Commissions Half Off!
Posted 3 years agoHey everyone! I gotta make some quick scratch while I finish up my work on Fatal Familiar! So commissions are half off until the end of the month- as low as 25$
Shoot me a message if you’re interested!
Other ways you could support:
Support or share the IndieGoGo for my game:
https://www.teepublic.com/user/mcgriffin
Grab a horny shirt:
https://www.teepublic.com/user/mcgriffin
Thanks everybody!
Shoot me a message if you’re interested!
Other ways you could support:
Support or share the IndieGoGo for my game:
https://www.teepublic.com/user/mcgriffin
Grab a horny shirt:
https://www.teepublic.com/user/mcgriffin
Thanks everybody!
Fatal Familiar also sorry I went away
Posted 3 years ago*Awakes abruptly, pulls IV out, and inspects the new lines carved into the palm of my hand. *
TEN YEARS??
Oh shit hi. Sorry I disappeared forever. My life fell apart twice and I guess when I was ready to return to the living I forgot furries rule.
Anyway I’m crowdfunding a monster collecting TTRPG and I’m brazenly logging back in in a crass attempt to get last minute donations. But rest assured, now that I’m back you can’t get rid of me! Especially since I’ve got an ongoing project that y’all will LOVE and it’s a CRIME I’ve been keeping it away from you. More about that another day.
Anyway here’s the game: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/.....g-tabletop-rpg
Toss me a fiver if you ever wished the entire game loop of Dungeons and Dragons was built around getting to hug BugBears.
I’ll be uploading more indefinitely- if you were following me for Battle Holiday I’m excited to tell you those characters are returning in this game, and in a new story set in The Elseware Universe. Fatal Familiar is a setting agnostic game, you can have it take place anywhere! But Elseware is where most of the Sample Familiars in the game come from. What role will Plush, Chi Bunny, She-Bunny, Sluggy and the other Battle Holiday cast members get up to in this mysterious new story? Please be excited to eventually find out, and in the meantime hit that link and fund the book to see not all but some of those characters as recruitable creatures.
Anyway, it’s good to be back. Twitter was a poor supplement for my thirsty-cute art intake. FA can truly often be the friendliest place on the internet
TEN YEARS??
Oh shit hi. Sorry I disappeared forever. My life fell apart twice and I guess when I was ready to return to the living I forgot furries rule.
Anyway I’m crowdfunding a monster collecting TTRPG and I’m brazenly logging back in in a crass attempt to get last minute donations. But rest assured, now that I’m back you can’t get rid of me! Especially since I’ve got an ongoing project that y’all will LOVE and it’s a CRIME I’ve been keeping it away from you. More about that another day.
Anyway here’s the game: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/.....g-tabletop-rpg
Toss me a fiver if you ever wished the entire game loop of Dungeons and Dragons was built around getting to hug BugBears.
I’ll be uploading more indefinitely- if you were following me for Battle Holiday I’m excited to tell you those characters are returning in this game, and in a new story set in The Elseware Universe. Fatal Familiar is a setting agnostic game, you can have it take place anywhere! But Elseware is where most of the Sample Familiars in the game come from. What role will Plush, Chi Bunny, She-Bunny, Sluggy and the other Battle Holiday cast members get up to in this mysterious new story? Please be excited to eventually find out, and in the meantime hit that link and fund the book to see not all but some of those characters as recruitable creatures.
Anyway, it’s good to be back. Twitter was a poor supplement for my thirsty-cute art intake. FA can truly often be the friendliest place on the internet
New Cartoon: Fat Duck
Posted 13 years agoHey guys! Want to see my new cartoon? It's got at least one cat girl, but mostly a Fat Duck. Also, it's very much an 'Adults Only' kinda thing, so click the link below with caution.
Fat Duck: http://www.channel101.com/episode/974
Also, here's the cartoon I did before that one, Dino Teens:http://www.channel101.com/episode/149
I haven't been posting here much. My work hasn't been very anthro-centric, and my furry art homies haven't exactly been the most steadfast of friends, so there hasn't been much keeping me coming back, but I figured since I was doing some new Battle Holiday pages, it would be criminal to not post 'em up here from time to time. Hope you dig the above cartoon and what else is to come.
Fat Duck: http://www.channel101.com/episode/974
Also, here's the cartoon I did before that one, Dino Teens:http://www.channel101.com/episode/149
I haven't been posting here much. My work hasn't been very anthro-centric, and my furry art homies haven't exactly been the most steadfast of friends, so there hasn't been much keeping me coming back, but I figured since I was doing some new Battle Holiday pages, it would be criminal to not post 'em up here from time to time. Hope you dig the above cartoon and what else is to come.
New Cartoon: MARS
Posted 14 years agoHey guys, I'm sorry I've neglected you so long! I've been getting lots of animation work, on top of still trying to do my own thing cartoon wise. Doesn't leave a ton of time for illustrations and comics, but for anyone who's interested, here's my new cartoon MARS! (Click the link below)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8LNhhL_peA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8LNhhL_peA
I Saw Evangelion 2.0 Last Night
Posted 15 years agoRemember going to see Schindler’s List in high school, and being embarrassed when your classmates laughed during the sex scene? Imagine that for a whole movie.
Depressing.
Depressing.
Happy Battle Holidays
Posted 15 years agoSo, to commemorate the holidays, and my forthcoming return to working on Battle Holiday, I'm doing a Battle Holiday Christmas piece. Less of a Christmas themed piece, and more of a Christmas present in the form of Battle Holiday art.
I posted up a "Who Is Your Favorite BH Character" poll on deviantart, and will be using that to help inform who's going to be in the piece. But I'd like the input of the FA community as well of course, so please, let me know in this journal's comments who your favorite character is.
Also, if there's anything you'd like to see happening; any kind of violence, or sexiness, or hilarity that you think might be cool, go ahead and let me know, 'cause I'm doing this one for you guys.
If you don't read Battle Holiday, but still read this journal, write in a vote for Plush. He's my favorite, and fun to draw.
I posted up a "Who Is Your Favorite BH Character" poll on deviantart, and will be using that to help inform who's going to be in the piece. But I'd like the input of the FA community as well of course, so please, let me know in this journal's comments who your favorite character is.
