Thursday, October 13, 2011

Donkey Town - "Eggs" Animated Short!



Here it is!  Great job to Tom Witte (the amazing animation), Rick Ritter (the gorgeous boards), Erica Rubinsky (art prep and support), and my lovely wife Sarah, for inspiring and voicing Grelle.

Please - if you enjoy this, spread it around!  We're making more shorts, and I want to do full-length pilot!

Monday, September 26, 2011

The Don - "Town Hall"

I've got so many lovely projects to tell you about soon.  Donkey Town animation is almost upon us, for one!  (It's amazing - you're going to freak out.)  And then there's my band, Bel Argosy, which is playing a show this week, and then another during CMJ in October.  And of course there's "Surrealia," my very special collaboration with Andrew Cohen, the first chapter of which we've just had printed up and bound.  The list goes on.

But despite all that, it's still another goddamned Monday, huh?  Another goddamned hellish week to get through.

Goddamn it.


Thursday, September 22, 2011

Grelle - "Meditation"

My wife Sarah worked as a chaplain at a hospital this summer, and one of the things she did was lead a group meditation.  She downloaded some sea sounds on her iPhone, told everybody to close their eyes, and said, "We're going on a journey."  She led me through it that night as we lay in bed, and it was the cutest, most relaxing thing ever.  Of course, as I relaxed, and respired, and lay with my eyes closed listening to Sarah's completely unique voice, I couldn't help but picture Grelle intoning all those same blissful phrases to a room full of distractible, vacant-eyed, soullessly impish townies.  And having the whole thing turn into the most stressful, aggravating group meditation ever.  So one of the episodes in the first season will take place in Grelle's meditation class.  But here's a little comic I drew to brainstorm the scenario.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

The Don - "Bananas"

The other day I came up with an idea for the finale of Donkey Town season 1.  My hope is that it'll give the whole thing a dramatic arc, poignantly humanizing the characters for the first time, and really making you feel for them as pathetic, tragic figures.

It's called "Whiskeydick."

'Til then, then!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

The Don - "Puzzle Cube"

Hey, friends!  Just a quick update here.  I've been working hard at lots of things, but Donkey Town has taken a back seat for the past few weeks.  Still, the project is moving forward, and soon I should have some actual animation to post!  I know I keep writing that, but it's really, honestly true, and when you see it, you'll flip out.


Sunday, August 14, 2011

Donkey Town - Merchandise?

Hey!  It's been quite a while - last time we spoke was in April!  I've been busy doing stuff like working at my job, getting money, buying guitars, etc.  Well, "etc." might be stretching it, as I can't really think of many other things I've been doing.  But I have been working on Donkey Town, and I've even started to pitch it around a little.  Tom Witte is finishing up the first animated short ("Eggs"), and to judge by the first thirty seconds, or so, it's going to be amazing.

Also, Sarah's going to make some shirts and bags featuring this image.  She's so talented.  Once they're done, I'll post a picture, and maybe you can order one!



Thursday, April 7, 2011

The Don - "Exercise"

It's been a long time, but I'm still a'comicking away!  Working on Donkey Town script as well.  Hope to have some animation to share with you in the next month or so, but for now let's just enjoy some comics.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

The Don - "Present" (Slightly NSFW)

It's been a long few weeks.  Unfortunately, there's no such thing as a weeks'-end.  Just a weekend.  And after the weekend?  Another weekbegin.  I want a weeks'-end.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Donkey Town - "Hot Dog"

I'm not sure if this is really the Hot Dog's character, to be honest.  Just messing around a bit.
Also, the last line didn't scan very well.  In case you can't decipher it, it says, "That's between you and your broker."  If I weren't so lazy, I'd rescan it.  But you know what?  No.


In other news, my band, Bel Argosy, is playing a show at Otto's Shrunken Head tonight (Monday) at 8:30, if you'd care to come out and join us.  (Way to keep your separate projects separate, Billy.)

In other other news, I'm going to finish reading "Moby Dick" this week!  I never thought it could happen to me.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Grelle and Arriss

I saw the first Donkey Town animation tests today:  STUNNING.  Tom Witte has engineered a look that is far too classy and sophisticated for my cave-dweller drawings, and yet fits them perfectly.  I feel so lucky to be working with such amazing people on this project, as well as the several others I'm juggling (e.g. Bel Argosy and Surrealia), and I can't wait to show it all off to the world.  Which sounds a little like I'm talking about getting nude.  But I'm not.  Talking about it, at least.

Monday, March 7, 2011

The Don - "Time Management"

It's not a coincidence that this comic is called "Time Management."  It's a subject that's been on my mind for the past couple of weeks, during which I've started a full-time job.  Not an easy thing to keep this blog updated regularly, even when I was completely unemployed.  But by golly I'm going to keep trying.

We're going to be starting animation tests on Donkey Town (hopefully) this week!  And by "we," I mean Tom Witte and Rick Ritter.  I am going to watch.  And laugh at my own jokes.  But I will post some video as soon as it's deemed ready.  By me.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Confessional: The Old Castle

One thing I want "Donkey Town" to have are little reality tv-esque confessional segments, where the characters talk to camera about, you know, whatever.  Here's an example of one that might fit into the "Talking Bird" episode.


