Happy Fatties

Phil Hartman Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer Charity Auction

2012-02-05T13:05:00.001-05:00

The charity auction for a one-of-a-kind Phil Hartman "Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer" doll is now live on eBay (you can click the image above to get there). 100% of the proceeds go to benefit Heal the Bay, an organization Phil worked closely with. Feel free to check it out, I won't feel violated.

Many thanks again to Leeanna Butcher for her talents in creating the doll!

Phil Hartman Charity Auction for Heal the Bay Feb 4th - 14th

2012-01-27T09:19:00.001-05:00

The video says it so I don't have to type it.

Find the Auction here.
Find out about Heal the Bay.
To vote for Phil here. (You don't have to be from Canada.)
Doll-Maker Leeanna Butcher: http://www.plushgoodness.etsy.com/

How does a Superhero make a living?

2012-01-12T08:45:00.000-05:00

Nearly five years ago I made my first cartoon Will Rescue for Food. The premise was that a Superman-type superhero loses his job as a reporter for a newspaper because of cutbacks due to newspapers being as popular as... Well, newspapers.

I always had the idea to extend this into a series, but always found something I was more interested in doing at the time. Since I typically get my material from personal inspiration and that I was laid-off from yet another job last year, I got my inspiration to continue on with the employment misadventures of "Superguy".

This is the second of what will be five episodes.

Killer Whales to ring in the New Year!

2012-01-01T16:08:00.002-05:00

On this New Year's day of two-thousand and twelve, I wanted to kick things off on an upbeat note: Murderous Whales. I asked talented artist Tara Harris to do the art design on this one. I wanted it to look different from the previous two. I think her style works beautifully with the tone of the piece.

My Christmas Comedy Tradition

2011-12-22T10:30:00.000-05:00

Every Christmas I have my little traditions that get dusted off to get me in the spirit of ignoring "The Reason for the Season." I watch the Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (My favorite part is with Little Richard), Ernest Saves Christmas, play John Denver and the Muppets Christmas album, and watch SCTV Christmas sketches.

Saturday Night Live is known for having some classic sketches based around the holiday season, but, for me, you can't get any better than The Schmenge Brothers' Christmas in Leutonia, The Dusty Towne Sexy Holiday Special, Christmas, That's All!, and, of course, SCTV-spawned Bob and Doug McKenzie's 12 days of Christmas.

But my favorite sketch has to be Liberace's Musical Tribute to the Holidays. The one thing I don't think anyone can touch SCTV on is impressions. Dave Thomas as Liberace, Rick Moranis as Elton John, Andrea Martin as Ethel Merman, and - the cherry on top, for me - John Candy whose brilliant Orson Welles berates the crew exclaiming "You don't know what I'm up against here!... You people are pests..." (parodying Orson's "Frozen Peas" incident) and then lifts the turkey off the table as he marches out.

Juul Haalmeyer's outstanding costume design adds a huge amount of production value and Bev Schechtman's makeup work makes the spot-on impressions appear like the actual subjects being mimicked.

I hope the work everyone did here makes this a Christmas tradition for you as well.

Milty the Snowman

2011-12-20T11:11:00.000-05:00

A little over four years ago I started making these little cartoons that I do. Prior to that I was attempting to create sketch comedy albums (CD's) in the vein of Firesign Theater or National Lampoon. The following was originally written to be part of a Christmas album, then when I decided to strictly produce animated pieces, I made it one of the first cartoons I released (and was featured on Daily Motion and Yahoo at the time... When Yahoo had a video section). The idea behind it? There are varying degrees of 'magical'. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and enjoy...

The Jingle Dogs Reunion

2011-11-30T12:02:00.001-05:00

Like Dogs? Like the song "Jingle Bells"? Like Humpty Dumpty? Like geriatrics? Man, you're in luck this Christmas.

I originally wrote the idea for this in 2005 and it included a new, younger generation of Jingle Dogs that were Jonas-Brothers-esque and sang songs like "Jingle Bells Baby", "Jingle Bells, Baby" and "Baby, Jingle Bells." That part was scrapped and this is what ya get.

Indictment Burger

2011-11-23T15:19:00.000-05:00

I wish there was a place such as this for all the constant victims out there to dump on. The world of fast food is where the cream of the social crop converge.

The King's Birthday: Now with Vocal Interruption!

2011-11-17T13:47:00.001-05:00

Well, I threatened it yesterday and today I made good on that threat. Here's me talkin' 'bout things that would put many children and animals to sleep...

Chuck the Mer-Midget in: The King's Birthday

2011-11-16T18:46:00.000-05:00

Most of the cartoons I do have some sort of meaning. Yes, even the Bearver and Mike episodes serve a purpose for me. To be blunt: this one has nothing to do with anything. It's just pure nonsense.

I'm probably going to do some kind of commentary for it to explain it a bit more. In the meantime, try to enjoy...

Humpty Dumpty in: Method Overreacting

2011-11-10T14:55:00.001-05:00

One of the good things about reoccurring characters is that sometimes they are the best way to execute an idea. The Social Assassin, Old Man of the Futures, and I Was a Teenage Refund are examples of one-off ideas that don't need to be revisited (unless you like the "Tom and Jerry" repetition of thins). Bringing a character back typically means, for me, that instead of creating all-new scenarios, the idea could be best handled by an already-established creation.

The following is the fourth "Humpty Dumpty" cartoon I've made and it came about from a conversation with a good friend of mine that did much of her acting in the 90's and early part of this century. She was telling me of the last Hollywood audition she had where the person she was auditioning for asked her to do her audition over because they weren't giving her their full attention. They were basically eating lunch. She stormed out and pretty much said, "That's it! I'm done!"

I instantly saw my version of the "Humpty Dumpty" character going through the scenario. A pompous, self-important guy that is into the arts and has mentioned being an actor and playwright before. My actress friend is by no means pompous or self-important, but the "storming out" part of her story seemed to fit Humpty (William) perfectly.

So here it is... Based on a true story. If you have any questions about this or any other cartoon, please feel free to ask!

Cooking with the Lazy Chef: Episode 4

2011-11-03T17:43:00.000-04:00

Nick teaches you how to make a healthy and delicious breakfast in seconds!

The Digital Menace

2011-10-27T10:27:00.000-04:00

This is a cartoon I did a few years back, but it seems even more relevant today than it did the time I made it. With the Blu Ray release of Star Wars and all of its unnecessary changes added by "The Chinless One" (AKA George Lucas), I decided to dig this one out and post it again.

There's nothing I can say about the subject of Lucas molesting his once-wonderful creation that hasn't been said already, so I'll just let you enjoy...

Social Assassin

2011-10-05T20:01:00.000-04:00

Honestly, nobody cares about what you're doing every... single... moment. If they do, they need to be reported to the proper authorities. Or maybe they are the proper authorities and have 24/7 surveillance on your ass.

Whatever the case, leave a little mystery to your lives, folks.

In Honor of Andy Rooney Retiring...

2011-09-27T18:17:00.000-04:00

Where will we get more of this? Who else will complain to me about how toasters have gotten too high-tech?

Happy Birthday, Phil Hartman...

