rufftoon

Trailer 2 for rise of the guardians

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 03:50:47 GMT

Finally, Jack is getting his debut in this second trailer.

Once again, being hit how we're almost done with this and it will be out in just a few months. After you spend 2 years with these characters, it will feel bizarre saying goodbye to them.
*sigh*
I don't know what I'm going on to next. Not yet. First will have to go through Comicon and a few more hurdles.
There was a slight snafu with the prints and the printer, so I *hope* it all turns out well!
...
Wanted to give more news, but my brain is shutting down. Really tiredm sorry about that.
Hope you all have a great weekend!

It's San Diego Comicon time again!

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 04:20:57 GMT

And I am going to be totally evil and basically copy pasta what I posted on DA.
Because I am lazy that way.
And I DESERVE lazy, as I am still very busy with a billion little things that flood me. I can't stop working!
...
But the work on Guardians is winding down. Storyboards have to end at some point, and we're only 5 months away from release. Yeah, I mentioned that in the past journal, didn't I? I guess because my every waking hours are still very much chained to it so I don't have that many original news.
But on to SDCC, and reposting my DA journal...so you can skip that last part if you've read it on DA

Comicon is almost upon us!
Just wanted to give a few heads up:
I'll be there the whole weekend, from Wednesday July 11th Preview night to Sunday July15th. I'll be helping at the Bolt City production table (formerly Flight), situated at booth #2235, right between Marvel and Sideshow Collectibles.

We'll have may great artists with their books present:
Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet), Scott C (The Great Showdowns), Jorge Cham (PHD comics), Michel Gagné (saga Of Rex, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet) and Tony Cliff (Delilah Dirk).

http://boltcity.com/
http://www.delilahdirk.com/
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php
http://greatshowdowns.com/
http://www.gagneint.com/

12:00-1:00 Cartoon Network and Dreamworks Animation Dragons: Riders of Berk, Room 6A

2:05-3:05 Walt Disney Studios: Frankenweenie, Oz The Great and Powerful, andWreck-it Ralph, Hall H

3:00-4:00 Hotel Transylvania, Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

Friday, July 13th
The Legend of Korra,11:15a – 12:15pm, Ballroom 20

The Legend of Korra Comic-Con Signing beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Nickelodeon booth

I may be absent from the Bolt CIty booth during the Dreamworks panel and the Korra one, but should be there most of the time.

So come on by! We can chat about everything Avatar and Korra related, and Guardians too, of course.

Remember: Bolt City Production #2235!

I am falling off the face of this planet

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 00:07:56 GMT

I am barely present on Livejournal anymore- ouch!
I am wasting time on Tumblr instead, I'm afraid, using LJ to keep an eye on what friends are doing, because some are not on Tumblr and...and...
Isn't there a program somewhere that would just take all those journals, blogs and what not and create one huge monster of updates?
No?
Too much of a mess? Yeah, probably.

Anyway, it's been a crazy past few months (work, overtime, no life) and though I sill have to spend a bit more time on Guardians, I am also seeing the end of my work on it coming to an end.
I am genuinely sad to be leaving this talented crew in the near future *snif*
The end of 2 years...
And talking of Guardians, these posters debuted online today:

And now, back to work!

Rise of The Guardians trailer! Live!

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:47:31 GMT

Now!

EDIT! Now with youTube
Exclusively on ITunes for the moment, will update when it is on YouTube

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/dreamworks/riseoftheguardians/

So much Korra love!

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 04:54:10 GMT

I hope most of you managed to see the two episodes of Korra this weekend. If not, it will be broadcasted April 14th on Nickelodeon.
I know it's hard if you live outside the US territories. Hope everyone can see them soon!
I could gush on and on and on and on and on and on and on about how I enjoyed them. They've raised the bar: beautiful animation, the art (backgrounds and all), the music, everything is just...*wow*. My head is spinning that a show if this quality and craftsmanship is being helmed here in North America (with help from overseas, but so are most animation projects so...not an excuse!).

Work on Guardians is moving at a brisk pace. The movie is out in November this year! We'll be sandwiched between "Twilight and "Hobbit", so any hopes of a #1 spot is pretty nil. But hey, if we can stay in the top 5, I'd be happy.

And finally, FINALLY we'll have a trailer out, in theater April 6th. Possibly online before that, but I have no dates or extra informations about it.
This is only the first, a teaser. Like other movies, there will be other trailers eventually.
Just posted two little comics with "The Thing In The Closet" while waiting for the trailer.
I had deleted the older comics. Personal reasons, didn't want them online anymore (so if any of you saved them, thank you but please don't repost).

http://rufftoon.tumblr.com/post/19877360020/mako-korra-bolin-and-all-these-guys-are-lucky

http://rufftoon.tumblr.com/post/19877482700/a-little-follow-up-to-the-previous-comic-got-to

Korra!

