WELCOME BACK TO SEASON 2!  This week we chat to Robert Valley, an animation director based in Canada. Robert has worked on a variety of projects from Aeon Flux, to The Gorillaz, to Tron Uprising. He has also produced comics and short films, including his Massive Swerve series, and his latest film, Pear Cider and Cigarettes. We talk to him about his career, including what it's like working with directors such as Peter Chung, Pete Candeland, and Alberto Mielgo. We get into the trials and tribulations of producing an independent animated film, and the story behind the film itself. 

Spoiler Alert! Watch “Pear Cider and Cigarettes” before listening to the conversation. 

You can find it at: vimeo.com/ondemand/pearciderandcigarettes

BXFTYS Audio created our theme tune. Research and show notes by Max Taylor. Edit advice by Alex Widdowson. Presented by Sam Taylor and Tim McCourt. 

Sponsor link
readym.ag/theline/

Show Notes:

Robert Valley Links:

Twitter
twitter.com/massiveswerve

YouTube
youtu.be/97nSokL9BQs

Facebook
www.facebook.com/robertvallley/

Vimeo
vimeo.com/robertvalley

Pear Cider and Cigarettes the Film
http://www.pearciderandcigarettes.com/

Blog
robertvalley.com/blog/

Instagram
instagram.com/massiveswerve/

Tumblr
robertvalley.tumblr.com/




Talking points:

Motor city 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OyAuYvijPo

Titmouse
http://titmouse.net/

Robert Trajeo (Metalica)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Trujillo

Persepolis
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persepolis_(film)

Shenzhen: A Travelogue from China
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shenzhen-Travelogue-China-Guy-Delisle/dp/1770460799

Kristian antonelli
akristianservice.tumblr.com/

Pete Candeland
vimeo.com/petecandeland

Jamie Hewlett
www.instagram.com/hewll/?hl=en

Gorillaz 
gorillaz.com

Beatles Rockband
vimeo.com/12614266

Tron Uprising
vimeo.com/70498312

Charlie Bean
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Bean_(animator)

Alberto Mielgo
www.albertomielgo.com/

Peter Chung
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Chung

Aeon Flux
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86on_Flux

Catsuka
www.catsuka.com/

Colossal Pictures
vimeo.com/29749380

Maverick Studios
maverixstudios.blogspot.co.uk/

kevin eastman
fan.kevineastmanstudios.com/
	
Polygon Pictures
http://www.ppi.co.jp/works/tron-uprising/?l=e

Valley Wonder Woman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyZdIIPYXEA

Wonder Woman model
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3enUYaTPdZ0

Jack Kirby
http://kirbymuseum.org/

The Pegbar and Grill

Series 2, Episode 1: Robert Valley

Peter Millard is an independent filmmaker, animator and Dino Chief. Peter primarily works with natural media, making some of the most unique and comical films. We talk about animation, Hulk Hogan, and colourful talking penises. 

BXFTYS Audio created our theme tune. Research and show notes by Max Taylor. Edit advice by Alex Widdowson. Presented by Sam Taylor and Tim McCourt.

Sponsor link
readym.ag/theline/

Show Notes:

Peter Millard Links
Website
http://www.hellopetermillard.com/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/peter_millard

Vimeo
https://vimeo.com/petermillard

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/hellopetermillard/

Feature on Cartoon Brew
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/artist-of-the-day/peter-millard-109034.html

Talking Points:
RCA - Animation Programme - Royal College of Art
http://www.rca.ac.uk/schools/school-of-communication/animation/

MTV 'Unofficial Ident'
https://vimeo.com/6734738

L.A.Y.L.O.M
https://vimeo.com/135822669

Unhappy Happy
https://vimeo.com/124022235

Luiz Stockler
http://www.luizstockler.com/

Glas Festival
http://www.glasanimation.com/

Pictoplasma
http://pictoplasma.com/

Boogodobiegodongo
https://vimeo.com/81986358

 
Jonathan Hodgson - Night Club
https://vimeo.com/33634918

Fruit Fruit 
https://vimeo.com/82895384

Hulk Hogan film - 'Hogan'
https://vimeo.com/38582873

Rolf Harris
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28163593

Winsor and Newton - Animation Commission
https://vimeo.com/141422420

Anna Ginsburg’s film - 'Private Parts'
https://vimeo.com/153781865

Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/

Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared
https://www.youtube.com/user/thisisitcollective

