My Feelings on 2008:

Maybe 2009 will be better.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Rhapsody in Blue (Doodles)

Rhapsody in Blue Doodles by ~FantasiaMan on deviantART

To see the image, click on the link above & click on the image to enlarge it a little bit. To see the image at close to its intended size so you can see each doodle up close, click the "Download" button on the left side. It may take a minute or two for the page to load, but hopefully it will be worth the wait for you.

Goddamn 3/4 Views...

Yule, Noel & Such n' Such...

Christmas. What else can I say that I haven't said last year?

But hey, look at all the cool personalized Christmas cards I got this year:

This one's from my friend & fellow SVA animator, Jimmy Harrigan.

This one's from another animator friend of mine, Ivey Ao. Notice Steve-O holding a Flurt cup. (God I love Flurt...)

& this one's from my very good friend (& teacher), Don Duga! Don was in charge of continuity (aka Storyboards) for some of the classic Rankin-Bass specials, including Frosty, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Mad Monster Party & The Last Unicorn. 

& finally, here's mine (blank). Straight off, I want to apologize to those that didn't receive cards this year, mostly because I either forgot to ask for or lost your addresses. I know it's too late to send them out before the holiday, but if anyone wants a personalized (yet belated) card, let me know, 'cause I don't want anyone to feel left out.

I'd like to wish everyone & their families a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Boxing Day & a Happy New Year! But before I go, here's one last Christmas treat (courtesy of Youtube). This was my favorite childhood Christmas commercial (although I wasn't a big fan of the product they were advertising):

Grombledy Grumbledy Grrrrr...

Almost there... Almost there...

"Dexter's a Cookie!"

"Cookie! Cookie! Cookie! Cookie! Cookie!....."

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...

...

...

"I'm gonna bop you one girl!"

"Sketchbook Hero"

The other night, my friends Shelley, Carly & myself were hanging out upstairs in the solarium of the GW dorms (actually, they were busy doing actually schoolwork & I was procrastinating on a term paper). At one point, we decided to have a little drawing session for kicks n' giggles. More like a mini quick-sketching competition to see who drew what best. We call it"Sketchbook Hero" (Shelley picked the name). All the drawings came out of our heads, absolutely no reference whatsoever.

1) I shouted out the first idea: to draw a really grumpy lion. A chance for me to draw the same expression for the 7 billionth time.

2) Next, one of Shelley's friends said to draw "Wrestling Nuns". I rushed it (about 15 seconds) so it didn't look as readable as the other's.

3) Carly called "Ninjas" next. It's my ninja's first day on the job, & he has a bit of a pot belly to show for it.

4) I knew it was coming sooner or later: "Pirates". I based my design off the pirate I animated last year for Doug Crane's animation class. I like the parrot the best.

5) Since he just celebrated his 80th Birthday not too long ago, next I said to draw Mickey Mouse in your own style. Another "Grumpy Gus" expression, of course.

6)Running with the Disney idea, Carly called "Tinker Bell". If there's one thing I can't draw, it's girls. Well, I tried...

7) One of Shelley's friends requested Fievel Mousekewitz from An American Tail. Carly got the Don Bluth style down, Shelly caught the cuteness of the character, & I got this. Boo hoo.

8) Completely out of left field, Shelley said to draw your favorite Smash Bros. character pounding your least favorite one. The idea of a gorilla socking a pink girly Poke'mon teeth in the teeth & sending her straight into the ionosphere tickled my heart. 

9) Papa Smurf was next. This was my first time drawing a Smurf, & I think I got it somewhat close.

10) Last (& certainly not least) was the one, the only, Howard Beckerman! The only reason I drew him grumpy was because it's easier to draw humans angry than they are happy (at least from my perspective). It makes it fun for me to draw.

We're gonna try making this a weekly thing, it's a lot of fun & it helps let off some steam & stress. It also lets me know how much my drawing needs to improve (& that's a good thing).

Make sure to check out Shelley & Carly's interpretations too!  

SOOPAH NIN10DOH!!!!!!!

Syke! It ain't done yet! God, I love to screw around with people's minds.

Since there's still a little more work to be done before it goes up, here's a preview-ish thing on what I contributed to the project. I don't think this is spoiling much. I even SNAFU'ed the pictures up a bit to screw around with you some more. Consider this a small nibble of the 4 course meal that is to be "SooPaH NIN10Doh!".

You know what?.... Since Christmas is right around the corner, I'll let you have another bite:

Here's my recording session for SOOPaH NIN10Doh!, done earlier in the Spring. It's a bit embarrassing listening to my screw-ups, weak vocals & total wackiness when I'm behind the microphone again after so long, but I really enjoyed recording it at the time, so that compensates things a bit (Still, I could've done better). You'll also hear Chris Niosi directing me nearby & Chris Zito commenting & fooling around in the background. 

*I should warn you, the following audio contains some foul words, inappropriate language & downright gutter-talk. Now that I warned you, enjoy!:

I'll still let the world know once it's complete. Let this also be a reminder to those who need to get off their behinds & finish their segments!!!! The rest of the team is waiting for you! 

Kirb Goes to the Birds...

I bought a commission from my good friend Chris "Kirbopher" Niosi, & look at what he made:

If you like how my little guys look here, then why don't you buy a commission from Chris too? The prices are so cheap, he's practically giving them away! "CLICK"

& now for something completely different: