The problem with making rules at the start of a creative endeavor is that it precludes better ideas that come later -- especially in my case. Continue reading

No one yet. I have a couple of sites that I'll be showing the executives but there's still time to submit. In the meantime, I want to share a few thoughts about getting a job with the internet. Continue reading

I may get to hire a character designer to help me rethink the cast of my pilot. That's a luxury I don't want to squander. But I might be persuaded to squander some on you. Continue reading

I love playing a moment over a series of panels, creating it out of not just what is in the panels but also using the relationship of one panel to another and from how the panels are arranged on the page... And here's a major tool I've been using to work out the story but let me tell you how I found it. Continue reading

Everybody wants to be a character designer. I talked to a bunch of recent animation college graduates at CTN this year and was amazed at their talent. And most of them wanted to be character designers. Continue reading

Working on my pilot through all this, jamming it into the crevices of my day to get it done, demonstrated to me that I could hit a schedule on a project even while working a long day. I'm anxious to apply that energy to my own work on some comics. Continue reading

The voice took her cosplay from costume to character. In animation, it's even more important because you are creating a reality that the audience should get lost in. Continue reading

But there are folks I only see once a year at SDCC. There are also people I got to know over the net while discussing their work. I meet new people too, even people I want to hire. So here's a sampling. Continue reading

I much rather explain what I want and then be pitched to. For instance, there's a bird guest star in my pilot. I didn't give the character designer any sketches but I sent him many bird pictures featuring wild plummage and photos of an actress who plays a similar personality as our bird. He also has the script, of course and if I had voice auditions, I'd send him those. I hired him because of his talent. Why should I bring him down to my level? Continue reading

But I have been greenlit to pilot on a show for the Disney Jr. Channel. So once again I will attempt to talk about something without talking about it. Continue reading

I got nothin' Continue reading

Hello, my name is Tad Stones and I have inspired fan fiction. Continue reading

I was intrigued by the idea of making each panel a graphic puzzle but I backed off in favor of clarity. Continue reading

...we got to talking about how things used to work... back in the day ...in olden times ...when dinosaurs walked the earth ...when Tad shifted over to Disney TV Animation. Continue reading

Who needs words? I'm posting before I delete. Some of these have something but my "inking" mostly obscured it. Continue reading

I want to explore the creative process of myself and others. So I'm going to do that in a new way by being very specific. Continue reading

It's no surprise that I can't seem to update this blog regularly. I can't even maintain a consistent Twitter feed. That must sound odd to anyone who has heard me interviewed because I will go on and on for freakin' hours talking about all sorts of crap. Continue reading

Duncan Fergredo, the great Hellboy artist, twitted a link to the work of Rob Davis. I instantly took to the simple lines, strong action and energy of the linked drawings. Continue reading

Awaiting notes. I have time. I have a computer. I have nothing really to say. But that hasn't stopped me before. Continue reading

That can be the most depressing statement an artist can hear during a production. But if you're given enough direction and time it can be exciting because you are being challenged to shine. Continue reading

Today's a holiday in the US. I gave notes on an episode of BOB'S BURGERS (please watch), notes to a character designer on my pilot (hope for the best) and found myself with time to post again (read on!). Continue reading

The challenge of doing a fully animated pilot (usually around 10 minutes) is that you can't promise a crew an ongoing job. Continue reading

So here's the update on my Cartoon Network pilot that I can't tell you anything about. And a little something about finding a Character Designer. Continue reading

It's great talking to fans of those shows and especially the ones now sharing it with their children. I consider Darkwing to be one of my career highlights. And it should have been better. Continue reading

I can't vouch for the story because I haven't read it but I am very impressed with this artwork. On model but more importantly, full of life and energy! Fantastic work by Leonel Castellini. Continue reading