Monday, October 13, 2008

Thanx, yo!

Wow! Thanks for all the positive feedback, guys. I felt good about Underfist, and it's nice to know you guys agree. It lets me know that I haven't gone totally crazy.

I don't know how I'll ever be able to address all the questions, but I'll do my best.

It's true that I no longer work for Cartoon Network. My contract expired about a month ago. Am I upset that I'm not there anymore? Yes and no. I'll miss my old crew and my friends, but I've been doing the same show for almost a decade. That's a long time to be doing anything, especially for someone with Ultimate A.D.D. like me. It's time to move on.

That being said, I'd consider doing another Underfist special or a series with CN if they wanted it. I have no hard feelings toward CN and I believe in the spirit of the direction they're taking, at least. I'm glad they're finally differentiating themselves from Nick and Disney. They're really embracing TV-PG, and I think I could make a killer show for that demographic.

But for now none of that's on the table so why dwell on it? I'm young, dumb, and full of cartoons, so let's get this party started yo!

I'm getting a pitch together for a brand new kid's show as we speak. I'm not sure I've ever felt this good about series pitch. It updates Cartoon Sci-Fi for this century, it's weird, it's fun, and it's an action/comedy. But if Underfist was a step in a different direction than Billy & Mandy, then this is two more steps, slightly to the left.

No, the other left.

I'm also working on a second freelance board for C.H. Greenblatt's Chowder, and simmering on the back-burner is a possible pitch for prime-time. On top of that, I've been meeting with a lot of really cool people at some exciting places, so who knows where I'll end up?

Doing something like Homestar Runner would indeed be awesome, as far as freedom is concerned. I don't think it would help me buy more vodka, though. And I'm almost out.

I was bothered by the spoilers in the Toonzone review, but I wasn't bothered that it was a negative review. For one thing, it is a kid's show. I try to make the appeal broader than 6-11, but I don't even try to make something that'll "appeal to everyone". You can't please everyone. And if you try, you just end up making something really weak, soft, and generic. Plus, I've had people whose job it was to support me tell me I suck. Everyone's got an opinion, and I don't listen to any of 'em. As Jeff said, "My dad doesn't listen to nobody, and neither will I!"

Back to Underfist-- Yes, I changed the visuals on purpose. Partially because over time you find better or cleaner ways of doing things, but mostly to differentiate it from Billy & Mandy.

I did over 1,000 storyboard pages for Underfist over the course of three months. That's about twenty-four panels a day. And even then I needed some help getting it all done. Underfist required almost double the number of drawings as a straight comedy board because I really wanted to pose things out for the animators, and because the action scenes were so packed with characters, explosions, and mayhem.

Here are around twenty pages of the board from the first Hoss fight, if you're into that kind of thing.

























Thanks again for all the kudos! Smell ya' later!

38 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

wow awesome story boards and also i didnt know u have the a.d.d actually i do to :D and cool so ur working on a new show cant wait to here about it

4:33 PM  
Blogger Will said...

That was AWESOME. I've been waiting for it for like a year and it was way cool, my socks were definitely blown off, along with other articles of my clothing. I didn't see the premiere cause I was at my grandma's house but I saw it this morning and it was really cool. I wish I could have seen all the different Underfist Title Cards in the end credits but Cartoon Network plays it in a small square with other things playing over it so I couldn't really. I hope you make more in the future because the characters work very well together and are hilarious. Good luck on your future projects and PLEASE keep making awesome stuff!

4:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ow and also mr.atoms i saw underfist atleast 4 are 5 times but i just want to ask if u can maby make a post about story boarding because i plan on trying to be a storyboard artist

4:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

...hmm...leaving..?
Well, I'm unhappy at that, but why force someone to do something they don't want to do anymore? I know I hate that.
I guess it's....fine. You deserve to stop after how much you've provided for CN. You did a real good job that whole decade, I believe. But what I don't get is why they just pulled off showing Billy and Mandy completely...can't they show it anymore? Or not enough time to squeeze it into the schedule? D:
...Good luck with anything you start up. Anything you make will surely be fantastic.
(Btw, watched Underfist. 'Twas AWESOME. *nods* It so pwned, man. <33)
^__^ Bai.

5:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Awesome!Awesome!Awesome!I missed Underfist and it's even better that I get to see a sneak peek of it in board form.I'm gonna print it out right now!I can't wait to see another Chowder episode storyboarded by you!I also can't wait to hear about the new cartoon you're thinkin' about pitching!Thanks for being such a great cartoonist influence on me.I plan to be what you are when I'm an adult and now I'm very excited.

Ps.Can you go to my blog and comment my work please?I happen to have an art talent and I write scripts for my own cartoons at a young teen age.I also storyboard 'em!

