2020: The Year In Animation

I made a short animated film about how relentlessly bad the year 2020 is/was. It's been literal shit! Therefore the animation features the song "Literal Shit" by the band Apache Tomcat; go check them out on Free Music Archive, they are cool. 

I grew up in the sixties and Saturday morning cartoons had a profound impact on me. Sometimes I think my personality was shaped by Chuck Jones and Mel Blanc. Most definitely there are traces of influence in my own little indie films in terms of timing and character takes (though greatly simplified in execution). When I started making this film, I was really just thinking of animating a series of shots of me trying to "destroy the 2020". It was only halfway through that I realized I was also including pratfalls (because they're funny). Like Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner, 2020 has been a series of desperate shots and humiliating pratfalls. It served the story to go with it, so I leaned in.

The song (which I found first and animated to on a timeline) is only about 30 seconds long, and the shots are super tight. I LOVE that fast-paced animation. I added the extra "downtime" at the end, which builds some tension before releasing back into the fury of the music. Actually the film will loop endlessly if you let it. I really hope 2020 does not loop endlessly. *sob*

2021 better be better.

Seriously, 2020 has been a world-wide disaster and a year fraught with personal terribleness. There's a raging pandemic! People are divided! The planet is on fire! Friends and family are suffering and dying. I animated this while simultaneously dealing with mononucleosis, full surgery to remove pre-cancer in my boob, and a gall bladder situation - and I consider myself lucky. Because it could have been way worse.

What do you consider yourself lucky for this year?

ps. wear a mask please.

Tweet

Summer SLEEVES.

My friend Tanya (jewelry designer extraordinaire at Gracie Mack) was recently lamenting on Facebook, about the lack of sleeves on cute summer dresses. Her idea was to open a shop called "We Have Sleeves".

I generally do okay with my body image (mostly by not looking in the mirror). But honestly, I do have things that bug me from time to time and glunky underarms around the bra line is one of them. Here's my peri-menopausal cartoon body (without the Jessica Rabbit treatment):

Glunkity-glunk!

A few other women jumped into Tanya's Facebook convo, and when photographer Sarah Thomas suggested "fake sleeves" a picture formed itself in my head.

Think about it: with SLEEVES we won't have to put on a sweater or jacket or shawl, so you don't have to worry about getting too hot. Also, your silky shoulders will be exposed for "come hither" posing over a strawberry daiquiri... or ALLCAPS cocktail.

We could have these in solid colours, light sheer fabric for summer and a little heavier for spring or fall. SLEEVES could be simple to integrate with any dress (Tanya suggests putty, charcoal gray, white and black). Or SLEEVES could be more decorative; beaded or with silk-flowers for example, to make a fashion statement.

Now we need someone to make these for us. Who else wants them?

Tweet

The UNICORN, the UNIVERSE and boots.

I am ignorant.

I'm the first one to admit it. I'm fabulously ignorant about most things (although I do know a bit about animation and....itchy bums). But, I honestly wonder about other people.

Like, do you really believe that if you sneeze and fart at the same time, a vacuum will be created within your body and that you will actually die? I was idly wondering this whilst chatting with @cosmicgirlie about Google+ when the subject of 'Unicorns' came up. It rattled around with the other thoughts in my brain, marinated momentarily in the briny bowl of inspiration and suddenly morphed into the following question:

What happens if a Unicorn sneezes and farts at the same time?

Clearly I have stumbled upon something truly magical here.

And while I'm on the subject of Unicorns, please copy and paste this sentence into the comments below:

"I would like to see a drawing of JC riding a Unicorn, wearing nothing but these Chocolate Lucky Boots from @CountryOutfittr." 

Or you could just click HERE to tweet it.

Before you accuse me of being sneaky, just remember this could be a win/win/win situation. I would get the boots, you would get to see the drawing, and Country Outfitter would get some social media attention. I have no idea how much attention, and probably they don't actually need my help in the attention department. I suppose it's possible that they don't care a jot whether or not I do a drawing of myself riding a Unicorn wearing nothing but those kickass boots....

But still! It's worth a shot, right?

I will be the Opening Keynote at the Oct. 12-13 Aiming Low NonCon in beautiful Georgia! Register here.

Tweet

The GIFT.

When I started drawing my blog, I never thought that I would touch people's lives. I never dreamed that someone would do this for me.



Stephi Linn you got skillz.

Twitter's own @Gypsy_Momma - or "Giraffe Legs", as I like to call her - is a glass painting artist at BooMonkey Creations. She lovingly painted a collection of her fave drawings from my blog onto a re-purposed window with a toothpick. It took her several months to paint and many fingers crossed that it wouldn't break in transit. Here's the Epic Reveal in Stephi's own words.

Thank-you Stephi and Brian, all those who helped get this beautiful gift to me in one piece (including the US Postal service), and to everyone in the I Draw YOU collection. You inspire me and I shall treasure it always.

Who do you recognize?

Share.

Tweet

Get INSPIRED!

ANNOUNCEMENT: Yeah, this is what I've been squirming about for the past month.

Remember my quest to get Wacom's attention? Well, it worked! I've been featured on their new "Get Inspired" site.  They sent a team to film me right here in my home studio. Check out their video of me while I was drawing my new film "Inspiration". You even get to see some of the junk on my desk!

