New Donny Crap!

This is the latest thing I've been working on with Donny. I think it's coming along quite nicely If I do say so myself. don't know exactly when it will be done but I would like to have it done soon. I still have a long way to go but I'll keep you updated on it's progress.

The Show must go on!

Had a bit of a scare a few months ago.I was at an animation festival enjoying some great films.till suddenly a film called "Down to the bone" started. it's about a little boy who Sneezes himself inside out. now I know that Donny is completely different but a lot of the gags in this film were very similar.from his twitching body to his cat licking him and his unremorseful babysitter who's attitude is alot like Donny's siblings. Everyone watching was laughing at a concept that I've been working on for a few years. what I nightmare, I thought to myself as I cringed at my chair.I wanted to run out of the theater. don't get me wrong, It was as a great film. just little to close to what my Idea for Donny would be.

after the viewing of that film I kinda put Donny on the back burner. I really didn't feel like continuing this project.but I really want to go on with it,and so I am.I've been working on a short and so far it's looking pretty good.If theres one thing I've learn from this,it would be the fact that Ari and I need to get the ball rolling and have something done as soon as possible and this film was definitely a kick in the ass to GIT-R-DONE!!

So...

It's been a while since we last updated, but things are definitely cooking over here. Robert and I have begun working on the first real episode of Donny No Skins! With the writing just about completed, we are going to begin recording the audio so we can lay some groundwork for the principle animation.

Meanwhile, Robert is creating a neat little short to demonstrate the characters' dynamics, personalities, and traits.

























This piece will also serve to satisfy his [few, but very loyal] YouTube subscribers for the time being. It is a slow process, but these characters have evolved quite nicely, as Robert has been carefully developing them for about two years. I am particularly pleased with the elasticity of Donny's face, whereas previously, it was far more stiff. Donny's improved body & facial features will better convey his emotions, thus giving his character a little more impact.

I'm really excited. A little too excited.

Me and Rob lament about the amount of time it takes to complete projects like these, often wishing that it were possible to materialize/execute an awesome animated series just by thinking about it. Strangely enough, I actually [joyously] anticipate the labor that this project is going to entail. It would be nice to have a few hands on deck, though.

Any animators or voice actors out there? We always welcome musicians with open arms too, especially those who give us rights to use their music in our stuff. =D

Expect great things. They are coming.

Donny's Folks

Donny's parents are two happily married high school sweethearts.

Formerly flower children, their mentality is apparent in the way they choose to raise Donny. They frown upon modern medicine, and try to implement holistic healing and "positivity" instead.

They are still so blissfully in love with one another that they remain ignorant to goings on in their children's lives. Complaints and tantrums are simply dubbed as self-expression and Dad insists that everything can be solved with some hot cocoa and a good book. Mom is more prone to worry, but Dad will quickly reassure her that all is well.

Despite their naiveté, their intentions are good. Although Donny was abandoned on their doorstep as a baby, they raise him as if he were one of their own.

Devon and Katie

Donny has two siblings -- Devon and Katie.
















They are pretty much inseparable -- and not very interested in spending any time with Donny. Katie is embarrassed by Donny, and Devon just pushes him around. They are your average overemotional goth-in-a-box duo, bearing the burden of the entire world on their dainty shoulders. They enjoy spewing petty complaints while indulging in teenage vampire movies and terrible music.

Devon and Katie both manage to find ways to benefit from Donny's condition, usually using it as a way to gather sympathy. For instance, Katie will tell her teachers that she was too busy "caring for her younger brother" to complete a project, while Devon will use the Caring-Older-Brother act to attract the ladies. Devon and Katie are people that you and I know -- despicable, spoiled brats who are completely unaware of the world outside of their egos.

THAT BOY HAS NO SKIN!

Here is Donny, revised.

In case you couldn't tell, Donny doesn't have any skin. He was born that way. I'm not sure where this concept came from - it could have various sources [buried deep in Rob's subconscious, says Ari] - I tried to imagine what the most painful thing in the world could be. I guess it would be having no skin. One of Donny's origins could be the result of my parents making me watch TLC specials about people with strange conditions.

Like the tree man.















Just out-of-the-ordinary stuff that couldn't be explained.

Ironically enough, I recently stumbled upon Jonny, the boy whose skin fell off. Keep in mind, I'm not poking fun at people with these conditions. My parents taught me that whatever problems I had paled in comparison to the problems that other people had. Now, I'm not quite sure if that was meant to make me feel better -- but it did discourage me from taking things for granted.

I guess that's Donny's message. Not that I conceived Donny with the intention of spreading a message -- it just kind of worked out that way.





















Donny just really, really, really wants to be left alone. Throughout his daily grind, he finds himself surrounded by ungrateful morons -- and he is often subjected to their ignorant rantings. Donny's condition is obviously worse having a zit, being unpopular, or breaking up with your
girlfriend of one week, and in spite of this, he bears little to no self-pity. Instead, Donny offers a croaky, strained voice of reason, trying to relate to his peers and offer them a positive outlook.

Everybody seems to get easily annoyed with Donny, who is pretty much on his own when it comes to dealing with his problems.

Donny has a one-track mind that is only set on getting through each day with as little pain as possible.