Long time no hear

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First I want to welcome any visitors who have recently found the site. And for those of you waiting patiently (as far as I can tell) for the next show, thanks for hanging in there.

All this time and no posts or shows and I’m just here to say life’s been busy. Funny how getting organized can take so much of your time. I’m working on making a more regular schedule for myself so I can do more shows and we can all be happier. I’m planning on putting out another show before the weekend so look for that. In the meantime, I’m not only recording new interviews, but I’m pinning down people for future interview dates. I’m also working on a few changes on the site so the shows are easier to find in one place. So things are moving along even if you, the end user, aren’t enjoying the effects yet.

On a side note, this may be my last week on Chicken Little. The movie’s wrapped up and we’re really just doing ancillary work at this point. I’m really looking forward to seeing how it’s received. Making it this far has left me a little travel-weary and focusing on the podcast has been hard. It’s been a long fun trip and my tank is almost on empty but it’ll be energizing to see the fresh landscape of American Dog. I can’t wait to get going on that and have more time for the podcast too!

UPDATE 8/27: Well guys and gals, I can guarantee that there won’t be a new show until September. I was working me ass off trying to pull it all together, but time wasn’t on my side. I’m taking a week off and like I said above, I plan to come back at it with some serious scheduling in hand. So I’m off to reset and refresh. I’ll see you in September. By the way, I won’t be able to moderate any new commenters, so don’t feel bad if you comment and it doesn’t show up. I’ll get it up there in a week.

Comments

20 responses to “Long time no hear”

August 24, 2005

Josh

Keep up the good work. Like a buoy floating in a sea of podcast mediocrity, your’s is always worth the wait!

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August 24, 2005

AnimationPodcaster

Thanks Josh. I appreciate the sentiment. That could be my new tagline!
Can you see the t-shirts now?

“The Animation Podcast:
Like a buoy floating in a sea of mediocrity”

-Clay

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August 24, 2005

Corey

I’d buy one of those!

Congratulations on the wrapping up of “Chicken Little.” I really can’t wait to see it as well as “American Dog” once it’s released.

I was wondering if it will ever be possible for listeners to send you questions to ask future guests?

Thanks and keep up the great work!!

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August 24, 2005

AnimationPodcaster

Corey,
I’ve been thinking about the issue of questions. For some reason I like the suspense of who’s next so I don’t want to give that away, but I am thinking of ways to have some sort of repository for questions people would like to have answered.

Maybe I’ll make up a list of all possible guests and people can post what they would like. Gee, to me this all kind of points toward a forum, but again, that’s one more thing to require my attention. I’ll have to keep thinking about it. If you guys and gals have any ideas, let me know.

-Clay

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August 24, 2005

Cedric

Thanks for the update. Take your time, your podcasts are worth the wait. Hope you get your tank filled back up soon!

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August 24, 2005

j

Thanks Clay. Any hint on who the next interview-ees may be? Also, American Dog looks A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I’m thinking that thats the film that gets the Disney ball really rolling again. Congrats for getting to contribute to this potentially career defining project. Keep us updated!!
Keep us the good work.
J

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August 24, 2005

AnimationPodcaster

Cedric, I’m planning on refilling in Hawaii, so I can’t complain.

J – I agree about American Dog, especially since it follows Wilbur, which is great as well. We’ve got some good momentum building. This week I’ll put out Nik part 3 and next it will be two people who’s combined experience totals 60 years. Mysterious, no?

-Clay

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August 24, 2005

Benjamin De Schrijver

Musker & Clements? That would be awesome 😛
But I guess they aren’t the only ones working that long in animation. Anyways, whoever they are, I’m sure it’ll be great!

Can’t wait!

– Benjamin

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August 24, 2005

AnimationPodcaster

You’re right! They’re not the only ones!
-Clay

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August 24, 2005

Shayne

Awesome news Clay! Cant wait for the next show man! And congrats on wrapping up Chicken Little too, Im eagerly awaiting its release!
-Shayne

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August 24, 2005

AnimationPodcaster

What news? I thought I was being vague and elusive. We’ll all just have to wait and see. (Sorry, I’m a little punch drunk from production.)
-Clay

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August 24, 2005

Lamont

Great work with Chicken Little and the site! Like most of the animation world, I’m looking forward to seeing the impact of Chicken Little, but if the clips are just an ounce of what is to come, then Chicken Little could even start that ball rolling! If the era of Nine Old Men is the Golden Age at Disney, and The Ninties were the Silver Age, then could Chicken Little be the start of the BRONZE AGE??? One can only wait and hope! 🙂

No matter what, I know it’s gonna be great and the films to follow are going to be showing the world that Disney may have been quiet, but they’ve never been OUT of the game!

whoa..sorry for getting a little excited there…Gotta lay off the Coca-cola so early in the morning!!

anyways..thanks Clay for working so hard on this site and on your animation. The passion shows through and can’t wait to see you supervise on American Dog!! By the way..what character are you supervising on? Unless that’s top secret of course!!

