Dan Driscoll Animation

Aardman is too Expensive and Insulting

2011-11-08T11:39:00.001-08:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15611244

It is a good lesson for life: Be good to people. If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. This lesson is even more important in the stop motion community. It is a small community, and with only one or two degrees of separation, there is a good chance you know almost everyone's in the stop motion industry.
If you are going to say something crappy, chances are other people are going to hear it.

So when someone says:

"And do you want our children thinking that the emergency services number is 911? If we let cheap American products come into the country we are selling our children short."

Thank you Mr. Miles Bullough.

I believe that it has been "cheap American products" that has made Stop Motion so popular. Low budget shows starting with Celebrity Deathmatch in the late 90s, and current shows such as Robot Chicken and Mary Shelly's Frankenhole push levels of creativity on modest budgets.

Let's also add that these modest budgets are not subsidized by the government.

Instead of bashing those of us for doing what we do (all the while loving what you are doing (can't wait for Pirates!)), let's all focus on the real issue of outsourcing!
The idea of outsourcing what we love, and more importantly, WHAT WE DO FOR A LIVING is a horror, and something I hope the powers that be try to avoid. Because I like to work, and I'm sure you do as well.

I hope Aardman continues to produce their content in the UK, I wish them all the fortune they deserve. Let's just do it with out taking cheap shots at those of us that are in the same boat, and have been doing it for years without government subsidies. You could learn a thing or two.

It would be great if they stay put- if not I hope they come over to LA- I would love to work at Aardman US.

Robot Chicken Season 5

2011-11-03T13:22:00.001-07:00

It's been out a week or so now, but here it is. This is near and dear to me because not only did I shoot the cover, but this collection contains episode 100. In that episode is a long continuous shot that I animated. I'll pull a few clips at some point and talk about what was going on. Enjoy!

Brief Frankenhole

2010-08-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

Some of the first animation I did on Frankenhole. I did all the interior shots. At the start of the season we had very brief character descriptions, and so it took a while to figure out how the characters would be portrayed. At this point I think all the episodes have aired. It was a short run, much like Titan Maximum. With any luck a second season will be coming for both series. More to come- maybe!

2010-08-03T23:36:00.001-07:00

Presented without comment.

SPUD: The lovable lug of Titan Maximum

2009-09-17T12:45:00.000-07:00

Every anime giant robot team needs a Spud! And here is ours...

Enjoy!

TITAN MAXIMUM: Jodi and Sasha

2009-09-16T06:55:00.000-07:00

Jodi and Sasha are the female leads for Titan Maximum. Jodie's fight was the first thing I animated when work began on TM. She quickly became one of my favorite characters on the show. You will pick up a bit of their character from the preview here:

Sihanouk Mariona wrote a great poem describing Sasha's character:

Sasha: supermodel

you: animator.

Combine the two,

don't be a hater,

yeah, i said

sasha's hot like a radiator,

get outta bed,

like, animate her.

we have more characters coming- so keep a look out!

TITAN MAXIMUM teaser

2009-09-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

We are the Animators of Titan Maximum

Here, finally, is a 30 second trailer for the new show Titan Maximum. It was a great show to work on, and hopefully we will be working on its second season soon.

Titan Maximum at IGN.com

And while I am at it: here is the FIRST TWO MINUTES of Titan Maximum!

PALMER (I did the shot "Disassemble these ships piece by piece...")

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

2009-08-01T13:16:00.000-07:00

Just in case you haven't seen it yet.

The Empire Muggs Back!

2009-07-31T17:56:00.000-07:00

Everyone who loves Star Wars and Robot Chicken should check out the auction for the Make A Wish Foundation. A lot of people built these one of a kind toys and now you can own it! More to come. Check out www.charityfolks.com

I will post more about the building and auction updates soon!

A Few Comments On Up

2009-06-21T18:05:00.000-07:00

I will try to keep this brief, as many have sung the praises of Up.

1) It is a great film.
2) I am happy that Pixar did not beat you to death with its use of 3D. It was subtle, adding the hint of depth. I feel that I was assaulted enough by the previews of all the new 3D films soon to be released.

My wife and eight year old daughter were disappointed in the lack of in your face 3D action. I tried to explain the subtlety and relief I felt with their approach to 3D. My daughter thought about this for a moment and said: "well, it was their first 3D film." As to imply that they need more time to really learn how to make stuff jump out at you and make the audience wet themselves as things fly out at you.

