Craig Clark

Rooty Toot Toot- Grim Natwick

2012-01-18T22:58:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about the animators who first influenced me and helped my budding animation career at age 14. Grim Natwick comes to mind. Not only did he create Betty Boop and animate on Snow White, he was also picking up freelance at Duck Soup Productions from Duane Crowther in 1974. They were going over my first ever animation attempts, a recreation of an MGM Droopy scene which was way too tight. Duane showed me how to loosen up my stiff animation (done on a stereo record player cover as a lightbox).

Back at UPA, Grim was Duane's assistant. Here is a classic UPA short with some Grim Natwick animation in it from 1951...Rooty Toot Toot.

And here is Duane Crowther's rare student film Blum Blum from 1949. Duane went on to animate on The Beatles "Yellow Submarine".

Kustomonsters Special! Comics, Music and Bobblehead!

2012-01-18T10:38:00.000-08:00

A new Kustomonsters Special for the first two takers! Get Nemesister #1-6 comics, the Astrothrill comic/CD, Cd's from Drumatic and Chorus of Souls, AND a very rare Mummy DaddyO Bobblehead for only $40. First two takers get it! Email- roktoonz@aol.com.

New Craig Clark online portfolio

2012-01-17T20:23:00.000-08:00

To kick off the new year I have put up a new Craig Clark online portfolio
right here!
Craig Clark Online Portfolio
I am presently available for full time projects!

Kustomonsters Episode #8 is now here!

2012-01-08T06:41:00.000-08:00

Join Mummy Daddyo as we premiere the first installment of the multi-part Kustomonsters origin cartoon, "The Legend of Mummy DaddyO". Also music videos by Monica Richards and the Leaving Trains, and Mike Milo's Dr. Dumbkopf cartoon!

Kustomonsters syndication list on TV!

2011-09-06T23:45:00.000-07:00

Catch Mummy DaddyO and the gang on Saturday nights!

Houston TX - channel 34.4 KUVM-CD4 11:30 PM
Cincinnati OH - channel 25.1 WKRP 12:30 PM
Las Vegas NV -channel 47.3 KGNG 9:30 PM
Lake Havasu AZ -channel 45 KLHU 10:00 PM
Greensboro NC -channel 20.2 WCWG-DT2 12:30 PM
Witchita KS -channel 43.2 KCTU-HOT 11:30 PM
Tallahasee FL -channel 13 WBFL 12:30 PM
Gainsville FL -channel 28.2 WMYG 12:30 PM

Check Titantv.com for times in your area!
See you there kats!

Kustomonsters Episode #7 is now here!

2011-07-17T23:51:00.000-07:00

Episode #7 of The Kustomonsters features a "Diggin with DaddyO- Ali" cartoon by Craig Clark, a Joe Dugan cartoon by Mike Milo, and music videos from the alternative bands Symbol Six and The Nymphs!

Kustomonsters Episode #6 features John Byner!

2011-05-26T23:31:00.000-07:00

The Kustomonsters and Friends episode#6 features the vocal talents of legendary comedian John Byner and his daughter Sandra Byner in the new cartoon, "Woodstock Manor". The late night AMGTV show has been airing nationally in the U.S. and now we give you a chance to see the episode right here!

Also we have a special treat! An exclusive one hour interview of John and Sandra Byner by Carol Wyatt of Pink Slip Animation.
You can hear the two part feature here as well!
Part 1-

Part 2-

Part 3-

You can also see other Kustomonster episodes at www.kustomonsters.com!

Craig Clark featured on Animation Insider.com!

2011-04-26T21:46:00.000-07:00

Mike Milo's animation site Animation Insider featured me, Craig Clark on a recent post. The site focuses on the in the trenches blue collar animation talent from around the world.

Also in further news, The Kustomonsters show has been spotted as scheduled on the legendary WKRP in Cincinnati Ohio! Nice in early, or late for some folks...3:30 AM on Saturday mornings! Cool!

KustomonstersTV update

2011-04-02T23:22:00.000-07:00

Ok, from my detective work this weekend I can say the The Kustomonsters will be playing (so far) on the following AMGTV stations starting April 15th.

KGNG-LP 47.6, Las Vegas, NV
KSDI 33.4, Fresno, CA
KJLR 28, Little Rock, AR
KCTU 43, Wichita, KS
WOBX 35, Syracuse, NY
KNTS 17, Shreveport, LA
KQEG 23, La Crosse, WI

The Kustomonsters are playing after Cinema Insomnia on most AMGTV markets. The Kustomonsters are still playing on Saturday nights on KLHU TV 45 in Lake Havasu, AZ. I can suspect there will be several more stations, but this is what I can gather from the net at this time...

Kustomonsters to air on the AMGTV network throughout the U.S!

2011-04-01T21:26:00.000-07:00

Starting Friday April 15th you can see the Kustomonsters in syndication on various over the air TV stations in 150 cities on the AMGTV Network. PST- 12:30 am, MT- 1:30 am, Central 2:30 am, Eastern - 3:30 AM! Check your area for listings!