Caleb Wood
https://vimeo.com/calebwood

David Shrigley
http://davidshrigley.com/

Series 2, Episode 2: Peter Millard

Malika Favre is a French artist based in London. Her unmistakable style has established her as one of the UK’s most sought after graphic artists. Malika’s clients include The New Yorker, Vogue, BAFTA, Sephora and Penguin Books, amongst many others. We talk illustration, animation, business and Burlesque. 
BXFTYS Audio created our theme tune. Research and show notes by Max Taylor. Edit advice by Alex Widdowson. Presented by Sam Taylor and Tim McCourt.

Malika Favre Links:

http://malikafavre.com/

http://insta.malikafavre.com/  

https://twitter.com/malikafavre

http://shop.malikafavre.com/

Show Notes:

Airside
https://vimeo.com/airside

Kamasutra
http://malikafavre.com/kama-sutra

Nexus (Where Malika used to be repped as an animation director)
http://nexusproductions.com/

Malika’s animation 
https://vimeo.com/malikafavre

Malika’s illustration agent 
http://www.handsomefrank.com/

The Association of Illustrators 
http://www.theaoi.com/

Budweiser campaign 
http://malikafavre.com/lady-liberty
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGl-mfxOEuC/?taken-by=malikafavre

Hide and Seek solo exhibition
http://malikafavre.com/hide-seek

Aldo commission (off the back of Hide and Seek
http://malikafavre.com/poolside

Carluccio’s commission 
http://malikafavre.com/christmas-in-bologna

The Crazy Horse
http://www.lecrazyhorseparis.com/en/homepage/

Pick Me Up
http://pickmeup.somersethouse.org.uk/#/

Canary Island project
http://malikafavre.com/on-the-draw

Malika’s shop
http://shop.malikafavre.com/

Bafta project
http://malikafavre.com/the-big-reveal

Lay's packet redesign 
http://design.pepsico.com/lays.php?v=58#section2

Malika ended up doing TWO! New Yorker covers
http://malikafavre.com/page-turner
http://malikafavre.com/intheshade

Series 2, Episode 3: Malika Favre

If you’d like to support the show, please visit: https://www.patreon.com/beyondsynth

The Beyond Synth theme song is by OGRE: https://ogresound.bandcamp.com/track/shore-thing  

Beyond Synth musical jingles created by WHO HA: http://thewhoha.bandcamp.com/ 

You can check out RICK SHITHOUSE and Synthetix here:
http://www.synthetix.fm/
https://soundcloud.com/rick-shithouse
https://www.facebook.com/groups/120473901408954/
https://www.facebook.com/synthetixsundays
https://twitter.com/SynthetixFM


And check out all the artists featured on today's show:

SLEEPSIN:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-iFbn52kqOLukS2mscelxw
https://www.facebook.com/sleepsin1991/posts/827562574043804
https://soundcloud.com/sleepsin1991

MNYNMS:
https://soundcloud.com/mnynms
http://www.mnynms.com/
https://twitter.com/mnynms
https://www.facebook.com/MNYNMS

SUNG:
https://soundcloud.com/sung_music
http://sung-music.bandcamp.com/
https://twitter.com/sung_music
https://www.facebook.com/Sungmusic

DAMOKLES:
https://soundcloud.com/damokles
http://www.damokles.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DamoklesSword

JUNO DREAMS:
https://soundcloud.com/juno-dreams
https://junodreams.bandcamp.com/album/space-warp
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17-Qu6JFRgCasLEkbgSlcA

KID KASIO:
https://soundcloud.com/kidkasio
www.kidkasio.com/
twitter.com/KidKasio
www.facebook.com/kidkasio
www.youtube.com/user/KidKasio1/videos

KONDRATH:
https://soundcloud.com/kondrath
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaH8jPHiNx2tZFYrcXG5rCA

7DD9:
https://soundcloud.com/7dd9
https://7dd9.bandcamp.com/
https://twitter.com/7dd9music
https://www.facebook.com/7dd9music

FM-84:
https://soundcloud.com/fm84
http://fm84.bandcamp.com/
https://twitter.com/fm84music
https://www.facebook.com/fm84music?_rdr=p

GUNSHIP:
https://soundcloud.com/gunshipmusic
https://twitter.com/GUNSHIPMUSIC
http://www.gunshipmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/GUNSHIPMusic

Beyond Synth Podcast

Beyond Synth - 79 - Rick Shithouse Part 01

THIS IS THE SECOND PART OF THE PODCAST. PLEASE LISTEN TO LAST WEEK'S EPISODE TO HEAR THE FIRST PART OF OUR CONVERSATION!

South Bronx native, LeSean Thomas is an animation producer, director & illustrator, operating out of Los Angeles, California. Most recently he is creator of CANONBUSTERS, a TV series in development, and CHILDREN OF ETHER for Crunchyroll. He has been a creative producer and supervising director of “BLACK DYNAMITE: THE ANIMATED SERIES” on ADULT SWIM, Storyboard & animation production artist on the TV series,“THE LEGEND OF KORRA” (Book 1) for NIckelodeon, as well as director/lead character designer for Aaron McGruder’s “THE BOONDOCKS”.

LeSean Thomas Links:

twitter.com/LeSeanThomas

twitter.com/Cannon_Busters

leseanthomas.com/

www.instagram.com/leseanthomas/

Show Notes:

Tetsuwan Birdy Decode

https://myanimelist.net/anime/3974/Tetsuwan_Birdy_Decode

Iron Man rips off anime 

http://leseanthomas.tumblr.com/post/129403410241/the-avengers-2012-appleseed-2004-bubblegum


Arkanium 
http://comicvine.gamespot.com/arkanium-4-none/4000-191939/

Hiroyuki Imaishi 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroyuki_Imaishi

Studio Trigger (Imaishi studio)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigger_(company)

Ultra Super Pictures 
http://uspi.jp/

Panty Stocking with Garterbelt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panty_%26_Stocking_with_Garterbelt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2HbWsB3PNM

Drawn Together (Which inspired Panty Stocking with Garterbelt)
https://www.youtube.com/user/NorthEuropean

Black Dynamite intro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw8Jz-N8fXA

Studio Trigger boards for the black Dynamite intro ( by Imaishi) 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C55yEbpaTCQ


Cannon Busters trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CVxE-fXCFA

Boondooks 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k2er_-Pe90

Seoul Sessions 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQll2gu8hXJUGK8z5rVnt7XW0eO0OYBSj

Series 2, Episode 4: Lesean Thomas (Pt.2)

Having first gained notoriety for his short films and commercials, Grant Orchard is now also known as the creator of the BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning pre-school series ‘Hey Duggee’. In our interview he discusses the transition from shorts to series and goes into detail on the production process, time management and artistic compromise, when working in children’s television. We also discuss how the animation industry and our approach to film distribution has changed over time.

Grant Orchard Links:

AKA Studio Profile: https://www.studioaka.co.uk/People/grantorchard 

Trailer for BAFTA winning and Oscar nominated short ‘A Morning Stroll’: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/2678

Park Football IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6022166/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_4 

‘Hey Duggee’ Official Website: https://www.heyduggee.com/

Other Links:

Monkey Dust IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386224/ 

The Amazing World of Gumball CN page: http://www.cartoonnetwork.co.uk/show/gumball 

Eric Goldberg’s Rolo Advert (Plane): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5FgC1j9KM4

The Pegbar and Grill Podcast

Series 2, Episode 9: Grant Orchard

***PLEASE NOTE THIS PODCAST WAS RECORDED IN LATE 2016. PLEASE ACCEPT OUR APOLOGIES FOR OUR RIDICULOUS LATENESS IN RELEASING IT.***

Ben Bocquelet is an animator, director, writer, and producer. He is best known as the creator of the multi award-winning and hilarious kids animated series, ‘The Amazing World of Gumball’ (2011-onwards). 

