Halt You Hoarders A Retrospective.

I never really updated this blog with a closing post, so I suppose this is as good a time as any.
I'm happy this film ended up getting a warm reception. As I worked on it, I began to doubt that I was staying true to my original intent. I would say the thing that saved this film in the end is that I tried to make sure there was always something funny to see at any given time. I'm actually not a very funny person, at least not for real (I think I'm hilarious), but I at least feel as though I can draw 'funny'.

For my next film, I think I'm going to go more traditional, as the last two kind of used the same style and I'm thinking I'm in need of some inking.

Musicwise, I am saddened I wasn't ever able to secure the rights to use 'What You See', as going 'legit' was an exciting prospect. Try as I did, I got the run-around from all of the studios in charge of the rights to this song. And I never did hear back from Danny Elfman's manager about if I could get his blessings, which is another bummer.

Now that I've been finished with this film for almost a year, I find myself sad that I don't have a point drawing Holden anymore. Reusing characters isn't really my thing, so it's somber 'hanging up' the character and never animating him again.
I posted the movie on Newgrounds, YouTube and my website if you haven't seen it yet.

and with this picture, I finish my production blog.

Production Stills Round 3

Here are some more stills from the final lap in this animation making marathon! Under a week to go and the whole thing is wrapping up quite nicely I think.

Surrounded.

Well drawn cartoon buttocks?

I feel like I could rip a hole...

...Right through reality!

Falling down a wall colored space.

Now that's what I'd call a Tempered-Pedic.

More Production Screens.

Only 2 weeks till the deadline for finishing this short!

Here are some more screen grabs for you to grab with your eyes:

Knock knock.

Holden sticks to his chinny chin chin hair.

Barging in.

Holy crap, scary ghosts!

I guess I'm in the attic now...

Who turned on the light?

Pat on the head.

Man-a-can't

The spitting image of himself.

Shattering performance.

Holden be nimble.

Production Stills

Senior II

So I'm around half down now with my senior film, Halt You Hoarders.

To be honest I was in a bit of a rut after the quite lengthy "chair scene" where Holden is sitting for a good minute of the film.

I animated some steak arms, and suddenly I unburnt-out! in the last couple of days I'd say I've made a good amount of quality animation.

The style has sorta changed since I last posted, about 100% less line work.

Will probably post some new production stills when there is more animated than not animated, so look for that next weekish.

Production Stills 1

Here are a couple of early screengrabs from the short. Note tha the art style (line width, colors) is still under consideration.

Couch Potato.

Holden Sweet Home.

Animatic

Watch Full Size

Here is the animatic for my senior film.

The Idea.

So, what is this movie I'm working on?
Basically it's an homage to the Fleisher Brothers cartoon "Swing You Sinners!", a short movie about a chicken burglar getting spooked after being chased into a graveyard by a cop.

Swing You Sinners

The premise of my movie is a little different, but mostly the same. It is about a guy who has a lot of material goods, and they come to life and torment him. So it kind of also has some symbolism to it: Don't be a pack rat.

The song I've chosen to animate to is "What You See" by Oingo Boingo. Oingo Boingo is a halloween/ska band fronted by the great Danny Elfman. The song is very theatric and reminds me of the mood of the Swing You Sinners soundtrack.

That's mostly it. Check back for peeks at the movie as it progresses further!