Fortunately, I remember the previews, and am able to remind my family that soon their wishes will be answered, and that gerbil movie will me wildly successful...

We March On

2009-06-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

Here we all are- the Animation Crew for Robot Chicken Season 4. At this point it could double for the Animation Crew for Titian Maximum Season 1! we would just have to add signs of aging to all of us.

This plus this equils this!

2009-05-17T12:37:00.000-07:00

After animating on the new show at Shadow machine there is little that can be discussed openly. What can be said is that it is called Titan Maximum. It is based on the "Giant Robot Fight Other Giant Robots and Stuff" genera with Robot Chicken thrown into the mix.

SO:
THIS

+

+

+

=

Freak'n sweet!

Everyday I look forward to seeing everyone's new footage, models, sets and robots- I feel like everyone has stepped up their game. And when the show comes out in um- September, I think, will blow everone away.

Coraline is Number 2

2009-04-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

Acording to Box Office Mojo, the beautiful Coraline is the second highest grossing stop motion feature! Congratulations to everyone at Laika and to the people who saw it- some of you more then two or three times. Check out the rankings at BoxOfficeMojo.com

Timmy Time

2009-04-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

Another pre-school show. The difference is that this one is coming from Aardman! A spinoff of Shawn the Sheep, Timmy looks to be a lot of fun. With any luck, the powers that be will hold to some of the same conventions of Shawn- a show free of dialog, letting the action of the characters tell the story. My kids have already seen the trailer and can't wait to see it on TV. The word is that Disney will be bringing it to the US so chances are we will not have long to wait for it.

At Long Last

2009-03-31T06:43:00.000-07:00

A few clips of the short lived Drumbbone! Thanks to the great guys at Buddy System Studios. This job got me out to LA for the first time and lead to me working at Shadow Machine on Robot Chicken. The work done at Buddy System is fantastic stuff and I love those guys. John Harvatine IV I first met in Connecticut working on "The Little People" and Eric Towner I met when he and Harv hired me for Drumbone. I owe these guys a lot- Without those two I may never have gone out to LA.

Humping Toy!

2009-03-26T08:18:00.000-07:00

I haven't had the chance to animate the Humping Robot for robot Chicken yet. I look forward to some day animating that humping action. That wait may end with the Humping Robot Toy! It should be out by April and has wind up humping action.

It would be great to get one for free- what's the point of working on the show if you don't get the free swag? I love the picture of the robot humping the washing machine- but that isn't included with the toy. I wonder where I can get one of those...

Star Wars II Robot Chicken!

2009-03-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

On July 21st Robot Chicken Star Wars: Episode II will be released! We originally produced the 22 minutes that aired before the start of season 4. We then went back and produced another 15 minutes! It all looks great, and I can't wait to see the extra features and behind the scenes (I hope I don't see myself picking my nose).

We have Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee Williams as well as Ahmed Best, who won an Annie reprising for his performance as Jar Jar Binks. The writers: Seth Green, Matt Senreich, Tom Root, Douglas Goldstein, Mike Fasolo, Kevin Shinick, Zeb Wells and frequent guest writers Breckin Meyer, Hugh Davidson and Dan Milano also picked up the Annie for writing.

The best part of the RCSW II is that it got a bunch of my friends into Robot Chicken that hadn't watched it before- like my wife.

This DVD will make an excellent addition to anyones stop motion library. And if you people out there buy it- I might get more work- so everyone wins!

Coraline

2009-03-18T08:57:00.000-07:00

Although no longer in theaters, I am going to add my 2 cents. Some of the initial trailers I had concerns that the film might not look like stop motion, that the level of polish would be at such a level that the hand made quality would not be apparent. I am happy to say that was not the case. A beautiful film full of atmosphere and texture.

I look forward to be able to rewatch it at home and pick through the animation frame by frame. The acting is fantastic and is of a kind that weighs heavy on my mind. It presents itself as a feast, an overwhelming delivery of all that is potential in this art form.

Amazing.

The Week After

2009-03-13T14:28:00.000-07:00

Robot Chicken season 4 ended for me about a week ago. A truly fantastic experience. I look forward to going back whenever they need me way out there in LA. Back in Corning, NY I am adjusting to plugging away on my thesis- which seems to be making progress- even if a bit slowly.