The Kustomonsters is a high octane zany comedy take blending the 60’s “Kustom Car Kulture” of Ed Daddy Roth with the classic lovable spookiness of Hollywood horror monsters and vintage cartoons. Meet “Mummy DaddyO”, the friendly “horror host” lead hipster of this motley bunch from Horror Heights. His sidekick, “Butterball the Skeleton”, joins animated puppet DaddyO as he hosts the show from the Ends Ville Coffeehouse.

On each episode DaddyO and Butterball present a Kustomonsters cartoon along with other award winning animated shorts and cool music videos. The Kustomonsters cartoons feature DaddyO driving in his hot rod The Sarcofogaaas, while guzzling nitro java at "Rodzillas" the creepy carhop. Casting a spell on the lot is the sassy “Surf Witch” in her Witch Woody, followed by the howling werewolf “Moonwofly” in his classic 50’s Futura concept car. Closely leeching on to the bunch is the blood thirsty Countess, who cruises around in her Hissing Hearse looking for victims for a plasma withdrawal.

Also featured on the anthology show are Craig Clark’s (Simpson’s) cartoon shorts such as “Woodstock Manor,” featuring the voice work of world famous comedian John Byner, and “Astrothrill” featuring the voice of “West Wing’s” Rene Estevez (Charlie Sheen’s sister). A regular cartoon guest is the lonely Postman “Joe Dugan” by Mike Milo, and “Abo and Karo” by Hayk Manokyan. Award winning classic cartoons like “It’s the Cat” by Mark Kausler, “Sunbeam” by Paul Vester, “Prelude to Eden” by Michel Gagne, and “I Like Pandas” by Jessica Borutski will also be featured in the series. Also Mummy DaddyO Hot Rod car show interviews and music videos by Celldweller, Faith and the Muse, The Nymphs, Astrothrill and more!

Gear up for the knuckle dragger drag races, monster mash sock hops, creepy cruising, and fast and furious fun pushing the Wacky Races, through a Happy Days meets Road Runner blender! Fasten your seat belts for a wild ride through Kustomized high-speed horror kid show Monster Madness! All brought to you by Cheeky Entertainment LLC! Crazy Man!

Kustomonsters #1 on Blip TV

2011-01-26T02:50:00.000-08:00

Kustomonsters TV Episode #5 now up and streaming

2010-11-02T23:34:00.000-07:00

The fifth Kustomonsters is up and streaming at www.kustomonsters.com!

Watch live streaming video from kustomonsterstv at livestream.com

The Kustomonsters Episodes 3 & 4 Now Streaming

2010-08-11T02:17:00.000-07:00

More from the Kustomonsters and Friends, the show from Craig Clark and Cheeky Entertainmnet! Enjoy!

Watch live streaming video from kustomonsterstv at livestream.com

Kustomonsters to air on Arizona TV

2010-07-15T01:28:00.000-07:00

Kustomonsters on TV in Lake Havasu AZ! I've been alerted that the Kustomonsters episode #1 is airing on KLHU TV 45 in Lake Havasu Arizona. So far Sat. at 10pm and early Sunday mornings. See schedule for details! KLHU TV 45

Episode#3 should be done in a few days.

Kustomonsters Full Episodes #1 and #2 Streaming

2010-06-22T02:27:00.000-07:00

Check it out before it hits the airwaves. 52 minutes of cool and refreshing fun!

Watch live streaming video from kustomonsterstv at livestream.com

Kustomonsters coming to TV

2010-04-21T01:11:00.000-07:00

The first 30 minute episode of The Kustomonsters and friends is finished and being reviewed at various TV stations. Look for the Kustomonsters in Arizona and California early this summer. More updates coming soon. The first episode had a very sucessful screening at the Pink Slip Animation Co-Op meeting at the Animation Guild in Burbank on April 18th. A good time was had by all!

Meanwhile you can help bring The Kustomonsters to the screen by making a donation through Indie-A-Go-Go!

These funds will cover voice talent, media stock (DVD'S), promotional posters and stickers, and shipping fee's to TV stations. All well as legal and clearance fees. And Mummy DaddyO toy prototypes.

VIP PERKS
$25 or more = Two Snaps!
A special invite to the Cheeky Entertainent production blog which includes the latest inside scoops on the production of The Kustomonsters and Friends!

$50 or more = Everything's Jake Kats!
VIP PERK 1 Plus - Your name in the trailing "Special Thanks" credits of a The Kustomonsters Episode. Receive a "Thanks" credit in film and a copy of the DVD

$100 or more = Straight from the Fridge!
VIP PERK 1 & 2 Plus- An Astrothrill comicbook/CD/DVD signed by Craig Clark. Receive a "Special Thanks" credit in the film and a signed (by the cast and director) copy of the DVD

$250 or more = Boss Monsterific!
VIP PERK 1,2 & 3 Plus- a Kustomonsters pilot episode storyboard by "Simpsons" animator Craig Clark, with Kustomonsters and Astrothrill stickers! Also Receive a "Associate Producer" credit in the film and a signed (by the cast and director) copy of the DVD and a Kustomonsters limited edition T-Shirt!

