Channel Frederator Blog

Belgian production company Volstok Telefunken (Wouter Sel and Thijs De Cloedt) is home to “De Monsters”, dozens and dozens of shorts featuring animated monsters interacting with real people. Here, Wouter and Thijs tell us how they go to be so stinkin’ rich and famous.

Can you tell us a little bit about Volstok Telefunken?

Thijs and Wouter teamed up a few years after they graduated in animation from KASK, Gent in Belgium. Wherever that is. A failed career of pouring beers and changing tires forced them to pursue professional silliness in character animation and motion graphics.

What gave you the idea for De Monsters?

We were looking to create something of our own, because it was the time of the great job scarce. Animators were dying of dehydration and we weren’t ready for full-on prostitution, so we came up with this illustration of a monster having a beer in a very common setting. This started [Read more…]

Halloween is here. It is HERE!!! You like weird monsters goofing off with humans? Then you’re gonna love this. This episode of Channel Frederator is a trick and a treat.

Just like your mom.

“De Monsters” Volstok Telefunken - A sampling of the 115 “De Monsters” films from Belgian production company Volstok Telefunken. They all feature animated monsters hanging out and doing some crazymaking in the real world.

Animators whose work is shown on regular episodes of Channel Frederator will receive cash! Learn more about the changes we’ve made here.

Leave lots of comments and follow us on Twitter!

WARNING: Channel Frederator is rated EXPLICIT. Man, monsters are so *bleepin’* scary! Oops. Sorry. Some content on CF is pretty grown up. If you’re under 18, get your parent’s permission prior to viewing.

-Bailee DesRocher

CalArts graduate Daron Nefcy’s “The Terror From Mars” is here just in time for Halloween! Below, she answers very important questions pertaining to candy and imaginary creature fights.

What was the most useful thing you learned about animation when you were in school?

To understand what you’re going to do before you do it. Learning to act out the movement beforehand, creating thumbnails, and then keeping the key frames rough so that you don’t waste time doing things over and over. School was a series of looming deadlines, so getting things close enough to the way I wanted them as accurately and as quickly as possible was great preparation for me.

Any cool stories/accidents/explosions involved in the making of “The Terror From Mars”?

Hmm… I’m not sure I can remember any. There were always happy accidents, but this film went from an idea to completed product in 5 months. I don’t remember much aside from [Read more…]

This weeks episode features “The Flower Lion” from animator Sehwang Heo. Here he tells us about the unique origin of the film’s premise, and why he won’t fight for his food.

Where did you study animation/film?

Sehwang Heo: I took a one year animation course in South Korea.

What inspired the story for “The Flower Lion”?

I traveled in India two years ago. I was joining a Vipassana meditation course. During the course, suddenly an image popped out from my head. That image was a lion with flowers. The story started from the image.

[Read more…]

Our 200th episode ‘toon is “The Owl and the Squirrel” courtesy of animator Nick Bachman. He graduated from MCAD in May and is now gainfully employed at PUNY Entertainment in Minneapolis. Woot! Read on for all you ever wanted to know about futzing with clay, Ticketmaster, and Pee Wee Herman!

We featured your stop motion short “Chocolate and Mices” earlier this year - what have you learned about animation or about yourself as an artist since then?

Nick Bachman: I think I’ve learned to take breaks from working more often. If you work on something constantly and think about it 24/7 without taking time for yourself, the quality of your work, health, and life will deteriorate and you will become a sad, lonely little hermit. True story.

The gags in “The Owl and The Squirrel” are Sylvester and Tweety-esque. What gave you the idea for the film?

NB: I was trying to write a story to [Read more…]

“The Dragon’s Claw”, directed and animated by Robert Bruce, featuring music by Justice of the Unicorns, won Best Animated Music Video at Animation Block Party 2009. And also, sad little animals-turned-ipods.

Where did you study animation/filmmaking?

Robert Bruce: I studied filmmaking at Binghamton University which focuses mainly on experimental film. I started teaching myself how to animate a few years ago just by reading tons of books and analyzing my favorite animated movies frame by frame.

What are your favorite films?

RB: I’m currently a bit obsessed with Samurai films, Spaghetti Westerns, and Film Noir. They usually have such wonderfully complex characters. I guess a few of my favorites are “Hara-kiri”, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”, and “Touch of Evil”.

What gave you the idea for “The Dragon’s Claw”?

RB: To be honest, I don’t really know. I just listened to the song on a loop and began making a rough animatic. It was a bit of [Read more…]

There is a super extra special episode of Channel Frederator available today! This episode comes to us from our buddies over at Indy Mogul!

Indy Mogul host, Erik Beck is invited to visit the acclaimed Dreamworks Animation Studios to show you how the stunning animation in the new film Monsters Vs. Aliens was created.  The talented team at Dreamworks shows off new technology and techniques that were developed to achieve the animation and digital 3D images of the film.  From real models of the Golden Gate Bridge to the revolutionary, state-of-the-art 3D virtual camera, this episode of Hollywood FX reveals it all.

Check it out at www.channelfrederator.com and get even more at www.indymogul.com!

It’s that time again! Time to announce our March Cartoon of the Month. We had a really great variety of films that were contenders this month - bears, cars, ghosts, goldfish, narwhals, cupcakes and more. Honestly, though, in the end we all know that cupcakes RULE! So it’s really no surprise that Kirsten Lepore is taking home the totally sweet $100 prize-pack of exclusive Cartoon of the Month Channel Frederator merchandise for her film, Sweet Dreams.
Kirsten was Channel Frederator’s first featured filmmaker in episode #166. Our very own Bailee DesRocher did an awesome two part interview with Kirsten where she tells all about this great film. Make sure you check it out here, and here.
I also asked Kirsten what kind of advice she has for any of you creative filmmakers out there that want to win the Cartoon of the Month prize yourself. She says:

Story is key. Oftentimes you have to [Read more…]

Animator, director, and teacher Randy Gossman shares his thoughts on animation education and his love/hate relationship with technology.

Channel Frederator: What have you learned about your craft through teaching and working with your students?

Randy Gossman: I’ve learned that it’s a cruel thing to force someone to do something they hate or can’t grasp, especially animation. I love it and have never considered it work when animating but if the student doesn’t fall in love with the medium then it’s time to consider another career.

CF: You received your MFA in ‘07. Why is it important to you to continue your education?

RG: If you don’t keep challenging yourself and breaking out of your normal ability then you’ll simply never grow in your craft. I find that this comes from more real-world experience and less from what you get out of the classroom. Funny thing is I was just getting my MFA so I could keep teaching [Read more…]

Mike Geiger

Uber-talented creator and animator of “County Ghost”, Mike Geiger, kicks it with Channel Frederator about skateboarding, top secret projects, and creepy stuff.

Channel Frederator: Where did you study animation?

Mike Geiger: I took a 2 month animation course at Capilano College in North Vancouver, B.C. and then a 12 month 2D program at Vancouver Film School in Vancouver.

[Read more…]