Phloo!-featuring Chippy and Loopus!

We're Moving!!!

2006-03-21T20:12:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody!
The time has come for Chippy and Loopus to move on. From now on, new episodes will be posted here:

I will maintain Phloo as an archive, leaving all the old strips, posts and comments exactly as they are. The new place is all ready, and a new episode will be posted there, as always, every night sometime before midnight, unless otherwise noted.
I invite you to come along!!!
Thank you for your patience, and thanks for reading!!!
See you on the other side!
-John

Today's strip: Eur-fucking-reyka

2006-03-21T00:28:00.000-08:00

This will be the last new strip posted here. The new blog opens tomorrow. I'll post the link later today.
Stay tuned!

Today's strip: Clue

2006-03-19T23:19:00.000-08:00

In a few days, Chippy and Loopus will be moving to a TypePad blog. Until then, new episodes will continue to appear here. I'll let you know when the time comes.
Thanks!!
-John

Suday Episode: Problem?

2006-03-19T12:34:00.000-08:00

Hey! It worked!!!
I'm still moving. I'll post the link when I do!
Thanks everybody for hanging in there!
-John

It's Sunday Morning, still No Strip!!! Here is why:

2006-03-19T08:59:00.000-08:00

I am so sorry and incredibly frustrated, but I regret to inform you all that I am still unable to post today's strip. I have tried multiple times but the system still won't allow me to post an image. Well, this is the last straw. I promised myself that if Blogger's technical difficuties ever prevented me from making my self-imposed deadline, then I would find another platform.
So, hopfully, with a little e-mail assistance from Paul and Knife, I can make the transition withing the next couple of days.
Sorry! I'll get the strip up when I can!
Thanks for reading and thanks for your patience!
-John

Technical Difficulties!!

2006-03-19T00:24:00.000-08:00

Well, due to Blogger problems, I am unable to post ann image. I will try again later, or possibly in the morning. Please check back.
Hey Knife, how happy are you over at WordPress?
Sorry!
-John

Today's Strip: Visitor

2006-03-18T00:30:00.000-08:00

You can thank my wife for this. When I drew the strip with the Pink unicorn, she said that she wanted to see him become involved in the action somehow, and then spun out this wild idea as to how it could happen. She's a real gem, my Sara is.

Other Stuff:
Those of you who don't have Sirius are really missing out. The Stern show gets better everyday. Today they re-ran a phoney phone call that Richard Christie made using sound clips from Blue Iris, an 80 something year-old porn star. The victim was a southern woman and the results were too funny to describe. I laughed so hard my jaw hurt and my ribs were sore. IFor those of you unfamiliar with Howard, if you enjoy this strip, you will like Howard Stern.

In other news, Friend Knife and Onions finally got fed up with all the problems Blogger has been having lately and moved to a Word Press Blog. He is now here:

http:// www.knifeandonions.com

I'll be updating his link as soon as possible.
Thanks for reading!
-John

Today's Strip: Home security

2006-03-16T23:29:00.000-08:00

Today's Strip: Pretty Please?

2006-03-15T23:17:00.000-08:00

Okay, I admit it. Today's strip is not exactly 2"x8". I added about an inch on the end because I needed that panel where Chippy glares at Andy. Never underestimate the importance of the "silent" panel.
Now, an open statement to the good people who make Flash: Do you hate artists? What is the matter with you? Why can't you make a program that is as easy to use as Photoshop? What possessed you to make the brush tool absolutely useless? Do you hate cartoonists THAT much?
End statement.

Today's Strip: Too Easy

2006-03-14T22:35:00.000-08:00

I've been having a lot of fun the past few days drawing revamped versions of Superman. You can see the results on my other blog:

Storyboredom

.

I was inspired to do this by a very cool drawing that Louie Del Carmen posted on his blog:
http://randomanomalies.blogspot.com

Fun stuff. I know, I'm a huge nerd. At least I'm married.

