Production Art: "The World of Snowboy & Crow" - Episode #3

I wanted to share where the inspiration for the creature from the latest tree gag:

   

I drew this balloon bird-like creature sometime last year.  So as I was trying to come up with another tree gag, I thought it would work well and be quite funny to see.

Here's the explanation behind the creature:  

"The creature expands as it eats, until it's full and must release its waste."

"After the creature discharges the ball-like waste, it returns to its original skinny lanky shape."

It was very fun to animate and bring this sketch to life.

Thanks

Cheers

- Ken

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLKrgVwA6G2IBk9sIGf3xxA

LAST DAY to enter the Ken Turner 2012 Art Contest!

*LAST DAY to enter the Ken Turner 2012 Art Contest!

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE at 11:59 pm TONIGHT!!

DEADLINE: JULY 31, 2012

For more details go here:

http://kenturner.blogspot.ca/2012/07/ken-turner-2012-art-contest-info.html

2 days left to enter the Ken Turner 2012 Art Contest!

*2 days left to enter the Ken Turner 2012 Art Contest!

DEADLINE: JULY 31, 2012

For more details go here:

http://kenturner.blogspot.ca/2012/07/ken-turner-2012-art-contest-info.html

Episode #3 "The World of Snowboy & Crow" - The Light & The Hat!

Check out Episode #3 for Snowboy & Crow at: http://youtu.be/R3CtcCauUBo and you'll be helping to support the Snowboy & Crow series!

1 week left to enter the Ken Turner 2012 Art Contest!

*1 week left to enter the Ken Turner 2012 Art Contest!

DEADLINE: JULY 31, 2012

For more details go here:

http://kenturner.blogspot.ca/2012/07/ken-turner-2012-art-contest-info.html

Vampire

Vampire (Monsters Series). 2012. Ink pen, marker and pencil crayon on paper. 8.5" x 11". © 2012 Ken Turner.

2 weeks left to enter the Ken Turner 2012 Art Contest!

*2 weeks left to enter the Ken Turner 2012 Art Contest!

DEADLINE: JULY 31, 2012

For more details go here:

http://kenturner.blogspot.ca/2012/07/ken-turner-2012-art-contest-info.html

JibJab Featured E-Card: Hungry Beaver!

Today JibJab featured my e-card Hungry Beaver on their site. I also did an interview for them about the card.

I've included the interview here:

1) Where did you get the idea?

Well the idea and execution was all there in the story reel animatic. I tried to add my own spin on the design of the beaver. I gave him bigger eyes and teeth. After he’s done and he’s plopped down all fat and satisfied, I animated him rubbing his tummy and flapping his tail which was wasn’t in the original reel.

2) Have you ever seen a beaver in the wild? If so, where?

One day in the woods, I came upon one. He was small and very furry. He quietly came over and then stood on his hind legs. He then whispered into my ear, “Welcome to Narnia”. (Well I’m kidding of course!) No, I can’t say I have. You’d think living in Canada you would surely see one, while camping or what not, but I haven’t. Probably the only time I’ve seen one swimming about would be at a zoo as a kid.

You can click this link to read it or by clicking on the picture (above):

http://blog.jibjab.com/2012/07/16/new-ecard-hungry-beaver/

You can also view the e-card at this link or by clicking on the picture (below):

http://www.jibjab.com/birthdays/sendables/204715/hungry_beaver/birthdays

Cheers

Red Dice Media Inc.

Freak Show Studios has partnered with Toronto creative marketing house & media company Red Dice Media Inc. to produce all 6 episodes of "The World of Snowboy & Crow" animated web series.

Stay Tuned for more news...

You can follow them on:

https://twitter.com/RedDiceMedia

http://www.reddicemedia.com/

https://www.facebook.com/RedDiceMedia

Cheers

Studio Jessi - Henry: The Heart Boy Doll

Recently I finished a collaboration with Jessi Mesalic whose dolls I discovered on a random daily web surf. I wanted to make a doll for my character Henry: The Heart Boy and this is the end product. I will have him available to see in person at FanExpo this year in Toronto.

http://studiojessi.blogspot.ca/2012/07/henry-heart-boy.html

You can check out her sites @:

http://studiojessi.blogspot.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Simpli-Jessi/311136440710

Cheers

Ken Turner 2012 Art Contest Info

Ken Turner 2012 Art Contest Info:

I will be holding an ART contest and the Grand Prize will be awarded to the TOP 3 entries. Winning Entries will also have their pieces displayed on www.kenturner.blogspot.com

*SKILLS NOT REQUIRED, IMAGINATION IS A MUST!

