Saturday, November 18, 2006

IS JOHN GOING TO DISCONTINUE HIS BLOG?



John recently wondered out lout loud if he should continue his blog, http://www.johnkstuff.blogspot.com/ John's a natural teacher and he puts up a lot of training tools on his blog. The problem is that most of the people he helps to train won't make themselves available to Spumco but will take what they've learned to schlocky Saturday Morning studios where they can make more money. According to John this puts him in the position of training artists for the benefit of the big studios. Those studios don't pay him anything for it so what's the point of keeping up the blog? That's his argument, anway. Boy, I hope he rethinks this.

So far as I can tell John is the best practicing line artist in the world. No current popular or fine artist can beat him. Even the densest critic would have to admit that he and Robert Crumb dominated all of art in the last 40 years. Losing someone of that stature on the net would be a serious loss.

It's hard to think of an argument that might make him change his mind. I can only report what my own feelings are when I think about it. Whatever small things I've done to help out other artists - nothing that compares to what John's done- came about because I felt the need to express my gratitude to the people who helped me when I needed it. I remember Ben Washam (one of Chick Jones' best animators) who held free animation classes in his basement once a week. When asked why he did it he said, "I've had so much fun in this industry...I just felt the need to give something back." I know what he meant. This industry not only gave me a way to make a living but it gave me an identity, a sense of mission and a shared community. It connected me to something grand and magesterial and mind-blowing, something full of history and tradition. I'm not just Eddie, I'm Eddie the cartoonist. I'm not a cork on the waves, I belong to something worthwhile. In a modest way this blog is an expression of my gratitude for that.

John certainly doesn't owe us anything. He's spent a lifetime doing favors for the rest of us, including people he's never met. If he decides to discontinue his blog we've no ground to complain. We should just be grateful for what we've gotten already. Besides, that'll leave John with more time to do cartoons the rest of us can slaver over. Even so....

54 comments:

Anonymous said...

This problem of training people who end up going elsewhere is not new. Ben Washam didn't care because he had no intention of running a studio, he just wanted to give back, and he did. There were better animators but none had Benny's gift for communicating pertinent artistic and technical data into genuinely useful tips. Disney's great Milt Kahl was darned near inarticulate whenever he had to explain how he did anything. Former Charles Mintz animator Harry Love groused that all those people he "trained" had scattered all over the industry rather than stay at Hanna-Barbera. Ralph Bakshi's crews always ended up elsewhere, too. I have no answer for this state of affairs other than for some theoretical billionaire bankrolling a studio to keep everyone under one roof for decades but that isn't happening in 2D at this point in time. But I can name at least two major CGI shops where it's a way of life, and you can, too.

Tom Minton

Anonymous said...

I'm kinda in the pay site idea, but there are lots of other ways to make money from this.

John's blog is truly inspirational. I;m not sure that this training is necessarily going out to rivals. It's drawing in a lot of new people.

I'm a designer, not an animator, but from reading John I have learned a hell of a lot. It also has made me buy Ren and Stimpy DVDS (used to be a fan back in the day and he kinda just reminded me!)

So. Back to making money.

One I mentioned: publicity. Having a blog this good will bring a lot of attention to your regular company.

Two. Charge. Don't do a pay only blog, cos that don't work on the internet today, at least not outside of big business and finance. Check out the model at www.daringfireball.net. The guy there (also named John!) puts out free feeds and paid feeds. He makes his money from the paid memberships and also merchandise sales and ads on the site.

Don't underestimate the power of ads on heavily visited sites.

Eddie; you mentioned that John is one of the most influential artists for the last 40 years.
Even if that is over the top (I'm not disagreeing) then it's hugely important for him to pass his knowledge to the young artists starting out today. Imagine if Leonardo could have had a blog! (and you can be sure he would, the gadget freak).

It's just a huge waste of talent to have it not used to instruct the future artists. Look at what John says himself. He has almost single handedly resurrected the work of Bob Clampett. Who is the best person to tell us how great John K is?

John K!

