Guys With Pencils

The boys are back for one last chat to let you know what they've been up to for the past year and what the plans are for the future of the GWP archive.   ADAM'S NEW PODCAST! COLLEGE SNAKE! ANDREW'S TWITTER ADAM'S TWITTER

photo credits in banner: Grayden Lang, Mark Mayerson, Caroline Gauthier.   Well It's finally come to the end of the Guys With Pencils Podcast. Thank you all for listening to us over the last 4 years as we have talked about our experiences. Going from fresh green grads to hosting panels at some awesome animation festivals. Learning and sharing with you, our listeners. A big thank you to all of our guests we have ever had on the show. We hope you've enjoyed recording with us as much as we did with you! Big thanks!!!! -Andrew & Adam.      

 It's been one hell of week. A lot of stuff has gone down in the world and now a days we are more of a global community than ever before. So a lot of social issues that happen in one part of the globe and it becomes something that everyone else is witnessing. So there is a lot of stuff they talk about regarding what's been happening lately. Which leads into the topic of well being and taking care of ones self mentally plays a hand with the supportive community you build around yourself.

We had the good fortune to talk with the talented Kelly Smith! Kelly works for Capybara Games! IF you haven't heard of either her or Capy, then you must have take your head from out of the sand and start getting informed! Start by listening to this podcast where we dive into the really awesome path that took Kelly from being an animation grad working in a box factory to kickass artist working for Capy! Check out more about Kelly HERE And don't forget to check out her shop HERE ALSO! Check out Adam's guest appearance on another podcast CANADALAND! As he talks about the animation business in Canada.

This week, We're joined with our friend Wayne Michael Lee! Wayne works for Titmouse Vancouver and has been working on setting up a west coast lecture series titled "vAnimatic" If you're familiar with Animatic TO, the premise is the same but just out on the west coast for the animation community to enjoy! Have a listen as get a first taste if you will of what vAnimatic will have in store! For more info on Wayne - check out the links below. vAnimatic Wayne's TwitterWayne's Tumblr 

This week we are joined by Brian Evinou. Brian's been busy working on the promotion of the newly announced MONSTROSITY II ! We got to sit down with him and go over the ins and outs of having to create this second installment of the graphic novel. We cover everything from the origins of his career in the animation industry to his work on the first Monstrosity book. Lot's of interesting tidbits to listen to! With the Kickstarter in it's final days, go help fund this project with the link provided above!

It's been a busy work week, so the boys are just having a nice conversation about their favorite drink - COFFEE. It's a "let's talk about comics/horror/ and all the different kind of ways you can drink coffee" kinda chat. So we encourage you to grab a cup of your favorite brew and relax and enjoy the ramblings of to overworked animation dudes. Thanks for listening!

Saying you're sorry can be the hardest thing to do. Especially if you are a corporation. What are the implications of public apologies? Are they handled in the best manner?  This week the boys chat about some recent events that make them question these sorts of public relation tactics.For more information regardin the topics discussed in this episode. Follow this link --> HERE

We've brought back two of our favorite guests Alex and Lindsay Small-Butera! The creators of BAMAN PIDERMAN! If you havent heard our first episode with these two awesome folks, Check it out HERE!  Since we last spoke to them they were able to get their Baman Piderman Kickstarter off the ground! Within hours the goal was met and Baman Piderman would be returning with a set amount of episodes! But with 30 days still left to go on the Kickstarter page, the funding continued! Now they have exceeded their original goal, Alex and Lindsay are hard at working getting ready to ramp up on this chapter that will bring the story to a close.     Have a listen as we talk to them about their experience bringing their project back to life!        Alex's Twitter Lindsay's Twitter 

So here's a question..What will you be doing down the road? Sure you may be a student with the desire to work in the animation industry. Or maybe you're an industry pro who has been working for 20 years or more. But what will you're next job be? If there's anything that has been learned in the last few years doing this podcast is that you need to open to the option of changing careers. This industry has changed drastically and who knows where it will be going. Will there be room for you in the future? Maybe what excites you now, wont be so interesting down the road.Have a listen as the Boys chat about the long road it's been and the future that lies ahead.

