Happy New Year

I hope y'all have a great New Year!

A few things on my 2006 resolution list - (not in any particular order)

- continue excercising every day (going on for over two years now!)

- draw more

- post more drawings

- finish a few children's books! (they are so so so close!!!)

- increase spirituality

- build stronger relationships

- finish my musical cd / sheet music booklet

- motto "happiness is in the journey, not the destination."

Super Duper Blogs

I came across some wonderful artists here on Blogger.
wow.......
http://shawnscott.blogspot.com/
http://www.rajeshindulkar.blogspot.com/
http://bobbychiusubwaysketchgroup.blogspot.com/
http://amiga-team.blogspot.com/
http://andreiriabovitchev.blogspot.com/
http://ericsthomas.blogspot.com/
http://aurelieblardquintard.blogspot.com/
http://tanyalyon.blogspot.com/
http://alcornstudios.blogspot.com/
http://gogeckogirl.blogspot.com/
http://lionsong.blogspot.com/
http://lorrainealvarez.blogspot.com/
http://geenpool.blogspot.com/2005/11/huddle-and-gene.html
http://eddiepittman.blogspot.com/
http://bbinitials.blogspot.com/
http://hansranum.blogspot.com/
http://www.eddiepittman.com/
http://www.saltysugar.com/
http://hansranum.blogspot.com/
http://www.navone.org/
http://www.shaneglines.net/
http://stephensilver.blogspot.com/
http://markmcdonnell.blogspot.com/
http://www.andyice.com/
http://www.peterdeseve.com/
http://mad-t-party.blogspot.com/
http://ulimeyer1000.blogspot.com/
http://desoluz.blogspot.com/
http://reynoldsben.blogspot.com/
http://ryansmithsblogspot.blogspot.com/
http://brentgordon.blogspot.com/
http://john-nevarez.blogspot.com/

Christmas

This is a great season for Thanksgiving.
I have so many blessings to be thankful for.
This year has been a wonderful year celebrating many projects I have worked on.
(some have been years in the making)
I received a gold award for the MMA "In Awe" animation award. And a silver award too!
A script I wrote is in full production. (stop motion animation)
I was selected from 300+ plays to receive a special award. My musical was performed in a beautiful Assembly Hall for two nights. And if that wasn't enough, my musical may be performed in two theaters next year. And if that still wasn't enough, I am teaming up with a famous producer who has worked with Barbara Streisand, George Bush, Osmonds, Senator Hatch, and many more to help produce my cd.
My dinosaurs I worked on for National Geographic made the front cover, and filled the pages.
And so much more.

I am so appreciative of all the wonderful blessings given to me this year.

The nine old men....who are they?

Ok, if you really need to ask who the famous 9 Old Men are, um...then you must not be an animation enthusiast.

Walt Disney's most talented group of animators ever assembled were dubbed "The 9 Old Men". These men were extremely talented not only in the art medium, but also as directors. Their contribution to the animation world is incalculable. They have touched millions of lives. They were truly the pioneers of animation as we know it and emulate today.

There must have been a synergy when these men got together that pushed them and inspired them to excel. Will that ever be duplicated? So far, I haven't seen it in the films pumped out year after year.

Some of the best films that ever came out of Disney Studios were from under their direction during the memorable "Disney Years". Looking at the slough of so called Disney films to surface over the past 10 years makes you wonder, "Where did things go wrong?".

Walt will never be replaced. In my opinion, neither will the visions of the 9-old men who worked with Walt under his direction and continued his vision after his untimely death.

The nine old men are . . .
Les Clark
Marc Davis
Ollie Johnston
Milt Kahl
Ward Kimball
Eric Larsen
John Lounsberry
Wolfgang "Woolie" Reitherman
Frank Thomas

A book written by John Canemaker called, "Walt Disney's Nine Old Men and the Art of Animation" is available on Amazon and well worth getting.

Greatest Family Films according to Devourax

These are what I consider to be the finest family films to ever grace the screen . . .

Ok, most Disney films via the Nine Old Men are considered among the greatest...in fact, while Walt Disney was alive, I would say every picture under his direction was "family gold".
Here are some more...

- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder version)
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- Chroncicles of Narnia
- Pippi Longstocking (dubbed versions)
- A Christmas Story
- Sound of Music
- Wizard of Oz

Family Film Criteria According To Devourax

The criteria for a great family film in my book is as follows . . .
- must stand the test of time
- avoids pop culture references
- is family friendly
- no cuss words including "Oh My G**"
- is G rated (maybe PG)
- easy on the "scary" factor
- isn't bound by demographics
- makes trends...not follows trends
- original and fun characters
- characters we can relate to
- endearing and sweet
- has a moral...but not in your face morals
- isn't afraid to reference God or religion
- the underdog always wins
- avoids agendas
- avoids violence
- portrays respect for people and elders
- avoids sex and risque content
- avoids cigarettes and drinking

So what films fall into these catagories?....hmmmm.....

What do You think?

I'll post my favorite family films soon.

Christmas list

So, with Christmas around the corner, I am going through my wish list.
I'll only mention a few...
- Frank and Ollie DVD (I have the vhs version)
- Chuck Amuck DVD (I have the vhs version)
- King Kong DVD (ape crazy)
- Twilight Zone Collection 4 and 5
- Rob Thomas solo cd
- Celtic Woman cd
- Flight issue 1 and 2
- Spectrum (any)
- Brady Bunch season 4 and 5
- Gilligan's Island (all)
- Land of the Lost (all)
- Took
- A rasberry lemonade, tunes, and a tan on a deserted island......