Channel Frederator Blog

Ru Kuwahata is an animator/Illustrator living and working in New York. Recently, she took the time to answer a few Channel Frederator questions about her film, Forget Me Not, now playing on Channel Frederator episode #79!!!
Thanks Ru, beautiful work! Keep it up!

CH.Fred: 1. How did you come up with the idea for this film?
RK: It is based on a true story. When my dog passed away, I wanted his spirit to come down to say hello to me that when I saw the bitten cookie, I really believed my dog came down from heaven for me.

2. How long did it take you to animate this? (btw the Cut Out Collage elements were wonderful!)
About 10 months. (Aug 2004 to May 2005)

3. What do you do when you get stuck creatively?
Step out of the studio and draw! That’s what’s great about NYC. Anywhere I go, there’s always something happening.
If I am stuck during the story development or concept art, I tend to go either to the metropolitan museum or museum of natural history. They are both loaded with culture and information.

4. What was the most challenging part of the short to animate?
First few months was difficult because I kept thinking about my dog . I listened to Nora Jones everytime I animated which drove my roommate insane, but her songs put me into the right mind set.

5. What are you working on currently?
I am working on a pilot animation for kids. A trailer is up on www.terryandberry.com
We’re aiming to finish by July!

6. Who are some of your influences?
I like Yury Norstein and Koji Yamamura a lot.
Also, russion version of winnie the pooh and “komaneko” a japanese stop motion feature movie are my favorites these days.

7. Who does the voice of the Little girl? She is cute!
It is embarrassing to say, but that is my voice. Of course when I talk, it’s a little lower and a bit more monotone.

Channel Frederator. Yr #1 SOURCE for Cartoon News & Interviews!
Thanks again Ru! Keep in Touch! Those of you tuning in, Keep on Keeping on!
<3,
-JX!

Who Do YOU want to see On Channel Frederator?
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Seriously. If yr film or short is featured on CH.Fred, what better way to promote yrself than embedding the Fred on yr very own website, blog or myspace page? For the extreme Fredheads, there’s the ultimate “Always Fresh” embedding code.
What are you waiting for? All the cool kids are doing it. I have mine up on my Myspace Page now.
Don’t believe me? Take a look, and add me while yr at it!
Cheers!