Thursday, July 30, 2015

Getting animated about my past...

A lot is happening over here at Neverland Transit Authority's Grand Central Station. If you've been reading, lately, you know that we've become the victim of the Silicon Valley tech economy; losing our land and having to soon relocate.

However, that's not to say it's been all bad. In fact, the recent rummaging through old items has uncovered a rare gem from my own personal past; a few test animations from back in my old college days.



"The Captain" is a series of tests for a character that was supposed to be for a Goonie-esque game that would have combined puzzles and arcade style gaming about a sunken, and haunted, pirate ship. The whole concept grew out of an intro assignment in which we were supposed to animate a bouncing ball with a face and hair to illustrate secondary action and stretch and squash. I proposed a skull and was told it wouldn't work and I'd fail.

I got an "A", and my assignment was used as an example for another two years after.

Unfortunately the final piece, a complete walk in and assembly of the character, is now lost to time. All I have is this old set of pencil tests from twenty years ago; ripped from an old VHS tape.


"Robo-Stupid" was an attempt and a complex and layered animated short; the first in a series of short-shorts featuring a dog and cat doing battle in the vein of Foghorn Leghorn and Barnyard Dog, Tom and Jerry, and Wild E. Coyote and the Roadrunner. Precious the cat is our antagonist who seeks to end Rex, our hero, by any means possible and necessary. Here his battle mech cat was to be thwarted by an exploding remote control mouse.

Unlike The Captain, up there, this is as far as I ever got with this. However, both did land me A's in their respective classes. I don't know; hoping these might be enough to help land me a job in animation...

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Station House Radio: Enjoy the Show!

Overture! Hit the lights! This is it! Tonight's the night! And oh what heights wie'll hit! On with the show, this is it!

That's your cue; grab your snacks from the concession stand, show the usher your ticket stubs, and go find your seats before they dim the lights. We have a show for you, and it's going to be a good one.

So, please; silence your phones, and remember to be courteous to others.

And now, on with the show...





ALL 'BOARD!

Playlist
Enter-lude by The Killers
No Cars Go by Arcade Fire
Infinite Arms by Band of Horses
July! July! by The Decemberists
Magic Gipsy by Eric Fernandez
Rachel's Song by Vangelis with Mary Hopkin
NuVogue by Thomas Dolby
Inigo Montoya by H2Awesome!
You by Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers
with The Dixie Chicks
Across the Dusty Plains by Forty Second Songs

*Mandatory Mashup*
Big Sun (Peter Gabriel versus Lamb) by Mad Mix Mustang

Alone gain, or by The Damned
Moorlough Shores by Caroline LaVelle
Livin' It Up by Jet Set Six
Mummer's Dance (remix) by Loreena McKennitt
What Makes a Good Man? by The Heavy
I'd Line for You (And That's the Truth) by Meatloaf
You are Never Alone by Socalled
Not too late by George Milton
Exit-lude by The Killers

Don't forget to take some time to patronize the sites of our musical guests, where available. Be careful disembarking from the train, and as always, thanks for your ridership!

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Station House Radio: Little Light of Love

original image by Gary Kessler
Love is like the flame of a fire box; if she isn't the most precious thing, if you aren't stoking her and treating her right, then you've got no steam to get going on. And you're done.

But we here at Neverland Transit Authority's Station House Radio have nothing but love for the music, and we stoke those embers good and hot to bring you the tunes to keep you going. In fact, the tender is full, the valves are set, and we're ready for another long journey through the musical landscape. So get on, stow your luggage, find a seat, and sit down. This train's about to get going.







ALL 'BOARD!


Playlist

"Little Light of Love" by R.X.R.A.
"The Camera Behind the Camera Behind the Camera" by Elephone
"Dancin'" by Chris Isaak
"When My Brother had a Datsun: by The Baldwin Brothers
"22 Carat Tear Jerker" by Xploding Plastix
"When I get Home" by Jenny Kerr
"The Dust will Settle Down" by The Lovely Intangibles
"Def Con One" by Pop Will Eat Itself
"X-Ray" by See Colin Slash

*MANDATORY MASHUP*
"Metallica goes to Punjab" by WaxAudio

"Looking at the Black Clouds" by Serphonic
"Blood I Bleed" by The Staves
"Reminisce" by DJ Die
"Smack Dab in the Middle" by Richard Olsen and his Big Band
"Ditama" by Ekova
"Let's Go Down to the Woods" by The Screaming Blue Messiahs
"How Big, How Beautiful, How Blue" by Florence + the Machine
"Protect Life" by Eric Serra
"Little Light of Love(reprise)" by R.X.R.A.