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:42:35 GMT

There's new Korra material out there.
Some is legally released, other, not at all.

The legal: http://rufftoon.tumblr.com/post/15847963673/very-very-tiny-korra-preview-from-0-19-to-0-31
(posted the link to the Tumblr post, just so I don't repeat the observation).

I won't post a link to any of it. I'm sure anyone too curious can easily find the material now: one second on the web, and there are copies making the round now. A lost battle, in terms of trying to control it all.

The leaker admitted to a few interesting things:
They got a screener copy from Viacom.
The screener was sent as part of licensing.
The leaker is in the UK.
The leaker is talking about lying low for a while, for there may be investigations ( NO REALLY, YOU THINK????)

I can only shake my head sadly. What is the "leaker" thinking? I've seen people lose their jobs for something like this! In the end, the leaker will be hurting his or herself, or the people around them. Is a few minutes of videos worth it all? No.
Please, if you're someone who know who the leaker is, please tell him or her to stop. It just isn't worth risking their work for that. Not just their current work, but future jobs as well, as their employment records will be tainted, especially if they want to stay in the industry.
...
or perhaps they don't care.

A short entry

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 02:38:08 GMT

Crossposting from Tumblr: a list of the animated films of 2012.

Too much trouble to repost all the pictures and the info, so here's a link instead:

http://rufftoon.tumblr.com/post/14382511309/animated-movies-of-2012-note-currently-not-all

Peeking out for a few minutes

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 07:47:22 GMT

Oh wow, when was the last time I updated this poor journal?

Heck, I've not really done any updates anywhere, except a few things on Tumblr but nothing I would call...productive? What can I say, daytime work is occupying my every waking moment (and some sleep hours too).

So all that is happening in my life is work, really. Being on the subject of that...

I can't help but show this everywhere. I've been on this one project for over a year now, and could not show or share anything. It was gnawing at me! When it's all you do and you have to keep it bottled up...
But finally, FINALLY, some information and art is starting to trickle out, like our first official teaser poster:

The first article that gives a few hints about the project (and is not too spoilery)
http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/motion-captured/posts/we-sit-down-with-william-joyce-for-a-first-look-at-rise-of-the-guardians

As mentioned, there's a teaser trailer in the work. It should be ready some time in...Spring? Maybe? I have no official dates.

I just want to start helping to create a buzz around it. I'm dreading our opening weekend. Five days before our movie opens, the Twilight juggernaut will start steam rolling over all other movies that will open after it (ours included). If the Twilight this year could erase Muppets, Hugo and Arthur Christmas and keep the top spot for 3 weeks, imagine what the final film will do next year? Damn you, Twilight movie (and sorry to the fans who like it, I am biased).
...
Two weeks after Guardians open, The Hobbit starts up. And Disney will also have an animated film out a few weeks before ours: Wreck-It Ralph.

We'll end up like the mustard in the movie sandwich. Eeeep!

I was tempted to post on Tumblr an image of the voice cast for Guardians. A quick visual recognition of the actor talent that is working on the film

Chris Pine (Jack Frost)
Hugh Jackman (Easter Bunny)
Isla Fischer (Tooth Fairy)
Jude Law (Pitch/The Bogeyman)
Alec Baldwin (North/Santa)
Not pictured, Dakota Goyo as Jamie.

I hesitated, as I'm dreading this may start the old venomous discussion about having known actors as voice talent. Every big studios is doing it too, but still...
I understand the argument: less well known voice actors can do outstanding work too!
But in the fight against Twilight, maybe it can help a little if we can brandish known names at the crowds?

I tell you, the world of promotion is a dangerous, pitiless place. It scares and baffles me.

Stopping here. I have some sleep hours I need to catch up on.
And darn it, maybe I will post the cast picture on Tumblr.
I have the weekend to think about it.

Slowing Down

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 05:53:24 GMT

Apologies for the lack of update on LJ.
I moved away from it since the last major attack. I think I got fed up with it then and migrated to Tumblr:
http://rufftoon.tumblr.com/

I will keep LJ, mostly to keep track of all the awesome people I'm following, but I may start posting here less and less.
For now anyway.
It's going to be a major slow down in terms of posting material anyway. Too busy with work. I'll just update about the project when official news come out.
When that will be, I don't know.

