Changri-La

How can I sum up the best professional experience anyone could wish for these past eight years? Irrational Games has given me the chance not only to animate characters from one of the most innovative and creatively daring game franchises of all time, BioShock and BioShock Infinite, but it has given me a chance to work with some of the best minds and human beings I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. I give them all the thanks for giving me my first shot in AAA games.

When I first arrived I believed I’d be working on the next Freedom Force, it was my love of comic books that brought me to them. Ken’s a huge comic book fan and that really appealed to me. But when they unveiled the first tests of BioShock, I was blown away and knew I’d be a part of something special, a literal game changer. A game with Objectivism as the main theme in an underwater city! I could nerd out on so many levels and have intellectual cred as well. That’s the mind of Ken Levine. Always searching for a truth found in human existence and pushing the boundaries of the video game medium; creating art in a genre not generally regarded as such.

I’ve learned, grown, developed, observed, worked my ass off, and shared my life with some of the best in this industry. There are too many people to mention and the company is a sum of its many high quality parts.

But I have to name a few. Along side Ken, I have to single out my brothers (and sisters) in arms from the animation team, Shawn Robertson - Animation Director (@71shawnr) a lead like no other, Jonathan Mangagil - Senior Animator (@jwmangagil), Pete Paquette - Senior Animator (@petepaquette), Matt Boehm - Animator (@mattheweboehm), Jim Christopher - Animator (@jchristo85), Gwen Frey - Senior Tech Animator (@direGoldfish), Jeremy Carson - Lead Tech Animator (@jeremycarson).

Why my boss Rocks!

Creating the Sandlot Fitness League Logo

My sister and her husband who runs Crossfit Portland had this awesome idea to create a competition for like-minded athletes. Instead of grouping people into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, they decided to break the teams up into sections based on fun characters. If you're in Portland, OR, check it out!

They asked me to make a logo, and after a bunch of iterations I'm happy with how it all turned out. I thought I'd post some pictures to show how this design progressed.

When I first saw the commercial for Netflix with the hand puppet beaver and the talking fish, I thought, "Now that's creative!" I loved how fluidly the beaver switched from hand puppet to animation on his way to his river home. When I did some further research I found this post on meoble.com. It gave a little background with a link to the commercial on youtube.

Then I came upon the comments and one person, Karen, had this to say:

"This ad is a total rip-off of a well established stop motion series Beaver Creek Episodes, which has been on youtube since 2008. Every motif has already been used by Ian Timothy, including a similarly decorated lodge, a duck friend who wears hats, a flat screen tv, even the talking fish. How low, Netflix, the animator is only 17."

So I went to youtube to investigate, and she's right.  Beaver Creek is brilliant! There's the duck and the fish with the same low voice. And Ian Timothy, the creator, is indeed 17 years old! Congrats on making something awesome Ian, and I'm awaiting episode 8! 

Very impressive! He also made a great film that detailed the "Art and Science of Animation" very eloquently. Check out his youtube channel, IBTimothy.  You'll also see a fun behind the scenes film where his dad's musical talents are on display.

So in conclusion, I'm disappointed in the Netflix commercial. Granted there are differences: the Beaver is British and not a hick, and there's a cool elevator in his pad. But the fish in the end, which was a funny punchline, is way too similar to Beaver Creek's fish. However, I am glad that their commercial lead me to Beaver Creek, and that is something I'm very very thankful for.

Keep it up Ian, and hopefully I can get on with my next stop-motion project.

     Amid my currently slammed work and meager social-life, I've managed to hit three awesome shows this past week. This is rare for me.  Ok, last year was an anomoly when I saw DeVotchka, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and the Shins all around the same time at the Dise. All my online profiles list concert going as a hobby which is definitely true now more than ever before.

The first concert was of a band I wasn't familiar with, Dr. Dog. My coworker and buddy, Shamil, had an extra ticket. In fact, Shamil's the one who usually gets me to go out and see shows. Thanks man!  They sing songs about how the Lazy do and What does it take to be Lonesome?  Nothing at all!  Just awesome.

The second Concert was Ben Kweller.  I've followed him since he debuted on my  home station in Rochester, 90.5 WBER 10 years ago.  Great singer/songwriter.  He started back when he got a studio contract as a teenager with a band called Radish.  You can hear all about it on Studio 360.  Penny On a Train Track was transcendent.  In the middle of his song, Thirteen, he revealed that he met his wife on Elm Street in Cambridge! (1:55)

Heard these guys play live on 88.1 last night.

"Cat In Your Tree" got me.