I'm Engaged

Hey everyone,

Just thought I would share some exciting news. On Friday night, December 22nd, 2006 I proposed to Mandy, and she accepted. I proposed to her by making her an animation of a character she helped me conceive over a year ago.

It's technically unfinished, for those of you who are familiar with traditional pencil tests, and I do have the intentions of finishing it. But considering the time I had to do it, with juggling between freelance work and keeping her in the dark about it, I am very happy with how it turned out, from an animation point of view. And obviously estatic with the response I got from Mandy.

Anyways I hope you enjoy, and be sure to watch the entire thing, because I secretly videotaped her watching the video, the actual proposal and her response.



As a side note, I would like to thank Paul Goodrich at Merlin Studios for helping me with the sound design.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Here are 2 "Holiday Cards" I was working on but didn't get to finish. You'll see why in my next post, but I thought I would at least put these up for Christmas.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!!

Some Thanksgiving Sketches

Did these while coming up with the Thanksgiving Day post, except for the lil old lady with the handbag....She's a woman I see on the bus in the morning on the way to work...Always dresses like that and has a hat to match every outfit. It's really funny to see her when shes running late, she has to "shuffle-run" holding her hat to her head.....I don't mean to be mean..but you'd have a chuckle too if you saw this in the early morning.

Wish i had used the hunter for something...he was fun to come up with....was actually gonna use him in the top left drawing, because the hunter i have there sucks.

Test

How do i get this animated gif to play here, and not just when you click on it?....

UPDATE....got it to work, (obviously). Thanks to ImageShack for Free Image Hosting

Screenwriting Expo Sketches

Well, I've given up the idea that I was gonna write an extensive review/ summary of the Expo.... 1. it's a lil too late, 2. even though I do have good notes it's not going to be any different than the other dozen or so posts out there. And 3. I just have too much other stuff I need/want to get done. So rather than bore you all with that, I will stick to posting the sketches I did on the trip...

and for those of you wanting to read the reviews/summary of the event you can check out The Animation Guild Blog, Kevin Koch and Steve Hulett have posted a review of the Pixar Story Telling Seminars.

You can read Part 1 of their review HERE

And Part 2 HERE


On to the images....

These first three images are mostly people I observed at the airport and conference and or misc. character sketches...





This image is caricatures of some of the Pixar guys (top to bottom) Lee Unkrich, Ronnie Del Carmen, Jason Katz, Jim Copabianco, Mark Andrews, Lee Unkrich (again), and Michael Arndt. And yes I did ask them to sign them...

In the meantime...

I have a few posts i wanted to put up already, but haven't had the time...including some other turkey day sketches....but oh well...they'll go up sooner or later...




- Dan

Long overdue....

I know I know...it's been way too long since I last posted, and while this isn't much more than a "pre-post," I do want to set up what is about to come.
I was lucky enough to go to LA this weekend to see the Pixar Lectures at this year's Screenwriting Expo, and I did quite a few sketches, met a lot of great people, and listened to some of my idols. In the next few days I plan on writing a review of the lectures, as well as post pictures and sketches from the Expo, so please check back soon..

In the meantime geek out over this,,,,because I certainly did!

An ORIGINAL SKETCH (in my sketchbook) by.....




Peter de Sève
http://www.peterdeseve.com/

Peter, by the way was not only nice enought to do this, despite all the other animation freaks in the room who would have liked one, but was also willing to take a picture with me. So, Peter, if by some chance you ever come across this blog... thank you again!!

Beach Sketch

Was down the shore this weekend, and had the pleasure of taking in some of the sites near AC. This one was one of the most amusing....

By the way...a rotten seagull almost swooped down to steal my sandwich right out of my hand... later on I found out why they are so daring.....the little sketch to the right of Madam Ass picker was a lil girl near us feeding the seagull Cheetos.

And finally...

some random little doodles....unfinished of course.... :)

2 Concept Sketches

Sorry about the poor mending job...had to scan both in 2 parts cause the were in my larger sketchpad. Wanted to post this before I ruin it by inking/cleaning up...which i tend to do.

Hope to one day attempt to paint them and make them look nice and all...

Cathy expression

Large Marge Revisited

Posted this a while back on the Team Blog (see sidebar), and felt like posting it here to try and make up for my lack of posting over the past couple of weeks. Not that any of you really care that much.

Actually, I have a bunch more I plan on posting tonight from my slowly developing short later, but til then this will have to do...

Thesis reposted

Decided to not renew my .Mac account, where my thesis film from SVA was posted. Since I have yet to put together a website, I figured I would take advantage of the free services at Youtube!!

Here is it:

Finally....

This time I mean it....

Maybe I was wrong?

I dunno, I think I'm close with these and the post before, but I am not sure.....

Cathy's supposed to be an adorable little girl (3-4yrs old), who has an unbridled obsession with pets.

Feedback? Anyone?

I think I've got it...

Other than a few tweeks, I think this is the Cathy I've been waiting for....

Still tryin...

Back to basics and exploring shapes....feedback always welcome....

FREEEEEEEDOOOM.......

This week's topic for our group blog is to take a movie poster and replace the character's with an animal....

My ever-so slowly developing short....

There is just so little time in the week to get to everything I want, and I often get distracted by my never ending, forever growing to do list....

I am pretty set on Sheldon's design, it's the other main character, Cathy's, design I am struggling with. I am tryin so hard to keep her simple so that when I finally DO get to animating this thing, it won't take me years to finish.

But I am not all that great at character designs to begin with, so it's been a stuggle.
Although there was a post or 2 earlier that I was leaning towards.

Regardless, I am still pluggin away, little by little, working out the story in my head, jotting notes here and there. I hope to be boarding this out soon...

A trip to the Zoo

I wish there were more to post, and a lot better, but it's been a while since i have been there, and it was a little chilly, so not many animals were out.

Yet another group blog, Lil Buddy...

Check it out, everyone does their own version of predetermined subjects...good times!

A run of the Law

needs work...but its a start...

Ok so it was a short break

Sorry, can't help it...tryin to keep the ball rolling....

Break from my short....

These aren't the greatest, but at least they're not turtles...right?

A change of pace

Not the prettiest pictures but for a 1st timer it's a start.....stages 1 and 2...

More Concepts

The trouble maker that puts Sheldon over the edge....





I know, I know enough damn turtles already!

New Blog

Couple of friends and I are starting a caricature blog called MUGZ.

Check it out.

And his name is...

A few quick lunchtime sketches....of Sheldon....?

Back to basics...

My new bible, Draw the Looney Tunes: The Warner Bros. Character Design Manual says to go back to basics when designing characters.

Here are some poses for the turtle you see below. He is the main character for a personal project, where he has reached his wits end with a family who are extremely obssessed animal lovers.



Many more to come....

Some more

Just rough ones...think im gonna change the colors of the shell...

A few concept designs...

More to come...feedback welcome!

ANIMATION COLLECTIVE DEBUTS

The studio I work for has three shows premiering this month! Be sure to check it out.


WULIN WARRIORS
Saturday, February 4th at 8pm is the premiere of Wulin Warriors on Cartoon Network!

CHECK OUT THE TEASER TRAILER







PRINCESS NATASHA
Monday, February 6th at 3:25pm, Princess Natasha premiers on Cartoon Network! A new episode premieres every day that week at 3:25pm.







And finally the show I am working on..

KAPPA MIKEY

Saturday February 25th, 2006














Check back for more stills!