Also, if there's anything you'd like to see happening; any kind of violence, or sexiness, or hilarity that you think might be cool, go ahead and let me know, 'cause I'm doing this one for you guys.
If you don't read Battle Holiday, but still read this journal, write in a vote for Plush. He's my favorite, and fun to draw.
Another Castle was featured on GoNintendo.com
Posted 15 years agoI don't know who posted this up, or whatever, but I'm mad grateful!
Next time I wouldn't mind getting a shout out so people know who did the thing, but I can't be upset about that really, considering I never asked anybody's permission to use the characters in the first place.
Check out the article here: http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=136510
Next time I wouldn't mind getting a shout out so people know who did the thing, but I can't be upset about that really, considering I never asked anybody's permission to use the characters in the first place.
Check out the article here: http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=136510
Do you love werewolves?
Posted 15 years agoCheck out Toon Wolf. A new live action/animation mix done by mister Abed Gheith with cartoon animation by yours truly. Turned out pretty good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccm3_j6J8FE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccm3_j6J8FE
Teacups Bro Shirt: LAST DAY TO VOTE!
Posted 15 years agoLast day to rate Teacups, Bro on Threadless! If you want one, sign up and vote 5! http://www.threadless.com/submissio.....71/Teacups_bro
FA Doesn't Want You To See My New Work
Posted 15 years agoI've got one song (silly as it is) and two old pieces I tried to submit a while ago, and one new one I'm trying to submit right now, and FA is not having it.
I don't know why it let that Battle Holiday page go through the other day. I'll try again tomorrow, but if anyone knows the best time of day to submit stuff, please let me know.
With that long ass hiatus I went on working on The Suits (which is the awesome cartoon I worked on with Rob Schrab if anyone still hasn't seen it) I was really eager to put some new art up here. FA, yer' letting me down, sir.
If anyone is SUPER eager to see what they missed before I try again, check here: http://mcgriffin.deviantart.com
If you wanna watch the nifty new cartoons I made, check 'em here: http://www.youtube.com/user/mcgriffin
I don't know why it let that Battle Holiday page go through the other day. I'll try again tomorrow, but if anyone knows the best time of day to submit stuff, please let me know.
With that long ass hiatus I went on working on The Suits (which is the awesome cartoon I worked on with Rob Schrab if anyone still hasn't seen it) I was really eager to put some new art up here. FA, yer' letting me down, sir.
If anyone is SUPER eager to see what they missed before I try again, check here: http://mcgriffin.deviantart.com
If you wanna watch the nifty new cartoons I made, check 'em here: http://www.youtube.com/user/mcgriffin
MC Griffin and Rob Schrab present THE SUITS
Posted 16 years agoI made a cartoon with Robert Schrabikins.
It's another Channel 101 submission, and this time, I actually made it into Prime Time.
Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLdOu8EfVFM
It's another Channel 101 submission, and this time, I actually made it into Prime Time.
Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLdOu8EfVFM
Communist Zombie Holocaust
Posted 16 years agoNew Cartoon: Time Zombies
Posted 16 years agoLinks to the new toon at the bottom. Hope you guys dig.
It's called Time Zombies. It's a collaboration between myself and my buddy Steve. He did the music for Lazer Muscles and Flo Rida 1989, and incidentally, he and his band did ALL of the music for this new cartoon.
Sorry I've been so absent lately guys. I know Battle Holiday has been on hiatus for a while, but I've been making me some cartoons for the enjoyment of the peoples. You can expect more updates very soon.
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbigdHYeWBU
Deviantart: http://MCGriffin.deviantart.com/art.....bies-141311654
It's called Time Zombies. It's a collaboration between myself and my buddy Steve. He did the music for Lazer Muscles and Flo Rida 1989, and incidentally, he and his band did ALL of the music for this new cartoon.
Sorry I've been so absent lately guys. I know Battle Holiday has been on hiatus for a while, but I've been making me some cartoons for the enjoyment of the peoples. You can expect more updates very soon.
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbigdHYeWBU
Deviantart: http://MCGriffin.deviantart.com/art.....bies-141311654
Finished a new cartoon: 24 Hour Video
Posted 16 years agoStreet Fighter
Posted 16 years agoHey everybody, I'm trying to watch all the video incarnations of Street Fighter that there are out there. Can you tell me if I'm missing any?:
Street Fighter II: V *
Street Fighter II The Animated Movie *
Street Fighter (American Live Action Film) *
Street Fighter (American Animated Series) *
Street Fighter Alpha *
Street Fighter Alpha Generations *
Street Fighter: The Later Years *
Street Fighter: Round 1: Fight *
Street Fighter IV: The Ties That Bind
Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li
Fucking Netflix doesn't carry the US animated series, and I don't have a Blu-Ray player so I can't readily watch The Ties That Bind, let alone find a copy.
I want to see every single bit of SF content there is out there, and I don't mind fan created stuff as long as it's good or interesting (for example, if you've never seen Street Fighter: The Later Years by College Humor, it is awesome, and funny, and so worth the viewing)
I want to find all this stuff because soonish, I want to write a sort of mass review of these shows and movies, and what works/doesn't work about making Street Fighter into a cinematic story.
By the way, if you're a SF fan, shout a holla.
PS: Don't be afraid to throw around the hate regarding some of these cartoons and movies. I'm a fan, but I'm no apologist. Part of why I want to see all this stuff is so I can know what NOT to do with this kind of material.
*= Movies I've seen already
Street Fighter II: V *
Street Fighter II The Animated Movie *
Street Fighter (American Live Action Film) *
Street Fighter (American Animated Series) *
Street Fighter Alpha *
Street Fighter Alpha Generations *
Street Fighter: The Later Years *
Street Fighter: Round 1: Fight *
Street Fighter IV: The Ties That Bind
Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li
Fucking Netflix doesn't carry the US animated series, and I don't have a Blu-Ray player so I can't readily watch The Ties That Bind, let alone find a copy.
