Free Comics Day 2009

This week I'm all about the comics. Made it out to Free Comics Day at the Beguiling, and brought my trusty Xacti. Managed to get Clayton Hamner (C-Ton), Tara Tallan (Galaxion), Kean Soo (Jellaby) and Chip Zdarsky (Monster Cops) in my sites, and they gives good interview. Sorry it took a week to get this up, but, hey, everything is a production with me. Music by the most excellent Tettix (go download his stuffs!). More to come!

Blogger's Choice Awards- 3rd place: Raphael Rosenwald

Greetings, my monstrous minions. I'm in the process of doing a final render of the MONSTERJAM part the first...I want it to look as sharp as possible before submitting it to Channel Frederator, so you'll have to wait a while longer. Meanwhile, I have four prizes to give out, the final awards for the MONSTERJAM...the TAIS Blogger's Choice Awards!



3rd place, a signed copy of Kean Soo's excellent Jellaby graphic novel (courtesy of our friends at The Beguiling, goes to Raphael Rosenwald, for his 10 seconds of stand-up that goes from bad to worse.



The audience lost it when this one came on...great audio, love the expressions on the club patron's faces, and a great, totally unexpected twist gag. Really great execution! I'll be sending out your prize just as soon as I can get yer address, Raphael...nice work! Tomorrow, 2nd place. Meanwhile, enjoy Raph's submission.

Well, I've been alluding to this for a few weeks, so before I heads off to grab a copy of Condemned 2 (scary as hell) I'll make the big announcement. The Toronto Animated Image Society is proud to announce...MONSTERJAM!

Yep, we've organized a new anijam this year, and this time around the theme is monsters. Animated 10 seconds however your want of whatever story you want, but it's gotta be about monsters. Send us a 720x480 Quicktime (give me a shout if you've got conversion or upload issues) along with a couple of stills and your contact info by May 30th. We'll edit all your creepy goodness into a big-ass anijam film that'll be first screened at the National Film Board in June as part of TAIS' Animation Celebration. Afterwards, we'll post it up on MyToons and submit it to Channel Frederator, and it'll be featured on the TAIS main site.

Did I mention prizes? The guys at Monster Factory and The Beguiling were kind enough to throw some goodies our way to use as prizes for the coolest, creepiest entries. We've got hand-made monster stuffies and author-signed copies of Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi and Kean Soo's Jellaby! I'll post some pictures of them goodies next week, as well as keepin' you posted on all our entries here on the blog, as well as supplying you with the occasional sneak peak.

Special thanks go out to the folks at Channel Frederator and MyToons for the promise of pimpage for this event. Don't just sit there, there's monsters to animate...go, go, go!

Amulet and Jellaby

Follow-up post for the Kean and Kazu event at the Beguiling. Managed to snag me a copy of both, signed by the authors especially for an upcoming TAIS event. Hmmm...two signed copies of two books with monsters in 'em? Coincidence? Stay tuned... Thanks to Kean Soo and Kazu Kubuishi for letting me bend their ears for a while, and for signing them books!

Meanwhile, the books. Both authors are workin' with tried and true themes here...a magic item in an old house opens up a gateway to a hidden world in 'Amulet', and a young loner-ish girl finds a pet monster in 'Jellaby'. These are not hackneyed stories, however. Kazu's 'Amulet' is imbued with wonderfully evocative artwork that practically animates off the page, and his characterization of a family rocked by tragedy trying to rebuild itself is heartfelt. You'll want to stick along for the ride.

As for 'Jellaby', well, just look at him! Kean's pet monster story isn't all fluff either. There's a real dark edge to Portia, his main character...a scene inside a police station with a handcuffed crook creeped me the hell out, and gives a hint at tragic past events without slapping you about the head and neck. Jellaby the monster is an interesting character as well, at turns childish and curious but loyal and quick to protect his friends. Only, who is that dark character in Portia's dreams? My only complaint...the book ends all too soon. Lookin' forward to the follow-ups for both these books!

Special thanks to The Beguiling for hosting the signing during a raging snowstorm, no less, and for last year's Free Comic Day event, where I discovered 'Jellaby'. Also, a shout-out to Kimonokitsy Studios, who clued me into 'Amulet' and Kazu's other fine works. Oh, and more monster hints later...

Kean Soo and Kazu Kibuishi: Special event and book signing

Just a quick note to shout out two events being held tonight and tomorrow, courtesy of our homies at The Beguiling. Local boy Kean Soo ("Jellaby") and the pride of Tokyo and Alhambra, Cali, Kazu Kibuishi ("Amulet", "Daisy Cutter", "Copper") will be holding court at the North York Central Library here in the big smoke, part of Toronto Library's 'Keep Toronto Reading 2008' campaign. And yeah, it's short notice...sorry, only got the mailer this afternoon!

Fret not if you can't sally forth into the North York wilderness in time. Both Kazu and Kean will be at the Beguiling tomorrow signing copies of "Amulet" and "Jellaby" and basically being all cool-ass n' shtuff from 5 'til 7. I've been told by a reliable source that there's plenny o' copies of both books on hand, so go bag a copy of each and get 'em signed by the doods what done 'em. Support Toronto artists, by gum! This has been an upaid public service announcement. More goodness to follow!