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Description
This is my INFLUENCE MAP, basically a guide for all the things that inspire me when I draw and create artwork.

1. DISNEY - Disney animation has always inspired me the most, especially a certain character by the name of Mickey Mouse. I have been drawing him since I was three and for as long as I am able to draw, I don't think I will ever stop.

2. TINY TOON ADVENTURES - To say I was obsessed with Tiny Toon Adventures when I was young is an understatement. I loved the show so much. I could never get enough of it. The characters, the stories, and the creative use of what was essentially younger Looney Tunes counterparts was all very appealing to me...and still is and forever will be.

3. ANIMANIACS - Steven Spielberg produced some of the best animated shows and films of the 80's and 90's and this was no exception. Yakko Warner, the older Warner Brother, was my idol. He was smart, witty, and just plain cool. I wanted to be just like him. Plus the idea of blending assorted characters into one show inspired me to create my own "series" of characters in my own world of made-up TV shows that never were...

4. GLEN KEANE & DISNEY ANIMATION RENAISSANCE - Glen Keane animated some of my favorite Disney characters, including Aladdin, Ariel and The Beast. He is a master! Because of him, and the four amazing animated masterpieces Disney produced from '89 to '94 (Mermaid, Beauty, Aladdin and Lion King), I dreamed of becoming a Disney animator and eventually studied animation in college.

5. RANGELY a.k.a. CHUPATOSTER - My best friend, Rangy, is also one of my greatest inspirations. I admire her artwork and marvel at her wit, creativity, and style. She can create anything she sets her mind to and because of that, I am humbled to be her friend and aspire to one day become even the slightest bit worthy of being in the same category of artist she is. Also, this particular art is inspired by DARIA, the MTV cartoon, which in turn serves as an inspiration to the both of us.

6. RHAPSODY IN BLUE from FANTASIA/2000 - This may be an odd choice for my influence map, as the film itself is a hodgepodge of the old and the new, 2D and 3D, and live action segments. But this particular scene is great because it finally demonstrated that Disney could embrace a different style into their movies, one that was more artistic, and graphic design-ish, inspired by Al Hirschfeld's drawings. Also, the FIREBIRD sequence is amazing, ending the film with a perfectly animated, eye candy bang!

7. FANTASY FILMS - Lord of the Rings, Labyrinth, and pretty much any fantasy film I have ever watched, has provided me with inspiration for drawings. Fantasy is the best because it suspends reality and when you draw, it's good to always use your imagination, and not let yourself be too restricted by the laws of reality.

8. MUSICAL FILMS - Moulin Rouge, Chicago, and other musical films inspire me because, in a way, musicals are fantasy. Breaking into song is not exactly a normal thing to do, so that element of creativity fuels my imagination and allows me to create drawings in which I can express myself, the same way actors do in song in a musical.

9. PIXAR - From Toy Story to UP, but taking away CARS and A BUG'S LIFE, Pixar films are the pinnacle of animation. They are the highest standard of storytelling and entertainment in the film industry today, creating characters that are more interesting and complex than those you would find on any live action film. These are the characters I like to create, so even though I'm more of a 2D person, these 3D characters have fully rounded personalities, and that can be achieved with either medium, as long as you know how to tell their story.

10. SCOTT PILGRIM - I used to hate comics, that is until I read Bryan Lee O'Malley's excellent graphic novels. This series proved that comics are not all about superheroes and big epic events, but that even the ordinary wit of everyday life coupled with a dash of fantasy can provide entertainment beyond the Marvel and D.C. set. Plus the style, with its dark line work and inherent cartooniness is reminiscent of my own style and therefore a great inspiration and point of reference.

11. THE IRON GIANT - Disney wishes they had made this film, for aside the fact that it was a box office failure, THE IRON GIANT is perhaps the best animated film ever made outside of the Disney canon. Brad Bird's adult story of youth, paranoia, and sacrifice set in the 1950's is a sentimental action-packed delight. Anyone who worked on this film should be proud of their achievement. I know I would be.

12. DAVID KAWENA - One of deviantart's most famous artist is David Kawena. His Disney Heroes artwork, in which he depicts male Disney characters as underwear models, is known throughout the world. I will NEVER be as good as him, but he is definitely an inspiration to us all, Disney fans or not.