5:49 PM  
Blogger Arwen said...

if underfist is not continued i will stab myself in the face repeatedly.

i do NOT have problems!!

5:58 PM  
Blogger Jorge R. Gutierrez said...

Wow, those boards are fantastic. I can't wait to see it!

6:22 PM  
Blogger Jeannied said...

Maxwell,I am so grateful to you for Underfist, as my children and I were devastated( especially me)by the loss of Billy and Mandy. CN should be busting down your door. Thanks for all that you do. I definately see extreme positive response! WORD YO! GREAT JOB....

6:23 PM  
Blogger Jeannied said...

Maxwell We love you. UNDERFIST eases the loss of Billy & Mandy for us. I am hopeful for more and wrote to CN. I never write/blog anything, but this was a must. YOU ROCK YO!

6:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I want to congradulate you on this awesome special!It was realy great,i was watching the reruns just a few minutes ago and noticed that chowder cameos as a float decoration too!

6:39 PM  
Blogger Kieran Pertnav said...

wow. you must have worked really hard on this board, especially considering that you had about a dozen board artists for your first movie and this was almost all you. but if you're not working for CN then who will you pitch your new show to? (please don't say nick, they've been known to stab people in the back) I'm looking forward to your guest board on chowder, and whatever new stuff you're working on. Loved Underfist, I'm amazed that you sang in it XD. I really like the underfist art style by the way

7:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Best thing ever to come to CN so far.

7:43 PM  
Blogger msarge said...

I started watching "Grim" back when it was still a part of "Grim & Evil" and I was about 15 and just today, at, age 22, found myself watching Underfist. I'm enjoying it so much that I Wikipedia'd you and found my way back to your blog. Anyway, as I grew older my viewing of the show slowly dwindled, but when I did catch an episode, it never failed to entertain.

But now I don't really watch kid shows anymore, and I think it would be fantastic, now that you're free and if you had the interest, if you would do a slightly more adult oriented show, maybe even on Adult Swim. I've always wondered what your thoughts were on that.

Anyways, I feel like I'm rambling so I'll just say thanks man, you've entertained me for years.

7:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just wanted to say, Underfist was great. That shot of Fred and Jeff screaming in Hoss's fist car makes me laugh everytime. Plus all the action stuff was awesome, as was pretty much everything else :D
Also, I had quick question; is there any place I can get an mp3 of theme from the end and the Trick or Treater Eaters song?
anyways great show, can't wait to see what you've got next.

8:29 PM  
Blogger Katz said...

Dude...
Underfist was amazing...
Fred Fredburger's statement "That's the problem... no one wants to play anymore" really struck me. I was amazed that Underfist made me actually feel emotional...

Commenting on your post specifically...
An online series where you were given more freedom would be awesome...
so would a show on Adult Swim...
I like forward to all of your upcoming projects...
Children's or not...

Gotta go!
Heroes is on! :D

- Elijah Katz

8:54 PM  
Blogger Dustin said...

I assumed Underfist was going to be cool, but I didn't expect it to be THAT AWESOME. I was totally blown away!

I thought the artwork looked better than Billy and Mandy did. Something about it made the characters stand out more, not sure if it were the kick ass expressions or the great poses, but I REALLY dug it.

Oh man, and those title cards at the end! It made me crave Underfist EVEN MORE. I REALLY hope for more Underfist, but even if CN doesn't want any, it's good to go out with a bang, right?

I would kill to see Return of the Spider Queen or Underfist Teaches Traffic Safety.

9:50 PM  
Blogger Raechel Guest said...

Very cool, yo!

Thank you for posting all this extra stuff online--I love seeing the progression of a project!

10:12 PM  
Blogger GREEN STICK PRODUCTIONS said...

holy carp! This looks so good, especially for billy and mandy fans :D
I can't wait until it comes here in austarlia on oct 31st

10:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

leaving another commment since I forgot to ask another thing you may or may not know, but I just wanted to see if you did.
Do you know if the special's going to come out on dvd like Big Boogie Adventure did?

10:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've gotta say, Underfist was probably the most coolest and funniest animated film I have seen this year. Awesome job! Thanks for the laughs, Mr. Atoms. And I hope to see a more great cartoons from you.

P.S. And I am totally in love with Jeff the Spider and Hoss Delgado XD

C:

11:25 PM  
Blogger ZSL said...

all those storyboards were worth it. cause that moved so niiice. and it was funny as hell.

4:47 AM  
Blogger remking said...

Great and wonderful job on Underfist. CN is insane for ending Billy and Mandy, and letting you get out the door. I find myself watching less and less and less of CN, and I am in the demographic that buys things.

