Channel Frederator Blog

Rune and Erik Eriksson

“Bungee Jump Skeleton Man” animators, Rune and Erik Eriksson, brave the Norwegian winter to answer a few questions for us… actually, it was all done by email… but we bet it was chilly!

Channel Frederator: Where did you study animation?

Rune Eriksson: I have a BA degree in animation from Edinburgh College of Art. My brother, Erik, gained his skills from working with me.

CF: Who has influenced your work?

RE: We are big fans of Monty Python, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Tom and Jerry, Beavis and Butthead, Steve Martin and many more. We try to find inspiration not just in animation.

CF: What is your favorite animation?

RE: There is a Disney short called “Hook, Lion and Sinker” from 1950 with Donald Duck. A very funny film.

CF: Do you have any upcoming projects you can tell us about?

RE: We are trying to finish two shorts at the moment. We haven`t decided the titles yet, but so far we call them [Read more…]

Sam Niemann

“Ruby Rocket: Private Detective” co-creator/director/animator Sam Niemann gives Channel Frederator the lowdown on why he’s got no problem with being a “late bloomer” to animation and why his arch-nemesis shall not be named…

Channel Frederator: Where did you study animation?

Sam Niemann: I came to animation later in life. I studied painting at the Kansas City Art Institute and graduated with a BFA in 1991. About 7 years after graduating, I got a job doing digital cell painting at a software company, and within the year I was a lead animator there. Though it wasn’t actually an animation program, my training at art school seems to have prepared me well for animation.

CF: Who or what has influenced your work the most?

SN: Growing up, I loved Warner Bros cartoons and Disney features. Chuck Jones was probably the first name in animation I could identify by just seeing some of the cartoon. The Jungle Book was always my favorite Disney film. [Read more…]

Self portait by Anton Bogaty

Amid his many top-secret projects, “Death by Dying” creator/director Anton Bogaty took a moment to answer a few of Channel Frederator’s not-so-secret questions…

Channel Frederator: Where did you study animation?

Anton Bogaty: I attended the Savannah College of Art and Design and the University of Tennessee, but concentrated on drawing and illustration at both schools. What animation I’ve learned is self-taught.

CF: Who or what has influenced your work the most?

AB: At one point I strove to be more of a writer than a visual artist. During that period I was under the spell of several older generation authors who still influence me quite heavily today as far as their styles, approach and subject matter. A part of me still wants to only have to own a typewriter to survive as opposed to countless art supplies and computer programs. As far as animation goes I’m drawn to work that tends to be more serious or [Read more…]

Are the holidays just too darn chipper for you? Think you’re a little noir at heart? Fear not! Channel Frederator comes bearing gifts of alcoholism, commercialism, and gloom… ism - just in time for you to kick off the crueltide season.

— Ruby Rocket, Private Detective, submitted by Sam Niemann - It was a dark and stormy night when he waltzed in. Ruby needed a drink. Actually, she needed to pay attention to his case. She wanted a drink.

— The Bunjee Jump Skeleton Man, submitted by Tanjetsfilms - Holiday exploitation got you down? Hey, could be worse…

— Death by Dying, submitted by Anton Bogaty - A girl is haunted by violence - onscreen and off.

To rate the films in this week’s episode, visit Channel Frederator. (Once there, you can also subscribe through iTunes, My Yahoo!, Tivo, Miro, YouTube, MySpace, AOL, Google, Veoh, Pando, and Bloglines.)