Dave Schlafman's Doodles

Fizzy's Lunch Lab has Launched

2009-11-18T20:58:00.004-05:00

As many of you know, over the past six months, I’ve been hard at work producing my first animated show for PBS Kids Go! with my creative partner, Evan Sussman. This was a gigantic undertaking as we successfully brought together a team of 50+ that included food writers, physicians, dietitians, script writers, actors, musicians, software engineers, and an army of talented artists. I’m confident that our dream team created a truly innovative children’s program and website designed to halt the childhood obesity epidemic. Professor Fizzy and his gang are finally ready to educate and inspire families to get out of the drive-thru and back into the kitchen. We will be rolling out a new recipe and animated video every week for the next 40 weeks, so be sure to check back.

I am thrilled and proud to share our creation with you - Fizzy’s Lunch Lab!

Fizzy's Lunch Lab

2009-10-10T10:28:00.011-05:00

Two and half years ago, fellow animation director, Evan Sussman and I met at JP Licks in Boston, MA and came up with a show idea over coffee. I was fed up with the lack of kid-friendly cookbooks, and Evan had been trying to create a nutrition-based website or property with his dad (Dr. Craig Sussman). We combined our ideas that day and we set out to create a kids cooking show that focused on the importance of health and nutrition...But it had to be FUN. After thousands of hours of hard work, failed development deals, personal investment, it's nice to see Fizzy's Lunch Lab living on PBS Kids Go!

The last four months have been a whirlwind for Evan and I. It has included finalizing our deal with PBS, creating the season 1 outline in two weeks, writing 46 short scripts (with amazing writers), starting animation production, moving into our office, and launching our preview website...Along with our new studio's website. Fizzy's Lunch Lab has been the hardest thing (by far) I've worked on and it's shaping up to be a winner. We still have a lot of work ahead of ourselves, but it has been rewarding to see the preview site and trailer so well received.

I know the next five months of production are going to be equally as demanding, but I know that Fizzy's Lunch Lab has the ability to truly help kids and families make healthier decisions. Coming from someone who was incredibly overweight as a child, I'm happy to share Fizzy with everyone and hope it can make a difference.

Check out the Lunch Lab Preview Site.

The first sketches of Fizzy

Sneak-peek

2009-09-20T19:30:00.004-05:00

Again...Almost one month later...

Here's a character design sneak-peek for the secret project I've been mentioning for the last couple months. My partner-in-crime, Evan Sussman and I have been neck-deep in production. The good news is that there will be an official announcement in the next week or so. Stay tuned.

One month later...

2009-08-25T20:27:00.004-05:00

I have been purposely holding off on this post until I hit the one month mark from my last entry...well, at least for the last week. It's been a whirl-wind month as I have started production on the biggest project of my life. I haven't had time to do anything but work. It's been a loooong few weeks. One of the highlights this month was the release of the first two Monster Squad books I illustrated for Penguin. I snapped this photo in B&N last week. Quite exciting and surreal. Big thanks to Ms. Laura Dower and Megan Benett at Penguin. You can buy the Monster Squad books here. Back to work...

Bug off...

2009-07-25T04:52:00.002-05:00

...I've been busy. Exciting news is on its way!

Splitting Time

2009-07-06T19:54:00.005-05:00

So...for the last few weeks, I have been quite busy slaving away on a project that I'll announce in the coming weeks. At the same time, I have been juggling the Monster Squad Illustrations for Book 3. The dust has cleared and here's a couple in-progress images to tickle your fancy...Adios.

Monster Squad Book 4 Cover...finalized!

2009-06-23T07:33:00.004-05:00

I just got this in from the fine folks at Penguin. Here's the final Monster Squad Book 4 cover with the text layout. Bon Appetite!

Terrible Yellow Eyes

2009-06-15T06:56:00.008-05:00

There's been some buzz around the web about Terrible Yellow Eyes. It's a blog that features artwork inspired by Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. I had some free time yesterday and decided to sit down and make something. I remember the first time I came across the book, I was generally scared by the characters. I think there is still something creepy about Sendak's Terrible creatures. Anyways...here's my process and the final.

Yes...sometimes my initial sketches are this loose. I try to get down the ideas first.

Rough line-work in Flash.

The final colored entirely in Photoshop.

New Doodle

2009-06-10T07:13:00.004-05:00

I haven't had any time to draw in the last few weeks. I've been very busy working behind-the-scenes on a project that's been taking up all of my creative energy and time. Here's a little doodle that I managed to produce at 6 this morning. I hope to hop back to the drawing board in a couple of weeks.

BTL finished!

2009-05-31T09:20:00.004-05:00

My team recently wrapped on the Between the Lions animated episodes. Our job was to turn the puppet-based show into an animation one. Here are some stills from the 2nd animated episodes.

Art Direction: Dave Schlafman
Background Design: Jon Renoni
Characters: Steph Laberis

Bot Process

2009-05-21T15:12:00.003-05:00

I've been quite busy working on a handful of projects including the third installment of the Monster Squad book series. Recently, I had some time to doodle in my sketchbook. I felt inclined to take the sketch a bit further in the computer. Below is the before (sketchbook)...after (computer). Enjoy!

