Kevin Eastman
Many cartoonists have an interest in theater and acting. It’s a natural extension of performing on the page. So, it makes sense for Kevin Eastman, the co-creator of one of the most dramatic teams of cartoon characters, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, to expand on his talents. Kevin Eastman will make his voice-acting debut on the TMNT animated series this Sunday, March 2 on Nickelodeon.
Filed under animation, Comics, Kevin Eastman, Nickelodeon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
BURBANK, CA – DECEMBER 10: (L-R) Songwriter Richard Sherman, director Rich Moore, director Chris Buck, director Jennifer Lee, producer Peter Del Vecho, General Manager, Walt Disney Animation Studios Andrew Millstein, actor Josh Gad, music supervisor Tom MacDougall, Executive director John Lasseter and composer Christophe Beck attend the 90 Years of Disney Animation celebration at Walt Disney Studios on December 10, 2013 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney Animation)
The Walt Disney Company was founded in 1923 in a back room of a real estate office in Los Angeles. By 1928, a little plucky mouse danced and sung his way down the river in “Steamboat Willie” and the rest is history.
On December 10th Bob Iger, John Lasseter, Alan Horn and Ed Catmull hosted a cocktail reception in Legends Plaza on the Disney lot to celebrate 90 years of Walt Disney Animation with Disney legends, filmmakers, artists, and voice talent.
The 90th Celebration celebrated Disney’s animation legacy, its iconic living heroes, artists and filmmakers, while spotlighting the new wave and renaissance of artistry, creativity, and talent at WDAS, most notably evident with WDAS’s 53rd animated feature, FROZEN. A screening of Frozen preceded the event.
Press release and more photos follow:
Filed under animation, Bob Iger, Disney, Floyd Norman, Milton Quon, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Studios
Marceline the Vampire Queen in “Adventure Time”
Martin Olson is a great comedy writer. And Olivia Olson is an accomplished singer, songwriter, and actress. It was a lot of fun to get to interview them both in a casual conversational style. I had a good idea about what I wanted to ask them. I had notes about the dynamics of a father and daughter working together. I had notes on Martin’s career going back to his founding of the legendary “Boston Comedy Scene.” I had notes about Martin’s writing for, and Olivia’s acting in, “Phineas and Ferb.” And, of course, I had notes upon notes on “Adventure Time.”
Vanessa in “Phineas and Ferb”
The new book by Martin Olson, “The Adventure Time Encyclopedia,” is a nod to his impressive “Encyclopedia of Hell,” from 2010, and is the ultimate source of knowledge on all things “Adventure Time.”
Now, wait for a moment here, and let’s back it up. “Encyclopedia of Hell” is a whole world to itself. This book is a manual for demons to prepare for Hell’s invasion of Earth. It’s a wonderful vehicle. As Martin Olson points out, “This is working from Mark Twain’s version of Satan. This is the most beautiful satirical platform to work from since all bets are off and you can satirize everything.” Check it out here.
Olivia Olson is well known for his musical talent but there’s no getting around the fact that she also has tons of fans of her role as Marceline the Vampire Queen. And that’s very cool. It’s an honor, really, and Olivia wears it well. At one point in the interview, I posed a question to Olivia from my own daughter, Emma, who was curious about how Olivia channels her vampire character and Olivia provided an inspired response. It lead to an interesting discussion on the power of fiction.
Getting back to “The Adventure Time Encyclopedia,” it does a remarkable job of describing the narrative underbelly of the show and all the activities on the postapocalyptic land of Ooo. Primarily, you have profiles that go into heavy detail on all the main characters, followed by smaller profiles on the wide assortment of minor characters. There are also a number of other features, including maps and descriptions on the many kingdoms and various miscellaneous treats. But, the great thing about this book is how it takes everything that may appear chaotic and gives it a more orderly form. No doubt, there is much to keep up with on a show that is far more than just about a boy and his dog, as you can see from a look at Season 5 here.
It sure looks like there’s room for a whole other book on this subject and maybe that will happen. For now, you’ll be glad you got yourself a copy of “The Adventure Time Encyclopedia,” published by Abrams Books, which you can purchase here.
And to add to all the fun, Martin Olson and Olivia Olson have a new album they have just released. It is an eclectic collection that rings true in its wide range of songs. You can check out “The Father-Daughter Album of Unspeakable Beauty” on iTunes here.
And, of course, you will want to check out Olivia’s EP, “Beauty is Chaos,” on iTunes here.
Just click the link below to listen to the whole podcast interview:
And keep up with “Phineas and Ferb,” on the Disney Channel, here and “Adventure Time,” on Cartoon Network, here.
Filed under animation, Art, Cartoon Network, Comedy, Disney, Humor, Martin Olson, Music, Olivia Olson, Pendleton Ward
Transformers Prime Beast Hunters! Try saying that fast three times in a row.
Transformers Prime Beast Hunters!