We sat down with Ben to discuss his rapid rise to success, starting with the fact that he was a latecomer to drawing. He tells us that his graduation film, ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ (2003), which helped him get a junior position at Studio AKA in London. After a few years there he found himself at Cartoon Network Development Studio Europe, where he helped develop other people's series proposals. Ben describes what it was like to find out that his own series concept, ‘The Amazing World of Gumball’ was the first to be commissioned at the development hub. 
  
We discuss the distinct aesthetic of the series, which partly comes from the use of layered animation techniques and photographed backgrounds, as well as assembling dozens of distinct characters, many of whom started as discarded elements from old unsuccessful commercial pitches.

Ben Bocquelet links:

Twitter
https://twitter.com/benbocquelet

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/ben_bocquelet/

‘Hell’s Kitchen’ (2003) Dir. Ben Bocquelet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot5fVxvwmlo

Gumball Wikia Page: 
http://theamazingworldofgumball.wikia.com/wiki/The_Amazing_World_of_Gumball

Studio AKA:
http://www.studioaka.co.uk/

‘Hells Kitchen’ (Future Shorts film)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot5fVxvwmlo

EMCA school 
http://www.angouleme-emca.fr/fr/index.asp

City Hunter 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Hunter

Fist of the North Star
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fist_of_the_North_Star

JCBC (Production company)
http://www.jsbc.fr/en/

Philippe Andre
http://www.independ.net/directors/philippe-andre/

Spike Jonze 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_Jonze

Chris Cunningham 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Cunningham

Pictoplasma
http://pictoplasma.com/

Up The Resolution 
http://www.uptheresolution.co.uk/

Saschka Unseld 
http://www.saschkaunseld.com/

Pinky Malinky
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinky_Malinky

Cartoon Network
http://www.cartoonnetwork.co.uk/

Powerpuff Girl Movie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Powerpuff_Girls_Movie

Bob Camp 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Camp

Pixar
https://www.pixar.com/#incredibles-2-home

Daniel Lennard
http://theamazingworldofgumball.wikia.com/wiki/Daniel_Lennard
Mr Bean 
https://www.youtube.com/user/MrBean

Antoine Perez 
http://theamazingworldofgumball.wikia.com/wiki/Antoine_Perez

Adventure Time
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_Time

CRCR 
http://www.crcr.fr

Studio 4c
http://www.studio4c.co.jp/english/

Tyler the Creator 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyler,_the_Creator

Becky and Joe
http://beckyandjoes.com/

Spaced
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187664/

The Pegbar and Grill Podcast
The Pegbar and Grill Podcast


Series 2, Episode 10: Ben Bocquelet

***PLEASE NOTE THIS PODCAST WAS RECORDED IN 2017. PLEASE ACCEPT OUR APOLOGIES FOR OUR RIDICULOUS LATENESS IN RELEASING IT.***

Jon Topf is a games designer, developer, animator, and a former member of The Line. Most recently he was lead developer for Monument Valley 2. 

Jon talked to us about how he first got into coding as a teenager and how he started his career as a mechanical engineer, before eventually getting into animation. He has worked as a VFX artists, and directed commercials at Studio AKA, before joining UsTwo Games. 

During his time at UsTwo, he created an IOS game in his spare time called Trick Shot. After this, he was appointed the director and lead developer of the sequel to the hugely successful phone game, Monument Valley. 