The most valuable thing to gleam from this experience is a new appreciation for Stop Motion. Not to say I ever stopped loving it, but to be back in an environment (a large environment) and be surrounded and consumed by the process, well, it is refreshing. It gives one pause, and a chance to reflect on the art form itself. And after that moment it is time to start a new shot.

Good to be Home.

2008-06-16T11:51:00.000-07:00

In a world where the quest for work leads me to New York City or Los Angeles, it is nice to take a moment and relax on the couch in your own living room. Of course at these critical moments of relaxing that thoughts of my thesis, which I haven't touched since-- Well, a long time, and countless other projects I would like to work on, creep into my head as so much toxic sludge.
The only thing to do in this situation is to get up and get yourself to your computer and look for a job and check email.

There is much to do- and I'm glad to have a moment to do it. As soon as I finish this post...

Another Job Lost

2008-06-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

The fight for the job that launched the petition at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopmony/index.html
has ended. That job is going to Canada.

We must not dwell on this setback. This just proves that more needs to be done! We must continue to work and fight for the chance to work where we live. It is unfortunate that we live in a time when companies don't think twice about what country they have their product produced.

So many people accuse people of being anti-American, or unpatriotic if you do not support the wars we wage or the president that causes them. But in the event that the shoes we wear, or shows we watch become slightly cheaper- no one thinks twice about "Patriotic Duty" before they ship that job off to another country.

It is time to think twice.

Please continue to send links of the petition, some day we will need it.

Be Aware

2008-06-09T07:20:00.001-07:00

In a world where jobs are sent to places that aren't the United States of America, A few Stop Motion Animators and Artists take a stand...

The petition is gaining ground- check out http://nymieg.blogspot.com/2008/06/support-animation-community-in-new-york.html For a write up!

Truly, we just want to let the people in charge that we are here, ready for work. I am excited to be part of this petition, and am grateful to everyone who has signed the petition and those who have contributed and supported the drafting of this petition.

Here is the petition, please go to http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopmony/ to show your support.

In life, it is everyone's aspiration to work in his or her chosen field. For years, animators from the United States have lost jobs and opportunities to studios in Canada. This has been due to tax incentives and historically cheaper exchange rates in Canada. Now, these jobs once lost to us, have the opportunity to return to the United States. New tax laws and the weaker American Dollar are making productions produced in the US competitive again. It is time for us, as members of the Animation Community, to show we are here and ready to work. It is our hope that this petition will show producers of animation that the workforce is ready and available to support animation productions in the United States of America.

Update

2008-05-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

The good news- The post work for a job for McDonald's France I worked on is finished! Here it is!

I spent a few weeks in Los Angeles recently and had a great time. I worked with a bunch of friends. With Buddy System Studios I worked on 3 videos for ESPN. It seems that they are to hot for the web, and the entire site has been pulled. Hopefull I will get some footage for all soon. I also spent some time at Screen Novelties. Both are great places, and I hope to be back in LA again soon.

A Single Thought

2008-02-29T07:48:00.000-08:00

A Single Thought
As Franklin walked down the street, against the wind, one
thought was on his mind. A single thought lumbered aimlesly through
his head. A thought which eluded him- every time Franklin tried to
focus on this thought it seemed to turn to mist, and stay just outside
the parifery of his mind's eye. Yet Franklin knew it was there,
haunting him. So, truth be told, there were two thoughts on his mind:
1) The phantom
Thought and 2) What is this thought which haunts me?

Sent from my iPod

I should be doing something...

2008-01-31T09:03:00.000-08:00

I just finished working on 2 projects- for one I produced a close to 5 minute video demonstrating what millions of dollars of spy equipment can buy. Here is a link: Minerva. I wonder if I can pass this off as my thesis...

The other project was working for my buddy at his studio, Charged. Was able to meet up with a bunch of old friends and do some stop motion again- It is great to spend tons of cash and go into debt learning computer animation at RIT to then go back to stop motion animation.

This project is being produced by Michael Eisner. And after meeting him and actually talking to him (gasp!) for 5 minutes- he seems like a good guy- let us watch as he sells the pilot of the show and employs us for the big bucks!

I should be doing something else- but more later-

Dan Away!

(The strange is on the way)

Charged

2007-12-13T10:17:00.000-08:00

Working at charged. A studio in Brooklyn, NY. One of the owners, Adam is a friend of mine and it is great to be working for/with him.

The project is great, and while I don't know how much I can say, hopefully We will be seeing much more of it in the future.

