I just found a new site, www.zombiepumpkins.com/.

The site has examples of some unique pumpkin carving, as well as templates to carve your own masterpieces. Check it out.

Last years pumpkin I carved was based on a spooky movie, do you know who it is suppose to be?

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Visit http://www.atomicbearpress.com/comics/log/ to see my
production art for my comic book, Beyond the Great Chimney
as well as other art, sketches and drawings.

Just a reminder that the Pixar fundraiser for the Cartoon Art Museum in on October 2nd, 2004. Please visit the Cartoon Art Museum Page (cartoonart.org) for more information.

I will be there, will you? To see the information on my original post click HERE.

I recently wrote a post about the last strip of Michael Jantze’s comic, the Norm. Well I received this e-mail from Michael’s wife, Nichole about Norm’s possible future.

A LETTER FROM NICOLE JANTZE

As you know, Michael decided to retire THE NORM. After eight years of battling the syndicate-newspaper corporations, he felt it was time to move on. It wasn’t an easy decision, trust me.

Over the past few weeks I have read thousands of emails from all of you expressing your sadness about the strip ending. This gave me an idea.

Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.”

If enough people became members of TheNorm.com, I think we can convince Michael to keep drawing the strip — NEW STRIPS — beginning on November 1. So, in the short-term, you would get to keep reading a comic strip you love and in the long-term, we just might change the world of comics. Most of us don’t read our comics in newspapers anyway, so let’s break the chain and let’s make THE NORM the hammer that does it.

Michael thinks I’m crazy. I would like to call myself a visionary. I truly believe that together we can break the cycle of syndicates and newspaper editors determining what comic strips we read.

Here’s the deal: He has given me 6 weeks to do this. We have until October 31, 2004 to reach our goal. So join today and don’t forget to tell all your friends (and family too) because together we can start a revolution.

http://www.thenorm.com

–Nicole

aka “Reine

to find out more visit TheNorm.com

On September 12 will be the last strip of Michael Jantze’s comic strip ‘the Norm’. It has long been a favorite of mine. It follows the adventures of Norm as he goes through life on a slow tack to adulthood. Below is the letter from the artist and writer Mr. Jantze:

A NOTE FROM MICHAEL JANTZE

I guess the first thing to clear up is the question about THE NORM leaving newspapers. It’s

true, I’m ending my relationship with King Features. The strip will stop in newspapers on

September 12th. So what happens on the 13th? Glad you asked:

- THE NORM MAGAZINE will continue its new bi-monthly publishing cycle with the

upcoming issue five, released in October. You can pick up the latest issue at your local

comic shop (http://csls.diamondcomics.com/) or online at Amazon.com or The Norm

Store (http://www.thenormstore.com).

- On September 13th TheNorm.com website will still be rolling right along and you’ll be

able to read a strip a day at the site. Some of the features will now only be available to

those who donate to the site. So make a donation today and help keep the site alive (http:/

/www.thenorm.com/subscribe/)

- Maybe the biggest question is “Will there be new THE NORM stories”? I’m not sure of the

answer to that yet. I’ve committed myself to some other projects and as I have time I’m

sure I’ll want to continue Norm’s adventures. Never say never, I guess.

Okay, to review: I’ve eliminated the middleman and hope to keep bringing THE NORM to

you directly. Make a donation or buy some magazines today! So tell all your friends

because it’s still a serious world and someone has to make fun of it.

To those of you I’ve met or corresponded with over the last eight years, it’s been a

pleasure. Keep in touch.

Michael Jantze

http://www.thenorm.com

I had the pleasure of speaking with Michael a week or so ago, and he told about some possible exciting things on his plate, but we will just have to wait and see what happens. I can’t wait.

Make sure to visit Michael’s site, http://www.thenorm.com, for more fun stuff.

On September 8th, animation master Frank Thomas passed away, a few days after his 92 birthday. Thomas was one of Disney’s Nine Old Men, and probably was one of the greatest animators in the history of the medium. Here are some of the characters he helped create (taken from SaveDisney.com):

The Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Bambi, Thumper, Captain Hook, The Queen of Hearts, Flora, Fauna, Merriweather, Ichabod, Stepmother, Pongo, Perdita, Tramp, Lady, Jock, Mad Madam Mim, Baloo, King Louie, Kaa, Duchess, O’Malley, Bernard, Bianca, Pooh, Piglet and many other beloved Disney characters owe their illusion of life to directing animator Frank Thomas.

My first taste of Frank Thomas’ work was Disney’s film The Rescuers. In it they created one of Disney’s most gentle and simple movies to date. Frank Thomas was the supervising animator on the heroes of the film, the Mice: Bernard and Bianca.

But there was a lot more to Mr. Thomas then just animation. He and his best friend, Ollie Johnston, wrote one of the best books on animation, Disney’s illusion of life.

Click here to see a sample of the book

The book is one of the best sources of information on Disney’s 2D animation magic. And even means more since Disney has abandoned the 2D animation to go on to 3D computer imagery instead. Frank and Ollie went on to publish many other books on Disney Animation as well: To Funny for Words, Bambi: from Sketch to Screen, and the Disney Villains.

A wonderful documentary of the relationship of Frank and Ollie is also available on DVD now. The movie is the story of two friends who first went to art classes at Stanford University together, and then to work together as Supervising Animators in the heyday of the Disney Studios. They even lived next door to each other too. The film is charming and fun, and gets you in touch with two of the most amazing actors in Hollywood. But more importantly it shows the power of friendship. I recommend it!

I would write a dissertation on Mr. Thomas’s life if I could, but there are many others who have already written amazing stories on the artist, so here are some links to a few of them. Enjoy.

JimHillMedia.com

LaughingPlace.com

SaveDisney.com

and of course Franks personal website as well (along with friend Ollie Johnston)

Thanks you for all the magic and inspiration you have given us Mr. Thomas, you will be sorely missed.