Happy New Year!

Dear Reader,

Happy New Year from The Squirrel King!

Thanks to everyone for your wonderful support and help over the last year! I hope, and am even quietly optimistic, that 2013 will be a big year for The Squirrel King, and I'm well aware that we would not have come even as far as we already have were it not for everyone out there.

Special thanks to those of you who have supported us along the way giving time, love and expertise to a project that has already put good cheer into the world, but which promises to bring so much more!!

The mini-squirrels and I will soon return from our vacation, but rest assured we're enjoying it thoroughly!

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Happy Holidays!

Dear Reader,

It's been a long time since we visited Australia, but finally the time has come to take the Aliens Down Under again :) That's right, we're taking a family vacation!!

... so blog posts will be rather intermittent over the next few weeks. Don't worry, we will return and if you check in now and again you may see the happy snaps of traveling squirrels :)

From all of us at The Squirrel King, we hope that you and all your loved ones are having a wonderful holiday break!

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

PS Rest assured we have someone coming to take care of our fish.

More Progress on Trees

Dear Reader,

We've started experimenting with foliage for the paper-bag tree trunks that Alien One showed us how to build last week.

This quilled greenery should help tie the foreground into the background burning mountain, but I think we may try some other leaves too.

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Another Mountainside

Dear Reader,

It's time to build the landscape for the nighttime forest fire, specifically, the background for the driving scene with the cork car.

As you've seen before, the countryside starts with a chicken-wire substructure ...

We add papier mache ...

And pretty soon there will be a mountainside of quilled trees!

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Two Facts about Vlad

Dear Reader,

His mysterious portrait has been with us for over a year now, and as some of you have already noted it possesses significant qualities that offer insights into his heritage.

For the rest of you, here are two observations:

1) Vlad shares the likeness of Ed.
2) He likes to roast squirrels on a spit.

What does it mean? Time will tell.

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

PS. And no, in spite of the picture here, we didn't buy him from the trunk of some fine lass' car.

Turning the World on Its Head

Dear Reader,

I came across this wonderfully whimsical photographer yesterday. While The Squirrel King sometimes aspires to turning the world on its head, Caulton Morris takes the challenge very literally.

Once again a delightful celebration of diversity in our world!

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Squirrels Bring More Christmas Cheer

Dear Reader,

They've dangled on the Christmas tree, now they are come bearing cards! The mini-stunt squirrels know no bounds on bringing good cheer :)

As you can see, Alien One made them all scarves and now they've gone caroling!

Happy Holidays from The Squirrel King :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Inspiration: Paper and Felt

Dear Reader,

I came across this small but cool blog yesterday: Paper and Felt. There's not a lot on it, but these two images are gems.

I've actually seen this toilet roll swing before. I particularly love the lighting in it :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Christmas Ornaments

Dear Reader,

Fiddling around with the mini-squirrel design (yes, we're finally bringing these kits to you early next year!) I noticed that our furry stunt guys needed just one little adaptation and they became squirrely christmas ornaments - perfect for big pine trees!

Such are the joys of creative tinkering :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

The Catburglars

Dear Reader,

The Cat burglars in The Squirrel King are not your average such characters. In fact only one is referred to as the Catburglar, the shorter, less coordinated one is simply called Bob.

Their dynamic is nicely underscored by Bob's patently wishful hope of one day inheriting the business.

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Paper-bag Tree

Dear Reader,

One of the wonderful things about school is that kids start learning things that you didn't know to teach them. And sometimes it's even better than that - sometimes they teach you!

Yesterday Alien One taught me to make a paper tree, something we very soon will see a lot of, but for now I thought you too might like to see how :)


She's getting so big!!

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Reference: Paper Heart

Dear Reader,

There's a wonderful animated countryside driving scene in the little movie "Paper Heart". It comes out of the blue in the movie but I've been thinking about it for a year now. In the next little while we're going to riff on the technique for a night driving scene in The Squirrel King - actually Paul's perspective as he drives his cork car :)

Stay tuned for construction images!

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Red Hot Christmas Cheer

Dear Reader,

I came across this delightful Christmas ornament yesterday.

Felt very Squirrel King :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Who is This all About?

Dear Reader,

With principal photography winding down on the series, it seems like an appropriate time to start talking a little more about the characters and the world we are bringing to life.

At the heart of the series is Robin, a woman in search of meaning. And at her side is Justus, her well-meaning boyfriend. This serendipitous production still kind of captures both characters nicely: Robin, invariably trying to piece something together, and Justus, happily helping her out, a grin from ear to ear.

Over the next few months we look forward to sharing more insights about the series :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Trunks of Canopies?

Dear Reader,

A while back we filmed some wide shots of the town of Nesting during the day. We also filmed the town burning. For the series however, some of that inferno happens at night.

And so I have been hard at work on more trees. Specifically trunks and canopies. Looking at what I have a question springs to mind: which do I need more of trunks or canopies?

The true Squirrel King answer feels to me like: both :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

The Christmas Tree

Dear Reader,

What a wonderful time of year! Adding ornaments to a big tree in the middle of the living room :)

The Aliens had a delightful time, and the mini-squirrels joined in the fray.

However, like many big events the evening of activity took its tool :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Trotify

Dear Reader,

From the world of weirdly wonderful gadgets here is a gem :)


I'm inspired to incorporate something similar into a second season of The Squirrel King when that day comes.

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims