Latest Showreels

First, my animation reel. (Note: not including Pop Wild footage - full Pop Wild film below) -

Animation Reel2 September 2010 from Chris Colman on Vimeo.

And my artwork reel. All the essential pieces from this blog gathered together in one handy film -

Artwork Reel from Chris Colman on Vimeo.

And finally, not a reel but while X Factor dominates the nation temporarily, it seems a perfect time to see my graduation film -

Pop Wild from Chris Colman on Vimeo.

Chatter Exhibition

I was invited to submit to the Chatter exhibition which will take place in the University of Southern California Gallery, School of Cinematic Arts, Los Angeles, USA from 28th October to 5th November 2010.

The gallery will be filled with monitors and each of the four walls in the space will have a projection screen. On these will be displayed a number of animated talking heads that repeat short lines of meaningless conversation on a loop. The overall impression created by the installation will be of the babble of crowds, reminiscent of conversations on Facebook or Twitter.

Being an East London lad, I thought a bit of meaningless cockney nonsense would be appropriate. You may recognise the character from an earlier post of 'random chaps'.
Full details can be found at: http://chatterinstallation.wordpress.com/

Chatter Exhibition Submission Oct 2010 from Chris Colman on Vimeo.

Ele Tele

Some character designs for a TV series I've been working on, in a different style to my usual work.

Inspired by my 8 year old sister Ele, who is utterly obsessed with TV. She becomes engrossed in pretty much whatever program is on, to the point where it is virtually impossible to gain her attention.

Ele Tele transports herself via her trusty remote control into the world of television, into whatever program she so desires for that day's adventure, and so the concept has virtually limitless possibilities. A storyboard for the opening sequence coming soon...

Ed Miliband

To me he has a very unleader-like appearance. A quick sketch, there's definitely a lot more caricature potential for Big Eddy...

Pope Visit - 16th - 19th September

The Papal visit was always going to be a massive occasion, involving thousands of people. So my pal Dave and I decided to produce 100 t shirts to sell to spectators in London on the Friday and Saturday.

I took the existing Papal symbol, and made it a lot sharper and more graphic.

We ordered in 100 plain t shirts, transfers, plastic bags and printer ink, and set about a mammoth ironing session. We created about 12 different coloured shirts and produced this rather attractive product.


We sold out by the Saturday afternoon. It was a great experience, we met some really interesting characters and achieved something from nothing over the space of just 5 days. My only regret is that we didn't make more; we were the only t-shirt sellers at the whole event. Nonetheless, a pleasing entrepreneurial effort.

Evening Fix

Earlier this year, I was asked to produce the set graphics for a pilot for The Evening Fix, a new TV show that aimed to be like a British/European version of The Daily Show. My brief was no more detailed than that. As far as I know it hasn't yet been picked up. I like the idea, though I'm not convinced that the writing is as tight as it might have been. All the pilot shows are on youtube:

THE EVENING FIX (youtube channel)

Random chaps

Bitbots

I recently contributed to the launch exhibition of Bitbot toys, running throughout September off Carnaby Street.
http://www.bitbots.co.uk/
We were given a plain white version of the new 'Jinny' model, with a completely open brief. Among the stuff on my desk at the time was a photo book of one of my heroes Iggy Pop, during The Stooges Raw Power era, including the iconic images of Iggy in his cheetah leather jacket and tight silver trousers.


so...


And Iggy-bot alongside Ying's mummified bot.

Sketching on the Southbank

Ying and I spent a couple of hours sketching the people sitting around outside.


And, clearly ashamed of his and England's World Cup effort, we spotted a poorly disguised Fabio Capello.

Background art

The background from Pop Wild (graduation film)

a simplified background, based on this sketch...

Character Design

Animals, birds, fish

Wildebeest bounding

wildebeest bounding from Chris Colman on Vimeo.

Greyhound run

Greyhound bounding from Chris Colman on Vimeo.

A beast cantering

Beast cantering from Chris Colman on Vimeo.

Greyhound walk

greyhound walk from Chris Colman on Vimeo.

Jellyfish

Jellyfish from Chris Colman on Vimeo.

Stingray

Stingray from Chris Colman on Vimeo.

Body acting

This exercise was to convey emotion and personality through body movement. I thought of a barman character, terrified whilst being held up at gunpoint and sneaking back to reach for his own gun. I had just watched From Dusk Till Dawn, and Inglorious Basterds, so I was clearly in the Tarantino mindset. My character was inspired by the prolific but unsung Danny Trejo - Look at this grizzled specimen, what an awesome presence. So some designing later...

The Mexican from Chris Colman on Vimeo.

Mood change walk

The main task from term 1. Still one of my faves. Starring this rather up and down chap...


One moment he is loving life...

Cocky Walk from Chris Colman on Vimeo.

the next he is slumped, depressed...

Mr Bi-Polar on a bad day from Chris Colman on Vimeo.

and the transition...

Mood change walk from Chris Colman on Vimeo.

Guffney animatic

As you can see, I originally had a different ending in mind...

For Eve

Here are some scraps from my drawings a few weeks back. Not in a cartoon strip form at all, plus no backgrounds really, but I think this is roughly the style of drawing I was imagining.












and a totally different style...