For those looking to find out more about a memorial Tom here are the details.
Please join Tom McLaughlin’s family and friends on October 26th at 3pm at The Animation Guild Local 839 to celebrate his life.
1105 N Hollywood Way  Burbank, CA 91505
(818) 845-7500
We would love for you to share your funny stories and tell us how you met Tom.
What is your name and your current occupation?
Kurt Weldon. Line Producer. In the past, I’ve been a Producer, Director, Story Editor, Writer and even once in a while a Voice Actor.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Stand up comic. Short order cook. Silk screen printer.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Kim Possible. Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
Canton, Ohio. It’s the town Hank Williams was on his way to when he died. I’ve always thought that was a pretty good call on Hank’s part.  I got into the business more or less by accident. After about six years as a standup comic, I decided to
FLYING BARK PRODUCTIONS APPOINTS MERCHANTWISE AS LICENSING AND MERCHANDISING AGENT FOR BLINKY BILL BRAND
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Sydney, Australia – September 30, 2013…
Flying Bark Productions today announced the appointment of Merchantwise as the licensing and merchandising agent for the Blinky Bill brand in Australia.
Merchantwise now represents the entire brand portfolio ranging from the original Blinky Bill property, Yoram Gross production designs of the characters and the much anticipated new imagery being produced by Greenpatch Productions in association with Flying Bark Productions.
Flying Bark Productions’ Managing Director, Jim Ballantine said “I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Merchantwise as the local Blinky Bill licensing and merchandising agent. Blinky Bill is one of our very treasured properties and I am looking forward to working with the Merchantwise team to bring this much loved brand in all its incarnations to the Australian retail spaceâ€.
With an extensive and distinguished legacy as one of Australia’s leading entertainment producers, Flying Bark Productions is at the forefront of the animation industry, creating film and television content that delights and captivates pre-school, young adult and family audiences worldwide.
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For all Australian licensing enquiries, please contact Kerryn McCormack, Senior Account Manager, Merchantwise on +61 3 9520 1000 orkerryn@merchantwise.com.au
SLR PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCES CREATIVE TEAM FOR ‘CAPTAIN FLINN AND THE PIRATE DINOSAURS’
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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013…
Australia’s SLR Productions today announced the creative team on the animated series ‘Captain Flinn and The Pirate Dinosaurs’ which was recently green-lit for production with local broadcast partner Nine Network along with international partners, ZDF Enterprises, Telegael and Top Draw Animation.
*Image attached for use
With Suzanne Ryan of SLR Productions as Executive Producer, the series will combine the creative expertise of Greg Ingram as Director, Jo Boag as Studio Creative Director, Yasmin Jones as Line Producer, Melanie Alexander as Script Producer and David Evans, David Witt, Cleon Prineas, John Armstrong, Tom Mason, Dan Danko, Rachel Spratt and Bruce Griffiths as the series’ script writers.
The 52 x 11 minute series is based on award winning picture books of the same name by internationally recognised and highly acclaimed Author/Illustrator duo, Giles Andreae and Russell Ayto and the television series will be developed by Jo Boag, Melanie Alexander, Steve Moltzen and Rachel Spratt.
“We have the very best of creative talents on board for ‘Captain Flinn and The Pirate Dinosaurs’. Each of the team will bring their many years of experience and knowledge in animation to make the series irresistible to audiences locally and internationally†said Executive Producer and CEO of SLR Productions, Suzanne Ryan.
“The Telegael design team is super excited about ‘Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs’. It has a unique style and will be a fun series to be part of. I was aware of the books and am really looking forward to working with the creative crew to bring them to life” said Telegael’s Head of Animation, Yvonne Hennessy.
“This is the third series we’ve had the pleasure to collaborate on with SLR Productions and also with Telegael. It’s a terrific team and a proven formula that guarantees a fabulous outcome. As for Captain Flynn……his brand of irreverence and general silliness is right up our alley and promises some happy sailing ahead†said Managing Director of Top Draw Animation, Wayne Dearing.
“I am really looking forward to working with the creative team for ‘Captain Flinn and The Pirate Dinosaurs’. Many of the creative crew have worked on SLR Productions television content in the past so it is a great opportunity to collaborate again on this fun and silly series for children†said Studio Creative Director, Jo Boag.
“Our team of writers is incredibly talented and we have the most amazing stories in Giles Andreae and Russell Ayto’s picture books to draw from to create our television adaptation. I am thrilled to work with each script writer in developing the storylines to be ones that children all over the world adore†said Script Producer, Melanie Alexander.