13. MUSIC - Yes, one of my greatest inspirations of all is quite simply 'music.' Many concepts and ideas have spawned from listening to a particular song, plus music helps me become more creative. My trips to the bookstore, where I go to sketch, would be 99% incomplete if I forget to bring my iPod. Music is, for lack of a better word, my most important muse.

14. TIM BURTON - His style was not good enough for Disney, because his style is a bit rough around the edges. Tim Burton's films always have a dark edge to them and that is what makes them so appealing. They step out of the ordinary by creating a world where fantasy, horror, and style (sometimes a bit over substance) rule. From Batman to Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands to Jack Skellington, Burton has perfected the type of goth characters that I...well, WE can relate to and love.

15. THE SIMPSONS - Where would I be without The Simpsons? During the 90's I hesitated to watch any live action sitcoms. Enter THE SIMPSONS, one of the best and most enduring shows (animated or not) in the history of television. From its endearing characters to their excellent pop culture references, this awesome dysfunctional family has provided me with enough laughter to last me a lifetime. Plus they proved that animation is powerful and not to be ignored, which of course, is an inspiration in itself.

16. LOONEY TUNES - I used to not like Looney Tunes, based on the sole fact that it was NOT Disney. I have grown out of that phase, thankfully, and have come to recognize their contribution to the world of animation AND comedy. Plus how can I not like Looney Tunes really when I love Tiny Toon Adventures? It would be hypocritical, especially when a lot of my character design is inspired by Chuck Jones, among others.

17. BLANKETS - Craig Thompson's illustrated novel is the first book I read in its entirety since the days of being forced to read in high school. I have never sat down to read a book cover to cover and this was the exception. Again, his black and white illustrations created more vivid images than most of the full-color comics I have seen out there. His beautifully told story of first love inspired and touched me immediately and has changed the way I view sequential artwork forever.

18. FAMILY DOG - Brad Bird has an impressive resume between Animalympics, The Simpsons, The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille, but this rarely seen gem from the late 80's is a real treat because it took stylized characters and put them into a quirky animated setting that was unlike any other animation at the time. I would love to do a show that has the same humor and freshness and this did back in the day.

Description
This is my INFLUENCE MAP, basically a guide for all the things that inspire me when I draw and create artwork.

1. DISNEY - Disney animation has always inspired me the most, especially a certain character by the name of Mickey Mouse. I have been drawing him since I was three and for as long as I am able to draw, I don't think I will ever stop.

2. TINY TOON ADVENTURES - To say I was obsessed with Tiny Toon Adventures when I was young is an understatement. I loved the show so much. I could never get enough of it. The characters, the stories, and the creative use of what was essentially younger Looney Tunes counterparts was all very appealing to me...and still is and forever will be.

3. ANIMANIACS - Steven Spielberg produced some of the best animated shows and films of the 80's and 90's and this was no exception. Yakko Warner, the older Warner Brother, was my idol. He was smart, witty, and just plain cool. I wanted to be just like him. Plus the idea of blending assorted characters into one show inspired me to create my own "series" of characters in my own world of made-up TV shows that never were...

4. GLEN KEANE & DISNEY ANIMATION RENAISSANCE - Glen Keane animated some of my favorite Disney characters, including Aladdin, Ariel and The Beast. He is a master! Because of him, and the four amazing animated masterpieces Disney produced from '89 to '94 (Mermaid, Beauty, Aladdin and Lion King), I dreamed of becoming a Disney animator and eventually studied animation in college.

5. RANGELY a.k.a. CHUPATOSTER - My best friend, Rangy, is also one of my greatest inspirations. I admire her artwork and marvel at her wit, creativity, and style. She can create anything she sets her mind to and because of that, I am humbled to be her friend and aspire to one day become even the slightest bit worthy of being in the same category of artist she is. Also, this particular art is inspired by DARIA, the MTV cartoon, which in turn serves as an inspiration to the both of us.

6. RHAPSODY IN BLUE from FANTASIA/2000 - This may be an odd choice for my influence map, as the film itself is a hodgepodge of the old and the new, 2D and 3D, and live action segments. But this particular scene is great because it finally demonstrated that Disney could embrace a different style into their movies, one that was more artistic, and graphic design-ish, inspired by Al Hirschfeld's drawings. Also, the FIREBIRD sequence is amazing, ending the film with a perfectly animated, eye candy bang!