$500 or more = Supercharged Kusto Daddyo!
VIP PERK 1,2,3 & 4 Plus- a "Cheeky Pak", including an Astrothrill comic/CD/DvD set, Nemesister comics 1-6 signed, Chorus of Souls CD, and a Drumatic CD. Receive "Executive Producer" credit in the film and 5 each signed (by the cast and director) DVD copies of the film and Kustomonsters limited editions T-Shirts.

I'm a 32 year animation veteran with an early mentorship from Disney and UPA legends. My credits range from Forrest Gump to the Simpsons! It's time to finally bring my own cartoons to the world! Please help, get screen credit and more!

Shocking Development

2010-03-11T13:12:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately The Kustomonsters show will not be airing on CVTV in Modesto CA in March, as their transmitter was permanently damaged by a lightening strike which has taken them off air. They will continue streaming their content online here...CVTV. Look for the Kustomonsters there in the future.

Meanwhile other TV markets have expressed an interest in airing our show including Los Angeles, Fresno CA, Seattle, Arizona and a new network! So stay tooned goblins and ghouls!

Kustomonsters on TV!

2010-02-03T16:17:00.000-08:00

A TV station in Modesto CA will to run the Kustomonsters and Friends as a half hour show for twelve weeks starting in March! The Kustomonsters is a comedy variety show featuring kids horror host Mummy DaddyO as seen on PinkSlipanimation.com and Cheekypress.com. Several shorts are already completed, as well as some from Paul Vester, Chris Casady, Michel Gagne, Mark Kausler, Cliff Parrot, Mike Milo, Jessica Borutski, Matt Siditsky, Hayk Manukyn and others. Also some public domain old shorts and music videos are in the mix.

These films which I’ve produced thus far are; The Kustomonsters (Tombstone Birthday), Diggin with DaddyO (Macbeth, Nipsey Russell), Astrothrill, Timbuktu (Teaser), and various Mummy DaddyO puppet wraparounds and a few music videos. Also boarded are two more Diggin with DaddyO’s and three more Kustomonsters shorts. The special short for episode six, Woodstock Manor features the voicework of the legendary John Byner and his daughter Sandi Byner. The animatic is done, I’ll need help doing flash animation on that one. John Byner does the voice of Ed Sullivan, as he is the official voice of the Ed Sullivan Estate! Please contact me at roktoonz@aol.com if you would like to help, this will be high profile!

I am looking for other completed shorts and help doing flash animation! If it’s good and under 5 minutes, please contact me! Thanks!

Craig Clark

Woodstock Manor features John Byner!

2010-01-06T17:30:00.000-08:00

The next animated cartoon in the Kustomonsters and Friends cannon is a short film called Woodstock Manor. It features the vocal talents of the legendary John Byner and his daughter Sandi Byner. Recording and the animatics are complete, and design and animation are next. This cartoon will appear in a future Kustomonsters and Friends episode so look out for it on www.cheekypress.com and www.pinkslipanimation.com. Crazy Man!

New Didi Pop videos!

2009-12-15T21:52:00.000-08:00

Hot off the presses are two new Didi Pop kids videos I directed. Thanks to cameraman Andy Wolf and Quinn Ljoka of Pink Slip Animation! Please visit www.didipop.com to pick up her CD for the kid in all of us!

And if you missed my first one with over 300k views so far...

Zula Patrol Comics

2009-12-13T23:38:00.000-08:00

I had fun last year working on a couple of Zula Patrol comicboks in Flash. I've never used flash before to do comics, but I recommend it if you can. The NBC TV show is actually in 3D.

Sylvester Nine Lives Dry Catfood

2009-11-30T10:14:00.000-08:00

Here's two classic commerciaIs featuring the Looney Tunes' Sylvester that I worked on many moons ago at Duck Soup Produckions!

Direction- Duane Crowther
Layout - Corny Cole
Animation - Amby Palowoda, Jeff Howard
BG's - Toby Bluth
Anim Assist- Craig Clark (skateboarding in from the beach circa 1980)...

Pink Slip TV on YouTube

2009-09-27T00:14:00.000-07:00

Enjoy Pink Slip TV on YouTube as we build our Pink Slip website.

Kustomonsters and Friends -Episode 1

2009-09-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

Hot off the presses! Here's The Kustomonsters and Friends Episode 1 for your enjoyment. Written, animated and directed by myself, with a few scenes by Kwesi Kennedy and Matt Siditsky.
-Crazy Man!

The Kustomonsters are coming soon

2009-08-15T03:07:00.000-07:00

What does El Chupacabra see approaching? Why it's The Kustomonsters 8 minute debut short for the upcoming Kustomonsters and Friends web series. Coming soon from Cheeky Entertainment in association with Pink Slip Animation.

Pink Slip Animation

2009-07-04T22:48:00.000-07:00

I have just joined the animation Co-op Pink Slip Animation in the attempt to aid in production of the Kustomonsters and Friends.

This a new Facebook based Co-op that aims to promote artists, writers and directors working on each others projects with the eventual aim of creating a new studio such as U.P.A. or United Artists. Plan to see another Kustomonsters 10 minute installment by the end of the summer, and more frequency hence forth. And also plan to see more Pink Slip based productions in the near future.
-Crazy Man!

Kustomonsters and Friends Player

2009-04-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

Enjoy the Kustomonsters and Friends and other Kreepy Kool Kartoons!

