Channel Frederator Blog

“Unkle” Eric Pigors is Animation’s Best Kept Secret. Even if that secret was locked in a dark, damp, moldy basement and fed thru a tiny hole in the wall. Ol’ Unkle spent some quality time w/ Channel Fred and managed to answer a few questions inbetween poking us with sharp sticks and throwing bugs in our hair.

CH.F: How long have you been animating or drawing?
EP: Well, if I’m counting from childhood, a long, long time. But drawing on my own stuff, maybe 23 years. And about the same in the animation business, man, I feel old.

Who are some of your influences?
Dr. Suess, BK TAYLOR (who did the ODD RODS STICKERS in the 70s),Jack Davis, Bill Elder, Wally Wood, Harvey Kurtzman, Basil Wolverton, Graham Ingels, Don Martin, Charles Addams. I mostly see my art being influenced by all the stuff I grew up with as a kid: Monster toys, animation, Wacky Packs, MAD, Plop Comics, The Munsters, Frankenstein… it could go on forever.

What do you think makes for a great cartoon?
Great style and story is what I like. Animation is good also, but if the 1st two are great, I can live with any style of animation. Plus it’s fun seeing animators find new ways of making their drawing style and animation work together.

What are you working on currently in the animation industry?
Just doing my own TOXICTOONS line. I hope to do an animated HALLOWEEN SPECIAL one day.
But you know how the business is: Everyone wants complete rights and merchandising rights and want to mess your ideas up with involving people that shouldn’t be giving their 2 cents.
Animation these days is too much of the same looking computer films being done and not enough other styles, like 2d or stop motion. I prefer these 2 mediums myself, and some of the cg films as well, but there should be more of a balance in what’s being made for features. This year alone we are seeing way to many cg films and they seem to almost come out weekly.
I like the variety on TV in styles, but I would like to see a bit more adult stuff that’s more old school stuff, like the shorts of the 20’s thru 50’s and less half hour stories.
I’m very interested to see whatJohn L is going to do with DISNEYS…
Stupidest thing that company ever did was dismantling the 2-d division, the thing they built their name on. That’s why I really think the people who helped destroy it should be shunned from this community. They don’t have respect for artists or the art form so F them, they shouldn’t be part of it!!!

What Companies have you worked for?
I worked on the CAREBEARS and JEM back in the 80’s. Low point of my career, BUT WE ALL HAVE TO START SOME WHERE!
Then, I was lucky to work on THE FAMILY DOG for AMAZING STORIES, that was a lot of fun!
I did my own 7 minute cartoon called, “LET’S CHOP SOO-E!” for INTERNATIONAL ROCKETSHIP in Canada. After that I worked at DISNEY FEATURE ANIMATION for 15 years until we all got let go in 2002.
I also worked on the WARNERS film, “BACK IN ACTION” & the ED, EDD & EDDY HALLOWEEN SPECIAL where I designed the kids to look like my characters!
It will be on CARTOON NETWORK HALLOWEEN NIGHT at 9PM, I think?

What animation DVDs have you picked up lately?
The LIL MERMAID (since I worked on it), REN AND STIMPY’S LOST EPISODES, and the GROOVY GHOULIES.
I’m looking forward to the new Warner collection, hope they put Tex Avery, Popeye, Betty Boop OUT SOON!
I love the Disney Treasures editions also, hope to see some more this year! I love the stuff WARD KIMBALL did there.

What animation websites do you check in on regularly?
Cartoon Brew, CLASSIC CARTOONS, and John K’S blog.

Have you displayed your Art in galleries? What were some of the reactions you received from that?
Yes I’m in a few this month, seeing how my art is very Halloween and horror themed. October is always my month I show my art.
The best was when I first showed my art the first year at DISNEY’S. The guy in charge of shows banned me from having shows after that! A lot of people thought my art was too NEGATIVE! And it wasn’t even as weird then…
Here’s a funny story: My friends and I went to lunch with ED “BIG DADDY” ROTH, creator of RAT FINK, who wanted me to do an animated RAT FINK short. I told him they banned me from showing my art and he said, “I’d RATHER BE KNOWN AS THE ARTIST WHO CAN’T SHOW MY ART AT DISNEY’S, THAN THE ARTISTS WHO GET TO SHOW
THEIR ARTWORK THERE!!!”

What are some of your hobbies outside the world of animation?
Well, I love HALLOWEEN and scare the kids each year with a garage full of kreepy stuff! I also collect: masks, toys, music & horror films.

Do you have any advice for someone wanting to break in or just beginning in the industry?
Always keep being creative and don’t stop, even when you do get a job. I’ve seen a lot of artists that just end up doing their job, which is good because you are doing art and getting paid. But remember why you became artists!
To be creative and to say something with you work!

Is there anything you want to say to the people out there in CH.F Land reading this?
Yah! Check out my site, WWW.TOXICTOONS.COM if you like kreepy & ghoulish artwork!
AND be sure to check out the ED, EDD, AND EDDY HALLOWEEN SPECIAL!!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Thanks for Creeping out w/ CH.F a bit Unkle Pigors!
Keep those Bloodshot Peepers on CH.F, Your #1 SOURCE for Animation News & Interviews!
For more Pigors, check out his Site, toxictoons(dot)com!
This is “Jittery” Jeaux Janovsky wishing all of you out there a Safe & Spooky Halloween!!!
-JX!

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P.S.- If you haven’t ordered Wide Awake 666 yet, I suggest you do. It’s a mini-comic anthology chock full of Scary/Funny art and stories featuring Yr’s Truly! Perfect for a Halloween Treat! For more details, check out Wide Awake Press!