Transformers Prime Beast Hunters!
Transformers Prime Beast Hunters!
Okay, now that we got that out of the way, watch a whole new episode of, you guessed it, “Transformers Prime Beast Hunters” on Hub Newtork on Friday, May 31.
This episode goes by the mysterious title, “Plus One.”
The story: Unusual pairings abound. Arcee teams with Wheeljack, and Agent Fowler finds himself in a tight squeeze with Jack’s mother while on a mission to gather a Precadon bone relic.
Premieres Friday, May 31, 7:30 pm EST on Hub Network!
Here’s some info on Transformers Prime Beast Hunters:
The epic battle with the Decepticons rages on as Optimus Prime leads his team of Autobots and three human children in a mission to defend Earth and one day restore his home planet of Cybertron. But a brand new enemy emerges that could turn the tide of the war in Megatron’s favor.
Filed under animation, Cartoons, Hub Network, Television, Transformers
The Season 2 premiere of THE AQUABATS! SUPER SHOW! is on June 1 at 1:00 p.m. ET, on HUB Network. I had the opportunity to interview Jason deVilliers, executive producer, director, writer on the show; and Richard Falomir, one of the Aquabats, aka “Ricky Fitness.” Both of these guys are super talented and go back to working with Christian Jacobs, aka “The MC Bat Commander.”
Richard Falomir as Ricky Fitness on THE AQUABATS! SUPER SHOW!
“The Aquabats! Super Show!” is the first show in kids television history to feature a ‘real life’ rock band in totally ‘unreal comedy-action-musical adventures. The series just received its first Daytime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Children’s Series. This is truly a quality work of entertainment that will appeal to kids and adults alike. You may already be a fan of the band. Well, you may already be a fan of the show too! Season 2 just gets better and better.
On Saturday, June 1 at 1:00 p.m. ET, “The Aquabats! Super Show!” returns with an all-new episode called “The Return of the Aquabats!” When The Aquabats return from outer space, they are received as heroes who saved the world, but are quickly overwhelmed by all of the people needing their help, as well as by a super-powered enemy. Special appearance by professional skateboarder Tony Hawk.
“The Aquabats! Super Show!” (Hub Network Original Series – Live Action)
From Christian Jacobs (“Yo Gabba Gabba!”) comes “The Aquabats! Super Show!,” which was just nominated for a Daytime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Children’s Series. The Aquabats return to take on their new roles as saviors of the earth! The greatest crime-fighting, kids rock band ever assembled is back with all-new episodes and even more dastardly villains, as The Aquabats continue their never-ending quest to right wrongs, destroy boredom and seek justice for all! “The Aquabats! Super Show!” is produced by Awesome Forces Productions and executive produced by Christian Jacobs, Jason deVilliers, Donna Ebbs, and Nate Rogers. Airs: Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. ET
Eaglebones Origin Animation, from Too Many Legs Animation Studios, on THE AQUABATS! SUPER SHOW!
The season’s first episode sets the tone for series on its A game. As Jason describes in this interview, you will see greater special effects, more animation, and an overall awesome production.
You’ll see a whole new world of animation as each character on the show gets his own origin story. For the first episode, it’s Too Many Legs Animation Studios providing an Eaglebones Origin animation. And you can also expect to see more Lil Bats animation from Parker Jacobs and Puny Entertainment.
Also, get ready to enjoy Season 1, which just released on DVD. And, if you’re at San Diego Comic-Con, be sure to see a special Aquabats show while your’e there.
It was definitely a treat to get to chat with both Jason and Richard. Enjoy the interview. Just click the link below:
THE AQUABATS! SUPER SHOW! PREMIERES SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1 PM EST/ 10 AM PST on Hub Network!
To find the channel in your area, please visit http://www.hubworld.com and check the channel locator at the top of the page.
Visit Hub Network on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/hubtvnetwork
Follow The Aquabats on Facebook and Twitter.
Leave it up to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment to bring to life the hit video game as a full-length animated feature film. You can count on Warner Bros. to provide the entertainment. In this case, you’ve got a feature that will truly appeal to any age.
As you can see from the sample clip above, this is something that is literally age-appriate from 3 to 103. This just released clip features Robin (hilariously voiced by Charlie Schlatter) giving chase to Catwoman. The humor is snappy with a contemporary vibe while the plot never goes dark. Sure, it’s Batman in the spotlight but, as we all know, this is a very versatile character and, for this animated feature, you’ve got him here for light action and laughs.
LEGO BATMAN: THE MOVIE is now out! Visit Warner Bros. Entertainment here.
From the press release:
Filed under animation, Batman, DC Comics, Legos, Superheroes, Superman, Warner Bros.
JFK SECRET OPS: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL by Craig Frank
JFK survived the assassination and is out for revenge. That is the premise of Craig Frank’s humorous and thrilling work, JFK SECRET OPS: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL. It is currently the subject of a fundraising campaign that runs through May 25. You can visit the campaign HERE.