Astrothrill

2009-04-07T21:30:00.000-07:00

Here's the Astrothrill animated short film from 2004 in it's complete form. It was written, animated and directed by myself, Craig Clark, and features voice work by Rene Estevez, Brandi Young, William Barker, and David Teague. Also featured is music by Fu Manchu, The Bell Rays and Gwen Mars! You can get the comicbook/CD/DVD set from www.cheekypress.com. Enjoy!

Kustomonsters and Friends Update

2009-04-03T23:38:00.000-07:00

Never fear goblins and ghouls! More Kustomonsters and Friends webisodes are planned. They’ll be bundled as a mini-series, and will include Monsters, music, cartoons, and fun. Stay tooned!

Crazy Man!

Amby Paliwoda

2009-04-03T23:17:00.000-07:00

One of my early animation mentors at Duck Soup in the late 70's was 25 year Disney Veteran Amby Paliwoda. I used to be his assistant on many Kellogg's cereal commercials including the short lived product, "Banana Frosted Flakes". Among his many assignments were to animate the characters "Jasper" and "Horace", who were the henchmen of the female villain, "Cruella de Vil", in the animated feature film, "One Hundred and One Dalmatians". For his lifetime of work in the animation field, Paliwoda received the Animation Guild's Golden Award in 1985. Here is a Disney animation drawing of his from the 50's. Can you guess which production this was from?

Corny Cole looses his house in Recent Fire

2008-10-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

Animation legend and one of my original animation mentors, Corny Cole has lost his house, his life's art work, 16 cats and two dogs in a recent brushfire in Lakeview Terrace.
Corny Cole TV news report

Donations can be sent to this Pay Pal account.
Corny Cole PayPal Fund

And also Cal Arts has set up a fund to help as well. You can make a check payable to Cornelius Cole and mail it to:

California Institute of the Arts
ATT: Trish Patryla, Office of the Provost
24700 McBean Parkway
Valencia, CA 91355

Ralph Bakshi Tells it like it is!

2008-08-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

Just get out there and do it! The production studio is in a box on your desk, distributors are waiting.
That's what I'm talking about!

Uli's Party at Tangier's in Hollywood

2008-03-04T13:14:00.000-08:00

Jamie Bolio recently threw a reunion party for animation Director Uli Meyer at the Tangier Restaurant in Los Feliz, CA. Unfortunately, Uli could not make it from London to Los Angeles, but that did not stop the fun. This was also a reunion for the Pre-Amblimation "Roger Rabbit" crew as well as the "Fievel Goes West" Amblimation crew from London. Most of these folks, about 150 of them have at one time been folded into Dreamworks Animation. After 18 years, when I was an Amblimaion fx animator in London, it was great seeing all those talented folks again! Here's to you Uli, and good luck on your new feature film! And thanks to Jamie Bolio for organizing this event!

Craig Clark, Simon Wells, Phill Neblink, Joe and Steve.

Raul Garcia and Debbie Forster.

Party organizer Jamie Bolio with Daniel Jeanette.

Kustomonsters and Friends Net TV-Episode 6

2008-02-16T23:37:00.000-08:00

Add The Kustomonsters and Friends's channel to your page

R.I.P. Vampira

2008-01-13T02:32:00.000-08:00

The first REAL TV Horror Host has died. Vampira aka Maila Numri is gone.

More here

The Kustomonsters check out Drag Racer 3

2008-01-12T02:04:00.000-08:00

PLAY DRAG RACER V3

Ty Girlz Cartoon

2007-12-16T02:17:00.000-08:00

Here's a new Ty Girlz cartoon I did over at Animax Entertainment for Tygirlz.com. I wrote and animated the clip with animation assistance from lovely Vanessa Lindstrom, who also did all the voice work and singing.
Lets Go! Lets Go!

Inside UPA

2007-12-04T21:21:00.000-08:00

Tee Busustow, son of former UPA head the late Steve Busustow and Amid Amidi have published a new must have animation book, "Inside UPA". UPA animation flows through my artistic influences as both mentors Duane Crowther and Grim "Betty Boop" Natwick were UPA NY veterans who gave me some of my first animation pointers and lessons at age 14. The book is getting some rather glowing reviews like the following...

Chris Robinson, director of the Ottawa International Animation festival says....

“UPA were the Beats of animation. Like Kerouac,
Burroughs, Ginsberg and company, UPA rejected and
ignored the so-called rules of their art form and
created something fresh, mature, modern, and personal.
UPA was a haven for artists and thinkers, and just by
glancing through the marvelous collection of photos in
“Inside UPA”, it must have been a hell of an inspiring
and fun place to work. We need more studios like UPA,
and we need more books like this to celebrate the ball
breakers, ass kickers and risk takerswho came before
us”.

That's a good enough plug for me, AND Mummy DaddyO. Kool finger snaps all around!
Get your UPA book here

Proceeds will help fund the UPA documentary, "UPA: Mavericks, Magic & Magoo"produced by Tee Busustow, who was kind enough to interview me on his "Toon In to the World of Animation" podcast

Kustomonsters Swag at Cafe Press

2007-11-07T00:59:00.000-08:00

Now you can get Kustomonsters Swag at Cafe Press.com!
Pick up some T's, mugs, stickers and more from your favorite Kreepy Kool Kreeps, The Kustomonsters! Crazy Man!