Anyways, did I see Chowder standing in the pumpkin float?

6:31 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hadn't had my television setup for over a month. I made sure to hook it back up for Underfist. I wasn't disappointed. I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate all the hard work you do. I'll keep checking your blog for your new projects. Keep up the good work.

8:31 AM  
Blogger Taco Wiz said...

Underfist is my favorite halloween special. The humor felt like a continuation of Billy and Mandy, but with some new stylings. The action was more exciting than Billy and Mandy's attempts at action, but somehow the action managed to still have a Billy and Mandy vibe. I hope that you work on many more cartoons in the future.

12:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'd love to collaborate once I get a career rolling. I still have to go through college, first.

You are the master of witty double entendres, btw.

12:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

dont leave cn when i was 5 or 6 billy and mandy came out now finally im 10(been waiting for that a while)and i think your cartoons are even better now please dont leave make one more underfist please like underfist vs the astro vampires me and my ftriends have follwed every cartoon youve made dont end now until your fans are older please

1:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Underfist was the best thing i've seen in the past 1 year. The only reason i watch cartoon network is because of Billy and mandy. It can't be the end of Underfist max. I was so looking forward to the TV series and Underfist vs The dinosaurs.XD. If There is anyway the fans of Billy and mandy can help by writing a letter to cartoon network id do it.

1. Family guy was canceled but was brought back because of high dvd sales.
2. Danny Phantom was canceled but was brought back because Nickelodeon got alot of letters.

Their has to be a way we "The fans of Billy and Mandy" can help. Is their any possibility, the Under fist series can premire because of the fans.

2:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Awesome!! I cant wait for either an Underfist sequel series or movie. And maybe a few sneaks of the new series you are working on ;)

3:18 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Hope you are able to pitch some of your other ideas, make more Underfist, and yadda yadda yadda. I loved watching Underfist, I'll be dammed if it didn't get good enough ratings for a sequel.

4:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It would be cool to see if you could pitch a show to Adult Swim. I think it would be interesting to see how you would handle a show with less restrictions on it.

4:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr.Atoms, Underfist was pure AWESOMENESS. Your work had been the only reason for why I watch CN. I already wrote to CN pleading them to turn Underfist into series :)

But I have one question: What was the song on Jeff's ipod or mp3? Was it the underfist theme song?

6:02 PM  
Blogger Christopher L. Jones said...

Underfist blew me out of my chair 5/5 I knew it would be good because everything you create is good, but...but Underfist was AWSOME! I don't give a **** what the Toonzone review says! I loved it so much! I recorded the whole thing in VHS! I wish CN could let you do more! I never want eny thing Grim and Evil to go away. I love Billy and Mandy. Even if it has Really ended, what I want most of all is to get all 7 season DVDs if they ever come out. Hope. I am Hopeing so much that they come out with more DVDs!

7:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just saw Underfist on the internet and I loved it!It's now my favorite cartoon completely!The problem about it was that the video was watching it with a camera towards the Tv.I can't wait until I actually get to see it on Tv.I also can't wait to see the new show you're pitching,Dude!You truely are my favorite cartoonist!

Ps.I laughed through the whole show but the part I thought was really funny was when Irwin was giving up and it played a sad song.Where'd the song come from?It was really funny!

11:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

AWESOME SPECIAL!!! =D But whatever happened to Mindy? -_^

1:50 PM  
Blogger ANDREA said...

Is there any chance that you could post the Jack O'Lantern cameo storyboard scene?

please? <3

That would be a delightful "treat"!

(Seeing as that was really the only "disappointment" for some fans who watched UNDERFIST.)

Nonetheless, everything came out wonderfully!

You never cease to amaze.

It's really great to be able to see those sketches, and compare them to the actual animation!

Mr. Maxwell Atoms, you DEFINETLY deserve all the PRAISE you get from your fans...plus MORE!

If there is anything we can do to help promote UNDERFIST becoming a "series", would you let us know?

A reply would be greatly appreciated, but i understand if you can't.

You have a whole swarm of comments from adoring fans!

I'm just eager to do whatever I can to help out! ^^

2:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I know this is really pushy but can you please post a storyboard of the part when General Skarr fights?I loved the animation and I'd love to see it boarded.Can you also please post some stuff about your new show?

8:11 PM  
Blogger Kieran Pertnav said...

after watching underfist again, I realized that Skarr's entrance is a reference to aliens, correct? I thought that gadget looked familiar. The storyboards must have been a lot of work considering the finished quality of the animation. you should make a book of the storyboard, I'd buy it, YES!

11:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a great idea MasterK!I'd buy that book too with my birthday money and then I could watch Underfist over and over again except it would be cooler cuz it's drawn.

9:34 AM  

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