2011-09-24T09:16:00.000-04:00

Several weeks ago I posted a letter I received from Phil Hartman in regards to giving me advice/constructive criticism of my work as a teenager. Since that time, I've been in touch with some family and family-like people of Phil's and they've asked me to help in the campaign to get Phil his rightful place on the Canadian Walk of Fame.

Well, today is Phil Hartman's birthday and the start of the campaign to get him that honor. What better way to give Phil a gift than to nominate him for a star on the WOF? I ask you, why should Doug Henning, Pam Anderson and even Nickelback (yes... Nickelback) have stars and a man as talented and beloved as Phil does not? You can help right this wrong by going to http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/nomination and elect Phil in both categories. (Side note: Don't click the 'Home' page lest you want to see Howie Mandel's fat head.)

Business As Usual

2011-09-23T12:40:00.000-04:00

I always say I've had the great fortune of working for some 'colorful' people. The Bearver cartoons are an example of the... fun I was exposed to for an extended period of time.

Here's my latest piece that is not-so-loosely based on the last boss I had. This is my love letter to her, and by 'love' I mean 'Even if they offered me my own state, I'd never work for you again."

Enjoy... Or don't. Don't let me tell you what to do.

Bearver and Mike Episode 797: Funky Town

2011-08-30T10:03:00.002-04:00

Barnabus Ad #5

2011-08-29T16:56:00.002-04:00

Promotion for Barnabus' favorite snack food...

Killer Whales: Confessions Episode 2

2011-08-22T14:48:00.001-04:00

Phil and Beyond...

2011-08-20T13:40:00.000-04:00

Well, this was quite a week. I want to thank everyone for the supportive and beautiful comments left about the Phil Hartman letter. When I posted it, I honestly thought there would be a few people that stopped by every now-and-then and would say, "Hey, that's pretty cool..." I didn't think it would get as much attention that it did, but I'm glad it worked out that way.

So I'd like to thank Lettersofnote.com, thecomicscomic.com, splitsider.com, The Huffington Post, and all the bloggers, Tweeters, Facebookers, the lovers, the dreamers, and whoever else shared the letter for others to get exposed to how special the man was.

I'm positive I'm not the only one that has a "Phil" story, but I hope this allowed for others that had similar contact him some satisfaction. I encourage you to share your stories as well. I also encourage everyone to join in the efforts to get Phil his much-deserved stars on the Canadian and Hollywood walks of fame by joining up on Facebook and just become of fan of him in general here.

This was a great experience, but now I'm getting back into the cartoon routine. Look for a second Killer Whales: Confessions within the next week. Oh, and a small milestone: Happy Fatties on Youtube has reached over One-Million views as of today. I think I'll celebrate with some Rocket Fuel.... DAYUUUM!

Phil Hartman's Influence

2011-08-14T11:46:00.005-04:00

UPDATE 1/27/12: See the Phil Hartman Charity Auction for Heal the Bay.

When I was in high school I would put together these audio tapes that consisted of part DJ/Radio Show/Sketch Comedy... I guess you'd call them audio variety shows. I'd pass them off to friends, they'd share with their friends and everyone was full of joy and wonder.

Those tapes are pretty much how I learned how to construct a sketch, characters and impressions. So for a 19-year-old, I was still pretty raw and kind of rudderless. So I sought out advice from someone that influenced me and made a huge impression on what my idea of comedy should be.

In December of 1996, I sent an almost illegally-long hand-written (we did that in those days) letter and one of my tapes to Phil Hartman. The letter was full of what my hopes and dreams were and a solicitation for any kind of advice he could throw my way. Of course, there was probably a good deal of ass-kissing as well... But that seems justified to me.

Four months later I received my self-addressed, stamped envelope. Inside was a two-page (front and back) hand-written response from Phil. He gave me what I needed at the time: Constructive criticism, an honest assessment, and, most importantly, direction. This meant the world to me. A man that was THAT busy at the time (doing Newsradio, The Simpsons, commercials, films, and God-knows-what-else) took the time out to not only respond to my letter, but listen to the tape I sent him. It wasn't lost on me, even at that age.

So I was determined to use everything he told me to better my material. I made a new tape and was going to send him a copy, but I started getting into writing comedic essays and planned on sending him a package that showed whatever growth I was making artistically. I remember starting the next letter with a promise that this wasn't like some 'Save The Children' for comedy where he'd receive monthly updates on my progress.

I never got to send that package. I never got to thank him. Who would have known he was going to be taken from us so early? With every piece I create I hope I make Phil proud. He was the most brilliant performer and was not just overwhelmingly beloved by his fans, but by his peers that never had a bad word to say about him. He was everywhere and still so many people don't realize just how much he was involved in. Because he was a man of so many talents, I am always finding new material with him in it, so it's not like he's really gone.

Below is the letter he sent. He makes a reference to the tape I sent, but you'll get the overall ideas of what he's saying. Hope you enjoy.

One of my favorite and most-quotable sketches with Phil:

What it is...

2011-07-29T15:00:00.000-04:00

So I'm forced to take an unwanted hiatus. For the past few weeks, I've been having some charming fellas remodel a room in my house that will be my new workspace. It looks like work will be wrapping up here in the next couple of weeks, but I haven't been able to work on much of anything because, well, I'm homeless in my own home as far as a good work area is concerned. So I've taken this time to write new material that'll be ready to go when I am.

So what can you look forward to? Here's a list:

- A new Humpty Dumpty
- New Gritty's Family Buffet commercial
- More Bearver and Mike
- Another Beatles-themed piece
- A Chuck the Mer-Midget cartoon
- Four sketches titled: Business as Usual, Social Assassin, Cheers, Chairs, Cheese, and Attractive Discount
- Another episode of Killer Whales: Confessions (enclosed below is an image)

So there's much material to come, so just rest up and take your one-a-day pills in preparation for the whatever-the-hell

Not Just Worm Chow

2011-07-18T17:05:00.000-04:00

When someone in our life passes on, it’s commonplace to fulfill the wishes of the deceased. People have specific demands for their bodies after they die whether they want to be buried in a specific place or to be cremated and have their ashes scattered at a significant location. No matter how goofy the request, these demands are typically followed through by a close friend or family member. If it were left up to me, I’d do whatever they desired because I don’t want to be haunted by their spirit or be nagged at about why I didn’t go through with their wishes when we meet up after I die.

When I pass away, I have specific requests that I’d like to have followed through with. I’ve created a list of tasks I would want carried out if I were to die by something other than natural causes, moshing, or soccer riot.

- If I die while bullfighting: My body is to be cremated and my ashes are to be inserted into maracas.
- If I die while trying to break the world-record for pogo-sticking: My body is to be cremated and my ashes are to be baked into the world’s largest pie.
- If I am overweight by more than three-hundred pounds at the time of my death: Subway is to make a series of commercials showing the alternate affects of their all-sandwich diet.
- If I die in an accident stemming from drowsiness: My body is to be cremated and my ashes are to be freshly brewed in a coffee maker and drained into an urn.
- If I die during a viewing of Cutthroat Island: My body is to be shot out of a cannon on an authentic pirate ship.
- If I die because of a Chuck E. Cheese animatronic band that malfunctioned and went on a killing spree: After the service, my coffin is to be lowered into a custom-made ball pit.
- If I die from an overdose of Flintstone vitamins: My coffin is to have a “child safety” lid.
- If I am found dead in bed: I want my body to be cremated simply to make sure that I am dead and not just in a heavy sleep.
- If I’m murdered by Barry Bonds: I want my body to be investigated for any traces of HGH.
- If I die in a Civil War reenactment: My body is to be used in a reenactment of the Civil War reenactment that had its first real casualty.
- If I am decapitated: My head is to be used in lieu of a basketball in a Harlem Globetrotters game for two minutes.
- If I’m decapitated while at a Harlem Globetrotters game: My torso is to be used like a marionette and play along in a game with the Harlem Globetrotters for one full quarter.
- If I die while researching the Colonel’s special secret: Just let everyone know I was getting too close to the answers.
- If I die from severe burns caused by movie-theater popcorn butter: My funeral is to be held at that movie theater where, before the service, trivia about me and previews for upcoming films will be shown on the screen above my casket.
- If I die on the Dumbo ride at Disneyland: I want advocacy for a sign that states you must be at least six-foot five-inches if you want to get on the ride.
- If I die eating eight gallons of mayonnaise: I want to be placed in a casket, which can be bought at a Sam’s Club store that can hold up to ten bodies.
- If I die while performing “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” on karaoke: I want everyone at my service to knock three times on my casket if they mourning over my death.
- If I die while caught in a tuna net: I want cans of tuna to read on their labels, “Dolphin, but not human, free.”
- If I die at the paws of rabid koalas: I want my body to be cremated and my ashes to be dispersed into the fuel line of a Quantus airplane. I also want the koalas to be shot.
- If I am crushed by several stacks of high-quality imitation designer shirts: I want my autopsy to show that I died from a case of brittle insides. This way there will be no connection to me and the ring of imitation shirts, and my family will be spared from certain danger.
- If I die at the hands of a former Dff’rent Strokes cast member: My corpse is to be interviewed on the E! True Hollywood Story based on this event and my answers are to be translated by a psychic.
- If I am accidentally shot by a hunter: I want my head mounted on the bedroom wall of the person that shot me.
- If I suddenly disintegrate into the Earth’s atmosphere: I want any particles of me found in the environment to be caught and placed into a metal-laced organic solid which acts as a sieve with nanosize pores for capturing molecules. Anyone that finds these fragments will garner a ten-dollar reward.

I wanted to cover any and all realistic possibilities of what might be the cause of the tragic end to my life. I don’t think any of these requests are too much to ask for, nor do I think they be looked down upon. I hope my friends and family respect my wishes and follow through as I have instructed. I’m sure they have desires they want met after they’ve gone and expect someone to make good on them. I think any of you would agree with me that when compiling a list of things we’d like to be done after our passing, the task that instantly come to mind is who will update my Facebook status?

Killer Whales: Confessions Episode 1

2011-07-03T11:07:00.000-04:00

My junior year in high school (1993-94) was pretty much another year of "How can I get by doing the least amount of work possible?"

That year, I had a history class that, as usual, didn't grab my attention. It was high school; no one actually wants to be there, but you're forced to go. Out of this boredom, a friend of mine (cartoonist Andy Broome) and I would take old National Geographic magazines and add our own commentaries to them by way of doodles.

This next cartoon came from a simple line in one issue that stated, "Next Issue: Killer Whales!" From that, we drew these orcas that were street-toughs. Now 17 years later, here's an extension of those scribbles:

Sully Sullivan: Old Man of the Futures!

2011-06-20T12:51:00.000-04:00

The premise behind Sully Sullivan: Old Man of the Futures! is a pretty timeless one: Old people have a hard time working electronics.

This piece was actually inspired by a project from my former employer. Simply put: We made online courses for high school students. Each course would have a theme (Algebra would have pirate animations, Spanish would be a game show, Economics was a board game, etc.) and this specific course (Science) had the theme of space.

The main character in these animation was an older man that would instruct the students on what they needed to do from lesson to lesson. Sounds harmless enough, but the voice that was chosen for the character is the one used in this piece of animation presented here. This voice, combined with the fact he wasn't written with any irony whatsoever, made for a fairly comical result. So having to work with this character, you start to resent him, make fun of him, and ultimately, have the urge to make him what he truly is: a confused old schmuck. So this cartoon is - like many others I've made - a release from having to be subjected to this guy day after day for months at a time.

Here's some preliminary drawings of Sully and his Alien friend Trantor (who was also briefly in the science course)

Jim Panzee Revisited

2011-06-11T14:10:00.002-04:00

Four years ago I released my second CD, The Jim Panzee and Friends Funtime Radio Hour to rave reviews from this guy I used to work with. He liked it so much that he asked, "Hey, do you mind if I rip these tracks and share it with some friends?" Piracy, of course, being the highest compliment in the artistic world.

The album (I call it an 'album' because each track means something to the next) chronicles the history of a children's radio show that aired from the late 1930's to it's demise in the mid-40's. The entire piece is fictional, but apparently it was good enough to fool some people into thinking it was authentic. Sadly, the absurdity of the racist overtones and callous attitude towards human safety in the faux-advertisements on the album didn't seem to give people any indication that this was comedic exaggeration.

I was also fortunate enough to get it on the Grammy ballot in the "Best Comedy Album" category. I was listed right above Steven Wright, so that was pretty satisfying seeing my name next to his. Even though I didn't get a nomination, I was happy enough to see my work not totally tossed aside. I was also happy that Larry the Cable Guy didn't get a nomination either.

So where can you find this comedic jem? Lucky for you, the internet has made these things oh-so-accessible. For five bucks (cheaper than a cup of gas), you can download the entire album from CDBABY.

If you're one of those people that takes pride in the fact you paid more for something, then be my guest. It's also available on Itunes, Amazon and, of course, in the "shop" section at HappyFatties.com.

I hope you take some time and preview some tracks. The idea behind this project was to make something not heard too often in comedy CD's these days. It's not trying to be 'of the moment' by parodying and spoofing pop culture; It actually wants to take you out of the present and think about not just how much has changed in the past 70+ years, but also how much has really not changed at all.

Crazy Yeti is In-Saaaaaaaane!

2011-06-03T23:20:00.000-04:00

So I've kept my promise of getting back into the swing of things and releasing new material before the summer. I'm going to address each one in backwards order of their release. Why? It's God's will... or some shit.

The latest cartoon is special because it's the first one where I didn't draw any of the animation elements. I've done a couple of cartoons that the designs were inspired by help from artist friends, but this one is purely drawn up by artist Tara Harris. You can see her work here.

This is a parody of the commercials from the late 70's/early 80's for Crazy Eddie electronics stores in the NY/NJ area. We tried to stay true to the look of the original advertisements giving the Yeti the same sport jacket with turtle neck and the wall of (now) outdated appliances. I also tried to replicate the rhythms of the pitchman (Jerry Carroll) and the gimmick of a holiday moved to another month for the purpose of a sale (Christmas in August, here, Arbor Day in February).

