The Frank Diddly Cartoon Studio

Long time... no post. (I'm still alive!)

2011-05-18T19:43:00.002-04:00

Hi folks! A lot has happened since I last posted here. Actually, I was gonna just let this blog die, and let the Friends of Tommy Robot Facebook page pick up from there. Apparently a couple of you, that would be you reading this, still check in on this blog from time to time. Here's a post for you. I didn't die! Not yet, anyway.
What's happened since last time? Tommy Robot cartoons have played in movie theaters. Tommy and I have now been involved in five film festivals! Just today, I was reflecting (daydreaming) at work. I have been very fortunate in the film biz. I've been accepted into every film festival that I submitted to. That is some achievement in itself. (Excuse me while I toot my own horn. Who else gonna toot it for me?) As compared to how many of my comic strip submissions that have been accepted by publishers... WAIT A MINUTE!!! I never had ANY of my comic submissions accepted. No wonder comics are a dying medium.
2010 was perhaps my best year of my life. I hope 2011 is even better. First, there was the above mentioned film festivals: Rumschpringe and Lancaster Area Film Festival(LAFF). And in the 48 Hour Film Fest 2010, I made my acting premiere on the big screen in Bryan Schaeffer's film "Lechuga" in which I was the drummer of an 80's hair metal band. (Yay! My dream of being a rock star is fulfilled!)
For LAFF 2011, I was asked to be a judge. Judging a film festival was a new and fun experience for me. And I got to show my last Tommy Robot animated short at LAFF 2011 as well. Here it is!

So, as you can see, I have been very busy over the last year and a half. I've been too busy to keep posting to this blog, but I will try to be more current in the future.
I am currently working on a new animated film with a supplemental comic book. (Yes, that "dying medium" again!)
To 2TCG, GFYS! I let you figure that one out on your own.
;)

Guess which little robot was on ToonTube's front page again?

2009-12-22T19:49:00.002-05:00

Once again I am honored to have the ToonTube spotlight shined on my little boy, Tommy. Those guys are so good to me! Also, there is a new Tommy Robot cartoon but I won't post it here. If you want to see it, watch it on ToonTube!
http://toontube.toonlifeonline.com/video/Tommy-Robot-and-the-Haunted-Fun
They deserve the hits more than I do. While you're at it, watch a few of the many many many great animated videos at http://toontube.toonlifeonline.com
You won't regret it!

Look at that shiney new badge >>>>>>

2009-12-10T22:33:00.002-05:00

Hey there Facebook users, if you want to be a friend of Tommy Robot I just set a new FB page for the little guy.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1357215611#/pages/The-friends-of-Tommy-Robot/219182702494?ref=mf

Go on. Don't let Tommy be lonely!

Rumschpringe 2009!

2009-04-09T22:49:00.002-04:00

I just got back the first ever showing of a Tommy Robot cartoon on the BIG SCREEN!
"Robot Monkey Safari" was part of this year's Rumschpringe film festival in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This is the first time I entered a film festival, and I am honored to be a part of Rumschpringe.
All day long, my nerves were surprisingly calm as I looked forward to the show. But when those theater lights dimmed and the big screen started to flicker, I started to get excited. I thought, how cool is this? My cartoon is gonna be shown in a movie theater to a film going audience for the VERY FIRST TIME! Five months of anticipation leading up to this moment!
Then, as the title of my cartoon panned across the screen, the nerves and sweaty palms hit me.
I didn't have a breakdown or anything. Actually, it all went very well I thought. I received my big payoff seeing my creation larger than life, warts and all. Got a few chuckles from the audience and a nice applause at the end. In all, not bad for someone has been animating for only a year with no formal training.
If you were there in the audience, thanks for generosity by giving me five minutes of your time. Thanks to everyone involved with Rumschpringe, especially to Michael Hoober whose hard work and sacrifice put the whole thing together.
You gave me an experience that I will never forget!

Ron Good
April 9, 2009

"Robot Monkey Safari" selected as a finalist for Animation of the Month

2009-02-03T18:33:00.004-05:00

Once again I'd like to thank my friends at ToonTube for selecting my cartoon as one of the seven finalists for Animation of the Month! I didn't win, but it was a great honor to have my work selected with six other really great cartoons. I had very stiff competition!
The winner of the Dec/Jan Animation of the Month is "Frankenparts" by Peter Crafts.
http://toontube.toonlifeonline.com/video/Frankenparts
Well done, Peter! And congratulations to other finalists for being wonderful animators. I am truly not worthy!