This week Andrew takes a break while Adam fills his empty seat with Henry Faber. Henry runs Bento Miso with Jennie Faber and has a lot of insight on what its like to help manage projects as well as excellent events and spaces. Henry also has a lot of insight on what it means to work with a focus on your values, and how doing so can be very meaningful to others and help create a less toxic environment in the mediums we work in.

This weekend was TAAFI! Toronto Animation Arts Festival International! We hosted 3 panels and got to meet up with a lot of friends and colleagues who work in Toronto. Lots of great times were had by all and the TAAFI crew did a phenomenal job putting everything together! This episode is just a taste of what we did at TAAFI. In the weeks to come we will do a follow up episode with the folks behind the event. But for now, Have a listen to the awesome things that we got to witness!

So is it good enough? What sets apart someone's work opposed to another? What are the qualities that a production team look for when hiring? Is there more to just being a good drafts person? How does something terrible get green lit and continue to be broadcast? We fumble around these questions as we talk about what makes something good enough to be shown on TV.  It's not really the kind of talk where you can pin point the exact answers, but none the less it's still a good discussion to have. Remember! This is your LAST WEEK to win tickets to our TAAFI PANELS! Just draw a funny picture of Adam and Andrew then tweet it with the hashtag #gwpcontest to @guyswithpencils & @andrewmurrman Winners will be informed by email and you'll get 2 tickets to 1 of 3 panels we will be hosting at TAAFI!

So there have been a lot of stories in the media about the responsibilities creators have over the content they create. Each decade you'll hear things like; " A kid broke his arm while trying to fly like Superman" or "Kids go into sewers looking for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." Sometimes these stories end with sad note, where the kids mimicking  these things accidentally die. This week Adam and Andrew discuss the roles and responsibilities creators have and should have when it comes to these kinds of situations. NOTE: This episode is a discussion between two friends and their thoughts. Their opinions are on the spot and it's not a debate. So there is no right or wrong answer in the end. But have a listen if you wanna hear them work through their process. Sincerely, Adam and Andrew!  

This week we got to sit down with Rocket 5 creators Cathy Feraday Miller and Tim Miller. These two have tons of experience in the gaming/animation industry. Between the two of them they have worked for Dreamworks feature animation, LucasArts, Nihilistic Software and a variety of animation houses around town. Currently working on their game Phantom P.I. Have a listen as we geek over all the great stuff they have been involved with and also talk about the journey they took to get their gaming studio off the ground!Check out more stuff from Rocket 5 HERE For more on Phantom P.I. click HERE Tim Miller's Twitter Cathy Feraday Miller's Twitter

This week the boys are catching up with eachother. It's been a pretty intense week for them so they decided to just sit back and discuss how things are going. That being said, it's not just you're regular watercooler chit chat. These talks usually lead into a specific topic. And this week, it's writing. Have a listen as they have a few self discovery moments during this episode.

 This week we are joined by Cheyenne Curtis! She is a French Canadian gal working down at Disney TV as a character designer! We got to catch up with her and talk about her experiences that lead her from the snowy peaks of Montreal to the sunny beaches of California. Her story is not what you would consider to be "traditional", when it comes to landing a job at Disney. Have a listen as she dives in to the pitching process. You get to hear first hand experiences of what it's like pitching to the big wigs! Afterwards, listen to Adam and Andrew ask questions about cultural differences between Canada and the US. (They do this because they both lead very sheltered lives)   Cheyenne's TwitterCheyenne's Blog