So here's a sample of the real-deal (if you feel the need to find more, go poking around YouTube, they aren't hard to find):

And here's our version...

State of the Fatties

2011-03-22T16:47:00.000-04:00

So I wanted to give everyone an update on what has been going on in my little world. I haven't produced any new material in a couple of months. It's not for a lack of trying; it's everything to do with change happening in my life (not puberty... I am still having my fingers crossed that comes along soon).

First and foremost, my grandfather passed away. While everyone has 18 sets of grandparents these days, I only had one and they were basically the people that raised me. As George Harrison said: All things must pass away. So I will eventually get past this and put myself into my work again.

Second, I've apparently bought a house. How did this happen? I don't fully know myself, but it's the house my grandparents and I lived in and the same house I looked after my grandfather in these past three years. So my focus has been on fixing it up breathing new life into it.

So I'm a bit distracted, but I promise there will be new material posted by the summer. I just have my mind elsewhere and I'm sure you all understand. Just watch Gritty's Family Buffet and Strip Bar over and over until the new stuff comes along.

'Scuse me while I kiss this guy...

2011-02-12T11:46:00.000-05:00

In a world of misheard lyrics, none has been more mistakenly translated as the lyrics for that hot, top-500,00 hit The Ballad of Bearver C. Rogers. Why, one person was even excited at the very mention of "weed" in the song, until they found out there was not one drug-reference to be had and quickly went back to listening to Pink Floyd albums.

So, to set the record straight, here are the deep and thought-provoking lyrics to The Ballad of Bearver C. Rogers:

Look out to the sea of wheat
I think we should buy a bum on the street
Wouldn't life be like pie
With a mackerel in the sky?

If you want to know the meaning behind these words, ask Bernie Taupin. I don't write the lyrics, I just sing 'em.

Barnabus Ad #4

2011-02-11T17:29:00.000-05:00

Barnabus endorses a cause that's near and dear to his heart: Proper lawn care.

Barnabus Ad #3

2011-02-08T19:45:00.000-05:00

Yesterday beheld the second ad from Barnabus. Today... The third. Behold!

Barnabus Ad #2

2011-02-07T20:30:00.000-05:00

This is the second ad featuring Barnabus (you can see the first one here). I encourage anyone that wants to do their own Barnabus ad to send it along to me when you've finished and I'll post it up here and on the Happy Fatties Facebook page.

Dirk Malet: Hell-Bent P.I.

2011-01-31T13:08:00.000-05:00

So this is the first of three cartoons that I'm going to be making that are under one minute in length. If these short-shorts go over well, then maybe I'll continue to try and create one-joke animations.

I'm not big on making a sketch that revolves around one joke and beating that into the ground. This is the problem with Saturday Night Live these past 15-or-so years. They take one (typically unfunny) joke and build a sketch around it. There's no interest in painting a larger picture of the characters past catch-phrases, or of the world they inhabit. I guess it's popular with the infant-to-25 year-old market, but these people grow up and end up becoming the market of people that hate SNL.

Sometimes one joke is all you need and it speaks for the entire piece. After it's done, why go on with four more minutes of that same punchline? So that's what's being done here: Joke is done, and let's move on to something else.

What Goes On

2011-01-23T11:17:00.000-05:00

Nearly three years ago I made a cartoon entitled "Three Geniuses and Ringo": A piece that depicts Paul McCartney pitching a book idea accounting the trials and tribulations of a not-too-bright Ringo Starr. The response was (and continues to be) very positive.

One of the questions I am asked frequently (and also is put in the form of a 'demand') is if I'm ever going to do another Beatles cartoon. Honestly, I don't know what I'm going to do from year-to-year, but I don't like to do more of something if there's not - what I think to be - a decent idea behind it.

So when I started writing material for the new batch of cartoons, I got an itch to write something Beatles-related. I played with several ideas (one including a conversation between Paul and George that consisted of nothing but their song lyrics), and then settled on one I think Beatles fans will appreciate.

I've uploaded my newest cartoon today (I'll post a short explanation of it soon), but it might be a while until I post another because of two reasons:
1.) This is the longest sketch I've ever written and contains more scenes, meaning more backgrounds to create five main characters (and a few other side characters) to voice. (Mind you, things may get cut in the process, but, at this point, I'm creating everything that the current script demands)
2.) I'm the only person that works on putting these pieces together
So it will take some time, but I want to do it right.

In the meantime, I'm posting an image of what the style of this piece is going to be. Hope this gives you a feeling of encouragement instead of "Why, God, why?"

Yo, sound the bell, schools back in!

2011-01-17T18:30:00.000-05:00

So for the past few months the Happy Fatties site has just taken you straight to my YouTube page. I just wasn't happy (pun not intended) with the overall look and feel, so I got a friend of mine that deals in these kind of things to work with me on putting together something that focuses more on the animation and characters and is more coherent.

The other change is that, in the past, my cartoons would first premiere on video sites such as YouTube, Yahoo (R.I.P.), or Dailymotion. Now, they will first appear on the site. To start this new tradition off, I'm showing off Dirk Malet: Hell-Bent P.I.

Hope you enjoy and would welcome any feedback! Go ahead, click here and try it out!

Mike

I Was a Teenage Refund

2011-01-02T13:19:00.000-05:00

So often I come across people (mostly females... OK, ALL female) that have a driving desire to spawn. I admit, pushing something the size of large produce from a small hole out of yourself does sound like a lot of fun. Beyond that gratifying experience, most haven't thought past the idea of "I'll be getting a baby", as if it's a food processor. Problem is, this is a life that you bring into this world and - like it or not - you have a responsibility to for, well, a large portion of your life.

Just wanting a baby is dangerous in the world of "now" thinking we're immersed in. This baby is going to grow and turn into a toddler, a (hopefully) functioning child, a teenager, a young adult, and so on. It takes a lot of self-sacrifice, care, money, and energy to make sure you've produced some kind of human that is worth having in society. If everyone that created a life would really think about what should go into actually making it a valuable one, then maybe we'd at least be rid of MTV programming and Daytime TV.

This is my little piece dedicated to those not thinking past "I want a baby just because."

Humpty Dumpty in "Kindergarten Kritic"

2010-11-21T14:27:00.001-05:00

My third cartoon featuring William "Humpty" Dumpty. This time around he is found critiquing children's artwork.

The idea for this cartoon started when I was in a Baskin Robbins in Knoxville and on the walls inside were a sea of children's drawings of ice cream cones. One stood out from the rest, a friend of mine took a picture of it and now it's featured in the cartoon. So the image Humpty (William) is holding was the actual drawing we witnessed. The rest of the sketch was built around the idea of that drawing.

Tied into the idea were drawings a friend of mine's daughter made not specifically for the cartoon, but they worked beautifully. Thanks, Gracie!

Bearver & Mike Episode 17: Family Ties

2010-11-06T11:44:00.001-04:00

Another Bearver & Mike cartoon finds its way into the hearts and minds of people and various creatures throughout the world.