Banner

2009-01-25T15:09:00.001-05:00

From my old business card. I didn't know where else to put this.

Thank You Toon Tube!

2009-01-07T20:01:00.002-05:00

"Robot Monkey Safari" was picked for Animation of the Day by ToonTube! http://toontube.toonlifeonline.com/
Check out ToonTube for great, family friendly animation. If you're an animator, post your cartoons there. It's a great community for animators!
Thanks again, ToonTube!

Here it is! "Robot Monkey Safari"

2009-01-04T18:09:00.001-05:00

It took six weeks to complete. I finished it this morning.

All primary animation is done on new cartoon

2009-01-01T08:42:00.002-05:00

There's still some work that needs to be done. The clips must be edited together and sounds and music need to be added. Title and credit work needs to be done as well. I finished the animation at my parents place in Delaware. I'll need to finish this thing when I get home and send it off to the film festival.

Put on your 3D glasses NOW!

2008-12-19T23:32:00.002-05:00

Here's another still from the "new 'bot" animation.
It may look a little funny to you, but if you have 3D glasses (with red and blue lenses) put them on now!

Just a glimpse.

2008-12-13T10:17:00.002-05:00

I'm still working on the new robot cartoon. I thought I'd post a still of Penny. It looks like she's being watched! What could that be?

He STRETCHES!!!

2008-12-08T20:18:00.002-05:00

That's right, this is another still from the new Tommy Robot animated short I'm working on. It's coming along great. For the first time, I have made Tommy stretch his arm in Anime Studio Pro. Those of you who read the Tommy Robot comic books already know that can extend his limbs any length. (Once again, this proves Tommy is a superhero!)
Anyway, the effect looks good when animated! Also, there is a new character. Do you think I'm gonna show it here? No no! You're gonna have to wait until I post the new video when it's done. So keep checking back here.

Free art for you!

2008-11-29T11:03:00.003-05:00

Print it out and hang on the refrigerator, put it on a t-shirt, or make a sticker out of it! Use as you wish and enjoy!

Work on new animation has begun!

2008-11-28T14:16:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone, hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!
This is a still from the opening scene of the new Tommy and Penny cartoon. I haven't done anything with the characters yet. I want to put more into the backgrounds than I did with "Haunted Funhouse".

A new animation is in the works

2008-11-26T19:22:00.003-05:00

I have begun work on a new robot animation. Tommy and Penny will be in it along with some new characters. I've just finished setting up one new creation in Anime Studio Pro. It's the night before Thanksgiving, and I'm going to see my parents tomorrow. I have a long weekend to work on this project.
I am thankful that I have my creativity flowing again.
The new cartoon will be posted on YouTube and ToonTube when completed. And if I complete it before the deadline, I'll enter it into the Rumschpringe film festival. Also, I want to make this a little longer, say four, four and a half minutes. An epic!!!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!

To all 2TCG members

2008-08-05T18:12:00.002-04:00

For those who have not heard the news, I have resigned from the Two Trees Cartoon Guild. I wish you all the best, and I am confident that the Guild will carry on without me.

The Haunted Funhouse part 3

2008-05-01T19:58:00.002-04:00

Here's the conclusion of the "micro-trilogy". But stay tuned for more animated fun coming soon!

... and something else that's COOL!!!

2008-02-25T20:31:00.002-05:00

I've been asked to post Tommy Robot cartoons on ToonTube! http://toontube.toonlifeonline.com
ToonTube is a brand new online community for web cartoons. It's like YouTube, but it's only family friendly animation. Every cartoon posted is automatically entered into a contest each month, and there's a cash prize! For me it's cool because I get to see lots of neat cartoons by other animators, and my little guy, Tommy, gets seen by more people! So go there and check out all the great cartoons. My Profile is at:
http://toontube.toonlifeonline.com/user/JDM280F8XHM1LGND
Thanks for having Tommy and me, ToonTube!!!

Here's something cool!

2008-02-25T20:08:00.003-05:00

I stumbled over this a couple of days ago.
Apparently someone at Content Paradise saw my new Tommy Robot cartoon on YouTube and chose it for their featured animation for their webpage! http://www.contentparadise.com
Content Paradise is a valuable resource digital artists who use programs like Anime Studio Pro, which is what I use to make the Tommy cartoons.
Thanks, Content Paradise!!!

