Can't stop, won't stop making puppets!
I've been quietly building a replacement-animation puppet head for the upcoming Kent Melton documentary. This animation is a breakdown of the head assembly and all the little parts that make it work.
Kent was already a legend by the time we began working together on ParaNorman, though he never let on. He wasn't the sort to mention that he had quietly shaped half the animated films I grew up loving.
For over a decade at LAIKA, Kent would sculpt the hero sculpts of our characters in clay and I would attempt to recreate his maquettes and reverse engineer them into digital puppet heads. Two artists from different eras - me fumbling with all the technology in the world, trying to understand the undeniable genius of a man working with sticks and mud.
Whether Kent knew it or not, he became my teacher. I followed behind him studying every fingerprint, tool mark, and happy accident, trying to preserve the truth of what he made.
Getting to contribute to something honoring him means a lot to me.
More info over at @kentmeltondocumentary
Music by Kent Melton
I did this after work in one coffee-fueled sitting. Admittedly it wasnt meant to be anything more than a doodle but I kinda like it! What do you think? Is it worth finishing? Is this my next toy design?
#artistsoninstagram #speedsculpt #toydesign #3dmodeling #3dmodel #zbrush #skullart #vinylcollection #vinyltoy #characterart #characterdesign #monsterdesign #sculpture #autodeskmaya #skulls #funkopop
A better look at the toy design I'm currently working on. The final product will be about six inches tall. Current plan is to make the cape removable... You know, so you can really enjoy those hams ;) #toydesign #characterdesign #vinyltoy #collectibletoys #creepy #3dmodel #3dmodeling #puppets #zbrush #3dprinting #devil #tidywhities #funko
Amazing progress on the Kent puppet head by @tyjohnson83 who collaborated with Kent on various Laika films😍 We have been working for months to figure out the head mechanics, mouth movement, expressions and much more, to help Kent get ready for his interviews.✨
#stopmotion #animation #handmade #miniature #puppet
NETFLIX just dropped the official trailer for The Twits 🐸🧀🎡
I was part of Netflix’s internal Art Department during early visual development. Our close-knit team worked directly with director Phil Johnston (Ralph Breaks the Internet; Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph) producer Maggie Malone, art director @drewhartel Hartel, and so many others. I was brought on largely because of my work on #paranorman , meant to bring some of that handcrafted, slightly crooked charm into this world.
My specific contributions included sculpting Mr. and Mrs. Twit, the two child protagonists, and the Muggle-Wump family, laying the groundwork for what Jellyfish Pictures later carried through in production. It’s great to see those designs come to life so faithfully in the final film.
Congrats to everyone involved!
#netflix #3dmodeli̇ng #characterdesign #lookdevelopment #zbrush
Wow, it's already been an entire year since @emmajohnson_2021 and I tied the knot! 😳 But then it feels like soooo much has changed for the better in that time too: moving into our Beaverton home together with our sweet puppy @bagel.cavapoo , selling my old place... this year has been full of milestones.
Everything from work, gym, play, puppy-time, adulting... and our day-to-day routines in general have become so beautifully intertwined. Here’s to a year of blending it all in the best way possible, with so much more to look forward to! ❤️
Bagel poked the sleepy bear this morning and got more than he bargained for... and yet somehow he managed to fall asleep before he could escape 🤣 Don't worry, I'm careful not to crush him. 😅
Me and the lil lady celebrating an early birthday at LeChon (one of our favorites). Something about delicious south American food and cocktails makes getting older a little easier. Amiright?
Yesterday I turned 41 and had a really lovely day with my little family. As a gift to myself, I took the day off work and we slept in. As per tradition, the sun was in full force. But this year we were prepared with a brand new inflatable kiddie pool! Bagel joined me for a dip and, despite it being his first swim ever, he clearly loved it. The day culminated with my beautiful wife treating me to dinner at @laurelhurstmarket my favorite Steak. If this is what getting old feels like, I ain't complaining :)
A new peek at WILDWOOD came out today. It's also our first glimpse of Prue, Laika's newest stopmotion hero.
Wildwood was was the last film I worked on with @laikastudios and it's insane to think that it's STILL not finished. I'm so excited to see this come out next year!
Yep, it's true @emmazhou2021 and I officially tied the knot~!!! We've been anxiously waiting for the right time to share and I promise a better appreciation post for my wife is coming, but neither of us can bear to keep this news to ourselves any longer.
Here's to us honey 🥂💕
#dibs #notsharing #justmarried #elope #gothitched
Another unfinished idea that came outta' nowhere. Excited to build on this and iron out the timing.
#piano #calmdown #chill #selftaught #idontknowwhatimdoing #pianistsofinsta #melancholy