This week we are joined with the talented Nicole Kozak. Nicole is a animator who attended Sheridan College and is now working on a variety of TV projects and personal ones. We brought her in to chat about the personal work she does outside of her 9-5 job. Her personal work revolves around her love for design and clothing. Have a listen as we talk to her about the ins and outs of getting her own line of clothing off the ground while still working her animation job to pay the bills. *Apologies for the abrupt ending in the episode. Our batteries died before we could wrap it up.*   Check out Nicole's Tumblr HERECheck out Nicole's Hilltop Shop HERE

Joining us this week is comic artist Boum! Also goes by the name Samantha Leriche-Gionet. Working out of her apartment, she posts her comic 'Boumeries', based on her life, every Monday/Wednesday/Friday. We got the chance to talk about her career and all the aspects involved with making  her web comic. This episode is filled with lots of fun, mispronunciations, and dreams about toilets. Check out more of Boum's work at her site, HERE Boum's TWITTER Boum's FACEBOOK   Don't forget to check out Michelle's comic that was mentioned in the opening HERE!  

This week the Guys get to chat about their upcoming jobs. Surprisingly, both start on the same day. Joining them is their friend Eric Gauthier (background painter and Art lead extraordinaire) They chat about the workloads that lie ahead along with the upcoming game that Adam is writing. With deadlines that are looming, They all look for a solution. If only there was a Game Genie for real life!

This week the Guys got to chat with their former professor Mark Mayerson. Back in March Mark did a lecture at the monthly Animatic TO series. His talk was titled "Don't Pitch To the Buyer, Pitch To the Audience". If you missed out on his talk, this episode will be sort of an epilogue on the points he had when it comes to pitching your concept. Here's a link to a MovieBob video Andrew rambled on about regarding Hollywood & Destiny.

This week we got to talk with Illustrator/Character Designer, Chris Battle! Chris has been working for over 20 years in the animation business working on such projects as; Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Lab, Teen Titans GO! Chris joined us this week to chat about his work as a designer and the advice he shares for newer generations of artists who are looking to get into the same field. Check out his stuff below! Chris Battle Blog Chris Battle Tumblr

Talking movies is what's happening this week. The new animated feature version of 'PEANUTS' was debuted and there is a lot of talk back about it. So of course, you're two favorite cartoon nerds weigh in with their thoughts. It's a discussion starting from the basics of the comic strip to the styles that were chosen with this new feature film.

As the seasons change, so do the jobs. It's a fact of life having to work in this type of business. This week the Guys talk about the transitions that need to be made when adapting to a new job. Sometimes their are risks that have to be taken which can cause a lot of uncertainty. Other times there are periods where one job will end and another will start up and not a bit of effort was used to look elsewhere. It's just the way it goes...But it's not all serious business..Adam goes on a joyous recap of the film JASON X! DONT FORGET: Come to ANIMATIC TO (Hosted by Andrew Murray) Follow the link for more info! HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

WARNING: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS MORE HORSE BALLS THAN USUAL.   Katie Shanahan and J. Bone have joined us this week to talk about THEFT! specifically, Art Theft. Why Katie and J. you ask? Well because they are victims of having their own pieces of artwork stolen, traced and displayed without having any source credit to the original works or creators! This is a really interesting topic and we were very lucky to have such wonderful artists who can give their accounts as to what steps they took once they realized their work had been stolen. To find out more about Katie and J. Follow the links below: Katie Shanahan J.Bone

This week the Guys are talking about the future! With some contracts coming to a close and new job possibilities on the horizon, They have a little discussion about the work that is to come. But it's not all about work! They also take the time to reflect upon the personal impact that creative people have in their lives.

You’ve never heard of Jason Reeves? … He  made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs. duh! Well that's actually a lie..but Jason did work for George Lucas. Which is pretty damn cool. We got to talk with Jason recently about what it was like working for Lucas Arts in its final years before being bought by Disney. One of the really interesting aspects about his job was that Jason had already been working in the Toronto Animation scene for over a decade. So this was a pretty big move to uproot his family from Toronto to LA for a job. Have a listen as we dive into the aspects of what it took to make this move possible and the experiences he gained while working for Lucas Arts.