End of Summer

2007-08-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

The summer is rapidly coming to a close. The kids are almost back in school, and with any luck my work on my thesis can ramp back up into some full scale production. and who knows- before long I might get a real job...

Jobs R Us

2007-06-26T07:36:00.000-07:00

Well, close to 40 resumes and dvds have been sent out world wide... At this point it is time to sit back, wait, and send out more dvds....

pay attention

2006-12-09T21:17:00.000-08:00

The basement is cold, and the radio goes on and on. The crisp white paper in the typewriter is blank. Years ago Jackson bought himself a inexpensive manual typewriter "Just to pound on, and see what happens." All his friends said "cool." A few weeks after the purchase the typewriter was on the floor next to Jackson's seldom used desk. It is just big enough to stick out one quarter of an inch past the desk. Just enough o catch Jackson's little toe when he is not paying attention. Which is often.

Harold and the Worms

2006-12-05T20:53:00.000-08:00

In the end Harold became friends with the worms at the bottom of the pit. Their offerings of food, while meager in proportion, soon became enough for Harold to live on. The damp quiet and fleshy soil which was the entirety of the worms world became Harold's world. In time the darkness faded and Harold could identify the worms by their rings which glistened and danced in the light from the glow worms. The worms befriended Harold, and Harold considered the fat one as one of his closest friends. the fat one, Jingy, had a young sister, and soon the marriage would bind Harold to the worms forever.

Still Alive

2006-10-16T20:27:00.000-07:00

I am still alive. All my time is being sucked dry by a fun thing called JAVA. The headaches seem to be increasing, and time dwindling.

I am not a programer, this I have learned in this class.

Hopefully, I can get back to posting after this semester, when most of this JAVA stuff is done.

Hopes and Dreams

2006-09-19T21:44:00.000-07:00

No time for pictures! Sad days!

Met Scott McCloud onhis world wide tour of the world. He is promoting his new book: Making Comics. It would be great to do a comic. I think I have ideas for it but my life is ruled by all the crap that I have to deal with- Like JAVA. Man I hate that stuff.

More soon.

PAVEMENT RHYMES WITH FIRE

Oat Boy

2006-09-14T08:51:00.000-07:00

© Daniel Driscoll 2006

OAT BOY!
OAT BOY!
OAT BOY!

Here is a early drawing of Oat Boy. Created when a synthetic soul escapes from Neeno 7's lab table and hides in a bowl of warm oatmeal.

In the film he is voiced by my 5 year old daughter, Emilia. She is waiting for the sequel...

Divide and Conquer

2006-09-12T17:56:00.000-07:00

© Daniel Driscoll 2006

It is the Cell Way- why do you think there are so many more of them then us? We are hopelessly out numbered! I can feel them all around me! Help!

Meanwhile, The great film experience known as Skull and Bunny is steamrolling through preproduction. With any luck the final script will be done by the end of the week. And then on to story boards.

Joe is currently modeling Skull, a cute little monkey. Soon it will be Bunny's turn.

Ignacio is also hip deep in Maya learning everything that needs to be known about stretchy rigs,

Soon I will get some pics of Skull and Bunny up.

Drawing of the Day

2006-09-08T08:23:00.000-07:00

© Daniel Driscoll 2006

I Like Monkeys!
Coming soon, more pictures and sketches of all kinds of things. Stuff from "Skull and Monkey," "The Chronicles Of Neeno," and another project inthe back of my min," Metamorphosis." I am working on a bunch of different stuff, so we will see what rises to the surface.

CONGRADULATIONS

2006-09-08T07:21:00.000-07:00

Congadulations to Sarah Meyer, a old friend from Celebrity Deathmatch, The PJs, and Phantom Investigators. She won a Emmy for her animation on the TV show Robot Chicken.

Fantastic Job!

Mission Statement

2006-08-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

This is the place for thought and more thought. Most issues will I will be dealing with has to do with animation and cartoons. In most cases my cartoons.

I have been a animator on television shows "Celebrity Deathmatch," "PJs," "Phantom Investigators," and "The Little People." Stop Motion animation has always been a fantastic art form.

Currently, I am about to start my 2nd year ar the Rochester Institute of Technology. Working on my Masters degree in Computer Animation. I have been able to apply everything I have learned while a Stop Motion animator to Computer Animation. Curently I am working with a small group of artists to produce a short animated film I will talk about untill everyone is completely sick of it.