Today's Strip: A "Quickie"

2006-03-13T23:17:00.000-08:00

Today's Strip: First Heat

2006-03-12T23:37:00.000-08:00

I've been doing this for about 3 months now and I'm having as much fun as I did the first day I did it. It is hard to remember that I started this as an "exercise", and that it is still an excercise. It's a comic strip drawn on a 2"x8" stip of paper. I do it once a day, and I make it up as I go. Sometimes when I sit down I have an idea of what I'm going to draw and sometimes I don't. I set no limits on myself in terms of language and subject matter.
What have I learned?
A ton.
And I continue to learn.
I'd like to Thank you ( all two or three hundred of you) for being a good audience. I'll continue to do this for as long as I can.
Now let's see where else these guys will take us.
-John

Sunday Episode: Respect

2006-03-12T00:16:00.000-08:00

Today's Strip: Pride

2006-03-11T09:44:00.000-08:00

Update!

2006-03-11T09:18:00.000-08:00

Check back later. The strip is done, and is awaiting review from editor Sara.
One of these days, I'm going to break down my "process" and do a post illustrating how I do the strip start to finish. I'll include photos so that you can see my big stupid hands clumsily attempt to shade an area 1/4" in diameter with a prismacolor pencil while my english bulldog sits on my feet.
Thanks for your patience!
-John

New Strip is coming! Donnie gets a Blog!!!

2006-03-11T00:31:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling a little run down, and so was just tired to get the strip done. It must be the hours I keep. I've been going to bed at about 1:00, 2:00 and sometimes 3:00 and getting up at around 5:00. That just isn't enough sleep. I gotta fix that.
Anyway, while you are waiting for a new episode, go check out Donnie Long's new blog. That's right, Donnie went and got himself his own blog. All the harangueing worked. Here is the address:

http://mrunderbite.blogspot.com/

He is going to be running a weekly comic of his own creation that looks great.(Hmmm weekly. Why didn't I think of that?) It's a G-rated affair so don't go swearing in the comments section, you savages.
Congratulations Donnie!!!

Today's strip: On the Way..

2006-03-09T23:29:00.000-08:00

Today's strip:Business

2006-03-09T06:48:00.000-08:00

Is Blogger loading slow for anyone else! Geez! I feel like I'm on dial-up!
And Why do they make the Tech Support e-mail address so hard to find?

New Strip is coming!

2006-03-09T00:35:00.000-08:00

Due in part to a late story discussion and the fact that the Blogger system is all screwy, I will not be posting a new strip until tomorrow morning between 5:00 and 6:00 pacific standard time. Sorry!
Hopefully, they'll get the system straightened out by then.
Thank you for your patience!
-John

Today's strip:Redirect

2006-03-08T00:40:00.000-08:00

Today's strip: The mouths of Babes

2006-03-06T23:26:00.000-08:00

I plug Howard Stern all the time because he is an iconoclast and a huge influence on my work. Another very big non-cartoon influence on my stuff is Henry Rollins. Henry was the last lead singer of the seminal LA punk band Black Flag. After the band broke up in 1986, he struck out on his own with "The Rollins Band". Many people know him from his big Mtv break-out hit; "Liar" (the video where he's painted red). I like his music, but the stuff I really like is his spoken word stuff. His spoken word shows are funny, heartbreaking, infuriating and always brutally honest. Through the years, he has put a lot of this stuff on cd. "Think Tank" is a good place to start. "SweatBox" is a great early cd, and a little harder to find. His recent "Talk is Cheap" series is brilliant. His books and cds are available from his site 21361.com or at Amazon, or you can download his cd's from the Itunes music store. It's life changing stuff. Well, at least it was for me.

Today's strip: Oh. Hello!

2006-03-06T08:11:00.000-08:00

New Strip is coming!

2006-03-06T07:15:00.000-08:00

Stay tuned! I finished the strip at 6:30 this morning. I'll post it after it gets Sara's seal of approval!
Thanks!

Sorry!