Jon Topf
http://jonathantopf.com/

Monument Valley Game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC1jHHF_Wjo

Tim Cook 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Cook

MC Escher
http://www.mcescher.com/

Trick Shot
http://trickshotgame.io/

UsTwo Games
https://www.ustwo.com/

Gear VR 
http://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/gear-vr

Maya 
https://www.autodesk.co.uk/products/maya/overview

Open source rendering software
https://www.creativebloq.com/3d/top-free-rendering-software-cg-artists-91412918

Python 
https://www.python.org/

Side FX Houdini 
https://www.sidefx.com/

Arrival
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrival_(film)

Trick Shot
http://trickshotgame.io/

Script Notes Podcast
https://johnaugust.com/scriptnotes 

http://scriptnotes.net/304-location-is-where-its-at

Series 2, Episode 11: Jonathan Topf

***PLEASE NOTE THIS PODCAST WAS RECORDED IN LATE 2016. PLEASE ACCEPT OUR APOLOGIES FOR OUR RIDICULOUS LATENESS IN RELEASING IT.***

Oli Hyatt and Tom Box are 2 of the co-founders of Blue Zoo, an animation production company based in London.  


They spoke to us about their studio, as well as Animation UK, an advocacy organisation for the animation industry, which successfully lobbied the UK government in 2012, leading to the introduction of the Animation Tax Relief. Oli and Tom provide fascinating insights into running a studio with more than 120 employees. They discuss the challenges of growing the company since its founding in 2000, and how they've struck a balance between profitability and creative fulfilment. Blue Zoo produce ads, idents, apps and VR, but they are best known for their children's TV series, which include Alphablocks, Digby Dragon, Numberblocks, Q Pootle 5 and Tree Fu Tom. In 2014 Oli was awarded an MBE for services to Children’s TV and Animation and in 2017 Blue Zoo was awarded the Children's BAFTA for Independent Production Company of the year.

Tom Box’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrtombox

Oli Hyatt’s profile on Screen Alliance http://www.ukscreenalliance.co.uk/profile/Oli-Hyatt

Blue Zoo website: https://www.blue-zoo.co.uk/

Digby Dragon https://www.blue-zoo.co.uk/animation/digby-dragon/

Olive The Ostrich https://www.blue-zoo.co.uk/animation/olive-the-ostrich/

Animation UK: website http://www.ukscreenalliance.co.uk/about/animation-uk

Note: In November 2016, UK Screen Association announced that it was joining forces with Animation UK to create the Screen Alliance UK http://www.ukscreenalliance.co.uk/index.php?/news/article/5064

The Pegbar and Grill Podcast


Series 2, Episode 12: Blue Zoo

***PLEASE NOTE THIS PODCAST WAS RECORDED IN LATE 2016. PLEASE ACCEPT OUR APOLOGIES FOR OUR RIDICULOUS LATENESS IN RELEASING IT.***

BXFTYS (Box of Toys) Audio is a creative music and sound design studio based in London. The studio was founded in 2011 and consists of Chris Didlick, Ben Laver, and Magnus Arwenhed.They have alway worked closely with us on several, some of which are listed below. We discuss copyright in music, performance rights and regulations around sound design and the current climate of commercial sound design. 

BXFTYS Website 
http://www.boxoftoysaudio.com/

BXFTYS Audio
http://www.boxoftoysaudio.com/
https://soundcloud.com/bxftys

Netil House Studios
http://eatworkart.com/netil-house/studio-spaces/

Radium Audio
https://radium-audio.com/

Everything I Can See From Here
https://www.thelineanimation.com/work/everything-i-can-see-from-here

Wall Flowers (2013)
https://www.thelineanimation.com/work/wallflowers/

Super Turbo Atomic Ninja Rabit (2015) https://www.thelineanimation.com/work/super-turbo-atomic-ninja-rabbit/

The Wilhelm Scream
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdbYsoEasio

Series 2, Episode 13: BXFTYS Audio

Happy Hour at The Pegbar and Grill Podcast is an excuse for Tim McCourt and Sam Taylor to talk to some of their favourite filmmakers and animation creators. The Pegbar and Grill is also a curated Vimeo Channel. Theme tune by BXFTYS Audio. Research by Max Taylor. Presented (mostly) by Sam Taylor and Tim McCourt. Max, Sam, and Tim are members of The Line Animation Studio.