Toy Movies

I actually want to watch the Teddy Ruxpin one.

He recently asked for other cartoonists to come do guest strips for him and here’s my contribution.

Luke wrote the script and I did the drawing. 

For one, I want to keep the tone of this site light and jovial. I want to entertain people, to let them forget about whatever might be worrying them in the real world and just enjoy themselves for a while with a bit of light amusement.

Secondly, I didn’t know Dave Arneson personally. I’ve seen him at conventions, but have never actually spoken to him. I didn’t want to say words of remembrance that can be told by others who knew him and say it better.

But his contribution to the hobby that I enjoy is too great for me not to say anything. I tried several times over the past two days to come up with some drawing or strip to dedicate to his memory, but all I keep coming up with is a blank piece of paper.

So words will have to do.

Dave Arneson co-founded Dungeons and Dragons, back in 1974 with Gary Gygax. He was actually the one that came up with the original idea to switch from playing with miniatures skirmish rules to playing as characters, giving them individuality and created what we now know as D&D today.

He helped spawn an industry that is still going strong today, with an estimated 6 million players of table top RPGs worldwide. MMOs today readily admit the influence that D&D has had on their mechanics, from elves and orcs to hit points and character levels, and the number of people who play them are in the tens of millions.

Even in his later years, Dave would still attend the convention circuit and teach others to play the game in his unique style. All he really wanted was for others to have fun.

Because of Dave Arneson, our lives are a little more magical and wondrous than it otherwise would’ve been.

Thanks Dave.

I could just feel the nostalgia of my youth being stripped away…*sniff*

I’ve got a funny idea for a WoW tie-in for this strip, but I need for certain events to happen first. If I update twice a week, I’ll be able to show it…around October

Basically I wanted to get a clearer copy of the presentation, either a vid or an audio file because the youtube version was cut off and had some commercial strangely spliced into the last one.

Howard was kind enough to get back to me, but unfortunately there is no clearer recording of the lecture (I think he was actually unaware of the youtube version until I emailed him). But he recently updated his blog with the citations he used regarding the studies on talent vs. practice and people might be interested in them (I know I was).

Here’s his blog.

This youtube video by Howard Tayler has really been an inspiration to me.

Here’s the link in case it’s not working. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4qBSrLe19k

Here’s part two. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvEnlqbgdOk

Here’s part three. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKtgoZLxttk
 
Here’s part four. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igoO4ZgS7Bs

Growing up, I was never the artistically talented one.  That was my older brother.  He was quite good at drawing realistic human figures even when we were very little.  Sure, I was often cited as being creative or talented in other areas, but drawing, painting, and art in general was not one of them (though I do throw a pretty good clay pot if I do say so myself).

 As I start this new creative endeavor, this video has given me even more confidence that my art will improve with practice.  I’m not satisfied with my current drawing or storytelling style.  But I’m rather excited to think that 10 years down the line, I might someday be as “talented” as some of the cartoonists I admire now.