The, Dō less taken

Now, I’ve been asked a few times at school what I’m working on when people see me drawing Nivadah stuff at school, and I tell them. A few people get excited, while I noticed some…are shocked (in a horrified sort of way) and a bit bewildered. See, so many students I have found want to work for one of the big 3, and they can think of nothing else. But not I. I want to work independently, or in a studio collective of artist I know and trust, doing freelance work, and creator driven content work. I tell them that the plan for Nivadahmandi is to be a series that premiers online over the course of (however long it takes), but my plan is not to try and get it “picked up” by any studio (the big 3) or to get any theatrical release (I’ll come back to this.) My ultimate goal, is to tour conventions (comic/anime) and sell copies of the DVD once the series is complete. I used to be a comic book artist, and I’ve gone to a few anime conventions in my past HELOOOOOOO A-KON ! (20 years in 2009)

I digress a bit.
So, I know the crowds, and I know with the proper campaigning and advertising for the site, and the series, I will get a couple of people to pay attention. Pay attention to what, you ask? To the fact that we don’t need a major studio to produce animation! If your dream is to produce your personal creations, Disney aint the place to go, ‘cause they have other plans. This will be the theme all over if you try to go to the big studios to try and “sell” or “pitch” your idea or get it “picked up” as I said before. No, I’ve never experienced this first hand. I never had much desire to try to get any of my work on television (at least not in the states) American television (especially animation) is so, watered down, yet dry and lacks originality. And I would like to be a part of the force that shakes that up in the future.

So, we have the tools to do this now. Technology has made it so that the power is returning to were it rightfully belongs…the people. It’s happening to all industries. Look at the music industry, the frame of the old has been shattered, and is falling away like flecks of rust in the wind. GOOD! Home studios , and the internet have unleashed a virtual stampede of talent and inventive ideas once shunned by the BIG industry. The same is happening to television. Everyone and anyone can be a director or a star (for better or for worse), but non the less THEY dictate what THEY want to watch. If it’s not out there, then they make it. Then others who have been looking for the same thing can unite, form a community, socialize, and maybe find friendships. THIS, is what I’m doing. I can’t find the things I like…so, I'm making ‘em. And I know I’m not alone. Even the video game industry is going in this direction. Novels, and comic books (digital print on demand anyone? 1 2 3) I’m not trying to make millions, no. I don’t care if only one person is interested in Nivadah. That one person purchasing and enjoying my effort is enough. I’ve experienced this first hand (it fills you with a measure of pride I can’t define) No, it won’t pay the bills but…really…I’m beyond trying to be Walt Disney. I will probably work somewhere, but that doesn’t mean I can’t produce my own stuff. We have the tools we have the abilities…LET’S STOP SITTIN’ AROUND WAITING FOR DISNEY TO COME A KNOCKIN’ (‘cause they won’t) DO IT YOURSELF DIY FOREVER! (that is the punk aesthetics and ethic I live by)

With that being said, why do I find it that even though people posses both this knowledge and these tools…they still try to put out there films in a BIG way? By BIG, I mean theatrical releases. The theater is the home now! Direct to DVD sales are up dramatically and yet small studios are still trying to get their work on the screens. The understanding that it takes more money than I have EVER owned at any one time, to distribute, and advertise a film nationally is enough to deter me. But man…I just received an email from the gang over at Ninjai: the little ninja,


and after doing more than 10 online episodes (to which the quality only got better) they have decided to go theatrical release. WHY!? It’s a waste of money and a waste of time. Your community of viewers are online, not inline! Sell them the direct DVD version of this epic movie you’re making. Allow them the opportunity to enjoy the characters they have come to enjoy over these years again and again. But, they seem steadfast in this decision. “sigh”

I will give you three examples of why not to do this (and I’ll try to be as un-bashing as possible)

The first road we need not travel: Delgo.

Yep, this little film was produced right here in Atlanta. Which I think is VERY awesome. They rejected Hollywood and it’s demand that all creativity hail from its soil (its tainted, tainted soil.) Now I commend them for this, but I rebuke Fathom studios for 1. Pulling “A-list” Hollywood names for the voice work, instead of good, solid character voice talent. And 2. releasing the film theatrically. This isn’t 1951 people! We don’t need to go out to the ol’ moving pictures show to enjoy your work. They had dreams of BIG big bucks, and what did they get? A box office gross of $511,920. I don’t even want to THINK about how much money has been pumped into this movie over the many years it’s been in production. Some people are saying “oh, it’s a demonstration of just how hard it is to create a memorable, credible-looking piece of animated entertainment.” WRONG! It’s not! It’s a demonstration of how delusions of grandeur can lead you to debt, self loathing, and falling short of accomplishment. (sorry guys, but you did it to yourselves)

The second road we need not travel: StarDucks by Florian Satzinger.


Now, I love this guy…but like so many others he is doing nothing but giving us teases…”sigh” This beautiful work of art was supposed to come out this year, yes, 2008! But here we are four days until 2009 and…hmm… nope no Starducks. All we have are a years worth of concept sketches and an online shop with “coming soon” hats. BAH!

The third and final road we need not travel: Yes, Mr. Williams; you are a shining example to all. I of course am speaking of the notorious Richard Williams. Now Richard is an excellent animator (a little too a-retentive for my taste), but damn good non the less. The thief and the cobbler started production in 1964, can I write that again? NINETEEN SIXTY-EPHING-FOUR!!



This film holds the record for having the longest production time for a motion picture in history. That is NOT something to be proud of. And why did this film take 31+ years to make it to us…because Mr. Williams wanted it to be a BIG theatrical event. In my opinion the movie is pretty-garbage. Tons of greatly executed animation, with a complete and total lack of story or direction. Now I’ll grant him the fact that in 1964 or hell 1974, or ‘84 for that matter, the option of direct to DVD release was…shall we say... non-existent. But that is not the problem…the problem is that so many people hold him up high on a pedestal for trying to take on the Mouse house on its own turf. And so, they try to do the same in contemporary times. But you can’t take them on, on their own turf…that’s why it’s THEIR TURF. Take them on, on planes that they have failed to explore (and there are many of them) Let Disney (and I mean no ill will to the company really) let them destroy themselves by refusing to evolve, we need to embrace the changes and re-create what is animation in our own image. Other wise we will be contributing to the continued homogenized and systematic destruction of a unique and amazing art form.

So take the road less traveled, that is the one YOU create. We have the tools, we have the ability…so, I know which road I'll be on; which road will you be traveling?