Dan Meth's Blog

Last month, I blogged about The Smart-Ass Guide to NYC. Few people remember that it had a sequel: The Smart-Guide to the USA.

By summer 2003, the freelance work was drying up again so I decided to make another “viral” ( anyone else getting sick of this phrase?) cartoon. Since the NYC map was such a hit, I figured one that covered the entire country was sure to be an even more popular.

It took a couple weeks to make. 50 looping cartoons, some mild scripting, and a catchy soundtrack jingle. This time, my brother Ben decided to get in on the action and built a Cafepress store full of mugs and T-shirts for each state.

Well, it was a hit in the end. The highest profile attention it recieved was being shown on Tech TV’s (now G4 TV) “Unscrewed”. Host Martin Sargent played the cartoons for a live studio audience and there was genuine laughter. Did we sell any mugs or T-shirts? A few. Though a success, it didn’t reach the popularity of the NYC map. Perhaps, the jokes weren’t “inside” enough. Perhaps the banner ads and merchandise links turned people off. Or maybe by 2003, internet audiences just weren’t as excited about “viral” cartoons as they were two years prior.

Oh yeah, I guess now I can answer all those people who emailed me asking “What the hell is up with Rhode Island?” Well, it’s the space demon Cthulhu from the terrifying and awesome stories of Providence resident H.P. Lovecraft. I recommend everyone read that stuff.

Perhaps a Smart-Ass Guide to Europe for 2007?
-DAN METH