2006-03-05T23:26:00.000-08:00

I normally post a new strip around midnight, and today was no different. My first instinct was to do a funny strip, but I decided to go a different way. I drew the strip as I normally do, showed it to my wife. She was a bit distracted, but she looked at it, laughed, and then handed it back. I took this as her seal of approval. I scanned and posted it at around 10:00 pm. However, I had some nagging doubts about it. These doubts were confirmed when I was getting ready for bed and my wife asked if I'd posted the strip yet, because she had a thought. I told her that I had and she said "Oh...never mind then". After a moment of cajoling she told me that the strip had gone to a dark place and that it was time to leaven it with some humor. After some discussion, it was decided that I should pull the strip and post a new one tomorrow morning. Hey, this is the advantage of doing this on a Blog. If I post something and decide it's not good enough, I can pull it.
Don't worry, I won't do this all the time. I've learned my lesson: always go with my my first instinct and always make sure that Sara (my wife) has her full attention on the strip and gives it the thumbs up before I post.
To all of those who saw the strip before I yanked it, forget you saw it. It was just a dream.
Thanks!
-John

Sunday Episode: The boss

2006-03-05T00:04:00.000-08:00

A couple of days ago, me and a couple of my blog pals strongly urged Mark Kennedy in the to start his own blog. Mark is one of the most talented story artist/writers I have ever worked with and a gifted teacher to boot, and we felt it was time he share these gifts. Well, the harangueing worked and Mark has opened "The Temple of the Seven Golden Camels" for business. There, he plans to share the all of the knowledge he has learned in his many years as a story artist at Disney Feature Animation.
Go visit his blog! NOW!!!

http://sevencamels.blogspot.com/

Totally Screwed

2006-03-04T00:35:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everybody for the nice comments regarding Mr. Donnie Long's drawing. He sure appreciates it.
Talented man, he is.

Forboding

2006-03-02T23:23:00.000-08:00

The drawing below was done by a brilliant writer/story artist (and good pal) Donnie Long. Donnie and I have been friends for about 14 years. We worked together on a certain cow movie before he left the formerly evil Disney company for bigger and better things at Sony. He was co-head of story with Dave Feiss on "Open Season" which is funny as hell so go see it by God!!

I like that Chippy and Loopus are driving the same Trans Am that Burt Reynolds drove in the first "Smoky and the Bandit" movie.
I also had no idea that Chippy had a sister.

Today's strip: Figuring it out

2006-03-01T22:49:00.000-08:00

I made a few more shirt designs available at the Chippy and Loopus store. Just click the Cafepress tab under the map to check 'em out!

Today's strip: Party's Over

2006-02-28T22:31:00.000-08:00

Today's strip: Deja Vu

2006-02-27T23:28:00.000-08:00

THIS JUST IN!!: I just opened a store on Cafe press.com to sell Chippy and Loopus stuff! You will find the link in the link section!!! I will add new designs periodically, so check back form time to time.
Thanks!
-John

Today's strip: Compensation

2006-02-26T23:42:00.000-08:00

A lot of people have been linking to this site unbeknownst to me. I'd like to thank those people. I'd also like to let you all know that I am currently exploring the possibility of animating a few of these strips in Flash. That is, as soon as I learn the program. If anyone would like to help, let me know via e-mail. Thanks!

Sunday Episode: Fixing up Chet

2006-02-25T23:45:00.000-08:00

I spent the day painting my shed and listening to comedy albums on my Ipod nano. I have to recommend Patton Oswalt's album and Dave Attel's Skanks for the memories. If you thought Monkey jizz was funny, wait'll you hear Attel's bit on egg nog.

Today's strip: Supplies

2006-02-25T00:36:00.000-08:00

Quite the interesting discussion going on in the comments section of yesterday's strip. Very interesting.

Today's strip: Close Encounter

2006-02-23T22:45:00.000-08:00

Note: This post was edited at 12:13. I originally posted the strip at 11:00, then went to look at it at 12:06 to discover that it looked terrible and much of the dialogue was unintelligible. It turns out that after I cleaned up the dialogue in Photoshop (which I do often) I saved the layers wrong, causing the replaced dialogue to be visible as well as the new. I'm tired, what can I say. I was painting my new garden shed all day. (See Storyboredom for full story.) Sorry, and thank you for your Patience. (That would be you, Knife and Onions.)

Today's strip: Zen

2006-02-23T00:50:00.000-08:00

I had a very crappy day. I was in a terrible meeting and became very frustrated. I kind of doodled out today's strip, and then drew a very angry Chippy. See the anger lines emanating off of him? Oh well. At least I was able to do this strip.

Today's strip: Solved!

