Jumping Toaster Productions

Hello readers,

Today I thought I’d start a new topic about the websites I view on a daily basis. These sites have helped me keep my sanity throughout the morning dealing with incompetent people. They make me laugh, they inspire me and they pretty much make me a happier person. Without these websites, I think I’d have a pretty difficult time finding a similar site to get my daily ‘brain food’.

Let’s first visit So Misguided

I frequently visit this website not only because it’s my sister’s, but because it’s very informative! She blogs about Canadian literature, ‘soon to be released’ books, blogging in general, workshops she’s attended (with great summaries and tidbits of very useful information) and of course she has a personal section were she uploads her photos and stories. The ‘Duck’ always seems to get her feet wet before I do…which is why I visit her site daily. Keep up the great work Monique!

Next on my morning Internet commute is Drawn, The Illustration and Cartooning Blog

Simply put, it’s a spotlight on some very amazing and talented artists from around the globe! A fantastic blog featuring; Flash videos, tutorials, animations and of course some pretty amazing illustrations. Where else are you going to find such a diverse collection of artists on one single blog or website? Kudos to the people who ‘hunt down’ and do the brilliant write-ups for the artists.

Finally for today’s write-up Married to the Sea

It’s a humorous website, that takes ‘old’ illustrations and creates funny jokes out of them. Pretty darn original and quite an easy concept to make daily posts. Heck, simplicity sells people! There are tons of comics to scroll through and they each have there own HTML code that you can upload the comic to your own MySpace or website.

Well those are just a few sites I visit daily, I’ll continue to post to this topic and I hope that most of my readers frequently visit Jumping Toaster Productions to get their daily dose of humour!

Enjoy

😀

Starting off on the wrong foot this week? Here are a couple of websites that I visit daily that really lift my spirits!

First off Deviant Art, a fantastic community of artists from around the globe who post some incredible work. I could spend hours surfing though the pages of anime, sculptures, paintings and my favorite of course, the cartoons. Not only are there ‘unknown’ artists work, but there are some of the industries best of the best (J. Scott Campbell), you just have to search for them!

You can create your own account for FREE! Once you start uploading your artwork, pictures, etc. you can choose whether or not you want to sell them as prints and Deviant Art takes care of the rest (for a fee). But there’s so much more to just surfing the vast library of artwork, you can; collect other artists work (click&drag), buy prints, enter contests and so much more! You can even check out yours truly on Deviant Art by following this link!

I’ve always loved the concept of the ‘Anti-Hero’, which brings me to my next website Spawn! Todd McFarlane was really on to something when he created the first anti-hero ‘Spawn’, aka Al Simmons. Ever since the very first toys were released in the 1990’s, I’ve been blowing my hard earned paychecks on his action figures! If you’re into Spawn and collecting wicked, cool action figures, become a Collectors Club Member. It’s the only way to get first dibs on their ‘New Releases’ and ‘Exclusive Figures’ before they get bought up and dumped on eBay for outrageous prices. I got tired of looking for ‘repaints’ or ‘Deluxe Boxed Figures’ online that I became a member (membership is free of course).

The McFarlane Toys Collector’s Club is simple to join. Just go to the Store at www.spawn.com and make a purchase. You don’t need to be a Club member to purchase your first exclusive, but you will be asked to create a ‘Login Name’ and password during the checkout process. That’s all there is to it and you’re automatically enrolled in the Club during the checkout process and all your information will be stored for future visits. So do it already!

The last site I’ll cover today is Scott R. Kurtz website Player vs. Player! A fantastic webcomic and blog, with witty humor and great stories that everyone can enjoy! Scott really inspired me to launch my own webcomic, seeing as how most artists are using the WordPress application as a ‘tool of the trade’ I figured I’d better jump on the band-wagon and start blogging already! But where to start…well if you’re looking to start your own webcomic, you better pick up this book ‘How To Make Webcomics’. Written by some of the industry’s great artists: Dave Kellet (Sheldon), Scott Kurtz (PvP), Brad Guigar (Evil Inc.) and Kris Straub (Starslip Crisis), ‘How To Make Webcomics’ is a must own for anyone seriously interested in creating their own webcomic.

