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Author Topic: Matt Groening  (Read 1075 times)
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futuramafreak

Urban Legend
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« on: 04-18-2004 21:19 »
« Last Edit on: 04-18-2004 21:19 »

I don't know if this is the right forum, but I just have some questions on Matt Groening for an Art History report due tomorrow, so I don't care if it's closed or moved or whatever tomorrow.  I already have most of my information, but I have a few questions that I hope people can answer.

1. Medium the artist worked with i.e., oil, acrylic, watercolor, metals, marble, etc. and the kind of work produced, i.e., sculpture, prints, paintings, etc. (describe, if possible)  That is what my teacher wrote, so in other words, how is an episode of The Simpsons or Futurama is made, and with what.
2. Other artists that your artist is associated with.  Pretty self-explanatory.
3. Influences upon the artist, e.g., parents, teachers, other artists, cultural, economical, environmental, etc.  I know his dad, Homer, but there are probably others.

If you have an answer to any of these questions, please post it here whilst I look for the information elsewhere.
maddoc3d

Bending Unit
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« Reply #1 on: 04-18-2004 22:24 »
« Last Edit on: 04-18-2004 22:24 »

Cool questions.. is this Highschool level Art History or College? And do you need sources?

Regardless, I don't know a lot about Matt's college or life history, but I can answer the first one for yah' no prob.. I am 99.99% sure of this process being an animator my self, the steps may not be in the right order.. but the gist of it is what I think you'll get.

Basically.. it starts with a script. (enter writers) then the script is layed out visually onto rough storyboards. Then after revisions are made to the storyboards, they are cleaned and made into an animatic (rough movie), for timing, and sequencing. Around this time they start laying the voice tracks down, and re-writes. Keyframe animation is then based on the final storyboards, and whatever 3D animation is required would be blocked out.* The 3D animation that was done for futurama was created with newtech LIGHTWAVE. (**quick crash course**) Any of the 3D stuff first starts out as a concept art drawing. Then scanned or sometimes just referenced. The models are first created w/ Lightwave (I believe the ship was done with NURBS (non uniform rational b-splines) and some of the other stuff is made w/ Polygons).  Now I know that futurama used Digital coloring, but what I don't know is if they rendered the 3D elements into black and white "vector" plates that are sent to the colorist's as well, or if they are seperatly rendered and then comp'd together at the end along with special effects and other video post production work. This is the other part that is vauge because of the time it was done during. Older animations would have the finished hand painted cels layed into a rack mounted frame, and then "photographed" one frame at a time, at 24 frames per second. But I remember Cohen mentioning they use or used an AVID system (compositing/video editing program/system) in a commentary so they may just take all the digitally painted shots, effects and 3D renders and comp them together w/ their AVID system. Then of course adding in they're sound layers, special FX sounds and ambience music. Then they cut/edit the footage to a 17-22 minute duration. Taking Introduction, Credits and 2 comercial breaks into concideration. Then its layed out for broadcast..

Also as you probably know FuturamaFreak.. Futurama blended 3D and 2D animation together pretty damn seemlessly. It was an inovator in its time for Prime Time TV.

2. Other artist' would be Gendy Tartikofski (I can never spell his name - PowerPuff Girls and Samurai Jack), Mike Judge (Beavis & Butthead) and the name slips my mind but the creator of Ren and Stimpy becuase all of the aformentioned cartoons were revolutionary in means of entertainment, design and message. Theres a great VH1 special BEHIND PRIME TIME TOONS. They each broke, no shattered the ideas of sterotypical cartoons, and the idea that cartoons were just for kids. (little kids, not big kids aka "adults" )

3. Of course his art background and comic strip hit.

I apologize if I geeked' out but this is my "bag" and I absoulutely love animation 2D and 3D.. I just finished working on a 3D piece for Wilson (tennis rackets) and Lockheed Martin .. check the site in da' profile if you want verification.

I hope I helped yah man, and didn't confuse the crap outa yah. .. back to air brushing my leela bust (refernce: Fanart/Leela Sculpture for Sale???)


Prof - Good new everyone! We have a mission to further the noble cause of intergalactic peace..
Bender - Nope, watching cartoons.
Fry - Sorry..