2006-02-22T00:35:00.000-08:00

A few more things to plug:
-Skribbl reminded me that the Sony PSP has to be one of the best things to come out in a long time. My favorite game so far is "Twisted Metal".
-Dr. Slump: The manga series Akira Toriyama did before DragonBall. Cute, cartoony fun!
-The Mighty Cintiq 21Ux!: This thing has change my life. The Cintiq, the New Ipod and the Sirius radio have completely changed the way I work. (With the exception of this strip, which is still analog).
-Chris Rock: Never Scared: Heard a bit of this on the RawDog channel and had to have it. There is a bit about strip clubs that is pure genius. I'm glad I heard it after I did the strip club series because I surely would have ripped it off.

Today's strip: Problem?

2006-02-21T00:38:00.000-08:00

Here's a few things I thought I'd plug as I've found them highly enjoyable:

-Sirius Satellite Radio: I Subscribed for Howard Stern's show (which is better than ever) but have found that the music stations are incredibly entertaining as well, and commercial free! My faves are Pure Jazz, Buzzsaw, Octane and Hair Nation.

-The 60 gig Video Ipod: One of the greatest inventions ever.

-The Ricky Gervais podcast : Karl Pilkington, the true inspiration for Loopus's stupidity.

More to come!

Today's strip: Flashback

2006-02-20T00:05:00.000-08:00

I was really fighting with the 2"x8" format today. This stuff is damned hard to draw at that size.
In other news, my good pal Countfunkula has started a new blog for his more politically charged work. Here's the address:

http://kartoonkagematch.blogspot.com/

Stop by. I will be a part time contributor, although I'm not much of a political cartoonist. Maybe I should try.

Sunday Episode: Where is Loopus?

2006-02-19T00:50:00.001-08:00

Today's strip: Unconsidered

2006-02-18T00:56:00.000-08:00

Today's strip: Round 2

2006-02-17T00:52:00.000-08:00

Today's strip: Retaliation

2006-02-16T01:00:00.000-08:00

PS: I entered Chippy and Loopus into a FUnkimobiles "Webcomic" competition. The winner's comic will made availible on Mobile phones as content. I entered on thimme, but for some reason Chippy and Loopus were left off the "ballot" and had to be added late.
Well, that ain't fair. So, if you all like Chippy and Loopus, do me a favor and vote! Here is the link:

http://www.thewebcomiclist.com/competitions/funkimobiles/vote.php

I have trouble with links, so if it doesn't work, just copy it and paste it into your browser, Thanks!

-John

Today's strip: Irony is dead.

2006-02-14T23:19:00.000-08:00

Today's strip: Distraction

2006-02-13T22:09:00.000-08:00

Today's strip: Small Tangent

2006-02-13T00:11:00.000-08:00

Sunday Episode: Rise and Shine!

2006-02-11T23:37:00.001-08:00

Thanks for the comments everyone!

Today's strip: Waking Phil

2006-02-10T23:11:00.000-08:00

Today's strip: Brutality! plus a meeting sketch!

2006-02-09T23:13:00.000-08:00

The sketch was done in a meeting that started far too late in the afternoon and went on far too long. I like the drawing of Chippy. I wish I could draw him like this every time.

Today's strip: Fight!

2006-02-09T00:24:00.000-08:00

Today's strip: Stand off

2006-02-07T23:17:00.000-08:00

Today's strip: Complication...

2006-02-06T22:10:00.000-08:00

Today's strip: The Problem..

2006-02-06T01:17:00.000-08:00

Sunday Episode: Questions and Answers

2006-02-04T21:50:00.000-08:00

Here is the first large format sunday. I know it's a little early, but the whole blogger system has gone down twice so I'm anxious to put this up. Twice! I couldn't get into anyone's blog! I tell ya, don't be suprised if I move to another blogging system or to a dedicated site in the coming days. I'll keep you posted.

Today's strip: Wakey, Wakey!!

2006-02-03T23:33:00.001-08:00

I apologize if the image is at all fuzzy. My Canon LIDe is being cranky, so I had to use my old Epson to scan the strip. Hopefully, the guys at the Apple store will figure this mess out and I can go back to high quality scans. Thank you for your patience.

Today's strip: Comparison

2006-02-02T22:21:00.000-08:00

Today's strip: First Prize!

