I'll keep this short: I am interested in starting an animated series. If anyone out there would like to work with me, and put some images to my characters and scripts, please email me or post a reply here. I will be checking back on this board for the next month or so looking for replies, so take your time.

The series is called Forgettable Face [working title, it's probably been used before]. Set far in the future, it focuses on a main character, Moll, who used to be a stage magician and is now working for the Lost & Found Bureau on a massive crashed cargo ship that has turned into a city since it's impacting on the planet. In each episode, she is assigned to look for lost items in the bowels of the ship with a very versitile scanner device that looks for shapes as well as materials -- two problems for her here: 1) since the ship is always only half-powered (due to both energy inefficiancy and damage sustained from crash), there is no access to internal computer maps, so people have had to map the ship manually and it's not all finished; Moll is walking around with no idea where she is. 2) the places she wanders around looking for junk in sometimes behave as if they have been spawned from an LSD pit. Obviously realism is not a big factor here, just trying to be good + weird.

This needless plot summary is open to criticism, and also please tell me if it sounds as if it has been done before.

O YEAH and suggestions for another title are very welcome, too.

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), November 04, 2003

Answers

Well Ashly you did call for 'strange' animators. You'll get them at bargain rates here. They may come in droves, but I wouldn't bet on their animation skills, just their critical outlook. Ask for their credentials and you will get the silence you yearn for. The good animators may take heart and advance and I hope they do.

Personally I would love to imbibe, giddy on fumes from such a wonderful project. I failed at paying my way in life artistically pays my bills nicely, though. Mephistopoles owns my soul. A trade, warm gentle brushstrokes on canvas for a cold paycheck instead. Push opiates as any pusher on the street but certified by the U.S. Pharmacy as an RN to avoid capture. Blame it on the drug companies. They are rich beyond our wildest dreams. Don't burn the rain forests render them in the lab. What a wonderful dream you evoke.

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo9@cs.com), November 12, 2003.

Ashly, that last guy posting right there above me is the mad genius writer for Aeon Flux. Known among Hollywood writers as Mark Mars and to Wall Street as the a probable cause for the sudden soar in tylenol stock, 1997. (Headaches increased that year among Generation X while spending their summer trying to interpret his enigmalike scripts).

At any rate if you can get him to oversee your script the animators will knock down your doors. Read the Herodotus file and see for yourself. His methods are at the very most worthy of appreciation.

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo9@cs.com), November 15, 2003.

Ash I love your Moll. Her face is really thoughtful. The outfit and short hair made me think of Joan of Arc. I know you prob weren't going for that but I kind of like it for that reason. Sam did you post yours anywhere? I'd love to see it.

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo9@cs.com), December 13, 2003.

Thank you Eduardo.

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), November 07, 2003.

You are welcome, anyway and after all, to send any *other* stories that are due to film.

-- Eduardo (4434@mandic.com.br), November 10, 2003.

Just wanted to say to anyone else reading this: this premise came from my head, not yours, and copying someone else's idea is a spoiled, pethetic action that is immoral in every sense. Don't rip me off or I will invoke the wrath of the singing puppet sock.

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), November 10, 2003.

Jeese, it ain't THAT great of an idea. First off, how can the ship always be half powered, it doesn't really make sense. And what do you mean by "it turned into a city," are there people in this city? Second, from stage magician to outer space lost and found explorer. People don't usually make that kind of rash decisions. She needs a plausible reason. (p) Also she is a magician, but this is the future, the field can't still consist of rabit out of hat shit and crafty mirror illusions. How has the field of magician morphed with the developing technology? (p) Why are these creatures spawning? Why are they so trippy?

-- Josh Aldridge (AtlantaJFNA@aol.com), November 11, 2003.

Okay, Josh, I don't think that's a very good way to get an explanation, you know, beating on my ideas like that. Although I did request criticism, I feel no great impulse to explain myself to you now and probably never will.

Oh yeah, and Barb e? Seriously, if you're interested in doing my stuff I wanna know. I've got a bunch of other ideas that I'd like to warp onto paper and I can't draw worth shit. Maybe you can?

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), November 13, 2003.

I like the idea.

What does Moll look like?

Email me a description, I'll take a shot at character design, (can't promise to animate an entire 'toon though).

I would maybe consider a comic, which is really just a storyboard for a cartoon, but one you can sell for super cheap investment and then get feedback on your story and character development.

-- ashley fox (3am@t256.com), November 14, 2003.

Sorry, it's just that you spent more words threatening anyone who copyed your idea, then explaining your idea about a magician/astronaut.

-- Josh Aldridge (AtlantaJFNA@aol.com), November 14, 2003.

Duh, of course, a comic. Ashly, while I'm no animator, if your willing to go with Ashley's comic suggestion, I'd love to participate if allowed. E-mail me anything you want a design of, and I'll take a stab.

-- Sam (janecherrington@paradise.net.nz), November 14, 2003.

Well, I always thought of Moll as being about 5' 7" with sort of a beige skin color, brown eyes, black hair a little longer than ear length and very thick. She's got some muscle on her but not much, weighs about 126 pounds, kind of clumsy, wears plain, grungy clothes (like torn shirts and black jeans with the pockets cut out). She has a small tattoo on her right cheek (on her FACE, silly) of three horizontal lines that looks kind of like a bar code.

I'd like to do a full-motion animation but a comic would be a good start if you can draw some of the stuff I describe well enough yaknow?

I'm waiting for a reply. I must now cut short this message as my sandwich is getting cold.

- ashly

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), November 15, 2003.

Yeah, you know what (fkn' Barb - hand it over everyu time I guess), just because someone happens to post a flying fkn' bona fide (better be? of course it is) sincere friendly actual no BS INVITATION for any of us fkn' losers out t/here to actually get involved and a leg up to get busy with the mediuim and ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING,

doesn't mean you have to just sling a whole fistfull of slime at anyone as long as you might be sitting around for the bus back to Magic Mountain or some shit whatever the fk you want awreddie, awright

gee whiz

MM

-- dangerboy video (artianist@hotmail.com), November 15, 2003.

Sweet.

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), November 16, 2003.

We could all work together and have a GIANT CARTOON ORGY!!!!!

Even if not, this should be interesting.

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), November 16, 2003.

I've got a character who looks (kinda) like that. let me upload her and I'll post you a link.

Title?

What about Lost and Found ?

-- ashley fox (3am@t256.com), November 17, 2003.

I've never tried to draw her, so there's no way you can upload her image. I can really only draw one type of head and it always winds up looking like a pineapple. GGGGGGAAAAAAAAAWWWWWD I suck.

Anyone who wants to can take a stab at drawing Moll. Send it to me when you're done and/or post a link to it on the board.

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), November 17, 2003.

Pineapple, tehee.

-- Sam (janecherrington@paradise.net.nz), November 18, 2003.

I am an artist, I draw some pretty whacked out stuff, i am starting to get into animation too. Slowly but surely... email me if you want to talk about the character or, whatever, I'm open to try things. Send me a description of the character, if it sounds good to me, I'll do some sketches, I mean hell, I'm always drawing anyways. I like weird animation that makes no sense too, haha. Alright, thanks.

-- Max W. (antiflarm@hotmail.com), November 22, 2003.

Max if you wanna draw Moll, read my description above. Do it, DO IT!

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), November 22, 2003.

Contrary to what most may think, there is little animation that makes no sense. But yeah, good stuff.

-- Josh Aldridge (AtlantaJFNA@aol.com), November 25, 2003.

Ashley, are you still going to link to your character?..

And whats your background in drawing and animation? professional?

-- Sam (janecherrington@paradise.net.nz), November 26, 2003.

4 your i's only. Email inbound

-- Ashley Fox (3am@t256.com), November 26, 2003.

No I'm not a professional. I'm actually not that bad at drawing objects but terrible at drawing organic beings besides plants.

What do you mean by 'link to my character'?

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), November 27, 2003.

oh, the html link I sent you in that email, Bear in mind, these are roughs and works in progress.

Once I actually draw Moll, I'll post a link here

-- Ashley Fox (3am@t256.com), November 27, 2003.

Oh cool, my Mother came prancing along and decided to save over the top of my near complete Moll concept with a seriously underdone version - jolly good, what-have-you! **Subsequent Delays Impended**

I meant, a link to A.Fox's character.

