Dr Karl and Kartoons...

Of the many sensible people on planet Earth one of my favourite is Australian scientist Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. Many years ago on his JJJ radio show he was taking talkback questions from the punters and was asked, for the millionth time, about a perpetual motion machine. Patiently Dr Karl suggested it was a waste of time and that you'd be better off trying to make a self-tickling device. It's impossible to self generate the kind of reaction you get when someone else tickles you. So you might do the world and your bank account a favour by creating something fun and jolly like this. This has stuck with me and I've worked the idea into a gag in my Boxhead & Roundhead feature (which is nearly done, by the way). So, thanks Dr Karl. I suspect this isn't the first time you've had your toes dipped in animation and maybe it won't be the last.

Sad News

New York based animator Michael Sporn has died. I didn't know Michael well, but we corresponded on a semi regular basis. A few months back I wrote to tell him that there seemed to be considerably less than there was the last time I saw him. He brushed it off. He was hardly going to tell me his problems. Michael was a grumpy kind of guy but he was always supportive of my stuff which I appreciated. Goodbye Michael... Take the time to scour his blog and let's hope it remains online for as long as possible. http://www.michaelspornanimation.com/splog/