I want to see every single bit of SF content there is out there, and I don't mind fan created stuff as long as it's good or interesting (for example, if you've never seen Street Fighter: The Later Years by College Humor, it is awesome, and funny, and so worth the viewing)
I want to find all this stuff because soonish, I want to write a sort of mass review of these shows and movies, and what works/doesn't work about making Street Fighter into a cinematic story.
By the way, if you're a SF fan, shout a holla.
PS: Don't be afraid to throw around the hate regarding some of these cartoons and movies. I'm a fan, but I'm no apologist. Part of why I want to see all this stuff is so I can know what NOT to do with this kind of material.
*= Movies I've seen already
Battle Holiday Question At End: PROJECT SCHEDULE
Posted 16 years agoPROJECT SCHEDULE
Video Projects:
JUL- 24 Hour Video w/ Farley Burge
AUG- Fight Story w/ Lincoln Smith
SEP- Plasma w/ Sean Catlett
OCT- Time Zombies w/ Stephen Taylor
NOV- Shooter Kitty w/ Alex Gundersen
DEC- Rest
JAN- Battery w/ Jake The Fish
FEB- Khryme w/ myself.
Turns out Alex can't work on Shooter Kitty until October, and October is a time for zombies, zombie time, time zombies. So Shooter Kitty is going to November. As a result, Fight Story is back on for August, which is awesome. The unknown Catlett/Griffin project is now known, and is called Plasma, and it's fucking awesome, and will happen a bit sooner now.
Speaking of which, would people dig it if I listed who I was collaborating with on these projects?
Honestly, I'd be a bit surprised if anyone even cares about this stuff.
Really, I wouldn't be offended if people didn't care about these posts. They're more for me anyway.
Anyhoozle, expect a Battle Holiday update too. Here's a question: Would you guys prefer constant one-page updates, or seldom updates, but in big chunks?
Video Projects:
JUL- 24 Hour Video w/ Farley Burge
AUG- Fight Story w/ Lincoln Smith
SEP- Plasma w/ Sean Catlett
OCT- Time Zombies w/ Stephen Taylor
NOV- Shooter Kitty w/ Alex Gundersen
DEC- Rest
JAN- Battery w/ Jake The Fish
FEB- Khryme w/ myself.
Turns out Alex can't work on Shooter Kitty until October, and October is a time for zombies, zombie time, time zombies. So Shooter Kitty is going to November. As a result, Fight Story is back on for August, which is awesome. The unknown Catlett/Griffin project is now known, and is called Plasma, and it's fucking awesome, and will happen a bit sooner now.
Speaking of which, would people dig it if I listed who I was collaborating with on these projects?
Honestly, I'd be a bit surprised if anyone even cares about this stuff.
Really, I wouldn't be offended if people didn't care about these posts. They're more for me anyway.
Anyhoozle, expect a Battle Holiday update too. Here's a question: Would you guys prefer constant one-page updates, or seldom updates, but in big chunks?
Update: PROJECT SCHEDULE
Posted 16 years agoANIMATION SCHEDULE
Animation Projects:
JUL- 24 Hour Video
AUG- Shooter Kitty
SEP- Fight Story
OCT- Time Zombies
NOV- Unknown Griffin/Catlett project
DEC- Khryme
JAN- Battery
To all the people I'm collaborating with, I'm so sorry for all the shuffling around on stuff. I just realized I have a huge obligation to Alex Gundersen to finish this music video we've been working on, and he's just been nice enough to not be on my ass about it. Of course, he should have been on my ass about it, because apparently, I won't do anything without a level of guilt involved. Shooter Kitty SHOULD have been on this schedule the whole time. Alex, if you're reading this, after Comic Con, I'm ready to dedicate all my time to Shooter Kitty until it's done. Lincoln, if you're reading this, I'm trying to get ahold of you, and your phone isn't working, and I'm really sorry about putting Fight Story off AGAIN. I'm mad at me too.
Sadly, more of this wacky shuffling is bound to happen if any of my 101 submissions get another episode. So uh... here's hoping that doesn't happen?
Man. Life's crazy.
Animation Projects:
JUL- 24 Hour Video
AUG- Shooter Kitty
SEP- Fight Story
OCT- Time Zombies
NOV- Unknown Griffin/Catlett project
DEC- Khryme
JAN- Battery
To all the people I'm collaborating with, I'm so sorry for all the shuffling around on stuff. I just realized I have a huge obligation to Alex Gundersen to finish this music video we've been working on, and he's just been nice enough to not be on my ass about it. Of course, he should have been on my ass about it, because apparently, I won't do anything without a level of guilt involved. Shooter Kitty SHOULD have been on this schedule the whole time. Alex, if you're reading this, after Comic Con, I'm ready to dedicate all my time to Shooter Kitty until it's done. Lincoln, if you're reading this, I'm trying to get ahold of you, and your phone isn't working, and I'm really sorry about putting Fight Story off AGAIN. I'm mad at me too.
Sadly, more of this wacky shuffling is bound to happen if any of my 101 submissions get another episode. So uh... here's hoping that doesn't happen?
Man. Life's crazy.
New Animation: PROJECT SCHEDULE
Posted 16 years agoANIMATION SCHEDULE
Pilot Projects:
JUL- 24 Hour Video
AUG- Fight Story
SEP- Krhyme
OCT- Time Zombies
NOV- Battery
So, I submitted Actual Alien Control, and it was rejected. I'd love it if you peeps had a look at it and told me what you think:
http://MCGriffin.deviantart.com/art.....trol-127406515
It was a valient attempt at good storytelling, but sadly, it didn't turn out very funny or entertaining really. S'all good. The next one is 24 Hour Video, which I know some of you already know about, and I'm really excited to get to sink my teeth into it.
An interesting aside, the theme song for Actual Alien Control is the first full musical composition I produced and created all on my own. Fairly proud of it.
Also, I need to apologize once again for the lack of Battle Holiday updates. They've dwindled due to the increase in animation work I've been doing, but the lack of updates in June was unforgivable. You will see an increase, or I have failed you.
