.

Many have told me that my blog helps them. Well….we all help each other. You have shown me that I need to be reminded of the diligence that is needed in a creative life ( a subject I have talked about often) . That’s why us artists and writers stick together.

When I think I have run out of resourcefulness, you show me more paths. I’m glad that Frog in a Suit has stayed out of the hands of the media giants. Fantastic.

Somewhat on the same note, I read an article this week in Time magazine about You tube, and the internet audience. They allude to the fact that it’s viewed more as an outlet for those alternative sources of creativity, and that “mainstream” or at least those who have had exposure more on traditional television, are not so welcome with original content. I’m not talking about clips that appear on You tube from shows, I’m talking about a known content creator doing his own thing has not met with the same numbers as “Unicorn farting rainbows.” Are the internet audience more connected with that content?

My thoughts are when TV channels blend with the internet, ( as they are starting to do now) we will still see a separation of the mainstream and mavericks?

Thoughts?

It’s been almost a year since we launched Kaboing TV, and there have been a few inquiries into what the status is of both Kaboing and Frog. I have tried to explain where we are, but it seems to still be a grey area. I’ll try and elaborate. My pride sometimes fights again’st the need for full transparency.

The idea for Kaboing stemmed from an idea to bring original cartoon content to audiences via the web, from creators that may not have gotten through the door at a TV network. I’m still convinced that the web and TV will continue their merge, and as you can see from You Tube’s move to fund original content, it’s where things are going. It was never a money making venture for me, but I felt with ad revenue or subscription base, I may be able to support my family and help the animation community bring projects to fruit.

After the kickstarter drive, I started watching ad revenue ( CPM’s  Cost per 1000 impressions) drop due to influence from the big boys. I had meeting after meeting with investors and ad people trying to get them to come on board. Some nibbled, but only if we agreed on owning all of the properties that appeared on Kaboing. Since I promised that this would be an alternative to the network model, that was not a place I could go.

Most meetings were concluded with “lets see where your traffic comes out.”. Well, I poured all the kickstarter money into making the episodes ( as well as twice as much of my own money) and had little left for marketing. Most of the industry itself turned thier back on the project as ludicrous . My only hope was great traffic numbers to bring in more money for new episodes.

It didn’t happen.

At the same time, another project ( which would have funded more Frog in a Suit shorts) with a media giant, hit a snag in the negotiations and I wasn’t willing to lower the value I felt the property offered. The deal was way too lopsided.  I still own Frog, but there are a few people attached to it still,  that I would have to spend legal money de-taching them. I’ll still produce cartoons, and hopefully more shorts and story vehicles. Frog in a Suit is not dead.

With me out of money, Kevin Johnson stepped in to keep it going while we figured out what we were going to do next.( For which I am grateful).  I had to start focusing on filling the bank account again. It’s been a struggle, but as I said before, “The road through hell is paved with good intentions.”

I love the indie showcase to call attention to talented new filmmakers, and I love that my friend John Dilworth lent his support putting “Dirdy Birdy” on there. We are still reviewing submissions, but are at a crossroads.

I’m a little confused by the internet audience when my daughters show me a you tube video of a unicorn shitting rainbows that has a few million hits, and we have not even broken 6 figures. I had one investor say ” Just make a cartoon with a Dick talking, you’ll get a million hits. Puppetry of the penis. You know.”

I’m happy that the annoying fruit guys are getting their break via the web, as did “Adventure Time” ( which was originally  paid for by Nickelodeon, and let go, and Fred Seibert brought it back with the power of the web). When the value of what is offered for entertainment on the web is worked out, it will find more revenue stability. It’s still a mighty force, but it’s shaking up the music and visual arts business with value issues.

I’m so grateful to all of the kickstarter supporters and all those who have supported my work now and in the past, but we needed more eyeballs watching what we were doing. If it was because of the quality of the shorts I produced, I will take the blame for that. It was what I could do with the money we had. Some of the industry has put me in a penalty box because of the Kaboing project ( as well as some animation fans) but that was the risk I took. I still stand behind it, and I can’t think of things I would have done different with the information I had at the time. In hind sight of course, but not with what I was working with at the time.

I hope that fills you in. Kevin Johnson, Suzanne Kasch and I are still figuring out where to go next. Even in the phase we are in now, the site costs money. So we need to figure it out.

Thank you for all of your support.

It’s from a brilliant artist named Keri Smith ( her website). I also love her books. But I have to agree with these points.