Someone made the comment "thats like the shittiest rabbit i've ever seen. i dont even, like what the hell. the voices and scripts are so well done, but why do you make your visuals so fucking unattractive and poorly drawn?"

Here's the answer: It's intentional. The cartoons are, essentially, nonsense and to emphasize the frivolity of it, the design is chaotic, incoherent and juvenile. Having them look glossed over with perfect designs and movements would suggest these should be taken the slightest bit seriously... And we don't need that now, do we?

So enjoy the latest from the Shittiest Looking Rabbit and the Wriggling Lump of Crap.

Breakfast Politics

2010-09-30T06:07:00.000-04:00

I'm not big on making political cartoons; I think that the instant you make one it's already dated and that's something I try to avoid doing. This is my version of a political piece, demonstrating that no matter what the subject is, it can become not only an issue, but something that can be used to divide people. Of course, if the public was smart in the first place, this kinda stuff wouldn't go down. But there's an audience for this thing: Loud debate over

You can take the food out of the equation and replace them with people. How much more ridiculous would it be? To quite a few people, they'd get caught up in the debate regardless if the subject was the economy or how dark your toast should be.

Moving right along...

2010-09-17T17:44:00.000-04:00

So it's been since the end of January since I posted any new material. For some people that may be good news and others it might incite a reaction of indifference. Either way, I took a few months off from doing pretty much anything. I sat and stared at the walls of my room that are covered in eye charts, occasionally having a Werther's Original butterscotch for sustenance.

After those few months, I started writing again and - in turn - putting new material together. So starting in October, there won't just be the release of new material, but also a return and restructuring of the website (which right now takes you to the Happy Fatties YouTube page). You'll now be able to download cartoons to do with as you please. Yes, that even includes making love to or fighting Al-Qaeda.

The first images of the new cartoons are up at the Happy Fatties Facebook Page. So get on over and tickle your eyeballs with these images.

Screening in Atlanta

2010-07-10T15:14:00.000-04:00

Three of my cartoons (Eat Healthy, Kids!, Coffee Comfort, and Kentucky Fried Memories) will be shown at the Atlanta Shortsfest on August 7th. You can check out the schedule here: http://atlantashortsfest.com/schedule.html

Then later in the month on August 27th, Kentucky Fried Memories will be shown at the Atlanta Underground Film Festival. You can check out that schedule here: http://auff.org/schedule.html

Look forward to seeing anyone or anything there. Please, don't approach me with questions about my recipe for Chicken Tetrazzini. I understand it's delicious, but I want to be remembered for other things. Thanks!

Giving some insight...

2010-01-29T21:40:00.000-05:00

Coffee Comfort

2010-01-24T19:10:00.000-05:00

Coffee Comfort
by happyfatties

Lou Vanelli's Thawing

2009-12-31T20:22:00.000-05:00

I like the idea that a commercial is basically meant to sell you on the idea that you need a certain product/service, even if it's something blatantly useless. I guess it actually works when you tell people "You need this, you've been wanting this... But you have no idea you've been wanting this." With boredom and technology we're presented with inventions that seem to be abused more than used out of practicality (e.g. texting, "apps", the return of 3-D mania, and whatever bullshit feature Apple puts into the IPhone).

So this cartoon comes from the idea of "You don't know that you need this, but you do."

Lou Vanelli's Thawing - Funny Cartoon
by happyfatties

Bearver and Mike - "Stargate"

2009-12-07T21:05:00.000-05:00

Bearver and Mike - Stargate
by happyfatties

Mrs. Claus Wants a Baby

2009-11-26T22:02:00.000-05:00

So here's my first "official" Christmas cartoon short. There was another made a couple years back that's about 30 seconds (That I'll post again this year), but this is a fully-scripted sketch.

Mrs. Claus Wants a Baby
by happyfatties

Bearver and Mike: Episode 1

2009-11-21T11:25:00.001-05:00

Put The Crayons Away (For Now)

2009-10-11T08:51:00.000-04:00

You'll notice something a little different about the latest cartoon I've done: No crayon/colored pencil look. Why, God, why? Well, unlike some endeavors, I don't get a kick out of doing the same thing over and over again (*cough* Family Guy) and sometimes you have to mix it up a bit.

I have always loved the cereal-box art from the late 50's/early 60's and that was a big influence on the look of this piece. As much as I love the style, I thought it looked a little flat for a cartoon and wanted to add something to make it pop out a bit. I added cardboard texture to each shape that makes up this little world and I think the result really works.

So the piece itself will probably be misinterpreted, but that wouldn't be a first - or a last - for my material. I could explain it, but where's the fun in that? I like the idea that, much like a song, you put the material out there and different people have different interpretations of what they see/hear.

Kentucky Fried Memories
by happyfatties

Happy Fatties NouTube

2009-09-06T14:42:00.001-04:00

The new Happy Fatties YouTube channel is up and humpin'. Come on over and be our damn subscribing friend.

Anyone Here From Milwaukee?

2009-09-03T16:44:00.000-04:00

So I was rummaging through a box of random items (pictures, papers, office supplies, scripts, notes, and incriminating evidence) and came across some scribbles from a time that I had to sit through an (dis)orientation one morning for a job with the Postal Service.

During the 8-hour run of learning protocol and watching instructional videos from the 80's (one starring Edward James Olmos!), you start to find your own entertainment. So my friend Sarah and I sat passing notes and drawing things that mostly pertained to what we were subjected to (not sure where "Santa on Crack" came into the picture, though).

So here, now, for your time-killing pleasure are these works of art.

On Da Fred

2009-08-30T11:20:00.000-04:00

The crazy kids at Channel Frederator were kind enough to feature Eat Healthy, Kids on a recent episode of their show. Below is a drawing requested from them of the site's mascot, the full episode, and here is a link to a brief interview they did with me.

Thanks again, guys!

Let's Fix You Episode 2

2009-08-30T11:16:00.001-04:00

Let's Fix You Episode 2
by happyfatties

Guy Talk

2009-07-26T17:18:00.000-04:00

Well this is what happens when I get inspired to write a sketch based on the old neighborhoods I lived in back in Queens (NY). This doesn't reflect anyone that I know or used to know... That I know of.

Guy Talk
by happyfatties

The Lazy Chef, Episode 2

2009-07-02T13:31:00.001-04:00

The Lazy Chef Episode 2
by happyfatties

Back on the Chain Gang...

2009-06-28T12:33:00.000-04:00

So I've not posted a new cartoon in nearly two months, but in that time I've been writing and recording new material, had a computer go on strike, and kicked around some new ideas.

Now I've started work on a new cartoon (The Lazy Chef, Epdisode 2) and am back in the swing of things. So expect the Happiness and the Fatness to return soon.

In other news: I had a dream that I was singing Neil Diamond songs to a large audience. I was on stage for some reason and then I was encouraged to sing some Neil Diamond. So a mic was tossed to me and I went into Cracklin' Rosie without knowing the words. The lyrics I improvised seem to go over well, then I went into Forever in Blue Jeans.

I don't imagine this to be a nightmare because I was both clothed and well-received. I think maybe this is my calling to make Neil Diamond impersonators more commonplace.