Pilot Projects:
JUL- 24 Hour Video
AUG- Fight Story
SEP- Krhyme
OCT- Time Zombies
NOV- Battery
So, I submitted Actual Alien Control, and it was rejected. I'd love it if you peeps had a look at it and told me what you think:
http://MCGriffin.deviantart.com/art.....trol-127406515
It was a valient attempt at good storytelling, but sadly, it didn't turn out very funny or entertaining really. S'all good. The next one is 24 Hour Video, which I know some of you already know about, and I'm really excited to get to sink my teeth into it.
An interesting aside, the theme song for Actual Alien Control is the first full musical composition I produced and created all on my own. Fairly proud of it.
Also, I need to apologize once again for the lack of Battle Holiday updates. They've dwindled due to the increase in animation work I've been doing, but the lack of updates in June was unforgivable. You will see an increase, or I have failed you.
On To Bigger and Better Things: PROJECT SCHEDULE
Posted 16 years agoANIMATION SCHEDULE
Pilot Projects:
JUN- Actual Alien Control
JUL- 24 Hour Video
AUG- Fight Story
SEP- Krhyme
OCT- Time Zombies
So, here's the thing. I've been working at a video store for the past 2 years. My boss let me go for not taking out the garbage. My boss told me I'm an awesome animator, and I'm not sure I totally agree, but I do LIKE animating. So, to make sure his gesture is not wasted, I plan on finally doing something I've been wanting to do for years. It may not be a huge deal to others, but I've been a big fan of Channel 101 for years, and I'm glad to finally have the time to make stuff for them.
Some of you may have seen my rejected pilot Fight A Bear. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-k3.....e=channel_page
Expect more animation every month. I don't know if I'll ever get in the show, and if I do get in the show, I don't know if I'll ever get any second episodes of the things I submit, but I'm just happy to have a reason to keep making stuff.
If I do get a second episode of any of the things I'm working on, I'll adjust the schedule to fit. Even if I don't, I'll repost up the running schedule along with any little thoughts I may have on things. (Like these)
I have projects not listed in the schedule, by the way. There are awesome things coming that I don't feel as eager to tip my hat about, mostly because they are things that have no deadline, that I can't complete in a month's time. I'm only listing my monthly project stuff on here.
I'll still update Battle Holiday at least once a week, as it is my baby, and I love my baby. But daddy isn't just a comic book maker, he's an animator too. Hope you guys like the stuff that comes, and expect more updates than usual at the end of every month.
Let me know what you guys think.
Laters.
Pilot Projects:
JUN- Actual Alien Control
JUL- 24 Hour Video
AUG- Fight Story
SEP- Krhyme
OCT- Time Zombies
So, here's the thing. I've been working at a video store for the past 2 years. My boss let me go for not taking out the garbage. My boss told me I'm an awesome animator, and I'm not sure I totally agree, but I do LIKE animating. So, to make sure his gesture is not wasted, I plan on finally doing something I've been wanting to do for years. It may not be a huge deal to others, but I've been a big fan of Channel 101 for years, and I'm glad to finally have the time to make stuff for them.
Some of you may have seen my rejected pilot Fight A Bear. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-k3.....e=channel_page
Expect more animation every month. I don't know if I'll ever get in the show, and if I do get in the show, I don't know if I'll ever get any second episodes of the things I submit, but I'm just happy to have a reason to keep making stuff.
If I do get a second episode of any of the things I'm working on, I'll adjust the schedule to fit. Even if I don't, I'll repost up the running schedule along with any little thoughts I may have on things. (Like these)
I have projects not listed in the schedule, by the way. There are awesome things coming that I don't feel as eager to tip my hat about, mostly because they are things that have no deadline, that I can't complete in a month's time. I'm only listing my monthly project stuff on here.
I'll still update Battle Holiday at least once a week, as it is my baby, and I love my baby. But daddy isn't just a comic book maker, he's an animator too. Hope you guys like the stuff that comes, and expect more updates than usual at the end of every month.
Let me know what you guys think.
Laters.
FIGHT A BEAR
Posted 16 years agoNew animation up, y'all. It was a submission for Channel 101, called Fight A Bear, and sadly, it was rejected. S'all good though, just gonna make another one for next month.
For those who aren't aware of Channel 101, it's an online tv station. People submit their own 5 minute shows, and they're screened here in LA, and based on the audience votes, the most popular get to make another episode for the next month's screening. http://www.channel101.com
I highly highly recommend entertaining yourself on there for a few hours. Even the failed pilots are amazing.
Unfortunately, mine didn't even make it that far, but I'm still pretty proud of it regardless.
I'd like you peeps to take a look at it, lemme know what you think.
On Deviantart: http://MCGriffin.deviantart.com/art.....Bear-124375967
On Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-k3.....e=channel_page
For those who aren't aware of Channel 101, it's an online tv station. People submit their own 5 minute shows, and they're screened here in LA, and based on the audience votes, the most popular get to make another episode for the next month's screening. http://www.channel101.com
I highly highly recommend entertaining yourself on there for a few hours. Even the failed pilots are amazing.
Unfortunately, mine didn't even make it that far, but I'm still pretty proud of it regardless.
I'd like you peeps to take a look at it, lemme know what you think.
On Deviantart: http://MCGriffin.deviantart.com/art.....Bear-124375967
On Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-k3.....e=channel_page
ATTN: Battle Holiday Readers (100th Page.)
Posted 16 years agoI'm about to sit down and ink page 100 of Battle Holiday, and I was wondering what I should do to commemorate the milestone.
Any suggestions?
What's your favorite scene? Favorite character?
Maybe you'd like to see two of your favorite characters fighting? Hanging out? Doin' it?
Or maybe something completely different? I'm just trying to get ideas here.
The only thing I ask is that you keep suggestions relegated to just things involving the characters in Battle Holiday.
I was planning a bigger piece for a milestone like this, but right now I'm the only bread winner in the household, but I still want to rock out something for this occasion. I can't wait to hear any suggestions.
Thanks guys.
Any suggestions?
What's your favorite scene? Favorite character?
Maybe you'd like to see two of your favorite characters fighting? Hanging out? Doin' it?
Or maybe something completely different? I'm just trying to get ideas here.
The only thing I ask is that you keep suggestions relegated to just things involving the characters in Battle Holiday.
