September 2006 Archives

Pimp my search engine, login to Google and change your language preference to Elmer Fudd. You'll notice your search engine wesults are now changed thanks to an awesome pwefewence change. Very funny diwectowy wistings.

The cartoon field is fairly saturated here in Australia. There's always someone out there who maybe not as skilled who is willing to work for less money. That's a problem we have. And we aren't saturated by means of there being plenty of work abound. There isn't. There are less opportunities around now as the industry adjusts and opens itself to accepting the artform for what it does best. 3D illustration and animation certainly hasn't helped the issue as interest from Pixar films and the like build interest in clients seeking more three dimensional characters to represent their ideals. But I do believe that this bubble will burst, and the current trend for 3D illustration will fade to a more moderate level. Even Disney realised this recently when it announced it would be producing a 2D feature film from its US studios.

I'm asked often about how to get in to this industry. And it's getting harder to answer that question. I felt I needed to point this situation out. I'm not hard up for work, I take what I am interested in. I don't accept just any old job anymore. I have the luxury of being choosey. It was me who decided I'd had enough of drawing and not for the enjoyment of it. Frankly, I'm not going to do 3D work and have no interest in it. I admire and enjoy watching what others do with it. But frankly the whole idea of 3D has removed the artist even further from being artistically talented to technically savvy. The majority of people I've met who are in 3D can't draw. Yet they're animators. I find that hard to handle. The jobs are becoming more about technology than who has creative talent. Factory work at its best. Train someone in Maya and you've got an instant monkey for the factory. I haven't anything against those who do amazing work in the field, i'm just miffed that much of where my income came from is now being given to someone who is trained in manipulating a 3D puppet.

This is just a quick bitch about our governance. Be it Liberal or Labor, we have a problem. To promote our country the federal government allocates tax payers money to assist in growing areas that will help bring attention to our country internationally. An example is our Sports industry. Millions are allocated to providing training facilities and educational resources as well as sponsorships to our athletes in many ways (sometimes indirectly). This is great, as we have noticed that our athletic standards are world class and we have many competitive record holders in our ranks. Their attention gets Australia attention internationally, a form of recognition that we are a nation of ability. It's probably also alot to do with our freedom. We are free to do a lot more than other countries. We are very priviledged to have so much here. Yet the one industry I don't see the government spending as much on is our Entertainment industry...

I never realised how much Irwin has had an impact on me. To foreigners when they ask what is being Australian about, best option has always been to say "Steve Irwin". There isn't a person on this planet that hasn't heard of him.

Steve really characterises what being Australian is.

It's not about his life in years, its about the years in his life. Irwin made the most of life.

Being Australian is about pride, freedom and the taking risks. Australians are a nation of risk takers. We are proud and loyal. We have a following worldwide. Its not what we seek, its how we are admired for our attitudes to life. We live life with intention to have no regrets. We are a nation of optimistic people from many cultures. It's what attracts people to this country. Freedom, pride and attitude.

Irwin made me realise how living life should be about taking risks. Never leave the chance that someone you'll regret not having done something when you had the chance. It was about living life to its best in the years you have. Because who knows how long you'll be here for.

Cheesy as Steve Irwin made us sound, he put us on the map again and made the world know what being Australian was about. I'm proud to say that he's an icon not for being an entertainer, but for him as a person. What it's like to be Australian. And it's infectious, just ask anyone who has decided to make this country home.

I won't go on, I'd have a lot more to say about my admiration for this guy. And instead of doing some horrible pearly gates cartoon that i'm sure will hit every newspaper and website across the globe. Instead, I'll post a cartoon I drew back on the 7th September 2004...

Steve Irwin .... bewdy.