Thundercats Tuesday - ( Continued ) - Thundercats Storyboard and Episodes Reviews.

Thundercats Tuedays, returns.  This video features Thundercats storyboards, cel art, and screenshots of the two episodes I wrote, "Shadowmaster" and "Well of Doubt". I was also the Thundercats series art director for the last 30 episodes, designing all the secondary characters for the last 30 shows. I also reviewed storyboards, work pictures (animation dailies), and final cuts.

An 'Extra Feature" is review quotes from the highly recommended 'Hear the Roar - The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to the Hit 1980's Series Thundercats' by David Crichton for the complete story.

I plan to revisit my Thundercats Tuesday blog posts and turn them into videos, just the the fun of it, an increase exposure for sharing.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas, Fred Hersch & the WDR Big Band with Vince Mendoza.

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds me stretching concepts of art and music to make a connection to one of my choices. First up, Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas, Other Worlds.  It was the comic book like art on the CD that caught my interest at once. I've heard of saxophonist Joe Lovano from his work as a co-leader and sideman on other CDs I have.  So, Other Worlds was worth a try.  Again, the art reminded me of my idol, Jack Kirby, the late legendary comic artist, and creator of so many Marvel, and DC comic characters.  Today would have be Jack Kirby's 195th birthday,  Many comic book nerd friend, and myself,  have been posting tributes to him, all day. The music is Post Bop and adventurous. Well worth a listen.  The cover art was done by Dave Chisholm, a Rochester artist, who has done several graphic novels focusing on jazz musicians.   Ads for them pop up in my Facebook feed, often. 

My next selection, Fred Hersch & the WDR Gig Band, Begin Again, arranged and conducted by Vince Mendoza, was also more a pick for the CD graphic, more than the musicians.  Although, I had seen Fred Hersch name before, I could say I remember the musical context.  Plus, I've heard of the WDR Big Band. The bigger draw for me was Vince Mendoza who I know from an ECM CD with John Abercrombie, Animato, also Mendoza has written tunes played by the Peter Erskine trio on ECM.  Mendoza wrote my favorite tunes on the Erskine CDs.  Begin Again has modern big sound, that is enjoyable, but nothing really stands out to me.  It's still worth a listen.

So, I hope today finds you in fine spirits, in these chaotic times.  Enjoy.

More ExoSquad videos, Comic Convention Presentation Book and Character Color Models.

Here's a preview video of my planned ExoSquad Comic Con presentation book. I keep considering putting together materials for renting an artist table to local comic cons. This video includes xerox copies of animation art produced by the animators at Akom Studio in Seoul, South Korea for the 1st season when I was the Oversea Animation Supervisor. The character color models are ExoSquad characters I designed for the episodes I directed for the 2nd season as co-producer/director. My favorite piece is the storyboard for the unproduced Ultor - Neo Lord (Neosapien Warrior) Video Trading Card. Plus, miscellaneous art. I've made a separate video of color models, and plan one for the animation art. Enjoy.

Here the separate video highlighting the ExoSquad character color models. These videos are an attempt to organize and so how declutter my art material from years of professional and personal work.

Stay turn for more videos, soon.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Laurindo Almeida & Bud Shank, Patricia Barber

This Sunday Music Muse Day find every in our area wishing for more rain. Our lawns are looking pretty sad. Being in a more reserved mood, my selection seem to reflect that.  First up, Laurido Almeida and Bud Shank Brazillance Vol. 1, with Almeida on guitar, Shank on alto saxophone, Harry Babasin on bass, and Roy Harte on drums. The liner notes states this 1953 session was released as "The Laurindo Almeida Quartet", and "was something of an experimental album for the time, representing as it was the first successful fusion of American jazz and traditional Brazilian music." I thought the honor went to Stan Getz and the introduction of Bossa Nova in the 1960's, either way it's good music to be enjoyed.

Next up is Patricia Barber A Distortion of Love.  This is a rather subdued outing with interesting interpretations of a several well-know tunes and a collection of originals.  None of the tunes really standout to me.  Admittedly, I'm not a big vocal music fan, and she comes off as neo-beat poet/jazz singer, but I can usually find some enjoyment in her CDs.  You might find otherwise.  The sidemen on session are impressive, with Wolfgang Muthspiel on guitar, Marc Johnson on bass, and Adam Nussbaum on drums, which is one of the reasons I pick it up.

So, again, let hope for rain, but in the meantime, let, enjoy some music.  Take care.

ExoSquad Toys and the Lost Ultor Video Trading card

 As I've begun  to organize and archive my years of old art and materials of the TV show I was involved with, I started working my various ExoSquad material.  I'll be making more videos of art for my youtube channel and posting them here. 

First up is a video of my ExoSquad toys.  I never had every one made, since I was only given a few by the toy company, so mostly I had to buy my own including the NeoSapien Warriors, the Neo Lord and NeoCat I designed. 