*Edit* I know there are spelling errors, You try typing a synopsis of something that you've been doing for 4+ years without boring or losing someone.. and after a 16 hour shift behind a computer! ..
MrsBender

Bending Unit
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« Reply #2 on: 04-18-2004 22:38 »

 
Quote
Theres a great VH1 special BEHIND PRIME TIME TOONS. They each broke, no shattered the ideas of sterotypical cartoons, and the idea that cartoons were just for kids. (little kids, not big kids aka "adults" )

Maddoc3d that's an amazing synopsis - accurate as far as my knowledge goes.  Like futuramafreak, I am working on something on prime time animation for school - I am writing my 20pg research project for a 300-level film/anthropology class on prime time animation, particularly the [adult swim] lineup.  I was wondering if you knew any way to get a hold of this VH1 documentary?  I would die with happiness if I could use it in my project.  My paper is due May 10, so if I need to buy it online or something I have a little bit of time.  I would really appreciate any info you have about it.  Thanks so much. 
futuramafreak

Urban Legend
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« Reply #3 on: 04-18-2004 22:42 »

Mine isn't as complicated for it is middle school level.  I didn't bother reading all the stuff about animating because you lost me after basically, but the rest helped.  I'll put it in the paper and print it out now.  I will probably post the finished product before this thread gets closed.  Thanks!
maddoc3d

Bending Unit
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« Reply #4 on: 04-18-2004 22:59 »
« Last Edit on: 04-18-2004 22:59 »

MrsBender, Here is the show's link @ vh1:    http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/vh1_goes_inside/69054/episode.jhtml
Unfortunatly, its not hosted there.

I have a copy of it on my xbox.. and on my pc somewhere.. I would need to find out how large the file is, and if I can host it on my web server. .. I'll inform you asap.

- Futuramafreak.. sorry bout the firehose, but I just got on a role. If you want.. just cut out the part about the 3D modeling specifics, (Nurbs and Polygons) so you don't have to explain them..


*Edit
Film/Anthropology Class?.. seems very interseting. I think I sat in on one of them during a tour of SVA in NY a long while back.


------------------
.. I didn't ask you for a completly reasonable excuse, I asked you to get busy..
MrsBender

Bending Unit
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« Reply #5 on: 04-19-2004 12:40 »

Thanks so much for the link!  If you could actually find a copy of the video, that would be AMAZING.  I would also totally be more than willing to reimburse you for the costs of burning it to a CD and sending it to me, if that's easier somehow. (We're both in the continental US). 

I would love to be able to use this in my project... I actually have a wealth of academic sources on prime time animation, notably Stabile and Harrison's edited collection "Prime Time Animation: Television Animation and American Culture" which is really excellent.  However, I have a real lack of pop culture/grassroots commentary on the topic, with the big exception of message boards like this. 

I have several friends who went to SVA; it's a great school.  I go to typical regular liberal arts college, but we do have amazing classes like my Understanding TV: Industrial System, Cultural Form, and Everyday Life class, in which we watch TV and talk about it.  It's crosslisted Film/Anthro and American Studies, actually. 

Thanks again for all your help!   :)
SoloFlyer

Delivery Boy
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« Reply #6 on: 04-19-2004 12:53 »

Matt claims the simpsons characters share nothing in common with his family other than their names, Homer is his dad Marge is his mum (or mom for you americans) and Lisa is his sister but Bart is nothing more than an anagram for the word Brat.

im assuming you dont have the dvds for futurama as they often discuss the origin of the episodes in the commentrys
winna

Avatar Czar
DOOP Ubersecretary
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« Reply #7 on: 04-19-2004 13:01 »

I actually found that extremely informative maddoc3d... and that vh1 special sounds quite intriguing.
Passing user

Delivery Boy
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« Reply #8 on: 04-19-2004 14:18 »

Bart is supposed to be Matt, I think.
David A

Space Pope
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« Reply #9 on: 04-19-2004 15:10 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Passing user:
Bart is supposed to be Matt, I think.

Well, not really.  The Simpsons aren't based on Groening's family in any real sense.  Homer and Marge are named after his parents, and Lisa and Maggie are named after his sisters; but beyond that, I don't think that the Simpsons have that much in common with the Groenings.
DotheBartman

Liquid Emperor
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« Reply #10 on: 04-19-2004 15:14 »

Well some of Bart's antics are based oh Matt and his brother Mark.  That's probably mostly for the shorts though.  And Bart's relationship with his sisters is sometimes based on Matt's relationship with his own sisters ("Ow! Quit it!" ).

So there are small things.  But on the whole they're not really based on his own life too much.
futuramafreak

Urban Legend
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« Reply #11 on: 04-19-2004 22:13 »

I got most on that info already, but thanks for trying to help.  I'm too busy doing other homework to post the report, but I'll get around to it.
maddoc3d

Bending Unit
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« Reply #12 on: 04-20-2004 01:18 »

MrsBender-
  The cd thing really wouldn't be a big deal if there wasn't this little pesky thing called "vacation", though I'm in jersey now and I could find it here... some where.. (yeah I'm taking a vacation from Florida and going to New Jersey!) ..

- The rest, glad that I was helpful or informative on this subject.. again, I love 3D animation, I do it for work, I do if for fun.. and I enjoy every minute of it.
MrsBender

Bending Unit
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« Reply #13 on: 04-20-2004 15:52 »

Maddoc-
If you find it, that would be great... again my paper isn't due til May 10th, and even if I got it very shortly before that, I could still use clips from it.  Hope Jersey is a great vacationing destination  :) 
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