Also, if he is of a mind to do so, he can start a bigger site and incorporate the work of the people learing from him. A forum, like Drawm.com, with discussion and learning for all. Many people would be happy to contribute time and skill (web and artistic) for no charge to help with this.

John K could move from being a very good, well respected animator to changing the direction of 2D animation. And a renowned teacher.

God, there's so much more! Who wouldn't pay to download videos of his lectures? Or even buy the DVDs? John Kricfalusi showing classic cartoons and commenting on them. With a few little trailers for his own work thrown in?

And how many people can Spumco hire anyway? This kind of instruction raises the level of the industry. I know (from reading his posts) that John knows how good he is, and seems to love being better than the competition. Just how good he's going to get if the competition get a whole lot better.


If you want more, I've got it.
But really. The age of holding on to knowledge is over. The internet killed ll that nonsense dead. And it seems like he knows that; His first blog post was in 1994 according to his archives. Although that might well be inaccurate.

katzenjammer studios said...

I think that John's drive to write about these things comes from a general lack of competence. Sources to get this information (from the 40's and such) are RAPIDLY vanishing. I wish I could go talk to old animators, but the sad fact is that time takes it's toll. Anybody see Frank and Ollie's recent film?
http://www.frankandollie.com/KeysToEmotion.html
It's at the bottom. Whistling Contest.

John has told us that it took him years of research and such to find all this stuff out. He would be dooming the whole next generation to the labors of that if he left (for better or worse). We would have to play catchup for years, instead of learning his lessons and building from that elevated starting point. I think if John really wants progress, that he's doing the right thing by keeping up his blog.

Ultimately, an elevated artistic consciousness benefits everyone. If artists in positions of power agree with John, we will see a resurgence of what we all call the "golden age" and cartoons won't suck to work on anymore. Everyone will have fun stuff to work on. Even John.

Stephen Worth said...

I remember Ralph complaining about the same thing. He said he'd hire green kids with raw talent, train them to be professionals, and boom! they'd take what they'd learned and go to another studio.

I asked Ralph why he didn't just hire people who already had the skills and not worry about training kids. He sighed and said, "If you're able to make a living drawing funny pictures all day long, you're the luckiest guy on earth. You owe something for that... you gotta give back to the muse."

Sharing experience doesn't necessarily result in a financial benefit. But there are other aspects that are important. I remember a Disney guy telling me that he felt like he was "all output and no input". He cranked out "more of the same" over and over and never took the time to do anything that might help him grow as an artist. I saw what kids like Aaron Springer and Katie Rice brought out in John. There are definitely things that he gained as an artist by training them.

The business is in a bad way right now, and the hope for the future of cartoons that people actually like to watch lies with the kids. John is out there as a fifty foot glowing example of what other animators of his stature should be doing but aren't... But hasn't it always been that way?

See ya
Steve

Max Ward said...

I want to learn from John, through the internet and in person. I only want to move out to L.A. so I can learn from him and work for him. Why would anyone else want to work at any other studio besides (the now dead) Spumco? The first thing I said to John in an e-mail was "How can I work for you one day?" A few days later he posted the first lesson of the 100K animation course.

Anonymous said...

I hope he doesn't quit, mainly for selfish reasons. His blog has become my number one resource for art lessons. I studied from some pretty crackerjack cats in fine arts... nuts-n-bolts here's-an-example-and-how-to-do-it guys... but it's been years.

So John's blog has reactivated those areas of my brain. I can't think of anyone else writing about creating drawings in such clear and concise language, illustrated with examples that actually relate to what he's talking about. It makes perfect sense!

But I can see where he's coming from. It's work, he's not getting anything out of it. Yeah, adulation and the occasional weirdo 'net attack-dog... but neither of those guys will help him do amazing cartoons.

I wish I were a young cartoonist instead of an old hack. I'd love to be a soldier in the John K. Revolution.

It's not gonna happen, but I even quit my own stupid blog in order to focus more on actually doing the art John's blog has been inspiring in me!

Ryan G. said...