My Reflective Side

2009-06-18T14:34:00.001-04:00

So I was looking through some old notes/notebooks and came across a little piece I wrote a long while ago that I thought someone out there might get a smirk out of:

Bodies strewn in the streets
Bodies on top of cars
Parts of people found in trees
Legs, heads and arms

Insurance companies are going broke
The morgues are overflowing
It all took place in four minutes
The storm clouds just came rolling

Buildings are covered in blood
Drainpipes gush like veins
It was the work of Mother Nature
This time man was not to blame

Now the street sweepers are in place
People pray it doesn't happen again
The meteorologists didn't see it coming
It just started raining men

Animation Magazine's Pitch Party '09

2009-06-16T09:27:00.000-04:00

Would appreciate your support by getting you to vote for Happy Fatties (7th row down... You'll see the cow). You can only vote once, so no ballot-stuffing.

Now I'm going to get some Corn Pops. That is all.

Delicious Tires

2009-06-12T14:20:00.000-04:00

This is the second Happy Fatties one-panel entitled Barnabus Loves Flavored Tires. Once you've tried them, there's no doubt you will too. They handle the road and your tatsebuds!

Happy Fatties One-Panels

2009-06-11T22:25:00.000-04:00

I wanted to do a series of one-panels with Happy Fatties characters, so here is the first piece called Breakfast with Gritty.

The pieces will not be in the typical "hand-drawn/crayon" style associated with the cartoons, but be interpreted through varying styles and portraying the characters in what they typically do outside of the animated cartoons.

If you happen to whip up your own piece of work with a Happy Fatties character and you'd like to share it, feel free to send it on in and I'll be glad to post it here or maybe put together a video montage together and display them all.

Forgotten Cereal Pt. 2

2009-06-07T14:38:00.000-04:00

There were many cereals that were invented for the sole purpose of advertising a show (Rainbow Brite), film (C3PO's) or fad (Urkel), and then there are some that were blatantly advertising the fact they were existing just to be junk food for breakfast. The grandaddy of this idea is Cookie Crisp, but there are several cereals that came and went as fast as they went through your digestive tract.

First we have Nerds Cereal, based on the candy of the same name. So why not a Jolly Ranchers, Airheads or Reeses Peanut Butter Cups cere... Oh, right.

I do like the idea of the Nerd Bowl (with Nerd Gate, which sounds like a scandal involving Bill Gates) makes me think of what a great idea it would be for Nerds candy to sponsor a college bowl game. I'm not a college-football guy, but I'd watch the Nerd Bowl.

This next cereal reminds me of the John Belushi sketch on Saturday Night Live where he was an Olympic athlete that ate "Lil' Chocolate Donuts". Someone at General Mills saw this sketch and thought, "Hey, why didn't WE think of that? If Kellogg's has too much integrity, we'll take it." And in the early 80's we were blessed with "Powdered Donutz" cereal. OH... and the released a "Chocolate Donutz" flavor as well. The Belushi estate should consider litigation.

I mentioned "Ice Cream Cones" cereal in an earlier post, but there was another ice-cream related cereal on the shelves at the same time: "Rocky Road" cereal. We won't get into the nutrition facts on this one. We all know there aren't any. I'm more fascinated with who they got to perform the song. Who signed up to write and perform a song about garbage cereal? And where are these people now? This was 1986, and I know Starship was selling themselves out pretty well at this point, but that doesn't sound like Grace Slick. Don't you remember, we built this city on Rocky Road? Hmmm...

The last cereal here is a blatant junk cereal trying to pass itself off as nutritious. Another problem is it's probably one of the worst ideas for a cereal as it looks to be the most disgusting. Even more so than "Firewood Cereal". OK, there wasn't a Firewood cereal, but if there were it wouldn't have turned my milk into an orange julius. And it's "orange TASTING", so there's not even real oranges in this crap to fulfill the "Packed with Vitamin C" promise. So what, were kiwis not in season for "Kiwi O's"? Or were pomegranates not as marketable for "Pomegranate Puffs?"

Phil Hartman 1948-1998

2009-05-28T18:46:00.000-04:00

Today marks the 11th anniversary of the death of Phil Hartman. Those of you that know me well know of his influence on me. Below are two video clips. The first is of from one of my favorite episodes of Newsradio featuring Phil, the second is of his great audition for Saturday Night Live. The German impressionist is brilliant!

You are missed.

We All Have a Lil' Gritty in All of Us

2009-05-09T11:40:00.000-04:00

The thing I like most about the Hank Gritty character is that he's not afraid to threaten and demean his customer-base. Why beat around the bush, right? You either want what he's pushin' or you don't. He's sheltered from a world with political correctness and the demands that stem from it. I guess those that yearn for the days of open consumer-neglect will get a small slice of that back by visiting his fine establishment. Or maybe they're just as sheltered as he is having never left the comforts of the land that time forgot (rural America).

Even if we don't work in the restaurant biz, most of us are sick of hearing stories about ridiculous demands from customers and, as Gritty has put it, "their whiny shit." I like to think Hank Gritty is the last bastion of true civility. Don't like it? Don't buy it.

Gritty's Family Buffet & Strip Bar #2
by happyfatties

I'm no Slim Goodbody

2009-05-04T19:35:00.000-04:00

Ugh. Just "ugh." So I posted my newest cartoon on the interwebs last week and while a majority of the reaction has been great, there are a few out there that seem to think the piece is supposed to actually teach you something. Having watched my other work, why would anyone think, "Wow, this is an educational turn he's taking."?

Here, watch for yourself...

Eat Healthy, Kids!
by happyfatties

This is a cartoon where an ice cream cone states obviously ridiculous "facts" about junk food. 12,000 Grams of saturated fat? Yeah, that sounds about accurate. Although the scene in which an ice cream cone gets lodged in an artery is nothing less than an exact scientific recreation. I ran that one by a few dietitians before releasing the piece.

I thought the kind folks at DailyMotion.com knew me better than to feature this in the "People and Family" section. Really? Well, I'm glad that we're in a world where a blatantly false and satirical piece can be misconstrued as factual and informational. Kinda like Fox News or MSNBC.

Well, my next cartoon is a second Gritty's Family Buffet and Strip Bar, which is, in fact, an educational and accurate portrayal of the south.

Do they still make vanilla custard baby food?

Ice Cream! We're gonna get ice cream!

2009-04-22T15:36:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share a couple of images from the new cartoon I'm working on entitled, Eat Healthy, Kids!.

The first is of the beloved ice-cream man. I mentioned in an earlier post that his look is based on that of Ice Cream Jones from the Ice Cream Cones Cereal commercials (you can see one in that earlier post).

The second image is of the children being served said ice cream. Their look is based off old Cocoa Puff Kids characters from the early 1960's.

So what does this all mean? I'd say it means that I am so addicted to cereal that I even base my own characters around it. Damn you, General Mills! You're quite possibly my most favorite ranking member of the military.

Win a Happy Fatties DVD!

2009-04-16T15:31:00.000-04:00

With the release of Happy Fatties' new DVD, Pre-Chewed Appetizers on May 26th, five people have a chance to get a free copy!