Kustomonsters and Friends Net TV-Episode 5

2007-10-11T22:10:00.000-07:00

It's here! The New Kustomonsters and Friends Episode #5! This time it's the pilot episode with host Mummy DaddyO. Also see Kustomonsters clips, Astrothrill, Timbuktu, and Diggin with DaddyO cartoons. This is followed up by music videos and more fun! The Mummy Daddyo puppet host was built by my pal Nate Pacheco, with additional animation by Mike Polvani and Kwesi Kennedy. Most of the animation, of course was done by myself in recent months. Please enjoy and tell your friends!

Toons in the Heart of Screamland- MGM Animation

2007-07-29T23:51:00.001-07:00

Here is a look back in time at a Culver City, California animation studio in the “The Heart of Screenland”, the MGM Animation studio in 1944. Here’s a link to MGM animator Irv Spence’s tribute Sketch blog called Cartoon Diary!

This is a photo of the outside of the MGM Cartoon studio on the corner of Overland and Montana on MGM lot 2, now the site of the Culver City Senior Citizens Center.

This was the home of Tom and Jerry, Droopy, Barney Bear, Screwy Squirrel, The Wolf, and the Happy Harmonies series. As well as the work place of directors, Rudy Ising, Hugh Harmon, Bill Hanna, Joe Barbera, Tex Avery, and many more.

Here's some cartoon nuggets from the Leo the Lion.

Peace on Earth - Hugh Harman (Oscar Nomination 1939 )

The Milky Way – Rudy Ising (Oscar Winner 1940)

Red Hot Riding Hood -Tex Avery-1943

Mouse Trouble - Hanna & Barbera (Oscar Winner 1944)

There are excellent DVD releases of Droopy and Tom and Jerry, now the balance of the MGM classic toon library needs DvD attention as well.

Fox and Crow- Fox and Grapes

2007-07-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

Here's the very first Fox and Crow cartoon from Columbia Pictures directed by Frank Tashlin. This classic cartoon employed Disney and Warner's artists plucked straight off the picket line from the 1941 strike, hence the slick animation. These and other Columbia/UPA classic cartoons are more than worthy of an official DVD release.

Kustomonsters BG Peek

2007-07-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

There will be some new wrinkles in the next Kustomonsters animated cartoon, namely the Kusto gang in their Kreepy hot rods. Finally! Here's a test peek at the main stomping grounds of Mummy DaddyO, Moonwolfy, Surfwitch and The Countess... Rodzilla's Drive-In. Order up, DaddyO!

Retro Kool Stuff

2007-07-23T23:17:00.001-07:00

The Kustomonsters especially selected these retro-nuggets
just for you!

Kustomonsters and Friends Net TV- Episode 4

2007-07-08T01:04:00.000-07:00

The Kustomonsters and Friends Net TV- Episode 4

TO NAVIGATE TO THE NEXT VIDEO, ROLL CURSOR OVER SCREEN FOR CONTROLS

Kustomonsters and Friends Net TV- Episode 3

2007-07-07T14:19:00.000-07:00

The Kustomonsters and Friends Net TV- Episode 3

TO NAVIGATE TO THE NEXT VIDEO, ROLL CURSOR OVER SCREEN FOR CONTROLS

Kustomonsters and Friends Net TV- Episode 2

2007-07-07T14:15:00.000-07:00

The Kustomonsters and Friends Net TV- Episode 2

TO NAVIGATE TO THE NEXT VIDEO, ROLL CURSOR OVER SCREEN FOR CONTROLS

The Kustomonsters and Friends Net TV

2007-04-20T12:20:00.000-07:00

The Kustomonsters and Friends Net TV- Episode 1

TO NAVIGATE TO THE NEXT VIDEO, ROLL CURSOR OVER SCREEN FOR CONTROLS

Fu Manchu meets Astrothrill

2007-03-24T22:26:00.000-07:00

Here's an Ode to "Downtown in Dogtown" by Fu Manchu, featuring clips from my Astrothrill cartooon short film. Blessed by the band as a rough cut for internet only, circa 2002.

Taxi Odyssey

2007-03-21T04:21:00.000-07:00

I've been busy working on some new indie animation this year, "A Taxi Odyssey", a documentary feature by Alexia Haidos in particular. I had the good fortune to design and animate the opening title sequence as well as several animation inserts.

More Kartoons and Koolcuts from The Kustomonsters

2007-02-04T01:29:00.000-08:00

Ed Daddy Roth!

Groovy Ghoulies

The Gruesomes

Mad Monster Party

The Castaways

Enjoy!

Cult of UHF

2007-01-30T00:22:00.000-08:00

Remember the good old days of independent movie TV, hosted by quirky local yokels running B-movie late late shows, sponsored by wacky used car salesmen and wonder Ronco gadget products. Yes, now video podcasting to a device near you is THE CULT OF UHF! Relive cult classics like "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" in full right on your device. Is this the future of niche programming? How many reality shows can you really stomach on regular modern TV? I'm thinking when Apple really releases it's iphone, that it. that's all you really need for for quite a while.

