Tuesday, July 21, 2009

THERES A LEAK IN MY SHORTS

Well... this happened;


Making Manny and Khan was a huge learning experience, and unexpectedly, continues to be so.
It was pretty awesome to hear my short had been 'leaked' (my favorite method of obtaining entertainment), and it's been a pretty overwhelming and emotional couple of days.

The flood of feedback has been exciting, both good and bad, all embraced and processed. Absorbed through my soft skin, pumped through my veins, ultimately exiting, and leaving behind a more porous layer, albeit stronger. The 'leakage' has given me a whole new perspective on making cartoons, being an artist, and even life.

It's funny to know how much thought has gone into an idea, how much sweat and blood is poured into a project, only to have it pinned up helplessly in front of a firing squad. Manny and Khan from conception to completion was probably about a year and a half. And despite those early mornings and long nights, it takes most but 30 seconds to decide whether or not this product meets their standards.

I am not opposed to this reaction, and I myself am guilty. Human nature I suppose. Just something that has been brought to my attention through this incident. It has conditioned me to operate my gag reflex with more control, and perhaps step back to look deeper into what is in front of me.

I believe both Joey and myself know a lot more about these characters than is presented in the cartoon. It is hard to know everything about a person from a single seven minute conversation, heck, you probably won't know anything about that person realistically. He or she will be categorized within the larger compartments of your brain as a general archetype until further information is gathered. This is something I have taken away from the criticism, and will work to manage better in future projects.

I know this short is not perfect, in fact, far from it. I think there are things that worked, and things that didn't work. To be honest, I never really imagined anyone would like it. I love cartoons, I love making cartoons, the folks at cartoon network were kind enough to give me and Joey a shot to do just that. At the time, the idea of people actually enjoying what we made was perceived as being merely a bonus.

This cartoon was it's own life form, growing and evolving constantly.

Style was strongly debated;
Things are over analyzed;
A tree with a hole in it.

When you are so close to a project for so long, it becomes hard to see in it's entirety. Hard to examine, as if using a microscope lens set at x100 when the actual organism can and should be viewed at x10 (in HD of course).

I want to thank everyone who took the time to watch Manny and Khan, and encourage thoughts to be expressed. I've taken a lot away from this experience, mouthfuls in fact. If you enjoyed the short, I am honored and touched. It's incredible to know something you've put so much into can have a positive effect on an individual, even things as simple as smiles.
If you didn't like the short, perhaps there are still things to take away from it. I'm sorry Manny and Khan didn't touch you, I guess tonight you'll need to touch yourself.


This is not an angry rant. I am not yelling... my characters have already done enough of that.

In joy
-Josh

Friday, July 17, 2009

MANNY AND KHAN AND MANNY



Like a drawing this universe is malleable.
You can craft any reality you can imagine.
Imagine a world with no limits.

We exist only now.
There is no yesterday or tomorrow.
The only time you have is the time you make.

To do is to learn.
Mistakes should not be feared.
Failure does not exist when you learn from mistakes.

Define success.
If it something that alludes you
your definition is wrong.

Be a ripple not a wave.
A ripple will reach the shore.
Waves destroy the face of the earth.

Live Learn Love.


Peace
-Hat

Friday, July 3, 2009

REINVENTING AND RECYCLING

I was recently fortunate enough to have an opportunity to drive up the captivating Pacific Coast Highway (Number 1 Highway), as I relocated to a higher latitude, 'climate best by government test' Redwood City.

My entire life was crammed in my car as I left the city where not too long ago I began my "career" in animation (you can hardly call this a career). Burbank was chill, I got to meet a lot of cool people and be a part of some exciting projects. I was able to plant my roots there and absorb an enormous amount of knowledge, mostly by staying grounded. I'm sure I will return in the near future to the seeds I've planted in Burbank and share the fruits of my labor with new and old friends.

While residing in Burbank I maintained a cartoon collage on the wall above my desk as a source of inspiration. As I went to remove the meticulously placed scraps of paper I realized the cacophony of clippings represented my 2 year stay in Burbank almost perfectly, acting as a visual time line. From left to right I could clearly distinguish the different eras of my existence;

Intern, Freelance, Unemployment... more unemployment... Big break, Breaking in.

I could go on, but this picture says more than I ever could.


Relocating gives you a great opportunity to reinvent yourself, something I've been exploring the past few years, and continue to do. As I discover the human being I strive to be I've made some simple choices to help achieve my goal.
Opting to ignore cable, in lieu of more time to create, explore, read, write, draw, and in recent weeks began picking up sewing, and fashioned the over-the-shoulder briefcase that can be seen in the picture below.
I chopped off my longer locks in lieu of a shorter more summer-friendly hairdo in almost a representation of sorts of the shedding of skin (or in this case hair) and starting a new chapter in my life.

I've summed up my new outlook on life with a simple message;
Recycle Love

In the same manner we recycle plastics and papers, recycle love and kindness, pass it on. When something nice is done for you, do something nice for someone else. Or even start a whole new chain of love by doing something nice for a stranger.

Recycle love.

-Peace
Josh
AKA

Hat