Become a fan of Happy Fatties on Facebook between now and May 24th. From the fan pool, we'll pick five lucky souls that will receive a sparkling new, fresh-out-of-the-ocean Pre-Chewed Appetizers DVD! (DVD may possibly smell of fish.)

Good luck and, as always, happy bidding!

Pre-Chewed Appetizers DVD

My first dislike-mail

2009-04-16T13:18:00.000-04:00

I've had the typical "Your stuff is crap" and the always-endearing "You suck!", but I've finally received my first all-out rant voicing their displeasure about my material. I appreciate the time and... Well, time put into this. It's a bit of an eyesore, but I think everyone can find something to appreciate:

Your cartoons were long drawn out and boring, they made me want to get a piece of paper, a crayon, and make a poor attempt to draw a gun, then shoot myself with it!!! either that or take a nap, cause seriously that shit made me sleepy, im probably not even awake right now, im probably having a nightmare about writing the author of some shitty cartoons a hatemail. Seriously though i feel bad for you cause it looks like those cartoons probably took alot of work, artwork aside that is, but all the frame by frame and voice over shit were probably pretty time consuming, its just a shame your sense of humor is somewhat droll.
Just one question, how can you call shock value cheap? shock or surprise is the basis of good humor, if humor is completely predictable that just makes it unoriginal and boring, if its something i can hear or see everyday then why bother going out of my way to watch it again, let alone expect it to be humorous. Sooo... basically people just conversing for 10 minutes somewhat sarcastically in jewish accents doesn't make something funny or even a joke, you either need a phyisical surprise, or unexpected punchline, or personally a charisma that is just so hilarious it doesnt matter what you say people will laugh. From what i could stand to watch of your videos i didnt see any of this. Granted i probably didnt watch several of them all the way through as they were long and drawn out, and i was waiting for SOMETHING, they are like little stories without any damn point, you got the layout and setting, but then fail to deliver, YOU NEED A PUNCHLINE.

Huggs and kisses
your mother

So, I guess my response would be:

Hey Ma,

It seems that - yet again - I have failed to live up to your lofty standards. I guess that I'll never be able to top those George Lopez Show reruns that demonstrate what universal comedy is.

Next time I swear I'll call on your birthday. I'm thinking from this e-mail that you didn't appreciate the gift of assorted Subway sandwiches.

In the meantime, I'll try to remember to pick up after myself and change my underwear more frequently. You have to make changes from the inside-out before you can change the world, right?

Smooches and giggles,
Your Son

Cut the Ribbon

2009-03-28T17:44:00.001-04:00

So the Happy Fatties Store is now open which means pre-orders for the Pre-Chewed Appetizers DVD are now being taken. You'll find other typical merchandise on the site like CD's, Shirts, Magnets, Power Shakes, Diaper Bags, Dog Bowls, Cattle Prods, and powerful fat-sucking indoor grills to help health-inize your artery-clogging food. And... Socks.

Well, all those items aren't available, but some are. Just click on over and find out which.

Pre-Chewed Appetizers DVD
by happyfatties

Mulch Mouth

2009-03-18T13:47:00.000-04:00

My latest cartoon features two trees that just stand and B.S. back and forth. Sounds exciting, right?

The idea came as I was sitting in a friend's car waiting for them to come back (don't worry, the window was slightly cracked open) and there were a couple of trees in front of the car. I thought about what kind of life you'd have if you had to stand next to the same person for decades; What would you do to make life interesting? Well, obviously you'd make up a more exciting life in your head.

So that's how this came about. Originally, I had written for "Joe" (the naive tree) to be a character that was just sick of hearing the day-after-day bad lying from Russell. But it just came across for a funnier scenario if the other tree was game and didn't really question what the liar was saying; he was more envious of what Russell "accomplished", even if he really knew it was all crap in his heart.

So go ahead, hug a bad-lying liar today and show them how much you appreciate their effort in trying to come across as more interesting.

Mulch Mouth
by happyfatties

Forgotten Cereal

2009-03-12T16:06:00.000-04:00

From time to time I'm going to post about my first love: Cereal. So just put up with it or don't read it when I feel like sharing these moments. But it wouldn't kill you to try enjoying it.

So I'm always surprised when I try and talk cereal with people and they don't recall any of the products I bring up. Then I have to go on that God-send, Youtube and find the commercials for them to show I'm not a filthy liar making up filthy lies about cereals that never existed just to make friends.

Please don't think I'm advertising these products; Most weren't very good to begin with and if you happen to find a case of any of these in the bowels of some Dollar General stock room, I'd say try them for yourself on your own free will. Don't let me sway you in any way.

I enjoy Claymation, even in small doses, so the Circus Fun commercials are always an interest to me. The cereal tasted like the clay used to animate these creatures, but the ads were... "fun."

The Ice Cream Cones Cereal commercials are refreshing in that in these ads, the mascot actually brings children cereal instead of trying to steal it or hide it from them. Ice Cream Jones is an unselfish pioneer in a landscape of greed. Incidentally, a cartoon I'm working on has a character that is a nod to that giver of sugar-filled life, Ice Cream Jones.

In the live-action commercials I always wonder what these kids ended up doing with their lives. When did they go through their lifetime supplies of these products? As a kid, I used to think that's what they got paid with and my thoughts haven't changed. It would be a shame if they got addicted to the very items they helped promote to the world. The kids in this commercial make me believe I'm right:

I did actually like Pac-Man Cereal (Kix with marshmallows).

So if you know of any obscure cereals, feel free to share them with the rest of us, or just me. I'm always up for a good schoolin' or walk down memory alley.

What, no hilarious bloopers?

2009-03-10T10:27:00.000-04:00

Here's an image of the DVD cover art. You may notice the lack of touting for an "Unrated Version"because, well, who has the time to rate things? The content is so tawdry and ribald, it would have never gotten past the ratings board without being rated. What would I rate it? On a scale of 1 to "Good" I'd rate it a 52, which is more than a fair rating. I'd say to you that you should make your own rating system and confuse and amaze your damn friends.

Out of laziness...

2009-03-03T11:41:00.000-05:00

So I just finished the commentary for the Pre-Chewed Appetizers DVD yesterday. Why does that matter? Because that was the last piece of material I had to complete before it is sent to the manufacturing hole. So with that finished, it's on to non-DVD related projects.

Here's one of those projects: The Lazy Chef. An idea I had for a long while now and one that I wanted to do in live-action at one point. I'm glad I waited because I think the idea's much better executed in animation.

I hope you enjoy because there are going to be more of these in the coming months. I'd hate to produce something that would make you frown.

The Lazy Chef Episode 1
by happyfatties

Where'd that come from?

2009-01-18T01:31:00.000-05:00

So this is the first cartoon I've added a commentary to. As I explain at the beginning of the video, this is just to give people an idea of where the ideas came from for some of these pieces.

This is just discussion of the premises and not the animation process. If you have any questions that aren't answered in the commentary or just want to vent any frustrations, please feel free to do so. If I get a reaction of "Stop, please." then I will gladly not do anymore commentaries. I just hope it's informative in some way as to how a piece can get started with an idea and where those inspirations can come from.