This is a very straightforward read, with tons of factual content that’s pretty ‘up-to-date’ on the current applications used in the industry to produce webcomics (Photoshop, Comicpress, WordPress). From the initial concept skills, writing, storyboarding, to publishing, this book is a great starter/referral for any artist interested in creating their own webcomic. I still continue to refer to this book for tips and image preparation for my own webcomic! Thank God someone wrote a decent book on webcomics, without all the technological gibberish!

Hope your Monday is a little brighter!

🙂

Just in time for another Monday morning!

Marc Hansen has been an idol of mine for many years now, even though he slipped away from the cartoon spotlight, he’s still producing some of the funniest comics I’ve ever read! Marc Hansen is the creator of a character with an uncanny ability that no one has been able to recreate over the years.

Ralph Snart is basically a young Grandpa Simpson with a huge nose and a lizard-humanoid for a sidekick. Ralph Snart enjoys chugging beer, picking up chicks and occasionally saving the world from Dr. Goot. What makes this story so unique you ask? Well Ralph is blessed with an overactive imagination that causes him to black-out and leap into a different world only accessible through his mind. This is the reason why Dr. Goot is after Ralph’s squishy brain, so he can unlock the mysteries of inner dimension travel.

Marc Hansen’s tale of Ralph Snart is hilarious and the level of detail is amazing! I’ve collected the comics for years until comic stores simply stopped carrying them, mainly because the demand just wasn’t there. But that hasn’t stopped Marc from posting his work online! For a small membership fee you can read the entire collection of Ralph Snart online plus Weird Melvin and Doctor Gorpon! That’s right meat-bags, you can select the issue you wish to read, pay the man and the issue is yours to enjoy (Acrobat Reader 6x is required). Still my favorite short story is ‘Mind Games’ where Mr. Lizard breaks Ralph Snart out of the looney bin to protect him from Dr.Goot who’s still after his squishy brain! I won’t give anything else away, but let me tell you once you read this three part mini series you’ll want to continue reading the Ralph Snart Adventures!

Keep on drawing Marc, more fans are on the way!

Enjoy

Just in time for the start of another work week, a least this is a short week for most of us. Anyways the first website is a little sick, so buckle up for a fun ride and try not to get busted at the office.

First up one of my personal favourites, Happy Tree Friends! This sick little website was first introduced to me during one of the Spike & Mike’s Sick and Twisted Animation Festivals here in Vancouver, BC. This design and concept is what I hope to achieve with Jumping Toaster Productions in the next short years. Obviously my style sets me aside from this one, however the general layout, marketing and design is what I’m shooting for. One of my favourite clips is the episode titled ‘Sweet Ride’ probably cause it makes me shudder every time when the bunny grinds his teeth across the ground skateboarding.

If you start to really enjoy the cartoons created in Flash and want to own a little piece of their work, be sure to check out their store. They have some really fun, brightly-colored, ultra violent stuff for sale. From neat characterized Mimobot 1GB storage drives, to key chains, to apparel and of course DVD’s. I also like the ‘Goodies’ section where you can get wallpapers, little user controlled games and fan art work. 

Next stop on my surfin’ is something a little more twisted & weird than sick woodland creatures beating each other senseless, it’s Ralph Steadman.com For those of you who have no idea who this man is, he’s Hunter S. Thompson’s long time best friend and artist/writer/cartoonist. 

Ralph Steadman first met Hunter at the Kentucky Derby to cover a story for the newspaper Scanlan. Hunter didn’t want to bring a photographer to cover the story with him because that would have been too ‘normal’. Nope, he wanted an artist to paint what the underlying truth behind the Derby, not the mighty steeds thundering toward the finish line. Anyways the Derby was a bit of success and from that point on Hunter and Steadman were best of friends getting into all sorts of trouble. Why don’t you read about it in Steadman’s new book ‘The Joke’s Over’ available through Amazon.com  Or you can purchase some incredible art like this illustration of Hunter through Ralph Steadman’s website. Their store is handled a little differently than most, as there’s no instant checkout. But you are dealing with a different kind of ‘Master of Arts’ here so expect a different kind of atmosphere. Regardless, the art is handled with professional care and shipped out just like any other ‘big-box company’.  So place that order already, and get yer hands on some incredible art! 