Enjoy Cult of UHF

Kustomonster Kool Kartoons!

2007-01-11T13:35:00.000-08:00

The Kustomonsters wanted to share their favorite clips with you...
The Wacky Races

Milton the Monster

Tom Slick

The Addams Family Cartoon

And as a tribute to the lovely late Yvonne De Carlo, The Munsters Dragula episode!

Boss Maaaan!

Kustomonster Energy Drink

2006-12-16T05:02:00.000-08:00

To see a higher rez version..

Kustomonsters for Monster Energy Drink

Sufferin Suchotash! Sylvester meets Corny Cole!

2006-12-13T21:14:00.000-08:00

I was going through my stuff the other day and stumbled upon these Corny Cole layouts for a Duck Soup Nine-Lives cat food commercial featuring Sylvester and Mark Anthony. Corny worked on the Looney Tunes until Warner Bros. closed the studio in 1963. Corny brought his distinctive flair to a series of really classic spots in the late 70's. I had the pleasure of assisting animator Amby Paliwoda on a couple of these.

Kustomonsters Development

2006-11-14T15:16:00.000-08:00

I have 4 of the 6 ten minute episodes already boarded out and ready to go. Here's some of the sticky antics from "The Countess" of the Kustomonsters! It'll be a mixture of "Diggin with Daddy-O", "Timbuktu", "Woodstock Manor" and "Kustomonster" shorts! Daddy-O!

Electricity Animation- 80's style

2006-10-10T11:55:00.000-07:00

Throughout the 80's I was doing a lot of hand drawn electricity animation work. Starting from my very first shot on ABC's AUTOMAN show, starring Desi Arnaz Jr. in 1983. It's kind of a lost art in the digital age, as is most hand drawn animation involving paper and the photo-chemical process.

We would first rotoscope the series of frames on animation paper, then animate in pencil or pen the desired fx on the corresponding frames. Then the animation would be shot on hi-con film producing a hold out pass to be run through an optical printer. There would be many exposure tests called "wedges" to find out the desired look for each frame. We would use various filters, gels, and passes to brew up the most mouth watering stuff we could do.

The Automan shots lead to Fx Direction for "MISFITS OF SCIENCE" starring the then rookie, Courtney Cox.

Later, I'd get calls to do fx on a number of films through out the 80's; NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST 3, STARCHASER; LEGEND OF ORIN, PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT, MY SCIENCE PROJECT, MY DEMON LOVER, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, SOLAR BABIES, POLTERGEIST II, BILL AND TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE, FIEVEL GOES WEST, COOL WORLD, DEMOLITION MAN, and ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES, to name a few.

Electricity animators were cast just like actors. My style was more gothic/cartoon, while other artists such as Chris Cassidy was more humourous. John Van Vliet was more in the realistic vien, such as HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS and HONEY, I BLEW UP THE THE KID.

These bolt lightening techniques have long since been replaced by digital procedural methods involving no drawing whatsoever. Which leads me to another type of "Bolt", the fantastic talents of running back La Danian Tomlinson of the "Bolts", ah, San Diego Chargers!

Yabadaba Froot!

2006-10-01T13:04:00.000-07:00

I case you you missed it on TV, here's the recent Flintstones Friuty Pebbles spot that we finished over at Wit Animation.
The 2d characters were done in Flash by Mike Polvani, Dave Courtland and myself and composited over 3D Max elements.

Flinstones Fruity Pebbles

Venus 6 Album Art

2006-09-28T22:34:00.001-07:00

I recently finished the new album cover for the alt/grunge band Venus6, featuring Ex-Doppelganger Joan Sceline. The album's called Pink Destruction.

More Sugar Frosted Nuggets from the 60's

2006-08-21T23:28:00.000-07:00

Now before school, a "Hoppity Hooper" adventure was in order. It was another Jay Ward gem that was barely merchandised or remembered by many. Uncle Waldo, as it was known in syndication, was a trippy snake oil saleswolf who lead around hapless Filmore the bear, and an innocent boy frog, Hoppity Hopper. And yes, you got the Jay Ward Fractured Fairy Tales and Peabody and Sherman in the mix.

"Dennis the Menace" was in syndication in the 60's and 70's but is rarely seen today. Jay North did a great job as the nemesis to "Good 'Ole Mr. Wilson", giving him heart palpetations in every episode. "Where's my nerve medicine?'

Just for the theme song alone, "Super Chicken" will be remembered as part of the "George of the Jungle" show. "Tom Slick", (no relation to Grace) was also memorable. I remember a guy in my jr. High, Kirk Bachman had an animator dad, Bob Bachman who actually animated on the show....too cool!

Can't forget those Quisp and Quake commercials! Great spots for a cereal I did'nt eat. Jerry Lewis as an alien?

No VCR, no DVD, no Tivo. If you missed it, that was it, until reruns.

Hanging Ten with Corny Cole

2006-08-19T02:07:00.000-07:00

As stated in earlier posts, it was Corny Cole who introduced me to professional animation. Corny and his brother Peter were one of the first surfers on the west coast starting in the 40's in Santa Monica and Malibu. Peter went on to surf giant waves in Hawaii, while Corny stayed in Hollywood to animate Looney Tunes and hang ten at Malibu.