UNICEF spot is done

2009-05-11T11:19:00.003-05:00

For the last two months, I have been working on an animated spot UNICEF, the children's organization. This spot was created to inform donors, governments and/or partners about UNICEF’s Education in Emergencies initiatives. I was lucky to work with a great organization and a team of artists:

Direction: Dave Schlafman
Animation: Dan Flynn
Animation: Mike Annear
Backgrounds: Jen Blicharz and Dave Schlafman
Compositing and Sound Deisgn: Evan Sussman
Music: Daniel Koren
V.O: Gigi Abraham

UNICEF Education in Emergencies Spot from Dave Schlafman on Vimeo.

Critters

2009-05-05T07:12:00.002-05:00

I'm currently working on some concept/character designs for a Hasbro board game. Below is the 1st round of sketches...Back to work on my website...almost done!

Monster Squad Book 4

2009-04-24T07:22:00.005-05:00

I'm getting ready to send The Monster Squad Book 4 cover off to the publisher for any final notes. I've had a lot of fun with these killer robots from outer-space! Below are the steps I took to get to the final. Until next time...

Website find

2009-04-19T13:35:00.003-05:00

As I'm working on my website, I've come across a bunch of funny doodles and rejected concepts. I just came across this character layout sheet that I created a couple years back. There's something so ridiculous about this character (and song titles) that I had to post it.

Back to work...

Website/Portfolio Update...on its way!

2009-04-18T09:36:00.005-05:00

For the last two years I have taught the animation portfolio class at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Each week, I talk about the importance building a tight, cohesive portfolio that should be updated regularly. Last week while clicking around my own website, I realized I haven't updated my own work in way too long (almost 2 years!). So I took it upon myself to practice what I preach.

For the last week or so, I've been retooling my website, reel montage, and resume. It's been a fun, but tedious process. I have to admit that it's hard to edit your own work, but teaching the class has made me question my intentions for including particular pieces...which is a good thing. I'm hoping to have everything up by May 1st, so stay tuned.

UNICEF update

2009-04-13T05:54:00.005-05:00

For the last few weeks, I've been chugging away on a 45-second spot for UNICEF, the children's organization, and I've been working with a great team of artists to help along the way. A special shout-out to Jen Blicharz who painted the background elements. I then scanned them into photoshop, tweaked the color and lighting, and made the digital collages for the finals. I'm happy to say that animation and design wrapped last weekand now it's time to combine it all in After Effects. This morning, I did some style tests for the compositor. The final animation should look something like this...

I love my caffeine!

2009-04-01T13:06:00.004-05:00

Every morning at 10AM(yes, every morning), I leave my studio and venture out to the local Starbucks. I try to write and doodle in my sketchbook for at least two hours a day. It has multiple benefits:

1. I get away from my sitting in front of my computer
2. I'm able to concentrate on my own projects and develop my own voice.
3. Feed my caffeine addiction
4. Good for networking (you'd be surprised)

I recommend this to anyone who's in a rut. Force yourself to sit anywhere outside your home and just produce something...even scribbles. Here's a sample image of this morning's caffeine-fueled doodle sesh:

Character Study

2009-03-29T21:48:00.004-05:00

I was asked by Penguin to do a character study for an upcoming book series. Here's is my take on a lovable, class-clown persona.

UNICEF Style Design Test

2009-03-16T16:15:00.004-05:00

For the last couple weeks, I have been directing and producing an animated spot for UNICEF (The trick-or-treat orange box organization). The storyboard has been finalized and now we're moving onto character and background design. Here is a storyboard still and a style test comparison of the same frame. The final animation will be at 16:9, but this will give you an idea of the final look. More to come!

He He Ha Ha

2009-03-09T04:06:00.005-05:00

For the last couple years, I've been drawing two of my favorite characters, He He and Ha Ha. They represent the mischievous and careless parts of our childhood. I had some spare time this weekend, so I figured I'd color in this sketchbook doodle.

BTL Progress

2009-02-27T14:02:00.005-05:00

For the last couple months I have been directing and co-producing two Between the Lions animated episodes. It's been an interesting and fun process to transform the puppet-based show into an animated one. We recently wrapped up the first episode and here are some screenshots from the two segments.

Between the Lions is produced by WGBH and Sirius Thinking.

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-13T23:45:00.002-05:00

Here's to you Mr. Cupid:

Damn cough...Leave me alone!

2009-02-09T11:01:00.003-05:00

For the last week or so I've been battling a cough of epic proportions. I made this little watercolor that somehow sums up how I've been feeling.

Monster Squad Book Dos

2009-02-05T11:42:00.004-05:00

The last couple weeks have been INSANE. I've been trying to find time to work on my own stuff, but I had a slew of deadlines last week that have prevented me from doing so. The good news is that The Monster Squad books I've been working on are coming along nicely. Book 2 is near completion! Here is the final cover as well as some of the final interior spot illustrations that I posted a couple weeks ago as sketches. Back to work...to hit more deadlines. Ugh.