As you’ll see in this video interview, Craig is a down-to-earth guy. He’s very gracious and thoughtful. His idea for this book first took root after a visit to Dealy Plaza and visiting The Sixth Floor Museum. He is a seasoned animator and painter. He has always loved the comics medium and the limitless possibilities of the graphic novel. He comes to this project with the skill and the storytelling sense required for the job.
As a fellow participant in Kickstarter (I have my own campaign here), I fully appreciate where Craig is now. The timing is just right for his book in more ways than one. It’s the perfect time for him to be taking on such a project. And, it just so happens that we’re observing the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s assassination this year. 50 years later and that event still has the power to haunt, confuse, and strangely fascinate.
The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced how appropriate this seemingly “inappropriate” graphic novel really is. It didn’t fully occur to me until after the interview that we can’t lose sight of the fact that John Fitzgerald Kennedy was only human, right or wrong, and the man could be egregiously, horribly, wrong with his treatment of women. What happens is we get caught up in the myth, fostered by powerful interests, run by the Kennedy family, the Democratic party, and, perhaps, the whole damn system that we can only imagine in all its machinations.
There is, of course, the fact of his tragic death that seems to wipe the slate clean for eternity but maybe not exactly. And the fact, and this is even as tragic, is all that was genuinely good about the man. It’s complicated for sure. Give an inch and admit the shortcomings of one leader and look at his lesser rivals swarm to exploit it. All that said, hell yeah, bring the icon down to earth. This graphic novel is a good and healthy thing.
Enjoy the video interview!
Support JFK SECRET OPS: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL at Kickstarter right here.
Filed under animation, Comics, graphic novels, Humor, JFK, Kennedy Assassination, Kickstarter, Marilyn Monroe, politics, pop culture, Satire, Thriller
Photograph by Dalton Webb
GRIDLords was a night to remember. And what a venue, the wildly eccentric and awesome Hollywood Theatre. This was the place to spend your night in Portland after visiting the Stumptown Comics Fest. It was a beautiful showcase of animation and performance art. The night began with what everyone will agree was the crown jewel of the event, Eamon Espey’s “Ishi’s Brain”
Photograph by Michel Anderson
ISHI’S BRAIN (THE SHOW) was created and performed by puppeteer Lisa Krause and cartoonist Eamon Espey. Lisa Krause is an artist and puppeteer of Bread and Puppet fame, among other things. Check out Lisa’s blog HERE. This show is currently on a national tour and you can view details HERE. And, certainly, check out Eamon’s website HERE. The show follows little Ishi on a magical journey of apocalyptic proportions.
SONGS OF THE ABYSS by Eamon Espey
And you just have to check out the music to this show. Soundtrack is provided by Stephen Santillian. Check it out HERE. Great to listen to while reading Eamon’s book! Oh, yes, there is a book.
“Ishi’s Brain” is based on Eamon’s story of the same name from his Secret Acres collection, SONGS OF THE ABYSS and you can buy it HERE.
Check out the Secret Acres website right HERE.
And, most definitely, visit the GRIDLords website HERE.
Once you’re at the GRIDLords site, you can enjoy cool stuff like Amy Lockhart’s WALK FOR WALK.
Filed under animation, Comics, GRIDLords, Portland, Stumptown Comics Fest
“Kiss The Water” is a documentary that functions much like a mystery. We never see the subject of this documentary, except of a fleeting view of archival footage at the end which helps to obscure rather than reveal. Most fitting for such an enigmatic character. The filmmaker, Eric Steel, begins by telling us about one of his daily habits, that of reading The New York Times obituaries looking for inspiration from life stories. About ten years ago, he caught a particularly interesting prospect: It was for a December 11, 2001 obit entitled, “Megan Boyd, Eccentric Master of Fish Flies, Dies at 86.” The article sounded pretty intriguing, beginning with the word, “eccentric.” It is the eccentrics of the world who get things done.
And so a documentary came to life. It is made up of a series of reminiscences by those who knew Megan Boyd and intertwined with haunting animation, led by Em Cooper. Add to this the lingering cinematography of Ole Bratt Birkeland and the brooding score by Paul Cantelon, and it all conspires to transport you to a lonely but beguiling patch of land and sea at the end of the world, Brura, Scotland, to be precise.
Filed under animation, Documentaries, Movie Reviews, movies, New York City, Tribeca Film Festival
In “Gary Baseman: The Door Is Always Open,” the artist welcomes visitors into his creative universe. If you’re in the Los Angeles area, you will definitely want to take in this retrospective of one of the major contemporary artists of pop surrealism at the Skirball Cultural Center, running from April 25 thru August 18, 2013. Visit the museum website here.
Press release follows:
Filed under animation, Art, Gary Baseman, Illustration, Pop Surrealism, Toys