Also, Ashly, I ask this rather late, but is there a style of drawing you had in mind? Manga'ish, Marvel'ish, Mcfarlane'ish...

-- Sam (janecherrington@paradise.net.nz), November 27, 2003.

I was thinking a fairly simple style, but kind of in an 'amplifier exploding' sense, youknow . . . any of you see the Liquid Television short Autoguard 2000? That's kind of the style I was imagining, the sort of mashed-together weird stuff in there. But I would suggest you draw her the way you imagine her, it'll come out more interesting that way.

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), November 27, 2003.

"Amplifier exploding"? Sounds interesting, can't be sure what that would look like style wise though. A "Tank Girl" sort of thing, maybe?

-- Sam (janecherrington@paradise.net.nz), November 30, 2003.

had 2 work all weekend, (still here), = no time to draw. will do so soon.

-- ash (3am@t256.com), November 30, 2003.

...nnnoooooooo, not exactly Tank Girlish. It's difficult to describe actually. Most of FF's main influences aren't actually cartoons, I just thought it would look better as one itself. It sits somewhere in the vicinity of the splatstick genre and occasionally looks a little Lexx-ish, lots of gross stuff and weird, ripped-metal and frayed control panel locale styles. Slime and machinery guts are major factors here. But that's just the style, not Moll; I've described her as best I can. You take it from there, and I'm going to be here for a while so you can take your time.

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), November 30, 2003.

I drew moll today.

After 3 allnighters for work last week, I finally sat down and did a couple roughs of her.

I think I've got one that works.

Let me polish it a bit and I'll post a link here.

-- ashley fox (3am@t256.com), December 08, 2003.

Thanks, I'll be looking forward to it.

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), December 08, 2003.

I've been very slack; I don't have a job or school on at the moment. But thats a good excuse: if I did, I'd be more focused.

I actually drew Moll ages ago, I'm just still trying to colour her, but my attempts are tentative and infrequent. Its my first proper go at trying to colour a character, see.

Excuses, excuses.

-- Sam (janecherrington@paradise.net.nz), December 09, 2003.

You don't have to color her in, why don't you let me see the sketch version? I'm not too picky.

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), December 09, 2003.

I am, she's just not grungy enough, I'm trying to make up for it with grungy colours. Like green!

Although photoshop doesn't want to work anymore, so i'm stuck trying to figure out painter, damn.

-- Sam (janecherrington@paradise.net.nz), December 09, 2003.

Here is a useful peice of information, just as a side note: when you think 'grungy', do not think 'Pearl Jam', think 'has exploded recently' or 'has recently landed in a pit of unspeakable slime'.

Just some [nearly-]afterthoughts.

-Ashly

-- Ashly Waiting (stefburk@metrocast.net), December 10, 2003.

okay... http://www.t256.com/moll.jpg

She's big, as rough as it gets. If I'm heading in the right direction, I'll clean her up.

-- ash (3am@t256.com), December 11, 2003.

Yes, you're BOTH heading in the right direction! Although noticably different from the way I imagined her they're both damn good.

I may or may not try to do a Poser 4 Moll version, but I'll wait and see your versions first 'cuz if I posted a link too soon it might too heavily influence your interperatations.

I love you guys. I appreciate the respect and honesty you've shown me and my ideas and look forward to seeing some of your other stuff sooner or later.

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), December 12, 2003.

Cheers for the encouragment Ashly - I'm always been keen for this kind of practise.

Looks good Ash, weve both got her looking at space ship stuff.

-- Sam (janecherrington@paradise.net.nz), December 12, 2003.

thanks for all the kind words of encouragement. So... I'll polish this one a bit more and work out a couple others too.

-- ash (3am@t256.com), December 13, 2003.

I'd love to see your drawing, Sam. But I understand being a bit shy too. There's couple people hanging out here who's work I respect so much. you can always email it to me. Maybe, between the three of us, we could actually get something off the ground.

-- ashley fox (3am@t256.com), December 13, 2003.

Yes, YES!!!! Let's get something off the ground!