Ever since I laid my eyes on the first Ren and Stimpy, I immediatley connected with Spumco and John K. Periodically, I would search for John K.'s stuff on the Internet just to see what was going on with him, and finally discovered his blog. This was about the same time I decided to go back to school for animation. Since then Ive found constant inspiration and ultimately the motivation to do well in school. The motivation is to one day work for John. Ive really improved my drawing skills but I know I still need improvement. I see so many good artists on these blogs and the competition is fierce. This competition feeds the drive of many artists willing to have the honor of working for John. John is very influential to us and would be a shame if he quit his blog.

Anonymous said...

My gosh, my gosh, MY GOSH! Oh no! Say it isn't so!!!! I love John's blog. I've learned so much from him and hope to learn more.

I'm sure he's got every reason to feel empty or bitter or frustrated or worse.

I'm eternally grateful for the the posts I've had the pleasure of reading and learning from. The day he started running the animation "lessons" was a day that changed direction and focus in my life!

I hope you can persuade him to continue Uncle Eddie!

Anonymous said...

I'm the idiot who posted the big long post above. The 3rd one down with all the advice on making blogs pay and full og bad typing.

Just so ya know...
They call me MISTER Charlie

Anonymous said...

I posted my first comment on John Kricfalusi's blog when he said he was thinking of quitting. Right away I told him I wanted him to continue. I work a 40hr week doing a job I don't like so that I can afford animation school and living in Toronto, but they can't teach you everything. You have to always be looking for any knowledge you can find and Mr. Kricfalusi's blog is full of that. Hopefully he will continue to post. I hope you will too Mr. Fitzgerald, as I've discovered you blog through John K's and many others where I've looked at tons of great drawings and tried to figure out what makes them great. Thank you and thank John K.

Craig D said...

As an ignorant industry outsider I really can't comment on the business side of training "migrant" (for lack of a better word) animators.

I've enjoyed the frustration of trying to "get" the principles John K and Preston B have put forth. Yep, I started a blog and have been stumbling through the lessons as others have. Wouldn't have done it without the johnkstuff blog as a catalyst.

Putting the lessons aside, for the nonce, one thing I like about his blog is that I can finally read what he has to say, directly from the horse's mouth, rather than having any number of other people "re-interpreting" what he might have meant.

"Walt Disney must have been the most boring person that ever lived!" Huh - a great soundbite, but what does he mean by this? Thanks to his blog I now have an understanding of why he would say such a thing.

Would I like John to keep on publishing his blog the way he has been? Sure.

If he has better things to do or feels it's not worth the effort, then who can "force" him to continue?

On the balance, I would encourage John (and you, too, Eddie) to keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

Eddie, you Do know if John stops his blog YOU'RE gonna have to teach us youngsters about good cartoons!

Anonymous said...

Simple question: does John care more about improving the cartoon medium or making money?

I have to think it's the first one; if it's not, then he should have kept his innovations to himself and just made money from producing a mediocre cartoon.

This is coming from a dumb kid who doesn't know his way in the world yet, but John never seemed to be the type to let profits get in the way of improving cartoons, and he shouldn't start now.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like John is experiencing blogger's remorse.

Jesse Oliver said...

John K is definitly the man who can turn us all in to the cartoonist of tomorrow! He could turn enybody in to the next Tex Avery!

Anonymous said...

Does he owe Cafe Press money now? The bilk that keeps bilking...

Anonymous said...

seeing as John has got to be a bazillionaire from all the money he made licensing ren and stimpy (i say at LEAST 5 mil in the bank) isnt trying to make a few bucks a shirt and at most a few thousand kind of odd?

Anonymous said...

It'd be a shame to see it go for sure.

It's provided much entertainment and inspiration!

But it won't disappear...it can't! John needs his place from which to smack sense into the animation industry.

Anonymous said...

I think John K could make an absolutely kickass kids show but I dont see him competing with family guy or south park

katzenjammer studios said...

Yeah Eddie, I agree with Ryan Kramer. If John steps down, are you ready to saddle up?

Anonymous said...

why isnt he selling ren and stimpy gear? doesnt he own the rights to them?

Anonymous said...