Whether you know it or not, you are creating your art on a daily basis. The choices you make, what you say,, do. What you buy. What you draw. What you write.

I’ve made art that has been on television, in film and books. But art goes on whether it crosses over into a commerce world or not. The way you do business. What you have to say, whether it’s on your blog, in deviant art or sold in a gallery. It’s you. Something that crosses over into the commerce world doesn’t make it more valid. Yes, It can help you pay the bills so you can make more art.  But Pop art can be a comic book page or a Lichtenstein on the wall. It can be in the form of an animated show in the 90′s, an independent film shown in festivals. a vinyl toy, or a doodle in your sketchbook. ( Have you ever seen Frida Kahlo’s sketchbook?)  It’s amazing that we have so many forms of expression.

When cave paintings were made thousands of years ago, do you think anyone thought about whether they would be rich or famous from them? It was about saying something. Telling stories of the human condition and it’s place in the world. On this earth. Graffiti art of the ages. Mostly done in the dark, a pure expression of the soul.

Okay,, quite cosmic. But I think you get what I’m trying to say.

Your success ( so called, according to what interpretation) and your failures ( same) are all part of the dance. Your dance. You are creating it everyday. Walking forward is actually a succession of falling and catching yourself. Standing upright again. And falling again. It moves us forward and gets us places. Good and bad.

Enjoy the dance. It’s only yours. And we are all the better for it.

“You have done what you could — some blunders and absurdities have crept in. Forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”

                                                                                          -Emerson

2011 has been an interesting year. But I have to be honest.

I’m glad it’s coming to a close.

I had some great master classes which I enjoyed, ( and discovered some amazing talents) , I got married again ( to an amazing woman and a blessing in my life) but two major projects that I had spent years on.. well… one was like watching the fuse to what promises to be a wonderful firework display, fizzle out at the moment of truth. Oh, I could go into the reasons. Some I saw coming and was too far into it to not give it a shot. Ahh, they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

The other project was connected to the first. It was more the economics and negotiations with a huge media giant which led me to pull out. Again , it was… sounded like a great idea at the time…kind of thing. But I’m too old and  a bit wiser to fall for the same shenanigans these companies play with creatives.  I’m still paying off the bills from that one.

But isn’t that what the creative life is all about? Taking these risks? I just didn’t like the feeling of the ground giving way under my feet all at once. I didn’t go the way that everyone thought I should. I tried a different path. We are always in a series of course corrections.

I scrambled to re-tool my business and my goals. Some was born out of panic. Never a good time to make rational decisions. ( Especially with a new wife and two teenage daughters). Finding where what I have to offer would be helpful and needed. What I needed was time to slow down and reflect.

Whether I wanted it or not,,, I got it. And it has helped a lot.

So I’m looking forward to 2012 ( and no I don’t believe it will be the end of the world). But I do see us humans needing to make some major adjustments. I see it in all of the protests. We are no longer going to be satisfied with the status quo. We all have rights to live free and on a healthy planet.

Now is the high time for creativity. It is a renaissance of sorts.

Cheers.

Scan of the art off the page of TV guide promoting the RML Christmas Special- 1994

When I saw that the Rocko Christmas Special was to be included in the Season 2 RML DVD collection, it made me want to poop snow with joy.

I remember editing this thing up to a day before it was to air. It has some great characters that were never seen before or after, like the little elf, Fruitcake Man, and do you recall? The most famous elf of all?

That would be MITCH. He had 3 legs.

We actually had a tough time with our parody of the “Rudolph” song. ( you know. The one the dad elf sings where all of the elves are named after hand tools. )You’ll notice how off the actual song Tom Kenny tried to keep to avoid legal issues. Apparently, the people who owned the song only made money at Christmas, so they were very meticulous on copyright infringement. Even parody.

Directed and storyboarded by Doug Lawrence and Robert Scull. Fantastic job.

Ahhhhhhhh,,, the spirit of the holidays.

Murray House at Christmas

There are so many strange things going on right now. It will make a good book some day. Sometimes things that you are going through at the present , will later on look like a turning point, a bad dip, or a great thing depending on how your life turns out. In other words,  crappy stuff turns out for the best, and seemingly great stuff turns into a nightmare. You never know.

All I know is that things have been quite an adventure, and I’m still alive today.

More as this weird roller coaster develops.

I’m trying to get a video post out before Christmas, but who knows. If I don’t, I wish you all the weirdest and happiest of holidays.