September’s Cartoon of the Month!
Guess what! It’s time to award September’s Cartoon of the Month prize! As a reminder, the Cartoon of the Month prize goes to the highest viewer-rated film. This means that you, our viewers, choose your favorite films. The winner of the Cartoon of the Month prize gets a $100 extra-special pack of Channel Frederator goodies.
This month, episodes 139, 140, 141 and 142 were eligible. The winner is A Little Sunshine, submitted by Jason Jones, from episode 139.
I’m so excited that A Little Sunshine is our winner. I have such a soft spot in my heart for happy little pencil animations, and this one was particularly cute. I took the time to ask Jason a few questions about his film. Check out his answers below!
CF: What inspired you to create A Little Sunshine?
What inspired me to create the film A Little Sunshine was a sincere longing to create and finish a film with a strong story. I had attempted and failed with some of my earlier student films which left me feeling unsure about my abilities as a story teller. In a way this film symbolizes how I felt during that period of my life, like the Sun in the film, I was a little too wrapped up in other peoples perceptions of me as an artist, when I did finish the film and it received favorable reviews by my peers I felt as if a 100 pound Gorilla had climbed off my back.
CF: What techniques did you use to create it, and about how long did it take?
I created this film traditional as we say in the animation world, I which means I animated the characters using good old paper and a pencil. I Imported the animation into Adobe Photoshop, then edited the film together in Adobe After Effects. The film took about 6 months to make, but I had the idea for the story, I would say this film was in my head for about a year and a half.
CF: Can you name a few artists, animators or other creatives that influence your work?
I definitely can name a few artist that influence me, first I would have to say Gabe Swarr, I actually worked with Gabe on his animated series Big Shorts Mouse, he is the reason I submitted the film. I that he had won the Cartoon of the month and I was inspired to submit my work. I am also inspired by Pete Doctor the Famous Pixar animator and story teller, Alfred Hitchcock the Director and last but not least Bob Boyle, the creator of Wow Wow Wubbzy.
CF: Any advice for hopeful animators who want to win Channel Frederator’s Cartoon of the Month themselves some day?
My advice to any hopeful animator who wants to win the Channel Frederator Cartoon of the month would be, focus all your energy into developing the story you want to tell first, before you start animating your film. A film without a good story is like a car with a bad engine, it will get you where you want to go, but the ride will be very bumpy and will not be an enjoyable experience. Plus when the story is strong it will only enhance your animation, because your animation is there to tell the story.
CF: What did you have for lunch today?
I actually had a slice of pizza at a pizzeria on Hollywood Blvd, I am not sure what the name of the Pizza place, it was next to the El Capitan theater.
Thanks so much, Jason, and thanks so much for submitting your cartoon to Channel Frederator! Viewers, don’t forget to click those li’l stars to rate your favorite films. Your vote could decide October’s Cartoon of the Month! - Carrie
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