Im assuming that Im in the majority here by thinking that Ren and Stimpy improved dramaticaly after Nickelodean fired John K. Less stupid grossout jokes and more on plot and comedy

Anonymous said...

*minority

Anonymous said...

Jorge Garrido,

The other one is DreamWorks Animation.

TM

Anonymous said...

There are tons of ways John can make money to finance his cartoons and find artists to work for him.

One, he could start a real website consolidating all his favorite artists blogs at one address.

He could give specific feedback to artists who really want to learn and pay him for it, posting the critiques online available for everyone to see.

He could post short comic and cartoon ideas as a way of advertising his cartoons in the hopes someone will finance them.

Then he could sell advertising space there but needs to keep track of visits.

I like that he's selling merchandise from his Cafe Press shop, but he's doing it all all at once. One design a month, after which the design is no longer available might be a better approach.

Take on volunteers to run the website and teach them how to draw in return.

And keep a fan art section.

Only the financial success of the website will prove to execs the financial viability of John K as a creator and brand and only then will he get his cartoons made the way he wants them made.

Starting a website is not as expensive as he thinks it is.

Look to JibJab as a similar business model.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I don't really see how anyone would want to work at another studio other than Spumco, except for the money situation or if you like bland animation. I was sticking to an illustration career because of the dissapearance of Spumco. There was no option for animation jobs that came close to what I like to do. I would give up my weekends for free to work on a Spumco projects. I would still need food and shelter so I would need my weekdays for that stuff. The knowledge gained in working on John's projects is worth it.

-David O.

Anonymous said...

is john or aint john a millionaire??

Max Ward said...

I don't think John is a millionaire, if he was he would make cartoons.

Anonymous said...

yeah, i just read his bio and I guess he had to relinquish rights to ren and stimpy, anyone know if he makes/made any money off merchandising for the show or if he just got one time fees for the episodes he worked on?

Shitbitch said...

"Im assuming that Im in the majority here by thinking that Ren and Stimpy improved dramaticaly after Nickelodean fired John K. Less stupid grossout jokes and more on plot and comedy'

I guess that by that logic, you could even say that if someone kidnapped a couple's baby, they would raise him/her better than his/her original parents did, because, hey, if they weren't responsible enough to keep an eye on them, then they're unfit for parenthood in the first place (according to the kidnapper, of course).

Anonymous said...

I was kidding but he did kind of throw it all away just like Richard William by being too damn intense and inflexible

Eddie Fitzgerald said...

Anonymous: If John weren't like that we would never have had Ren & Stimpy in the first place. It's easy to criticize when you're a spectator viewing things from the sidelines. When you're in the action, battling against enormous odds with no rule book to follow things look a little different.

Anonymous said...

did john get rich off ren and stimpy or did nickelodean make most of the merchandising cash??

Anonymous said...

To the other anonymous - Yeah he'd be a billionaire right now if he'd have stuck with it. Nick was going to throw tons of cash at him to stay on directing. John stood firm with his declaration of no budget and no deadlines and that was the end of him.

Randi Gordon said...

I was kidding but he did kind of throw it all away just like Richard William by being too damn intense and inflexible

That means a lot coming from someone who "just read his bio" and didn't even bother to find out whether or not John K. owned the rights to R&S before giving "financial advice". Oh, sure, you were in the trenches all along, a regular eyewitness. Or practically, anyway, after reading some "bio". You're definitely qualified to condemn John's actions.

What is "too damn intense"? What the hell does that even mean? That's like calling someone "too damn alive." I wish more people were that way.

"BETTER PLOTS" after John was fired?? Are you brain-dead?? Bob Camp couldn't produce a decent plot to save his own life, and his drawings all looked the same for every "character"--you know, all two of them, the Dumb Guy and the Other Guy--all the eyebrows were the same, all the body shapes were the same, and the "stories" were lifeless retreads of everything everyone in the animation universe had ever done.

I wasn't aware of the goings-on at Dickolodeon back then; all I knew was, I'd plunk down on Saturday mornings, giddy over the promise of a new episode. if I saw the words "Directed by Bob Camp" on the TV screen, my heart instantly cracked in half and I didn't even bother watching it.

