THOUGHT

"Political correctness". Stupid term, stupid argument. Empathy, courtesy, wisdom and class are beyond most people. They just want someone to excuse them for being pigs..

ANIMATION THOUGHT

American animation creative standards have come full circle and degenerated from there. In the 1940s-50s, a certain locked in method was enforced because it was commercial, not because it was a creative decision. Even the artists themselves were tired of it, resulting in self parodies and occasional graphic experimentations. In the 1950s, things loosened up a little, and the 1970s brought a freedom of styles and channels of distribution (not talking about TV animation, which only got worse). Then, in the 1980s came Bluth and the "rebirth" of Disney. And now, 30 years since, many of the young devotees and artists insist on the old lockstep of the 1940s. Even now when there are no Fred Quimbys to answer to, they don't *want* to be free.

THOUGHTS

'Geek' culture is replacing any other kind. That's why there are college classes on superhero theories now.

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I was in a restaurant today. Two men (one of them the owner) were comparing notes on the prices of their techno doo-dads (most of them being handy ways to watch movies): 
"Well, you know, you can't beat that price. (happy) You know, with the slave labor they use over there..." 
"That's right; you got a choice between people here working for ten dollars an hour, and over there for twenty five cents, which are you gonna choose?" 
I can certainly understand wanting to save money, but few people are thinking about what our country will produce (and will provide employment for) besides media entertainment and politics.

THE JOY OF INK

I don't care; even if you CAN ink like Percy Crosby in Illustrator, you'd be faking it.

POSES & PATRICK!

Hugo poses drawn in 2010.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

COPYRIGHT 2016 BY MILTON KNIGHT

JUST ONE MORE

Here are some sketches and work notes on a Fitz-James O'Brien story I adapted for GRAPHIC CLASSICS in 2012.

 COPYRIGHT 2016 BY MILTON KNIGHT

POST #400

I'll be closing up shop again for at least a little while, folksies. Best Wishes, MK

COPYRIGHT 2016 BY MILTON KNIGHT

BOGIE SPEAKS

A memory of Humphrey Bogart. I don't know its source.

A SUBTLE SUBVERSION

In today's culture, subversion is undetected unless you're banged over the head with a sledgehammer. Here's part of an interview from PAPER magazine, way back in 1988. (Zoe was a character I did for HIGH TIMES.)

COPYRIGHT 2016 BY MILTON KNIGHT

A PEPPY SONG ABOUT GOING TO HELL

Enjoy!

THREE PAINTINGS

LUCHADORAS

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LIVING WELL

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ANNA MAY WONG

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"Two Little Blue Little Eyes", played by Eubie Blake, sung by Dick Robertson.

COPYRIGHT 2016 BY MILTON KNIGHT

CGI: TOO MUCH METHOD, TOO MUCH MADNESS

In animation, an "antic" (short for "anticipation") is a term for when a character moves back in anticipation to moving forward. Meant to convey weight. Used in most broad actions. Animator Mike Kazaleh used it to point out exactly one of the things that is WRONG about Hollywood CGI: Not EVERY action begins with an "antic". One may be able to do without them when a character lifts his head, delivers a line of dialogue, or blinks. The CGI films use a wind up-and-pitch "antic" to begin every action, giving them the overly smooth, rubber ball quality always seen.

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"The Idol of the Airlanes", Jan Garber, brings us "On the Wrong Side of the Fence". 

...AND THIS IS THE TOPPER!

Headers from my original art site miltonknight.net, drawn about 15 years ago. When I see all the work I've done gathered on the web, I get exhausted.

 

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A twenties favorite, "Sweet Lorraine" by Johnny Johnson.

COPYRIGHT 2016 BY MILTON KNIGHT

MY INTEREST IN ANIMATION

I'm just into graphics moving. Brush lines, ink lines, paint techniques. Graphic art. That's my interest. Not to see "something moving", but to see drawn or painted art moving. That is my interest in animation.

HUGO GOES TO MARVEL (Wait for the Punch Line!)

Three consecutive pages from a Hugo story called "Kind Hearts and Anarchists". It's dated 1981, so I was 18 or 19. I won't bother listing its many faults. I will say that Trina liked the first page you see. Said the femmes were "Archie-like". On the other hand, Larry Hama at Marvel (I did one assignment on CRAZY for him) tore it up critically. On page 2, the first panel of the second row is supposed to be the interior of a shop; Mr. Hama complained of the lack of an establishing shot. Of the black space in the BG, it was "What the hell is this??" Surprise!! It was painful and embarrassing, but all to my benefit.He also encouraged me to ink with a brush. He drove me to improve professionally, and it did me a LOT of good. I was too immature to really appreciate that. (I'd like to send out an apology to him.) Other artists will tear into you critically just to get themselves off. Everything Hama said made perfect sense. Too bad there aren't editors yelling over desks to whip these kids into shape today. 
(The second drawing I ever made of Slug & Ginger to "establish copyright". Sensei Hama suggested I do that, too.)

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 A snappy rendition of "The Music Goes 'Round and Round" by Clyde McCoy.

COPYRIGHT 2016 BY MILTON KNIGHT

JAMES TYER COMMUNICATES

THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER (1948): One of those cartoons in which Mighty Mouse sings nothing, but his face tells all.

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THE STOWAWAYS (1950): I don't feel cartoons with guns make the characters holding them look "cool"; quite the contrary. They're even more stupid.

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 THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER (1948)

THE STOWAWAYS (1950)

HUGO TAKES A BATH

Four pages from the series (two issues) of HUGO published around 2005. The book sold so badly, that I was ashamed of it! But I cracked open a cover of the first issue today, and found it to be pretty dam good. Too bad you won't see it unless you plunk down $3.50 plus shipping.

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"Shout For Happiness", an appealing song played by Harry Hudson's Melody Men (as The Blue Jays)!

 COPYRIGHT 2016 BY MILTON KNIGHT