7. FANTASY FILMS - Lord of the Rings, Labyrinth, and pretty much any fantasy film I have ever watched, has provided me with inspiration for drawings. Fantasy is the best because it suspends reality and when you draw, it's good to always use your imagination, and not let yourself be too restricted by the laws of reality.

8. MUSICAL FILMS - Moulin Rouge, Chicago, and other musical films inspire me because, in a way, musicals are fantasy. Breaking into song is not exactly a normal thing to do, so that element of creativity fuels my imagination and allows me to create drawings in which I can express myself, the same way actors do in song in a musical.

9. PIXAR - From Toy Story to UP, but taking away CARS and A BUG'S LIFE, Pixar films are the pinnacle of animation. They are the highest standard of storytelling and entertainment in the film industry today, creating characters that are more interesting and complex than those you would find on any live action film. These are the characters I like to create, so even though I'm more of a 2D person, these 3D characters have fully rounded personalities, and that can be achieved with either medium, as long as you know how to tell their story.

10. SCOTT PILGRIM - I used to hate comics, that is until I read Bryan Lee O'Malley's excellent graphic novels. This series proved that comics are not all about superheroes and big epic events, but that even the ordinary wit of everyday life coupled with a dash of fantasy can provide entertainment beyond the Marvel and D.C. set. Plus the style, with its dark line work and inherent cartooniness is reminiscent of my own style and therefore a great inspiration and point of reference.

11. THE IRON GIANT - Disney wishes they had made this film, for aside the fact that it was a box office failure, THE IRON GIANT is perhaps the best animated film ever made outside of the Disney canon. Brad Bird's adult story of youth, paranoia, and sacrifice set in the 1950's is a sentimental action-packed delight. Anyone who worked on this film should be proud of their achievement. I know I would be.

12. DAVID KAWENA - One of deviantart's most famous artist is David Kawena. His Disney Heroes artwork, in which he depicts male Disney characters as underwear models, is known throughout the world. I will NEVER be as good as him, but he is definitely an inspiration to us all, Disney fans or not.

13. MUSIC - Yes, one of my greatest inspirations of all is quite simply 'music.' Many concepts and ideas have spawned from listening to a particular song, plus music helps me become more creative. My trips to the bookstore, where I go to sketch, would be 99% incomplete if I forget to bring my iPod. Music is, for lack of a better word, my most important muse.

14. TIM BURTON - His style was not good enough for Disney, because his style is a bit rough around the edges. Tim Burton's films always have a dark edge to them and that is what makes them so appealing. They step out of the ordinary by creating a world where fantasy, horror, and style (sometimes a bit over substance) rule. From Batman to Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands to Jack Skellington, Burton has perfected the type of goth characters that I...well, WE can relate to and love.

15. THE SIMPSONS - Where would I be without The Simpsons? During the 90's I hesitated to watch any live action sitcoms. Enter THE SIMPSONS, one of the best and most enduring shows (animated or not) in the history of television. From its endearing characters to their excellent pop culture references, this awesome dysfunctional family has provided me with enough laughter to last me a lifetime. Plus they proved that animation is powerful and not to be ignored, which of course, is an inspiration in itself.

16. LOONEY TUNES - I used to not like Looney Tunes, based on the sole fact that it was NOT Disney. I have grown out of that phase, thankfully, and have come to recognize their contribution to the world of animation AND comedy. Plus how can I not like Looney Tunes really when I love Tiny Toon Adventures? It would be hypocritical, especially when a lot of my character design is inspired by Chuck Jones, among others.

17. BLANKETS - Craig Thompson's illustrated novel is the first book I read in its entirety since the days of being forced to read in high school. I have never sat down to read a book cover to cover and this was the exception. Again, his black and white illustrations created more vivid images than most of the full-color comics I have seen out there. His beautifully told story of first love inspired and touched me immediately and has changed the way I view sequential artwork forever.

18. FAMILY DOG - Brad Bird has an impressive resume between Animalympics, The Simpsons, The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille, but this rarely seen gem from the late 80's is a real treat because it took stylized characters and put them into a quirky animated setting that was unlike any other animation at the time. I would love to do a show that has the same humor and freshness and this did back in the day.