I was planning a bigger piece for a milestone like this, but right now I'm the only bread winner in the household, but I still want to rock out something for this occasion. I can't wait to hear any suggestions.
Thanks guys.
Post-Modern Video Game Stuff
Posted 17 years agoAlright, this is my second little article here. This time something a bit more light hearted.
I want to talk about video game things that have nothing to do with video games.
I've always been into video games since I was a kid. I'm finding though that as I get older and my tastes broaden, there's elements from video games that I search for in the movies, television and comics I'm into that I just never seem to find. Battle Holiday is my attempt at telling that kind of story. The mascotish characters and ultra-graphic kung-fu are my own little bits of homage to stuff like Sonic, Mario, Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. The story reads with lots of action (game play) and has tons of characters, like the character roster in a fighting game. Now, I don't know if what I'm writing is "good" necessarily (since one is the worst judge of their own work) but writing this kind of story makes me all the more frustrated when video game oriented stuff ends up not cutting the mustard.
Take Mortal Kombat for example. It's one of my favorite game franchises, and I never get bored of it. I'm constantly groping for the next new bits of info on the games, and recently, I really really enjoyed MK vs DCU. Despite my love though, and much like with a lot of other video games, once the characters in Mortal Kombat are taken out of the context of game play, they just don't work. Their world seems like it's existing in several different time periods at once, and the characters don't seem to ever change clothes or have a normal way to travel from place to place. They all speak in a kind of martial-arts-movie-cliche dialect and the characters seem to die and come back to life willy nilly. The problems here seem even worse when they are stood next to the DC characters, who all work on many levels. They change clothes, they have plausible ways of getting around, they have personality, character and history. The gamer in me mourns this, because the Mortal Kombatants were defeated in their own medium in this way.
By the way, I think my dream gig would be to write a Mortal Kombat movie script that actually works. But that's going way off point.
Okay, anyhow, I think the reason I get so frustrated in the crap storytelling in a lot of video games is that there are so many instances of people using game-oriented material that totally works, that are completely removed from video games and game playing. An obvious example right away is Tron. Great story, great characters, and hell, the games they play in Tron actually look like a lot of fun.
Here's some other stuff that you should definitely check out if you haven't yet. These are all game-oriented things that have nothing to do with video games.
Scott Pilgrim: My current favorite comic right now. It's a slice of life romance story about a boy in a band dating the girl of his dreams, except it seems to take place inside a game of River City Ransom. Scott can only stay with his lovely lady Ramona if he's able to defeat her seven evil exes. Mr. Pilgrim has to gain experience and level up between fights, all while trying to maintain the everyday dramas in his life. It's a fantastically funny and exciting book, and hits the mark in just about every way. It uses video game elements to further the storytelling, and it works in a format that it gleafully defies, managing to stay fresh despite it's formulaic premise. I imagine if they ever did make a Scott Pilgrim game, it'd play like a combination of River City Ransom and Persona 4 (but funnier). http://www.scottpilgrim.com
We Are The Strange: A feature length multi-media animated film that primarily uses video game elements to tell it's story. It's by a dude named MdotStrange, who I honestly haven't researched yet, but I already love his style. The funny thing about the movie is it at first comes off as being very arty and experimental, but it doesn't take very long to see it for what it really is: a total fan boy project. One of the characters speaks in the Sinistar voice ("I hunger. I live") and the movie even starts with a character select screen. It's very strange and very nerdy, but ultimately great. Any fan of weird animation should definitely give We Are The Strange a viewing. What I found really funny about listening to the director's commentary on this film was how much all the game elements turned the festival crowds off from the movie. It must've been the kind of thing they couldn't connect with. You can decide for yourself here, since the entire film is on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jlD.....e=channel_page
The Short Films of Paul Robertson: I just recently got into this guy, and he is one of my new favorite people. His blog is amazing, and his shorts range from being epic and action-packed to depraved and depressing (and sometimes both at once). He creates his own pixel animations that look like they are pulled right from classic SNK games, and uses those to make short films. If you're a fan of pixel art and game animation, but have never seen his stuff, go and youtube his name. All his material is pretty damn worthwhile, but my highest recommendations go to Devil Eyes and Kings of Power 4 Billion. http://probertson.livejournal.com
Those three things are prime examples of how good story telling can arise in video games, mostly because they manage to tell a decent narrative entirely in the language of games. This sort of post-modern way of thinking is certainly used in games themselves, but there seems to be a lack of it in movie adaptations of video games. If Scott Pilgrim and We Are The Strange prove anything it's that there's no reason for the Street Fighter movie to suck as much as it does, or any other game adaptation for that matter. I love this stuff, and I want to believe in the characters and stories portrayed, but they always so consistently fall short, and it just clearly isn't necessary.
Anyway, have any of you guys read or seen anything game-oriented like the stuff I described? Any opinions? Let me know.
(One day I'll write something that isn't ridiculously long-winded)
I want to talk about video game things that have nothing to do with video games.
I've always been into video games since I was a kid. I'm finding though that as I get older and my tastes broaden, there's elements from video games that I search for in the movies, television and comics I'm into that I just never seem to find. Battle Holiday is my attempt at telling that kind of story. The mascotish characters and ultra-graphic kung-fu are my own little bits of homage to stuff like Sonic, Mario, Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. The story reads with lots of action (game play) and has tons of characters, like the character roster in a fighting game. Now, I don't know if what I'm writing is "good" necessarily (since one is the worst judge of their own work) but writing this kind of story makes me all the more frustrated when video game oriented stuff ends up not cutting the mustard.
Take Mortal Kombat for example. It's one of my favorite game franchises, and I never get bored of it. I'm constantly groping for the next new bits of info on the games, and recently, I really really enjoyed MK vs DCU. Despite my love though, and much like with a lot of other video games, once the characters in Mortal Kombat are taken out of the context of game play, they just don't work. Their world seems like it's existing in several different time periods at once, and the characters don't seem to ever change clothes or have a normal way to travel from place to place. They all speak in a kind of martial-arts-movie-cliche dialect and the characters seem to die and come back to life willy nilly. The problems here seem even worse when they are stood next to the DC characters, who all work on many levels. They change clothes, they have plausible ways of getting around, they have personality, character and history. The gamer in me mourns this, because the Mortal Kombatants were defeated in their own medium in this way.