I'm not saying Bob Camp isn't talented. But his R&S cartoons were lousy, and he signed up for the Faustian bargain quickly enough, which is reason enough for me to trash his leiderhosen-wearing ass.

I have way too much to say about the blog-quitting stuff, so much that I can't articulate my feelings adequately, but I just want to say that John should do what makes him happy. And I believe that what makes him happy is teaching the rest of us what matters in life. These animation lessons and theory and technique lectures go way beyond the drawing table, because they're ultimately about truth and about what's important, what we cannot afford to lose, what we cannot afford to accept, on a grand scale. That's why so many "civilians" visit the blog. And Eddie's, too. This is big stuff we're getting, folks. Big, big stuff. If John only wanted money, he'd have plenty of it, from his Scooby-Doo directing.

That said, all you Gotrockses out there go smash your piggy banks apart and send John Kricfalusi your life savings, God damn it.

Say! What about a He-Hog Bank for the store? :-D

Randi Gordon said...

One more thing: I would pay wads of cash for seminar tapes, podcasts, that sort of thing. That's priceless stuff. You can't get it in a book.

Anonymous said...

children HATE squash and stretch, its unnatural and turns them off, theyd rather see characters ON MODEL following realistic plots and fun adventures than mean spirited violence and booger jokes

Anonymous said...

I love John, and he's one of my all time heroes, but I resent a little bit when he gets so negative about things such as continuing his blog. I feel a little like it's complaining about success, most everyone reading his blog would give anything to be as talented an artist as John, let alone just to have as many loyal readers on their blog as John. If weirdos like "Perez Hilton" and crap can make money blogging, I would certainly think John can make a little. Furthermore, most of his readers would probably give anything to work with John, and he probably wouldn't take them anyway.

If nothing else, I think he should be glad that he can maybe influence some people, and maybe help turn the tide in animation towards the better. I'm sure John gets frustrated, and rightfully so, but he shouldn't give up the good fight!

Ryan G. said...

..children HATE squash and stretch, its unnatural and turns them off, theyd rather see characters ON MODEL following realistic plots and fun adventures than mean spirited violence and booger jokes..

First off squash and stretch is absolutly natural. Maybe not as exaggerated as cartoons but its there in real life. Do some research before you make such a claim. Look at a basketball bouncing and tell me squash and stretch isnt natural. How the hell do you know what kids want anyway? You think they are sitting there saying, "hmm, that character is a little off model, and its stretching too much.. blah.. As far as the realistic plots and fun adventures.. dude, kids are very imaginative and like things that arent ordinary everyday situations. Kids also freakin love violence too. Unfortunatly its the American way.

Robert Hume said...

Hey Eddie, Big Fan! I love this blog and what you and John have been doing for the cartoon community on your blogs. I have to say I've gotten alot out of John's blog, and I think there are alot of kids on here that are gaining from his teachings as well, but yeah I really think he should consider charging us for these lessons. I mean I would pay him, and so would several of my artist friends. I consider it the equivalent to paying Chuck Jones to teach me about cartoons and animation, or Bob Clampett, or Max Fleicher. You'd better believe I'd pay him, and the rest of the young cartoonist community would be foolish if they didn't feel the same!

-Robert

Eddie Fitzgerald said...

Everyone: There are so many thoughtfull comments here that I can't even begin to reply. Thanks for taking the time to write! John's lucky to have so many good friends!

Anonymous said...

Ryan G., he/she/they/it was just an idiotic anonymous blogger troll rtying to start some crap. It seems the local 7-11 told this entity that he/she/they/it couldn't loiter in front anymore so he/she/they/it decided to harass people here instead. Hopefully, Eddie doesn't keep more than $50 in the cash register either. ;)

On the subject of John K. asking The Clash's question of over 25 years ago: "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" Ultimately it's his decision. None of us can force him to keep blogging. Like he said, he's been posting all sorts of lovely information about art, animation, and the industry but has not seen a satisfactory return for his time invested in it. Maybe a few months down the road when some people actually show progress thanks to those Preston Blair lessons he'll feel better about his blog. But, for now he's in a dark place. All we can do is patiently wait until he's through it.

