branding

as i begin to produce more independent work, i find myself with the urge to start branding myself and my work in an attempt to keep it all somewhat organized. its been an oddly hard struggle because the last thing i want to do is start saying that "mike geiger" is a brand, just seems really cheesy for me to do, but low and behold...here we are.
although it seems like a good idea to use a "cartoony" name for myself and my work, my first concern was that a lot of names that sound good now, may not be good in a few years. how many times have you had a brainchild that you looked back at only a few weeks later and said "what was i thinking".
on that same note, coming up with a name that i was happy with that also happens to be available with a .com beside it is next to impossible. unless you want 10 or more letters in your name, chances are whatever you come up with plus .com is already taken.
on top of that all, considering i am already registered as mike geiger and i already own mikegeiger.com, seems logical to avoid the complications of being called "some sorta funny but not really original" cartoon name and just stick with what my parents gave me.
so, there ya have it. mike geiger. i guess i should at least be happy my name is not something way worse...

4mations

cuddle sticks is the featured video on the 4mations website today. if any of you would want to go ever there and give it a click, or better yet a rating (of coarse i would prefer a higher rating, but do me as you may), that would be great.

and if your wondering about that kitty in the skull thing...thats their logo. believe me, i wish i came up with it first, but ill give the credit where the credit is due, and thats to the fine people at the 4mations.tv site.

some trees to hold ya over...

ive actually been really busy lately with a ton of new stuff, unfortunately, nothing that makes sense to post on the ol blog at the moment...
so to hold you over until the time when these things are ready to post (really...really...soon), here are a few drawings of some trees from my sketchbook.

european vacation

cuddle sticks is announced to be in contention for best of british award, UK audience award and international jury award at the encounters fest in england this novemeber.
if paris hilton were typing this, im sure she'd refer to this news as "hot".

collideascope...

i heard the unfortunate word today that collideascope animation will be closing its doors as of this october.

super sad news.

i had worked in animation during the web boom before starting at collideascope back in 2001, but they were my first real experience in "saturday morning cartoon" animation and really the people that opened the door for my career.

i know everyones first animation job is always kinda a special one, but i feel like the move from the west to east coast, and working on a production with a crew of people made up of almost entirely rookie animators, gave my experience a uniquely exciting vibe.
i can still very vividly remember walking into the studio for the first time and being so intimidated by all the people that would eventually become my friends over the next nine months.

in any case, its sad to see such a positive and genuine studio go.
one of the few places i can say ive worked where you felt that passion for animation present with your first step in the door, and a complete lack of that "industry" vibe that made the place so pleasant and fun to be in.

a lot of credit should go to ron and curtis and james and breandan for helping make that place a great creative learning environment for me and a lot of other animators that im sure still feel the benefits of spending time there.

heres an audioless sequence i dug up of some animation i did on ollivers adventures while i was at collideascope back in the day. good times...

star wars clone wars the animated adventure...

so, i got asked to go check out the new star wars movie today...

after sitting patiently through the entire movie, i feel it would only be fair that george lucas let me throw up into his mouth...just so we're even.

above is my rendition of the first hour and forty minutes of the movie...but animated way nicer... and yes, i realize my drawing isnt animated.

the fred

the tais monster jam that i took part in is featured on the fred this week. my part in the production is already on here a few posts down, but here she blows anyways...

klik

i received word that cuddle sticks will be playing in the open competition at the klik animation festival in amsterdam this september. looks like a really cool event.

and the new...

yowza, ive been incredibly busy with a bunch of new projects,
here is a preliminary drawing from one of them that ive been working on in my spare time. more to come soon...

cuddle sticks

alright, there seems to be some interest in watching the film...
so what the hay...
for your viewing pleasure.

but please! if you are a child...for goodness sakes dont watch this

getting some cuddle props...

gettings some cuddle sticks hype from the man himself...

this week in cuddle sticks news

just got back from an enjoyable weekend in montreal attending the screening of cuddle sticks at the just for laughs festival. (the picture above is of the festival party on st.laurent street).


also this week, if youre around the big apple, the film will be playing friday evening at the animation block party.


as well as this saturday evening at the comic-con in san diego as part of the spike and mikes gauntlet.

"10:30-12:30 Spike & Mike: The Gauntlet. You vote via applause and your reaction is the deciding factor as to whether an animation keeps playing or whether it will make it into the next world tour. Gift Girls with swag! Animators include Mike Geiger (Cuddle Sticks), John Goras (Chirpy Returns), Joe Borelli (Arties Day Off), Ross Bollinger (The Mosquito Who Gave Up Blood), Stefan Schuch (Tinky Winky: Last of the Teletubbies), Jeff Chiba Stearns (Yellow Sticky Notes), Steve Fonti (Yes Timmy There Is a Santa Claus), Spike (Death to the Teletubbies), and Matthew Lee (Flock Off). Room 6CDEF"


i also received the news today that cuddle sticks will be screening in denver colorado as part of the frame damage animation festival in august.

exciting!