Channel Frederator Blog

Brian Barber sent us his submission for the Homegrown Music Video Festival in Duluth MN, where participants drew the name of a local band/song and had the weekend to make a brand new music video. He animated the song “Rise Up” by the Black-Eyed Snakes and received major props from all parties involved (including Duluth’s mayor!).

Channel Frederator: Where did you study animation?

Brian Barber: I learned animation on my own, I’ve been an illustrator and an advertising art director for about 12 years. Learning animation became necessary when I had clients with a need for TV ads, but teeny tiny production budgets. When I was a kid, I did my share of Super-8 stop motion with Legos and whatever was around the house.

CF: What has influenced your style the most?

BB: The style that influenced this video was efficiency. This project especially was a real crash and burn deadline. Participants drew the song on Friday night and had the weekend to make the video. I was leaving town on Saturday, so didn’t even have the full weekend. The idea came from the 48 Hour Film Festival where EVERYTHING but the music has to be done during the weekend. We were allowed to have pre-existing footage and ideas, so I spent my weekend filling in and substituting scenes to fit the timing of the song.

As far as influences, I love the style of John K. and the old retro styles in the backgrounds of “Sheep in the Big City”, “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends” and others that hint at those old decorative, textured backgrounds. I think I put more thought into backgrounds than the actual animation. I love the character design of the 1950s and ’60s studios,

CF: Where did you get the idea for this film?

BB: I had done the drawing of an cranky, fat seagull that I wanted to sell on a tourist T-shirt.

Pesky seagulls have frightened my kids during picnics and other outings for years. Friends of mine organized the Homegrown Music Video Festival, and this idea started to come together as I thought about what I could do for the festival. I’m glad I drew the song I did - it works really well. I was hoping it would be funny in a different way if I drew something really inappropriate - like a mellow acoustic folk song. Duluth’s mayor is using the still image from the video as his Facebook profile photo, and has sent it on to several places as PR material. He loved it.

CF: Do you have any upcoming projects you can tell us about?

I am helping someone with a documentary about a Minnesotan in the 70s who organized a snowmobile expedition to Moscow on a peace mission. I’m doing map graphics, groovy ’70s titles and graphics, and maybe some cheesy funky music. Spoiler Alert: The expedition ultimately failed, but it’s still a great story with vintage footage of old snowmobiles and cool outfits. I’m also working on character designs for an educational software company, some TV promotions for our local Chamber of Commerce, a couple book illustration projects and an animated video for a mixed martial arts promoter. Variety is the spice of life.

Oh, and I have sketches started for a short animated piece involving armpit noises that turns into a Bollywood-type dance number. I know, I know … before Slumdog, I would have just called it a dance number.

Thanks for the interview, Brian!

You can check out Brian’s music video for Black-Eyed Snakes:”Rise Up” right here on Channel Frederator!

-Bailee DesRocher