It's hard to talk about yourself when you're terrified shy. I was filling up my shorts brave. 

If you don't know what a Wacom is - it's a pen tablet. I use one to draw straight into the computer. You'll often see it in my drawings of myself drawing.

There's some cool artists up there with me; it's worth checking out just for that. Plus there's a "One Thousand Forests" contest you can enter (whether you use a Wacom or not). For every person who participates, they'll donate $5 to the International Child Art Foundation. It's all very, very cool and right on.

Go get inspired!

A note of thanks to the person behind the @Wacom on Twitter. Also @TheGoToMom, @MarcyMassura and especially the lovely @DotandLil; she kicked my butt and started all this.

Share.

Tweet

Inspiration.

This is what it's like to be me.



Where do ideas come from? Are some people more likely to get them than others? Do you agree there's a difference between inspiration and creativity? I wonder what motivates someone to turn an idea into reality...questions that need answers!

I'm struck by new ideas all the time. I want to do them ALL. And I'm determined to try!

What inspires you?

Share. This film was featured on Wacom's Get Inspired site.

Tweet

Drawing A BLANK.

My fingers were itching. I wanted to draw something, but I couldn't think what...

Turns out I was already drawing a blank.

High-5 to @ThatIsSuch for this particular suggestion.

Tweet

The Most EPIC Contest Evar.

In celebration of my (hopefully) imminent 10,000 followers on Twitter, my ONE YEAR blogging thing, and my sudden overwhelming desire to draw myself as The Queen, I'm having another contest.

I've done contests before but this one's a little different. First off, some unsuspecting person will be my 10,000th follower and that person will get a t-shirt with The Queen on it. Who knows? I may even do another Twitter Stiptease.

For my AWESOME loyal following, I humbly offer to draw YOU*.
*If I've already drawn you, I guess I could draw your pet or your kid instead.

Third Prize: . Your face will be put on a t-shirt and sent to you. You'll wear it so much that eventually it'll be all faded and limp, but you'll refuse to throw it away because it's a drawing of you. Well, it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, right?

Second Prize: Your face will be put on a high quality Zazzle mug and sent to you to drink coffee or tea from for all eternity. You'll have your 'mug' on a mug.

First Prize: You get the T-shirt AND the mug. YAY!

You may only enter ONCE:

1. Comment here saying how I should draw YOU. Don't tell me WHY, just tell me HOW you'd like to be depicted. Think carefully about this.
   
2. Answer this skill testing question: How many of YOU have I drawn on this blog? I know. Math is hard.
   
3. Lastly, hit the Tweet button below, and HUG someone on Twitter, copying @littleanimation. You should also say that this contest is fun so other people can find out about it. Oh yeah - you'd do that anyways...! Riiiiight.

How will I know you've done all three? I have my ways. Check out my Queenly gaze.
The three winners will be the ones that inspire me the most. Contest closes Thursday June 30th 2011 at midnight EST.

By entering this contest, you agree to allow me to draw you and to blog the drawing of you. I own the artwork but you can use it as your avatar if you want!

Find out who won.

Share the fun.

Tweet

How To Make TV.

Sometimes you just get an idea, you know? This is the story of how I was inspired...and a TV series was born.

It took two years to make the show. At the end of the production I was asked to give a speech to the animation team. I like to illustrate my presentations with funny drawings cuz it's more fun for everyone. Afterwards I turned it into this little film.



It takes a lot to make something like this happen. Sharing and collaborating and team-building; my best friends tell me it takes leadership. Whew. About time I owned that. And about time I shared it on this here blog.

More about My Life ME, the TV series here and here. Oh and there's also MyLifeME.com.

Oh gee, uh...what pretty share buttons...!

Tweet

YOU...logy. Dame ELIZABETH Taylor.

I'm having an emotional reaction to the passing away of Elizabeth Taylor. I can't explain it. 
She was an inspiration to me for so many reasons. And she had beautiful eyebrows.

Dame Elizabeth Taylor, you've done so much good. I pay tribute to you and your vision.

The Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation.

Share! 

Tweet

Pickle Weasel can FLY.

On the day that he was born, Pickle Weasel leaped off my blog and started his own Twitter account (without my permission, the naughty thing). There's just no controlling some cartoon characters!  Well, as long as he behaves himself I guess I don't mind too much.

The Pickle Weasel has very interesting DNA, as you can imagine. So it's going to come as no surprize to anyone that he can fly.

He's such a rascal.
I wonder what else he can do....?

You can make someone else smile by sharing.

Tweet

PICKLE Weasel.

Convo between @ScreenscapeS and @OMGnakie on Twitter

ScreenscapeS: Isn't that a funny word? #PIckleWeasle

OMGnakie: It iis rather funny, yes.

ScreenscapeS: Lets ask @LittleAnimation .... What do you see in your head when you read the word "PickleWeasle"?

Me: Are you kidding me? I see a pickle, with four legs ears and whiskers. You want me to draw it for you?

And that's how inspiration works.

PICKLE Weasel can fly!!!

You can make someone else smile by sharing.

Tweet