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As some of you will know, I am an award-winning traditional hand-drawn master animator, author and teacher of animation. I have always sought to bring a high degree of integrity, quality and even a discreet spirituality to my work. I am desperately keen to keep the great legacy of traditional, hand-drawn animation alive - while at the same time, moving it forward, boldly to places it has never gone before. Through all this, I have invested so much of my time and resources, in the attempt bringing to the world creative project that are unique, innovative and inspiring. Now entering my autumn years, I am crazily multi-tasking - effectively working on for very different "legacy projects" that I hope to complete before I returns to that "great animation studio in the sky". To do it however, I need to enlist the support of others - as without such support, not everything I want to do in the time I have left will be possible. To enable this, I have set up a Buy Me A Coffee and a Patreon support page.
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Legacy 01: Each of my four projects will communicate something of value that my life has taught me - on several different levels of my being. You may not like all of them, but perhaps there is one that you find you can support. The inspiration for this first project - which is somewhat already completed with the publication of my "ANIMATION MASTERCLASSES from Pencils to Pixels", However, I now want to create a complimentary animation project to to this - a very personal history of animation course, to be called "Once Upon a Time in Penciltown". This is a unique view of animation's history - based from an animator's point of view, not an academic's. I think this is a new slant that will bring true knowledge to the subject-matter, from one who knows the process. |
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Legacy 02: The "ANIMATION LEGACY SERIES" of books is a new publishing approach to sharing my knowledge and experience with others, through an ongoing collection of affordable, booklets that will offer specialist knowledge for anyone who is interested in animation and the animation industry. They will also raise the bar on existing work for current professional animators. The first in the series is "The Animation Student Guidebook", which prepares young peopls for entering the animation world - including advising them on how to find a good college to get them there. It also suggests the kind of entry material a student will need upon graduation, to get that all-important first job. The second booklet in the series will be an essential, potted history of animation - with other, more specialist books, to follow in time.
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Legacy 03: The third legacy project I hope to complete is an epic length graphic novel - my first ever - which is essentially a "mystical hero's journey" I once wrote with the intention of turning it into a ground-breaking animated movie with a musical, Fantasia-like theme running through it. Believing the story - "MADA and the Magic Tree" - is too important not to see the light of day, I have now decided to embark on the marathon challenge of bringing this original story to life through words and illustrations. |
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Legacy 04: My forth and final legacy project - provisionally called "The Old Man Mad About Animating" - is a full-length, animated and/or graphic novel "memoirs" documentary of my life and amazing experiences I had living it. This is not in any way an ego trip. Instead, it is a comprehensive recreation of many of the quite amazing people, places and experiences I've encountered throughout over the decades. I am hoping too that project will proved opportunities for the young and emerging animators around the world - as well as inspire others to pursue their own creative journeys.
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I thank you for any support you can offer, to help me realize these last remaining dreams.