In this episode you can expect more! More TCAF, more comics and more Chris Butcher!

This week we finally got to chat with the creator of the Toronto Comics Art Festival (or TCAF as it's known) Chris Butcher! Chris manages at the Beguiling Comic shop in Toronto and has now been running TCAF for over ten years! Chris is an overly nice guy and he was a fantastic guest to talk to. In this first part of a two part episode, we go on to discuss the festival origins along with the work that was involved into setting it up and making it one of the premiere comic art festivals in the world. Tune in next week for Part 2 of this episode!Chris Butcher's TwitterThe BeguilingTCAF

We got everyone's favorite comic book guru JIM ZUB back in the chair this week! For those of you who are unfamiliar, We spoke with Jim Zub before in a two part episode a few years ago. We brought Jim back to talk about his work on his series SKULLKICKERS and his most recent work for IDW on the new SAMURAI JACK comic! Grab a coffee, plug in your headphones and get ready to be motivated by the overly talented incredible nice guy, Jim Zub! Check out these links; Jim's previous episode on GWP - CLICK HEREJim's Twitter - CLICK HERE

We're chatting with Carla Veldman this week! She's a friend of ours who we went to Sheridan with back in the day. Her grad film "The Scarf" is a stop motion short that touches on the aspects of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. We got chatting with Carla, not only because she's a super nice person who we really enjoy being around, but she is going to be doing a puppet building workshop for TAIS (Toronto Animated Image Society) If you really enjoy stop motion and puppet making you should check it out! Have a listen this week as we talk about all the aspects of artistry behind stop motion animation! For Carla's Blog CLICK HERE For Carla's film "The Scarf" CLICK HEREFor TAIS Workshop info CLICK HERE

This week we got to chat with KAT MORRIS! She's worked on such series as; SUPERJAIL!, THE REGULAR SHOW and her most recent work can be seen on Cartoon Network's STEVEN UNIVERSE, where she works her magic as the Story Supervisor! Have a listen as we chat with her about the things that influence her. This episode is pretty rad, talking about everything from The Simpsons to Roller Derby. Kat Morris is one really awesome lady making some great stories for you fine folks! Follow her on TWITTER Check out her BLOG Check out her TUMBLR

Since the conception of this podcast, both Adam and Andrew have been very fortunate to have been working from project to project with very few breaks in between. And since the beginning, they have said that you will get to hear about the high points and the low points. This weeks episode focuses on some of the not so easy aspects of working as a freelance artist. The reality of a job ending abruptly can occur. Have a listen and hear how they deal with this unfamiliar territory. 

Another year has begun, new resolutions have been made, and some more podcasting is underway. This week Adam and Andrew talk about the new year and the new things that will be going on for the both of them, 2014 looks like it will be a great time! Have a listen as they look back on 2013 with all the ups and downs that it had to offer!

This week the boys visit the Toronto studio Tinman Creative and talk to one of its founders Brett Jubinville! Brett tells us all about his career and what its like to start and run a studio in today's media climate while still being and artist!

This week we spoke with Animatic TO creator Barry A. Sanders! Barry is a local Toronto animator who has been working in the industry over the past 17 years. He has recently created the new monthly animation social get together group, Animatic TO. Animatic TO is a monthly animation lecture series and social event dedicated to education, inspiration and building community in Toronto's animation scene. It's only in its 3rd session, but the reception has been fantastic! If you can make it in to Toronto for Wednesday the 18th, come see Kris Pearn (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 co-director) do his lecture! If you would like more info click HERE

