Channel Frederator Blog

Mike Bell

“Super Santa” creator and director Mike Bell took a moment to answer a few questions for us and give us a history lesson on the reason for the season: Egg Nog.

Channel Frederator: Where did you study animation?

Mike Bell: California Institute of the Arts.

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

MB: Jay Ward and Bill Scott are my biggest influence. Monty Python is way up there also. There are many but these are some of the biggest.

CF: What is your favorite holiday animation?

MB: Can’t pick one. I like all the Rankin-Bass stuff and of course A Charlie Brown Christmas which has the best Christmas sound track of all times.

CF: Are you on the “naughty” or “nice” list this year?

MB: I’ve been naughty in nice ways.

CF: Can you please explain egg nog to me?

MB: Let’s see. I believe it came from England where it was enjoyed by people who could afford to drink their eggs and cream with brandy. It came over here to the colonies [Read more…]

Watch to see “Carol of the Christmas Pickle”.

The creative geniuses behind “Carol of the Christmas Pickle” – William Conner, Matt MacMillan, Cara Stooksbury, and Zack Ward – gave us the gift of a hilarious collective interview. For the purposes of this interview, we will simply refer to them as “The Geniuses”. Merry Christmas!

Channel Frederator: Where did you study animation?

The Geniuses: Animation studies were conducted mainly on Saturday mornings every weekend of childhood. More recently, however, hands-on, practical experience was through trial and error in the basement of the company we work for.

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

TG: Rankin-Bass, South Park.

CF: What is your favorite holiday animation?

TG: Frosty the Snowman. Apparently in their youth, William, Matt and Zack thought the little blonde girl was a real looker.

CF: Are you on the “naughty” or “nice” list this year?

TG: Due to the previous answer, we’re going to have to go with “naughty.” However, Cara is doing her best to drag [Read more…]

Or it was, anyway.

Our goodie sack is still full of… goodies… for you and yours this holiday season! Our Channel Frederator Christmas episode is still current so grab your egg nog dregs, circle the buffet table again (for luck), put the mistletoe somewhere inappropriate, and kick back with our holiday offering for one final taste of Christmas 2008.

“Carol of the Christmas Pickle”, submitted by Kari Streiber – From our friends at Firehouse we get, finally, a stop-motion Christmas tale that goes well alongside a hamburger.

“Super Santa”, submitted by Mike Bell – A Christmas tradition at Channel Frederator, it’s the adventures of your favorite holiday hero and Christmas crimefighter!