After working at Warners in the 50's and 60's, Corny followed Friz Freleng to De-Patie Freleng to layout several Pink Panther cartoons.

Later in 1974 when I was 14, Corny brought that infamous Flip Wilson animated special to my mothers first grade class. That was it. I was hooked.

Later I ended up at Duck Soup working with his layouts of classic Looney tunes characters like Sylvester for the Nine Lives Dry catfood commercials. Duane Crowther directed, Amby Paliwoda and Jeff Howard animated, Toby Bluth did the BG's and I assisted, I was 19 years old.

I was going through my stuff the other day and stumbled upon these Corny Cole layouts for a Duck Soup Nine-Lives cat food commercial featuring Sylvester and Mark Anthony. Corny worked on the Looney Tunes with Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng until Warner Bros. closed the studio in 1963 (after a stint on production designing U.P.A.'s 1962 "Gay Purr-e" feature film). Shortly after production designing Richard Williams 1977 feature "Raggedy Ann and Andy", Corny brought his distinctive flair to a series of really classic spots in the late 70's. I had the pleasure of assisting animator Amby Paliwoda on a couple of these around 1979.

Later in 1983, I worked with Corny in bringing back Alvin and the Chipmunks. Corny directed the opening title sequence in one week working around the clock. We were pulling 20 hour days and finally ran the whole 60 second thing through the 120 person Hanna-Barbera ink and paint department in 48 hours to make it to air. Whew!

Corny now teaches Life Drawing at Cal Arts in Valencia, and was the proud recipient of the Windsor MC Kay Annie Award in 2006 for Lifetime achievement.

Retro cool

2006-08-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

I don't know what it was about the 60's TV animation, but my earliest memories were that TV cartoons were just cooler back then. I don't know if it was the residual sugar rush of the glazed donut from the Helms Bakery home delivery truck that motored down my street daily back then, or what. You'd just hear that truck whistle promptly at 4pm, just in time for the Gigantor cartoon on channel 11, and bam, coolness.

Or maybe it was just the catchy theme songs, like Cool Mc Cool

Then there was Batfink, which any 6 year old at the time knew was hep. Of course, we'd discuss all this at recess.

And even your parents knew Top Cat was cool, since it ran in prime time.

Now the 60's Spiderman was all about the theme song. Ralph Bakshi directed a bunch of these.

And much later in the 80's, The Thundercats took opening title sequences to an extreme, as their opening was 500 percent better than the overall show.

Do you miss coolness in toons?

The Kustomonsters, Astrothrill and more!

2006-07-31T09:51:00.000-07:00

And so what is it that I'm up to you ask? "The Kustomonsters and Friends"! Yes, a new anthology show from Cheeky Entertainment, featuring "The Kustomonsters", "Astrothrill", "Timbuktu" and "Woodstock Manor". "The Kustomonsters" retro Monster hot rod adventures will be supported by fun short subjects a la "The Bullwinkle Show" of the 60's. A fun and unique experience.

Here's a clip from the 10 minute Astrothrill animated short, inspired by the Cheeky Press comic book of the same name.

Also here's the infamous Astrothrill meets Fu Manchu music video featuring the Fu Manchu song "Downtown in Dogtown"!

Woodstock Manor is another short to be featured on the Kustomonsters show.

Timbuktu will be seen with the Kustomonsters as well!

Look for periodic updates here for this podcast, cell phone and internet show!

The Kustomonsters and Friends!

The Outside

2006-07-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

Ever since I jumped into the Hollywood animation biz back in the 70's, I found there to be 3 different camps: Disney, Warners, and the "Outside"(or independents). That's where I fell in, the outside, and still remain until further notice. Although the industry has expanded substantially since back then, there are still different camps that tend to flock together, like in any business, or high school quad.

A few of the iconoclasts that I have worked with over the years can be seen here. I worked with Ralph Bakshi in 1991 on "Cool World" doing effects animation. Here's a trailer from what I think is one of his most interesting films, "Heavy Traffic".

Also surfing on the outside line up, was former Duck Soup animator Arnie Wong, who made quite a few trippy surf cartoons for Hal Jepsen's classic surf features. Here's a clip of "Karma" from Hal Jepsen's best surf film SUPER SESSIONS.

Also in the 80's I had the plesure of working with Wes Archer during the pre-Bevis and Butthead, Simpsons, King of the Hill era. We animated on a couple Taco Bell commercials at Dream Quest and a Howard Jones animated video called "You know I love you". Here's his seminal 80's student film "Jack Mac and Rad boy go" that started the whole edgy late 80's, early 90's animation that we all know.

Not to be forgotten are independent classic properties like "The Peanuts' by Bill Melendez Productions. Over the years I've animated on five of the classic animated specials, the last being "I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" in 2003. It was great experience working with Bill who animated on two of my favorite Bob Clampett Looney Tunes of all time, "Wabbit Twouble" and "Book Revue". This underground homage popped up on the net a couple of years ago using found Peanuts dance footage sunk to the Outkasts "Hey Ya". Another outside classic! We also referenced some of these moves for the first Flash feature, "Lil Pimp" in 2003, very outside.