By the way, I think my dream gig would be to write a Mortal Kombat movie script that actually works. But that's going way off point.
Okay, anyhow, I think the reason I get so frustrated in the crap storytelling in a lot of video games is that there are so many instances of people using game-oriented material that totally works, that are completely removed from video games and game playing. An obvious example right away is Tron. Great story, great characters, and hell, the games they play in Tron actually look like a lot of fun.
Here's some other stuff that you should definitely check out if you haven't yet. These are all game-oriented things that have nothing to do with video games.
Scott Pilgrim: My current favorite comic right now. It's a slice of life romance story about a boy in a band dating the girl of his dreams, except it seems to take place inside a game of River City Ransom. Scott can only stay with his lovely lady Ramona if he's able to defeat her seven evil exes. Mr. Pilgrim has to gain experience and level up between fights, all while trying to maintain the everyday dramas in his life. It's a fantastically funny and exciting book, and hits the mark in just about every way. It uses video game elements to further the storytelling, and it works in a format that it gleafully defies, managing to stay fresh despite it's formulaic premise. I imagine if they ever did make a Scott Pilgrim game, it'd play like a combination of River City Ransom and Persona 4 (but funnier). http://www.scottpilgrim.com
We Are The Strange: A feature length multi-media animated film that primarily uses video game elements to tell it's story. It's by a dude named MdotStrange, who I honestly haven't researched yet, but I already love his style. The funny thing about the movie is it at first comes off as being very arty and experimental, but it doesn't take very long to see it for what it really is: a total fan boy project. One of the characters speaks in the Sinistar voice ("I hunger. I live") and the movie even starts with a character select screen. It's very strange and very nerdy, but ultimately great. Any fan of weird animation should definitely give We Are The Strange a viewing. What I found really funny about listening to the director's commentary on this film was how much all the game elements turned the festival crowds off from the movie. It must've been the kind of thing they couldn't connect with. You can decide for yourself here, since the entire film is on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jlD.....e=channel_page
The Short Films of Paul Robertson: I just recently got into this guy, and he is one of my new favorite people. His blog is amazing, and his shorts range from being epic and action-packed to depraved and depressing (and sometimes both at once). He creates his own pixel animations that look like they are pulled right from classic SNK games, and uses those to make short films. If you're a fan of pixel art and game animation, but have never seen his stuff, go and youtube his name. All his material is pretty damn worthwhile, but my highest recommendations go to Devil Eyes and Kings of Power 4 Billion. http://probertson.livejournal.com
Those three things are prime examples of how good story telling can arise in video games, mostly because they manage to tell a decent narrative entirely in the language of games. This sort of post-modern way of thinking is certainly used in games themselves, but there seems to be a lack of it in movie adaptations of video games. If Scott Pilgrim and We Are The Strange prove anything it's that there's no reason for the Street Fighter movie to suck as much as it does, or any other game adaptation for that matter. I love this stuff, and I want to believe in the characters and stories portrayed, but they always so consistently fall short, and it just clearly isn't necessary.
Anyway, have any of you guys read or seen anything game-oriented like the stuff I described? Any opinions? Let me know.
(One day I'll write something that isn't ridiculously long-winded)
Goat Rope: Laughing at War
Posted 17 years agoSorry for the lack of updates guys. They should start picking up a bit more now.
From here on in, I'm going to try to do some writing on every post. Let's hope this lasts.
This current chapter of Battle Holiday is called Goat Rope.
Goat Rope is military jargon. Specifically paramilitary, from what I've read. Saying "Goat Rope" would be synonymous with "Charlie Foxtrot" which means "Cluster Fuck." Charlie Foxtrot I get, but I can't for the life of me understand what Goat Rope is supposed to mean exactly. It does just sort of sound like a bad thing. Goat Rope.
I've been interested in this kind of stuff a lot lately. Military stuff: War stories, fiction, satire, all somewhat centering around our current crisis in the Middle East. I mean, I like a lot of stories from any war, but there's something about our role in the current global environment that is strangely and compellingly ambiguous.
Here's some things I've watched recently that have fed this fire: Generation Kill (season 1 on DVD out now, it's amazing), Gunner Palace, Taxi To The Dark Side, the documentaries of Adam Curtis (specifically The Power of Nightmares) and I'm looking forward to seeing Errol Morris' Standard Operating Procedure. Those are all nonfiction, even Generation Kill, which despite being an HBO miniseries, is all very legitimate and close to the real operations depicted.
What I'm finding from watching this stuff is that my views on these people (mostly marines) are splitting in two different directions. Before involving myself with all this stuff, I just sort of generically disliked military and was never a member of the "support the troops" set. I shared the views of comedian Doug Stanhope which is "If people who want to kill people are killing other people who want to kill people, then you're killing all the right people." But of course, as I'm learning, it's not that easy.
Now, somehow, I hate politicians and top brass military more than I ever have before. There is a sensation among any sort of profession wherein people manipulate statistics so that the numbers come out in their favor and help get them get promoted, and it shouldn't be a surprise to anybody that this happens in the military too. I've heard it said that this is a very modern phenomenon and comes from the business philosophy that incentives must be given to make people do their jobs more effectively, but I personally believe this kind of thing has gone on as long as there has been Capitalism. It would seem a lot of the problems in the war come from this sort of thing.
For example, a maneuver or mission may be ordered to make it appear that a platoon of soldiers have taken on a group of hostile enemies, and thus put their lives on the line in a dangerous mission for their country, awarding them (and their commanding officer, of course) generous commendations and possibly a promotion in rank. In actuality, the group of hostiles might have just been some villagers who only became hostile when some marines started shooting at them as commanded. In the case of Iraqis, you'd never know the difference, considering the Republican National Guard dress like civilians most of the time. Point being, the people in charge don't ALWAYS have the best interest of the nation in mind out there, nor should anyone expect them to.
