Tuesday, January 31, 2012

February Plans + 2 Conventions!

What up? I hope everyone's January was grand.

A very busy but enjoyable month for me. In terms of work, I've recently spent some time working on a feature film script I've been picking at for the last year or so; coming back to that was refreshing. I just had a great voice gig that I think I'll finally be able to talk about soon, as I think the clients plan on launching the project soon. I've also just finished a quick and unexpected Valentine's Day commission that was really fun! I'm not sure if I'll be able to put it on Newgrounds, but it'll be online for people to see one way or another.

Lastly is TOME, which I'll admit has been lagging as far as Episode 03's production goes. Current status is I'm generally fixing up a lot in terms of the visuals based on feedback I've received from the first two episodes. The actors are recorded and the scenes' audio is cut together, the new character sprite animation is complete and I'm currently working on the updated talking avatars, which already look a LOT better than the ones I've been using. I definitely don't think I'll be able to get this one done by Valentine's Day, but maybe if I hustle I can try and get it out before February's up.

Part of the reason I'll be a bit late on Episode 03 is because I have two conventions in a ROW next month! The first will be at Kami-con in Tuscaloosa, Alabama from Feb 3-5, which Martin Billany (voice of NNNNYLOCKE!) has graciously invited me out to in which to celebrate his birthday. I've got a Flash Animation panel on Friday night at 10 in the Ballroom, so if you're coming, be sure to stop by! I also did a quick little animated promo for it, featuring the Nostalgia Critic! (Apologies for the sloppiness, we had a REALLY short time to make it.)



Following that, I've got Almacon in Alma, Michigan from Feb 10-12! I've got my "Kirbopher's Flashstavaganza" on Friday night at 8, followed by "Balancing Act: Creating an Animated Short" on Saturday night at 7, then finally a Q&A on Sunday afternoon at 1:30. I'll hopefully have some new stuff to show and talk about by then, too.

That's about all for now. Keep it tuned!

Monday, January 2, 2012

2012 Begins + Balancing Act Released!

Well here we are, 2012.

The "Year of the Doubleleven" was not completely what I expected, nor hoping it to be. I'm not usually the type to be a negative nancy about "Bluhhh this year sucked, hope the next one doesn't suck." if I had to wire down 2011 to one descriptive phrase, it'd be "I tried my best, but it wasn't good enough to so I have to try to do even better". That said, I don't think I'd wanna go back and do it all over again; I'm satisfied with what I have and I'm looking to this new year with a fresh outlook. I want to continue doing what I love and shoot for the god damn stars like a hopeless idiot drawing cartoon characters.

So! That shit outta the way, first order of business:



After a lot of self-debating and the acceptance of film festivals not happening any time this century, I've finally decided to put up "Balancing Act" online. For those of you who missed me posting endless vague info about it throughout the year and the one before it, this was my thesis film for the School of Visual Arts' graduating class of 2011. It's based on the very first series concept I ever made, dating as far back as when I was five years old, which I've developed for all of those year since then. This is the first complete product built from that concept and I spent the better part of an entire year making it. Any and all animation people that take a look at this, I'd greatly appreciate your feedback.

Second order of business: TOME Episode 02 "Mansion Midnight" is released.

I'm slowly but surely working my way through updating and refining the format of the show based on suggestions both from the Official Facebook Page as well as reviews on the Newgrounds submission. For this episode I focused primarily on fixing the "in-game fight scenes" using the sprite-style animations and the battle grid. Starting from Episode 03, I plan on updating all of the "talking avatars" as I call them, for all the conversational scenes. I'm hoping this series will continue to grow as it progresses, as I consider it an exercise in EVERYTHING I've ever done in the field of animation. Thanks everyone for the support and thoughts thus far. I'm aiming to try and get Episode 03 released by Valentine's Day.

Last but not least, I'm returning to one of my favorite conventions ever: MAGfest! This is their 10th year and they're continuing to get bigger and bigger, so I'm majorly excited to be coming back. I know for certain I'll be on the Blue Core Studios panel with Eddie Lebron and company on Friday from 2-3 PM in Panel Room 3 and then making the grand return to Wes Johnson's (of Skyrim fame) "Voice-A-Palooza" on Saturday from 5-7 PM in Panel Room 1. In between doing that, playing old arcade games, partying with TGWTG peeps and not dying of starvation, I'll also be filming Marc Swint's "Super Kirb Stomp II Turbo HD"...why? Because Marc enjoys making movies about me getting almost killed a million times and throwing me on the ground like a ragdoll. Can't wait to probably break every bone in my body!

So yeah, there's a bunch of stuff for ya. Gonna get back to work now. To everyone, I hope you all had a Happy New Year and here's to a great 2012. Ready? Go.