The guidelines and rules are as follows:

• This contest is open to everyone young and old.
• 2 original pieces of art are to be submitted by each person.
• #1: Create a "Snowboy & Crow" one page comic. It can be more but one page will be fine. Think of a clever and imaginative scenario or situation for "Snowboy & Crow" to be in. Feel free to use speech bubbles to help depict the story if needed. Color or no color is acceptable. Any medium, any size, any format of your choosing.
• #2: Create one "Henry: The Heart Boy" sketch or doodle or painting or cut-out or sculpture piece. Color or no color is acceptable. Any medium, any size, any format of your choosing.
• Artwork must be entirely the original work of the individuals.
• GRAND prize to the top 3 entries include:

1. "The World of Snowboy & Crow" Mini-Comic - signed
2. "Henry: The Heart Boy" Illustrated Story Book - signed & includes one wind-up butterfly
3. Henry & Snowboy Art prints - signed
4. Postcard set (5 in each set) - signed

• The submission deadline is July 31, 2012.
• Each entry must email in a high quality scan, photograph or digital file of each piece.
• Please include your name and shipping address when sending in entries.
• All entries are to be submitted to the following email address: kenny_23mj@hotmail.com
• All questions or inquiries can be sent to the following email address: kenny_23mj@hotmail.com
• Winners will be annouced on August 6, 2012.
• For art references see below -

SNOWBOY & CROW REF:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLKrgVwA6G2IBk9sIGf3xxA

HEARTBOY REF:

Good Luck

Cheers!

Upcoming Contest!

I'm thinking of doing a contest & having 3 winners...

The prizes would include "snowboy" mini-comic & a heartboy book, etc -

to those interested leave a comment or email or reply back on twitter

https://twitter.com/iKenTurner/status/220933634771783680



Cheers

ShowMeTheAnimation - "Snowboy & Crow" Post

Jake Hobbs of the site "ShowMeTheAnimation" did a feature today on Snowboy & Crow.  

You can view it via this link:

 http://www.showmetheanimation.com/index.php/snowboy-crow/

Excerpt:

"There is a new independent web series on the net for you to feast your eyes on. The World of Snowboy & Crow is a series of animated shorts created in 2012 by director Ken Turner and animated by Freak Show Studios. The characters Snowboy & Crow appear in the mini-comic The World of Snowboy & Crow, also created and illustrated by Ken Turner, from which the web series is based."

Show Me The Animation site and twitter links:

 

http://www.showmetheanimation.com/

https://twitter.com/#!/ShowMeTheAni

Watch Out for "Snow Sharks", Episode #2 Warns of the Dangers!

We all thought it was safe to go back in the snow, how wrong we were!

Go see why now and tell your friends:

http://www.filmannex.com/webtv/kenturner/movie/the-world-of-snowboy-crow-episode-2/30917

Sunbathers, you have been warned!

2012 Artist Alley FanExpo List

 For those interested in who will be in Artist Alley this August for FanExpo in Toronto, here is the link to the entire list:

http://www.fanexpocanada.com/artist-alley-list/

I'm at the same table number as last year A225.

Here's the link to the 2012 floor plan: 

http://www.fanexpocanada.com/2012/forms/2012-FLOORPLAN.pdf

I'll be posting more FanExpo news as it draws near.

Cheers

Episode #2 "The World of Snowboy & Crow" - Family Problems!

Check out Episode #2 for Snowboy & Crow at: http://youtu.be/sVryHm3RXkE and you'll be helping to support the Snowboy & Crow series!

Little Gothic Horrors: Ken Turner's Captivating Freak Show

Emma of "Little Gothic Horrors" has put up another feature on her site of my work entitled 
"Ken Turner's Captivating Freak Show".

Click the link or picture to go to the post:

http://littlegothichorrors.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/ken-turners-captivating-freak-show.html

Here's an excerpt:

"I've been delving a tad further into Ken's portfolio of work, and I discovered a little gem in the form of a short stop motion animated film he made in 2007, called Tim, which is an homage to Tim Burton's brilliant short film, Vincent. Not only is Tim a treat for anyone with a love of the Burtonesque aesthetic but it is also a really poignant tale that will resonate with those of us who can relate to being something of a misfit."


Go check out her blog and facebook at the links below for more delightfully dark art:

http://littlegothichorrors.blogspot.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/LittleGothicHorrors

Thanks Emma

Cheers

Everyday is Halloween - "Snowboy & Crow" Post

A German website named "Everyday is Halloween" posted a spot for "Snowboy & Crow" and also mention "TiM".

 http://pixella-bloggt.com/2012/06/19/snowboy-crow/

Here's a rough translation of what they say:

"That Ken Turner, a big fan of Tim Burton is, is not well deny.
His latest work is a web-series called "The World of Snowboy & Crow".
Here is the first part: "The Birth of Snowboy".  Also noteworthy is the way his very first film work about a boy who would like Tim Burton: TiM."

