I have set up a funding site to produce the limited edition vinyl toy of my character, “Space Pussy,” that I have been developing…if you get a chance please check it out (and spread the word to as many people as you can, people are only charged if the project is fully funded and the toy will definitely be made!) There are only 89 days left for me to reach full funding, so please pledge/order today!:

http://kck.st/aPuNU8

Thanks so much!

–Mike Gray
www.pencilforhire.com
www.clumsylove.net

Thom Cat in “Surfing the Net”

Thom Cat in “Friends Forever”

I am proud to announce that “Thom Cat” is part of the Los Angeles Children’s International Film Festival Best of Festival being held this weekend November 13 to 15th on Kaua’i, Hawaii at the Kaua’i Pacific School!

I am also happy to announce that you can view my new “Thom Cat” e-cards on YouTube (above)! If you like them, please sign up an send them at www.birthdayalarm.com!

–Mike
www.pencilforhire.com (work site)
www.clumsylove.net (webcomic)

Dear “Thom Cat” fans,

I just wanted to share the good news that the “Thom Cat” series of E-cards for Birthdayalarm.com is now Live (the first two cards are live, there is one more that is being finished)! The cards feature the terrific voice talents of Jim and Tamra Meskimen, and the fantastic music of Andy Paley (with art and animation by yours truly)! I will be putting up a blog post soon, but wanted to share with you all first, let me know what you think!:

Surfing the Net:
http://www.birthdayalarm.com/ECard.jsp?a:22&CCId=39&CardCategoryId=39&CardId=4192

Friends Forever:
http://www.birthdayalarm.com/ECard.jsp?a:22&CCId=39&CardCategoryId=39&CardId=4193

Thanks so much for your time!

–Mike
www.pencilforhire.com
www.clumsylove.net

[Read more…]]]>

Dear “Thom Cat” fans,

I just wanted to share the good news that the “Thom Cat” series of E-cards for Birthdayalarm.com is now Live (the first two cards are live, there is one more that is being finished)! The cards feature the terrific voice talents of Jim and Tamra Meskimen, and the fantastic music of Andy Paley (with art and animation by yours truly)! I will be putting up a blog post soon, but wanted to share with you all first, let me know what you think!:

Surfing the Net:
http://www.birthdayalarm.com/ECard.jsp?a:22&CCId=39&CardCategoryId=39&CardId=4192

Friends Forever:
http://www.birthdayalarm.com/ECard.jsp?a:22&CCId=39&CardCategoryId=39&CardId=4193

Thanks so much for your time!

–Mike
www.pencilforhire.com
www.clumsylove.net

I just wanted to share the good news that “Thom Cat” has been officially licensed to appear in his own series of E-cards for Birthday Alarm (www.birthdayalarm.com)! For the e-cards I have been lucky enough to assemble much of the original talent from the first short, including Jim Meskimen as the voice of Thom, Andy Paley as composer , and David Eppen for background painting! The cards should be finished in a month to two months, and I will include links to them as soon as they are live!

–Mike Gray
www.pencilforhire.com
www.clumsylove.net

My new poster/banner for conventions & appearances, I had it made at Kinko’s in Elk Grove, CA and they did a terrific job (it even folds into itself for travel, and comes with a shoulder bag to carry it in)!

Speaking at the SF Bay Area International Children’s Film Festival after the “Thom Cat” & “The Infinite Goliath” screenings [Read more…]

I have a few announcements!:

1) I am proud to announce that “Thom Cat” and “The Infinite Goliath” will be shown at the SF Bay Int’l Children’s Film Fest at Wondercon in San Francisco, CA at the Moscone Center Feb 27th to March 1, 2009! I will also have a table in Artist’s Alley, hope to see you there!: http://www.comic-con.org/

2) Also, I was recently interviewed by AWN about working on “Thom Cat” and “The Infinite Goliath” for Nicktoons/Frederator’s “Random Cartoons” show!:
http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&category2=&article_no=3892&page=2

3) I will be the “Artist in Residence” at the Charles Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa this coming Saturday, Feb 14th from 1pm-3pm, hope you can make it! http://www.schulzmuseum.org/

4) I launched my first webcomic, “Clumsy Love” last week, I hope you will check it out: www.clumsylove.net !

