Channel Frederator Blog

Our 200th episode ‘toon is “The Owl and the Squirrel” courtesy of animator Nick Bachman. He graduated from MCAD in May and is now gainfully employed at PUNY Entertainment in Minneapolis. Woot! Read on for all you ever wanted to know about futzing with clay, Ticketmaster, and Pee Wee Herman!

We featured your stop motion short “Chocolate and Mices” earlier this year - what have you learned about animation or about yourself as an artist since then?

Nick Bachman: I think I’ve learned to take breaks from working more often. If you work on something constantly and think about it 24/7 without taking time for yourself, the quality of your work, health, and life will deteriorate and you will become a sad, lonely little hermit. True story.

The gags in “The Owl and The Squirrel” are Sylvester and Tweety-esque. What gave you the idea for the film?

NB: I was trying to write a story to [Read more…]

“The Dragon’s Claw”, directed and animated by Robert Bruce, featuring music by Justice of the Unicorns, won Best Animated Music Video at Animation Block Party 2009. And also, sad little animals-turned-ipods.

Where did you study animation/filmmaking?

Robert Bruce: I studied filmmaking at Binghamton University which focuses mainly on experimental film. I started teaching myself how to animate a few years ago just by reading tons of books and analyzing my favorite animated movies frame by frame.

What are your favorite films?

RB: I’m currently a bit obsessed with Samurai films, Spaghetti Westerns, and Film Noir. They usually have such wonderfully complex characters. I guess a few of my favorites are “Hara-kiri”, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”, and “Touch of Evil”.

What gave you the idea for “The Dragon’s Claw”?

RB: To be honest, I don’t really know. I just listened to the song on a loop and began making a rough animatic. It was a bit of [Read more…]

There is a super extra special episode of Channel Frederator available today! This episode comes to us from our buddies over at Indy Mogul!

Indy Mogul host, Erik Beck is invited to visit the acclaimed Dreamworks Animation Studios to show you how the stunning animation in the new film Monsters Vs. Aliens was created.  The talented team at Dreamworks shows off new technology and techniques that were developed to achieve the animation and digital 3D images of the film.  From real models of the Golden Gate Bridge to the revolutionary, state-of-the-art 3D virtual camera, this episode of Hollywood FX reveals it all.

Check it out at www.channelfrederator.com and get even more at www.indymogul.com!

It’s that time again! Time to announce our March Cartoon of the Month. We had a really great variety of films that were contenders this month - bears, cars, ghosts, goldfish, narwhals, cupcakes and more. Honestly, though, in the end we all know that cupcakes RULE! So it’s really no surprise that Kirsten Lepore is taking home the totally sweet $100 prize-pack of exclusive Cartoon of the Month Channel Frederator merchandise for her film, Sweet Dreams.
Kirsten was Channel Frederator’s first featured filmmaker in episode #166. Our very own Bailee DesRocher did an awesome two part interview with Kirsten where she tells all about this great film. Make sure you check it out here, and here.
I also asked Kirsten what kind of advice she has for any of you creative filmmakers out there that want to win the Cartoon of the Month prize yourself. She says:

Story is key. Oftentimes you have to [Read more…]

Animator, director, and teacher Randy Gossman shares his thoughts on animation education and his love/hate relationship with technology.

Channel Frederator: What have you learned about your craft through teaching and working with your students?

Randy Gossman: I’ve learned that it’s a cruel thing to force someone to do something they hate or can’t grasp, especially animation. I love it and have never considered it work when animating but if the student doesn’t fall in love with the medium then it’s time to consider another career.

CF: You received your MFA in ‘07. Why is it important to you to continue your education?

RG: If you don’t keep challenging yourself and breaking out of your normal ability then you’ll simply never grow in your craft. I find that this comes from more real-world experience and less from what you get out of the classroom. Funny thing is I was just getting my MFA so I could keep teaching [Read more…]

Mike Geiger

Uber-talented creator and animator of “County Ghost”, Mike Geiger, kicks it with Channel Frederator about skateboarding, top secret projects, and creepy stuff.

Channel Frederator: Where did you study animation?

Mike Geiger: I took a 2 month animation course at Capilano College in North Vancouver, B.C. and then a 12 month 2D program at Vancouver Film School in Vancouver.

[Read more…]

Neil Sanders

Neil Sanders is an illustrator, teacher, designer, and animator from Melbourne, Australia. Here he shares a little about teaching animation, his uncontrollable sketching habit, and his dancing pup.

Channel Frederator: Where did you study animation?

Neil Sanders: I haven’t ever officially studied animation. I studied illustration in 1998-1999 at NMIT in Melbourne, Australia and have always been interested in animation. I studied at home and with friends, reading through at least a dozen books by various animation heroes, so much so that I’ve noticed from their books that Shamus Culhane and Richard Williams really didn’t like each other. Mostly I have learned by listening to people, trying things and seeing what works for me and what doesn’t.

After working and traveling for a couple of years, I returned to the institute to show my folio, which led to some sessional teaching. A few years ago I looked at my new timetable and was told I was [Read more…]

Studio Lepore

Channel Frederator’s first featured filmmaker Kirsten Lepore’s artistic talents stretch across the arts (songwriting, directing, and animating to name a few). Her work was brought to our attention from different areas of the web - ranging from food websites to personal blogs. Despite the Internet explosion her work has undergone and being busy with new projects, she still found time to discuss this week’s films, neurotic narwhals, and her love affair with food.

(Click here for part one of our Kirsten interview.)

CF: What’s your favorite food?

Kirsten Lepore: Prosciutto di Parma with some crusty Tuscan bread and a glass of red wine.

CF: Have you ever entered a cook-off or other food based competition?

KL: I haven’t actually, but for a while I really wanted to have an iron chef style competition with my friends. I think that’d be amazing. Or maybe I’ll just stay out of the competition and be the tasting judge…

[Read more…]

Kirsten Lepore

Channel Frederator’s first featured filmmaker Kirsten Lepore’s artistic talents stretch across the arts (songwriting, directing, and animating to name a few). Her work was brought to our attention from different areas of the web - ranging from food websites to personal blogs. Despite the Internet explosion her work has undergone and being busy with new projects, she still found time to discuss this week’s films, neurotic narwhals, and her love affair with food.

Channel Frederator: Where did you study animation?

Kirsten Lepore: At the Maryland Institute College of Art – although I was toying around with animation as early as 5th grade when I tried to shoot stop-motion on an 8mm camcorder using jelly beans as my characters.

CF: Did you have any instructors that were particularly influential?

KL: My 2D animation professor, Laurence Arcadias, at MICA was a big help to me during my time at school. She even helped me get the studio space that [Read more…]

Frank Thomas, Floyd Bishop, and Ollie Johnston

Channel Frederator asks filmmaker and Channel Frederator blogger Floyd Bishop about his career and work.

Channel Frederator: Where did you study animation?

Floyd Bishop: My degree is actually in graphic design. I taught myself animation by reading lots of books, watching lots of films, working through tutorials, and seeking out people in the industry to help me learn more. The mentoring of others has really pushed me to learn as much as I have so far. Some of these people included Doug Sweetland who gave me lots of great feedback early on when I was still in college. I would send him my reel, and he would send me feedback. He was super patient and very helpful.

I met Jan Pinkava at the Ottawa International Animation Festival in 1998 and got to work on a stop motion film with him (“67”) during the festival. I picked his brain as much as I could [Read more…]