Channel Frederator Blog

Joel Trussell

Multi-talented animator, director, and Frederator friend Joel Trussell chats with us about gallery shows, painting vs. animation, and of course, zombies.

Channel Frederator: Where did you study animation?

Joel Trussell: I was pretty clueless how to chase down a career in animation, so I just went to my state’s university and earned a degree in fine art with a drawing concentration. However, when I moved into my junior and senior year of college I would turn in animated short films instead of drawings. After graduating I moved to Seattle and took a traditional class through the University of Washington’s Experimental College, but I guess I’d say most of my animation training came through just doing it rather than formal instruction.

CF: What or who has influenced your work the most?

JT: It’s hard to narrow down influences much since there are several different chapters of inspiration. When I was young it was Warner Bros and Hanna-Barbera [Read more…]

Chris Sayer and Jason Arber

Wyld Stallyons directors/animators Chris Sayer and Jason Arber give Channel Frederator a little insight on designing the brilliant music video for The Blizzards’ “The Reason”, what inspires them, and how they would deal with a gigantic, amorous beast.

Channel Frederator: Where did you study animation?

Jason Arber: I didn’t formally study animation; I learned on the job and was often pointed in the right direction by Chris, who knows a lot more about animation than me. Normally, Chris would do the character animation, but on this job I did all the character stuff while Chris handled the backgrounds. But it’s good to mix things up a little bit, I think.

Chris Sayer: Ever since I realized that you could create the illusion of motion though a sequence of drawings, I’d always wanted to be involved in animation. I started with flick books and later progressed onto the Amiga 500. I was then able to experiment with [Read more…]

TotemX

“Action Man” creator TotemX gives us a super speedy lowdown on flipbook toons and why the permanent marker is mightier than the sword.

Channel Frederator: Where did you study animation?

TotemX: Boredom is the mother of all creativity. I never studied animation.

CF: What or who has influenced your work the most?

TX: Time constraints influenced me the most. Think about it – a flipbook cartoon can only be so long. That means I have under a minute to say what I need to say. What speaks louder than obscene violence? (That’s a rhetorical question.)

CF: What is your favorite animation?

TX: I’m a big fan of Bill Plympton. I also enjoy a few other flipbook cartoonists I’ve seen on the web. I don’t know their names off the top of my head, but I’m familiar with their work.

CF: Can you disable a man with only a Sharpie? If so, please explain how.

TX: Ah yes, that old academic line of inquiry. The [Read more…]

We’re going to keep you on the edge of your seat up until New Years. No more lyin’ around, slowly digesting pie, and cursing the fates for allowing you to fit in one more piece. If you don’t get off your duff and get ready to run, some of the not-so-gentle giants from this episode’s cartoons might gobble you up. And unlike most holiday feasters, these guys probably chew before they swallow. That’s gotta smart.

“The Blizzards: The Reason”, submitted by Natalie Busuttil – Love hurts. In fact, sometimes it manifests itself as a giant monster hell bent on destroying your city. Ouch.

“Action Man: No Plot, No Dialogue… Just ACTION MAN”, submitted by TotemX – A little pad of paper and a big imagination make for a super cool animation. Plus, a monster totally gets what’s comin’ to him.

“Morcheeba: Enjoy the Ride”, submitted by Joel Trussell – The dead give a lesson in [Read more…]