2006-02-01T23:43:00.000-08:00

Today's strip: Moronic Interlude

2006-01-31T23:14:00.000-08:00

Today's strip: SmackDown!!

2006-01-30T22:59:00.000-08:00

Today's strip: Suprise!

2006-01-29T23:30:00.000-08:00

Sunday Bonus!!!

2006-01-29T13:47:00.000-08:00

You asked for it, so here it is. From now on, there will be a larger format sunday strip. Thanks for all of the kind words and continued support.
All I ask in return is if you like something, tell me, and if you hate something, let me know.
Thanks!!!
-John

Today's strip :Stalked

2006-01-28T23:21:00.000-08:00

Loopus Variations

2006-01-28T20:48:00.000-08:00

Everytime I draw Loopus, he looks different. This is one of many pages form my sketch book where I attempted to nail down his design. I'm still trying.

Today's strip: Prologue

2006-01-28T00:31:00.000-08:00

I usually try to let the strips stand by themselves with no explanation or commentary, but this time, I feel the need to explain a few things to the 200 or so people who read this every day.
I tend to wear my influences on my sleeve. Walt Kelly, George Herriman, Bill Watterson, Wallace Tripp, Steve Purcell's Sam and Max and Howard Stern seem to be my biggest influences when I sit down to do this strip. However, one of my all time favorites hasn't been represented at all, and that is Popeye. The Popeye strip as drawn by it's creator Elzie Chrysler Segar was probably the single greatest comic strip ever drawn. It had strong characters, a unique voice, and was beautifully drawn. The great thing about Popeye was that it was not only a funny strip, but it was a very compelling adventure strip as well. Popeye and the gang would have adventures that would sometimes fill a whole year's worth of strips. And that brings me to my strip. I want to try to take Chippy and Loopus on an extended adventure. I saw an opportunity early on and today, I'm grabbing it. Hopefully, you all will like it as much as the stuff I've been doing. And don't worry, they'll still swear, and I'll do my best to keep it funny.
Enough of my fuhfumfering.
Thanks for reading.
-John

Revised Logo: Almost there...

2006-01-27T11:47:00.000-08:00

Here it is. Rough drawings, rougher type. In addition to this, my wife had the brilliant idea of taking certain panels, blowing them up and putting THOSE on shirts. For example, taking the panel I use for my avatar, putting that on the front at about 3" by 4" or whatever, and then putting the logo on the back.
Whatdya think? Comments please!

Today's strip: The Last Word

2006-01-27T01:32:00.000-08:00

I'd like to thank all the people who gave notes on the t-shirt design. I'll post a new one soon. New story arc starting Saturday. This will be a long one. A VERY long one. Stay tuned!

Rough Logo

2006-01-26T14:30:00.000-08:00

There were 2 reasons I did this. One, I wanted to learn how to warp text in Photoshop, and 2, I'm trying to design a t-shirt for my brother (Hey JIm!) and a few friends. The first thing I realized is that I have no idea how to draw these characters "for real". When you draw them on a little 2'X8" strip of paper, a lot can be forgiven, but when you want to do a nice drawing that represents them and their personalities, well thaht is a different story. Here is my first attempt. Please, tell me what you think!

Today's strip: Confirmation

2006-01-26T05:09:00.000-08:00

Today's strip: Illumiation

2006-01-25T06:58:00.000-08:00

I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate all my brothers and sisters at Disney on their liberation from tyranny. I worked there for 11 years, and you all have no idea how difficult it was to try to make quality cartoons for people who hated cartoons.
Here's to the future!!!

Today's strip: Childrens's classics

2006-01-24T05:33:00.000-08:00

The song is sung to the tune of "Row, row, row your boat". If you sing this at work, you will most likely be fired. This warning hereby absolves me of any responsibility.

Today's strip: Confusion

2006-01-23T00:34:00.000-08:00

Today's strip: No, YOU shut-up!

2006-01-21T22:58:00.000-08:00

Hey! Check out the LINKS!!

2006-01-21T10:28:00.000-08:00

Look over to the right hand side of this here Blog and check out the Link section! That is right! I figured out how to add LINKS!! Cool huh?
These are some super talented people who deserve mega-props. I have already mentioned Skribbl and ROBOTOPIA and his role in the creation of Chippy and Loopus, but I haven't mentioned these other guys!
James Robertson of The IRON SCYTHE is an incredible draftsman. I check his blog often for inspiration and the like.