–Mike
www.pencilforhire.com
www.clumsylove.net

[Read more…]]]>

I was honored to be the October “Cartoonist in Residence” at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco on October 11, 2008! The museum is my favorite to visit everytime I am in SF (with incredible original comic book, animation, and comic strip artwork), and I recommend it to everyone who gets a chance to go there! It was terrific to be able to show “Thom Cat” and “The Infinite Goliath” to the museum patrons, and they both were given great reviews (thankfully)! I can’t wait for both cartoons to premiere on “Random Cartoons,” hopefully in January 2009! –Mike

I am honored to be the October “Cartoonist in Residence” at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco this coming Saturday, October 11, from 1pm to 3pm! I am excited at the opportunity to promote “Thom Cat” and the “Infinite Goliath,” to show the cartoons at the museum, and to talk about my work with the Museum patrons! If you have never been there, I highly recommend that you go, the Museum has a fantastic permanent art collection along with terrific, special shows! Here is the press release from the Museum:

“The Cartoon Art museum hosts Mike Gray, artist and creator of Thom Cat, (which will air on Nickelodeon in December 2008 as part of the Random Cartoons cartoon series) on October 11, 2008, 1:00 to 3:00 pm, as part of its ongoing Cartoonist-in-Residence program. Museum visitors will be offered the chance to watch Mr. Gray at work, watch his cartoons, [Read more…]]]>

I am honored to be the October “Cartoonist in Residence” at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco this coming Saturday, October 11, from 1pm to 3pm! I am excited at the opportunity to promote “Thom Cat” and the “Infinite Goliath,” to show the cartoons at the museum, and to talk about my work with the Museum patrons! If you have never been there, I highly recommend that you go, the Museum has a fantastic permanent art collection along with terrific, special shows! Here is the press release from the Museum:

“The Cartoon Art museum hosts Mike Gray, artist and creator of Thom Cat, (which will air on Nickelodeon in December 2008 as part of the Random Cartoons cartoon series) on October 11, 2008, 1:00 to 3:00 pm, as part of its ongoing Cartoonist-in-Residence program. Museum visitors will be offered the chance to watch Mr. Gray at work, watch his cartoons, chat with him about cartooning, and get a free sketch!

Thom G. Cat is a genius inventor, a brilliant scientist, and a fashion trendsetter…not bad for a cat! The smartest cat in the world that is! Thom Cat makes his animated screen debut dealing with a young bully…who will never, ever pick on little girls again after enduring Thom’s unique form of justice! Thom Cat first appeared in the first issue of Mike’s self-published comic book, Fluff, which will be available at his presentation.

Mike Gray is an award–winning writer, cartoonist, animator, director, and stand-up comedian who lives and works in Northern California. His cartoon, Thom Cat, which he created, wrote, and co-produced, will appear on Random Cartoons in December 2008, along with the cartoon, The Infinite Goliath, which he wrote, storyboarded, directed, co-created, and co-produced. Thom Cat’s awards include: Honorable Mention and Official Selection of the 4th Annual Brooklyn Kidsfilmfest of 2008, Official Selection of the 2008 San Diego International Children’s Film Festival, and Official Selection of the 2008 Fire Island Festival. Mike was also the Head Writer and Script Editor for the upcoming Nicktoons series, Ape Escape, based on the hit video game from Sony. Mike’s work and updated news can be found at his website: www.pencilforhire.com.”

http://www.cartoonart.org/
http://cartoonart.livejournal.com/

Hope to see you there if you are in the area!

–Mike

I am excited to announce that “Thom Cat” has been selected to be shown at the 2nd Annual SDSU Children’s Animation Mini-fest which will be held on November 1 at the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, SD.  This event is free and open to the public and is followed by a hands-on animation workshop for kids!  –Mike