I guess that's an excuse to post more Zhao again ;)

SDCC 2011

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:28:32 GMT

If you can make it to San Diego Comicon this year, come and celebrate the release of the last volume of Flight! (Booth 2235, between Marvel and Sideshow Collectibles)
I won't have anything there this year, not really. A very few copies of Water Tribe, so unless you specifically ask for them...you won't see them on the table.
But plenty of great great contributing artists to Flight will drop by for signings:
Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet, Flight), Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy),Raina Telgemeier (Smile),Jake Parker (Missile Mouse),Kean Soo (Jellaby), Stuart Livinston (The Table), Katie Shanahan, Der-Shing Helmer (The Meek), JP Ahonen (Northern Over Exposure), Scott Campbell (The Great Showdowns), Tony Cliff (Delilah Dirk)
and a few more!

Noticed an increase in the number of spam on LJ. Grah!

And can't anyone come up with titles anymore? Fffff!!!

I mean:
https://www.facebook.com/RiseoftheGuardians?ref=ts

And then this:

Lazy journal

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 05:29:11 GMT

Once again, no drawings to post. Actually, I should be drawing for work but taking a break.

First things first: The very last volume of Flight is out! Flight 8 can be found in any good bookstore or can be ordered on Amazon. So many great artists contributed, making this book a must have. Look for it in your local bookstore or online.
(No, I'm not in it, ha ha! I'll be in Explorer, out sometimes next year).

http://www.amazon.com/Flight-Eight-Kazu-Kibuishi/dp/0345517385/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309324134&sr=8-1

Another book to look out for: the collected Avatar stories made for Nick Magazine have been collected into this very nice trade paperback. It includes stories that had never seen print in the US!
http://www.amazon.com/Avatar-Last-Airbender-Lost-Adventures/dp/159582748X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309324295&sr=1-1

Was going to write about Cars 2 but my brain is shutting down and every line I wrote was pure nonsense rambling.

More Guardians

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 08:11:40 GMT

The big Licensing Expo is happening in Las Vegas. That's where studios go to drum up business and interest in future projects. ComingSoon.net went around, taking pictures of the various posters and promo images of the upcoming movies.

Firstshowing.net then went ahead and also posted images. Scroll down, and you may see what was done for Guardians:

http://www.firstshowing.net/2011/first-look-promo-posters-for-three-stooges-battleship-avengers/

Which then sparked this.

Hm. One major character is missing from this image. Crud.

Happy to see they got the first image from Croods!

Just for quick comparison-reminder, this is what Zhao hinted at: the original image of Jack Frost, posted way back around 2009...

and this, 2011

Personally...well, I'm biased, so I can't give my opinion. Don't be afraid to be honest about it, if you have any thoughts on it.

The whole 47 Ronin thing was inspired by a reaction from another story artist at our studio XD. I just had to use it! Thank you, Anthony!

More rambling.

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 08:21:28 GMT

Seems I do a lot of that these days.
Ramble on.

Er-hm!
Must come with age.

Did these super quick, as you can see per the low quality. Somewhat inspired by a BBQ with friends this weekend.

Sorry, Lord Shen. I do like you as a villain, I'm just not inspired to work with you.

Note to self: fridge is empty of beer. Get more.

Wimpy Wimpy Wimpy

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 07:12:37 GMT

Daytime work about to pick up at a mad pace again. Nuh!
I said it before: I can't work as fast or as late as I used to.
I also notice I'm sleeping less hours.

Right now, doing a few fixes on Flight pages and getting them ready with text and all, I can feel tiredness settling in.
So glad I asked my colorist for Horus to help. Saved my sanity! Thank you, Saymone!

One little, non spoilery panel excerpt from the Explorer story:

I won't be in Flight 8, but I can't WAIT to have my copy. The last book should be the most gorgeous of them all.

Talking of books, I had mentionned in a previous journal about the first "The Guardians Of Childhood" book will be out soon. This is the series that the movie Rise Of The Guardians is based on.

Gonna go and crash in my bed now. Need sleep badly.

Various ramblings

Sun, 22 May 2011 02:42:11 GMT

Saw Kung Fu Panda 2 last night- was surprised to see I got a full storyboard credits, as I feel I did very little compared to all the other talented fine folks who worked on it. Surprised and happy to have seen about 15 seconds of board has survived the final version!

The movie is out May 26th in North America. For those of you who will go see it, hope you'll enjoy! Still a lot of humour, and they've pushed the art and the look in this one. Bravo to the art team!!

Still finishing those Explorer pages. Happy that the colorist for my Horus book is able to help!

