February 27, 2006

baboon bootay's

Ok...So I love apes. I love monkeys. I have been ape crazy for primates since I was a wee lad. In fact, alot of my ideas will have at least an ape character, or reference to an ape. I guess that's what I get for wanting to be a primatologist as a child, then turning out to be a computer monkey. (ref to a primate)

My kids always crack (no pun intended) up at the baboons in the zoo and their big ripe blue bums full of rainbow colors. What a strange thing to have a beautiful rainbow butt.

I grew up watching apes in cartoons and movies. From King Kong, Curious George, Mighty Joe, Gargantua, Magilla Gorilla, Grape Ape, Bonzo, Tarzan, ...I loved them all. It seems lately that everyone is ape crazy since King Kong came out....and Curious George. This must be the year of the monkeys (apes).

After all, doesn't everyone like a monkey?

February 19, 2006

Competition and India

Competition. Yesss. The world thrives on competition. As consumers, we like competition. Why? Because it drives the prices down. It keeps business on their toes. It really is a good thing. There is surely enough pie for everyone.
But alas, what is happening in our world? This is the era of big business buying big business, thus making big businesses....gigantic businesses. Buying the competition.
What does that mean for us as consumers?

To me , it means as a consumer of product, I get to spend more money. To me, it means Corperate Monopolies. To me, it means less customer satisfaction.

Let's shift gears into a similar subject.

I am an animator. I animate. I feed my family by animating. I have over 10 years experience, and consider myself more than a novice in the industry.

Enter India.

The company I work for just bid out a large project the other day. It would end up being a $60 k job. The client took the same project to India. Their bid came back at $1500 ....Fifteen Hundred Dollars???????? There is absolutely no way that we could ever do the same job for that amount of money. So, the client took their project to 2 different India companies. The company paid them each approx $1500 and decided to go with the one that works the best for them. What could they lose for 3 k?

Man oh man.

I understand that cheap labor equals bigger profit margins. Somehow I think that between the communication gaps and the difference in cultures, that the India experience won't necessarily be all it's cracked up to be. I am a little concerned that this is a new competition where American companies will never be able to compete.

However, the work coming out of India is getting better and better. Most of the big well known animation houses are already using them. They are being trained by the best. (Disney etc)

To me this is very discouraging. I either compete with them, or hire them to work for me if I continue to stay in this industry.

February 14, 2006

Family Entertainment

What is considered "family entertainment" anymore?
The way I would describe family entertainment, is to sit down with kids of all ages and watch a show without any objectionable content. You can relax, and feel confident that the show you are watching will inspire, teach, uplift and entertain.

You have been there many times. The kids want a movie night...you cringe at what is out there. Whether you decide to watch television, or rent a new movie, you hope and pray is will be free from the crap stuff. The movie starts.....you can hardly enjoy it for fear of the borderline language, sexual innuendos, risque dress etc etc etc.
You finally decide, before it gets worse to turn it off.

It's not worth it.

Your children are what they eat. They are what they watch. It's a fact. Proven through the ages.
Why would we ever want our kids to act like Hollywierd? Or to be taught by them?

Absurd!

Do yourself a favor. Do your family a favor....Turn OFF the crap.... Get it out of your home.

One day.....sometime soon in the near future....Devourax will have an alternative to the garbage.

So stay tuned.