Wednesday, May 9, 2007

neighbor

Well, I actually had this fully drawn and ready to be inked by 9pm on Friday. Then the nice weekend, perfect mountain biking weather. Perfect weather for looking stupid by falling over from a standstill because of the new pedals and cleats I'd gotten to replace the ones I'd been running for four years straight. I was like: "No, really! I've been riding SPDs since '95! Really!". Since then, I'd finally gotten the bug up my wazoo to get cracking on a comic a friend and I are working on. I had one more page to ink to get up to date on the script. So, that took up all of my time until tonight.

Anyhoo, here it is. I feel I've been slacking. I haven't created a totally finished work for IF in a long time. By finished, I mean something that I'd have Sweet Enemy frame and stick on my wall. The piece is an homage to what is arguably one of the best animated films ever: My Neighbor Totoro. If you don't recognize the figure on the left, that's ok. It's supposed to be Fred Rogers. If you don't recognize the figure on the right, GO TO THE VIDEO STORE NOW! No, really. Go.

The title is based on the translation of the movie title from the Japanese. It means, roughly, My Neighbor Mr. Rogers.

Do I get bad joke points?

11 comments:

demosthenes said...

dude, i LOVED that movie. it's right up there with Warriors of the Wind, Akira, Spirited Away, Steamboy, Ninja Scroll, Vampire Hunter D and Fists of the Northstar as one of my favorite anime movies.

excellent job!

Sycla said...

I really need to check out this Totoro guy...

The little sprinkles on the umbrella and the "snuffalupagus' " shoulders are a great finishing touch.

And on a completely different note...I am looking at the Brattleboro area for a future (perhaps a few years from now) residence. What do you think of that area?

Just kidding about the snuffalupagus part. But the sprinkles really are cool.

mike r baker said...

You get mad points, buddy! I completely forgot about my neighbor Totoro! He borrowed my weedwhacker and hasn't returned it.

Great gag with Mr. Rogers. For humor, I give you top honors here. And a great drawing too!

Steve Willhite said...

Excellent pic. You draw a great Totoro.

Jim Pearson said...

Sweet mix of two of the world's best neighbors, nicely done. I wanna live in THAT neighborhood!

Janice Ykema said...

Im only familiar with Mr. rogers neighbourhood.. *would you be mine* .... butr I love the piece... its very whimsical .

Arkonbey said...

Sycla:

Brattleboro is a nice area. It's pretty close to the MA border, but it's the nicer (read: Western) end of MA. Brattleboro hasn't been built up as much as the Burlington area, which is nice. The topography is a bit lower than northern VT, but still pretty. I don't know much about the economy, but I do know that people from Brattleboro area complain about being the 'forgotten' part of the state; if it ain't Burlington or Montpelier, noboby notices you.

And you SO have to check out My Neighbor Totoro!

ALL: Thanks for all of the comments. I did have a reference guide for drawing said beastie: The Art of My Neighbor Totoro (check amazon). It is so worth the money for inspiration. Just the unadulterated background paintings are worth the cover price.

And that so, would be a great neighborhood, yes?

Andre Messier said...

I love the way Mr Rogers expression matches the Totoro's.

Something I'd never thought of before is bus-stop line ettiquite is different from pretty much every other line. Most lines you stand behind the person before you in line, not beside...

Michelle Lana said...

awesome work!

arvindh said...

Great illo! I am leaving for the video store now.

TheTart said...

I JUST watched this movie!!!!!! I love it & I love this illo. You rule dude.

Big happy kitty cat smooches,
The Tart
; *