Aurelei Blard Quintard is a remarkably gifted young animation student studying in Bristol. She is making what has to be the most charming stop-motion film ever! Go! NOW! to Aurelie's Wooonderful World!

And Then there is RICKART!! This guy has jumped into the 2"x8" comic strip game with both feet! Go check him out!

And of course StoryBoredom, the former home of Chippy and Loopus is ALWAYS full of great art by some of the most talented story artists working in animation today!!

Add these guys to your bookmark list, and you will not be disapointed!

LATER!!!
-John

Today's strip: Making amends..

2006-01-20T22:25:00.000-08:00

I think that's enough boba/monkey jizz for a while. Tomorrow begins a brand new story arc. Stay Tuned!

Today's strip: Donor?

2006-01-19T22:57:00.000-08:00

Robotopia!!!!!

2006-01-19T16:46:00.000-08:00

If you haven't checked it out already, go immediately to Robotopia, a blog run by my good buddy skribbl. He is the originator of this whole 2x8 improv strip experiment. His strip has a completely different energy and sensibility than mine and is totally awesome!
go check it out!

http://thraxisjr.blogspot.com/

And while you are at it, check out the blog I share with a bunch of other talented story artists!

http://storyboredom.blogspot.com/

See ya!!!

Today's strip: More Boba..

2006-01-18T22:55:00.000-08:00

Cintiq Sketches

2006-01-18T17:09:00.000-08:00

Here are some sketches I did a coupl of weeks ago when I first got my Cintiq. Note the proto-Chippy and Loopus up in the corner.
I love my Cintiq!

Today's strip: Again, Boba?!

2006-01-18T01:27:00.000-08:00

2006-01-17T16:11:00.000-08:00

This thing will only let me post 5 strips at a time, so here are the next 3.
I welcome your comments!

2006-01-17T16:00:00.000-08:00

A New Home for Chippy and Loopus!!!
This is a strip I started doing on Story Boredom. I am moving it over here because it was kind of taking over and pushing evryone else's cool stuff off of the blog. So, Here they are on a blog all to themselves.
To catch everyone up, I currently do these strips on little 2"x8" strips of paper. I write them and draw them as fast as possible.
I was inspired to do these by a little exercise that my bog buddy and good friend skribbl did. He just drew a bunch of squares on a 2"x8" strip of paper and then filled them in with images, stream of conciousness style. What he produced was a wondeerful, quirky little cartoon. Well, I just had to get in on that , so I drew my own using the same method and Chippy and Loopus were born.
So, here they are, the first 5 strips, with a new episode appearing everyday.
I welcome your comments!
Thanks!!

2005-12-28T00:22:00.000-08:00

Okay! I finally got this thing working! So, it's late. I'll post something more significant at a later date. Like tomorrow. Maybe I'll even post some drawings.
Hey! If you happened to stumble in here, go check out the blog I share with some work freinds. It is
http://storyboredom.blogspot.com/
Thanks!

2005-09-22T12:56:00.000-07:00

Hey! Welcome to my Blog! I decided to start one because EVERYONE has one and I didn't want to be the only one who didn't have one. I was starting to feel like the Jehovah's witness kid in my first grade class. You know, everyone in the class would be celebrating Halloween, dressing up in as the Fonz or The Six Million Dollar Man, or Cornellius from PLanet of the Apes (there, I've dated myself) except this one kid who would just sit in the corner and abstain from the festivities. Everyone would walk by his desk and ask him where his costume was and he would answer in a tired, practiced monotone "My family doesn't celebrate Halloween."
I was starting to feel like that kid.
So anyway, once I figure out how to post images, I will start posting artwork and stuff.
Did I mention that I'm a cartoonist? I am a Story artist and I am currently working at Sony Pictures Animation.
Up until last April, I worked at Disney Feature Animation, where I worked for 11 years. I worked on Mulan, Hunchback, Lilo and Stitch, Atlantis and I co-directed Home on the Range.
I will indeed be talking a lot about my Disney years, and yes I will dish as much dirt as humanly possible, as I am a notorious trash talker.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
-John