There's a bit of news about Guardians- on the book front.
The film is based on the books. I wonder if people will make that many comparisons with it as say when Dragons came out. I feel like were playing in a parallel universe, with books and movies being done at the same time, with the books coming out first.
A few images from the books are available here:

http://pages.simonandschuster.com/guardians

I wonder if that will make out studio release more pics of the production. Hmmm...

oh! And I've given all the characters and infos about the 20 years image on DA:
http://rufftoon.deviantart.com/art/20-Years-209787211

Horrible pun

Fri, 20 May 2011 00:09:56 GMT

...and not spend too much time on it. Very quick doodle:

The son of Odin needs no helmet!

...
Okay, I better get back to work now.

Time flies

Fri, 13 May 2011 22:16:40 GMT

Whoa, actual downtime! Using it to ink Explorer pages. Man, the Cintiq has made a total wimp out of me. I actually find it harder here and there to ink traditionally. I still prefer it though.

Two bit of news: the Free Comic Book day story with Zhao was out last weekend. I still cringe that people may think that I stole the plot from Shyamalan (HA! AS IF!), but that comic was done waaaaaaaaayyyyy before "that" movie was out. I remember checking the final color in October 2009, same weekend as my cousin's wedding.
A clear case of coincidence-synchronicity-mind reading.

Kung Fu Panda is out May 26th, right around the corner. I helped on it at the very beginning of the project. I'm glad to say some of my work survived, about a whole 10 seconds of storyboards towards the end of the film. That's something, considering the movie had 2+years to tweak and change from the version I remember.

Been working on and off on this image below for a little while.

This July, it will have been 20 years since my first job in the industry.

20

Freakin'

Years.

A milestone, I guess. May I survive at least another 20? *cross fingers*.
What?
Yes, I'm older than many of you may think, ha ha! And I have a freakin' birthday coming up to remind me. Blagh.

In the image, I've drawn up characters from comics, video games and animated projects I've worked on. I've let out a few (either the characters were too generic or I didn't work on it long enough or the project never saw the light of day).

First person who can name all the projects (not the characters' names, just the projects- believe me, it is easier) gets a drawing. May be a bit of a challenge, as some are really REALLY obscure.

I may post this on DA one day.

Work

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 04:23:25 GMT

News from the battlefront: getting ready for a screening on May 19th. Mental preparation for overtime. So many drawings, just nothing I can show. The usual.

Today at lunch, everyone was suprise to see this guy running around campus

In other news, getting ready to celebrate two anniversaries this summer. Both make me feel older.

Kung Fu Panda 2 and other odd things

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 18:45:35 GMT

None of my art to post, but other fun things nonetheless:

First off, finally they're releasing a picture of the villain for Kung FU Panda 2.

Get ready as we introduce new characters from #KungFuPanda 2!... on Twitpic

I may have a small credit in the film (only worked on it very briefly and very early). Curious to see how the whole thing turned out!

I'll update this post with the new trailer later out today.

A big shout out to redvelvetaddict , for turning me into a fan of the BBC series "Horrible Histories.
I'm hooked.

Will be trying to see Rango this weekend.

So yesterday was Oscar night

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 06:56:07 GMT

I really wish there had been 5 animated movies nominated this year: Despicable Me and Tangled definitely could have made it in. Perhaps even Summer Wars (which I am still trying to see).

Really happy for the crew at Pixar for their win- they certainly deserve it for all their hard work and a very good film.
As a side note, Monsters Inc 2 opens in theater a few weeks before Guardians. Ha ha! Friendly competition! Kind of frightening a bit too- they already have a won audience.
I also believe another chapter of the Twilight saga opens up around the same time. Eurgh.

Random side notes-
Grandma's 90th birthday was last week- Wooo! Sad I couldn't be there.
And yes, it was sleeting-slushing down hard this past Saturday in Burbank. Some people even saw frost on their cars this morning.
...
It's a SIGN!!!

Off to sleep. I still need rest from the last quasi all nighter from last week.

So.

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 07:47:00 GMT

Was going to sit down and go through notes-revisions and all that. Oh yeah, I was going to be productive tonight!
And then this.

Now I know what to call the movie, ha ha!
"Rise Of The Guardians"

Officially announced cast:

Chris Pine = Jack Frost
Alec Baldwin = North
Hugh Jackman = Bunnymund
Isla Fischer = Tooth
Jude Law = Pitch

http://www.slashfilm.com/cast-announced-dreamworks-animations-rise-guardians/

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118030975?categoryid=3764&cs=1&nid=2562&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed:+variety/headlines+(Variety+-+Latest+News)&utm_content=Twitter

As for work...tomorrow is another day. Guess I'll have to catch up.

