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While visiting CollegeHumor today, I insisted on re-enacting a typical scene from “Jake and Amir” with half the of the show’s stars.
fun fact: in real life Amir is still really funny, but not creepy and stalkerish!
Dan Meth Speaking on Panel at Ottawa Animation Festival.
I’ll be on a panel discussion entitled “Launching Into Online Space: Ins And Outs Of Web Series” at the annual Ottawa Animation Festival next week. If you’ll be there, reserve your seat today. It will be on Thursday, September 18th at 11am in the Château Laurier.
I’ll be there at the festival all week if anyone out there feels like going out for some Molson, poutine, or listening to Rush.
Somebody took the audio from my Meth Minute cartoon “Dog Video Dating” and re-edited it to footage from Don Bluth’s film “Balto”.
It really kind of shines a spotlight on how low-budget my cartoons look.
This is Penalty when he sees a bolo tie. But really, it’s Penalty when he sees alot of things. He’s got alot of irrational fear. Some other things he’s afraid of:
- Pennies, and other small metallic objects. Like earrings.
- Squirrels, stoic or otherwise
- Tap Water, and anything that might possibly be toxic.
- Black olives.
- Drunk people.
- Japanese ghosts
Daisy Edwards rendered up this drawing I made of Penalty. It looks gritty and awesome.
Dr. Seuss takes on the hot-button issues as only he can.
Before there were the Wang Warriors, there was the Wu Tang Clan. (see above photo)
Our Office is in “I AM LEGEND”
In the very first scene of “I Am Legend”, Will Smith chases a herd of deer from The Flatiron Building all the way up Park Avenue. And he drives right past the office building that houses Frederator and Next New Networks. I took this screenshot of it. 419 Park Ave South. Beware of zombies.
I’m impressed by the geographical accuracy of the chase scene. It’s the same route I walk from the subway every day so I know it well. It’s nice when a director strives for such truth in depicting a real environmental. The classic chase scene in Steve McQueen’s “Bullitt” defies any sort of logic in San Francisco space and time.
You can watch the video here. It’s 2:20 in.
ASIFA “Meth Minute” Screening
Last Thursday, Dave Levy of ASIFA East arranged for us to show a selection of Meth Minute cartoons on the big screen at NYU front of an audience. It was great to see the cartoons projected huge (how many pixels wide? MILLIONS) in front of a large group of people. It’s sort of like seeing these films for the first time, and also the way cartoon were originally meant to be viewed.
Afterwards, Dave moderated a Q & A session. It was nice to answer some burning questions about The Meth Minute that people had. (13 Watermelons. That’s how many it took!) Fred and Carrie joined me on the panel. We’ll most likely do this again in some form or another, so don’t be sad if you missed it.
I’m honored to receive the Frederator Vanguard award this year. At first, I wasn’t 100% positive what “vanguard” actually meant, but when I looked it up I was flattered that Frederator saw me in such a light. The truth is that without Frederator giving me the chance to run with my cartoons, almost none of you out there would have seen my work at all. Frederator, by which I really mean Fred Seibert, saw something in my work that he liked and by gut instinct, predicted that others would like as well. He took some serious risks, put his name on the line, and then we both did what we did best: He packaged, promoted, programmed and advised. And I animated night and day for over a year trying to make the kind of cartoons I’ve always wanted to but never had the support or clients that allowed me such freedom.
The Meth Minute is the product of that collaboration and it seems like people really did like it. But any “vanguarding” I may have done, is a direct result of Fred giving me the keys to the “van”.
Thanks again Frederator!
Dan
If you want to see my silly acceptance speech check out the Channel Frederator episode below. It’s halfway through. Directed down the block by the great Justin Johnson.
For real, this is no joke. Of all the places I would expect to see my work, it isn’t the esteemed Pompidou museum in Paris… but it’s true. The Festival Pocket art exhibit features some art made for mobile devices, including a few Meth Minute episodes. So if you happen to be in Paris from June 13th - 15th, go check it out. Dites-eux que Dan vous a envoyé, comprendre ?
Who Are The Fruit Bats?
Members: Pruney (vocals), Pitt (lead guitar), Peel (other lead guitar).
Currently Seeking: a bass player and drummer. Call 1-866-575-1384 to set up an audition.
Age: 6 (that’s 27 in bat years)
Influences: Bananarama, Peaches, Moby Grape, Neneh Cherry, the Silver Apples, 1910 Fruitgum Company, and the Misfits
Place of Birth: a cave in Michigan.
Current Residence: St. Louis, MO
Enemies: The LazerHearts
Origin: The Fruit Bats originally were the opening act for the Lazerhearts on their 1985 “Power Crystal” tour. But before a show in Denver their was a dispute backstage regarding the fruit in the VIP dressing room. Friendships were broken and the bands became enemies.
Best Selling Single: “We Are The Fruit Bats” (22 minutes in the top 10)
Hobbies: Writing songs about how they hate Ultra, eating fruit.
Who Is Ultra?
Name: Ultra
Age: 24
Place of Birth: unknown
Current Residence: St. Louis, MO (when not on tour)
Leader of: The LazerHearts
Dating: Her backup dancer Bogo (it’s complicated)
Powers and Skills: Besides having an 8-octave vocal range and a sexxxy figure, Ultra was born with freakish electrical powers. She can willingly emit lazers, lightning, sparks, and zappbombs from her body. Unfortunately this also happens unwillingly, which causes embarrassing and deadly results.
Best Selling Single: “Shocking You All The Way” (3 weeks in the top 10)
Kinda: Arrogant
Loves: Rock music, partying, her girlfriends, tuna, and riding a pegasus.
Hates: Fruit Bats
Who Is Mr. Barry Jordan?
Despite never having uttered a word on screen until today’s episode of the Meth Minute, Mr. Barry Jordan has gained an oddly devoted following of fans. I thought he’d be the perfect character to kick of a new feature on the blog in which I shed info on the characters of the Meth Minute Universe. Here goes:
Name: Mr. Barry Jordan
Age: 54
Place of Birth: Chicago, IL
Current Residence: St. Louis, MO
Member of: The LazerHearts, and the Wang Warriors
Marital Status: Married to Gail Jordan
Skill: Upright Bass,
Loves: Meatballs, Jazz
Who Is This Alan Kaufman Guy?
Syd Barrett’s accountant Alan Kaufman returns in this week’s Meth Minute cartoon. It’s a little confusing for us here at Frederator because in our office there is a real guy named Alan Kaufman who happens to have the same exact voice as the cartoon Alan Kaufman. To keep who’s who straight I’ve listed the details here:
Real Alan: Tall skinny guy with long black hair.
Cartoon Alan: Short pudgy guy with no hair.
Real Alan: Supervising Producer for Next New Networks.
Cartoon Alan: Certified Public Accountant of the Rock World.
Real Alan: Very nice and funny fellow who’s always ready to help a coworker.
Cartoon Alan: A really boring guy who’s a bit of a jerk
Real Alan: Lives in Queens
Cartoon Alan: Does taxes for Queen (the band)
So now that we have that straight, here’s Alan Kaufman (the cartoon)
Meth Minute Guitar Pick
Last night, “The Meth Minute” distributor Next New Networks had their big Rock Band party down at the South By Southwest festival in Austin. I didn’t get to go, sadly (these cartoons don’t make themselves).
But I did get a couple of these nifty Meth Minute guitar picks that they gave out as promotional schwag. In the immortal words of Nite Fite’s Penalty: “Hard rocking, bam. Thats what it is.”