 

Cheers

Strange Kids Club Interview

There is a feature up on the site"Strange Kids Club".

http://www.strangekidsclub.com 

 https://twitter.com/#!/StrangeKidsClub

For those unfamiliar with the site:

"Strange Kids Club is a daily dose of adolescent enthusiasm for your inner child. An online hub for assorted strange, geeky and otherwise nostalgic content; SKC features articles on video games, comics, unbelievably cool toys, exclusive interviews and movie reviews."

 

Rondal Scott III of "SKC" conducted the interview with me, which features info on my childhood, going to animation school and some of my current and future projects.

Excerpt:

"Imagine – if you will – a world filled with misunderstood monstrosities and outlandish outcasts. a world where vampires falling out of the sky are as often an occurrence as ufos and the decay of Winter is as delightfully magical as the renewal of Spring. This is the world of animator and director Ken Turner.  Turner, a huge Tim Burton fan, has been in the animation industry for over 5 years and worked for some of the biggest names including Cuppa Coffee, CORE Toons, Jib Jab and Nelvana (to name a few). Recently, however, Turner has kickstarted his first web series starring the child-like duo of Snowboy (an adolescent snowman) and Crow (uh… he’s a crow). Embarking on an ambitious 6-episode stint, Turner hopes that Snowboy and Crow will catch on with fans of Burton’s equally odd menagerie of misfits, albeit with his own twist and sense of macabre humor."

Here's the link:

http://www.strangekidsclub.com/2012/06/18/ken-turner-interview/

 

 

 Cheers

JibJab Featured E-Card: Robo Years!

 

Today JibJab featured my e-card Robo Years on their site.  I also did an interview for them about the card.

 I've included the interview here:

"Our newest birthday card, Robo Years, comes from the brains and hands of Nate Theis and Ken Turner. After Nate whipped up a robotic animatic, Ken went to work putting his own spin on it. We talked with Ken to find out a little more about the man behind the robot.

Where did you go to school?
-I went to Sheridan College for Animation and graduated in 2007.

How long did this card take to animate?
-The Robo Years Card took about 1 – 2 days to animate.

Where did your inspiration come from?
-Well the design wasn’t that far off the rough story reel design, but I wanted to change it a bit.  I gave him a round head, a mouth, more antennas, different hands (one is scissors, and the other has fingers), and redesigned the circuit board on his chest.  I think I had just watched the film Forbidden Planet and really liked that dome head design.  There is also a certain amount of charm to that robot that I wanted to bring to this eCard robot.

Favorite robot in the media? (The terminator counts)
-If it’s robots in pop culture, I’d say the UFO robots from 80′s film “Batteries Not Included.”"

You can click this link to read it or by clicking on the picture (above):

http://blog.jibjab.com/2012/06/18/new-birthday-card-robo-years/ 

You can also view the e-card at this link or by clicking on the picture (below):

http://www.jibjab.com/birthdays/sendables/204700/robo_years/birthdays

Cheers

Sombrero Sam

Sombrero Sam (People Series). 2012. Digital. 11" x 8.5". © 2012 Ken Turner.

Broken Pencil Review: "Henry The Heart Boy" Book

Just came across this review of the Henry: The Heart Boy Book via the latest issue of Broken Pencil.

Check it out below:

"A native of Mississauga, Ontario, cartoonist Ken Turner has worked predominantly in the worlds of animation and illustration in addition to self-publishing his own illustrated books and mini comics. Turner’s latest book is a twisted take on a children’s story that might appeal more to adults than the wee ones. The titular Henry is an odd-looking fellow with a large head and jaundiced complexion. One day he tries to give his heart away (literally) to the object of his affection, but her rejection (or rather revulsion) breaks and, eventually, kills his heart, setting poor Henry off on a surrealistic quest to get it back from the beyond.
There are some very clever moments in Henry: The Heart Boy, both within the rhyming scheme of the story and in the twisted world the story explores. His work, however, owes a very large stylistic debt to Tim Burton’s scrawled pen lines, wispy watercolours and combination of macabre and whimsical themes. All these blatant Burtonisms overshadow the obvious gifts Tuner has for character design and storytelling. His ink work is quite nice, especially in the black-and-white pieces at the back of the book. He has all the potential to become something more than a clone of his greatest influence. If he’s looking to get inspired, he might try following the words of Ed Wood he quotes on his own website: “Visions are worth fighting for. Why spend your whole life making someone else’s dreams come true?”  (Matthew Daley)"