I'm open to suggestions for new plot ideas for both the individual episodes and the background-noise plot running through some of them. Explanation is as follows:

The 'background noise' involves a synthetic being named Ezz with an insane android living inside her wrapped around her skeleton, with its utility arm inside her brain so it can to a certain extent control her. It likes to make her eat people; her will isn't very strong when she's starving and slinking around the lower decks looking for food. The 'droid's also madly in love with the mostly- dormant brain of the ship -- it claims to have been recieving telepathic messages from it since it first merged with Ezz. Now it's tired of her body and wants to leave it for another partner, the ship's brain. That's all I got now.

Does this remind you of anything, i.e. does it need tweaking to be more original? I'm always open to suggestions, I'd prefer you posting them on this thread for all to see so we can pool our ideas, if that is indeed what interests you.

And please mail me if you want to see any more of the story ideas floating around in my head.

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), December 13, 2003.

Ashly, I really like that idea! Ezz sounds like an awesome drawing challenge.

I'm happy to show my drawin, especially for a little crit/com. Is there some simple means available for me to do so, other than arduously attaining page space, just for one image.

-- Sam (janecherrington@paradise.net.nz), December 14, 2003.

Thank you. This is the only series I really have worked out well enough to do. I have another one called Abeilles that's mostly just concept, style and two semi-developed characters; there really isn't any plot to it.

An interesting concept though, from a dream I had about a month ago: Vanadium miners discover a fissure they claim goes down 90,000 feet, they start referring to it as the "hole to hell". Soon news of it spreads through word-of-mouth and other imitation hell-holes are springing up all over the place, mostly as ploys for attention and money (people make them by blasting under the surface).

Pretty soon after that, the areas around the original hole start to exibit signs of serious space-time distortions - appearantly the hell- hole is leaking. It's not really a hole to hell but it's close, some time beyond the mouth of the fissure is a one-way rip in space that leads to an alternate reality where the laws of physics don't work and most everything is governed by chaos (it's like living inside someone's subconcious).

I'm pretty sure I'll be using this concept for the linear episodes of Abeilles if I ever get them written. For now I'm mostly doing demo short stories that stand on their own but have the same characters. As always, questions, comments and criticism are welcome as the plot described above is just a shaky concept I pulled out of my ass after I woke up.

Thank you all for putting up with me and goodbye.

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), December 14, 2003.

Any more drawings you guys have put online that you'd like to make known?

Mostly I just wanted to bump this thread as it seems like you've been loosing interest in me of late. Just wanted to let you know I'm still here.

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), December 21, 2003.

But I really am interested in your other stuff too.

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), December 21, 2003.

I just want to finish what I've started before moving on.

My photoshop is still out of action. And im still to slack to learn painter.

I'm also waiting on aquiring a drawing tablet, which will seriously rock. See, all my colouring has been done via mouse, which is messy and painful.

-- Sam (janecherrington@paradise.net.nz), December 23, 2003.

Just got Poser 5 today. Appearantly they recalled Poser 4 so I got this instead. Major pain in the ass to use, I'm pretty sure you'll get good results long before I do.

I've noticed something: CGI characters always look really stiff and uncomfortable when they move around, but even the worst 2-d cartoons have a very loose, organic feeling to them. Motion Capture CGI tends to look a little better than regular, but still sucks. I don't know why that is, why 2-D cartoons look so much looser and more fluid, almost more real than the real thing.

But that Softimage XSI thing Binga's using looks much better than most digital animation, sort of an intermediate stage. Too bad it takes 4-6 months to make one clip. Which is why I prefer 2-D cartoons for Forgettable Face and most of my other stuff.

Oh, and tell me how your works in progress are coming along.

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), December 23, 2003.

Ive been spending more time trying to walk on my hands than I have drawing. I never got the dern tablet, photoshop all gone.

Soo, Im just gonna suck it in and do this thing with a mouse... Ashly, I *promise* to have her done, and sent before NZ sunrise. But with a mouse...

-- Sam (janecherrington@paradise.net.nz), January 26, 2004.

Sam, I got your email with the pictures of Moll and they turned up dead! Couldn't open them, just came up as "dead link" Xs. Why do you think that is? Could you try sending them as bitmaps (*.bmp) and see if that works?

-- Ashly Kehl (stefburk@metrocast.net), January 27, 2004.