Watchcat Films, Jim Draws

Last week, this blog passed the 35,000 viewers mark and we are up to 133 subscribers for Watchcat Films on YouTube. And if that's not all and it should be, we are only $7.77 away from our $100 goal in ad clicks. We are hoping viewers will finally help us by clicking on those dang ads and getting us pass our goal. Thanks for all your clicks, we are almost there.

While working is being done this Summer on the next Watchcat Episode, we are introducing a few new segments, one of which is called "Jim Draws". 

I was once at a family party and found myself sitting at the "Kids" table. A few of the kids discovered I was an animator and one kid demanded, "Jim Drrraaawww." 

And so now, you too can take a look at what I'm drawing. If this is interesting enough, maybe people can request things for me to draw. Here's our latest episode...

We would also like to welcom our first intern, Sean Casey. Sean will be helping us with the production of the Halloween episode by inbetweening some scenes and other fun tasks in Toon Boom Harmony!

Click those ads and let us know if you want to see more Jim Draws episodes.  We also have a few other things to show you next time. In case you missed the first episode of "Jim Draws", click on this link. https://youtu.be/fggjuB5JXL0

Thanks,
Jim

Sound Takes

We want to thank TheEtesian for becoming our 130 Subscriber to Watchcat Films on our YouTube channel! We hope you will also enjoy our production blog as well.

After the recording session, its time to edit and build the dialogue tracks. This is always an amazing process, since you are working out the timing of each recording and putting the sound together as if the characters are talking to one another in the same scene.

Here's a new video called "Jimdraws". In this episode, I draw our newest character, Mikey.

I can remember doing this in College, where I had to physically cut and tape together sound tracks of magnetic tape. I am so glad those days are gone and its all digital now. Its also fun to add effects to the sound by either adjusting the time, the pitch, the volume or any other effects needed for the scene.


Almost There! Keep clicking on the ads on this post. 
We are up to $8.61 in ad clicks this month, so close and only $7.77 in ad clicks away from our $100 goal. Please click on the ads to the right or below this post. Use your laptop if you don't see the ads on your phone and soon, I won't have to keep posting this request. Thank you!


Once I get all the sound together, the next step is to go through each scene and breakdown each word into frames. This process is called "Sound reading" and allows me to what mouth to draw during the animation of the character. I will also get an idea of how long each scene will be and then have any idea how much work is ahead of me.

I have a few friends who I have worked with who know how to animate in 2D animation and I am planning to prepare some scenes which they will be able to do. I would like to offer scene to interested students who want to learn more about 2D animation. 

Next Post, we will include some of the soundtrack that I am currently working on... 

And Please, only a few more ad clicks, only $7.77 to go. If everyone can click on an ads to the right or below this post, we can finally make our $100 goal. Click those ads, even if its about life insurance or foot fungus cures, you won't have to sign up or buy anything, just one simple click !

Thank You!

Sound Rolling

Last week, many Universities across the country held their commencement ceremonies. As an Instructor or Professor, you meet your students at the beginning of their education and you spend 4 years getting to know them and seeing what they might become.

Here's a very inspiring speech by Chadwick Boseman, the star of "Black Panther" to graduating class of Howard University.

Almost There! Keep clicking on the ads on this post. 
We are up to $6.94 in ad clicks this month, so close and only $9.44 in ad clicks away from our $100 goal and soon I won't have to keep posting this request. Thank you!


On Sunday, we got our voice talents together to record some dialogue for several future episodes of Watchcat. Getting the sound first always begins the process of making an animated project. Below is a "behind the scenes" look at our recording session.

Actors Andrew Jones and Rick Almada recorded their lines of dialogue while standing in front of a microphone in a very small soundproof room. This cramped environment allows for the best recording without any distracting background noises.

Hates Halloween from Toondini on Vimeo.

Watchcat Recording Session from Toondini on Vimeo.

Both Andrew and Rick are professional actors and worked on their performances while the director worked on getting the best performance recorded.

Please, keep clicking on the ads on this post. 
Thank you!

Next Post: Sound Takes

Watchcat Wednesday for May 9, 2018

Well it finally happened. I have become a real cartoon character in a Senior film called "Hero", by Tucker Joneson and Andrew Hill. And if you go to Woodbury University's Annual Animation Showcase this Friday, May 11th, you will see this film and other great student animated films as well. The fun begins at 6pm, hope to see you there.

Last Saturday, I went to Career Day at CSUN in Northridge, CA where I met many students and got to take a look at their work. I also gave them Watchcat postcards and told them about our project. We are hoping to involve more students of 2D animation in the making of future episodes, with the understanding that since we can't pay them at this time, we could pay them in other ways. We would allow them to use the finished scenes for their portfolios and would give them screen credit.

Its not a lot, but to get a copy of an animation scene that you helped create, might lead to more work for the both of us. We get an animated scene, they get a copy for their reel, screen credit and animation experience. We personally would love to be able to pay artists, but presently we are in hobby mode. That world were you have to prove that this idea is going to work or not. The only way it will is to produce something that can be shown later on with the hopes that an audience will want to see it.

Keep clicking on the ads on this post. 
We are up to $6.94 in ad clicks this month, giving us $9.44 in ad clicks to go! We are almost at our $100 goal and soon I won't have to keep posting this request. Thank you!


I mentioned before, we figured out a few character flaws for Watchcat because no one wants to see a perfect superhero who always catches the bad guys. Besides claws, our cat needs some character flaws, you want to see what happens to him. Its a part of Storytelling, look at Finding Nemo. Nemo has a smaller fin to deal with and succeeds with it when he does. Marlin, his dad must overcome his fears in keeping his only son safe.

