Blockhead, and his quest for diluvian bliss

Blockhead Takes a Dip from Neil Graf on Vimeo.

I'm using Flash these days to animate, and it feels good! I got an idea here for something like a video game level, a character going from point a to point b. Aside from the first animated post, this is also my first time using Vimeo. Its a good site/service and I recommend it highly.

Lighthouse

Its a lighthouse! With cannons!

That could be useful, right?

This actually is related to something I'm working on, so its not a complete non-sequitor.

Website and Blog Updates!

Good news! I've completely overhauled my website. I learned some CSS and Javascript in the process. They were a little time-consuming to pick up, but over all, much less difficult than I expected!
To match the website, I've redone the colors on the blog. Hope nobody barfs. Neons rule, is all. Must be my early 90's teenhood. Memories of dayglo fannypacks and LA Style shoes are so vivid. Wrong as they may be, I can't shake em!

Here's an illustration from the new crop featured on my site. That's my pet chinchilla messing around down there. I had to tone down his antics a little. In reality, all you would see is motion blurs.

These Stairs..

These stairs, in the parking garage of the building in which I work... 

It used to be that I would come in in the morning and they would smell like delicious chocolate chip cookies. There aren't any cookies near the stairwell, so who knows why it was they smelled that way. It made me happy, I left it at that. 

Nowadays they smell sorta like pee. Its not a public stairwell, so its unlikely that there is actually pee in there.  I'd rather not know where the smell is coming from. I just wish the cookies would return.

Two of my favorite things

Suckas break like Totoro and Ozone..

Guys in Vans

Apparently guys in vans are very friendly. Waving is all well and good, but don't get in unless you know them!

Fun with Pronuncitation

So I've been seeing this car around town, the Bentley Brabus. Every time I see it, I can't help but start saying "Brabus" every single way I can imagine it being pronounced. Usually I use a kind of a british, fireside chat, old man who's a little too close with his tea-puckered lips kind of a voice.

"My boy.. when I was your age.. Neither man nor beast dare lay eyes upon.. for fear of terrible cabbage-ridden torment.. THE BRA-BYOOS!" (as he wips his head toward you, eyes ablaze, spittle flying, teacup trembling..)

Dragons and Otters

They have such a similar appeal,
Dragons and Otters.
Don't you think?

Nnnnnnnnnext.

Here's an update!
Oh what a weekend can bring. I went to the Nissei Week parade in Little Tokyo this weekend, it was a pretty good show. What did I come away with? A renewed interest in Taiko drumming and Akita dogs.
Akita fur is like a dense, soft brush. They have some angularish features and look bitchin as all get-out in a neck kerchief. Like if Dean Martin in 'Rio Bravo' were a japanese dog. I know the possibility has crossed your mind.
Taiko drumming is (apparently, mind you, I've done no research yet) a manner of beating a huge drum and looking as intense as possible doing it. Even when the dudes and gals would dance about as they beat the drums, it was intense.
If there is one thing I love, its intensely beaten drums. Don't ever think otherwise.

Oh, and then I got back to work and turned out this new pic of Rock. He looks more in line with the other characters now, while still feeling fluffy and reasonably un-roosterish. I like it way better!

Neil

Rock's humble beginnings

Rock here is a ptarmigan. He's Herb's best friend and roommate.
The design is still rough. Up until now, he looked much more like a rooster, which isn't gonna work. NOW, he looks more like a ptarmigan, yet less like the other characters. So the design is still in progress..

The ptarmigan is the state bird of Alaska. In the winter their feathers go white and the ridges on the males' foreheads pop up all bright red. This is in the interest of simultaneously hiding from predators and attracting the attention of mates. A highly nuanced maneuver to be sure.

Herb Again!

Herb's back.
He's a little happier here. Much more inline with reality. Herb's the kinda guy who, despite the hardships life may hand him, remains inexplicably, maniacally happy. Certainly there are bouts of confusion (often), and even fits of rage... but Herb is ever kind-hearted.
And he would very much enjoy a glass of egg nog.
You can see, he wears snow shoes. It's because he's so small. Without them, he'd get lost in the snow!

Hope y'all throw some love about for ol Pops this weekend!

I love Winston

Oh yes I do. Winston is, so far as i can tell, the pinnacle of Persian cat perfection. Belligerent, gluttonous, stupid and affectionate.
And I don't mean any of that as an insult. All of those can be very charming traits and I've never wanted a Persian cat of my own more.

Octo pie

Some octopuses can camouflage themselves pretty dang well. Like chameleons, only faster.
So, I'd wager that the young octopi run around with all sorts of designs like ponies and butterflies on their skin.. to look cool.
I left a little space in the center of its head, in case you want to print it out and make your own fun designs!

Herb!

Hey everybody! Its Herb!
Herbert Jones, that is, the star of Mooseheart Jones. He's sad right now. Lets let him have some silence.

BTW, there's an amazing moose over here, too.