Ooooo, the magic.

2009-01-16T13:51:00.000-05:00

So the most frequent questions I get about my material (besides "Why?" and "When are you going to do a cartoon about feet?") are "What program do you use to animate?", "How long does it take to make a cartoon?" and "What do you use to draw up the cartoons?"

I figured I'd address these here so I can just tell people to come here for the answers. I'm going to take these in a different order so it'll make more sense as I go along.

1.) Question: "What do you use to draw the cartoons?"
Answer: Pencils (colored and the tried and true #2), markers, paper, and my hands. Everything is hand-drawn and was - at one point - hand-colored. Each piece is scanned into the computer, brought into Photoshop and cleaned up (stray lines eliminated, resized, superfluous elements edited out, etc.) and if they are to be "hand-colored", there is a library of color swatches that have been scanned in to do it (to save time and pencils).

Flesh on a character is always solid-colored in Photoshop. Why? Because I don't want them to blend in with everything else. I don't want someone's head to be lost in a big crayon-colored mess.

Then each element is saved as its own independent file and then...

2.) Question: "What program do you use?"
Answer: I bring each of these elements into a Flash file. It's all animated and edited in Flash. The mouth-movements are done in Toon Boom because their program has a halfway decent feature that maps out audio to sync up mouth movements... I don't animate in Toon Boom because it is just more complicated that it should be. It's a program for serious animators and while I do animate, I'm not a professional by any means. If you think Toon Boom is easier for you, then go for it.

3.) Question: "How long does it take to make a cartoon?"
Answer: Typically it takes about three weeks from writing to finished product. If a cartoon is using characters and pre-made sets and backgrounds, it could take about three days. Keep in mind I'm one person and have no crew to draw, scan, animate or even do other voices. If there was a couple more people involved, there would not only be new material posted way more frequently, there would also more than likely be more deaths to report.

There's going to be a fun little piece as an extra on the DVD about "How a Happy Fatties" cartoon is made that will shed absolutely no light on this subject, but it will hopefully be entertaining for you to watch. So I hope this helped explain things a bit. Exciting, huh? No? Well, if you have any further questions, please feel free to step up to the keyboard and ask.

Mike

Let's Fix You Episode 1

2009-01-08T02:38:00.000-05:00

Find yourself with a case of “short man” syndrome? Having trouble controlling your eating habits? Trying to get over your own excess body hair?

Meet Dr. Matthew Deel, renowned psychiatrist, motivational speaker, author of 1,500 self-help books, masseuse, and appliance psychic. Dr. Deel can provide you with words of...well, you'll get words to help you through the confusing problems – including practicing psychiatry without a license; slapping a puppy; compulsive plagiarism...you know, things we all deal with.

So don't be shy! Contact the doctor by sending your personal concerns in a private message to HappyFatties. As an added bonus, if your message is chosen to be included in the “Deel of the Day,” you'll receive a halfway-decent package of Happy Fatties goodies, including t-shirts, CD's, magnets, and whatever else Dr. Deel can find in the hallway closet.

(All certificates of psychiatry and doctorates achieved by Dr. Matthew Deel were within areas not found to be part of the developed world or realized to be forgeries and are not to be taken even remotely seriously. Happy Fatties and anyone involved in psychiatry or the legal system take no responsibility for whatever lunacy comes from this man’s mouth.)

Persistence Pays

2008-12-27T12:43:00.000-05:00

My newest cartoon (and possibly the last before the debut of Let's Fix You, with Dr. Deel on Mytoons at the end of January) is up and ready to fondle your eyes with animated glee.

If you have any questions about the making of, the content, ideas, words, or even the economic ramifications stemming from this piece, feel free to ask. I'd love to share how the end result came about.

Happy Fatties on YouTube

2008-11-24T01:13:00.000-05:00

You can check out Happy Fatties' cartoons a ton of places, but the most popular place is the startup video site "YouTube." So waddle on over and stop in for some complimentary sandwiches and snacks.

Pre-Chewed Appetizers DVD Menu Preview

2008-11-24T01:00:00.000-05:00

Here are four screen shots from the upcoming Pre-Chewed Appetizers DVD menu. As you can see, dozens of dollars were put into the creation of it.

Main Menu

Special Features

Transition

Chapter Selection

2008-11-24T00:57:00.000-05:00

Happy Fatties' online store is open and ready to sell you merchandise that will help brighten your smile and skin.

T-shirts, CD's, downloads, and magnets are available. There'll be more crap added as we think of putting it online. Any suggestions as to what you'd like to see made available are always welcome. In the meantime, let your eyeballs suck on what's available now.

Won't you be our neighbor?

2008-11-24T00:34:00.000-05:00

In case you haven't found Happy Fatties on Myspace (or never really thought about it), you can grace us with your sweet, tastey friendship by just sending a request. It's more than likely we'll accept. I mean, half the profiles we're friends with are porno stars and dj's... And thay always care about who they're friends with.

Supersonic, folks.

Let's Fix You

2008-11-08T16:57:00.000-05:00

Starting in January 2009 Mytoons.com will be the exclusive place to find the Happy-Fatties-produced Let's Fix You with Dr. Deel!

Users of the site will be able to submit the problems and issues affecting their lives to reknowned psychiatrist, hyponotist, masseuse, and motivational speaker, Dr. Deel (and author of over 1,200 books). He'll diagnose their concerns and through the law-of-averages set them back on track to personal success.

More details to follow in the weeks ahead.

He is the Egg Man

2008-10-03T10:44:00.000-04:00

So with this Aniboom contest going on until December, I'm going to seemingly be annoying people with constant pushing of my work that's been entered.

This particular piece deals with the idea of someone that is known for doing one thing, but feels the need to expand his horizons and lose the stereotypes he's been labeled with. You know, like how O.J. Simpson is known for killing people and he's tried to branch out by... Threatening people's lives. It's a step in a softer direction for him.

In this case it's William H. (Humpty) Dumpty. Trying to convince the Dish and the Spoon from "Hey Diddle Diddle" that there's always options in life and you don't have to be complacent with your current situation. Only they don't see the need to change anything.

Surprisingly, both sides have good points. I thankfully don't know many people like the Dish and Spoon (in shape and in thinking), but I see people like them everyday.

Watch more cool animation and creative cartoons at aniBoom

Aniboom 2008 Awards

2008-09-26T12:04:00.000-04:00

So a few of my cartoons have been entered in Aniboom.com's 2008 Awards contest. What's at stake? Only thousands of dollars in cash and prizes (actual definition of "prize" may vary... For some it may be a cookie, for others a prostitute)!

Entered are a few pieces including the one - Three Geniuses and Ringo - below. If you'd be so kind to at least hop on over to the Happy Fatties aniboom profile and check out the pieces labeled "aniBoom Awards 2008", you yourself might get a prize. Will it be a prize of cash or flesh? No... It's be the prize of exercising your right to vote on anything and everything that's on the internet.

Happy Bidding!

Watch more cool animation and creative cartoons at aniBoom