Character flaws have an effect on your Character design, which we didn't think about because we were only concentrating of the character design and animation. A lot of the portfolios I saw, many had samples of Anime inspired characters. 

It was refreshing when I see a portfolio with the student's personal style; with maybe 10% Anime, 90% their personal style. I always get inspired by seeing others artists work.

Last week, we posted our Halloween script and this weekend we are recording dialogue tracks. Andrew Jones performs as Watchcat with Rick Alamada playing Mikey. We are planning to show you a "behind the scenes" video of them for our next Watchcat Wednesday posting.

Next Post: Sound Rolling

Watchcat Halloween First draft

Burbank Animal Shelter: Foster a Kitten, Save a Life

The Volunteers of the Burbank Animal Shelter’s Kitten Foster Program (KFP) needs your help! We are recruiting new foster volunteers for the 2018 season. 

Each year hundreds of kittens end up at the Burbank Animal Shelter. The Shelter does not have the space to house them all. 

The Kitten Foster Program saves 200+ tiny kittens each year by providing care in temporary foster homes until they can be adopted. Many kittens are only a few days old and require bottle feeding and help learning how to eat on their own. Others are weaned and just need a safe home to live in until they reach adoption weight. 

We need you help to save all of them! Prior experience is not necessary, just a love of kittens! KFP will provide training, support, and all supplies. We are especially in need of fosters who can bottle feed! 

Please go to http://thevbas.org/kitten-foster-volunteer to learn more and sign up. Thank you!

We still want to contribute to the Burbank Animal Shelter by helping us donate $100 to their cause. From all our blog viewer's, (that's you) ad clicks, we've only got $13.56 more clicks to go before Google will send us a $100 check. We have $2.82 for May so far. It's not a lot, but every ad click helps us reach that goal. If you can't find the ads on your phone, use your laptop. Thank You!

So, what's up with Watchcat? Glad you asked. 

Below is a script of our Halloween episode we hope to complete before Halloween. We also will bring you more production news about this episode throughout the Summer months. Any feedback is helpful, let us know what you think of it and keep clicking those ads...

Watchcat Halloween Special. Draft 4/25/18

Ext. House - Night.

On the Front Porch,  Tommy a black cat is sitting licking his paw next to a Jack-O’-Lantern watching kids going by in their Halloween costumes.

                                    Tommy the Cat narration:

I really hate Halloween.  Some call us unlucky, others  like messing with black cats. It's the one holiday I try to stay away from, but not Mikey.

Tommy is interrupted by Mikey,  a kitten who is all dressed up in a cape costume.

Mikey:

       Beware Doers of Evil, I am,

     (Mikey strikes a heroic stand)
                    Pussy Willow!!

                                                                                                            

Tommy:                

                             (confused)                                            

                            Pussy what??

                                              Mikey:

         Pussy Willow.  

                        I’m gonna be Watchcat’s Sidekick.

                                      Tommy:

                        What’s a Watch Cat?

                                               Mikey:  

Tommy, You've never heard of Watchcat?!  

He’s the protector the neighborhood!

I once saw him beat up four robbers, all by himself. It was Incredible!

As Mikey keeps talking,  Tommy hears something, turns his head to look down the street.

                                              Mikey's VO

   over next few scenes:  

                       He is the champion of the underdogs and

                       Kittens everywhere. when there’s trouble, 

                       He’s the crime fighting cat that comes out

                       of the shadows to help.

Cut to:  Two tall Bullies dress in skeleton costume‘s picking on a little kid dress in a shower curtain.

Bully skeleton #1,  The little kid reluctantly gives up his bag.
Bully skeleton #2 Snatches the bag from the kids hands.
                                           Bully skeleton #2:
              
                        Trick or Treat! Ha ha!

They both laugh as the little kid runs away.

Cut to: Tommy watches and transforms into Watchcat as he to growls. Close up on Tommy’s eyes changing.

Cut to: Mikey, still is talking.

                                            Mikey:
                I heard that he’s invisible and is bulletproof too!!

Oblivious to what’s going on around him. Watchcat Transformed, exits Porch.

Cut to: Ext. Alley- Night

The two bullies are sitting in the alley going through the bag of candy.
                                       Bully skeleton #1:
                This kid got all the good stuff.

The two bullies are suddenly covered by a giant shadow as they look up.

                                     Watchcat shadow: 

                                               Boo!!

The two bully scream in terror as they drop the bag of candies and run out of the alley.

Cut to: Ext. Neighborhood street- Night

The little boy sadly walking back to his home and then we see Watchcat walking next to him with the bag in his mouth.

The little boy stops in total surprise.

Watchcat places the bag of candy next to the kid's feet.

Little boy looks with excitement.

Little boy: "Thanks Watchcat."

Cut To: Ext. house-Night
Mikey still talking on the porch next to the Jack-o’-Lantern. Watchcat steps into frame behind  him, changing back into Tommy. Mikey doesn't even notice.

                                               Mikey: 

                   I’m telling you, Watchcat is no ordinary cat!

                                               Tommy: 

                   Oh, my head!! What just happened??

Mikey turns to Tommy.
                                               Mikey: 

                                    He’s a true Hero!!
 

                                               Tommy: 

                    Hero? Great, can’t wait to meet him!!

Camera Pulls away from both Cats sitting on the Front Porch.
                                              

Will this be less than a minute? Will you watch it? Will we get this out in time?

Stay tuned and see!