Friday, February 11, 2011

Donkey Town - "Talking Bird" - Part 12

It's been tough for me to update this blog daily--as you may have noticed--but I'm still hard at work on Donkey Town.  My focus, however, has shifted a bit from the comic to the animated show, which I'm happy to say is very much in production.  I've also just accepted a full-time job, so now Sarah and I can sort of not die this year while I work on my art!

Part 1: A bird that can talk!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Donkey Town - "Talking Bird" - Part 11

What a winter!  I'm sick at home, and have been for days.  But I'm working hard on several Donkey Town episodes.  And guess what?  Phase 2 has begun!  Hopefully in a week or two I'll be able to present the hard-earned fruits of that labor.  In the meantime, if you know any network executives looking to pick up an awesome animated comedy created by an unemployed player-of-videogames, let me know.  I might be able to help you out.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The Don and Grelle - "Eggs"


Follow me on Twitter!  @donkeytowncomic

Hmm.  What else, what else....I'm hard at work here at the Kooperkamp-Lopez homestead.  Albeit in my pajamas.  Stripy ones.  Oh, and I have a mustache today.  Like a little swashbuckler thing.  It looks a little like a caterpillar siting on my upper lip.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Jorree and Talking Bird

I'm writing a Donkey Town episode proper!  Hope to have a draft done in a week, in time for the Annie Awards.

Friday, January 21, 2011

"Discouraged"

It's funny:  The days on which I feel the crappiest are often the days that I try hardest to pull myself out of that funk.  Yesterday my band, Bel Argosy, was supposed to play a show, but our drummer got sick.  That was a letdown.  But I did my best to help reconfigure the show for another band I play with, and in the end it worked out.  So I'm not discouraged.  Just clawing my way through this hell of uncertainty and self-doubt.  Have a good one!


Saturday, January 15, 2011

The Don - "Lilliputt"

I manage to feel busy and overwhelmed even with nothing to do but draw comics and play in a band.  It's just a talent you learn to cultivate over the years.


Thursday, January 13, 2011

Donkey Town Doodle Sheet 2

Just a quick doodle sheet here.  But if all goes well, Donkey Town Phase 2 should begin in a week or so!

Thank you all for reading and telling people about the blog!  I'm just assuming that you've been telling people about it, of course.  The sort of assumption that's meant to guilt you into validating it.  A guilt-fulfilling prophecy, if you will.  Will you?  

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Donkey Town - "Talking Bird" - Part 9

Hi All, this is Sarah updating you while Billy is at the gym.

 If you are just joining us, you have a lot of reading to do. Good luck with that. Then again, if you are bored or procrastinating, this will be just perfect. Here are the links to the previous 8 comics:

Part 8: Something (anything) to rival the craft fair!

And now for Part 9. Part of this was created in the cafe section of the Whole Foods on Columbus and 99th. It's a rather empty store. At least for a Whole Foods. But they don't bother you if you want to sit there a long time and write comics and thank you notes. Anyway, here it is:


Hope you enjoy it!

Sarah

Monday, January 10, 2011

Grelle - "Unicorn Farmer"

Last night, Donkey Town and I renewed our vows.  I opted to set aside another project that was important to me so that I could devote most of my attention to this show.  So please, tell your friends about my blog--let's get it buzzing!  I'd tell my friends, but I only have, like, three.  And one of them refuses to read it.  So.

Also, soon I'll be posting a link for some "I Draw Like This" t-shirts!  


Saturday, January 8, 2011

Donkey Town - "Talking Bird" - Part 8

This is, I'm almost positive, the halfway point in "Talking Bird."  I'm learning a lot as I write/draw this episode.  First of all, while it may be a good idea to have all of your characters and plot threads converge at a central location in the middle of your story, it isn't a good idea to DRAW THESE THINGS YOURSELF.  And by "yourself," I mean "myself."  In fact, if any of yourselves want to take over, let me know.  

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

"I'm Psychic"

I promised I'd post Part 8 of "Talking Bird" today, but it's just not ready yet.  Some days are like that--you sit at home, make a pot of coffee, sit down to draw a comic, and read facebook instead.  Then a few hours later you make your second pot of coffee and start to draw your comic, and it's just too much.

It's good thing I don't have a real job.

Anyway, I'm sticking to my 5-posts-a-week resolution, so here's a comic I drew while coming home drunk on the train from Chris's house on 11/4/10.




Tuesday, January 4, 2011

"Me and the Hot Dog"

As my wife slogs her way through her fourth paper (out of seven) that she has to write this week, I thought I'd take a break from the Donkey Town episode to bring you a slice-of-life from the Lopez-Kooperkamp household.  A little window-in.

Check back tomorrow for Part 8 of "Talking Bird!"

Monday, January 3, 2011

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Donkey Town - "Talking Bird" - Part 6

Happy New Year, everyone!  As you may have noticed, I took a few days off to rest and replenish, but now I'm back, with renewed purpose.  "I Draw Like This" will now update 5 times a week, usually on weekdays.  Also, January will not only see the completion of "Talking Bird," but the start of Donkey Town Phase 2.  What's Phase 2?  It's the phase that comes after 1 and before 3.

Catch up with the episode here:

Part 1: A bird that can talk!
Part 2: An opened mind.
Part 3: A petition to end rudeness!
Part 4: Do you want fries with that?
Part 5: A power lunch with the Don.

And now, Part 6!