Enjoy kiddies

I stumbled across this website recently because I was looking for a new puppet. Yes, that’s right a new puppet! Jim Henson’s children were pretty darn smart to market their dad’s Muppets for sale through the world-famous retailer FAO Schwarz.

The Muppet Whatnot Workshop is a fantastic idea! Make your very own Muppet, start by choosing from three different body types, eyes, hair and of course little outfits. You’ll get your own Muppet creation in about 3-4 weeks and then you can start to put on your own puppet productions for your friends and family! I love this idea so much I’m waiting for a pay cheque before I go out and order mine. The Muppet Whatnots are made out of the same material and craftsmanship that the ‘real’ Muppets are made from, so you’ll know where your $129.00 went. Trust me, it’s far easier to pay a professional to make your own ‘personalized’ Muppet then going online to find a pattern, buy the materials and then spend your free time sculpting and sewing. Plus I’m not the best at sewing and I think I’d be a little disappointed after spending several hours stitching, only to wind up with a pile of crudely sown together rags and button eyes that will sit in the corner mocking me until I curb it!

Get started on creating your own version of a Muppet here at FAO Schwarz!

Just a few to mention this week, that really caught my attention. The first one is a blog instead of a website, but the artist is John Kricfalusi creator of Ren & Stimpy so you know it’ll be good! John K has a great imagination and style, which is why I fell in love with his work. He continually pushes the envelope in animation and humour, from the obscure backgrounds to his characters ever changing facial expressions John K has changed the way we perceive animation. Pick up a copy of The Ren & Stimpy Show ‘Uncut’ Season 1&2 for the commentary John K and the rest of the Spumco team provide throughout the three disc boxed set. It’s like getting a private animation lesson in your own home! Or you can donate a little cash to John K’s Curriculum and follow along as John takes you through the fundamentals of animation and cartooning. It’s amazing to see how the comic/animation industry has evolved with technology to bring the reader so much content at the touch of a button. Which is why a lot of animators are now blogging or streaming live podcasts to keep up interest in their work because of the number of ‘up and coming’ artists out there.

Another way artists are raising cash for their projects is through Kickstarter.com Though the site is still in BETA mode, Kickstarter.com is an incredible platform. “Its’ purpose is funding, but we find ourselves gaining so much outside of collecting pledges. For us, Kickstarter has been a powerful tool to connect with a community passionate about our work.”  Quote from Lumi Corp.  Check out ‘Frog in a Suit’ and donate a little money to Joe Murray’s Kaboing TV idea and help get it off the ground! Perhaps some of you don’t know who Joe Murray is; well he’s the creator of Rocko’s Modern Life that was aired on Nickelodeon back in the 90’s. A truly brilliant ‘independent’ animation show, which created 52 episodes and had legions of fans and followers across the globe. Kickstarter.com is great place to witness new up and coming talent and provides a means of funding your own project. Perhaps Jumping Toaster Productions will ask for funding to produce a couple of Beany & Ralf animated shorts when the time comes.

Lastly, a neat little website Exploding Rabbit.com who produced the Super Mario Bros Crossover video game! A great flash game that recreates the original Super Mario Bros for Nintendo and allows you to play as characters from other classic Nintendo games like Megaman, Metroid, and Contra just to name a few. Great frame rate speed, online playability without having to download any of the content and to put it simply great Nintendo action! Jay Pavlina, the creator has some funny videos of him playing his own game for additional content on his site. Great job Jay, you’ve fulfilled one of my ‘pipe dreams’ from the 80’s and allow me to play as Megaman and blow the Goombas to dust!

Enjoy

🙂