The Amazing Cynicalman! The Movie!

by on August 19, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Posted In: Blog

Cartoonist Matt Feazell has been creating his comic strip, The Amazing Cynicalman, America’s Laid Off Superhero, since 1980. Now he’s in the process of finishing up a live action film of his comic creation! It has an all-star local cast, and even yours truly makes a couple of brief appearances. Plus it’s got the great Scott McCloud as the voice of Boardman. How cool is that?

Matt asked me to do some matte (Matt?) paintings for him, as well as an animated Powerpoint-like presentation that the evil Dr. Pweent screens to explain his dastardly plot. Here’s some screen grabs:

The first is looking up at Dr. Pweent’s lair. I constructed the model of the tower and added the smoke. Matt added the lettering on the side of the building.

This is one of the slides in the presentation with Dr. Pweent laughing maniacally.

Finally, here’s our heroes, Cynicalman, Lizard Girl, and that might be me standing in for Sean Bieri as Loan Shark!

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Another Little Robot

by on August 16, 2011 at 2:50 pm
Posted In: Blog

Whatever happened to Rustboy?

I was filling my new bookshelf a few weeks ago and, as what always happens, I start wasting time by leafing through a book I hadn’t looked at in a while. In this case it was Brian Taylor’s Rustboy: Re-animating a Lifelong Dream.

Brian had started his Rustboy short film project some years ago (ten maybe?), and created beautiful looking animation with what was the available software of the day, all on his own. He published his progress on a slick website where he featured preliminary drawings, storyboards, test animations, and even specially composed music. It naturally garnered him quite a lot of attention.

Though the project was never finished, Brian still produced his “making-of” book, as well as some really cool Rustboy vinyl toys (which make me want an Ellie vinyl toy so much. One that has a green light in her torso). I had heard that there was even a children’s book in the works (haven’t seen one yet though).

Here’s some animation from Brian Taylor’s Rustboy for you to enjoy:

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The Morae River

by on August 10, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Posted In: Blog

While on a web-surfing expedition some time ago, we here at Mission Control happened across the website of imaginary xeno-naturalist Brynn Metheney. Her project, titled The Morae River, is her personal exploration of an invented world, populated by strange, but strangely familiar plants and animals.

 

 From her site:

“The Morae River Project started out as an exercise in world building but has grown into a personal exploration in writing, drawing, and evolution. . . I’ve constructed a river and the ecosystems that might exist along it and have begun to make it my own. My effort is to represent the more notable of species to give you an understanding of  . . .  flora, and fauna; to perhaps feel that these organisms are thought out, organized, and studied.”

This personal project has managed to bring Brynn quite a lot of attention and the opportunity to do some creature creation for clients as well. Sadly, she has decided that she’s gone as far as she can with The Morae River, but has a new project starting this fall entitled The Red Valley. We’re looking forward to more interesting flora and fauna to come!

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There’s Four of ’em, and They’re Fantastic!

by on August 9, 2011 at 12:28 am
Posted In: Blog

This year is the 50th anniversary of the very first Fantastic Four comic book. To celebrate, Green Brain Comics in Dearborn, Michigan decided to honor this auspicious occasion in a special way. They’ve invited 26 different artists to each re-imagine a single page from the comic in whatever way they choose. Here’s my interpretation of page 21:

My favorite part, for whatever reason, is the Invisible Girl running.

And here’s a video treat for you: Norm MacDonald tells the real story of how the FF got their name. There’s a teeny bit of adult language (the three letter variety, but that’s all), just so you know.

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