Channel Frederator Blog

Crouque-Monsieur was a funny short. And will make me check twice before using the restroom.

Er, rather check the toilet before using the restroom.

You’ve heard the urban tale of crocodiles in the sewers? That’s all I’m sayin’.

1) Where did you get the inspiration to do Croque Monsieur?
It was a combination of things. I drafted the idea when I had to unclog my toilet bowl. I got the idea to incorporate the urban legend of sewer crocodiles later on. Thus my story came to be.

2) Who are some of your influences?
I was mostly influenced by a cartoon called Sam & Max by Steve Purcell but there’s also Bill Plympton, John K., Glen Keane, James Baxter, Peter de Sève and Claire Wendling.

3) How long did it take you to create Croque Monsieur from start to finish?
It was about 6 to 7 months of intense labour.

4) Do you believe in the urban legend of Crocodiles in the sewers?
Why not! It’s always fun to believe, no?

5) What are you working on currently?
Commissions here and there, but I’m mostly working on another student movie, this time in 3D animation. It’ll be complete in the summer of 2009. I’m also working on a collective animation project called Stew’s life. It’s a fun little project that resembles a chain e-mail. Basically, we contact a few animators and every one of them animates a random bit of animation. Later on, we’ll try and assemble them to make them into a real story.

Thanks for the short, and thanks for scaring me about the bathroom. It was a funny short.
We hope to see more from you in the near future Alex!
-Jeaux Janovsky