All that said, (and finally getting to my point) I have mixed feelings about the soldiers. The Troops I should be supporting are a mystery to me. I always look at footage from this current war and find myself amazed to see soldiers who I would normally expect to be stoic, hard-faced warriors who's minds are constantly heavy with the implications of taking the lives of fellow human beings, instead singing, dancing and joking. I've seen footage of marines break-dancing in their chemical weapon protection gear, belting out pop songs with their fellow soldiers with guns pointed on look out, bullshitting about fucking all the time,and constantly talking about the joy of killing. My personal favorite bit of footage is a US marine with M-16 in hand yelling at a bunch of Iraqi citizens "We're here for your fucking freedom!" Seeing all that stuff along with all that we saw on TV years ago about torture and misconduct with detained prisoners, it finally occurred to me:
The war is a parody of itself.
Watching and listening to US soldiers is the funniest, darkest comedy you will ever experience. Everyone out there can see the cynicism and darkness of what they do. They can see the immeasurable loss of life the war is bringing, but they have to laugh about it. They have to bullshit. They have to sing and dance and talk about being "born to kill" because otherwise they couldn't do their job. They are the smiling, grinning mouth of the wolf we've become. I can't watch this stuff without laughing my ass off, and I don't know how to feel about that. I might be just as cynical as they are perhaps, but it's this very aspect of the war and the soldiers fighting it that contribute to my increasing uncertainty about what it means to be an American right now.
I, just like those soldiers, can see the (excuse me) Goat-Ropeness of everything that's been going on. And, unless you're involved in politics or planning on moving to another country, you just gotta laugh about it. You gotta cry too, knowing that you're an organ of evil, knowing that you're a well-greased cog in a killer society that consumes the life of the world in-mass, but the part of you that's an individual has to laugh, because if you don't, you'll go insane. Those gun-toting children out there know this. They're blowing people away out there so that we can keep enjoying the relative excess of coffee shops with wireless internet and iPhones and video stores in the hopes that one day they can become one of us. Those dudes are fighting for a paycheck and college money.
So, see, I don't know how to feel. No matter what I say about any of this, no matter how evil I think killing people is, no matter how fucked up I think war is, no matter how much I lack the understanding of what it is to want anybody to die by your own hands, I'm still reaping the benefits of murder as I type, and I'm unfortunately happy with my situation despite this. Should I feel guilty about this? Sometimes I do. Do you?
Do we share the sins of those who represent us. Are Americans individuals with varying opinions and points of view who are globally being misrepresented, or are we the guts of one very large snarling beast? I don't know the answer to that question. It's all fuckin' goat rope. I do know this much: The more you look for black and white in any situation, the more grey you find.
****
PS: Here are some other modern war-oriented things that also tickle my weeping dark-comedy funny bone (and they were all released in 2008): War Inc, Southland Tales, Postal The Movie (yes, the Uwe Boll one, it's a guilty pleasure, bring the hate) and Metal Gear Solid 4, which I think is one of the most pointed, beautiful and well-execute works of satire ever crafted.
Thanks for reading. Sorry it was so long.
From here on in, I'm going to try to do some writing on every post. Let's hope this lasts.
This current chapter of Battle Holiday is called Goat Rope.
Goat Rope is military jargon. Specifically paramilitary, from what I've read. Saying "Goat Rope" would be synonymous with "Charlie Foxtrot" which means "Cluster Fuck." Charlie Foxtrot I get, but I can't for the life of me understand what Goat Rope is supposed to mean exactly. It does just sort of sound like a bad thing. Goat Rope.
I've been interested in this kind of stuff a lot lately. Military stuff: War stories, fiction, satire, all somewhat centering around our current crisis in the Middle East. I mean, I like a lot of stories from any war, but there's something about our role in the current global environment that is strangely and compellingly ambiguous.
Here's some things I've watched recently that have fed this fire: Generation Kill (season 1 on DVD out now, it's amazing), Gunner Palace, Taxi To The Dark Side, the documentaries of Adam Curtis (specifically The Power of Nightmares) and I'm looking forward to seeing Errol Morris' Standard Operating Procedure. Those are all nonfiction, even Generation Kill, which despite being an HBO miniseries, is all very legitimate and close to the real operations depicted.
What I'm finding from watching this stuff is that my views on these people (mostly marines) are splitting in two different directions. Before involving myself with all this stuff, I just sort of generically disliked military and was never a member of the "support the troops" set. I shared the views of comedian Doug Stanhope which is "If people who want to kill people are killing other people who want to kill people, then you're killing all the right people." But of course, as I'm learning, it's not that easy.
Now, somehow, I hate politicians and top brass military more than I ever have before. There is a sensation among any sort of profession wherein people manipulate statistics so that the numbers come out in their favor and help get them get promoted, and it shouldn't be a surprise to anybody that this happens in the military too. I've heard it said that this is a very modern phenomenon and comes from the business philosophy that incentives must be given to make people do their jobs more effectively, but I personally believe this kind of thing has gone on as long as there has been Capitalism. It would seem a lot of the problems in the war come from this sort of thing.
For example, a maneuver or mission may be ordered to make it appear that a platoon of soldiers have taken on a group of hostile enemies, and thus put their lives on the line in a dangerous mission for their country, awarding them (and their commanding officer, of course) generous commendations and possibly a promotion in rank. In actuality, the group of hostiles might have just been some villagers who only became hostile when some marines started shooting at them as commanded. In the case of Iraqis, you'd never know the difference, considering the Republican National Guard dress like civilians most of the time. Point being, the people in charge don't ALWAYS have the best interest of the nation in mind out there, nor should anyone expect them to.
All that said, (and finally getting to my point) I have mixed feelings about the soldiers. The Troops I should be supporting are a mystery to me. I always look at footage from this current war and find myself amazed to see soldiers who I would normally expect to be stoic, hard-faced warriors who's minds are constantly heavy with the implications of taking the lives of fellow human beings, instead singing, dancing and joking. I've seen footage of marines break-dancing in their chemical weapon protection gear, belting out pop songs with their fellow soldiers with guns pointed on look out, bullshitting about fucking all the time,and constantly talking about the joy of killing. My personal favorite bit of footage is a US marine with M-16 in hand yelling at a bunch of Iraqi citizens "We're here for your fucking freedom!" Seeing all that stuff along with all that we saw on TV years ago about torture and misconduct with detained prisoners, it finally occurred to me:
The war is a parody of itself.