At the end of the second season episodes, we had short character profiles called Video Trading Cards. This video is made from the storyboard of the Video Trading Card planned for the Ultor - Neosapian Warrior, a character I designed. Unfortunately, the storyboard never when into production. I'm not sure we if we ran out of time, money, or both. Actually, Will Meugnoit, my executive Producer, liking the pencil rendered storyboard, thought I overproduced it, by inking it. He had a point, but as we were waiting approval for a third season, I sensed this might be the last piece of ExoSquad art I'd get to do, and it was. At least, my Neo-Lord design was made into a cool action figure toy, with the deploying wings. Enjoy.

I'm still thinking I might re-work the art in t comic as part of my Dime-A-Dozen Projects archive. To be use and sold at future comic con, if I ever get it together enough to do the comic pro circuit.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Lionel Loueke , Paul Silbergleit

This day's Sunday Music Muse Day has me basking in the glow of a happy  event coming this week, a online reunion with friend and family from the youth.  I'll relate details later.  First selection is Lionel Loueke, Close Your Ryes.  It a trio session to Loueke on guitar and vocal, Reuben Rogers on acoustic bass, and Eric Harland on drums. Interestingly, the playlist has several well known tunes from Wayne Short, Miles Davis and John Coltrane, but not any originals by any of the band members.  That's a minor disappointment for me, still is a good CD, as the trio offers good takes on classics.

Next, we have Paul Silbergleit, January.  Generally, I just bought this on the picture of him holding a jazz guitar, although checking  my CD list I do have an earlier CD of his.  Reading the liner notes it seem he is part of the local jazz scene in Milwaukee ILL.  It made me think of guitarist  Bob Sneider and our local jazz scene, proving good music can be found outside major cities like New York and Los Angeles.  Silbergleit strong set of straight ahead jazz originals would fit nicely in the Rochester Jazz Festival line up.

So, I hope everyone can find a way to stay safe, cool, sane, in these still chaotic time. The right music well help, enjoy.

Disney Gargoyle Board Game and Marvel Black Panther book.

I made a short trip to Barnes & Noble, thinking I'd buy another Star Wars wooden model, like the X-Wing fighter I made, but they were all gone. So, as consolation, I picked these items on a slight discount.

The Disney Gargoyle board game is must have for me.  I plan to guilt my son into playing with for my upcoming birthday next month.   The Black Panther was one I had my eye on for a while. 

I'll have to do a fuller post on both items soon.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Brad Mehldau, Dorado Schmitt Quintette

Here's my latest Sunday Music Muse Day after several weeks off due to vacation travel and other things.  Today we're getting some of hot weather other parts of the country has been getting, with tempts in mid-90s.  So, lets cool down with Brad Mehldau After Bach.  This solo session from the jazz pianist, and as the title implies it's all Bach compositions.  Not being a classical music fan. I'll play this to step out of my comfort zone.  So far, so good.

Next is Dorado Schmitt Quintette Clar deLune is group of musicians totally unknown to me.  With the name and instrumental line up, plus seeing two Django Reinhardt tune on it, I assumed it might be in the same vain as the legendary gypsy jazz guitarist.  That proved to correct, it definitely has the Quintette du Hot Club de France vibe.  Quite nice for a warm Sunday afternoon.

So, hope everyone is staying cool and safe in this warm weather. Enjoy.

Star War X-Wing wooden model

I picked up this wooden model to make on my stay at our vacation cottage, but thought better of it since it might have gotten trashed in traveling back home. So, I built it when I got back. $10 at Barnes & Noble. You can't beat the price, and it looks good.

Gargoyle Toys and others.

On route home from Michigan, we stopped in a massive book store, and I had to steel myself to not buy these items in the spirit of decluttering. Yeah, it hurt.

The anniversary of the release of Iron Giant, made me sorry I passed on buying action figure.  Iron Giant is one of my favorite animated features.

Still, I can't be too sorry, I really don't have shelf space for these items.

Jack Kirby Tribute Puzzle Maze Cube

Jack Kirby Tribute Cube is cool wooden puzzle maze cube produced Intrism LLC, "Made with ♥️ in Columbus, OH, USA." Designed by Kyle Vandeveer. First, I have to say the construction and engineering of this is just incredible, no glue need and the parts separated perfectly. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. When I first saw it, I immediately thought of my idol, legendary comic book artist and creator Jack Kirby. The design of puzzle cube reminded me of Kirby's fantastic machinery art, so I modified it by coloring and applying images of Kirby art as a tribute to him. See if you can pick out the Kirby characters. This is best viewed full screen. Enjoy.

I had a blast doing this Jack Kirby Tribute.  I plan on the larger size puzzle cube, and customize it as a visual archive of my own art, personal and professional.  The working title, so far, will be "Art and Times of a Journeyman Artist.  I keep you posted.