Shhh, it's all secret!

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 04:07:33 GMT

Yesterday was the company update; a great event where we get to see what every other prods are working on and what their projects look like. All very exciting!

Of course I can't say much about it. There were special guests too...

...which I probably can't mention by name. Better safe than sorry. But still an excuse to doodle!

One thing that can be said is the movie release schedule.

Back in the grind

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 06:36:21 GMT

Before I ramble on about work, I want to give a shout out to fellow Flight artist Ben Hatke, whose book "Zita The Spacegirl" should be out in the bookstores soon:
http://tinyurl.com/487m64d
A great all ages book: fun adventure, endearing characters and some moments of humour that had me laughing out loud. Recommended as a great gift for young readers, especially if you get to read their copies first! I'll be treasuring mine.

Finally saw "The King's Speech". So great to sit through a movie for the quality of the acting, not the special effect. Wonderful characters, great dialogues. I do love movies based on historical events.
I was also fascinated by the wallpapers in that movie. I couldn't help it!
THE WALLPAPERS!!!

I also saw a preview trailer for "The Way Back", telling the story of prisoners that escaped the Russian goulags, walking all the way from Siberia, over the Himalayas to India. I had read a condensed version of their escape, and I am looking forward to see it in film.

It's been a week since I've been back at work.

It always happens. Thankfully, my drawing hand has warmed up so this week should be productive.
There is a company update on Wednesday. I am so curious to see what the other teams are up to! Contrary to what some may believe, I know very little of what the other prods look like, apart from a few art pieces up on the walls.

Lastly, from the publisher I love to hate:
http://tinyurl.com/48u4y89

...
I just don't...
wow.
50$, for a 126 pages book on a movie that is not even out.
Wow.
WOW!

EDIT:
Awwww! How sweet! Zhao would disapprove of the fluff, as he doesn't want to be affiliated with fluffy things or situation, but that was just too sweet! Thank you ever so much, LauraD
(Kenu on DA). I'm touched that Water Tribe still gets some love:

Late to the game

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 06:20:44 GMT

Been away for the holidays, and I actually spent very little time connected to the web. So I wish, a little bit late, each and everyone of you a very good year 2011: health, prosperity, fun projects and loads of inspiration in everything you do. Success too, of course, beyond your wildest dreams!
And may it all last way beyond 2011.

Random is random:
At the crew Christmas party, they printed out a lot of wonderful art for the project. I must have taken half the prints, ha ha! They better all make it into the artbook in 2 years.

If you're ever in Montreal, a good Armenian restaurant: Le Petit Alep.
Saw as many friends and colleagues as I could while in Montreal. Sad to hear how slowly the animation biz is going in the city, but there are projects still happening. Just not as many as in the good old days.

Family is overall doing well, but everyone is getting older. My dad has some memory lapses, slightly worrisome knowing alzheimer runs on his side of the family. My grandpa, who is turning 89 tomorrow, was also feeling rather low for the very first time. He's always been strong and solid. A bit scary. I hugged both my grandparents very hard, as I'm always afraid these could be the last time I see them.

Found myself in an impromptu High School reunion- just girls. As one of them said "At least, now we're all mature!" so catching up with everyone was pleasant. One of them was a bodyguard to a few Quebec politicians.

Slept a whole lot. I'll miss that.
Ate too much, but less than last year.

I find myself having trouble motivating myself continuing Horus. The energy comes and goes. Meanwhile, I just want to draw another fancomic. I've already doodled 40 thumbnail pages.
Got to do the Explorer story: the roughs are done, now to clean it all up and make it pretty (and fix whatever is wonky).

I had one cool Zhao dream! A huge mix of nonsense stuff: Azula giving Sokka's space sword to Zhao, who was fighting werewolves with said space sword and Sokka trying to get his sword back at the same time. Apparently, it was all Azula's trap or something.

Those would be the highlights. Tomorrow, back to regular work schedule. Can't wait to see how the project will evolve over the year.

No, not much

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 07:22:51 GMT

Looking forward to the upcoming Holiday vacation, but also looking forward to return back to work. How weird is that?
Maybe because I've been having fun with the characters in the past few days, doing not quite so serious drawings.

Started drawing the characters and silly ideas in a Joann Sfar inspired style. I can't share everything, but here's a peek.

Must be a good sign. I still need extra sleep to recuperate from the past few weeks of intense work, but if I'm starting to doodle like that, I must be on the rebound.