In 2011 ‘Captain Flinn and The Pirate Dinosaurs’ won Best TV Pilot and the prestigious Arlecchino Award for Best Book Based Work, an esteemed accolade of the Cartoons On The Bay Pulcinella Awards, International Television and Cross Media Animation Festival held in Italy. The series also was selected as a nominee in the 2011 Banff International Pilots competition in the youth and children category and was shown at the 2011 Banff World Media Festival in Canada.
Pirattitude meets silly in these riotous tales of a jam-stealin’ Captain T Rex, Stig the stegosaurus, Dippy the diplodocus, Tricky the triceratops and Terry the pterodactyl and four adventure lovin’ kids Captain Flinn, Pearl, Tom and Violet who teach them a thing or two!
Irreverence, general silliness and flagrant disrespect for pirate dinosaurs wrapped around a message of simple empowerment: sometimes when you face your fear…you’ll notice it’s wearin’ a milk moustache (underneath that eye-patch…arrr).
SLR PRODUCTIONS
SLR Productions is one of Australia’s leading Emmy and multi award winning children’s entertainment companies, specialising in the creative development and production of world-class media content. Established in 2002 by CEO, Suzanne Ryan, SLR is recognised for creating successful brands such as the internationally acclaimed preschool property, Guess How Much I Love Youâ„¢, the Australian comic book series GASP!â„¢ and the Emmy Award winning animated series I Got a Rocketâ„¢.  SLR’s passion is to make creative, adventurous, imaginative and exciting programmes for audiences worldwide. The company has produced more than 100 hours of content sold in more than 150 territories worldwide. With its highly experienced development and production divisions, SLR partners with major broadcasters, producers, distributors, publishers and creatives both locally and internationally to create hit shows with a truly global reach.
Click the image to see the full -size pic.
It’s Model Sheet Monday again and this week we’re showing the biggest and the baddest. the master of disaster and the king of comedy, Bugs Bunny!
This particular model sheet was drawn by Bob Scott and cleaned up by Harry Sabin.
Who didn’t want to be Bugs Bunny? I mean come on! The guy didn’t run from guns, genies, lions, bears, hunters, wrestlers, rustlers, thieves, and opera singers. He had more guts that John McClain! Bugs Bunny was my hero as a kid and one of the my favorite characters in the Looney Tunes world and the few times I got to draw him were awesome. he was deceptively hard to draw and I often made his muzzle too big. That said, Bugs is pretty awesome!
There are many versions of Bugs Bunny design as you can see above and even one past this model sheet in the form of Jessica Borutski’s design for CN’s Looney Tunes show which I actually admire for it’s sheer appeal and draftsmanship (draftswomanship?).
We incidentally interviewed Jessica some time ago.
Personally I prefer the old Chuck Jones design the best and then if I had to choose a second it would be the Bob McKimson design after that but as far as drawing Bugs, Chuck ruled in my book. There was an appeal he had in the heyday of films like Wackiki Wabbit, The Case of the Missing Hare, and Water, Water Every Hare, which were just the epitome of Bugs Bunny and to me no one did him better than Chuck back then. The design had an appeal that I think got lost in the later days, especially once Chuck decided to Grinch Bugs up a bit.
What was your favorite Bugs Bunny design?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyQ4EntAyhcSorry for the lack of quality on this last one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW2URR3ESzgBy the time Chuck got to Barbary Coast Bunny, I wasn’t a fan anymore.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xcczyr_barbary-coast-bunny_shortfilmsHere’s some more info on Bugs Bunny via our friend Wikipedia:
Bugs Bunny is a funny animal cartoon character, best known for his starring roles in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of theatrical short films produced by Warner Bros.during the Golden age of American animation.[2] His popularity during this era led to his becoming a cultural icon, as well as a corporate mascot of Warner Bros. Entertainment. Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray hare or rabbit who is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality, a pronounced New York accent, his portrayal as a trickster, and his catch phrase “Eh… What’s up, doc?” (usually said while chewing a carrot). Bugs has appeared in more films (both short and feature-length) than any other cartoon character and is the ninth most-portrayed film personality in the world.[3]
According to his 1990 “biography” Bugs Bunny: 50 Years and Only One Grey Hare, Bugs was born on July 27, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York in a warren under Ebbets Field, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers.[1] In reality, he was brought to life by the animators and staff of Leon Schlesinger Productions (later Warner Bros. Cartoons): including Tex Avery, who directed Bugs’ early definitive film A Wild Hare (1940); Robert McKimson, who created Bugs’ definitive character design; and Mel Blanc, who originated the voice of Bugs.
…and you can read the full write up of Bugs Bunny here.