As for me, I'll say to him what Hawkeye said to Colonol Potter when he was thinking about leaving the 4077: "I can think of a million reasons to leave and not one reason to stay. Stay anyway."

Anonymous said...

I hope to god that referencing the clash doesnt become the modern day pseudointellectual equivalent of referencing hamlet

Randi Gordon said...

Anonymous said...
I hope to god that referencing the clash doesnt become the modern day pseudointellectual equivalent of referencing hamlet


Oh yeah?

How you get a rude and a reckless?
Dont you be so crude and a feckless.

John K. can't fail.



Now go get your shift key fixed so you can stop sounding like a pseudointellectual retard. And sign your name, if you know how to spell it.

Shitbitch said...

"To the other anonymous - Yeah he'd be a billionaire right now if he'd have stuck with it. Nick was going to throw tons of cash at him to stay on directing. John stood firm with his declaration of no budget and no deadlines and that was the end of him."

You can't just expect people to think up ideas on the spot under pressure, because more often then not they'll be shitty ones. They need to think things up naturally. That's why "focus groups" are a bunch of dickheads.

Anonymous said...

>>>You can't just expect people to think up ideas on the spot under pressure, because more often then not they'll be shitty ones. They need to think things up naturally. That's why "focus groups" are a bunch of dickheads.<<<

John is confrontational with those who are giving him money. Who wants to work with that liability?

Randi Gordon said...

John is confrontational with those who are giving him money. Who wants to work with that liability?

Pope Julius II springs to mind.

Anonymous said...

I hope John continues. I have a folder where I have saved pretty much everything he has shared for future reference! I've learned a lot so far. I have started studying the Preston Blair book that I got off the ASIFA. Also been studying Andrew Loomis' books, starting with Fun With A Pencil since it deals with construction for newbies.

I'm hoping sometime next year I can make a simple flash cartoon that I can be proud of by applying the principles John is teaching.

If I managed to become "great" at drawing and the opportunity arose I'd gladly work for John K.

I doubt mainstream cartoons will get better through. It is like mainstream music. They aim for the lowest denominator. One of the best albums of the year was The Gathering: Home and it didn't crack the Billboard 200.

Someone said kids don't like Squash and Stretch. I fear for these future zombies of America if that is so. If I were rich I'd compile all information onto the internet on all subjects. Then I'd give the American educational system the finger, letting those who want to succeed in life have a real opportunity to better themselves.

Anonymous said...

Are you and John Robert Crumb fans? I've never really heard him referenced in either of your blogs.

Gabriel Hunt said...

I use his teachings in my art everyday. Jon can not stop his blog! If he does, I'll hafta go back to stealing radios out of cars again.

Anonymous said...

"John stood firm with his declaration of no budget and no deadlines and that was the end of him."

Wow. Well, that explains an awful lot.

Anonymous said...

THIS IS THE MOST RIDICULUS POST I'VE READ SO FAR. JOHN K IS NOT THE BEST LINE ARTIST IN THE WORLD. JEEEESH. WHAT ABOUT DANNY ANTONUCCI? ISN'T HE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS JOHN K? HELLO LUPO THE BUTCHER!

Shitbitch said...

"THIS IS THE MOST RIDICULUS POST I'VE READ SO FAR. JOHN K IS NOT THE BEST LINE ARTIST IN THE WORLD. JEEEESH. WHAT ABOUT DANNY ANTONUCCI? ISN'T HE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS JOHN K? HELLO LUPO THE BUTCHER!"

Pipe down, kid. You've had far too much sugar today.

FLAMINGPINECONE said...

I don't agree with the pay for blog, i do however think John K should publish a book with some of these lessons he posts and make some loot off the whole deal.

it is a shame that other studios are yanking John K's style and utterly failing at it (My Gym Partners a Monkey) because they lack skill.

I think the big picture of John's blog is to create a generation of talented unique highly skilled artists, not rip offs.

The ratio is seemingly in the rip off artists favor.