The Haunted Funhouse part 2... finally!!!

2008-02-19T21:12:00.003-05:00

Well, it took a really, REALLY long time! But here it is, the long awaited continuation of "The Haunted Funhouse"
Much of the delay, I'll admit, was due to procrastination. I started working on it back in December! That's three months after I posted part one, folks. So anyway, things are really starting to roll on this cartoon around January when all of a sudden my computer dies. I'm not going to go into details, but I'll just say it was the result of my own stupidity.
Anyhow, my computer has been rebuilt thanks very much to my good friend Tim Geiter, and I was able to complete this cartoon. So without further ado...

This one's for you Tim!!!

Tommy Robot goes to Mars!

2007-12-31T02:46:00.000-05:00

I originally did this in 2005 when I had the Schizophrenic Studio going. I did a little editing to this and changed the soundtrack. This was the first Tommy Robot animated short.

Tommy Icon

2007-12-15T16:28:00.000-05:00

This is my Tommy icon for forums and stuff like that.

Comix Jamboree Nov. 17, 2007

2007-11-18T14:43:00.000-05:00

And now for something completely different.
Yesterday (11/17/07), we had our November meeting of the Two Trees Cartoon Guild. It was a great time for all who attended. The four of us created an 8 page comic book in just a few short hours! Last night, I compiled the pages into a book to be called "Comix Jamboree" which I will be printing later. The cover price is only one dollar! If you want one, leave a comment on this post.
No children were actually hit with a boot in the making of this comic. I just grazed 'em!

Eternal Highway (Highway Star) - a movie demo

2007-11-16T11:49:00.000-05:00

I made this back in August '07, I think.
For those who don't know my work, which is just about EVERYONE, "Eternal Highway" was a series of comic book stories I did back in the 1990's. It was about three guys in a car on a road trip to nowhere and their adventures.
Anyway, for the past 2 years or so, I've wasting a lot time on sim type computer games, particularly "The Movies" which lets you make your own movies. So one day it dawned on me that I can make an "Eternal Highway" movie with this thing. This was to be for my own amusement, of course.
The end result is very rough due to the limitations of the game and lack of time I put into it. I was debating whether or not I was going to post it or not. But I finally decided that even with all it's faults it should be seen by whoever might want to see this.
Perhaps, if some of you viewers want to see more, I will produce some new "Highway" material. And for those who never read the old "Highway" comics, now you know where the name, Frank Diddly, came from!

Oh by the way, I also did the music.
Just kidding! It's a song called "Highway Star" by Deep Purple from their album "Machine Head". It's a great album. You should go buy the CD.
In the old days, when I would fantasize about making an "Eternal Highway" movie, This was one of the songs I wanted to have in the soundtrack. That's why I used it here.

Congratulations to my good friend , Sam Mylin!

2007-09-18T19:03:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday (09/15/07) at our cartoon guild meeting, I learned that my friend Sam is having an art retrospective at the Brickhouse Cafe in Manhiem, PA. This is Sam's second big art show. You're on your way to art stardom, buddy! Way to go!

Now here's a REAL SURPRISE for you, Sam Mylin... Tommy Robot himself wants to congratulate you and wish you all the best! He can't do it in person. Unfortunately, we're keeping him very busy at the studio. So he made this video JUST FOR YOU, his pal! Enjoy...

The Robot Drama Club presents... "The Haunted Funhouse"

2007-09-16T18:36:00.000-04:00

This is the first in a series featuring these characters. Most of it was produced with a program called Anime Studio 5, a great program for creating vector animations.

A rare 3D gem for you...

2007-09-15T21:41:00.000-04:00

This is old. It's a little something I whipped up with Poser using homemade figures. The initial idea was to make many of these one minute shorts and then compile them on a DVD. That's going to take a long time, so I'll post them online for now.

Cartoon Guild promo

2007-09-14T15:02:00.000-04:00

This is studio's first "job". I use quotes 'cause I wasn't paid. Then again, no one asked me to do this!

Greetings

2007-09-13T19:12:00.001-04:00

Hi folks!
This is my first post on this blog. As soon as I work out some bugs, I'll start posting some cartoons. See ya soon!