Adam and Andrew were at the Bit Bazaar Winter Market this weekend. It was a great time had by all! If you didnt go, you missed out on one hell of a festival! The Guys had the chance to talk with some previous guests who had been on the podcast before (Rosemary Brennan, Rachel Kahn) But they also got to chat with some new folks, Like Miles Baker (He helps run TCAF!). Adam and Andrew also get to have a sit down with the overly helpful and talented couple Jenny & Henry Faber. Without them there would be no Bit Bazaar. The Bazaar had a relaxed vibe of comradery that you dont really see at a lot of the bigger expos, So it definitely stood out as one of the best community efforts put together in a long time. Have a listen to the episode Check out more info about the Bazaar HERE  Check out Robby Duguay's Christmas album HERE

This week the Boys start off with a little recap of the previous work week, talking jobs, events, and overall the atmosphere and where their heads are at for the upcoming month. December can be a really busy time with work, parties, holidays, etc etc. So In this episode they talk about the future opportunities and ideas they both have rolling around inside their heads.They also received a question regarding Freelance work from a listener, to which they address in this episode."...Im looking for advice about commissions on flash puppets. I get people requesting me if I can make puppets for them. How should I price?..."  ALSO!!!!If you happen to be in the Toronto Area on Dec 7th - Check out the Bit Bazaar @ Bento Miso! MORE INFO HERE

 From the start of this podcast we have always made it a point to be observant of what our effect on the animation industry is. Working as Canadians within this industry we have either been working on content for overseas clients or working on our own ideas and trying to expand the Canadian animation scene at home and abroad.In this episode, we discuss our own personal thoughts based on the past three years. It revolves around the politics, the finances and the culture that we live in that defines our roles in the Canadian animation scene. 

We got to hang out with the awesome talent behind ASTEROID BASE this week! Asteroid Base is a Toronto based indie game studio headed by Matt Hammill  and Jamie Tucker.We got to have a long lengthy chat about their early starting points with the company and the trails and tribulations they have encountered doing what they do. It's a great talk and we learned a lot about their process and personal motivations that help them make the awesome games they want to play!Check their site HERE!

If you have ever enjoyed Calvin & Hobbes we hope this weeks episode will be a treat for you! Just over a week ago a fan made animation was posted online to YouTube that was based off the classic comic strip. And during the time that it was posted it has reached over 500,000 views! If you haven't seen it Check it out HERE!And this week we were able to sit and chat with the fan who animated this adorable short. Adam Brown! Adam is a freelance animator who works out of Hamilton, Ontario. This episode has a lot of classic newspaper comic talk along with some insight on getting ones foot in the animation door. Follow Adam Brown HERE Check out the Bill Watterson Inspired Comic based off a speech he gave, HERE ALSO as a bonus; Check out the trailer for this new documentary about the impact of Calvin and Hobbes and its reclusive creator Bill Watterson. Check that out HERE

BAMF! It stands for BIG ACTION MEGA FIGHT!!! It's an new mobile game created by Double Stallion! The game is available on your mobile phones in Canada and will soon be available in the US! We got to chat with Eric Angelillo about his role in the creation of it!  It's a classic beat em up fighter game that throws a lot of love and care out to those types of games of yesteryear! If you love these kinds of games, check it out! It's Free too! Also, as a bonus, we chat with Eric about his process about creating the game and the amount of work it took for him to develop and get to a point where he wanted to work for himself within the game industry! Check out Big Action Mega Fight on ITUNES! Check out Eric's site HERE and download BAMF for your mobile device!