If It Looks like a Duck: Leaving the nest

2006-07-21T09:57:00.000-07:00

Also during that seminal time at Duck Soup during 1974, I had the pleasure of meeting animator Arnie Wong for the first time. I remember Arnie was working on a "Shamu the Whale" spot for Sea World. He along with Corny Cole were the first of a breed of "surfing animators", which struck me as rather cool. With my animation scenes tucked under my arm, I would ride the bus from Malibu and skateboard down Main street through Dogtown to Duck Soup. Duane Crowther was cool enough to shoot my stuff at the tail end of Duck Soup commercial pencil tests.

I later would work for Arnie Wong's Santa Monica studio called Tigerfly in the 80's. Arnie was famous for doing surf cartoons and trippy commercial animation like this "Bubblicious" spot...

At Duck Soup I learned quite a bit about classical character animation, while later at Arnie's Tigerfly, special effects animation was the door that was opening up for me. I also was given more responsibility in handling jobs all the way through. In 1984, Arnie was eagerly in pursuit of producing an animated feature featuring the artwork of French fantasy illustrator, Moebius. The project was called "Internal Transfer". We did produce a 3 minute promo piece as seen in the second part of this clip here...

Unfortunately "Internal Transfer" was not produced, but 24 years later, Arnie and Moebius realized thier dream and produced the feature "Thru the Moebius Strip".

Until next time...

From The Duck Pond

2006-07-20T12:03:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned earlier, it was a very influentional experience working with such seasoned and talented animation pro's so early in my career. Duck Soup was founded in 1972 by Duane Crowther and Roger Choiunard. In 1974, at age 14, I was taken under the wing of Duane, who was famous for his UPA commercials from the 50's and 60's, like this Hamms beer spot...

Duane also had the great fortune to apply his talents in 1968 on the Beatles "Yellow Submarine" feature. Probably due to his stylish and award winning UPA pedigree.

Also working around Duck Soup during the early 70's was Duane's friend, "Snow White" animator and "Betty Boop creator" Grim Natwick.

This was a great chance to get perspective and training in different styles and methods of animation. Besides handling Prince Charming on "Snow White", Grim handled very stylized work on UPA's "Rooty Toot Toot"

I later had the great fortune to be the assistant of 25 year Disney veteran Amby Paliwoda on many Duck Soup spots. This 1979 Tony the Tiger commercial for "Banana Frosted Flakes" was a two man job by Amby and I. Unfortunately the new flavor of flakes did'nt take with the public, as we still have the "classic" Frosted Flakes today.

Next time we'll explore more artists from early Duck Soup.

It all started in Santa Monica

2006-07-19T01:34:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not talking about the history of radical skateboarding, I'm talking about my animation career. Ah, 1974 to be exact. That's when I met Corny Cole and Sam Kirson, then of Duck Soup Produckions in Ocean Park (Dogtown) California. They came to my mother's classroom to present their newly completed "Flip Wilson animated special" to the first graders. I was there, doing my usual cartoons for the kiddies, when Corny and Sam took a liking to my drawings and invited me down to the studio. I was totally jazzed as you could imagine...stars in my eyes.
There I met Duane Crowther (Yellow Submarine), Amby Paliwoda (Snow White), Grim Natwick (Betty Boop), and Arnie Wong (Tron).

What transpired was a 4 year aprenticeship starting at age 14, followed by 5 years of commercial animation work during my college vacations. Really invaluable experience that I don't think happens too often today.

Here's an early example of Duane Crowther's work

BLUM BLUM was the student film of Duane Crowther (1928-1998), who was one of the best commercial animators of the 1950s. He made this film when he was only twenty years old at UCLA.

In 1981, Duck Soup, in addition to producing hundreds of classic commercials, produced this Corny Cole animated segment for the "Heavy Metal" feature film.
Unfortunately this section was "too good" for the film and was deleted from the studio cut.

Later in 1984, again in Santa Monica, at Arnie Wong's Tigerfly Studio, I had the chance to work with future Aeon Flux creator Peter Chung. At the time we were attempting to get a Moebius feature film off the ground called "Internal Transfer".
Peter did a section, along with Ruben Aquino, Sue Kroyer, Bruce Woodside and Jon Norton. I was very impressed with the speed and facility of Peter's animation.
Later he produced spots like this Rally's Commercial. The rest is history...

Surf/skate animators, who would have thought...

Kustomonsters and friends - coming soon

2006-07-18T23:17:00.000-07:00

I'm knee deep in the development of the Kustomonsters and friends cartoon show. It will feature The Kustomonsters, Astrothrill, Timbuktu, Woodstock Manor and more. Look for it on the net, podcast or cell phone near you!

Welcome to Cheeky Entertainment

2006-07-18T22:55:00.000-07:00

Well... Welcome folks! About time I got this blog thing going, after having been online since 1998 with our site at

Cheeky Entertainment

, and more recently at

Astrothrill on My Space

.

I do illustration, animation, comics, play drums and a little guitar, and even skateboard on occasion (old school Malibu/Dogtown style). I'm happily married and am the father of a precious little girl named Lola.

I hope you like the discussions here. The perspectives should be a bit different.