As always, don't forget to hit the links for the band or performer, where available.
From all of us here at Neverland Transit Authority and Station House Radio, thanks for your ridership!

Friday, July 17, 2015

Station House Radio: Diamond Mickey

“To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here, age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America, with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”

Walt Disney
Opening dedication speech
Disneyland
July 17th, 1955 






ALL 'BOARD!


On this, the occasion of of Disneyland's sixtieth anniversary, myself and the station crew of Neverland Transit Authority would like to take this moment to recognize and thank each and every single person who has put hands to any piece of Disneyland over the past sixty years to make it the place it is, today; from the imagineers, to the mechanics, to the street sweepers, and beyond. We'd like to thank ever single one of you who has helped make ours, and every other kid - and kid at heart - light up for a day or weekend.

We'd like to, but there just isn't enough room here at the office. So, I think it's safe to say that, from all of us to all of you who makes it happen... thank you.

Monday, July 13, 2015

Station House Radio: The Robot Candidate

They already build our cars, clean our floors, and call us to sell us all kinds of schemes. But how long until they love, yearn, and seek to rule us all?

Well, we here at Station House Radio would like to take time to salute our new metal made mechanical overlords. So, this week it's all about the robots.






ALL 'BOARD
... which does not compute...




Playlist
"Robot High School" by My Robot Friend
"I am a Robot in Love" by Swedish Masturbation Unit
"Cyborg versus Robot" by Ludo
"Be Human" by Yoko Kano with Scott Matthew
"Android" by Savlonic
"Deeper Understanding" by Kate Bush
"Beautiful Machine" by Tense
"Mr. Roboto" by Styx
"Happy Machine Ankle" by Brother Machine
"Robotboy" by Robyn
"Andoid Love" by Scot Fisher & 1am Approach
"The Robots" by Kraftwerk
"One More Robot (Sympathy 3000)" by The Flaming Lips
"I am not a Robot" by Marina and the Diamonds
"The Robot Candidate" by Ben Krieger 

As always, be sure to visit the artist links, where available, and thank you for riding 
Neverland Transit Authority.

Saturday, July 11, 2015

That time is nearly now...


Well, it looks like we're getting closer and closer to the inevitable, doesn't it? 
Am I getting the world of tomorrow I've always dreamed of?
If so, then where the heck is my flying car?!

Monday, July 6, 2015

Station House Radio: Got You Covered

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. True, or not, the cover song is the hallmark standard of the recording industry.  And while not all of these are worthy, they are all... sincere. Station House Radio salutes the cover song with the good, the bad, and the goofy.

As always, check the playlist for band links where available.

Let's hope this isn't a wreck.









Playlist

"Beautiful World" by Devo
covered by Tone Tripper

"Oops, I did it again" by Britney Spears
covered by The Wall

"Gin and Juice" by Snoop Dogg
covered by The Gourds

"White Wedding" by Billy Idol
covered by Abeny Park

"Land of Confusion" by Genesis
covered by Katzenjammer

"Hotel California" by The Eagles
covered by Alabama 3

Wicked Games by Chris Isaak
covered by Unwoman

"Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash
covered by Dilana RobiChaux

"Goodbye Blue Sky" by Pink Floyd

"Killing an Arab" by The Cure
covered by The Cow Exchange

"Godzilla" by Blue Oyster Cult
covered by Riddle Me This

"I'm on Fire" by Bruce Springsteen
covered by Miracle Mule

"Do You think I'm Sexy" by Rod Stewart
covered  by The Revolting Cocks

"Gotta Get Drunk" by Willie Nelson
covered by Gas Huffer

"Careless Whispers" by George Michael
covered by Seether

"Head like a Hole" by Nine Inch Nails
covered by Eddiebangs

"Time after Time" by Cyndi Lauper
covered by The Gandharvas

"Take on Me" by A-ha
covered by ADD Music with The John Benjamin Band

"Friday" by Rebecca Black
covered by Crash City

"It's the End of the World as We know It (And I feel Fine)"
covered by Great Big Sea