Link to Review:

http://www.brokenpencil.com/reviews/henry-the-heart-boy

Cheers

RageHaus - "Snowboy & Crow" Post

 

Special Thanks to Kim & Derek Munn of RageHaus for featuring "Snowboy & Crow" in the latest post on their site:

"Ken Turner is the creator, illustrator and director of the new web animated series, “The World of Snowboy & Crow.” Animated by Freak Show Studios, the characters Snowboy & Crow are two misunderstood child-like characters that live in a snowy landscape full of vampires, ufos, monsters, death and love. I’m a big fan of Tim Burton’s work, and this certainly feels inspired. I’m looking forward to how these quirky characters interact and develop throughout the series. Until then, check out “The Birth of Snowboy,” the first episode in this saga."

 Check out the link for the feature:

http://ragehaus.com/?p=6206

Ragehaus Site Link:

http://ragehaus.com/

Cheers

FilmAnnex Newsletter - "Snowboy & Crow"

Today FilmAnnex posted their newsletter which has a little feature about "The World of Snowboy & Crow": 

"Now back to this week's content. Our featured filmmaker is the newcomer Ken Turner, who has an impressive resume with several awarded animated short films. When he's not working for animation studios, he publishes humor books and pays homage to his favorite film director Tim Burton by creating short films. He came to us with The World of Snowboy and Crow, a mini comic turned animated web series about the misadventures of a boy made out of snow and his crow friend. You will definitely see Burton's influence on the characters and enjoy the first episode of the series. While you wait to see what's next, take a look at Turner's blog posts with great posters and pages from the initial comic."

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLKrgVwA6G2IBk9sIGf3xxA

OpenFilm Editor's Pick

Great News! Over at OpenFilm "The World of Snowboy & Crow" Episode #1 has become an Editor's Pick!

Cheers

FilmAnnex Featured Filmmaker this week!

Hey I'm being featured on @filmannex main page this week!  

http://www.filmannex.com/

Also here's the link to EP #1 for Snowboy & Crow:

 http://www.filmannex.com/webtv/kenturner/movie/the-world-of-snowboy-crow-episode-1/30736 

Cheers

FilmSchoolRejects - "Snowboy & Crow" Post

 

Special Thanks to Neil Miller of Film School Rejects for featuring me in the latest post on the site.  

 "We close tonight with the brief first episode in a new webseries called The World of Snowboy & Crow, brought to our attention by its director, Ken Turner. It shall take you into “the world of Snowboy, a boy made from snow, and his friend a Crow. These two misunderstood child-like characters live in a snowy landscape full of vampires, ufos, monsters, death and love.” All of those things are pretty cool and the animation is just plain pretty. Consider us watching, Mr. Turner."

Check it out via:

http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/movie-news-after-dark-george-lucas-and-his-wood-dont-need-you-but-klown-and-snowboy-crow-do.php

Site Link: 

www.filmschoolrejects.com

Animation Nation - "Snowboy & Crow" Post

 

Special Thanks to Charles of Animation Nation for posting about "The World of Snowboy & Crow" Series.

 "There's a new Web project emerging. It's called 'The World of Snowboy & Crow' and is a series of animated shorts created in 2012 by director Ken Turner and animated by Freak Show Studios. The characters Snowboy & Crow appear in the mini-comic The World of Snowboy & Crow, also created and illustrated by Ken Turner, from which the Web series is based.

In the series, you enter the world of Snowboy, a boy made from snow, and his friend a Crow. These two misunderstood child-like characters live in a snowy landscape full of vampires, ufos, monsters, death and love.

Who could ask for more!

Take a look at the teaser trailer below. You can see Episode #1 of Snowboy and Crow at this link here and also here. For production credits and more links head on over to the Forum topic."

Check it out via: 

Homepage article:
 
http://www.animationnation.com/component/content/article/7-charles/416-the-world-of-snowboy-a-crow-new-web-series
 
Forum topic:
 
http://www.animationnation.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3578 

 Animation Nation links:

http://www.animationnation.com/
http://www.animationnation.com/community

Cheers

Episode #1 "The World of Snowboy & Crow" - The Birth of Snowboy!

Check out Episode #1 for Snowboy & Crow at http://youtu.be/90Uow_rhVhk and you'll be helping to support the Snowboy & Crow series!

"The World of Snowboy & Crow" Teaser Trailer!

Check out the teaser trailer for Snowboy & Crow at http://youtu.be/47SZsQy1l98 and you'll be helping to support the Snowboy & Crow series!