Watching and listening to US soldiers is the funniest, darkest comedy you will ever experience. Everyone out there can see the cynicism and darkness of what they do. They can see the immeasurable loss of life the war is bringing, but they have to laugh about it. They have to bullshit. They have to sing and dance and talk about being "born to kill" because otherwise they couldn't do their job. They are the smiling, grinning mouth of the wolf we've become. I can't watch this stuff without laughing my ass off, and I don't know how to feel about that. I might be just as cynical as they are perhaps, but it's this very aspect of the war and the soldiers fighting it that contribute to my increasing uncertainty about what it means to be an American right now.
I, just like those soldiers, can see the (excuse me) Goat-Ropeness of everything that's been going on. And, unless you're involved in politics or planning on moving to another country, you just gotta laugh about it. You gotta cry too, knowing that you're an organ of evil, knowing that you're a well-greased cog in a killer society that consumes the life of the world in-mass, but the part of you that's an individual has to laugh, because if you don't, you'll go insane. Those gun-toting children out there know this. They're blowing people away out there so that we can keep enjoying the relative excess of coffee shops with wireless internet and iPhones and video stores in the hopes that one day they can become one of us. Those dudes are fighting for a paycheck and college money.
So, see, I don't know how to feel. No matter what I say about any of this, no matter how evil I think killing people is, no matter how fucked up I think war is, no matter how much I lack the understanding of what it is to want anybody to die by your own hands, I'm still reaping the benefits of murder as I type, and I'm unfortunately happy with my situation despite this. Should I feel guilty about this? Sometimes I do. Do you?
Do we share the sins of those who represent us. Are Americans individuals with varying opinions and points of view who are globally being misrepresented, or are we the guts of one very large snarling beast? I don't know the answer to that question. It's all fuckin' goat rope. I do know this much: The more you look for black and white in any situation, the more grey you find.
****
PS: Here are some other modern war-oriented things that also tickle my weeping dark-comedy funny bone (and they were all released in 2008): War Inc, Southland Tales, Postal The Movie (yes, the Uwe Boll one, it's a guilty pleasure, bring the hate) and Metal Gear Solid 4, which I think is one of the most pointed, beautiful and well-execute works of satire ever crafted.
Thanks for reading. Sorry it was so long.
Hate the lack of updates?
Posted 17 years agoSo do I.
I'm really sorry guys. I'll be back in full capacity in January. I got a dream project in my hot little hands, but it's taking far too much of my time to do anything else. The only reason there hasn't been any new Battle Holiday, new hip hop, or new art in general, is I haven't been doing any. The project is taking literally all my time, and I'm still 2 days behind schedule on it.
Battle Holiday is ultimately the most important project in my life though, so even though I gotta do this other stuff for the sake of my career right now, you best believe I'll be back with more BH as soon as I can. (The next page is awesome too, it's really shitty that this is where I ended up losing time)
Thank you for your patience everybody. I really appreciate all the support, and almost all of my readership is here on FA. Hope you guys keep on comin' back.
I'll probably be updating my status here as I go. Who knows, maybe I'll even catch up on work enough to post new shit up before the new year. here's hoping.
I'm really sorry guys. I'll be back in full capacity in January. I got a dream project in my hot little hands, but it's taking far too much of my time to do anything else. The only reason there hasn't been any new Battle Holiday, new hip hop, or new art in general, is I haven't been doing any. The project is taking literally all my time, and I'm still 2 days behind schedule on it.
Battle Holiday is ultimately the most important project in my life though, so even though I gotta do this other stuff for the sake of my career right now, you best believe I'll be back with more BH as soon as I can. (The next page is awesome too, it's really shitty that this is where I ended up losing time)
Thank you for your patience everybody. I really appreciate all the support, and almost all of my readership is here on FA. Hope you guys keep on comin' back.
I'll probably be updating my status here as I go. Who knows, maybe I'll even catch up on work enough to post new shit up before the new year. here's hoping.
Old Work Posts/ Battle Holiday
Posted 17 years agoSorry I've been so absent, guys. Life got busy on several levels all of a sudden. I was going through some financial woes for a while there, and had to pick up more shifts at the video store. On top of that, I've got another paying animation gig in the works, which takes a lot of time. On top of that, there's still my other assorted little side projects (such as a music video). On top of ALL that, there's also been Fallout 3... sigh... I'm a creature of weakness. Finally, there's been some attempts at home-printing Battle Holiday chapter 1... It hasn't been going so great, but when it's all printed up and ready to order, I'll let you guys know.
I just wanted to everybody know that though the pages took a dip in updates, I don't plan on any further production gaps (even while animating on these other things). Also, I still plan on posting up the old work I have for you guys. I meant that to be just a week's worth of posts, but scanning everything is proving to be a much more lengthy process than I had predicted.
So, just wanted to post this up as an apology for the lack of updates.
That's the problem with all these little side things. With Battle Holiday there is such instant gratification when I work on a page. I start, I finish, I post within one or two days. All these other things take so much more time and waver on the priority list. But hopefully I can find a way to get more time for all my artwork soon.
Thanks for being so patient with me, guys. Hope you enjoy the new page up today. Only one more page before Chapter 4
I just wanted to everybody know that though the pages took a dip in updates, I don't plan on any further production gaps (even while animating on these other things). Also, I still plan on posting up the old work I have for you guys. I meant that to be just a week's worth of posts, but scanning everything is proving to be a much more lengthy process than I had predicted.
So, just wanted to post this up as an apology for the lack of updates.
That's the problem with all these little side things. With Battle Holiday there is such instant gratification when I work on a page. I start, I finish, I post within one or two days. All these other things take so much more time and waver on the priority list. But hopefully I can find a way to get more time for all my artwork soon.
Thanks for being so patient with me, guys. Hope you enjoy the new page up today. Only one more page before Chapter 4
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