So we started talking about how Canadian TV networks are going to have some changes happening with how they allow their customers to view channel packages. It's an interesting topic that we bounce off from and took us to the deepest darkest areas of the internet and how to deal with the discourse that takes place. Then we talk about how we look at shows and games, and how important does the artistic look really come into play in the grand scheme of things?It's an all over the place kind of episode, but it all comes back to living in a visual world and how Adam loves his Bar Wars (technically known as Bar Rescue).Check out this link we mentioned in this episode: A Survivor's Guide to Discourse in the Internet Age  

She's one of the first female super heroes, predating Wonder Woman. She is based of the Inuit mythology and folklore. She is one of Canada's earliest Golden Age hero's in comic history! She's NELVANA!! Nelvana of the Northern Lights has been brought back to life through the efforts of Hope Nicholson and Rachel Richey! They put a Kickstarter together to help re issue her stories to people everywhere.  We had the opportunity to chat with Hope and Rachel about Nelvana and the role she has within Canadian comic history. If you are a fan of the Golden Age of comics from Canada and want to learn more about Nelvana then have a listen to our interview with her!Follow Rachel and Hope on Twitter and check out more info on Nelvana HERE! 

WARNING: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS INCREDIBLE INSPIRATIONAL TALKS THAT MAY CAUSE YOU TO PUSH YOUR LIMITS...ENJOY!  We got to sit down this week with Ricardo Curtis. Ricardo is the co-owner of the Toronto based studio House Of Cool. Known for their pre-production work, HoC has worked for a variety of major motion picture studios. If you have ever wondered what sets themselves apart from the other studios in town, have a listen to what Ricardo says. It's a fantastic talk filled with inspiration all along the way.  Check out House of Cool throughout the web!TWITTERFACEBOOKWEBSITE 

Seen the awesome animated short COIN? It's baller...friggin baller. It's a visual treat and so well done. This week we chat with it's creator CHRIS BURNS of Exit 73 Studios. Along withe Chris is his team member Bob Fox. Both guys runs Exit 73 and worked on COIN. One of the awesome things about this short is how Chris said he focused on animating the energy he had built up and from there he created a story around that. A really awesome way to create a short film if you ask us. Have a listen if you want to get all inspired with animation goodness!Check out Exit 73 Studios HEREExit 73 Studios Twitter Exit 73 Studios Facebook 

Did you ever think you wanted to go back to school for a second career? Maybe you want to try the animation industry? But you're not sure if it's the right choice. Maybe you think you're too old, or that it wont be worth the time and money. Well if you have ever thought about these things you should have a listen to this episode with our friend Rob Finlay.Rob works in the gaming industry but before that he had a completely different career. When Rob was 30 he took the chance on going back to school following his passion of art and animation. Check out this episode if you want to hear someone who made the choice to go back to school.Check out Rob's Blog here! 

Natahsa Allegri is our guest this week. She's the creator of the Cartoon Hangover sensation BEE & PUPPYCAT! She's also responsible for the designs behind FIONA & CAKE of Adventure Time! We have a great chat about the developement of BEE & PUPPYCAT and how it came to be along with her developement as an artist too. Also, if you a fan of Garfield, Ice Cream, and talking movies then you'll really enjoy all the other stuff we talk about in this episode!Check out Natasha's Twitter Check out Natasha's TumblrCheck out Bee & PuppyCat 

Adam and Andrew head back to school! This week they attened Sheridan College to check out their old stomping grounds. While they were there, they had the joy of running in to a current student, Justin Chan! Now Justin isn't your ordinary animation student. His work has already been featured at PAX 2013 and he was also able to secure a job working in the TV animation business. Have a listen because it's a pretty interesting tale to hear the old school talk with the new school. Check out Justin's Twitter and his Tumblr! 

Michelle Tripp is a Toronto based animator. She currently worked on the new show GROJBAND! (airs Thursday nights @ 7pm on TELETOON) Not only is she just an animator, She's an animation lead! She's in charge of making sure the whole production comes together on the animation side. She's been working for a decade in the Canadian TV animation business. Have a Listen as we talk about a variety of things. Starting with her own work to what it's like being a female lead animator in the animation business where there are a lot of males producing the work. Check out her TUMBLR HERE!And if you liked that check out her TWITTER! 

The boys catch up on recent going on's including Andrew's first serious experience behind the table at Fan Expo, Adam not going for the first time in 10 years and what it all means to them.