Rough Animated Storyboards

A while ago I slapped together a very rough animated storyboard, of some ideas I had for the opening of the show. 

 

I came across a really crappy quick sketch I did a long time ago and really liked the unicorn having legs. 

Since then I have been toying, get it, with making the unicorn a straight up unicorn instead of a big-wheel. If he has legs he will be able to do more stuff, like pick his nose. The possibilities are endless really.    

He had it coming...

A little sketchy

Hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving. I took another pass on the pilot episode script and the second episode script as well. I'm happy with where they are and the direction the show is taking. Of course the scripts could always be funnier, but that will come with rewrites and notes.

My buddy Todd did some great sketches for me over the weekend and I wanted to share them with you:

Todd's got da skillz.

Typitty Typitty Type

I've been going crazy with writing this past week. I finished the first draft of my new favorite episode of the show. It's entitled, "The Great Cabbage Fluffy McStuffin".  It's very much a one off, creature of the week, type episode. It's got tons of action, comedy, and just might tug at your heart strings.

Writing the show is really helping me to get a good hold on the characters and their motivations. I am trying very hard to write episodes that have strong character arcs as well as story arcs.  I didn't want the shows to be one-dimensional story-lines. I'm trying to steer clear of making each episode just about the event or obstacles that the characters are up against.

I also wanted to create a world that these characters inhabit, so that people they run into can come and go throughout different episodes. It's challenging to have basically two main characters and not an ensemble cast like Futurama or Family Guy. The main villain will be a big part of the show, as will his minions, but I want to slowly build up a character library as the show progresses.  I'm planning to introduce new characters that will have a longer shelf life with the next episode.

Still shopping the show around, so if you want to buy a great show for your network let me know.

Nuclear Balm

Finished writing the pilot episode. I was aiming toward an 11 minute model for the show, al a Adult Swim,  but the pilot ended up being 24 pages long. In general a person should toss the pilot and start with the second episode of a show. This usually makes it more engaging to an audience. Starting in the middle is always a much stronger choice writing wise.

I had written an episode of the show a while ago and wanted to do a back story to see where it took me creatively. The script turned out really nice and sets up an ominous back story and a mystery to unravel throughout the series.

I thought I'd post an excerpt from the script. This is about 3 minutes in, Fluffy McStuffin's had to load his station wagon with his 30 children attempting to escape from a gang of evil teddy bears. After a thrilling desert car chase, Fluffy crashes and passes out. Don't forget Fluffy has an Australian accent...

FADE UP

EXT. DESERT. NOON.

POV of Fluffy.

TALKS-A-LOT

Well well well, looks like our new friend is waking up.

The evil TEDDY TALKS-A-LOT slowly comes into focus. Teddy is one of those story time bears that needs a cassette tape in his chest to talk. He sounds a tad like Frasier, with a bit of a British twang. 

Fluffy slowly wakes up, tied between two cacti with his arms and legs outstretched in the shape of an X.

FLUFFY

Who the hell are you? Where are my kids?

TALKS-A-LOT

It's funny that you think you are in any position to ask questions Mr. McStuffin. This isn't a game show. Now tell me what I want to know, or...

Talks-A-Lot snaps his fingers.

BILLY (off screen)

Dad!

FLUFFY

Billy!

We see that Billy is being held by the ears at the top of a machine that resembles a chipper shredder. One of TALKS-A-LOTS evil teddy bear minions, SWEETIE PIE, is holding BILLY over the deadly mouth of the machine. KISSY FACE, a smaller teddy bear pulls a lawn mower-esque starter that brings the beast to life.

TALKS-A-LOT

...we'll find out what you're boys made of... literally. What did...

Teddy stops talking for a beat. There is a beep noise.

ANNOUNCER

End of side one.

Teddy pops out his tape and turns it over.

TALKS-A-LOT

...Sophia tell you before she died?

FLUFFY

How do you know Sophia?

TALKS-A-LOT

Again with the questions! Sweetie Pie, show the rabbit what happens if his next sentence ends with a question mark...

Oooooooh, what's going to happen to Billy? I guess you'll just have to find out when the show hits the air waves and internet tubes. Please help spread the word about the show to all the powerful decision making executives at any television stations you might know. I don't have a deal with anyone yet after all.

Thanks!

Teaser

I made a little teaser trailer for the show, I'm working on getting the intro fully animated. I did an animatic myself for it with some crude hastily done drawings, and sent it off to my buddy Sam Ellis to do nice cleaned up artwork. Once he has finished the pretty artwork, I will re-cut the animatic and post it.

Once that is done I plan to open a kickstart page in an attempt to raise money for a fully animated intro sequence. There will be prizes involved for those that donate, so keep your eyes peeled.

Welcome to the End

Hello internet! Welcome to the production blog for a show that hasn't even aired yet. Heck, it doesn't even have a home to air ON yet. At the time of this blog entry I am knee deep in begging, borrowing, and pleading with a number of my talented friends in the animation and comedy fields to help me make this show a reality. Not a reality show, a reality.

I've been in the entertainment industry for over 16 years and written a lot of shows and show pitches. Of all the shows I've done, this one really speaks to me, literally. At night I hear it whispering terrible and horrific instructions in my ear. I figured the best way to make the voices stop and to keep myself from become a serial killer, is to birth this show onto the magical TV air waves.

To this end I have enlisted some of the most talented people I know to help out. If you are feeling left out because I know you and you believe yourself to be talented, please call me. I'm sure I can put you to work somewhere.

In the following weeks I will be posting artwork, script pages, production notes, and general fun stuff regarding the progress of this production. Getting a show bought by a network is not unlike finding a unicorn and then convincing that unicorn to turn itself inside out while spinning plates and juggling flaming Volkswagens. That's right, it's just that easy.

If you happened to be a big time producer, and you happened to have stumbled across this blog, and you happened to be interested in this show drop me a line HERE.

Happy show creating people!