-Lamont

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August 25, 2005

Bruce

Don’t worry. Disney gets the ball rolling 2 minutes into Chicken Little and it only gains steam with Wilbur Robinson. There’s some tremendous talent coming out of not just the animators and artists, but the story team and directors as well. I can’t tell you how much I admire my co-workers. And Mark, Steve, Chris and Glen, well, it’s phenomenal to have talent like all of them in the same building.

Chicken Little is a movie that I can’t wait to see all finished, and I’ve seen it a dozen times.

I’m drooling over every final frame of Wilbur.

And American Dog, just the concept paintings make me want to weep.

I’m excited about the lineup at Disney now. And not just as an animator, but as a movie-goer. I want these movies to be done so that I can see them!

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August 26, 2005

Lamont

That’s AWESOME to hear about not just Chicken Little, but the whole line up! Visually, I’m most excited about American Dog and Repunzal, but the whole list made me giddy when I walked into the SIGGRAPH Exhibit Hall! As an animator looking for a chance to work on some future classics, these short clips and concept art made me drool and reminded me why Disney has been my dream job since I was 8 or 9!

Thanks for the excitement booster! It’s gonna be tough to wait a year between these flicks! 🙂 but I think I can make it!!

and Clay, can we ever stop singing the praises of this site? don’t think so! 🙂

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August 27, 2005

OllieZero

Hey Clay,

I am wondering if you can do a specific interview. You probably cannot do this, because the guy works for the WB. “Craig McCraigen” (Not sure on the spelling)
He’s been creating neat cartoons such as:

“Powerpuff Girls,”
http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/ppg/index.html

“Dexter’s Labratory”
http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/dexter/index.html

“Foster’s Home for imaginary Friends”
http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/fosters/index.html

So… If you can (95% chance you can’t) try and get an interview with him.
And about Chicken Little: Didn’t that come out in 1999?

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August 29, 2005

josh

I love your podcast, Clay. It’s a grand addition to my life indeed.

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September 4, 2005

Johan Richter

May I ask what it is that takes so long time when you are editing the shows? I am asking because I have seen pro’s editing television interviews and it does not take long time. They are of course more experienced but they also probaly have better software.
Can’t you get Disney to let you use Avida or something since you are doing such fine advertisement for them?

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September 4, 2005

AnimationPodcaster

Lamont- Glad to see you’re so excited about the lineup from Disney. Thanks for the praise.

OllieZero- You’re not giving me very good odds, but I’ll certainly add his name to my growing list of people to interview. The only reason I’ve only talked to Disney guys is because I’m starting with people (and a history) I know the best. There’s nothing keeping me from talking to anyone from another studio. Thanks for the suggestion.

Josh- I appreciate the compliment – keeps me going.

Johan- First thing first, I work full time as an animator and I just spent the better part of this year finishing on Chicken Little (something that has taken plenty of time and energy), and the job comes first. Second, being an animator doesn’t make one an editor, and most certainly not a pro editor, so I’m learning as I go. Third, this is a personal hobby of mine that I’m sharing with you and anyone else who cares to listen (for free), and Disney has nothing to do with it and I’d like to keep it that way. Any “advertising” for Disney is coincidental and only a result of learning about the people I admire in animation.

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September 5, 2005

Johan Richter

I hope you did not take my suggestion as a criticism. I was just trying to point out that you could possibly get it done while spending less time whith the right tools.
As for the advertising bit. You have at least persuaded me to rewatch our old Disney videos and made me sorely tempted to but the Tarzan DVD.

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September 6, 2005

AnimationPodcaster

Johan- Don’t worry about it, you asked a straighforward question and I gave a straighforward answer. The problem with any tool is that it’s useless unless you take the time to learn it. That’s all I’m trying to do. I think if I went for anything more professional, it would just slow me down. Believe me, I’ve tried a bunch of approaches, but what is working for me now is to try the simplest, which is to use GarageBand. I am getting faster, but like I said before, it’s not so much what I’m using, but how much time I have to do it.

-Clay

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